Benz Ace S H or Dyna DV-20x2H

Hi Thanks for the help. I had tried a low output MC cart but I could not get enough output even on the highest gain setting. I think it was AT33EV So I guess I got turned off. Could you explain why you prefer the lows over the high.

Do you think one of the higher priced carts from them will track better? I was also thinking maybe a Benz wood. I really dont want to go north a grand.

I have a Benz Wood S medium output which I feel has a great soundstage, tracks very well and has a sweet sounding midrange. I had this cartridge on a Rega P3-24 and now on a TW-Acustic Raven One. This is my second Benz cartridge and would recommend them. I do not have any experience with this level of dynavector cartridges.

Low output being better sounding in general than high output MCs is just something that seems to be a consensus that I've picked up from reading various forums (I've only had a couple high output MCs, the other being a Dyna 10x5). Not sure how serious that should be taken.

I'm surprised 60dB was not enough gain for the AT33EV as that's the gain setting I use for my AT33PTG, but this is probably pre-amp/amp dependent.

To answer the tracking question, in my limited experience, price has little to do with tracking ability. One of my best trackers is the AT150. The AT33PTG tracks just as well as that one. The Benz Ace and Benz Wood track about the same as eachother, only OK compared to the ATs. If I recall correctly, the Dyna 20xl may have done a little better than the Benzes. This is with the SME 309 arm. Tracking was tested with the Hi-Fi News test record, but also by listening to inner groove performance with complex symphonic music. Now this may only be the case with the SME, but I think the point still stands about price vs. tracking ability.