Dynavector XV-1S ---is it overkill for my system?

How about a Manley Chinook at $2,250? I haven't personally owned a Manley, but I've read that the Steelhead has a very low noise floor and is a tube phono. The Chinook is apparently directly related to the Steelhead in regards to parts and boards. Combine that with an XX-2 and you are still under the price of an XV-1s.

Hi Will,

The P75 might be lower noise with a lower impedance cart such as the 20XL or the XX-2. The 17D3 or other Karat carts have higher impedance and aren't as great a match with the P75. Might be worth auditioning with an XX-2 or XV-1S. But yeah, I'd be sure to audition. If you are laying down the cash for a high dollar Dyna cart, I'd imagine your dealer would be happy to let you audition the P75.

Dear Will_herrera: For what ever reason you have I can see you ar entilted with LOMC cartridges and in especial the XV-1s.

This cartridge belongs to a different " league " that the cartridge you own and to a different " league " that the system you own.

IMHO you can't drive a new " Ferrari " with cicle tires, right?. Your situation is the same.

I can tell you that not even the XV-1s can beat the CA Virtuoso Wood on Rock music. Of course you don't want to go with the MM/MI alternative that IMHO is better that what you can imagine.

To pass from the 17D3 to the XX2 could be not a big step a head where the XV-1s or the CA certainly are.

A cartridge is the source and its sensitive and delicate signal must be treated according with.

You can't improve the cartridge self quality performance the only way/side you have is that choosing the right links through the audio chain in your system: that the cartridge signal be degraded the less adding and loosing the less to the cartridge signal. The better the items that surround the cartridge ( in this case the XV-1s ) the better the chances you have that this cartridge can shows at its best.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.

UPDATE---last week I bought a used Simaudio Moon 310LP phono pre (with power supply) here on Audiogon to upgrade from my Heed Quasar, and I've been gathering up as much info as I can about the Dynavector XX2 mkII and Lyra Delos cartridges, to replace my 17D3. For various reasons these 2 interest me the most, out of all the myriad possibilities, and at this point I'm leaning more in the direction of getting the Lyra for my VPI Classic. I'm going to live with the Simaudio (with the 17D3) awhile before I pull the trigger on the Lyra. Once again, thank you everyone for your input, it was very helpful.

I'd go with a high output Benz cartridge and dump the headamp altogether.