Dynavector XV-1s vs. Transfiguration Temper w

I'm just kind of baffled how people can find something slow & anemic, since these two words derive from opposite directions in my experiences. Things that some refer to as slow in a negative manner, another would refer to as warm or musical in a positive manner. Things that one would refer to as anemic in a negative manner, another would refer to as transparent or neutral in a positive manner.
How one could use two negative words to describe the two polar opposites of sound is quite baffling.

The key to most systems is synergy, trying to find the right balance for a certain listener between warmth and musicality camp and the detail and transparency camps. That is why certain things sound better in certain systems. Try using a warm(slow) cartridge in a system with warm amplification and speakers and you will fall asleep. Try to run a transparent (anemic) cartridge in a system with transparent amps and speakers and you will be grinding your teeth.

That being said, from what I've heard, the Dynavector XV-1s is on the transparent/neutral/anemic side of the fence, therefore, it cannot also be "slow'. Slow may better describe a cartridge on the warmer side of the fence such as a Koetsu, Benz, Transfiguration, etc. ZYX and Lyra would be on the anemic side of the fence with the Dynavector, IMHO. I actually think that Lyra is the fastest most transparent cartridges that I've heard, and yes, some would call them anemic, but not slow.

That's my $0.02. I just can't understand how something can sound fast and slow at the same time, but whatever.

Jcmcgrogan2 - if you want to get literal and specific with these terms then how can something that is less transparent and detailed be more "musical"? In my mind one necessarily leads to the other. Any cartridge or component that transmits the subtlest of details - microdynamic shadings, vocal inflections, room acoustics, etc - is truer to the original recorded performance.

Never understood this "musical" vs. "detail" dichotomy.

But I think we're digressing here!

I tried dynavector xv-1s , ortofon a90 & zyx omega gold with raven 10.5 tonearm on a raven ac 3 turntable with Tron seven ultima phono & even with brand new XV-1S, I like it better compared to the other cartridges. It has the speed, better soundstage & more controlled bass.
My 2 cts worth of personal opinion- anaemic ? Certainly not

Obviously these things are system-dependent and highly subjective - at this price level all cartridges are basically very good and if I had just heard the DV-1S and not the others I'd have been happy owning one - but in my system the UNIverse and A90 sounded better to my ears. Anemic and slow are just adjectives to describe what I heard vs. the UNIverse and A90 - I didn't mean to sound harsh or suggest that it sounded awful - it just lacked in certain areas important to me vs. a few other comparatively-priced options.

I've never even heard an XV-1s, but a few years ago when considering a new cartridge, it was definitely among the candidates. And if I had bought one and found it "anemic and slow", I'd have to look elsewhere in my system for the reason; because simply on the basis of sales, we know that if the large majority of those who purchased them (in the beginning) found them to be so, then word would get around and sales would shrivel up pretty fast. So much for that.

I've had my TTW for 7 years now, and have no desire to look for anything else. Like all well regarded and popular high priced cartridges, it does all things as well as (or slightly better/worse than) other cartridges in its price range (~ $4k msrp at the time.) The reason my eyes are still not 'wandering' in the cartridge department, is because of something the Temper W does that is unique (within my somewhat limited experience) to this cartridge -- and I presume the Temper V and Orpheus models as well. And that quality is its amazingly QUIET presentation. I'm not talking about electronic noise or hum or RFI. Or mechanical things, like resonances or tracking issues. I'm talking about surface noise -- something which comes with the territory when listening to vinyl. It's just there; more or less, like it or not. And I noticed immediately with the Temper W (and so did a few friends who rushed over to hear the new addition) that the typical level of surface noise we've all come to expect, just wasn't there; ditto in the pops and clicks department too. Not completely gone, but very "noticeable by its absence" (let me put it that way ;--) and more so because all the dynamics and low level micro detail were exceptional, as I would expect in any cartridge of its price/popularity/reviews/etc.

Being of a somewhat inquisitive and analytical disposition, I've tried to figure out what (if anything) structural attributes of the TTW might account for this characteristic, and I've been unable to come up with anything. There are two elements in the construction of the TTW which are different from others in its class -- namely the ring magnet (more like a cylinder actually) and the 'push-pull' suspension. But I've been unable so far, to draw a connection between either of those elements and that special sonic attribute of this cartridge; and yet, there it is ;--)
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