Dynavector DRT XV-1 Cartridge- Opinions ??

How about Koetsu's cartridge, the most natural midrange and detailed high's I've ever heard, but never fatiguing. Your rig is top gun and deserves the best. I would also give a listen to top Benz-Micro cartridge.

Limiting the discussion to cartridges I've owned and installed in my own system with my Walker turntable, the Dynavector is as far above the Helikon(normal output) in performance as the Helikon is above the Grado Reference. The most striking thing about the Dynavector is a sensation that vinyl playback is much less mechanical and that a pervasive form of distortion has been eliminated. Tonal balance is richer than a Helikon, but not as rich nor as rolled off in the treble like a Grado Ref. The Helikon has more emphasis on leading edge transients, but somehow the Dynavector delivers as much or more total detail. The Dynavector has a much bigger soundstage and wider dynamics than the Helikon. The Dynavector is exceedlingly natural and self-effacing on classical/jazz/folk, but when playing pop/rock it is "meaty, beaty, big, and bouncey." It is peerless in the bass. The question I can't answer is how compatible it would be with your tonearm (it is 14 g); it works well in arms with unusually high horizontal effective mass (the Walker, Dynavector's DV-507).

Have you considered the Nightingale cartridge/arm for your Graham?

Steve, I see you're a Who fan !! I'm presently using a Transfiguration Temper Supreme, which does everything I like, except can be a little aggressive on upper mids. The cart. is mounted on a Graham 2.0 arm / Basis Debut V vacuum. I will have the 2.2 upgraded bearing cap, etc. tomarrow and this may help. I've recently upgraded my turntable & arm and am getting alot more of everything, which is good, but I may have uncovered a shortcoming in the Temper, which until now was undetectable. In a perfect world I'd add a little warmth, ease, liquid to the upper mids and leave the rest the same. I know this plays into the Koetsu camp, but having tried a Urushi before buying the Temper, I don't think the Urushi is transparent enough, and I don't think the bass is as good either. I understand that the XV-1 is supposed to be an attempt at the state of the art by one of the oldest cartridge companies in the world, and that it has been compared to much more expensive carts. I, of course would love to discover that trancendental cartridge that does everything at new, higher level. I believe that the Graham arm can handle the XV-1 without too much trouble. Which other cartridges have you tried ?