Dynavector Cartridge Load 100ohms or 47k ohms?

The best loading for an MC cartridge is system dependent, and somewhat taste dependent also. It will do no harm to try any load from 100 ohms up to 47Kohms. Use familiar recordings with a full range of frequencies, like full orchestra or a classical piano piece that's dynamic and uses the entire keyboard. (Beethoven, not Debussy.) As you move to higher impedances you'll hear more weight behind the HF's and less weight behind the LF's. Lower impedances have the opposite effect. Find the setting where all frequencies seem equally weighted.

BTW, make sure your VTF and especially VTA are spot on for the record you're listening too before messing with different loads. Until you know a system really well it's easy to confuse wrong VTA with wrong loading.

The good news is, changing loads when running directly into a gain stage makes relatively subtle differences compared to load changes when using steput trannies. Pcosta's comment about loads of 4-7 or 30-40 ohms with the Dynavector stepup is not directly relevant to your question. Loading for an MC when running through a stepup is always different (lower) than when running directly into a gain stage.

I use 17D2 Mk.II with Naim Prefix K phonostage which has fixed 560ohm/1000nf impedance/capacitance. The result is nothing short of amazing,I love the sound- it's neutral,balanced,detailed and dynamic without hint of brightness. Deck is LP12 with Naim Aro arm.

Thanks for all the responses.

dougdeacon, I spent last night experimenting and your post was right on. As I moved from 100 to 300 to 1.1k to 47k the detail seemed to improve and open up. But after listening for awhile, I realised the bass was missing and it did seem like the highs had more weight giving the impression of more detail. I think 100 or 300 will be the best for my setup. 300 sounds the best but 100 eliminates some brightness.

Thanks again!

The higher the input resistance, the lower the damping factor is going to be and the more likely it will be that your MC cart. will have a rising high end and experience ringing. The lower the resistance, the greater the damping. See Bob Hagerman's excellent discusion of cart. loading on his web site. Generally MCs will prefer a lower load with a SUT than with a head amp or gain stage. I think this is because the lower load enhances the current output of the cart. and a transformer is a device that converts current into voltage. Whereas a head amp is looking for voltage and will do better at a little higher loading. For a short while I had thought that my Sheltor sounded better at a higher load; until a singer hit a note that almost drove me out of the room. A lower load brought things under control.

really depends on your tonal balance of your system and what sound you are looking for.
I did have my XV-1 on 250ohms for some time, then about 4 mnths ago I tried on 47k. Currently I prefer 47k as it seems to let more upper frequency extension and flow in my system.
try for your self and pick what sounds overall better for you.

cheers SR