Changing from an XV1-S

I have spent 9 nmonths listening to the A90 and 9 years listening to the XV-1.

The A90 is the better cartridge overall. It is more pure, less sound of its own and sounds musically more coherent top to bottom. The XV-1 has a looser bigger bass and clearly more sparkle in the top end in direct comparison.

08-26-10: Downunder
The A90 is the better cartridge overall>>

Correction. To your ears it is a better cartridge.

Better is subjective.

One size does not fit all for any component.

After 9 years that should be apparent.

What's been lost in this conversation is the subtle but (to my ears) significant changes that the XV1s has undergone in the last year - benefiting from the development of the XV1t.

I don't want to get into the better/worse discussion on these two obviously fine cartridges, but the person reading this is likely considering the purchase of a NEW cartridge.

Taken in that light, current XV1s should be the subject of this comparison (with the current A90).

Ultimately, one's preferences might be the same ... or not.

The usual dealer disclaimer warning applies.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier

Bill, better is of course subjective. better in my system certainly.

better in every system, probably not.

Thanks for the clarification Shane and that was my point.

I strongly prefer Zyx Universe to Benz Micro Ruby 3 and Shelter 9000 but none of them are "better".

No financial interest in these products.

Frogman, you have articulated extremely important points. What ever the hobby, there is a dictionary for it; whether that dictionary be official or un-official. I have an "Electronics Dictionary", there is also an "Audiophile" dictionary. We have a unique language that "Goner's" should learn to speak; if they claim to be "Audiophiles".

Dear Downunder: IMHO I think that other than Thom_mackris XV-1t subject your opinion on the XV-1 against the A-90 could be different if you hear today in your system the XV1-s against the A-90, today things are better in the 1s over the XV-1 ( that I pefered years ago ).

In the other side the thread " owner " speaks on the XV-1s and not the " old " XV-1 you are refering.

I like both cartridges_ XV1-s and A-90. In my system I don't found out any low bass issue with the XV-1s but here depend on the tonearm match at tonearm/cartridge set up.

In the LOMC alternative the XV-1s is and belongs for me at the very top cartridge list and I think that other top rated LOMC cartridges ( like the A-90 that's very good. ) not necessary are better than the today XV-1s but more a little different.

Dcarol, maybe it is a better idea ( than the A-90 = to send your XV-1s to Dynavector for a retip whole job where your cartridge will come back to you with the latest up-dates.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Dcarol: Sorry, I see/read that you already has the A-90 and like you better than the XV-1s, good.

raul.

Hi Raul

I bought an XV-1s a few years back and owned it for 6 months and preferred the sound of the XV-1, so I sold the XV-1s to a fiend of mine and bought another XV-1.

I have not indicated the XV-1 having any bass problems, in fact the just opposite. the comparison is v the A90 and not an absolute statement.
the XV-1 bass is looser and slight bigger than the A90. On some music that is welcome, on some not so much.

That is one of the joys of having multiple tables/cartridge as there is no cartridge that does it all.

XV-1t - I would luv to hear one, but way too many $$$ for me.

cheers