Dyna XX-2 MKII vs. Lyra Kleos

Captain,

I went from the XX2 Mk2 to the Kleos on my VPI HRX. I found that I preferred the kleos. While certainly no slouch, the Dyna was not a dynamic as the Kelos, nor as detailed. Where the two carts were very similar was in midrange and vocal timbres, and both were excellent. I wound up selling the dyna.

I currently use the Dyna XX2 Mk II on my Kuzma Stabi w/ 12" ref arm and Kleos on my Linn LP 12 w/ Ekos arm. Dyna is very layered and smooth. Kleos is detailed and dynamic, great bass. I am happy with both; They provide the just right change of pace w/o totally overshadowing each other. I know others might disagree; but I think the 12" Kuzma arm lets the Dyna play above its price and accounts for the smoothness and layering

I use to have a dynavector xx2 mk.2 on my VPI Classic 3 with a 3D arm. Then I purchased a used Kleos SL on Audiogon and it was so much better!
The xx2 was smooth and had nice tone but sounded a little dull compared to the Kleos.
The Kleos SL was much faster,detailed, and more open sounding without losing the tonality and great bass like the xx2.

It was a big step up in my system, IMHO.

I had a Delos, Kleos, Skala, EMT JSD6.

No i have a VdH Frog in a SME V and a Dyn XX2 MK2 in an Origin Live Conqueror. My Lyra´s were not really good trackers and on bright recordings or some with loud s-tones, they tend to fizzl.

On a lot recordings the Kleos sounds very, very good.

Now i am in love with the Frog, which is also very open sounding with an enormous resolution but better tracking than my Lyra`s. The Dynavector is very warm, analog sounding and is the choice for the bright recorded vinyls.
I love it really, but it is a step under the Frog.

I have both measured with Adjust+ and they are very well built.

Never had or heard an Allaerts. Had a Lyra Helikon some time back. It was too thin sounding for me. After owning a Dynavector  XV-1S, I decided to "downgrade" to the Dyna XX2 Mk.2. I was pleasantly surprised about how much similar it sounded in comparison with the far more expensive XV-1S. In combination with the TW Acustic 10.5 tonearm, the XX2 gives much pleasure.