Dynavector Karat or Grado Statement Reference 1


I have been using Dynavector's 17D3 MkII on my VPI Classic TT (w/Krell, amp,pre,ref phono-B&W 802N) but have read the Grado is very musical in the midrange without loss in the high or low frequency. I read Harry of VPI swears by the Sonata but I would be willing to spend double possibly for my system. The Dynavector is a $1K acrtridge with great sound and reviews. Would The Grado be an improvement or am I possibly taking step backward?
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Showing 1 response by mechans

I am always very unimpressed when the best thing you can say about anything in our hobby is that amorphous ameoba of a descriptor, called musical. I would avoid it based on that alone. For crying out tears, when you play a music record, what you hear better be music, and the equipment that made it possible is then, by any measure, musical. Therefore I would look for more useful descriptive terms before making a decision on trying a new expensive cartridge.
I like my Dynevector for the following reasons. In my system it plays the whole frequecy range well and in the tonal balance that it was meant to. It has clear sharply demarcated attack when called for and lingering decay when thats what it is asked of it. It is stunningly dynamic going from dead silence to high SPLs very quickly. It appears to add no coloration i.e. the tone is fairly neutral allowing the rest of my gear to have more of an impact in that regard. It reproduces the micro dynamics and fine details particularily well.
I own a much less MM grado which I won't describe to be fair because they are not comparable.