Dynavector XV-1S ---is it overkill for my system?

Dear Will_herrera: The XV-1s is a great quality performer by any standard but the ones that likes distortions, certainly not anemic other than the system that showed that " anemic " behavior but IMHO not the cartridge.

There are cartridges or other items that can shows us some " faults " elsewhere in our audio systems and the XV-1s is IMHO one of that.

Looking to your system and looking on what you like on music and your audio/music priorities I think that you could make things better than with 17D3 through the MM alternative and in specific with the Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood and with the money that you save on the XV-1s you can invest it in more music/LPs.

Well, that is another alternative.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.

Dear Will_herrera: For what ever reason you have I can see you ar entilted with LOMC cartridges and in especial the XV-1s.

This cartridge belongs to a different " league " that the cartridge you own and to a different " league " that the system you own.

IMHO you can't drive a new " Ferrari " with cicle tires, right?. Your situation is the same.

I can tell you that not even the XV-1s can beat the CA Virtuoso Wood on Rock music. Of course you don't want to go with the MM/MI alternative that IMHO is better that what you can imagine.

To pass from the 17D3 to the XX2 could be not a big step a head where the XV-1s or the CA certainly are.

A cartridge is the source and its sensitive and delicate signal must be treated according with.

You can't improve the cartridge self quality performance the only way/side you have is that choosing the right links through the audio chain in your system: that the cartridge signal be degraded the less adding and loosing the less to the cartridge signal. The better the items that surround the cartridge ( in this case the XV-1s ) the better the chances you have that this cartridge can shows at its best.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.