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Koetsu vs Dynavector

I am looking at new (well new to me anyway) cartridges for my turntable. I have found a couple of interesting candidates but given that cartridges are one of the hardest things to purchase because of the problems of arranging home trials, I am interested in other peoples opinions. I am looking at the Koetsu Urushi's (either a Vermillion or a Black) or a Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua or XV1. I realize there is a bit of a price spread at normal retail but there are some demo issues that level the field a bit. My system is as follows Oracle Delphi MkIV with a highly modified Rega arm running into a modified Mod Squad Phono Drive. This all runs into a Sonic Euphoria Transformer based volume control. The amp is a custom tube amp based on the 6L6 tube (using NOS Tung Sol 5881 at the moment). This puts out twenty watts of PP power to a pair of Quad ESL 63. The cables are a mix of Homegrown Audio silver interconnects with Eichman silver RCA jacks and Analysis Audio Silver speaker cables.
My musical preferences lie in the smaller scale more introspective sphere on this system (I have a Altec Lansing based horn setup for rocking out). Anything from Frank and Ella to Johhny Cash to Bob Dylan to Dianna Krall. I also love the instruments that share the vocal sound. I gravitate to cello, saxophone and trombone over guitar and piano. I want to here the tone and texture of the voice as my first priority and timing a bit further down the line. My listening room is a bit on the large side (30' x 50' x 25') and has a very live acoustic. It has polished concrete floors and 115 year old plaster walls (I live in an 1893 Methodist church).
I welcome any opinions but I am mostly looking for people with actual hands on experience with either the Koetsus or the Dynavectors.

Thanks
Dan
djeickme75

Showing 4 responses by halcro

halcro's avatar
halcro
2,664 posts
 
Well you're in luck Dan......I had at one time, a Koetsu Urishi and I now have a Dynavector DV1s as well as a ZYX Universe.
I must say that you are certainly contemplating 2 radically differently sounding cartridges and your preferences will be greatly system dependent.
Personally I find the Koetsus to be too laid-back and 'rolled-off' (at both extremes), to be convincing at musical retrieval.....but if your system and room were exceeding bright and reverberant, it may be a good match?
The XV1s is simply a damn good cartridge with virtually no faults other than a slight lack of emotional depth.
If you could find both second hand on Audiogon, you could easily sell the one you didn't like for virtually no loss?
halcro's avatar
halcro
2,664 posts
 
Rloggie,
Whilst the ZYX Universe shares almost all of the DV1s' sonic vitues (solid bass, realistic mids and etherial highs), in every arm I've mounted it and on both TTs I've used it, it has the ability (unique amongst all the cartridges I've ever heard), to simply disappear!
Mounted on a fine arm fixed to a fine turntable, I've found the Universe to be the closest I've ever heard to the sound of Master Tape.
halcro's avatar
halcro
2,664 posts
 
PS Rloggie,
I just LOVE your system!
I also had many years ago, the Clearaudio Concerto cartridge which you are running, and was very pleased with it.
halcro's avatar
halcro
2,664 posts
 
I agree with Audiofeil.
After more than 30 years of serious listening and only recently having acquired the Continuum Copperhead and DaVinci 12" Reference Grandezza, I have come to the realisation that the tone-arm is more important than the cartridge and perhaps even the turntable?
As for the Linn philosophy of 'source first' hierachy......I realised the fallacy of this years ago.
In my opinion the speakers always come first together with the room with which they are matched. Next comes the amplifier that drives those speakers the best. Everything else falls into place when you can get these right?
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