Dynavector XV-1s What is the REAL story?

Hey Dgad,I didn't mention that the Air Tangent was not used with the supplied pump.My pal bought a compressor from a retiring dentist,which completely blew away the standard one.The result was great bass,which has always been a knock on the A.T.

Also,I had always heard tons of stuff at Lyric,over the years.BTW-Lenny is now the new owner.He has mellowed into a really fine,experienced,person to deal with.I always liked him and felt he got a bad rap,by some.He's painfully honest,which is something I like.

I once owned the RS-1b's,but was forced to sell them,when I moved to another state.I swear I remember saying to myself(when the new owner was taking them out of my room)"why am I doing this"!!Two months later I met a guy at a stereo store who told me he had a friend who bought flawless RS-1's from some yutz,who kept them in flawless shape,and sold them because of moving to N.J.I never mentioned the yutz was me.
However with my friend Sid's mega modded pair,there was NO contest.I always get a kick out of the majority of the latest "industry/reviewer" raves,after hearing them,and comparing them to Sid's set-up.-:)Like I have stated in the past(and am beginning to really believe),my friend's room surely must be a gateway between two "black holes",where the laws of physics simply break down.His stuff sounds "that good".Everyone hearing it always leaves shaking their head in disbelief!

Best!

I’m running a VPI HRX with the 12" 3D arm (not sure I like it better yet than my 12.6???) and a Pass Labs 27 for the phono. I’ve owned a few Dynavectors and I was running a XV-1s for some time before the maid decided to clean my table and dismember the cartridge. Now I have an XV-1t on order, so soon, I will find out what's going on with that stressful purchase.
My experience with the XV-1s and it’s tracking force had a bit to do with the tonearm, because the 12.6 was a bit of a wobbler I mentally did set the cartridge on the high side of the spec 1.95 to 2.00. I also tried it at 1.85 without noticing too much difference but I remember preferring the heavier side. Setting up the VTA by ear was very quick and easy, I didn’t need a test disc just playing Adele is enough to nail it. Both my other half and I grew up in audiophile families and personally I started to really get into it at 12, now at 55 I guess I know more but it does not feel like it lol. Anyway, the combo of the XV-1s, Pass labs 27 and our Ayre KRX Twenty produced the best sound I have ever heard in my life, better than our Vivaldi DAC by far. I can’t believe I finally reached a point where I’m stuck, I don’t want to risk losing this sound by trying other things. It’s so damn good I can listen to it all day, honestly, I feel blessed just to listen to it, it’s like you can reach out and touch the performers. That said, I ordered the mighty "T".
From what I read here it sounds like people are at least in part, adjusting the cartridge to adjust to their "tone" arm? I’ do not know anything about the XV-1, the "s" is a bit different and I know the "t" will be a little more different.
On the break-in, these cartridges at this level are not stamped out but wholly hand made and do vary a bit, I’m sure. I mean if the person assembling it after lunch where they went home and got laid..that might sound a little different than the builder who went home for lunch and got into let’s say, a throw down domestic argument, before they came back to finish up your precious cartridge. So far for us, the XV-1s have sounded great from the first needle drop and did get even better after 50-75 hours, it never sounded congested to me but it did open up dynamically and spatially. Mine is so damn dynamic I feel no desire to go over 2.00.
I’m hoping the "T" does not step over to the analytical side too much? If it does I’ll go back to the "S" and stay there. In the interim, I thought I’d try the Hana MH from my office rig in the big rig and everyone really likes it. If I had not heard the dynavectors I’d be pretty happy, it’s 100% musical, it does get congested on break in but wow, bang for the buck is huge! This cartridge with the Pass Labs 17 would be an awesome combo! It’s pretty quiet as far as record noise, dynamic, balanced top to bottom and does not try and reach beyond it’s abilities, it just plays the music.

Just for reference most of the system. VPI HRX (Brass counterweight and Delrin, stainless, lead platter and 12"3D arm- DCS Vivaldi except both clocks are Esoteric- Ayre KRX Twenty- Krell Evo 400E (souped up a bit)- Krell EVO 600E’s (also souped up a bit)- Evolution Acoustics MM3- Von Schweikert Audio VR-55 Aktive- Revel Ultima Salon 2- Apogee Diva Ultimates- Ayre QA-9- Oppo 105D...

rminsf:
I made the move from XV1-s to XV1-t a few years ago.  I have a VPI HRX rim drive with superplatter and 3d arm.
The t is simply a better cartridge than the s and most certainly not over analytical. In fact, it is more natural. I cannot say it is nearly twice as good as the s but, as in all things audio, once you reach a certain price point, there are diminishing returns in doubling the price. That said, the difference is audible and worthwhile. If you liked the s, you'll really like or love the t.

@rminsf  - keep us posted once you get the the t up and running - I'd be interested to know what your thoughts are on the comparison between the two.  

Well, I have about 25 hours on the XV-1T now. My first impressions are that it is a little more tweeky on setup and I'm still playing with that some. The soundstage is bigger I'm getting used to images far past the speakers left to right, the bass is fuller and tightly defined and there is more detail separating the instruments effortlessly. Musically I would say so far, it's different than the XV-1S but not necessarily better. The XV-1S to me sounds like it has less record noise, hiss, clicks and pops letting the music come through without the noise. With the XV-1T I do hear more detail and a bit more noise but maybe it will improve as it breaks in, so far, I had more goosebump moments and emotional connections with the music through the XV-1S. I am only listening with my Krell 402E right now which was just rebuilt by Krell and waiting for the 600E’s to get finished, the 600E’s do open up the soundstage and detail even more. I’ll stick with the T for a while and see how it goes but I still long for those intimate moments (hours actually) the S gave us, at this point I would still say the S is the most musical cartridge I have ever heard in my life, the way the music sings through that thing is uncanny. I’ve never seen so many grown men start crying as with the S, the emotional connection with the music was riveting; and it could rock out too.