Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: DYNAVECTOR 20X-H Phono Cartridge by BobM

Model:	20X-H
Category:	Phono Cartridge
Suggested Retail Price:	$525
Description:	High Output Moving Coil Cartridge
Manufacturer URL:	DYNAVECTOR
Manufacturer URL:	DYNAVECTOR

Review by BobM ( A ) on October 08, 2003 at 06:02:55
IP Address: 167.230.38.7

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for the 20X-H

I recently modded my phono stage (Audio Innovations P1) to try and get more air and top end energy from my Grado Platinum cartridge. The Border Patrol mods did make a big difference in the bottom end response, and made the preamp much quieter. I soon incorporated another set of Audio Note mods which improved things even further. But as you all know, better downstream resoluition only truly shines with better source equipment. So the search for something more resolving than the Platinum began.
I came across a low hour Dynavector 20X-H at a resonable price. Now this cartridge is recommended by HW at VPI for their turntables, and since my turntable is mostly VPI (Corian plinth with a Mark III platter and VPI motor and AQ PT6 arm)... So I picked up the DV and have been adjusting it and listening for about 2-3 weeks now.
The adjustment is far more critical on this cartridge than with the very forgiving Grado, but I'm sure it's still far less sensitive than many low output MC's. VTA is important, but seems a bit backward from what I've been told. Raising the back of the arm brought the bass up, and lowering the back lost the bass and made the highs too pronounced. Hmmm? The output is 2.5Mv, as opposed to the Grado's 5.0mv, but it doesn't amount to too much of a difference in my preamp volume setting - maybe 2 or 3 clicks more.
The physical appearance isn't as nice as the Grado, which is wood bodied. The 20X-H has a very long cantilever which needs tender loving care. Many reports of DV owners snapping or bending this thing. There is a plastic stylus guard that goes back on after every session - no mistakes tolerated here. The stylus itself is very tiny, and may account for the excellent tracking aility of this cartridge. Even my worst warps are handled with ease and no perceptible sonic wow and flutter.
Anyway, on to the differences in sound. It is far more detailed than the Grado with a much smoother and more extended top end. Some albums that I thought were sibilent with the Grado are actually not! They are more extended and smoother with the DV. This works very well with my speakers, which use a Scanspeak 1" silk dome tweeter that is not as peaky as many metal dome tweeters. The Grado was too soft for my rig, but would make a nice match on systems that have a top end that needs some taming. One friend has a Grado Sonata on such a system and it sounds wonderful - the DV would probably not do as well there. The mids of the 20X-H, once dialed in, are just as good as the Grado IMHO. Maybe not as lush but very natural with better imaging front to back and side to side. The bass is definitely lighter, but tight and tuneful. If I turn up my REL subwoofer about 5-7 clicks in volume it rounds out the bottom end nicely. It's amazing that a slightly more pronounced bass effects the mids as much as it does. Brings everything into a far warmer light - which is probably why Grado chooses to voice their line that way.
Overall it's a faster sounding cartridge but not forward at all. Slightly more lean than I would like, but that's after living with a cartridge that's know to be a bit fat sounding. The sonic background is darker than the Grado, meaning less perceptible surface noise from the record. Even pops and clicks seem to be in the background when they occur. They don't pop out and hit you in the forehead, which occurred sometimes on the Grado.

Overall it's a defuinite move upward in sound and I'm very happy with the purchase. Buying a cartridge used is a wee bit scary, but I lucked out.

Product Weakness: slightly lighter presentation than I'm used to, more bottom end would round out the whole presentation
Product Strengths: detail, top end air, soundstaging and imaging, speed

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	McCormack DNA .5 near REV A
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Audio Prism Mantissa (tubed)
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	VPI Aries Clone
Speakers:	DIY Scanspeak 717
Cables/Interconnects:	DIY Belden 89259/89248 & cross connect speaker cables
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	all
Room Size (LxWxH):	22 x 18 x 8
Time Period/Length of Audition:	3 weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Jon Risch's design
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	slightly lighter presentation than I'm used to, more bottom end would round out the whole presentation
Product Strengths:	detail, top end air, soundstaging and imaging, speed