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Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: DYNAVECTOR XX2 Phono Cartridge by Don T

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REVIEW: DYNAVECTOR XX2 Phono Cartridge

68.98.238.16


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Model: XX2
Category: Phono Cartridge
Suggested Retail Price: $1650
Description: low output moving coil
Manufacturer URL: DYNAVECTOR
Manufacturer URL: DYNAVECTOR

Review by Don T ( A ) on February 05, 2003 at 22:48:48
IP Address: 68.98.238.16
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for the XX2


Mounting this cartridge and adjusting the Rega RB600 was a typical of other cartridge installs I've done in the past. The output of the XX2 is quite low but the Exposure XIII phono section provides ample gain and I'm using the volume control between between 40%-80% depending on the required level. The low output may be more of an issue in some systems.

A couple of years ago I bought an Dynavector 10x4 as my first moving coil. Eventually - about 6 months ago I bought the XX2. I was impressed with it's ability to provide music with a raw and natural character - it's not the voluptuous and full bodied character I was used to with the ClearAudio Beta Arum or Virtuoso cartridges owned immediately prior to the XX. I wouldn't classify the sound of the XX2 as being as refined or polished as the ClearAudios - but this is a good thing and it might take a bit of adjustment to get used to. Music is not warm, smooth, voluptous, round, smooth or full bodied when I hear it in real life. The XX2 presents music with edge and byte which produces an immediacy that I find completely irresistable and natural. I've used the term natural to describe the Grado Platinum and both ClearAudios in the past - and I quess I would still consider them natural in terms of body and tonality. But the XX2 is in a completely different world where it's naturalness comes from the realistic immediacy of it's presentation and from it's ability to maintain the organizational structure of music. The way this thing can hold together a song and present the details in a fashion that allows the listener to make more sense of the music is really amazing.

I really like this cartridge - alot and think it's one of the finest pieces of audio gear I've ever owned. I believe it is a synergistic match with the Roksan Xerxes TT and the rest of the equipment that I own and would not hesitate to give it the highest of recommendation to those who value immediacy and detail over spacial presention. At times I believe this cartridge allows me here the musicians think - very tasty indeed.

Solid Boron Cantilever / Line Contact Stylus / Aluminium diced and milled body / Frequency Response:20-50KHz / Output Voltage:2.0mV/0.25mV / Compliance:10x10-6cm/dyn / Recommended Load Impedance:47Kohms/30ohms / Impedance:270ohms/5ohms / Playing Weight:1.9-2.3grams / Weight:12grams - Suits arms of effective mass between 9 grams - 31 grams (cartridge mass is not to be included in the arm's effective mass).



Product Weakness: low output
Product Strengths: Fast, pacy and organized presentation - good bass!


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Exposure DR4
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Exposure 21 + Exposure XIII
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Roksan Xerxes X DX2 TT
Speakers: Spendor SP100s
Cables/Interconnects: Kimber PBJ
Music Used (Genre/Selections): popular music
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: DYNAVECTOR XX2 Phono Cartridge - Don T 22:48:48 02/5/03 ( 5)