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Dynavector Karat 23R

AvFan

AvFan

Super Member
A 23R has come up locally and it has me intrigued. From some cursory research it is a LOMC, has a ruby cantilever, compliance of 15cu, only weighs 5g and was succeeded by a number of "Karat" models including the 23RS and 17 series. Has anyone used a 23R and what is your opinion of it? If the stylus is bad can it be retipped and is it worth the effort to do so? Lastly, any idea how much one is worth in today's market assuming it is good shape? Thanks!
 
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Brilliant cartridge...

Compliance is a lot higher than 15cu - they dynavector specs are for compliance at 100Hz.

Compliance at 10Hz as needed for arm matching is around the 22 to 25 cu from memory.

Yes it is absolutely worth re-tipping - All the Karat series are very similar in character and performance - look at current pricing of the 17D3 (the current karat series model) for an idea of where it sits.

If you get lucky you might pick it up for around $300 and with a retip you should have it running for under $600 all up, or around 1/2 the price of a new Karat cartridge.

In many people's opinion it is superior to most cartridges out there in the under $5000 bracket.

This is a cartridge that does not romanticise the sound AT ALL - it is very dynamic, precise, accurate.

It does tend to like a fluid damped arm (what cartridge doesn't?) preferably of low mass.

I have run it on the mid mass JVC Ql-Y5F with electro-damped arm with great success.

In my opinion one of the best out there by all objective criteria. :thmbsp:
This is a cartridge for people who value neutrality over romanticism.
If you want to hear what is in the recording for better or worse, and do not want rose coloured spectacles between you and the recording, this is the cartridge for you!

bye for now

David
 
Fantastic cart, and SoundSmith (no affiliation) can do a complete rebuild for $300-350 IIRC. If you can buy it right, it is well worth the investment... it will easily blow away carts costing well over $1K. It is a very low output cart, but with a decent phono pre, you can get all the gain you need.

Last few I've seen have been right around $300-350--in need of a retip.
 
I owned one in the 80s along with a Mitsubishi LT-30 and then a Thorens TD-160/Grace 707. Very good cartridge. If you buy it, just be super careful when cleaning the stylus due to the cantilever. Get a Zerodust.
 
THe 23RS was a "special" run by Dynavector. It had every bit of technological expertise they could put into it at the time and are highly prized by a lot of folks. A truly great cart that with a TOL rebuild can be amazing. I agree with kmulkey on the fact that you Do nee a zerodust to clean the stylus, and be "very" careful. Best of listening.
 
this was the dynavector Ruby. magnificent cartridge - had the highest
compliance in the history of cartridges til then.

if you had it on the right arm - must be super low mass - like the Infinity black widow II
(mark 2 is the all carbon fibre version) then it was a match made in heaven

it could track the cannon ball blast in the Telarc 1812 Overture.

get it. refurb it. and hear everything
plus bragging rights next to buying LS3/5As for $10....
 
They were and are very special. Considered by some to be the best.

While going thru my stuff i found one that i had never used.
 
i am sure the 23R will work on the g704. one feature that i appreciate very mush is the VERY short cantilever a la the ADC XLM (my original favorite). i am positive that it conributes to the accuracy of tracing and being that short, it inherently would be very low in cantilever resonance.

i always wanted on but could adjust to the 17D (diamond cantilever).
 
Cantilever resonance is at circa 50kHz.... - A consequence of very low effective tip mass, in turn a consequence of very short cantilever....

There are very very few cartridges that can put the resonance that far above the audio range... and the consequences are audible.... most excellent :thmbsp:
 
re: 23r

Had the privilege of owning one back in the early 80's when i was running on 'daddy's money! It was fantastic ...a moving coil pre amp is somewhat of a luxury nowadays, so i don't use it anymore ...along with the lack of vinyl. I remember paying around 200 back then, from a discount audio house that advertised in the back of stereo review. Back then, i had not the appreciation for what i possessed,but i do remember still the wow factor that this addition to my modest system at the time. Boy o boy did this trigger some fond memories...if you have or can get a 23r, by all means, do so!
 
Actually, a MC preamp can be had for VERY affordable money these days. When I get home later, I will make some suggestions.
 
MC phono preamp

hifitommy said:
here are a few selections:

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-149016-clearaudio-nano-2-phono-preamp-mm-mc.aspx

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-60691-musical-fidelity-m1-vinl-mmmc-phono-preamp-black-demo.aspx

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-233001-cambridge-azur-651p-mmmc-phono-preamp.aspx

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-177377-ifi-micro-iphono-mmmc-phono-preamp-demo.aspx

these are all affordable so have fun.
Click to expand...

I have the Thorens TD160-Grace707-Dynavector Ruby23 combo. The preamp evolved from Kenwood C-1 to NAD 1600. I just purchased a Parasound Zphono USB after reading some good press about it on the Stereophile. Any opinion on the Zphono compared to the other offers?

My Dynavector Ruby is over 20 years old. I am considering sending it to Soundsmith for an evaluation and eventual retipping. Has anyone done the retipping of the Ruby before? How does the sound compare before and after the retipping?
 
If the cartridge sounds good to you and the stylus is not collapsed, might hold off on the SS work until you have fully used the diamond. Need to find a stylus microscope, maybe a local store has one to get an accurate idea of the hours used/left before the need for the SS service.

I'm at 50% or so on my 23R so I don't anticipate SSing the unit for a few more years. I have a few different cartridges and use them all. This makes them really old before they go to SS.
 
When to retip?

Blue Shadow said:
If the cartridge sounds good to you and the stylus is not collapsed, might hold off on the SS work until you have fully used the diamond. Need to find a stylus microscope, maybe a local store has one to get an accurate idea of the hours used/left before the need for the SS service.

I'm at 50% or so on my 23R so I don't anticipate SSing the unit for a few more years. I have a few different cartridges and use them all. This makes them really old before they go to SS.
Click to expand...

The Karat Ruby still sounds great. But after 20 years, I want to be sure to do what needs before it gets too late.

I have the Shure V15 Type-3 and a cheapie Grado, both MM. They cannot touch the Karat Ruby in sound.
 
keilau said:
I have the Thorens TD160-Grace707-Dynavector Ruby23 combo. The preamp evolved from Kenwood C-1 to NAD 1600. I just purchased a Parasound Zphono USB after reading some good press about it on the Stereophile. Any opinion on the Zphono compared to the other offers?

My Dynavector Ruby is over 20 years old. I am considering sending it to Soundsmith for an evaluation and eventual retipping. Has anyone done the retipping of the Ruby before? How does the sound compare before and after the retipping?
Click to expand...

Soundsmith retipped my Dynavector 23 last year. They wouldn't do the cantilever replacement, just the stylus (which was actually preferable to me). Costly, but well done and it sounds great.

Before retipping the cart had considerable sibilence. Clearly past its prime. Now it's everything folks say, including absolutely unforgiving of poor/damaged recordings. There is no masking damage or poor production. It tracks very well (including minor lip warps) and is dead quiet when the vinyl is in good shape.

I think it's an amazing piece and every upgrade downstream just highlights more and more of what this cart is pulling out of the record.
 
2channel* said:
How high in effective arm mass could you go with damping?
Click to expand...

I used the Dynavector with a Rega RB700 (11grams) and an SME 309 (9.5 grams). No damping on either tonearm.

Just put it back on the 309 and it sounds very nice to me, tracking at 2 grams and loaded just under 100 ohms!
 
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