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Dynavector Karat 23R

I'm using a NOS 23R; I've only put about 10 hours on it. An astonishing cartridge, to my ears. It has the precision and true silence of CD (my 23R has a line-contact stylus; I believe there were many variations) without the digital downsides. The remarkably short, stiff ruby cantilever seems to have zero resonance and minimizes surface noise. Many audiophiles claim the gemstone cantilevers lack warmth, maybe my ears are different. I also have an Accuphase AC2 (sapphire cant.) and I find neither of them cold or clinical -- and I'm using a SS preamp. The 23R replaced a VDH MC10 which I think is superb, but the Dynavector is a league apart.
 
I was given a Transcriptor skeleton TT that I'm having refurbished. My Brother gave me a Dyno 23 ruby. Does anyone. Know how they may sound together?
 
That arm may be getting to the heavy side of ideal for the cartridge which drives down the resonant frequency possibly below the ideal of 8-11 but one of the best combos I have ever heard in my system has a vinylengine suggested resonance of 6Hz. Still above the record warp frequency and well below the lowest frequencies on the record. Give it a try.
 
robieboy said:
I was given a Transcriptor skeleton TT that I'm having refurbished. My Brother gave me a Dyno 23 ruby. Does anyone. Know how they may sound together?
Click to expand...
Is that with the Vestigal arm? Had one of those once....a little tricky to use but sounded very good. If a clean sound lacking any warmth whatsoever is your goal it should be apparent with that combo. :)
 
If you have not thought of phono stage yet ... I had achieved excellent synergy using a DV SUT into MM of the Leben RS28cx pre... got rid of my MC phono stage...
 
back in the day, the Ruby was the highest compliance cart and needed the lowest mass arm. The ideal arm
was the Infinity Black Widow II (this was the carbon fiber version - the I was aluminum and in two pieces).
The only carts that came close (but no cigar) was the XSV3000 (very liquid presentation), and the XLM 1
(the original not 2, 3, ...) which had a wide range. The XLM was destroyed by the MASSive Zero-100C
arm. gave that turntable away for free.

the phono stage needs only about 20db of gain or so. Suggest a $12 phono board using 6134? opamps
and modify the first stage for additional gain. use a power supply out of a dead Cd player. and then upgrade
if you have the $$$ or need better sound.

there is a major (initial) listening difference with MC carts.
 
robieboy said:
It does have the Vestigal arm.
Click to expand...
And you acquired these as gifts? Can I move in with your family? :D

Not sure that the 23R would be a good match...contrary to the post above it is medium compliance. I had a Decca/London MKVI Gold on the Vestigal briefly, only to watch it being ejected from the groove during one particularly heavy dynamic and land 2" nearer the label. I call that a bad match.:rflmao:Later on I had an ADC XLMIII on it but was not particularly satisfied with the combo, then again this wasn't the Transcriptors deck either.

The way the antiskate works the SRA will be constantly changing so something of a conical or modest elliptical would likely be more satisfying. For some reason I'm thinking Grado would work, but I don't know why. Staying with LOMC a Denon DL-304 might sound interesting as well.

Since you already have the 23R you might as well try it....you never know. If you do, please report back with your thoughts.

HNY!
 
I wrote back in July about my 23R. As I mentioned, there were many iterations because the cart was a huge success and on the market a long time (I have an old review calling it "the best in the world"). Mine has a line-contact stylus, others had elliptical, and that may affect the following...

a) I used mine first in a Linn Ittok arm, which is hardly low-mass, and it seemed to work perfectly (it's now in a lighter arm and it's very happy there too);

b) the little instruction booklet says to track at 1.5g (which struck me as low for MC) but that's the VTF I use, and never heard any mistracking. It even says you can go as low as 1.2g, but I try to stay as close as possible to manufacturer's recommendation, because it keeps the coils centered in the magnetic field (at least I assume), and when they give a range for VTF, I choose the middle, for the same reason. Some tonearms require heavier VTF of course.

Most importantly, the booklet emphasizes never use a stylus cleaning fluid!

As for tonearm mass, the booklet kinda fudges the issue, saying only that the DV-505 (their own arm, of course) is perfect.

I include this info because some of you might not have the booklet, and while the database on VinylEngine is invaluable, it's not infallible.
 
Likes a low-mass arm, you say? Mine rides in a Breuer Dynamic 5A, whose effective mass is 3.3 gm. If I could install the 5C damper (my elderly SP-10's plinth is too high to permit it) the effective mass would rise to 4.0 gm. In any event, it rides very happily, indeed. Given how long I have had it (since first on the market - I take pains to keep the tip clean) it may be getting to be time for it to go to Soundsmith for a clean & press (so to speak). For that bit of info, I am truly grateful!
 
SoundSmith wont be able to help if the suspension is collapsed. Ask me how I know. But my disappointment was tempered somewhat on subsequently learning about the Dynavector trade in program. Traded the old Ruby in on a shiny new 17D3. With the discount ended up really not that much more then a standard retip charge. Happy ending...
 
needlestein said:
I just got one of these and it’s a very good cartridge. Certainly earned its praise, I’d say. No idea how many hours are on mine, what tip, or exactly which model as the ID plate is gone.
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Looks like a Karat Ruby...or 23R. Cantilever is 2.3mm long....and very delicate.
DV 23r.jpg
 
Hope it's OK to drudge this thread up from the dead - i just acquired a working gently used Karat 23r. I will be mounting this on the stock arm of my Denon DP-67L. Just wondering if anybody has married these two? In terms of step up, I'll continue using the built in phono section of the Sony TA E 80ES. Although ti only has two options 3 and 40 ohm, i believe the 40 acts more like 100ohm from what I've read. that being said, would anybody like to chime in about maybe adding a P75 MKIV into the mix, or something else which can be more focused in terms of settings? Will be posting pics when i get it. thanks!
 
Adding a P75 MKIV to the mix is a really good idea. Engaging PE mode will really make your Karat sing.
 
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I got a stock 23R that's in my cart rotation.
I find it a bit full sounding for my ears. Lush.
I also have a broken tip MR that I'm going to try to re-tip with a micro ridge. Maybe that will be more to my liking.
 
twiiii said:
Love my Dynavectors! Best of luck.
Click to expand...
thank you!
@theflattire - i love LUSH - my set up is Sony TA E 80ES - ROTEL RHB-10 - B&W Matrix 805 (with Velodyne sub) so the speakers do like to have warm and lush, since they are a bit critical - I'm using a stock (was NOS) Denon 103D (from around 1980) and i don't want to kill it off too quick, so i'd like to add the 23r and maybe get my XX2 MKII rebuilt from Dynavector at some point (1000€) and then i think i'm good for a long while:)
 
theflattire said:
View attachment 2896572

I got a stock 23R that's in my cart rotation.
I find it a bit full sounding for my ears. Lush.
I also have a broken tip MR that I'm going to try to re-tip with a micro ridge. Maybe that will be more to my liking.
Click to expand...

First of all - beautiful picture! Do you have any tips on headshell matching? I have an old Denon shell and something i'm not sure about the brand - but i need a littel heavier shell to match the arm, since the 23r is so light - so i'm running about 13-17g with the headshell -
Is there anything else to be particularly concerned with when setting up the Karat 23r? The one i'm getting has all the original screes, papers, so maybe that will answer my questions - but i'd like to not kill it when getting it setup:)
 
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