Dynavector Karat 23R

[Spacebulb]

Update - mounted the 23r to the stock straght arm and headshell of the DP67L - absolutely divine - but then a Karat 100r came up for 50 Euros locally with a twisted ruby, but hardly used diamond. I took a chance, had it sent to a nearby master who in no time had to sorted for another 50. So with 100 in i had what seemed to be a hardly used 100r.

Well i mounted that on my S arm for the Denon DP67L - and well, after initial set up with protactor and all, i used the test record to check the horizontal and vertikal amplitude response -english term? german Abtasttest - in any case it played with NO distortion to both of the top extremes of that test, 100 and 50 - was absolutely floored about that. In any case, I'm leaving the Karat 100r on the record player for now - it's just sublime - I can't imagine wanting another cart outside of these Rubies - i'm going to start collecting the 100r, 23r and whatever i can find with the ruby cantalever- these things match and synergize with my system perfectly.
All that being said - and I'm not even sure i need it - but i would love to try a SUT into my Sony TA E80ES pre - i havent'l locked down a P75 to test locally - wondering if the old Denon HA series would also be a good match? Do any memebers have experience using the Dynas with those vintage Denon SUTs? The Sony seems to have a perfect amount of gain, and it's loading at 30 Ohm - i never even need to get to 11 o'clock and it's just beautifully loud and lush.

 

[Spacebulb]

Sorry to be late but I can't help with the headshell.
Be careful with the Karats; they are difficult to repair, especially the generators. I have two dead Karats on my desk.
Maybe save up and try the 17DX.

Not sure what you mean with headshell?
Luckily I have a guy nearby who can basically fix basically anything as it pertains to the Rubys, and I'll be using them for a long time to come. I've no interest in the new carts, I had a XX2 MKII and these Rubys Sound easily as good with my setup, and I can buy three or four, or maybe more for the cost of rebuilding that one.
Well I'll probably have the XX2 rebuilt eventually just to have back on the rotation.
I'm much more interested in matching a SUT or pre amp with them and see what that does.
Any thoughts on that?

 

[Legrace]

Say it again, PE mode on a P75.

 

[Spacebulb]

Say it again, PE mode on a P75.

hmmm, ok - yeah i guess that synergizes the best - i did like the review of the Avid Pulses - but maybe just stick with Dynavector - just wish i could demo one out, and not buy it used and have to resell it - they do not seem to move quickly around here - thanks for the advice -

 

[cafe latte]

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.

Soundsmith won't retip a 17D3 actually few retippers will touch them, I only know one that will.
Chris

 

[Spacebulb]

Soundsmith won't retip a 17D3 actually few retippers will touch them, I only know one that will.
Chris

well i can say i have a guy who will touch and retip them, or any other repair needed including suspension repair, rewinding coils...and if the ruby cant is still there and in good condition, he will retip on that, which at least to me, is important, since i love the ruby

 

[cafe latte]

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!

The issue with these carts is they are very hard to retip, most retippers won't go near them. If the diamond needs replacing is passes through a tiny laser drilled hole glued inside. Removing thr old tip is very very difficult and most retippers won't get involved especially on the 17d3.
If the cantilever is snapped there is only 2mm to fit a receiving cup and then fit a cantilever. Doable but moving mass won't be as low as before and very very difficult. Also replacement diamond cantilever cost crazy money so not viable. I would avoid Dynavector totally with broken cantilevers. Maybe get one needing a retip but be aware it won't be a cheap retip.
Chris

 

[cafe latte]

well i can say i have a guy who will touch and retip them, or any other repair needed including suspension repair, rewinding coils...and if the ruby cant is still there and in good condition, he will retip on that, which at least to me, is important, since i love the ruby

They can be done but few will and I really doubt he can do the coils on a 17d3 and i am not aware of any retipper retipping them. As I said in my other post if the cantilever is snapped nobody can make it like new again, it can be fixed but it will never be the same.
Chris

 

[Celadon]

They can be done but few will and I really doubt he can do the coils on a 17d3 and i am not aware of any retipper retipping them. As I said in my other post if the cantilever is snapped nobody can make it like new again, it can be fixed but it will never be the same.
Chris

MY experiences exactly =

Few will touch these, and those that will -- please provide supportive evidence therof,with successful results.
Saying I can retip or recantilever is one thing -- proving it electronically/listening is ANOTHER
Fellow Ak'ers like ME wanna know

Thanks -- need a cart replacement while Soundsmith has my current cart ----

 

[adnick]

well i can say i have a guy who will touch and retip them, or any other repair needed including suspension repair, rewinding coils...and if the ruby cant is still there and in good condition, he will retip on that, which at least to me, is important, since i love the ruby

Then please share his info with the group, it’s difficult to find someone with the skill set and time to do those…..

VR
Andy

 

[Celadon]

Please do share -- and also verification of work done --
Ones saying "I can do it" is kinda like saying -- "I can do brakes on your Benz" - or perhaps Porsche ---
The work completed ? ehh

BTW, "Does your wife drive the car? "

Celadon

Then please share his info with the group, it’s difficult to find someone with the skill set and time to do those…..

VR
Andy

 

[Spacebulb]

They can be done but few will and I really doubt he can do the coils on a 17d3 and i am not aware of any retipper retipping them. As I said in my other post if the cantilever is snapped nobody can make it like new again, it can be fixed but it will never be the same.
Chris

Sorry to be clear, I was speaking of the Karat 100r/23r series in my case

 

[Spacebulb]

Then please share his info with the group, it’s difficult to find someone with the skill set and time to do those…..

VR
Andy

Hi group!
Well, of course, as i said, he CLAIMS he can do this - i have a pending sale of a Dyna 100r which needs a suspension repair, and i was going to try him out with that first, and then at some point have my 23r retipped, although it doesn't need it now - which he also claims he can retip and save the ruby cantelver.

As I said, he straghtened the ruby cantelever with original diamond on a 100r perfectly, and within a day of it arriving, next day was sent to me. i'm in Austria, so this is perfect for me, since there are no people doing this kind of super meticulous/impossible work near here. I cannot vouch for his method or quality as of yet, i only meant to say, in theory, i have a guy - apologies for semantics.

He is in Poland and i can only communicate with him using translate apps. Super nice guy though. He also has a website where you can certainly send him a mail and he sells his retipps- he has documented repairs of all kinds of carts on a forum here, look forward to hearing other members' opinions.
Tomsz Kotlewski
https://www.olx.pl/oferty/uzytkownik/1zIs3/#826205038

 

[cafe latte]

Hi group!
Well, of course, as i said, he CLAIMS he can do this - i have a pending sale of a Dyna 100r which needs a suspension repair, and i was going to try him out with that first, and then at some point have my 23r retipped, although it doesn't need it now - which he also claims he can retip and save the ruby cantelver.

As I said, he straghtened the ruby cantelever with original diamond on a 100r perfectly, and within a day of it arriving, next day was sent to me. i'm in Austria, so this is perfect for me, since there are no people doing this kind of super meticulous/impossible work near here. I cannot vouch for his method or quality as of yet, i only meant to say, in theory, i have a guy - apologies for semantics.

He is in Poland and i can only communicate with him using translate apps. Super nice guy though. He also has a website where you can certainly send him a mail and he sells his retipps- he has documented repairs of all kinds of carts on a forum here, look forward to hearing other members' opinions.
Tomsz Kotlewski
https://www.olx.pl/oferty/uzytkownik/1zIs3/#826205038

The link you sent me go to post 73, it shows why he is not as good as you think he is. There are very good retippers out there taking carts back to factory or better but post 73 shows me he is not.
https://www.winyl.net/viewtopic.php?t=11258&start=60

 

[Spacebulb]

The link you sent me go to post 73, it shows why he is not as good as you think he is. There are very good retippers out there taking carts back to factory or better but post 73 shows me he is not.
https://www.winyl.net/viewtopic.php?t=11258&start=60

Happy for clarification, that's why i'm on here, to be educated, many thanks Chris!