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LP Gear Vivid Line Ortofon D20FL Super Replacement Review

Isaac C.

Isaac C.

Cat Hoarder
Coming soon (probably tonight or in the next few days)!

My system (for reference):
Dynacos A25s (completely original, they have not been recapped)
Hitachi Ha 610 (recapped with Elna Silmics back in November)
Kenwood KD 500 with Syntec S-220 (Rewired with KAB superflex)

First Impressions (less than 5hrs on stylus):
-Much more refined treble (horns don't kill my ears)
-Fast, tight, punchy bass (not muddy or overpowering)
-Detailed, & focused mid-range
-Vocals are very crisp and airy (could be the tonearm if you've been following my Kenwood/Syntec project)
-Very neutral tonal balance
-Center imaging is excellent
-Very revealing of mastering quality
-The hyperelliptical profile reveals more defects in your records

Almost forgot to mention it is a light tracker I've been playing with 1-1.2g, medium compliance (not as compliant as my D20ES generic elliptical). It also tracks very smoothly.
 
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Update: After putting about 10hrs on the stylus these are my updated impressions:

-Extremely spacious and airy presentation. So much more of the recording room ambiance and atmosphere is retrieved from the record
-Instrument decay is the best I've heard in the evolution of my setup, especially piano and cymbal decay.
-Nice soundstage depth, you can easily distinguish who is playing at the front and who is at the back.
-Also the soundstage width seems a little wider.
-Extremely refined treble, the only harshness or shrillness you'll hear is a bad recording or inherently shrill album to begin with.
-Overall it is much more enjoyable to listen to than my other VMS compatible styli. LP Gear's statement "it makes you want to keep listening on and on" couldn't sum it better.
-My original impressions still apply, these are simply addendums.
 
Ilikevinyl said:
Glad your really enjoying the Vivid Line, Isaac! :thumbsup: I knew you were going to enjoy it! ;)
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This is no joke or placebo whatsever, but these Dynacos are producing such an immersive/spacious sound that I didn't even think was possible for such speakers. Just within me posting my impressions about 45 minutes ago and listening all the way through Chicago Transit Authority, I could hear a gradual improvement in the overall presentation.
 
Isaac C. said:
This is no joke or placebo whatsever, but these Dynacos are producing such an immersive/spacious sound that I didn't even think was possible for such speakers. Just within me posting my impressions about 45 minutes ago and listening all the way through Chicago Transit Authority, I could hear a gradual improvement in the overall presentation.
Click to expand...

Your probably hearing a nice 3D sound stage! :music:

What's the given tracking force range for the Vivid Line?
 
I just received a vivid line stylus for an AT LS500 cartridge and couldn’t agree with Isaac more. In addition, it seemed to “quiet down” the surface noise and scratches on my albums. Very satisfied with the purchase
 
Isaac C. said:
It actually didn't say, but I've settled at 1.1g. 1.5g bogged down the suspension a bit, and .8g was a little light.
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Just checked, Vivid Line tracking force range is 1-1.5 grams. I would track it at 1.4 grams. I always track at the top of the recommend force range! The high frequencies are tracked better towards the top of the tracking force range. Try 1.4 grams!
 
Isaac C. said:
Update: After putting about 10hrs on the stylus these are my updated impressions:

-Extremely spacious and airy presentation. So much more of the recording room ambiance and atmosphere is retrieved from the record
-Instrument decay is the best I've heard in the evolution of my setup, especially piano and cymbal decay.
-Nice soundstage depth, you can easily distinguish who is playing at the front and who is at the back.
-Also the soundstage width seems a little wider.
-Extremely refined treble, the only harshness or shrillness you'll hear is a bad recording or inherently shrill album to begin with.
-Overall it is much more enjoyable to listen to than my other VMS compatible styli. LP Gear's statement "it makes you want to keep listening on and on" couldn't sum it better.
-My original impressions still apply, these are simply addendums.
Click to expand...

I've picked up quite a few VL's now, and for the most part they are VERY impressive. I have had a couple 'clunkers' though (but your mileage may very, right?). I would LOVE to see those VL's having options for things like those black carbon cantilevers, as well as a nude stylus option! The cut really is a good one!
 
I still think the Vivid Line styli are a steal. I think they are the best bang for the buck. However, the recent increase in the Vivid Line stylus for the Shure M91ED is getting a little out of line IMHO. It now costs more than a Vivid Line stylus for the M97.
 
Isaac C. said:
This is no joke or placebo whatsever, but these Dynacos are producing such an immersive/spacious sound that I didn't even think was possible for such speakers. Just within me posting my impressions about 45 minutes ago and listening all the way through Chicago Transit Authority, I could hear a gradual improvement in the overall presentation.
Click to expand...
Appreciate you addressing the depth/spaciousness realm as that to me is what separates the adolescents from the grown ups. And is something not addressed much in forums like this, probably because it takes a certain level of system and room to present the spatial information. Or maybe its something folks just don't care much about?

I have a recapped Nikko Beta preamp, it sounds nice, sounds like 80s seperates hifi; clear, even response, nice image width, not the best dynamics or spatial capabilities. Even with Elna Silmic ll's everywhere, upgraded power supply, etc, it lacks spaciousness and tends to make turntables and cartridges sound very similar. I would imagine that most receivers are even worse. (Please put "worse" in perspective... I'm still talking about nice sounding component that are desirable even today) With electronics and speakers that present spatial information well, differences in turntables, arms cartridges become very obvious.

Pat
 
psemeraro said:
Appreciate you addressing the depth/spaciousness realm as that to me is what separates the adolescents from the grown ups. And is something not addressed much in forums like this, probably because it takes a certain level of system and room to present the spatial information. Or maybe its something folks just don't care much about?

I have a recapped Nikko Beta preamp, it sounds nice, sounds like 80s seperates hifi; clear, even response, nice image width, not the best dynamics or spatial capabilities. Even with Elna Silmic ll's everywhere, upgraded power supply, etc, it lacks spaciousness and tends to make turntables and cartridges sound very similar. I would imagine that most receivers are even worse. (Please put "worse" in perspective... I'm still talking about nice sounding component that are desirable even today) With electronics and speakers that present spatial information well, differences in turntables, arms cartridges become very obvious.

Pat
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response! As you are aware each album is different and some simply sound better than others. But it's pretty wild playing a really well mastered record with this stylus because it reproduces spatial information so well that it's kinda freaky because you can hear where the musician is fairly well but can't see them, it's so tangible compared to other styli I have tried. I have an original VMS 5E MKII albeit worn, but it's pretty dull and lifeless. I had a generic elliptical F15E replacement I accidentally broke that was extremely neutral all the way around and had a nice refined non harsh treble that I liked. I also have a generic D20ES that is extremely bright, I hardly use it anymore because the treble is so harsh. Lastly, I have the LP Gear D20FL Super that I like the best of the bunch (I just ordered another one, elliptical, for my other TT). The Vividline stylus reproduces decay, echo, and, recording room acoustics incredibly well, better than the others. It's simply on another level.

I recapped my Hitachi last November with Elna Silmics II, it definitely brought life back to the music, not to mention some of the originals were leaky. I'm in the market for some different speakers because at this point I think I'm pushing the Dynacos to the absolute limit of what they are capable of. Although I plan on recapping them first just to see before I drop some serious $$$ on some floorstanding speakers.
 
I just received an LP Gear NF-15XE II and it put it on the Kenwood until I get my Sanyo set back up. So far it sounds great! For ~$38 shipped it's another great sounding stylus from LP Gear.
 
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