philb7777
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From another thread there was interest in my experience comparing the Dynavector XV-1T to the XV-1S. So I started this thread to not detract from the other thread's initial topics.
I just received my XV-1T yesterday and have only about 5 hours on it after set up. It drops right in for the XV-1T (same SRA, same overhang, same AS) but the VTF needs significant adjustment as the XV-1T is 0.6 grams lighter than the XV-1s. Set up was using a Mint Protractor specific for my tonearm. Associated equipment is TW Acustic Raven AC turntable, TW Acustic TW 10.5 tonearm, ARC Ref Phono 2se, ARC Ref 5 se, and ARC Ref 250 mono amps. Loudspeakers are Avalon Eidolon Diamonds and cables are Cardas Golden Reference.
I set the VTF at 2.005 g for the XV-1t and used 1.975g for the XV-1s. As the XV-1t breaks in I expect that I will decrease the VTF a bit. Loading on the XV-1t was set at both 200 ohms and 500 ohms on the Ref Phono 2 Se and was 100 ohms on the XV-1s (XV-1t internal impedance is 24 ohms vs 6 ohms for the XV-1s). At this point I'm not sure which load I like better for the XV-1t, the 200 or 500 ohm setting. As the cart breaks in, I am betting it will be the 500 ohm setting.
Now on to the comparison, category by category:
Soundstaging: Clear winner is the XV-1T, much more refined and has fully fleshed out 3D images inside of a 3D soundstage. There is much more air around the images with the XV-1T. Soundstage width and depth were more expansive with the XV-1T.
Noisefloor: Both the XV-1T and XV-1s are champs here. Both have very low noise floors and surface noise is all but inaudible from the listening position. I found no discernible difference in my system when comparing the output of both carts (XV-1T 0.35 mV, XV-1S 0.30 mV).
Dynamics: slight edge to the XV-1T over the XV-1s. Macro - both very similar; micro - slight edge to XV-1T
Musicality: Pretty much a toss up as both carts are typical Dynavector - a chameleon in that they do everything quite well. Both carts have a nice sweet musical tone to them.
Bass: Clear winner is the XV-1T; bass much faster. PRAT better. Bass extension similar in the XV-1s, but much tighter and focussed.
Detail retrieval: Again the clear winner is the XV-1T. Much more texture and detail than the XV-1s. Subtle details I had never heard before were coming through on several of my 'go-to' records. In fact, it was almost spooky the amount of times I was surprised to hear subtleties I had not heard before.
So now the $4K question: Is the XV-1T worth spending $4K more on than the XV-1s? I would say it depends. If you are an analog guy that plays 95% vinyl and 5% digital or streaming, and your system warrants a megabuck cart, then the XV-1T is absolutely worth the investment and worth the jump from the XV-1s. I personally have spent more money in other areas of my system and not received the improved qualities mentioned above. All that being said, the XV-1s is a FANTASTIC cart and XV-1s owners should be very happy and proud of that cart. At $5500, its a 'steal' in these days of rapidly escalating prices for audio carts. For those who are considering an XV-1T, it's a world class cart that will likely be state of the art for several years along with other carts such as the Ortofon Anna, Zyx Universe II, Clearaudio Goldfinger, and Air Tight PC Supreme to name a few. As the XV-1T breaks in, I will report back on its changes and improvements.
I just received my XV-1T yesterday and have only about 5 hours on it after set up. It drops right in for the XV-1T (same SRA, same overhang, same AS) but the VTF needs significant adjustment as the XV-1T is 0.6 grams lighter than the XV-1s. Set up was using a Mint Protractor specific for my tonearm. Associated equipment is TW Acustic Raven AC turntable, TW Acustic TW 10.5 tonearm, ARC Ref Phono 2se, ARC Ref 5 se, and ARC Ref 250 mono amps. Loudspeakers are Avalon Eidolon Diamonds and cables are Cardas Golden Reference.
I set the VTF at 2.005 g for the XV-1t and used 1.975g for the XV-1s. As the XV-1t breaks in I expect that I will decrease the VTF a bit. Loading on the XV-1t was set at both 200 ohms and 500 ohms on the Ref Phono 2 Se and was 100 ohms on the XV-1s (XV-1t internal impedance is 24 ohms vs 6 ohms for the XV-1s). At this point I'm not sure which load I like better for the XV-1t, the 200 or 500 ohm setting. As the cart breaks in, I am betting it will be the 500 ohm setting.
Now on to the comparison, category by category:
Soundstaging: Clear winner is the XV-1T, much more refined and has fully fleshed out 3D images inside of a 3D soundstage. There is much more air around the images with the XV-1T. Soundstage width and depth were more expansive with the XV-1T.
Noisefloor: Both the XV-1T and XV-1s are champs here. Both have very low noise floors and surface noise is all but inaudible from the listening position. I found no discernible difference in my system when comparing the output of both carts (XV-1T 0.35 mV, XV-1S 0.30 mV).
Dynamics: slight edge to the XV-1T over the XV-1s. Macro - both very similar; micro - slight edge to XV-1T
Musicality: Pretty much a toss up as both carts are typical Dynavector - a chameleon in that they do everything quite well. Both carts have a nice sweet musical tone to them.
Bass: Clear winner is the XV-1T; bass much faster. PRAT better. Bass extension similar in the XV-1s, but much tighter and focussed.
Detail retrieval: Again the clear winner is the XV-1T. Much more texture and detail than the XV-1s. Subtle details I had never heard before were coming through on several of my 'go-to' records. In fact, it was almost spooky the amount of times I was surprised to hear subtleties I had not heard before.
So now the $4K question: Is the XV-1T worth spending $4K more on than the XV-1s? I would say it depends. If you are an analog guy that plays 95% vinyl and 5% digital or streaming, and your system warrants a megabuck cart, then the XV-1T is absolutely worth the investment and worth the jump from the XV-1s. I personally have spent more money in other areas of my system and not received the improved qualities mentioned above. All that being said, the XV-1s is a FANTASTIC cart and XV-1s owners should be very happy and proud of that cart. At $5500, its a 'steal' in these days of rapidly escalating prices for audio carts. For those who are considering an XV-1T, it's a world class cart that will likely be state of the art for several years along with other carts such as the Ortofon Anna, Zyx Universe II, Clearaudio Goldfinger, and Air Tight PC Supreme to name a few. As the XV-1T breaks in, I will report back on its changes and improvements.