All about the Dynavector DV-10AX Moving coil cartridge.
Since the original model came out in 1978, there have been numerous improved versions, the last being the 10X5MKII. Having spent the last month with the new 10XA-H version we’re thrilled with the sound; everything we love about analogue and the promise of moving coil cartridges is here – a full, rich sound with a cinematic soundstage.
Three things make this a very special cartridge; The ‘A’ designates that Dynavector have applied their special ‘Magnetic Annealing’ technology which has made such a big improvement with the models above – the DV 20X-2A and DV XX-2A.
The stylus is a Shibata Type III stylus, known for its superior high-frequency response and awesome detail.
Last but not least, Dynavector have continually improved the output performance without compromising the qualities that make the moving coil design so attractive. The DV 10XA runs straight into any moving magnet phono stage and doesn’t need any extra amplification.
We’ve had some really nice moving magnet cartridges come our way recently; the Nagaoka JT-80 Black is really impressive at just under NZ$1000. Is the Dynavector appreciably better for another $300?
To find out, we uncovered our Well Tempered Simplex II turntable and set the new DV-10XA up. Mounting this cartridge is really easy as the two provided stainless steel allen bolts screw directly into the aluminium body of the cartridge so there are no fiddly little nuts to deal with and no risk of over tightening.
The tracking force recommendation is 1.8 to 2.2gm but it’s important to note that like most cartridges, this is a 20 degrees C. Being in Dunedin is sometimes a little less toasty and so I’ve opted for just over 2.2 after an initial listen. The Shibata stylus is sensitive to VTA – vertical tracking angle – ie arm height, and so it is very much worth adjusting this too. In both cases I do this simply by listening and adjusting in small increments. You’ll know when you get it right.
The Well Tempered turntables also allow us to vary the damping applied by the viscous silicon fluid to the motion of the tonearm. With the DV-10XA I found myself gradually reducing this damping as the cartridge warmed up and we improved other aspects of the set up.
With a compliance of 12mm/N and a weight of 7.5g, the 10XA is compatible with most tonearms from light to medium weight. (Headshells that are not too heavy is recommended) If you’d like an in-depth explanation on the finer points of arm/cartridge matching Dynavecor have a most helpful guide here ⇒ … learn more about Phono Cartridge and Tonearm Matching
What this means in the context of your own turntable will vary; we will certainly be able to set your cartridge up for you if you are able to visit. And we’ll also be able to provide turntable specific advise should you wish to set your own up.
On paper, the specification of the 10XA is little different from the 10X5 MK2 but it was immediately obvious that the Annealing technology has worked it’s magic in the same way that we have found with the more upmarket Dynavector models – and in many ways the end effect is greater.
The new 10XA is smooth – really smooth. The tracking ability is absolutely first rate. I’d attribute this to a combination of factors including the stylus, compliance and tracking force. There’s no edginess at all and the 10XA feels absolutely secure in the groove. Surface noise is way down.
There’s a definite velvety texture to the music that’s a world away from the analytical presentation of digital. And of all the cartridges I’ve listened to recently, the DV10XA has, by far and away the richest, warmest presentation.
But within this warmth is the ability to subtly unwind and reveal musical detail. Other cartridges with Shibata styli often swing to the other extreme and are all about transient speed and attack. So while the Dynavector casts a warm glow over the proceedings, you can hear right into the recording in the same way that the best tube amplifiers excel in midrange resolution.
And as with all Dynavector cartridges, the sound-staging is expansive and three dimensional – this is really what moving could design is all about and can be quite the experience for the first time listener.
All of these qualities become more apparent as the album count mounts up.
The absence of distortion allows you to hear further into recordings – this is the reason for the annealing process. With the 10XA I feel that my characterisation of warmth in the sound is largely due to the reduction of high frequency ringing and hash from that process. Many listeners find that, over time, they become more sensitive, or even irritated by high frequency distortion, even if it’s at the upper edge of their hearing range. The 10XA is an antidote to this.
At the low end, the 10XA digs deeply – again the great tracking ability helps. The warm character is underpinned by a solid foundation which can really give speakers a good work out. The translucent red colour of the cartridge body is as good an indication of the sound quality and character as any written description.
Why build a cartridge that sounds like everybody elses?
Over time and many different versions, the Dynavector 10X has always had to improve in order to remain competitive, first against other cartridges, then against digital and now both. One big advantage Dynavector has is that most of their work is focused on their higher end moving coil cartridges – so in simple terms when they ask how can we make the 10X better the answer is to make it more like the better models. Easier said than done of course when the aim is still to deliver and affordable entry into the range. The annealing process is one aspect that can be readily incorporated and as we’ve seen further up the range, it makes a big improvement.
In fact I think the benefit to the 10XA is greater as the gap between the earlier 10X5MkII and DV20XA was starting to get uncomfortably wide for a relatively small difference in price. But rather than just trying to sound like it’s bigger brother, the 10XA retains it’s own voice making it a better match for some of the more modest turntables and systems it’s likely to end up working with.
And this is really the key to the 10XA – it’s a fantastic introduction to the possibilities of the moving coil design and really highlights just how warm and organic the best of analogue can sound. This is why it’s as a unique a proposition as it was on introduction in the late 1970s. But rather than looking backwards, it delivers class leading resolution with exceptional fluidity that rivals not just other cartridges but challenges digital and streaming by showing that there’s more than one way way to appreciate music.
‘The 10XA is beautifully made and finished and has a clean, open, dynamic sound with the resolving power to allow you to listen into and appreciate the nuances and flourishes that set good musicians apart from the crowd. It also conveys the rhythmic momentum and energy of the music well and gets your foot tapping along to the beat. It took everything I threw at it in its stride and this tends to suggest that Dynavector’s painstaking attention to how metallurgy affects the sound of a cartridge has paid off in spades – in not just the 10XA, but also the DV 20X-2A and XX-2A I reviewed last year.
I recommend the DV 10XA wholeheartedly. It offers excellent performance and value for money, and if you have an amplifier that only has a moving magnet phono input, opting for the high-output version at the same price will save you the additional cost of a step-up transformer or phono stage.’
To learn more about our range of Dynavector cartridges visit our pages here.
Our review of the DV17DX is one of the ‘most read’ pages on our site and give you an insight as to what is possible beyond the entry level 10XA
And last year we summarised the performance of the new DV20X2-A – the next step up from the 10AX and also available in high output form.