Cartridge
typical
Among the 89 cartridges in the catalogue, this one is typical.
A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.
UNIQUE: 1.7mm SOLID DIAMOND cantilever (industry-only design).
Continuation of legendary KARAT series ultra-short cantilever.
Samarium-cobalt magnets, magnetic flux damping.
Designed for speed and transparency.
Assessed against 12 rivals across the sixty systems: it takes the slot in none of its 25 head-to-heads.
The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.
7 lost · BBC Sound, Intimate, PRaT, Twin Arms
Against the Intimate brief, the van den Hul The Crimson keeps the slot decisively.
With the Rega Aura Reference MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the Vertere Groove Runner X, the pairing gives up most on bass control.
On its own merits the Dynavector DV Karat 17DX MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
bass taut and extremely articulateTechRadar/Hi-Fi Choice 2010 (17D3)
6 lost · BBC Sound, Intimate, PRaT
Against the Intimate brief, the van den Hul The Frog keeps the slot decisively.
With the Naim NVC TT MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the Technics S-shape magnesium tonearm (SL-1200G), the pairing gives up most on bass control.
On its own merits the Dynavector DV Karat 17DX MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
bass taut and extremely articulateTechRadar/Hi-Fi Choice 2010 (17D3)
2 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Etsuro Urushi Gold MC keeps the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Dynavector DV Karat 17DX MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.
2 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue MC keeps the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Dynavector DV Karat 17DX MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
1 lost · Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Koetsu Azule Platinum MC keeps the slot clearly.
On its own merits the Dynavector DV Karat 17DX MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.
1 lost · Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Linn Kendo MC keeps the slot decisively.
On its own merits the Dynavector DV Karat 17DX MC is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.
1 lost · Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the Hana EL MC keeps the slot decisively.
With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the ProJect Tonearm 8.6 Carbon (Debut PRO), the pairing gives up most on bass control.
On its own merits the Dynavector DV Karat 17DX MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
bass taut and extremely articulateTechRadar/Hi-Fi Choice 2010 (17D3)
1 lost · Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Goldring Eroica LX MC keeps the slot decisively.
On its own merits the Dynavector DV Karat 17DX MC is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.
1 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Ortofon MC Quintet Black S keeps the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Dynavector DV Karat 17DX MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
1 lost · BBC Sound
Against the BBC Sound brief, the Linn Koil MC keeps the slot decisively.
With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the ProJect Tonearm 8.6 Carbon (Debut PRO), the pairing gives up most on bass control.
On its own merits the Dynavector DV Karat 17DX MC is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC gives up low-level clarity under the BBC Sound weighting.
bass taut and extremely articulateTechRadar/Hi-Fi Choice 2010 (17D3)
1 lost · PRaT
Against the PRaT brief, the Sumiko Blue Point No.3 Low MC keeps the slot decisively.
With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
With the ProJect Tonearm 8.6 Carbon (Debut PRO), the pairing gives up most on rhythmic grip.
On its own merits the Dynavector DV Karat 17DX MC is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC gives up quietness at rest under the PRaT weighting.
dynamicSumiko Blue Point No.3 / Amethyst owner+press consensus
1 lost · Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the van den Hul MC One Special keeps the slot decisively.
On its own merits the Dynavector DV Karat 17DX MC is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.
ultra-short rigid diamond cantilever Dynavector Karat positioning· Micro-dynamic resolution
speed... truly world-class TechRadar/Hi-Fi Choice 2010 (17D3)· Timing precision
bass taut and extremely articulate TechRadar/Hi-Fi Choice 2010 (17D3)· Bass control
sheer musicality and resolution of detail TechRadar/Hi-Fi Choice 2010 (17D3)· Micro-dynamic resolution
some may prefer a richer balance TechRadar/Hi-Fi Choice 2010 (17D3)· Tonal body
| cartridge type | MC |
|---|---|
| output mv | 0.3 |
| internal impedance ohm | 38.0 |
| recommended load ohm | 100 |
| tracking force g | 2.0 |
| compliance dynamic um per mn | 10 |
| weight g | 7.5 |
| stylus profile | Micro-Ridge |
| cantilever material | solid diamond |
| body material | solid brass |
| frequency response hz | 20/20000 |
| notes |