Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Premium build quality is evident, with a titanium headpiece
- Exceptional channel separation
- Remarkable detail retrieval while maintaining musicality
- High-purity silver-wired coils
- Sophisticated PF line contact stylus with outstanding frequency response
Product Considerations
- Requires a high-quality phono stage
- Demands careful setup and alignment
- May lack bass for some listeners
- Frighteningly unprotected features, which can easily break
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs the Koetsu Coralstone and Lyra Parnassus dct, the Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua offers less slam
- Vs the Cartridge Man MusicMaker or the Decca London, the Te Kaitora Rua manages to make the aural image more solid
Takeaway: The Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua is a very detailed cartridge that builds its sound on solid foundations, making for a solid soundstage. It's great for serious vinyl enthusiasts wanting to extract maximum detail from their records.
All
Te Kaitora Rua
reviews
Manufacturer details
- Type: low output moving coil cartridge with flux damper and alnico magnet
- Output Voltage: 0.26 mV (at 1KHz, 5cm/sec.)
- Channel Separation: 30 dB (at 1KHz)
- Channel Balance: 1.0 dB (at 1KHz)
- Frequency Response: 20 - 20,000 Hz(±1dB)
- Compliance: 10 mm/N
- Tracking Force: 1.8 - 2.2 g
- Impedance: 6 ohms
- Recommended Load Impedance: > 30 ohms
- Cantilever: 6mm length solid boron
- Stylus Tip: PF Line contact shape, stylus radius: 7 x 30 micron
- Weight: 9.8 g
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Dynavector cartridges, especially the DRT series, incorporate a unique Alnico magnet design featuring multiple magnets and a magnetic flux damper system, contributing to stable magnetic flux and reduced distortion.
- The brand's Karat series are known for their short, solid gemstone cantilevers (historically ruby or diamond), a distinct design choice aimed at increased rigidity and reduced resonance.
- Dynavector offers specific high-output moving coil cartridges, like the 10X5 models, engineered to be compatible with moving magnet phono stages, simplifying system matching for some users.
- Their cartridges benefit from the company's proprietary "softened magnetism" technology, which employs highly permeable materials to minimize magnetic flux fluctuations, yielding an improved signal-to-noise ratio and transient response.
Select products
10X5 MkII LOW
- Position: An entry-level low output moving coil cartridge known for its long-standing popularity.
- Description: Features a robust design with an aluminum cantilever and magnetic flux damper that delivers smooth treble response. Compared to the more advanced flagship models like the XV-1T or premium offerings such as the KARAT 17DX, its simpler structure and 0.5 mV output make it ideal for small rooms and budget-minded setups without demanding extra functionalities.
XX-2 MkII
- Position: A mid-range low output cartridge that emphasizes improved flux damping and stable alnico magnet performance.
- Description: Combines a solid boron cantilever with PCOCC copper coil technology to yield deeper bass and clearer treble than entry-level models. When compared to the 10X5 MkII LOW, its advanced design offers noticeable sonic improvement, yet it remains less sophisticated than the flagship XV-1T and the diamond-enhanced KARAT 17DX.
TE KAITORA RUA
- Position: A mid to high-range cartridge engineered with advanced materials and an optimized magnetic circuit.
- Description: Uses a titanium head, PCOCC copper coil, and a 6mm boron cantilever to achieve smoother tracking and enhanced musical openness. In contrast to the simpler 10X5 MkII LOW and the mature sound of the XX-2 MkII, its refined magnetic circuit and upgraded coil wire offer improved detail and clarity.
KARAT 17DX
- Position: A premium low output cartridge featuring a diamond cantilever aimed at high-end audio systems.
- Description: Features innovative elements such as a solid diamond cantilever and Samarium-cobalt magnets to deliver clear articulation and an extended frequency response. Compared to the mid-tier TE KAITORA RUA and XX-2 MkII, its advanced build and magnetic properties justify a higher cost.
DRTXV-1T
- Position: The flagship moving coil cartridge designed for ultimate performance in high-end audio systems.
- Description: Features multi-Alnico magnets, a unique square-shaped armature, and Flux Damping technology that together provide an exceptionally balanced and dynamic musical experience. Unlike more affordable models such as the 10X5 MkII LOW or mid-range options like the TE KAITORA RUA and XX-2 MkII, its advanced engineering and refined technology cater to buyers with higher budgets and the need for top-tier functionality in demanding environments.
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Used
Dynavector
What if you spend more?
The familia red body which has always been a feature of the 10X series which has undergone minor improvements has now been manufactured for more than forty years.It represents Dynavectors most popular ever model, favoured by music lovers and audiophiles all over the world.
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- Enhanced musical detail and resolving power due to lighter coils
- More extended and airier sound compared to the high output version
- Vivid and rich musicality, mirroring the high output version
- Very low noise level during playback, suppressing surface noise
- Tracks warped records surprisingly well
- Requires a quality moving coil phono stage or step-up transformer due to low output (0.5mV)
Product Considerations
- Can be highly dependent on tonearm matching for optimal performance
- Some reviewers found the sound dynamically restrained and less involving in certain setups
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Dynavector DV-10X5 MkII (High Output), the low output version provides superior sonic performance with more detail, extension, and airiness
- Vs Dynavector DV20x2, the DV-10X5 MkII L can have more dynamic impact, incisiveness, and PRaT, though this may depend on setup
Takeaway: The DV-10X5 MkII L cartridge is a good choice for listeners who want enhanced detail and a more open sound from their vinyl. With a good phono stage, this cartridge can bring listeners closer to the music.
Video review
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- Uses a Neodymium magnet, the world's most powerful commercially available magnet, enabling unique generator geometry and performance previously unattainable in moving magnet designs
- Has a nude elliptical stylus which provides exceptional tracking accuracy and extracts greater levels of detail from the vinyl groove
- The optimized pole gap gives superior linearity and cross talk characteristics, resulting in a far wider soundstage
- Miniaturized parallel coils wound in-house using 38-micron wire with just 1275 turns produce a low inductance, low impedance generator giving vastly improved high frequency response
- More refined, clean and open sound with much more shine in the treble and a relaxed and nuanced presentation
Product Considerations
- Premium pricing may be a consideration
- Requires careful setup for optimal performance
- The essentially plastic nature of the Nd body could be a concern, though Rega states the threads are durable
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Rega Exact: The Nd5 soundly trounces the outgoing Exact in every department, with a bigger soundstage, more open and sweeter sound, and more grip and grunt
- Vs Goldring 1042: The Nd5 is considerably more refined, clean and open, with much more shine in the treble and a presentation that is relaxed and nuanced by comparison
Takeaway: The Nd5 offers high-end audio quality and brings new life to vinyl, with neutrality, clarity, and excellent tracking ability. It delivers performance approaching high-end moving coil designs with the practicality of a moving magnet.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Considered one of the best moving magnet cartridges available
- Offers a sound quality that resembles a moving coil cartridge, providing an open, airy, and sparkly sound not typically associated with moving magnet designs
- Provides a big 3D soundstage, speed, and musical engagement
- Offers excellent value for money, especially considering the performance
- Uses a fine line nude diamond stylus, which is the same stylus used in Rega's most expensive cartridge, the Aphelion 2
Product Considerations
- Stylus is not user-replaceable, requiring a re-tipping service through a retailer or directly with Rega
- Alignment needs to be more careful due to the fine line stylus
- Some report waiting lists due to high demand
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- ND7 gets close to the performance of Rega's best moving coil, but is not quite equal—there is a clear drop in performance
- ND7 sounds better than the Rega Enea in terms of musicality and tonal balance
- ND7 is considered an upgrade from the Rega Exact
- ND7 offers a bigger soundstage, better dynamics, more powerful/defined bass, and better treble detail than the Rega ND5, which leads to a crisper and more refined presentation
Takeaway: The Rega ND7 is a highly capable moving magnet cartridge that delivers near-moving coil performance at a fraction of the cost and offers a sound that engages the listener. The ND7 is well worth considering for those who want a seriously good cartridge without the expense of a moving coil setup.
Video review
Our take on the brand
The MK II upgrade to our globally best-selling Hana S series cartridges enhances their musical performance and value. Master cartridge designer Masao Okada-san implements a new tapered Aluminum cantilever with increased rigidity, resulting in a remarkable improvement in transferring groove modulation from the vinyl record to the cartridge generator. The S Series MK II cartridges feature higher specified parts, advanced materials, and unique technical processes from Hana's higher-priced elite cartridge models, furthering the Hana "brilliant and gorgeous" sound.
Hana S Series MK II cartridges use a new tapered aluminum cantilever with higher rigidity and effective mass reduction at the stylus tip. This results in greater clarity and increased music transfer from vinyl records to cartridge generator. Critical parts, including the Yoke, Pole-pieces, and gold Terminal pins, have been cryogenically treated for a more natural sound.
The improved, non-resonant body shape, modeled after the Hana M Series, is damped with a matte Soft Feel Black elastomeric resin paint and features a brass cap with threaded cartridge mounting fittings. The heavier MK II cartridges offer better coupling and expanded compatibility with a wider range of tonearms, improving bass and dynamics.
The SL MK II generator, as found in the Umami Blue and ML, incorporates an Alnico magnet and cross-coil using high-purity 30-micron copper wire with an 8Ω impedance. This improves signal-to-noise, reduces moving mass for higher resolution and trackability, and optimizes performance for a broader range of phono stages.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Larger soundstage, better macro and micro dynamics, and more openness on the top end than the original SL
- More information retrieval and better separation of instruments compared to the original SL
- Presents a coherent musical picture with great dynamic expression and good musical flow
- Threaded holes for easier mounting
Product Considerations
- Stylus guard design is the same as the original SL, which is considered contentious to deal with
- Falls short in terms of ultimate openness on the top end and probing the depths of a bassline
- Output level is reduced to 0.4mV from the original SL's 0.5mV
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to the Hana SL (MK I), the MK II outperforms the original in every aspect of sound, with stark differences in sound quality
Takeaway: The Hana SL MK II is a significantly improved cartridge offering a quantum leap in performance compared to its predecessor, making it a worthwhile upgrade for current SL owners and a great value for new buyers. It delivers excellent sound quality and musicality.
Video review
Our take on the brand
What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- A Neodymium N55 magnet is used, the world's most powerful commercially available magnet, potentially providing more power and lower overall mass
- A noticeable signature style of sounding spacious and open is delivered, bringing a sense of air usually associated with moving coil cartridges
- Impressive instrument separation with a much wider soundstage
- An optimized pole gap provides superior linearity and cross talk characteristics, which provides a far wider soundstage than the previous models
- The three-point mount system simplifies alignment, particularly for Rega turntable owners and ensures perfect alignment when used with Rega tonearms
Product Considerations
- The counterweight side of things was a little trickier than some other models because there's no traditional kind of dial and numbers on the counterweight
- The connection pins on the back are smaller than those on the Carbon, so the delicate tags had to be carefully squeezed so that they made a tight fit on the new cartridge
- It is a little reserved in the mid-range, which some listeners may seek out, while others maybe not so much
- Holes do not have brass inserts for the bolts to screw into, but a thread is cut into the body; given that the body is plastic, concern that tightening with the Rega torque driver might strip the thread
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Ortofon 2M Red: Impressive instrument separation with a much wider soundstage
- Vs Rega Carbon: It is open and extended in the treble and superbly timed for its asking price, which really makes the Carbon sound course and dull in the high frequencies
Takeaway: The Nd3 is a step up from entry-level cartridges, providing a noticeable improvement in sound quality, like greater detail and better instrument separation, and it brings welcome sound characteristics and sophistication at an affordable price. The Nd3 is well-suited for those looking for a more open and dynamic listening experience.
Video review
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