The Dynavector XV Prima brings together the open body structure, 8 ALNICO magnets, 4 part equaliser, stable African Ebony support and Special Annealing magnetic circuit into a single highly refined low output moving coil cartridge.

Its soundstage is wide and naturally proportioned, with honest tonality and a balance across the frequency spectrum that simply feels correct. The XV Prima is not a stepping stone. It is a destination.

• Special Annealing for pure iron and ALNICO magnets
• Hybrid aluminium and African Ebony structure
• Inverted V topology with 8 ALNICO magnets
• Square aperture and divided equaliser
• Dual flux damper system
• Solid boron cantilever
• PF line contact stylus

First realised in the Dynavector 20X2A, the Special Annealing Process now reaches the XV Series, bringing the full potential of the magnetic circuit to Dynavector’s flagship design for the first time.

Developed in collaboration with specialists in advanced magnetic materials, the Special Annealing Process addresses a problem that conventional magnetic annealing cannot fully solve. Processing and machining distort the crystal structure of metal at the atomic level, reducing magnetic permeability. A generic annealing process cannot fully reverse this.

Dynavector’s process requires fine tuning of temperature, atmosphere, duration, and both heating and cooling rates for each component. It is a technique inspired by the tradition of Japanese swordsmithing and now applied to the pursuit of perfect sound.

In the XV Prima, this treatment is applied not only to the yokes and equaliser, but also to the eight ALNICO magnets themselves. This pushes the magnetic potential of the ALNICO magnets to the limit, helping restore the pure iron and magnets to their full magnetic capability.

The result is outstanding resolution, smooth wide range expression and an expansive sound field.

Cartridge performance is influenced not only by the magnetic circuit and vibration system, but also by the behaviour of the structure itself. Rather than relying on a single material, the XV Prima combines precision machined aluminium with carefully selected African Ebony used to support the magnetic assembly.

Chosen for its high density, uniform internal structure and natural damping characteristics, the ebony contributes to the stable and balanced sound character that defines the XV Prima.

After precision machining, each ebony component is individually finished by skilled craftsmen to ensure consistency and long term stability. The result is a hybrid structure that combines mechanical integrity with a natural and musically coherent presentation.

Every cartridge design faces the same contradiction: expose the magnetic circuit for sound quality, or enclose it for usability. The XV Series resolves this by redesigning the form itself.

The inverted V body exposes the magnetic circuit and wiring, reducing the energy retention and resonance that enclosures can introduce. At the same time, the structure provides a secure and natural grip, inspiring confidence where most nude cartridges demand caution.

The same refusal to compromise extends to the magnetic circuit itself. In a conventional moving coil cartridge, magnetic flux travels through a yoke to reach the generating coil. Every millimetre of that journey introduces loss and distortion. The XV shortens that journey to its absolute minimum.

Eight ALNICO magnets make this possible. Four form the main circuit through the V shaped front yoke, while four more sit directly adjacent to the armature, one for each coil, delivering flux via the shortest possible path.

ALNICO was chosen deliberately. Where rare earth magnets can generate a powerful but harder field, ALNICO produces a field of exceptional smoothness and linearity. The result is naturalness of tone, delicacy in the upper frequencies and a musical coherence that high energy magnets rarely achieve.

In a conventional magnetic circuit, the flux pathways for each coil can interfere with one another. The XV takes this problem seriously, redesigning small but critical details to ensure proper isolation between the pathways.

The aperture in the front yoke has been redesigned into a square shape with slits at the corners to match the square armature precisely. The equalising piece is divided into four sections, creating an independent magnetic pathway for each coil.

Each coil operates in its own clean channel, free from the cross interference that compromises conventional designs. The result is true channel separation, lower distortion and a level of resolution that the original circuit could not achieve.

Moving coil cartridges are based on the magnetic field, and Dynavector’s founding principle is simple: precision must begin at the source.

During early cartridge development, engineers identified microscopic fluctuations in magnetic flux within the circuit. Even the smallest deviation in flux density changes the magnetic field acting in the air gap, appearing directly as distortion in the output signal.

The flux damper cancels distortion at the root by winding a shorted wire around the front yoke. This produces counter flux that neutralises fluctuations and holds the magnetic field stable. In the XV Series, two flux dampers are wound on each side of the yoke to stabilise the two circuits generated by the eight magnets.

The result is what defines the Dynavector sound: a clean, natural signal free from the distortion that causes harshness and colouration.