The Dynavector XV Ultima is a flagship low output moving coil cartridge created for the listener who has heard everything and is still searching. It uses research grade ultra high purity iron, ultra fine coil wire, a precision cross cut armature and a no compromise magnetic circuit to retrieve music with exceptional purity, resolution and presence.

Quieter between the notes and more present within them, the XV Ultima has been developed without concession to material cost or construction complexity. Every part of the cartridge has been considered in pursuit of lower distortion, greater stability and a more natural musical presentation.

• Research grade ultra high purity iron armature
• Ultra fine pure copper coil wire
• Hybrid aluminium and bamboo composite body
• Inverted V topology with 8 ALNICO magnets
• Square aperture and divided equaliser
• Dual flux damper system
• Special Annealing for pure iron and ALNICO magnet

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 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 discipline inspired by the tradition of Japanese swordsmithing and now applied to the pursuit of perfect sound.

In the XV Ultima, this treatment goes further than ever before. Not only the yokes and equaliser, but also the eight ALNICO magnets themselves are treated with Dynavector’s Special Annealing. This pushes the magnetic potential of the ALNICO magnets to the limit.

In pursuit of true sound retrieval, Dynavector turned its attention to the moving assembly itself. Every gram between stylus and signal is a compromise, adding mass that must be accelerated, decelerated and controlled at the frequencies where the ear is most sensitive.

The coil bobbin is made from research grade ultra high purity iron, far exceeding the purity of conventional magnetic materials. This exceptional material responds to minute magnetic changes with outstanding linearity and minimal signal distortion.

The bobbin is precision cut into a cross armature shape, removing unnecessary material while preserving the rigidity required for precise coil alignment. Ultra fine pure copper wire, thinner than a human hair, is then used to reduce moving mass to an absolute minimum.

The lower the moving mass, the more faithfully the stylus follows groove modulations. The result is exceptional low level resolution, silence between notes and a soundstage that combines delicacy with physical presence.

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 Ultima combines precision machined aluminium with specially treated laminated bamboo selected for its balance of rigidity, low mass and natural damping behaviour.

The bamboo composite is engineered for dimensional stability and precision machining, providing a stable foundation for the magnetic assembly while helping to control unwanted resonance.

The surface is finished with a coating inspired by traditional Japanese Urushi finishes, further enhancing rigidity and damping performance. The result is a hybrid structure that combines mechanical stability with a natural and unforced musical 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.