Dynavector XV Prima Phono Cartridge

PRODUCT RELEASE DATE – LATE JUNE 2026

The XV philosophy made whole. Every principle accumulated over decades, the open body, the 8 ALNICO magnets, the 4-part equaliser, the stable African Ebony and now the Special Annealing magnetic circuit, converges into one instrument of exceptional stability and musical integrity.

The soundstage is wide and naturally proportioned. Tonality is honest. The balance across the frequency spectrum is something you stop noticing because it simply sounds correct. The XV Prima is not a stepping stone. It is a destination.

Features of XV Prima phono cartridge

Special Annealing for pure iron and ALNICO magnets

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 and adjustments in temperature, atmosphere, duration, and both heating and cooling rates for each component. A technique passed down through the tradition of Japanese swordsmithing and now applied to the pursuit of perfect sound.

In the XV Prima, this discipline goes further than ever before. Not only the yokes and the equaliser, but the eight ALNICO magnets themselves have also be treated with Dynavector’s Special Annealing. This pushes the ALNICOs potential to its limit. No other Dynavector cartridge has been built this way.

The result is pure iron and magnet restored to its full magnetic potential, delivering unrivalled resolution, smooth wide-range expression and an expansive sound field.

Hybrid Structure with African Ebony

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.

“V” Topology with 8 Magnets

Every cartridge design faces the same contradiction: expose the magnetic circuit for sound quality, or enclose it for usability. Without compromise, the XV series resolves this by redesigning the form itself.

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

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

Eight ALNICO magnets make this possible. Four form the main circuit through the V-shaped front yoke. 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 generate a powerful but harder field, ALNICO produces one 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.

Square Aperture & Equalizer

In a conventional magnetic circuit, the flux pathways for each coil interfere with one another. The XV takes this problem seriously and goes a a step further, redesigning small details that would ensure proper isolation between the pathways.

The opening (aperture) in the front yoke was redesigned into a square shape with slits at the corners to match the square armature precisely, and the equalising piece was divided into four sections, creating an independent magnetic pathway for each coil. Each one 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.

Flux Damper

Moving Coils are based on the magnetic field. 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. This manifests directly as distortion in the output signal.

The flux damper cancels the distortion at the root by winding a shorted wire around the front yoke. The flux damper, produces counter flux that neutralises the fluctuations and holds the magnetic field stable. In the case for 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 that is free from distortion which causes harshness and colouration.