Turntables, Arms & Cartridges

For a low-output MC without a 'fancy' cantilever or line contact diamond, Dynavector's Aska-L puts in a worthy performance. That cantilever – a full 6mm in length – is a hardened alloy tube, crimped and fitted with a shank-mounted elliptical diamond, a combination that would typically betray a limited HF response and often with a dip preceding a resonance around 14kHz [HFN Feb '22]. Not so here as, possibly proof of its 'Flux Damper' and other technologies [see boxout], the Aska-L delivers a remarkably flat stereo response that's true to within ±0.75dB from 20Hz-20kHz [dashed trace, Graph 1]. The symmetry of the generator is slightly less impressive, however, as lateral cuts are reproduced with a stronger presence and treble than vertical cuts [black vs. red traces, Graph 1], favouring centrally-mic'd performers, for example. Distortion is no lower than we might see with a top-flight pick-up, although the increase from 1%/1kHz to 20%/20kHz [stereo, –8dB re. 5cm/sec; Graph 2] is merely a function of the Aska-L's extended response.

The reduced 5ohm coil impedance (versus 150ohm for the Aska-H) delivers a lower, but still very useable, 355μV output (re. 1kHz/5cm/sec) alongside a slightly 'loose' 0.75dB channel balance and >23dB separation (all re. 20Hz-20kHz). VTA looks closer to 26° than 20° while the 15-20cu compliance – softer than the rated 12cu – combined with the low 5.8g bodyweight, renders it very compatible with a range of low/medium mass tonearms. Finally, the Aska-L is a very secure tracker at its recommended 2.0g downforce, tracing up to ~70-75µm and keeping hold of the penultimate (+15dB) test groove modulation at 0.5% THD (re. 315Hz/5cm/sec). PM