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PLEASE CHECK AVAILABILITY BEFORE CONFIRMING YOUR PURCHASE! Our stock can change any minute – we sell through various sales channels.Brand New! – Closed Box.We are authorised dealers of the finest audio gear and musical instruments.Note 1: Free shipping within EU. If outside EU, please message us for specific shipping price to your particular location. The price you see is only a generic estimation for “outside EU”.Note 2: This product is custom ordered. Please, message us to check lead time for shipping.Note 3: We can quote any DYNAVECTOR product at the best market price.Note 4: We sell without taxes anywhere outside Europe and to valid VAT ID companies inside Europe. Please ask us your price without Tax in those cases.Note 5: We can quote any kind of bundle with our products at the most convenient prices. Just ask for it.DYNAVECTOR TE KAITORA RUA - LOW OUTPUT MOVING COIL WITH FLUX DAMPER AND ALNICO MAGNETTitanium head with most advanced magnetic circuit designDescription of Te Kaitora RuaThe original Te Kaitora moving coil cartridge was the result of collaboration between Dynavector Japan and Dynavector New Zealand. The Te Kaitora allowed analogue enthusiasts to embark on a voyage of discovery to the outer limits of vinyl reproduction.The improved Te Kaitora Rua phono cartridge continues the journey by incorporating many of the newest features of its Dynavector stable-mates, the XV-1s and XX-2. The Te Kaitora Rua phono cartridge has even managed to improve on the original's silk-like treble and openness.Note: Te Kaitora means "The Discoverer" in the language of the NZ Maori people, Rua, is "the second version".Improvements of Te Kaitora Rua phono cartridgeThe wire for the coil has been changed to the PCOCC copper wire from the silver wire. It sounds a much smoother and has a much better musical performance.A titanium headpiece for maximum ridgity along with a miniature stainless steel bolt coupling the front and rear yokes to the magnetic circuit assembly.A 6mm long boron cantilever with the Pathfinder (PF) line contact stylus as used with both Dynavector XV-1s and XX-2 moving coil cartridge.The ingenious square shaped armature and matching square shaped aperture in the front yoke providing much improved linearity in the magnetic flux distribution.Alnico magnets are used for high magnetic flux density.SpecificationsType low output moving coil cartridge with flux damper and alnico magnetOutput 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/NTracking force 1.8 - 2.2 gImpedance 6 ohmsRecommended load impedance > 30 ohmsCantilever 6mm length solid boronStylus tip PF Line contact shape,stylus radius: 7 x 30 micronWeight 9.8 g
The Te Kaitora Rua has a strong reputation as a refined, top-tier moving-coil cartridge, and this asking price lands below the 25th percentile of your recent USD comps, so it reads as a good buy rather than a stretch. At US$3,284 versus a median of US$3,763, it sits meaningfully under the market’s center and close enough to the low end to feel like a bargain if the stylus, cantilever, and suspension are in healthy shape.
What makes it worth chasing is the cartridge’s combination of resolution, speed, and tonal poise; it’s the sort of pickup that rewards a serious arm/phono stage and can sound more “finished” than many newer alternatives. If the listing includes the original box, guard, and any alignment paperwork, that adds real confidence, especially on a high-value cartridge. The only thing I’d scrutinize is condition and play hours, since wear matters more here than cosmetics.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Dynavector is a Japanese analog specialist founded in 1974 by Dr. Noboru Tomonari, a mechanical engineering professor who brought precision engineering expertise to high-fidelity audio. Based in Japan, the company has maintained continuous operation for over five decades under the leadership of Tomonari's son, Taro, following the founder's death in 2003. This lineage of technical rigor and commitment to analog reproduction defines the brand's identity and philosophy.
The company is renowned exclusively for moving coil phono cartridges and tonearms—products that sit at the intersection of mechanical engineering and analog playback. Dynavector's cartridge portfolio spans multiple series, from the entry-level 10X5 to the premium KARAT line, which pioneered the use of gemstone cantilevers (diamond and ruby) beginning in 1979. The company also manufactures the acclaimed DV 507 tonearm, a bi-axis design introduced in 1984. Dynavector's engineering innovations include proprietary coil-winding techniques for high-output moving coils and advanced annealing processes that enhance magnetic permeability.
Dynavector occupies a distinctive position as a high-end boutique manufacturer with strong credibility among serious analog enthusiasts. The brand is respected for delivering measurable sonic improvements through rigorous design rather than marketing hype, and it has successfully democratized moving coil technology by offering high-output variants that work with standard MM inputs. While positioned at the premium end of the market, Dynavector maintains accessibility across price points, earning particular loyalty from collectors and music lovers seeking authentic analog reproduction backed by decades of specialized expertise.
See all Dynavector listings on RADAR.
