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cartridge upgrade advice

Currently using a Grado Gold on a Luxman PD441 table and Denon DA-307 tonearm. Thinking about Grado The Reference, one of the Sound Smiths, or Denon DL-S1 or modded 103R (side question is whether Denon cartridge is necessarily better matched to Denon arm). Listen to all types of music; rock, jazz, some classical.
bdunne
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,993 posts
 
Zu Audio/Denon 103...as long as you have enough phono stage gain.
bdunne OP
60 posts
 
Thanks. I'm going directly into a Rogue Audio 66 Magnum tube pre-amp with its stock phono stage. Is this good enough?
mattmiller's avatar
mattmiller
1,497 posts
 
The Denon 103...is a cartridge with HIGH compliance (25) and it requires a Heavy tonearm to mate properly.Also, if you can get away from the round shaped diamond ,you should. Elliptical or a line contact will be the best upgrade.Be careful with this Low output MC cartridge the DL-103. I tried this on my Med weight RB-301 Tonearm and it was a terrible match. I put a Dynavector 10x5 on the Rega arm and its magic!
mattmiller's avatar
mattmiller
1,497 posts
 
All the other brands you mention will work great with light to medium tonearms. Except the DL-103.
shakeydeal
979 posts
 
The 103 works great on the low mass arm of the Amadeus because of the silicone damping. Maybe not so much on conventional arms.

Shakey
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