Make me feel better

Thanks guys,at least you made me laugh!
Tom,hows a basic 103 sound? What do those letters mean anyway? 103S,103R etc..
Sean-Band camp? I should have known :~)
Jeff-I tore out a tonearm wire once too :>(
Nrchy- I broke your cantilever both times.I was with your baby sitter too.Didnt know?
Dekay-Im glad you remember the "aleph burn" I didnt know those suckers got so hot!
Thanks guys for the support.Time to shop around.

David, a basic 103 is nice, but not as nice as what you had. It would work on the Alphason, but the highs would not be as nice as the R,S,or D models. It has a different(lower) compliance(same as the R model), and the S model and D model are medium compliance family. Your S cartridge shared more characteristics with the D model, than with the basic 103 or 103R. Unfortunately, the D model costs even more than the S model. I think if you really liked the S, then you should get it again, or else step up to a Shelter 501.

Tom-The biggest problem is finding these Denon's.
The 103 is a easy find but the others,well you know.
I'd buy a 103S again in a heart beat if I knew where to get one.
The Shelter is out of my price range.
Im leaning towards a used Grado Platinum .5mv
I had the 4.6mv version and really liked it.
The LO are better sounding,or so I've read.
My phono has 65db gain and my Alphason likes heavy p.u.'s so I have to be careful.The grado's are rather light so that may not be a good choice anyway.
I need a 103S again I'd say.
I can live with my SACD's until I find one.

You are not alone! I waited three months for a new Benz Micro Glider...Cost $800.00. When I was installing it on my arm the strong moving coil magnet pulled a small steel square I was using and clipped off the entire Boron cantilever at the base....Zero hours on cart. Replacement under 'OPPS' clause from Needle Doctor cost an additonal $400.00. After another two month wait I was very careful not to have any magnetic materials within 20 feet of that Benz! I was heart broken for a long time!
Regards

Quincy-MAN! Thats sad! I dont feel bad for myself anymore after reading that and other cartridge tragedies here.