ZYX RS20 vs Denon DL103

OK, I've got a couple of minutes here so I'll get started on my feelings about these two cartridges.

First off, I've listened to a lot of cartridges, and I still think the Denon 103r is one of the best out there, regardless of cost. It has been my main cartridge. Bash all you want, but this is MY OPINION, and I like it. If it was a POS cartridge, I'm sure you would never see one on a Schroeder.

I now have a couple of hundred hours on the RS20. The first 50 I just played it with a ballpark setup. I noticed it started to get smoother about then, and started the looking for the ideal setup. I found at about 100 hours it settled in, and hasn't changed too much after that. Neither has the setup. The setup it critical, and I should have tried harder in the beginning. But I wanted to hear music, not screw around with setting up the cartridge. More on this in a minute.

This is a very neutral cartridge, and very fast, tight, and detailed. Almost zero inner groove problems. It picks up detail and nueance, reproducing them without any bloom or artifacts. It's dynamics just ran circles around the 103r, and that is not easy. Amazingly quiet (will check crosstalk when I can get the Wally tool) on acoustic and vocal music. Can handle the most powerful bass. Rocks the House with Zepplin. Makes you think your in a smoky room listening to Coltrane. Plays at low volume so well some times you just don't want to turn it up. I guess the best way to put it is it just plays MUSIC extremely well.

I'm sure all have read Doug's reviews of the higher end ZYXs. If you haven't, you should. Being "in control" translates from those lofty cartridges to the lowly RS20. I'm not nutso particular about setup, because I am basically lazy. The Denon sounds great without a ton of dial in. Sure you can make it sound a lot better, but the sweet spot is a hell of a lot easier to find than the ZYX's. But the RS20 made me keep tweaking, adjusting and fiddling like no other. Because once you find the sweet spot, you will be amazed, and forget all about this being an $800 (retail) cartridge.

So what it boils down to, and the point of this is: How does it compare to the Denon 103r. Setup goes to Denon for ease. They are both also very quiet. Aside form this the edge goes to the ZYX, all the way. So is it better? YES, for me, in my system.

Doug,

BTW #2, how do you use the HFN record for dialing in a cartridge? I find it about 95% useless for that purpose.

Like this. A little more than 1/2 way down, under Test Record Time.

EDIT: Just found this, for those of you who do not share my feelings on the Denon 103r: [url=http://www.audioasylum.com/scripts/t.pl?f=vinyl&m=448012]Denon[/url]

Thanks Jphii,Im going to start installing my RS20 in a few min. ill report back later!Ray

Joe,

Thanks for the comparison. I haven't heard the RS20 but I remember Chris Brady saying it knocked his socks off for an $800 cartridge.

FWIW, I think the 103/103R are simply killer for the money, we're in the same camp on that one. Everything you described about the RS20 sounds familiar. It's apparent the RS20 shares the ZYX family sound with its more expensive kin.

One thing you and I both found surprising: dynamics. The 103's make you think, "Wow, that's pretty dynamic sound." ZYX dynamics are different, you think, "Wow, that's a pretty dynamic sax - or bass guitar, or whatever."

Nice observation about its ability to play musically at low levels. That's a very special quality that alot of components simply do not share. It was the first thing we noticed about the first ZYX we heard.

Of course we agree on the differences in setup. ZYX's are not plug 'n' play. VTF, VTA and impedance are all critical and the sweet zone for each is tiny. Glad you were able to find them and enjoy.

Thanks for the link to Steve's setup page.

Doug

Ray,

Remember, just in case Doug and I didn't make it clear:

DIAL IT IN FIRST!!!

I really think I missed a lot of detail by not doing it before the 50 hour mark.

I think you'll like it!

Joe

Joe ,I ended up spending a few hours set up time ,i believe i have it very close,,the RS20 sounded very good ,but seemed to sweeten up a bit after about 20hrs,,VERY quiet,very good tracking too,very well balanced from top to bottom,i think its very forgiving of less than perfect LPs too,seems to be a good match with my Scout and Acoustech PH1P,,,