Dover, You wrote, "Moving coils generated more current and less voltage than MM's. Higher current from cartridge to 1st amplifying device means better noise rejection. Basic physics."
I agree with you on the issue of SUT vs active gain stage; I prefer the latter (not sure I mentioned that explicitly in my first post, but the message seems to have gotten across). I am well aware of the V/I difference between MM and MC cartridges, but I am not aware of any "basic physics" that would suggest that MC cartridges innately have a lower noise floor based on their ability to produce current, compared to MM types. In order for the listener to sense the noise, the phono stage has to be driven by the cartridge. (Obviously, you know that.) Almost all the phono stages that provide sufficient gain for LOMC cartridges are voltage-driven. Ergo, where is the advantage for the MC cartridge in terms of its capacity to make current? There are a very few "current-driven" phono stages designed exclusively for LOMCs with very low internal resistance. Perhaps if one is using one of those phono stages, the LOMC would have a noise advantage. But of course, those few phono stages absolutely cannot be driven properly by MM cartridges in the first place. I may be missing your point, so feel free to rebut.
Lohanimal, It sounds like you are not scraping up the money to mod your DL103R. In which case, since you're just having fun, I say have at it. If it were I, I would go for a wood body and a new cantilever/stylus. I have an ancient DL103 with no cantilever or stylus. I bought it new probably in the 70s. Every once in a while I think maybe I should send it off for repair, but.....nah. I've got other more interesting broken cartridges that I would repair first.
I agree with you on the issue of SUT vs active gain stage; I prefer the latter (not sure I mentioned that explicitly in my first post, but the message seems to have gotten across). I am well aware of the V/I difference between MM and MC cartridges, but I am not aware of any "basic physics" that would suggest that MC cartridges innately have a lower noise floor based on their ability to produce current, compared to MM types. In order for the listener to sense the noise, the phono stage has to be driven by the cartridge. (Obviously, you know that.) Almost all the phono stages that provide sufficient gain for LOMC cartridges are voltage-driven. Ergo, where is the advantage for the MC cartridge in terms of its capacity to make current? There are a very few "current-driven" phono stages designed exclusively for LOMCs with very low internal resistance. Perhaps if one is using one of those phono stages, the LOMC would have a noise advantage. But of course, those few phono stages absolutely cannot be driven properly by MM cartridges in the first place. I may be missing your point, so feel free to rebut.
Lohanimal, It sounds like you are not scraping up the money to mod your DL103R. In which case, since you're just having fun, I say have at it. If it were I, I would go for a wood body and a new cantilever/stylus. I have an ancient DL103 with no cantilever or stylus. I bought it new probably in the 70s. Every once in a while I think maybe I should send it off for repair, but.....nah. I've got other more interesting broken cartridges that I would repair first.