Best cheapo Cartridge

Dear @vpi  : Good and for what you said Needle Clinic made a good job.

In the other side 650.00 for that kind of quality levels is really good and almost a bargain.

Enjoy it !

R.

Denon DL 103 M arrived back from Needle Clinic with boron cantilever and micro ridge stylus.  I'm very pleased with it. I'd say it competes with MC cartridges in the $2000 + range. My total investment $650.  

At this price (or very close) there are many decent original MC cartridges available with Boron Cantilever and MicroRidge diamond. What's the point to invest in Denon 103 refurbishing? I just don't understand it, sorry.   

I spoke to an excellent cartridge re-tipper and he explained that the DL103 is very good for two main reasons:

1. consistently well made
2. economies of scale production

You will find that each one comes with a readout - and you will find the left and right channel exceptionally well balanced - better than many more expensive cartridges.

the only thing holding it back is apparently a rubbish stylus.

That said, apparently, the market for a replacement body is a waste of time. 

Dear @parrotbee  : You are rigth. From some years now exist several truly expensive LOMC cartridges ( over 5K-6K prices. ) that use the DL 103 cartridge motor with different build materials in the body, cantilever build materials, stylus shapes and kind of wire in the coils but the " motor " is the one by Denon.

As I said I still have the venerable 103 and between other of its brothers the 103D that's good performer and competitive with today higher price cartridges.

@vpi  move with the 103M was and is really worth to do it and he knows by the rewardings he is achieving in quality level performance.

I own and owned several Denon audio items: TT, tonearms, cartridges, electronics, etc, etc, and never found out any Denon audio item where I can say: that is a bad item, never.

Now, I have more than " curiosity " about the 103M.

R.

@rauliruegas 
I knew I wasn't seeing things when you wrote:
'From some years now exist several truly expensive LOMC cartridges ( over 5K-6K prices. ) that use the DL 103 cartridge motor with different build materials in the body, cantilever build materials, stylus shapes and kind of wire in the coils but the " motor " is the one by Denon'

On another note too many people get fixated with boron cantilevers, having no regard to other elements. Boron is much stiffer than aluminium - so the suspension of the cartridge gets altered with a change of material. It's usually the overall effect you should look at. I know that aluminium is not a fashionable material for cantilevers, but i'me sure that there's either a Zyx or Shelter which has an aluminium cantilever on the more expensive model than the cheaper one. I bet Raulrigas will know the model.

Part of me feels like getting a few 103's to do arm/turntable comparisons - that said 103's do like a heavy arm... that's a whole other thread...