What's your "buy one of these and get it re-tipped" cartridge suggestion for a DL103 fan?

I was right there w/chakster thinking an NOS AT OC9 III would be ideal for funny money.

Maybe a Hana EL could be considered.

When I first heard that cartridge after installing it on my VPI Scout, I made a comment that it was never coming off. Very impressive in its own right.

boothroyd, have you spent time with the Denon DL-103? How does it compare to the Hana? There is a certain musical quality to the DL-103 that a lot of carts lack, instead they are very detailed and sterile or clinical by comparison. Nothing wrong with that, if that's what you want. Sort of like comparing early Audio Research preamps to more modern Audio research preamps.

BillWojo

Very little. While I do have a DL103R, my lack of a tonearm over 9” makes conical/spherical styli pickups less than optimal. 

The Hana EL is anything but clinical and while it does slightly sacrifice “meat on the bone” in the bottom octaves by comparison, the alnico magnets of the Hana EL make for an organic presentation with musicality over ultimate detail and transparency. The nude elliptical stylus just works much better for my scenario.

Hope this helps.

Paul Rigby, who’s reference is a Denon DL-103, reviews the Hana EL and the Hana EH:

https://theaudiophileman.com/hana-sisters-el-eh-moving-coil-cartridges/