Denon | 110th Anniversary | Silver-Graphite Headshell and DL103

I have a stock DL-103, a rebuilt DL-103S and a rebuilt DL-103 in a wood body. Both rebuilds were by Steve at VAS Audio. The 103S has an elliptical on the stock cantilever and the wood bodied 103 has a hyper elliptical with a new aluminum cantilever. I have a DL-103D and a DL-103R, both with broken cantilevers. I'll send them on to Steve down the road.
I know you don't like rebuilding carts but I have never paid more than 80 bucks for a "Core" that can be rebuilt. Rebuilding cost is very reasonable and I can just drop them off, Steve is only an hour from me.
I think the basic Denon DL-103 and it's variants have a dam good generator that makes a nice starting point. Heck, there is an entire cottage industry built around these carts.

BillWojo

So you never tried DL-103D with elliptical tip and higher compliance ? 
I bought this cartridge NOS just for fun, we will see 

I've heard good things about the DL-103D as well. Along with the DL-103S it's more a mid compliance cartridge so gets along with a lot more tonearms as well. It will be interesting to hear your comments on it. What arm will you mount it on? I'm thinking the Victor UA-7045 might be a good match.
BillWojo

Lustre GST-801 or Fidelity-Research 64fx @billwojo 

I own a DL103D that got de-cantilevered in one of my very rare audiophile accidents, many decades ago.  I kept the body for reasons I can no longer remember, because back then there were no re-tippers and/or there was no internet for them to advertise their existence.  I guess I thought I would send it back to Denon but never did.  As to the headshell, doesn't it appear to be suited only to the DL103 body or to any cartridges that are narrower than the DL103?  Because of those side panels that extend down from the top surface.  A Clearaudio, Miyajima, or some other brands of wide-bodied cartridges might not fit. As I recall, the DL103D was a nice cartridge but maybe not as good as my Grado TLZ that I must have bought after the Denon disaster.