Question on Denon DL-103 retipping options and preferences


I have been looking at getting a Denon DL-103 retipped and I have narrowed it down to getting it done by Steve at VAS or by Andy at Needle Clinic. 

Both companies approach to the DL-103 is very different and I am curious if anyone has heard cartridges from each or what you think that may be better for amazing sounding rock.

Steve recommends a wood housing and then will do a Boron/MR retipping, where Andy will modify the plastic housing on the DL-103 to convert it's enclosed outer body to a half nude body, lightening it up which he says will make it track better.  His conversion will be a micro ridge nude stylus (sapphire/boron cantilever) 

So as stated very different approaches, same cost for the most part, I have ruled Soundsmith out just based on time, I know Andy turns around in a day, but have read a lot about both so I figured I would ask the question to see where people lean more often.  I do already have an ebony housing, just want to get a cartridge that punches way above its weight.

If there is something I should look at outside the DL-103 I would be open to hear about it.

Just for the record this cartridge will be going on a SOTA Sapphire VI with an Audiomods series 6 tonearm and I have a McIntosh MP100 going to a tube rolled Schiit Freya+ driving by two Odyssey Kismet monoblocks and Martin Logan speakers.  
128x128justinrphillips
What you described is not a re-tip, your cartridge will be refurbished with completely different stylus/cantilever combo.

Re-tip is just the stylus tip replacement on original cantilever, but the original method is press-fit (the one and only benefit of aluminum cantilever), it will be more complicated for re-tipper to glue just the diamond, so they will glue the whole new cantilever to the collar. The cantilever/stylus combo mounted together by the companies like Namiki or Ogura in Japan.


Of course you can buy a better cartridge than refurbished DL103 for your audiomods tonearm. 
I can't comment on exactly what you're considering, but a while back I bought a turntable that had a Zu Denon DL-103 on it.  The cartridge sounded like crap and I took it off and stuck it in the closet for a few months. 

I decided to send it to Andy to see what he could do with it.  He cleaned a bunch of gunk out of the Zu body and put a new cantilever and stylus on it and it is now one of my best carts.  He's retipped a couple of other cartridges for me and does fine work and he's provided a very fast turnaround. 

I have used Soundsmith once.  I thought they did great work, but as mentioned, they are slow.  No experience with VAS, but I have heard great things.  I doubt you're going to find anyone that has had their DL-103 done by both, but it doesn't hurt to ask.