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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
justinrphillips's avatar
justinrphillips OP
48 posts
 
Hi - I know the Audiomods arm, I have set a couple up, including one on a the top of the range Platine Verdier turntable,.

In my view forget about the Denon 103 standard or modded - the arm does not suit it.

For your budget for a MC under $700 my recommendation would be

AT33PTG/2 -this is an excellent cartridge with boron cantilver and micro ridge advanced profile stylus. It is very musical - around $650

ATOC9/XML - again this is an excellent cartridge with boron cantilever and microridge stylus - around $550

The AT33PTG/2 is a very well balnced, smooth, detailed cartridge that punches well above its price. The OC9/XML, again excellent value for money, has a little more bottom end punch than the AT33. Between the 2 its a choice of beautiful balance ( AT33) , or more punch (OC9).

Although the OC9/XML is not the top of the OC9 range this is the most musical of the OC9 range, the microlinear stylus is not as finicky as the higher priced shibata which can sound brittle.
Same with the AT33PTG/2 - the micro linear stylus profile has the best balance of detail and not to bright or brittle.

My own prefernce of the 2 is the AT33PTG/2 - its a fantastic cartridge for the money. For reference I currently use Koetsu, Ikeda and Dynavector cartridges north of $5k but could happily listen to the AT33PTG/2.
@dover 

thank you so much, I reread some emails from Jeff at Audiomods and reached back out to him and he said almost verbatim what you said.  I did a lot of reading last night between three models of AT’s two of which are mentioned above and decided I am 100% going for the AT33PTG/2 I think it will be a great place to start and when I get up to the Dynavector XX2 that is where I will move.  I need to learn my arm and pick what’s best for it 
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Audio-Technica cartridges are great and always good value/quality ratio, you can’t go wrong with any of them, because of this brand we don’t have to pay too much for a decent cartridge (mm or mc). 
Ag insider logo xs@2x
ken7
53 posts
 
I sent Andy a Zu Denon 103 and had him install a line contact stylus attached to a sapphire cantilever.....turn around was fast....less than 2 weeks. Excellent resultant sound
fusian
129 posts
 

I recently traded for a 103, and have been enjoying how it makes my records sound like late night radio listening as a kid, in the 70s and 80s.
But really, it is much inferior to the next model in the Denon line up, the 301 mkII. Unless you also want your records to sound like pre-digital radio.

williewonka
3,075 posts
 

I have the Audiomods Series 3 with a Soundsmith modified Denon DL 103 and as other posters mentioned it is not a perfect match to the Arm.

However, the Zu 103 is a much better match due to the additional mass of the cartridge housing

So being a handy guy I simply made an adaption to the cartridge, by epoxying the cartridge to a small brass mounting plate that I made..

http://image99.net/blog/files/23c020f75290d3392577113371f4dc94-38.html

The cost of this tweak was all of $12.50 for the plate and epoxy

Now I enjoy the superb details that this Optimaized Contour Line Contact stylus is capable of and the tracking is perfect.

Epoxying the cadrtridge to the plate did two things

  1. made the cartridge housing much more robust and less prone to unwanted vibrations and
  2. stoped the fixing bolts from distorting the housing when tightened.

.Havene’t even considered another cartridge since

Is it the best solution?

  • not really - I could have trashed what was at the time a brand new Saoundsmith modified DL 103 cartridge
  • But I learned lots in the process
  • Full Disclosure - I had already completed this same adaption on a standard 103 cartridge, so I already knew that it would significantly improve performance.

So if you are wary about modifying cartridges in this manner, then buy a Zu and send it to Soundsmith (or other similar outfit) because the shperical stylus and associated catilever is not the best choice for such a capable cartridge.

Regards - Steve

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