Denon 103R or 304?

For $30 you get an eliptical or fine line stylus, vs the conical on the 103. Also, the 304 will have better compliance with your arm as pointed out. From my research, the 304 seems a little more analytical. However, there is not much info on the 304. I too have considered the 304. I'm skeptical about the conical stylus, mainly due to surface noise issues. I have become accustomed to little or no surface noise, after using eliptical and fine line styli, and do not want to take a step backward concerning the issue.

The Denon 103 works spectacularly well with an RB300 tonearm. There are many many such users. One of the great synergies out there.

OK. I've decided on the 304. I'm currently running a Goldring 1042 into a Parasound Zphono, a stereophile Class C recommendation and well worth the $150. The concern I have is that all the reviews out there give the MC input a big thumbs down. So, I'll be mating the 304 with my DIY tube preamp which is tube rectified and used a 6SL7 and a pair of 6SN7's. I'm off to eBay to look for a quality pair of Step-Ups to increase the gain of my preamp. The preamp was designed for a MM cartridge.

Thank you for all those who shared their input.

Chris

Can anyone give empirical comparisons of the DL-304 vs. a 103r mounted in an aluminum body with the Soundsmith $250 ruby cantilever/contact line diamond?

http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/vt.mpl?f=vinyl&m=927632

As you can read from the Vinyl Asylum link above, I have had my SoundSmith top tier $350.00 Modified Zu/Denon DL-103r for about 2 weeks. The sound is amazing through the Bob's Devices Signature CineMag based SUT played through a Cullen Circuits Modified PS Audio GCPH phono stage. [You can read about my reference system in the member’s profile once you get to Vinyl Asylum.]

I am a dyed in the wool Koetsu crazy, but this SoundSmith Modified Zu is a Koetsu killer.

Get one if you can! You will be amazed.

Christopher – my Vinyl Asylum pen name is “Seadog”