Denon 103r ????

Since I just received the K&K and am still tweeking the denon 103r I am only saying with limited time, that the K&K sounds sweeter, projects the music forward a bit in between the speakers, but also has excellent soundstage I am hearing things well beyond the back wall, it is more inviting so- it makes me want to stay longer and continue listening, it also sounds a bit softer in treble range in a way but yet still reveals details in the treble range, though I could also have said that it some how chops off at the extremes(high) but not sure if that's what it is doing- I mean it's pleasant but it makes me yearn a bit for that shimmering sound but maybe that's just an emotional thing and a hint wanting more or spoiledness from my end.
Oh and at the other end the bass is absolutely beautiful, it is full sounding and keys are distinguishable and no cut off of low frequencies as far as I can see for now.
In the end I have to say that it works for me with the denon 103r and of course everything downstream which is to me lucky that I happen to have the right things in the right places.
I will be picking up other cartridges and tonearms as finances allow, then I will know if the K&K is the top dog in this wide price range of under $2500.
I really should mention too that I haven't even begun to compare the speaker wires(have 4 to choose from) and interconnects(don't have much choice now) just yet.

You're not going to get that shimmer. The soft top end where you hear it but it is not reaching is what it is.

Now it becomes the case where cymbols have more weight, have the right splash and metal tone, but do not extend and shimmer. It never sounds wrong to me but I do know that with better damping etc that the topend clarifies and extends but 'shimmer' has not become part of the equation.

I got the brass plate mounted on my 103 and I hear a different cartridge. The brittleness in the top end has disappeared. The bottom end also seems tighter and better defined. Vocals and stringed instruments are more present and realistic. Stevie Nicks voice on Dreams (Fleetwood Mac Rumours) is stunning. In the past, it's felt congested and edgy on my system. That's gone now.

I sandwiched a thin piece of shrink wrap tubing between the brass plate and the tonearm. Some folks have recommended this as a means to damp. I was extra careful aligning the cartridge. The exposed cantilever makes it easy, but I wanted to make sure I got it right. I added weights to the RB300 bearing joint (Twl's tweak). And I used the weight adjustment on the Tecnoweight to set the tracking force (2.5g) rather than the spring-loaded knob on the RB300. It's probably a combination of all these things that are creating the improvement, but the end result is wonderful. The cartridge is more enjoyable and less fatiguing than I ever remember it. An ebony body will come at some point, but I'd like to settle in with this new arrangement for a while.

Mingles,
Glad to see you're happy!
As I am too, I can't believe how good this cartridge is, I REALLY think I done.
Except for line conditioner I will not be buying anything for a long long long long long time. Well maybe one other thing the 103r by Zu.

Pedrillo, a K&K is definitely in my future, but the tax man will delay its arrival for a few months ;~}

What are you loading your 103R at? Have you tried 14 ohms?