Is the KAB Fluid Damper worth it if...

My experience is that the fluid damper is a must have. My cartridge is an AT120e/t which is very forgiving however it certinately tracks and SOUNDS much better with the damper. Other people think the Cardas tonearm re-wire is the biggest bang for the buck. Can't comment on the headshell as I'm using an 20 yearr old Audioquest w/gold connectors and litz wires.

04-09-08: Edo_musica
So, the sumiko headshell provides what improvements? I already have the fluid damper and use a AT150MLX cart.

First of all, I'm a BIG fan of the fluid damper. I added it after I had already gotten a DL-160 mounted to a Sumiko HS12 headshell.

Improvements from the Sumiko?
--Increases effective mass of the tonearm to match the compliance of popular cartridges today
--More rigid and less resonant than stock cartridge
--Much better headshell leads and clips than stock (worth $20 on their own)
--More secure and rigid mechanical interface to the tonearm with second alignment pin
--Azimuth adjustment, which enables you to dial more accurate and symmetrical seating of the stylus in the groove, resulting in better balanced stereo image and soundstage

The headshell weight could be a help or hindrance depending on the cartridge. The DL-160 is very light, so the Sumiko helps compensate. For a heavier cartridge, a lighter headshell might be warranted, but the Sumiko still brings better wiring, better bayonet mount, more rigidity, and adjustability.

Thanks johnny. I see. Good to know about the weight.
BTW, my AT150(MM)cartride's weight is 8.3g vs. the DL-160(MC) 4.8g. -ed

Ed, in past times you were pretty enthusiastic about the DL-160 on the SL-1200, a little less so about the DL-103. How has that changed for you in the last 2-3 years.

Since I discovered the SL-1200, I've found that, at least on bulletin boards and discussion forums, that "the most popular pairing is with the DL-103 and DL-103R." I was just stating what I believe the be a fact, not my personal opinion. I still prefer the DL-110/DL-160 to the DL-103 because I like the additional detail their more sophisticated cantilevers/styli provide. But the DL-103 has an undeniably bold and immediate sound that many people associate with much more expensive low output MC designs.

I just got in touch with Denon to see if they would loan me a DL-103 or 103R for a detailed review in Positive Feedback Online. I'm also planning to conatct Kevin at KAB about whether or not the fluid damper will work with my SL-1400Mk2, which is the only Technics I have on hand right now. If both work out, I'll be able to do a thorough listening test of the DL-103 and a nice sidebar on how it performs with -- and without -- the fluid damper.