Denon Dl-103r is it for real?

I agree, the 103R CAN be a step in audiophile reality. I heard it in some very few top Systems and I have to say, there were moments where i thought --- "must be heard to believe..." when we realize what we get for the price.
Most go the other way, they start with 103 and then they save money for the audiophile ladder...the usual game.
But when you are able to hear differences and you go back from a multi $$$
(and maybe a grossly overrated) cartridge... well, better to deny the own impressions :-)

The 103R is a very good cartridge, I've listened to it after some highly praised cartridges and it always surprises. However, if you do the back and forth comparisons it sounds somewhat colored and has limitations in focus, fine detail, resolution of space etc which can lead to dissatisfaction.
Things get interesting though if you exchange the plastic body for wood or aluminium and have the stock Al/conical tip replaced with the Soundsmith ruby/line contact. Suddenly the 103R becomes very competitive in the above areas and retains its rightness of tone, solidity and musical engagement/expression.
It still won't have the ultimate finesse but it sure brings the music into the room.

There's no question the 103R is a very good cartridge provided it is partnered with a sympathetic arm. And it is certainly very good value for the money. However, it's limitations are apparent when it goes head-to-head against a more resolving cartridge. In my case, a Benz L2 and later a Benz LP both put revealed the Denon's colorations and lack of finesse. Both also cost considerably more.

In the budget MC world, I would recommend the Audio Technica AT 33-EV over the Denon. The AT is available for $400 in the US so it's a direct competitor price-wise. The AT is, in my opinion, less colored and has more fine detail than the 103R. (The Benz LP is still better though.)

I searched for the Audio technica AT 33-EV and it is priced $200 more than the Denon 103R. how does that make it a direct competitor to the Denon?

04-21-12: Gandme
I searched for the Audio technica AT 33-EV and it is priced $200 more than the Denon 103R. how does that make it a direct competitor to the Denon?

Yes, and further to this, I listened to up-market line contact version of the AT33 - the PTG/II - and compared it to the SoundSmith retipped 103R (mounted on seperate wands with my Phantom tonearm). I much prefered the modded Denon. Of course the Denon in a modded body and with the Soundsmith retip is more costly that the AT33 PTG/II, so I guess this doesn't prove much.....except that at this level there is a scaling of performance for $ spent.