Esco cantilever/stylus mods for Zu Denon 103R

This hobby is bad for OCD! Small adjustments to VTF/VTA/azimuth are all making differences to the sound. Luckily it's all positive with VTF esp. making real improvements. Still finding closer to 2.5 makes more sense than the ESCCo advised 2.0.
Will be auditioning the Straingauge, but this cart is so persuasive that the demo will really have to blow me away or present such a persuasively different perspective on the music to sway me.

I've used modified Denon 103R's for the better part of 5-6 years now, the most recent versions being one in an ebony body that has been retipped (and potted, as Zu does with theirs) by Soundsmith with their $250 retip (ruby cantilever and line contact stylus) and currently a 103R in an aluminum body, also potted and retipped by Soundsmith with their midline $250 retip.

While I found the stock conical on the 103R to sound best right around 2.6 grams VTF, I can dial back the retipped versions I have to around 2.450 to 2.475 (yes, it will be that sensitive to VTF when it fully breaks in and you get into those zones). Going below that in terms of VTF the cartridge becomes very "airy" and detailed but loses the drive, slam and top to bottom coherency that the 103 series is really famous for and excels at with an improved body. Lower VTF may give you more "audiophile" qualities but will sound less like real music IMO. If I had to track mine below 2.45 I would probably look for another cartridge. Based on my experience, you are on the right track between 2.45 and 2.5 for VTF.

I would expect the paratrace to be very similar to Soundsmith's $350 retip. That would mean that it should be a detail champ but will also be extremely fussy on setup as you are finding out. But get it locked in and you will be rewarded.

FWIW, even Soundsmith's $250 line contact retip is a ton more sensitive to proper setup (alignment, azimuth, VTF/SRA) than the stock conical stylus on the 103 series.

Hdm, really finding the ESCCo modded Zu 103 is giving me a great sound. As per your advice I'll try and dial VTF in a bit further. It DEFINITELY excels at 2.5 v 2.0. I know quite a few advise c.2.25. More endless OCD. Thank Heavens the end result is really proving worth it in my system.
My area of investigation is whether it's possible to have the tonality and dynamics of a cart like this with the transparency and detail retrieval of more forensic carts like my previous fave, the Transfiguration Orpheus. Fascinatingly, at the moment, barring detail retrieval, the Orpheus can't hold a candle to the ESCCo Zu 103.
The only cart I like more than the Zu 103 is the much missed Lyra Parnassus, this seemed to have the best balamce of all. Investigating the Soundsmith Straingauge to see if it can replicate these traits.

Spirit: Until you have about 25-30 hours on the new stylus I wouldn't get too hung up about really dialling things in as there is IMO a definite break in period.

I have no experience with the stock 103; all of mine is with the 103R which by most accounts is a slightly more detailed cartridge. I agree with your comments on balance. I'd never describe myself as a real detail freak and I've heard some very pricey high end cartridges that do detail exceptionally well but just sound less like real music to me. When you consider that you can do an aluminum bodied, potted and retipped 103R for around $650-$700, it is IMO a serious bargain; I have no desire to buy other cartridges.

I think you can run a retipped Denon at the lower VTF without gross mistracking, unlike the stock conical, but it has never sounded right to me, especially once you get into the 2.2-2.3 range it just becomes grossly Hi-Fi-ish for me in my setup and loses most of what makes the cartridge so appealing.

You might also experiment with your anti-skate settings. I find that the line contact stylus requires less in the way of anti-skate. Tracking at around 2.45 to 2.47, I have antiskate set to 1 on my dial.

Hdm, you're absolutely right. I'm approaching the 35 hour point, and changes to settings are settling nicely. Gone from VTF 2.0 (too floaty) to 2.5 (too leaden) to 2.25 (too right). OCD is being rewarded!