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ARISTON RDIIS and SME series III + DENON SA?

All,

I have an Ariston RDIIS turntable with a Shure SME series III titanium s-tonearm, currently using an Accuphase AC2 MC cartridge.

I have a pair of Quatro Signature II Woods(2010 models, I know...there are several versions out there)speakers with MacCormack MAP-1 preamp and DNA-225 amp. I also use a Sim-Audio MOON LP-1 pre-pre amp. Everything is dead quiet, and sounds nice.

But, the Accupase is 23 years old and is probaby getting worn. Has anyone used the Denon 103SA on a SME series III titanium tonearm? My Accupahese is heavier, and more compliant than the Denon, and seems to work well.

What suggestions do you havre for a good cartridge to match the Quatro woods? The first order filter desing is super smooth uniform in sound that is very easy to listen to.

I did have a 103D with a pair of dual sub mirror imaged KEF tweeter moded DahlQuist DQ-10's and years ago, it sounded very good.
rower30

Showing 1 response by rower30

rower30 OP
211 posts
 
Well, the AC-2 always seemed a little more bright and the than the Denon 103D I used to have. More like a moving magnet sound than moving coil.

I'm still not sure what to think over the 103D verses the 103R or 103SA, though. Some the 103D some the 103R / SA.

I changed to a Moon LP-5.3 from the LP-3 active amplifier so I can tune it better to more cartridges. Most seem to feel the 103 series is a pretty good, not perfect, match to the SME 3009 series III tone arm. I don't have a thousand records, so price is important.

103D 8.5G, 5 x 10^6, 40-ohms
103SA 9.7g, 5 x 10^6, 100-ohms
AC-2 9.5g, 15 x 10^6, 50-ohms

The quatros woods probably would excell with a warmer sounding cartridge. The are super fast sounding, and the Accuphase can be dryer sounding as a result.
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