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Denon 103R or 304?

I have been presented with an opportunity to purchase either a DL-103R or (for $30 more) a DL-304. Either will be mounted on a tweaked RB300 tonearm. I welcome all suggestions and let it be known that this will be my first MC experience.

I have done two evenings worth of research on both cartridges and according to all the data the differences between the two aren't huge. I am leaning towards the 304 however.

Thanks
maktheknife

Showing 2 responses by edainwestoc

edainwestoc
19 posts
 
The Denon 300 series does have a decidedly different sound than the 103 series. Personally I prefer my SS retipped DL-103D to any of the 300 series but that is my preference.

Compliance wise both cartridges will work with the RB300. I have run a DL-103R in my modded RB-300 without any issues.

The issue I don't see anyone addressing is that the DL-304 is a very low output MC cartridge (0.18mv). The Parasound ZPhono is supposedly OK with cartridges down to 0.15mv but I would be asking what the S/N would be with the DL-304.

It could be perfectly OK but if you end up with too much background noise it will kind of spoil the party.

Ed
edainwestoc
19 posts
 
A retipped DL-103D sounds better than a stock version. I've owned and used a DL-103D since 1979 and didn't get it retipped for the same reason that you have related.

I was wrong...very wrong. Anyone can post something like this but please believe me that this is the absolute truth. If you want to check out the links to some 320kb MP3s I have some posted on my website about half way down the page. It can be found at http://www.edsstuff.org

Ed
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