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Denon DL-103 vs. DL-160?

Hello...

I have a Technics SL-1210M5G with a Denon DL-160 cartridge and quite happy with the combo, however, I'm itching to try another cartridge. I have read good things about the Denon DL-103 and can acquire one at a relatively reasonable price.

What would I gain or lose switching from the DL-160 to the DL-103? Are there significant differences between the two cartridges aside from output level? I'm interested in the sonics and soundstage.

Thanks and regards,

Jan
jsmoller

Showing 2 responses by mingles

mingles
800 posts
 
The 103 is a better cartridge than the 160, but it's not a good match on that arm. The effective mass of your arm is 12 grams. If you plug the numbers into the formula, you'll find the resonant frequency is 15.5 Hz. 10 Hz is considered ideal, but the usable range is between 8-12 Hz.

resonant freq. = 159 / sqrt [(eff. mass + cart wt. + fastener wt.) * (compliance)]
rf = 159 / sqrt [(12 + 8.5 + 0.5) * 5] = 15.5 Hz

If you're looking for a good cartridge that works with your table, check out the Audio Technica AT150MLX for $249. Here's a recent forum discussing it:

I just went up two notches in resolution
mingles
800 posts
 
James, the compliance remains the same. The weight difference plays a minor role in the final resonant frequency. Plug the numbers in and you'll see.
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