DL-103 + A23 SUT + Pro-Ject Tube Box DS = ?

@yogiboy - There is enough gain on the highest setting - 60db on Tube Box to make it work, but anyone who dealt with DL-103 will tell you that to extract most performance out of it you need a SUT, preferably the one designed specifically for a low output MC cart, which DL-103 is. A23 makes a couple of SUTs, and reviewer in the article linked below had reason to beleive that A23 DL-103 SUT (at least to some degree) was voiced around the namesake cartridge itself.  I will also be trying a new phonostage in the near future, Bob Sachs, that is well known to get along great with DL-103 with a proper SUT.  Happy listening!

http://www.auditorium-23.de/Accessories/Transformers.html

Anyone?

Hi!
First of all, thank you for your magnificently forward response. I need a beer now, preferably two.

This cart is loved and recommended by many, even stock version is Stereophile Class C recommended component (this month’s issue, just showed up yesterday), where it sits in the company of Dynavector DV 10X5 and Ortofon 2M Black, both of which are lovely carts and cost close to three times the price of DL-103.

I have a modified DL-103 (by Zu Audio, MKII, mine is Grade 2), and it is a Stereophile Recommended Class B component. Feel free to glance:
https://www.stereophile.com/content/recommended-components-2019-edition-turntables-tonearms-cartridg...

Scroll down about 2/3 of the way. While you are there, look at Class C recommended turntables, and you will find that PLX-1000 was recommended, in the company of VPI Scout Jr, at twice the price, if we were to add $100 for Ortofon 2M Red to the cost of Pioneer, which comes stock without a cartridge. I am currently using Ortofon 2M Red with Pro-Ject Tube Box DS phono stage and it sounds great, but not even close to DL-103 I’ve auditioned a couple of years ago (read on...)
*** Takes a break for a minute, opens second beer ***

Zu Audio themselves recommend Denon DJ VL12 Prime as a turntable of choice, and I probably will upgrade with time, waiting for them to release some extra tweaks for it. That turntable stock is certainly in the same class as base Technics 1200 series as well as Pioneer PLX-1000, tonearm details are not included in specs, so I don’t know which turntable has heavier/lighter tonearm. What I do know is that cart/turntable combo sounded magnificent in Zu Audio’s room/booth at RMAF a couple of years ago. They offer a custom counterweight for their modified cartridge because stock one weighs 8.5 grams and modified one weighs 14 grams.

https://www.zuaudio.com/turntable/groovetracer-counterweight-zudenon-custom
Interestingly they refer in comments about that counterweight to Rega tonearms, and Stereophile’s Art Dudley [RIP] used Rega RB300 as one of the tonearms in his review; he loved Mk.II

https://www.stereophile.com/content/listening-184-zu-dl-103-mkii-phono-cartridge

as well as the original
https://www.stereophile.com/phonocartridges/1207zu/index.html
So, any thoughts on my original question - what settings should I use on the phono stage? Anyone else?

Thanks!

Thanks everyone!
For what it's worth, I by no means am saying that just because two components are "placed in the same class" by Stereophile (or anyone reviewing anything for that matter) that they are equal.  IMHO reviewing is subjective by nature, we are all humans and opinions are part of who we are, part of our individual personalities.  What I am saying, however, is that I expect two components in the same class to perform comparably, not one being vastly superior to another, regardless of price.  Ortofon 2M Blue is placed in the same class as 2M Black by Stereophile.  Do they perform the same?  I don't know, I don't have a $1K to spare to find out.  I would expect not, given that 2M Black cost three times more than 2M Blue.  I have a friend who own a 2M Blue and loves it.  He is about to upgrade to 2M Bronze and will loan me the 2M Blue to try out in my rig.  Then I will be able to directly compare 2M Red to 2M Blue in my rig, on my terms.  And I will not say anything to myself or others about 2M Black because - guess what? - I have not heard it!
@jperry  - Thanks!  Synergy indeed is what really matters.

Happy listening!

@billwojo So, simply increasing the downforce will not acheive same effect?  I was planning on researching and using Nasotec Swing headshell, which weighs 11.5 grams.  18 grams is a lot!  Thoughts?  Link below:
https://highend-electronics.com/products/nasotec-swing-headshell-202a1
https://hifipig.com/nasotec-swing-headshell-202a1/