Moving from MM to MC

I started with the 103 and enjoyed it very much,

I also upgraded my phono stage to a Simmaudio Moon LP5.3RS. This upgrade brought out the very best from the Denon - it is not hard to see why this cartridge was chosen by broadcasters the world over for decades.

But in search of improvements - I moved up to a soundsmith modified version of the Denon 103.

The step up was well worth it - the SS 103 is superb and will compete with much more expensive cartridges. It is very detailed, without scarifcing any of the Denon 103 qualities. Maybe something to try once you’ve had time to appreciate the Denon 103.

If you are just getting into moving coil - the only thing I might recommend for the SS 103 version - opt for the Eliptical Stylus - it is easier to setup than the more advanced stylus profiles - they require extreme precision and a mirror-style protractor and loupe - and a younger pair of eyes :-)

But as Cleeds posted - what arm are you planning to use it on - I had to used a brass shim to increase the overall mass in order to get the very best performance from this cartridge. I am using an Audiomods arm - similar to a Rega WRT mass

Regards - Steve

@bstatmeister - I’m not going to get into the MM/MC debate because we all have our own preferences, but if you want to get higher resolving sound, I would start by replacing your phono stage. Any of the Simmaudio Moon products will be a huge improvement over what you have.

The LP110 is a great place to start and will work with either MM or MC carts - so you can move forward from there
http://simaudio.com/en/product/110lp-phono-preamplifier/

See what it does for your sound first

I made the mistake of buying budget phono stages. When I got the Simmaudio MOON - it opened my eyes to what vinyl has to offer.

As for your arm - if you are interested - you might want to take a look at the Audiomods arms. They actually do a custom mount just for your turntable

http://www.audiomods.co.uk/technicsarm.html

The audiomods arm is a superb upgrade that you could aim for down the road.

AND don’t believe anyone that says putting the Audiomods arm on the 1200 is a foolish move - I have heard what the arm did for a friend with that very table and it is an excellent upgrade that brought the best out of the table.

In your shoes I would start the LP110 first - and only then, consider a cartridge upgrade.

Regards - Steve