Phono stage and cartridge

Recordings whether CD's, downloads, LP's and streaming vary widely in sound quality! Some good, some not so good, some bad - and a few GREAT! This is REALITY! And it has ALWAYS been so! There exists no "magic ring" - or component - that will transform poor recordings to great!

I have been in this hobby for 40+ years and am always on the lookout for better recordings. Focus your search this way rather than on the "flavor of the month" component! Your present system is fine enough as is and quite revealing of recording SQ! No need to be neurotic and worrying about changing components! Just buy better recordings! 

 No need to be neurotic and worrying about changing components!

Room treatments are often the last to be considered but one 
addition that can make the most substantial benefit.

Without them I liken it to chasing ones tail.

Tend to basics mate. Is you phono cartridge aligned properly? Is your tracking to light or too heavy? Is everything "tight" on your rig (screws that attach cart to tonearm, anything loose that shouldn't be)? Do you use any isolation under your turntable (got to keep things from vibrating)? Do you use a power conditioner? Are your interconnects shielded (important if you are near industry or military)?

A stated above, it's important to have reference recordings that will tell you when your system is misbehaving.

Finally, Although often ridiculed, the accessories in this hobby usually serve some purpose.

While cartridges an phono stages can make a big difference. That difference is subtle after a point of quality. While I am not familiar (never heard) with your phono and cart, I doubt they are your issue. I would suggest you check your cart set up. I use "best tractor" specific for my arm and table. A two channel music purpose system, does not need subs. Subs are for action movies. A good set of full range speakers will give you what the music requires. Unless you are looking for an exaggerated sound. As far as vinyl goes. It is true there are better recordings then others. But bad recordings are not the norm. They are the rare. Fantastic recording are more common. Not the majority. What you describe are awful recordings. If this is what you are consistently hearing, I would check your cart set up. I would inspect the cart as well. Get a good test record and check your set up with that. Or, try almost any "Dire Straits" album. If they don't sound good, you have an issue. 🖖✌️

Echoing @whatthe in my experience 99% of recordings will sound excellent if your system is working properly (presuming the LPs haven’t been damaged). 

However optimizing  vinyl playback is a painstaking and complex endeavor 

based on your system and my experience with the Wand I would suggest checking

1. Alignment of the arm and cartridge - is it all perfectly aligned using the steel alignment tool that came with the arm? Have you tried adjusting VTA, presumably you have it level at present, and what are you using to measure VTF?
2. Making sure that the unipivot is not fouling, a harsh sound is often the result of a unipivot being off center or catching, it’s hard to get the Wand off center but the edges of the pivot housing can catch, also you may need to renew the grease
3. Gain matching - what gain setting do you have the GCPH (I think this is what you have) on as it’s got a lot of options and you could be overloading the preamp

only once you’ve optimized everything you own would I think about changes

finally if you can let us know which LPs are giving you issues that would also be helpful

Hi

I had a similar problem with my set up. I was using a Denon 103. They’re are a bit fussy with tonearms and sound best with a heavier mass tonearm. 

I tried an Ortofon Cadenza which smoothed things up whilst offering greater resolution too. 

I am also on the SNA forum. I have the Cadenza Red listed on eBay and SNA as I am hoping to upgrade to the Bronze or Windfeld Ti. 

I also live in OZ. 

Zu Audio Soul MK II is a lower model compared to my adorable Zu Druid MKV which comes with different full range driver and additional supertweeter, but it’s not harsh sounding at all. You can try different loading for your DL103, and maybe you will be able to check a better cartridge in your system, it’s worth it as you have a conical tip right now. The conical tip is less fuzzy in set-up, but definitely lacking the accuracy. That’s why the more advanced styli are better and always more expensive, they are much closer to the cutting stylus shape than conical/spherical. I hope you can invite some friends with different cartridges to try first.

The alignment of the CONICAL tip will NOT make a big difference, the conical tip is the most forgiving profile when it comes to alignment. You can set up by eyes and it's done. It is CONICAL/SPHERICAL, just look at this.  

And learn more about profiles here: 
https://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=22894

Set-up also includes torque on the mounting screws. I neglected this, and finally sprung for a torque screwdriver when I found that a Linn engineer had posted on this subject. It was discussed on a recent AGon thread - search for 'lube the nuts', which initiated some learned commentary.

Cartridge selection certainly makes a lot of different in the sound, but I also find that mating the right tube preamp with a SS power amp makes for a very smooth, detailed, musical sound. And usually even adds to the sound-stage.
Just a thot.

Dave 

Thanks Allfor your input, l can see where you are all going!!Most of you are right, I pulled a few records, from my collection( most of my LP's are mint) most are new, played once or twice, I have a huge collection!!, yes most of you are right, the best upgrade is the "sound engineer"!!e.g. I bought a second copy of " iron butterfly, ball", it was made I think 1967, It was made and recorded in the US, I know this, as on the back of the cover, it has the name, and address of the owner, on a printed label, so this ended up here in Sydney, Aust, approx 20 years ago, guess what, not one tick or pop!, and the recording is great, great bass with nice high's??Just thought, I give a example, of how albums, should be reordered!!! .It seems there is a trend, for young people, to buy vinyl, maybe for the wrong reasons, to be trendy, may be they like "pops and ticks" ,and a  cheap turntable, that's not "tuned" but I tell you, it is the best medium, by far, although, I have not heard a "tape reel machine"??I would still, like to know, more on you thoughts, about phono stages!!That has "balls and slam" without sounding harsh??Thanks againDavidAustralia

Consider a tube phono section. Generally speaking, they tend to sound smoother.
It will have plenty of slam as long as it has enough gain to work with your cartridge.

@Daveyonthecoast - They are called "reel-to-reel tape recorders" FYI.

Thanks
Every one, for your input, I would like to here a how at tube phono stage, sounds, I like "meat and balls", Can I get this, with out spending thousands of dollars!!Please give me a insight, on good tube phono stages, with ball's, with out the harshness, that  comes with, solid state phono stage??
Manyl ThanksDavid