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Question on Denon DL-103 retipping options and preferences

I have been looking at getting a Denon DL-103 retipped and I have narrowed it down to getting it done by Steve at VAS or by Andy at Needle Clinic. 

Both companies approach to the DL-103 is very different and I am curious if anyone has heard cartridges from each or what you think that may be better for amazing sounding rock.

Steve recommends a wood housing and then will do a Boron/MR retipping, where Andy will modify the plastic housing on the DL-103 to convert it's enclosed outer body to a half nude body, lightening it up which he says will make it track better.  His conversion will be a micro ridge nude stylus (sapphire/boron cantilever) 

So as stated very different approaches, same cost for the most part, I have ruled Soundsmith out just based on time, I know Andy turns around in a day, but have read a lot about both so I figured I would ask the question to see where people lean more often.  I do already have an ebony housing, just want to get a cartridge that punches way above its weight.

If there is something I should look at outside the DL-103 I would be open to hear about it.

Just for the record this cartridge will be going on a SOTA Sapphire VI with an Audiomods series 6 tonearm and I have a McIntosh MP100 going to a tube rolled Schiit Freya+ driving by two Odyssey Kismet monoblocks and Martin Logan speakers.  
justinrphillips

Showing 1 response by williewonka

williewonka
3,121 posts
 

I have the Audiomods Series 3 with a Soundsmith modified Denon DL 103 and as other posters mentioned it is not a perfect match to the Arm.

However, the Zu 103 is a much better match due to the additional mass of the cartridge housing

So being a handy guy I simply made an adaption to the cartridge, by epoxying the cartridge to a small brass mounting plate that I made..

http://image99.net/blog/files/23c020f75290d3392577113371f4dc94-38.html

The cost of this tweak was all of $12.50 for the plate and epoxy

Now I enjoy the superb details that this Optimaized Contour Line Contact stylus is capable of and the tracking is perfect.

Epoxying the cadrtridge to the plate did two things

  1. made the cartridge housing much more robust and less prone to unwanted vibrations and
  2. stoped the fixing bolts from distorting the housing when tightened.

.Havene’t even considered another cartridge since

Is it the best solution?

  • not really - I could have trashed what was at the time a brand new Saoundsmith modified DL 103 cartridge
  • But I learned lots in the process
  • Full Disclosure - I had already completed this same adaption on a standard 103 cartridge, so I already knew that it would significantly improve performance.

So if you are wary about modifying cartridges in this manner, then buy a Zu and send it to Soundsmith (or other similar outfit) because the shperical stylus and associated catilever is not the best choice for such a capable cartridge.

Regards - Steve

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