Just read all posts and generally agree with most advice. Must add my endorsement to “ditch the dust cover”. It cannot improve and most likely will degrade the sound. Next, I think you are expecting too much from your Denon 103. I currently own a Denon 103m which is supposed to be the best of the 103 series. My 103 has been retired with Andy Kim’s best. I also own a Lyra Delos, a van den hul black beauty special X and an Air Tight PC-1. The 103 is a “nice” cartridge but not in the same class as my others. The Sota is an excellent tt and the Triplaner an outstanding arm. I really think you would not be doing them justice with your Denon cartridge.
recommendation for a high end analog system
I never had an analog system until last month. I bought a 1989 SOTA TT with vacuum/Sumiko MMT arm/Dennon 103R retyped with elliptical/sapphire cantilever. My phono is Kitsune MK5 WBT that is amplified by Don Sach 2 tube preamp and Pass X350.5. My speaker are Sound Lab M545 ESL. The TT has been very well maintained despite its age. It sounded very good until I heard my friend's system which has the same TT but with Lyra Skala cartridge and first generation Triplanar arm (Spectral pre/amp). His sounded noticeably clearer and fuller. What is the best way to get a noticeable improvement in my system without breaking the bank (or before I have to squint to hear the improvement). I would love to hear some wisdom from analog-philes.