Phono stage and cartridge

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.