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DENON DL-103 Jun 9, 2017 16:51:33 GMT 12
- Edited May 3, 2018 14:47:20 GMT 12 by Owen Y
belbo likes this Post by Owen Y on Jun 9, 2017 16:51:33 GMT 12
After 55yrs(!), we are still talking about this MC cartridge, there must be something right:
www.stereophile.com/content/denon-dl-103-phono-cartridge  DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com
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Post by Citroen on Jun 9, 2017 18:36:18 GMT 12
And I'm sorely tempted to try a Soundsmith Denon Gold 103/R Gold.
A pimped out 103 indeed! 
Cliff
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Post by Owen Y on Jun 9, 2017 22:25:44 GMT 12
The Charisma 103:
www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0716/Charisma_Audio_103_Phono_Cartridge_Review.htm 
DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com
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Post by Citroen on Jun 10, 2017 20:25:35 GMT 12
Cliff
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Post by Citroen on Jun 10, 2017 20:34:29 GMT 12
I succumbed and bought that Soundsmith Denon Gold 103R (low mileage and for only a couple hundred more than a standard 103R).
 upload your pictures
Cliff
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Post by deano1974 on Jun 10, 2017 23:13:36 GMT 12
Wow and how does she sound?
Manager & Product specialist at Rapallo AV & HI-FI
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Post by michaelw on Jun 11, 2017 15:44:25 GMT 12
103 - a good honest cartridge.
are the modded ones as good value ? 
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Post by jon on Jun 11, 2017 17:10:53 GMT 12
Nuding the 103 or 103R is a big step up on the plastic body it has.
Placing it in a wood body as per Owen's photo is another big step over the nude. Do be aware that the wood chosen affects the sound in a subtle but clear fashion. I have mine in an aluminium body and that is a big improvement on the wood ones. 
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Post by Citroen on Jun 11, 2017 18:35:59 GMT 12
Cliff
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Post by guitardude on Jun 12, 2017 11:42:04 GMT 12
Would have to admit that the charms of this cartridge have completely eluded me. Have heard more than a few over the years and never yet heard anything that has made me want to purchase one for my own system. A couple of points I have noted about users of this cart:
They invariably use DD or Idler decks They often have more than one type of 103 in use, others having different bodies or stylus profiles.
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Post by Owen Y on Jun 12, 2017 12:31:41 GMT 12They invariably use DD or Idler decks They often have more than one type of 103 in use, others having different bodies or stylus profiles. Tis true that a cartridge often performs best on the same type of TT that the manufacturer uses. Stating the obvious, I guess. DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com
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Post by Citroen on Jun 12, 2017 20:11:14 GMT 12
I think its the midrange that captivates me with this cart...and its price:performance ratio.
BTW, although I do use a DD and an idler, I currently use my 103Rs on a belt drive. guitardude your ears/brain obviously have a different set of pleasurable neural pathways to mine (Plinius amps, Denon carts)  BTW, what system do you have?
Cliff
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Post by colinf on Jun 12, 2017 21:15:42 GMT 12
Ah, the 103! Still sounding good after all this time. It's a great low cost MC with expansive midrange and liveliness. You need to spend a lot more to get better sound. Better cartridges or 103 body mods show up the original plastic-bodied 103's tendency towards crudeness. The more costly Denons aren't necessarily better, even if they are more refined. They miss the fun factor!
AMR-iFi R&D
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Post by Owen Y on Jun 12, 2017 23:21:55 GMT 12
Nope, the various iterations & mods ain't necessarily better!
(I wish I'd kept my 103D however, all those yrs ago.) DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com
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Post by michaelw on Jun 13, 2017 14:14:43 GMT 12
like cars and other toys, often the base model is the sweet spot in the range
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Post by Citroen on Jun 13, 2017 16:44:47 GMT 12
Disagree.
A wood or Alu body elevates it from very good to excellent.
Cliff
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Administrator
Post by Owen Y on Jun 13, 2017 17:10:03 GMT 12
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Global Moderator
 Post by Citroen on Jun 22, 2017 13:57:14 GMT 12
Early days, fine tuning but the midrange is all there and overall well refined, more detail sound over stock.
 
Cliff
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Post by deano1974 on Jun 22, 2017 19:08:37 GMT 12
Looks stunning brother
Manager & Product specialist at Rapallo AV & HI-FI
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Post by Citroen on Jun 25, 2017 19:14:03 GMT 12
Cliff
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Post by Gryffles on Jun 25, 2017 19:45:50 GMT 12
Couldn't believe it was still there Citroen
You did snag the Soundsmith one though! Top bloke you got that from too. 
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Post by Owen Y on Aug 3, 2017 15:18:53 GMT 12
More ways to spend on DL-103s....
audiomusikraft.com/store/en   
DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com
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Administrator
Post by Owen Y on Aug 3, 2017 15:28:19 GMT 12
I like the way that the 103 generator is 'pinned' by 3 set-screws, the pole pieces are un-enclosed with nothing to disturb magnet flux 'eddy currents' & threaded h'shell fixings.
DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com
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Post by michaelw on Aug 3, 2017 16:33:36 GMT 12
there's a dodgy 103 LC MkII on tm
had had a stylus transplant of unknown provenance. www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/home-audio/turntables/auction-1381829706.htm
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Connoisseur
 Post by sub on Aug 3, 2017 17:22:35 GMT 12
Where does the model on TM sit in the 103 hierarchy?
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Post by michaelw on Aug 3, 2017 18:08:41 GMT 12
fantasyland model lolol
103 timeline www.analogue-classics.com/html/denon_dl_103.html since that was written there have been some additions additions... the 103sa - like the 103r but with blue composite body  the dl-100a - a 100th anniversary edition of the 103  and a 103r pro both pro models are unofficially tweaked by highphonic - a company of ex-denon engineers. 
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Post by Owen Y on Aug 3, 2017 18:25:59 GMT 12
WT* is a 103 'CL'?
DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com
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Post by michaelw on Aug 3, 2017 18:30:04 GMT 12
typo ?
pic clearly shows LC on the cart.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2017 18:55:54 GMT 12He used to have some lovely gear. That stuff now graces my music room and he has traded down to a pipe and slippers affair complete with wind up gramophone... he assures me it's the only way to listen to Harry Ballafonte...  (Oh man I'm gonna get it...)
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Post by Owen Y on Aug 3, 2017 21:06:06 GMT 12We need to find you another tonearm for that SP10 DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com
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