RE: Ditto on the Grace F9 body with SS OCL re-tip

Posted by blake (A) on February 2, 2016 at 18:56:54

In Reply to: Ditto on the Grace F9 body with SS OCL re-tip posted by Lew on February 2, 2016 at 17:25:23:

I ran modified Denon 103R's (rebodied in clavellin, ebony and aluminum-the aluminum and ebony were also potted by Peter at Soundsmith) retipped by Soundsmith with both his standard ($250) LC and the OCL for about 4 years.

I wouldn't say the standard LC is any warmer-it and the OCL are about equal in that regard. The OCL is slightly more detailed (and the standard line contact is much more detailed than the stock Denon conical-it's not even close) and a bit more refined IMO but it is much more demanding of setup. The OCL is worth it IMO but you need an arm with adjustable VTA and azimuth.

I'm now running a totally different cartridge (an Ortofon MC 20 Super) that was totally rebuilt by Andy Kim with a boron cantilever and microridge stylus. It has a slightly different presentation. "Warmer" is probably not the best description for it but I think it is a bit more neutral and less "up front" than the SS retipped Denons I was using. The Ortofon has more of a mid hall presentation while I'd describe the SS retipped Denon as being more "front row".

I'd say that detail retrieval and refinement is every bit as good on Andy's microridge as Peter's OCL. In my system the boron cantilevered Ortofon is quieter in the groove and more natural sounding but that may also be a function of better synergy with my phono stage as the Ortofon has much lower interal impedance and I'm using a current mode phono stage which presents a very low impedance to the cartridge at the input.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Zu DL 103 MK2, 6 Moons Best under 1K MC, anyone tried ..? - A.Wayne 21:03:30 02/01/16 (11)

RE: Zu DL 103 MK2, 6 Moons Best under 1K MC, anyone tried ..? - Dave Garretson 05:59:08 02/02/16 (5)

Ditto on the Grace F9 body with SS OCL re-tip - Lew 17:25:23 02/02/16 (4)

RE: Ditto on the Grace F9 body with SS OCL re-tip - blake 18:56:54 02/02/16 (3)

RE: Ditto on the Grace F9 body with SS OCL re-tip - Lew 07:56:08 02/03/16 (2)

RE: Ditto on the Grace F9 body with SS OCL re-tip - blake 11:08:03 02/03/16 (1)

RE: Ditto on the Grace F9 body with SS OCL re-tip - Lew 13:26:54 02/03/16 (0)

RE: Zu DL 103 MK2, 6 Moons Best under 1K MC, anyone tried ..? - Erocka2000 05:28:18 02/02/16 (1)

RE: Zu DL 103 MK2, 6 Moons Best under 1K MC, anyone tried ..? - A.Wayne 14:27:10 02/02/16 (0)

RE: Zu DL 103 MK2, 6 Moons Best under 1K MC, anyone tried ..? - welly 04:14:47 02/02/16 (0)

RE: Zu DL 103 MK2, 6 Moons Best under 1K MC, anyone tried ..? - cjspu 02:19:29 02/02/16 (0)

RE: Zu DL 103 MK2, 6 Moons Best under 1K MC, anyone tried ..? - cjspu 02:17:50 02/02/16 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: Ditto on the Grace F9 body with SS OCL re-tip - blake 18:56:54 02/02/16 (3)

RE: Ditto on the Grace F9 body with SS OCL re-tip - Lew 07:56:08 02/03/16 (2)

RE: Ditto on the Grace F9 body with SS OCL re-tip - blake 11:08:03 02/03/16 (1)

RE: Ditto on the Grace F9 body with SS OCL re-tip - Lew 13:26:54 02/03/16 (0)

RE: Ditto on the Grace F9 body with SS OCL re-tip

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