What contributes to surface noise the most (or, my DL103 replacement is driving me mad)?

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Hi chaps
I've been a long term DL-103 user, but I recently upgraded to a top flight MC cartridge (Denon DL-S1). The increase in performance is phenomenal, however, there is one area it lags behind the 103, and that is when it comes to surface noise.
Even though I use a VPI RCM before playing every record, every blemish, speck of dust or hairline scratch is given the police spotlight treatment. The 103's conical stylus used to just glide over the nasties, but not the DL-S1.
So what's the biggest contributor to surface noise? Is it primarily the stylus shape (the Dl-S1 has an elliptical stylus)? Or maybe the arm (I am using a fairly average Denon arm, but I plan on using an Alphason HR100S soon)? Or perhaps the phono stage? What about the cartridge's frequency response (the DL-S1 is flat to 50kHz)?
Any thoughts?
Cheers. Doug

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Topic - What contributes to surface noise the most (or, my DL103 replacement is driving me mad)? - Doug Flynn 01:07:35 09/15/06 (2)

Its not the cart - cmk 21:38:48 09/15/06 (0)

Your DL-S1 is likely riding in a lower part of the groove where - HenryH 04:03:53 09/15/06 (0)

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