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Retipping A DL-103?
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Posted on August 26, 2013 at 09:24:12 | ||
I'm a big fan of Denon's 103 series of cartridges. At the moment I'm running a DL-103r on my vinyl rig and really I enjoy the sound. However - I've wanted to try a DL-103D for a long time (the discontinued variant with an elliptical stylus), but I've never been able to find one in decent condition at a reasonable price. Which started me thinking - I happen to have a barely broken-in DL-103 sitting in its box with nothing to do. My idea is to send it out to Soundsmith for one of their basic $150 retipping jobs. Just an aluminum cantilever with an elliptical stylus in an effort to recreate the DL-103D of days past. I'm aware of the ruby cantilever and exotic stylus options, but I don't want to significantly alter the 103's sound character. If I was interested in doing that I might go shopping for a different cartridge altogether. So I'd like to know what my fellow Inmates think. Does my idea make sense? All opinions are certainly welcome. Cheers, Al |
Been thinking about that route with my "buggered" wood body 103., posted on August 26, 2013 at 10:45:07 | |
If you do it, let us know the results. |
I've owned a DL-103D..., posted on August 26, 2013 at 12:09:15 | |
Posts: 6828
Location: Glen Burnie, MD USA Joined: December 18, 2003 |
Since the end of 1979 (IIRC) so you could say I know a little about the cartridge. The DL-103D is not just a DL-103 with an aluminum cantilever and elliptical stylus. It is also the highest compliance DL-103 variant and responds well in arms with medium to high effective mass. Retipping a DL-103 will get you approximately to the type of sound that a DL-103D has but the DL-103D can be retipped too. I have been using a retipped DL-103D for years now and I am very satisfied with its sound. The higher compliance of a stock DL-103D plus a quality retipping will yield a very good cartridge. I am not sure where the inmate who posted the opinion that the DL-103D is not a very good rock cartridge got his experience from. The DL-103D is one of the worlds best R&R cartridges with an explosive response and impressive dymanic range. Its low end response is house shaking and it also possesses all of the other attributes that a quality cartridge has. In short the DL-103D is not hard to get for a lousy reason. Retipp one and you'll see why. Ed Life is analog...digital is just samples thereof |
You're more likely to reach him by phone. /nt/, posted on August 26, 2013 at 16:30:47 | |
Posts: 969
Joined: January 6, 2002 |
I've been enjoying the 103D on my JMW9 for several years (nt), posted on August 26, 2013 at 16:58:18 | |
Posts: 597
Location: no. indiana Joined: February 9, 2003 |
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Its specified at 12 x 10-6 cm/Dyne..., posted on August 27, 2013 at 07:25:41 | |
Posts: 6828
Location: Glen Burnie, MD USA Joined: December 18, 2003 |
IIRC and I suppose that puts it about in the medium mass area of usability. Of course the 103D is specified at 100Hz like all Denon's cartridges. It's compliance at 10Hz is around 20 x 10-6 cm/Dyne which makes it a bit more at home in lower mass arms. I've used it in several arms and in all of them it made the same signature sound that the 103D became popular for. Its not too different from the rest of the 103 family as far as its sound goes. If my memory serves me what it sounds like stock is like a 103R with slightly better definition and a bit deeper bass rrsponse. If that is possible. My current 103D has been retipped several times. The first time it went to VdH and they retipped it and fixed its suspension. Fixed the suspension is a loose term here. The cartridge came back with a much stiffer suspension than on the stock cartridge. The retip job sounded great but I was not thrilled with a stiffer suspension. Since its initial retip/repair its been worked on by Peter and he has done an outstanding job on it. It has been retipped a few times by Peter and Peter has also rebuilt the suspension on my 103D. The resulting cartridge has a higher compliance than what VdH did to it. Its a bit more lively and I am very satisfied with it. To get back on subject I ran some numbers by the resonance evaluator and a stock 103D looks like it would be at home on an arm with an effective mass of 12gms or less. And yes that was inverted logic. Sorry, Ed Life is analog...digital is just samples thereof |
That may be the problem...nt, posted on August 27, 2013 at 07:26:42 | |
Posts: 6828
Location: Glen Burnie, MD USA Joined: December 18, 2003 |
nt
Life is analog...digital is just samples thereof |
Come to think of it..., posted on August 27, 2013 at 07:31:40 | |
Posts: 6828
Location: Glen Burnie, MD USA Joined: December 18, 2003 |
I believe the highest mass arm I've tried mine in is the RB300 I currently own. I have not owned a high mass tonearm since I've had the 103D. I also tried my backup DL-103R on my RB300 and it made very good music. Ed Life is analog...digital is just samples thereof |