What is so hard to understand?

Posted by EdAInWestOC (A) on May 22, 2012 at 18:33:16

In Reply to: Soundsmith $150 vs. $250 level posted by hukkfinn on May 22, 2012 at 13:24:11:

The differences in cantilever and stylus tip add up to more or less resolution for your cartridge. You can spend the money to find it out for yourself but this is not like the first time a cartridge has had an aluminum cantilever and elliptical stylus.

Nor is it the first time a cartridge has had a ruby cantilever and line contact stylus and to slam a nail with a sledge hammer a ruby cantilever with the optimized LC stylus isn't exactly brand new either.

Your 103 will be better than the stock conical stylus and aluminum cantilever with the SS $150 retipping but not as good as the $250 retip...which in turn is not as resolving as the $350 retip.

We don't have to stop traffic or do we declare a national holiday to get this point across. The question is which one do you choose.

Personally I don't see the $150 option. If you are going to have a DL-103 retipped it seems a little more logical to take it to the $250 or $350 level. Its not like the DL-103 has anything to hide that a ruby cantilever will let out.

Some cartridges have a nasty high frequency peak that doesn't go well with a better cantilever and those would be right at home with the aluminum cantilever and elliptical stylus. Fortunately the DL-103 is not one of those cartridges. The more money you spend on a 103 the better it resolves.

There were two cartridges in the DL-103 line that came with aluminum cantilevers and elliptical stylii. The DL-103S and 103D. Denon called them special elliptical stylii so its hard to project what the differences between the SS elliptical would be compared to the Denon stylus.

I own a DL-103D and the differences between the Denon "special elliptical" stylus and aluminum cantilever compared to the SS $350 retip is quite dramatic. I have tried the VdH boron cantilever with the VdH type 1 stylus and the SoundSmith $350 option. Both of these were head and shoulders above the aluminum stylus and elliptical stylus.

I just do not see how the $150 option is a bargain. It would be interesting to hear Peter's take on this option but I would not be surprised that it exists to make sure users that insist on an aluminum cantilever can be serviced.

After trying a number of cartridges with different cantilevers I would opt for a better cantilever if the funds were not a problem.

Ed
Life is analog...digital is just samples thereof

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Soundsmith $150 vs. $250 level - hukkfinn 13:24:11 05/22/12 (19)

RE: Soundsmith $150 vs. $250 level - bassrome 13:32:56 05/28/12 (0)

i prefer the $150 over the $250 for the 103 - ringwear 14:59:51 05/23/12 (4)

RE: i prefer the $150 over the $250 for the 103 - blake 06:46:01 05/27/12 (1)

2.5 - ringwear 07:12:38 05/27/12 (0)

Great post. And lines up with my thoughts already. - hukkfinn 06:25:23 05/27/12 (0)

Succinct, on point, clear, and responsive: a very nice post. - Charlie F. 19:19:57 05/23/12 (0)

Almost & Peter you have my Platinum Tiger Eye HELP! - Seadog 02:41:07 05/23/12 (0)

What is so hard to understand? - EdAInWestOC 18:33:16 05/22/12 (1)

I just sent in a cart for the $150 re-tip... - tweakk 18:46:00 05/22/12 (0)

To much is an opinion here. - valesonly 16:20:45 05/22/12 (0)

RE: Soundsmith $150 vs. $250 level - roscoeiii 15:58:16 05/22/12 (0)

RE: Soundsmith $150 vs. $250 level - John Elison 14:24:20 05/22/12 (7)

RE: Soundsmith $150 vs. $250 level - AbeCollins 16:26:02 05/22/12 (1)

Good choice, I'm sure! - John Elison 17:37:01 05/22/12 (0)

Listen to cart X with the $150 level. Then, cart X with the $250 level. - hukkfinn 14:33:55 05/22/12 (4)

RE: Listen to cart X with the $150 level. Then, cart X with the $250 level. - WOStantonCS100 16:01:41 05/22/12 (3)

I don't mean to be argumentative here, but … - Charlie F. 19:47:24 05/22/12 (2)

RE: I don't mean to be argumentative here, but … - WOStantonCS100 21:23:05 05/22/12 (1)

RE: I don't mean to be argumentative here, but … - Wojciech 05:55:33 05/23/12 (0)

Follow Ups

What is so hard to understand? - EdAInWestOC 18:33:16 05/22/12 (1)

I just sent in a cart for the $150 re-tip... - tweakk 18:46:00 05/22/12 (0)

What is so hard to understand?

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