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In Reply to: DCPOTD posted by Ralph NLD on April 17, 2007 at 10:33:09:
Mine is a DL-103 that was re-tipped by The Sound-Smith with a Ruby cantilever and a Line Contact stylus. It is mounted on my SME 309 tone arm and playing through CineMag CMQEE-3440A step up transformers into my Hagerman Technology Cornet II phono preamp
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Al G
Born To Tinker!
Follow Ups:
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Aluminum/Conical vs Ruby/Line Contact.Did the tracking ability improve?
Are distortion levels lower?
If so, does this "measurable" improvement yield better sound?
How so? Did the character of the "Denon sound" remain intact?I have an old cartridge in mind to update, so this is more than just a passing curiosity.
TIA.
Cheers,
Me, I'm just a lawnmower, you can tell me by the way I walk....
-Ray
I posted too many paragraphs about my reaction to the Sound-Smith rebuild of my DL103 back in December. Al is more succinct! All I would add to Al's answser is that I think the bass response is much better than stock, too. Acoustic bass timbre is more complete, with better attack, body and decay. Most important to me, along with all the added pizazz the cartridge maintains a holistic presentation which is what I also appreciate most about the stock cargtridge.At the time I sent the cartridge off I was simply up for a $250 experiment. Now I think I've got an exceptional $400 cartridge!
As far as the tracking ability; Yes it improved. I am running the SS-103 at about 1.6 to 1.7 grams tracking force as opposed to a regular DL-103's 2.5 or so.I did not measure the distortion levels before and have not with the re-tip either. I can say that the re-tipped cartridge retains the strengths of the classic Denon (It's musicality and smooth, natural midrange) and gains transparency, depth, detail and a truly beautiful top end.
It sounds fantastic. I had another DL-103 that I swapped on after a couple of weeks with the SS-103 just for comparison's sake. There will be no going back to the stock DL-103. I have gotten spoiled by the upgraded one. I also sold my AT OC9ML/II. When and if an upgrade happens it will have to be an Ortofon Jubilee, Shelter or perhaps an older MC needed a rebuild (a Sound-Smith rebuild probably).
The Denon still retains it's inherent strengths but the re-tip/upgrade improved on it's weaknesses without destroying the good parts of a DL-103. I think it took it from a cartridge that was great in it's price range to a cartridge that is great without regard to price.
Peter at the Sound-Smith was great to deal with and seems to be an upstanding individual with a real passion for what he does.
I am completly satisfied with my new cartridge.
I had an Ortofon MC20 re-tipped six months ago and while it is not the cartridge that the Denon is, it sounds pretty good also.
What cartridge do you have to be re-tipped? (if you don't mind me asking).
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Al G
Born To Tinker!
i thought i remember you saying you were interested in that cartridge.
...An RB-300 based setup.I have Pie-in-the-sky dreams of having disposable income again and getting my heavy plinth idler drive project going.
I gotta get through the current cash crunch before I can start with new toys.
Railroading in Michigan is kind of a hard way to make a good living right now as the big three US automakers are in the crapper and most of the "imports" are built in the south or southern mid-west. Things are tough in the mitten right now when it comes to heavy hauling. I have a couple of jobs "on the side" that are getting me through for now and I am working just enough on the railroad to keep my health insurance going...
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Al G
Born To Tinker!
wait, i need to add a photo then
Does anything else go bad, or can you just keep re-tipping the same cartridge until eternity? I have a 103 but swapped it out for a little while to try my 440mla.
Luckily a Denon DL-103 is $150 if I need to start over with a new body someday.Here is a pic of a cartridge that I sold last year:
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Al G
Born To Tinker!
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