Denon 103 vs 103R

[twotone]

Been listening to the Denon 103 over the weekend and it's something else, sounds great with jazz but not so great with other stuff I've listened to but it's excellent with mono recordings, really really good.

My first impressions are great bass, piano (bass notes), drums are good including rim-shots but not so good at displaying high frequencies such as cymbols and strings.

I've increased the tracking weight slightly to 2.7g and that's helped.

My go to record is KOB, I have a CBS stereo version from 1964 & the recent 2013 record store day re-mastered mono, the mono version sounds way better, you can hear that sound of the reed being blown in the sax, the cymbols however sound a bit flat with no shimmer, piano notes are good though and there is a decent pace to the music.

Miles Davis' trumpet sounds a bit distorted on Freddie Freeloader and the high frequencies are in the background and quite recessed.

Soundstage is good though but it's right between the speakers, in fact the entire band sounds like they're all in front of me quite close together.

Still sounds good though but diffferent from what I'm used to hearing.

Tony

[Wakefield Turntables]

I listened to my 103R today. Its mounted on one of these

http://www.ortofon-shop.com/shop/tre...category_id=47

I plonked it on my Garrard 301/SME 3013 setup and squirted it through one of these

http://www.ortofon-shop.com/shop/tre...category_id=46

It sounded excellent. Really surprised by who this little cart performs. I've heard carts costing >£1K sounding worse.

+1 if you wanna buy one and have some fun.

[walpurgis]

It sounded excellent. Really surprised by who this little cart performs.

Told ya!

[Jimbo]

I listened to my 103R today. Its mounted on one of these

http://www.ortofon-shop.com/shop/tre...category_id=47

I plonked it on my Garrard 301/SME 3013 setup and squirted it through one of these

http://www.ortofon-shop.com/shop/tre...category_id=46

It sounded excellent. Really surprised by who this little cart performs. I've heard carts costing >£1K sounding worse.

+1 if you wanna buy one and have some fun.

Only problem I may have would be using the VPI JMW 9T tonearm/headshell with this cartridge -not enough mass

However I have an idea how to sort my Croft pre for MC without resorting to headamp or SUT

[Mike Adams]

There is a lot more difference between the 103 and 103r than is made out IMHO, firstly the loading is different but the voice-ing also.
I had a nude 103 which I loved, had great bass and very enjoyable to listen to, not fussy with SUTs all OK.
I then went all out with a MIDAS, paratrace, sapphire cantilever 103R and its taken a lot of messing with SUTs and the loading to get the enjoyment back. It (the 103R) has a more detailed top end that can sound false and make the tonal balance a little thin...

[Marco]

There is a lot more difference between the 103 and 103r than is made out IMHO, firstly the loading is different but the voice-ing also. It (the 103R) has a more detailed top end that can sound false and make the tonal balance a little thin...

Spot on, Mike. Much as I like the 'R', that's also my experience, and why many DL-103 aficionados stick with the stock model

Marco.

[walpurgis]

Strange. I found the 103R quite rich sounding in my system. Varying effects of different phono stages and SUTs I reckon.

[Marco]

It *is*, compared with many of today's MCs, but it's quite markedly more forward and 'spotlit' sounding than the stock 103, and that (when set-up and partnered properly) isn't exactly dull.

Much of this, however, will be taste and system dependent. I've always found that the stock 103 boogies better and has the more 'mellifluous' midrange, which is why I use one of those and not the 'R'.

Marco.

[twotone]

I put on a second pressing of Ziggy Stardust after KOB, I know this record really well and whilst Bowie's vocals were pretty good the bass overwhelms everything else really, there's a veil over the music that I can't seem to shift.

I've tried the tonearm tail up and it did sound a wee bit better but nothing special, certainly not as good with this sort of music as it is with jazz, I don't think I'm getting much of a midrange either, sounds like I'm listening to an old wireless at times.

Think I'll take some weight off the headshell and see if that helps at the moment the headshell and cart weigh about 26.5g, tracking weight is about 2.7g.

I'll say one thing though surface noise is pretty non-existant and the cart tracks like a train.

[Marco]

Remind me again of your T/T and tonearm, Tony? Also, your phono stage.

Marco.