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Thread: How to date a Denon DL-103

  1. #1
    Join Date: Apr 2018

    Location: Toronto

    Posts: 8
    I'm Paul.

    Default Trying to determine how old my Denon DL-103 is.

    First real post!!!
    I have a DL-103 and it's serial number is 3625.
    The paper with the evaluation isn't on tracing paper and it has a blue coloured line representing the frequency response.
    How old is this do you all think?
    Thanks in advance!
    Last edited by PaulKehayas; 02-04-2018 at 23:21. Reason: Not sure if my heading was precise enough.

  2. #2
    Join Date: May 2016

    Location: Notts

    Posts: 2,741
    I'm Geoff.

    Default

    Buy it a new headshell and tell it that it looks beautiful!

    Geoff

  3. #3
    Join Date: Nov 2008

    Location: Valley of the Hazels

    Posts: 9,139
    I'm AMusicFanNotAnAudiophile.

    Default

    Yours is from the early 60s by the sound of it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denon_dl103
    Chris



    Common sense isn't anymore!

  4. #4
    Join Date: May 2016

    Location: Notts

    Posts: 2,741
    I'm Geoff.

    Default

    Oh how old? Have you tried contacting Denon?

    Geoff

  5. #5
    Join Date: Apr 2018

    Location: Toronto

    Posts: 8
    I'm Paul.

    Default

    I thought that I'd try here.
    I bet you guys have more knowledge on this kind of thing than even the parent company.
    I have two others bought last year and they have 5xxx serial numbers with parchment paper as the evaluation sheet. Also the colour of the damper is brighter blue on this one then the other two.
    The puzzle is that this was bought new in 2015 but may have been old stock.
    How old is what I wish to dertermine.
    Possibly pre 2002 or around there?

  6. #6
    Join Date: Apr 2018

    Location: Toronto

    Posts: 8
    I'm Paul.

    Default

    I chose a dud topic huh?
    Oh well.
    There just seems to be little on this cart and how it's changed over the years. I have heard that the pre-2002 models have Alnico magnets in them and that seems to mean a whole heck of a lot when it comes to how the thing sounds.
    Hopefully those with experience will chime in here with a bit more information than I have been able to figure out.

  7. #7
    Join Date: Jan 2011

    Location: Nr Melbourne, Australia

    Posts: 104
    I'm Stuart.

    Default

    Interesting question so I decided to open some boxes.

    I have two DL-103r. Both have traces printed with black ink on paper typically used for plotting such things. However the 'older' one which I purchased as broken about 7 years ago to have it retipped, has the number 8521 while the one I purchased s/h about 6 months ago ("It's new but I can't get it to track properly") and I must say it looks unused, has the number 1594. Incidentally, when set up correctly it tracks beautifully.

    Interesting!

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