Marco and the DL-103 gang...HELP!!!

[lurcher]

I think the coin on the headshell is worth trying. Use bluetac to attach, reset tracking force and see if that helps at all.

[audio39]

Hi Lurcher,

I had to do exactly that with my Grace unipivot, add a five cent piece, that was while running the Ortofon MC. It made a world of difference, but particularly in the low frequencies.

Hi Marco,

I never ran my SF Phono 1 with the Ortofon, I loaned out the tubes to a buddy...and never saw them again. Anyway, I was running the Ortofon with a 640p, and quite well, and was of course trying other Phonostages while tweaking out my system.

The arm is as near mint as can be found...and although I'm not as steady as I used to be (and it's not the beer), I did go through the arm in detail when I got hold of it to ensure all was well. Plus I ran the Ortofon on this arm for a bit, it was quite stellar.

I am familiar with the 103 and 103R, I very much like the sound, but something is just not right here. And that I have 2 (really 3 including the 640p) phonostages in home and the problem is the same with each......

This weekend I'll bring my table up into the kitchen where the lighting is better (my mancave is poorly lit, intentionally, I can catch the wife more easily when she can't see) and go through the entire setup again.

The most discouraging thing is I think I know how good the Denon and the Lux (with the FR-14) should sound.

If you think of anything else, not including "it will sound better after 3 shots of whiskey" (I already posed that one to myself), please throw it at me.

Now I'll go back to thinking about....boobies!!!

[Jon]

I am familiar with the 103 and 103R, I very much like the sound, but something is just not right here. And that I have 2 (really 3 including the 640p) phonostages in home and the problem is the same with each......

So that suggests that the problem is upstream of the phono stage. I don't believe that all 3 stages are faulty.

So it is either the cartridge or the wiring at fault.

[Yiangos]

Hmmmmmm , not 100% sure about this,but isn't the Fidelity Research arm a lightweight one,made in the 70's for high compliance cartridges? If that is so,then.it is a complete missmatch for the Denon.It's the same reason why a Grado signature gold isn't working well with most of todays arms.

[MartinT]

I was intending to purchase an Audio Technica AT33PTG II, but all the fuss on this site and another convinced me that the Denon would be a good next step.

There's quite a lot of fuss and support for both cartridges on this forum

[Marco]

Indeed. Martin, you heard my 103SA in your system the first time I came round. Did it sound anything like Rick describes?

Hope you get it sorted out, Rick, so keep us posted

Marco.

P.S You need to add "Rick" somewhere on your signature, so people can see at a glance what your name is - cheers!

[MartinT]

Indeed. Martin, you heard my 103SA in your system the first time I came round. Did it sound anything like Rick describes?

Not at all, the sound was as you described, wide open, detailed and dynamic. Weighty, but not overly bassy in balance.

[ourdogmax]

Hi I know this may seem obvious, but have you tried cleaning the stylus THOROUGHLY .

The reason I mention this is, I bought a 103 off ebay and had the the problen you are describing, I nearly chucked the cartridge out thinking it was crap.

the stylus looked clean but when I ran a brush with a drop or two of ispropol over it, well what a difference, it cleaned up the sound beautifully.

Well worth a try, before you pull your own hair out.

[indie roehre]

Hi Rick
I know these problems. It`s hard to stay calm.
But listen in a relax mood and try different things: order a heavy headshell. the arm has not enough mass for Denon 103SA. the real optimum you only find with heavy arms. Then also try to make tonarm a little bit higher or lower but in steps of 1 millimeter only and listen always same vinyl and at same volume.

a SUT can also help. A used fidelity research or a self made Lundahl. but this are additional costs but worth a try.

If nothing helps and you are sure to get crazy next time or drink too much whiskey:
If you can let 103SA go, the sell it and try for example Ortodon Rondo bronze or SPU classic N- naked!! with a heavy headshell.

Knut

[rahman]

The Denon likes a fairly hefty arm so you may be running into compliance issues here. On the other hand they only ever quote at 100Hz so I am a great believer in the suck it and see approach!

I see you have tried 2.2g for VTF (I run mine at that... on the other hand it is a heavily modded cartridge). Reset it to its optimal value of 2.5
Make sure it is slightly tail down or at least level for VTA.
How is the cart attached to the arm? You may need to look at that...

I will check when I get home for my loading I cant remember. Let you know in due course...

not sure, but i would have thought that with excess bass, VTA adjustments should be going towards the tail being more up than not.

FWIW, i'm running a FR cart in my fr64s and, after lots of fiddling, the tail is significantly higher (1cm+).

cheers
adrian