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Historicus
23-10-2009, 14:19
I had a great surprise after changing the plastic body of my Denon 103 Pro with an aluminium body from the Analogue Factory in Haverhill, Suffolk :)
The body is a CNC machined aluminium that fits very well to 103 (better then the wooden bodies).
The sound improvements were great just as I rewired my tonearm: A larger sound stage, more depth, etc.
The weight of the alu body is about 6 gram, the original plastic body 1,5.
The benefits of the weight improvements for the tonearm/cartridge comnination are evident.
Aluminium absorbs the resonances very well (it's used for many cantilevers).
These aluminium bodies are similar to the ZU 103 that cost, of course, much more.
Here are some links about ZU 103:
Sterophile (they prefer here the Zu103 to Koetsu Black)
http://www.stereophile.com/budgetcompone…07zu/index.html
6moons.audio:
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/zu14/denon.html

I just wanted to share here my impressions and suggest to all that want a new life to their 103.

DSJR
23-10-2009, 17:50
Haverhill eh?

C'mon AlexUK, methinks we'll have some fairly local shopping to do ;)

jonners
23-10-2009, 18:37
They come in pretty colours too! :) http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/just-analogue__W0QQ_armrsZ1

Alex_UK
23-10-2009, 19:07
Oooh yes, purple will match my room! ;)

Historicus
23-10-2009, 19:35
Though the odd colors, I had chosen the blank aluminium one.
The one in blue is perfect for the Sumiko cloners! But I really don't understand why the red one costs more ... some Clash remembrance?
Anyway it wasn't a practical jokes a 103 with this body sounds really good.

kcc123
23-10-2009, 20:24
I have also bought a blue one from Analogue Factory but I 'll have to find time and patience to fit my 103R into it, may be next week.

NRG
23-10-2009, 21:13
I had a great surprise after changing the plastic body of my Denon 103 Pro with an aluminium body from the Analogue Factory in Haverhill, Suffolk :)
The body is a CNC machined aluminium that fits very well to 103 (better then the wooden bodies).
The sound improvements were great just as I rewired my tonearm: A larger sound stage, more depth, etc.
The weight of the alu body is about 6 gram, the original plastic body 1,5.
The benefits of the weight improvements for the tonearm/cartridge comnination are evident.
Aluminium absorbs the resonances very well (it's used for many cantilevers).
These aluminium bodies are similar to the ZU 103 that cost, of course, much more.
Here are some links about ZU 103:
Sterophile (they prefer here the Zu103 to Koetsu Black)
http://www.stereophile.com/budgetcompone…07zu/index.html
6moons.audio:
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/zu14/denon.html

I just wanted to share here my impressions and suggest to all that want a new life to their 103.

How does it fit better than the wood bodies like the ones from Uwe?

Historicus
24-10-2009, 07:55
Neal, for these matters: 1) the CNC cut; 2) aluminium is malleable and more steady then wood; 3) the inside of the wooden bodies is empty. The alu body has two "spools" inside; 4) alu is more elastic (7 kp/mm2) and this has a good effect on resonances between cartridge and vinyl record; 5)alu is heavy as the heaviest wooden (panzer) body.

Anyway the seller from Haverhill could do his job better because milling was done in a very quick way to produce more bodies in less time. With a fine sand paper it was easy to correct it.

REM
24-10-2009, 09:48
The Zu version has a clear (dental?) compound of some sort as well which I assume is there to provide extra damping. No way of knowing how this affects the final sound but it must do something.

Cheers

NRG
24-10-2009, 11:06
I've added extra damping to the yoke on mine as well, it does make a small improvement. Historicus, I think the Uwe bodies are also CNC cut....certainly the Panz version I have is very accurate in its cuts....what do you mean by 'spools'? The inside of my Uwe body looks very similar to the one in the 6moons review, I'm not questioning your points but your post seems to imply these are better than a wood version because they are Ali and CNC cut....that surley is subjective and only an opinion ;)

Historicus
24-10-2009, 14:21
There are different Zu depending on grade of the armour [Standard ≤ 2.0% | Grade 1 ≤ 1.0% | Grade 2 ≤ 0.5% | Grade 2 Prime (2') ≤ 0.1]

Some pictures close ups of this low costing britt' Zu are posted on this german forum:
http://www.analog-forum.de/wbboard/index.php?page=Thread&postID=743170&highlight=denon+103+anzug#post743170

I related myself to the wooden bodies that are shown mainly on Tomas Schicks movie film about on how to modify the original 103
http://www.thomas-schick.com/Denon103/Denon103final.wmv

blake
25-10-2009, 01:31
There are different Zu depending on grade of the armour [Standard ≤ 2.0% | Grade 1 ≤ 1.0% | Grade 2 ≤ 0.5% | Grade 2 Prime (2') ≤ 0.1]

Some pictures close ups of this low costing britt' Zu are posted on this german forum:
http://www.analog-forum.de/wbboard/index.php?page=Thread&postID=743170&highlight=denon+103+anzug#post743170

I related myself to the wooden bodies that are shown mainly on Tomas Schicks movie film about on how to modify the original 103
http://www.thomas-schick.com/Denon103/Denon103final.wmv

I could not see any photos unfortunately on the German forums. The Schick video, however, should be pointed out as displaying Uwe's first generation body. All 2nd generation bodies are different and the design can be seen at the bottom of the following page:

http://www.theanalogdept.com/images/spp6_pics/Classifieds/Uwe%20Bodies/Bodies3-1.pdf

This very closely resembles the "Midas Touch" aluminum body out of Hong Kong and (I would expect from the description above) the aluminum body being sold in the UK.

From there it is really a subjective preference as to how the aluminum body sounds relative to its wood counterparts. Both have their proponents. My take on it is that those who are leaning toward a more detailed sound will probably prefer the aluminum; those in the "musicality" camp will probably be more inclined to choose the wood.

I'm sending a 103R in a first generation Uwe ebony body off to Soundsmith this week for a line contact retip with ruby cantilever. It will replace a stock 103R currently residing in a 2nd generation Uwe clavellin body so we will hear the differences in few months hopefully!

Historicus
25-10-2009, 13:03
blake, you're right I considered the first wooden bodies from Uwe.
yes, it's a question of personal taste to choose aluminium or wood. In my case it's even a little different because I changed the body of a 103 PRO that is different from the 103. The plastic body of 103 Pro was a real pain and without this body the sound of this cartridge changed completely in an incredible way with lots of more details and a better scene. Before I considered to buy a Koetsu Rosewood Signature, now I can really wait for it.

blake
25-10-2009, 16:11
Before I considered to buy a Koetsu Rosewood Signature, now I can really wait for it.

You might even put the idea permanently on hold:

http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=vinyl&n=857038&highlight=denon+koetsu+rosewood&r=

I've only owned the Koetsu Black in the past but IMO, a wood bodied 103R in the right arm is a much better cartridge and that's with the stock stylus. Will be interesting to see how the retip works out. By all accounts, it really pushes the cartridge into the big leagues.

Historicus
25-10-2009, 16:45
Yes Blake, I heared that with Koetsu Black high frequencies are totally missing.
I found good owner critics on Yamamoto YC03 S with his SUT-02 tranny, it would be a good and cheaper choice referred to Koetsu too.
I own the wooden Yamamoto HS-1A headshell and I suggest to combine it with a wooden 103.
Zyx Airy 1000 impressed me too for the sound balance but this cartridge is a little too leightweighted for my taste.

Now with my aluminium 103 PRO with Auditorium23 tranny I'm best served!

Do you retip your 103 with the original spheric diamond (a 103 with a VdH doesn't make a great sense)?

blake
25-10-2009, 17:17
Historicus: My 103R is going off to Soundsmith for a ruby cantilever and line contact stylus (the $250 option as opposed to their even more exotic $350 line contact). I have read from a number of people experienced with both versions that the more expensive Soundsmith version is extremely detailed but also that it might sacrifice something in terms of musicality and is very, very sensitive to alignment so opted for the less extreme stylus profile. Feedback has been almost universally positive from those who have done it.

I use a custom ebony and carbon fibre headshell that is modelled after the Orsonics in a Jelco 750D straight into an Aqvox Phono 2CI with no stepup.

And if Marco is watching, although he can balance out his Denon with the stock counterweight on his Technics he should bite the bullet and order the heavier counterweight for his 750D :).

Marco
25-10-2009, 17:46
And if Marco is watching, although he can balance out his Denon with the stock counterweight on his Technics he should bite the bullet and order the heavier counterweight for his 750D.


Hi Blake,

I already have one, and it makes quite a noticeable difference! :)

I'll comment more on the latest additions to this thread later, chaps, as I'm a little busy at the moment.

Marco.

alfie2902
25-10-2009, 20:59
I think these 103 ally bodies look good for the money! It would be nice to hear one with a 103R mounted in it, up against a Zu.

I use one of Uwe's Rosewood bodies with a standard 103 in it & i would happily put it up against a 103pro! When I get around to putting in a 103R in the body I think it would give the 103sa a run for its money!:eyebrows:

The Rosewood body I use is one of Uwe's latest round bodies & the fit is very tight indeed!

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss55/alfie2902/DenonDL-103Rosewood.jpg

I do fancy trying a re-tipped 103R in the body aswell but I need to look into whats done a little more first, as sometimes the compliance is changed & that wouldn't suit this bloody girder of a arm! I've also read that the line contact stylus helps with detail & less end of side distortion but sometimes at the loss of some of the 103 bounce etc!

I will look forward to your findings

Cheers alfie

Historicus
25-10-2009, 21:09
Blake: I'm using my 103 PRO with a 13'' Ortofon AS-309S with the heavier counterweight (originally produced for Ortofon SPU) all setted up on a Garrard 401 in a heavy wooden plynth mounted on an iron table, filled with river sand, on a large slate base, isolated with spikes from the ground.

---------------------------------------------
Ortofon AS-390S - length: 326mm, offset angle: 19°, overhang: 15mm, mounting distance:311mm - Justage data: inner Null: 64,79mm Outer Null: 147,48mm

Jelco 750D: length: 229mm, offset: 22°, overhang: 19mm, mounting distance: 214mm - Justage data: inner Null: 59,6mm Outer Null: 112,51mm

On the german AudioAnalogueForum was a debate on these tonearms and the results are that it was impossible to find two 0-points for the Jelco if you mount a very heavy cartridge as Ortofon SPU.

http://www.analog-forum.de/wbboard/index.php?page=Thread&postID=743415&highlight=jelco+750D#post743415

jonners
28-10-2009, 22:43
These shells now appear to be available here: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ISOkinetik-Denon-103-dl-103-aluminium-body-upgrade-103r_W0QQitemZ170390211957QQcmdZViewItemQQptZTurnt able_Parts_Accessories?hash=item27ac0c4d75#ht_5595 wt_739
The seller I linked to in post no.3 has had them withdrawn for being in breach of eBay policies, apparently. I've no idea what happened.

Historicus
29-10-2009, 12:45
I have bought one for less by ebay seller just-analogue but now he hasn't one on sell.

Can someone, please, post here the address of Uwe's wooden bodies?

Thanks,

pure sound
29-10-2009, 14:53
http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/Stereo-Lab__W0QQ_armrsZ1

blake
30-10-2009, 09:18
Pure Sound: I'm not sure if you are saying that your linked address is to Uwe, but if you are I am almost certain it is not.

The following linked page has some info on the wood bodies as well as Uwe's contact info:

http://www.theanalogdept.com/uwe_body.htm

jonners
30-10-2009, 20:08
Pure Sound: I'm not sure if you are saying that your linked address is to Uwe, but if you are I am almost certain it is not.


The name Uwe-Jens Paulus appears in the seller information on Pure Sound's linked page.

blake
31-10-2009, 01:32
The name Uwe-Jens Paulus appears in the seller information on Pure Sound's linked page.



That's all well and good but the originator of the wood bodies is Uwe Bretschneider. At least that's who I've bought two from dating back to 2007.

There now seem to be a plethora of imitators both in wood and aluminum on the market.