I always find these discussions about the 'ol DL-103 quite fascinating. I've been using various versions of it now, on and off, for the last 35 years (as when optimised I love how it plays music), and so trust me, I know what this cartridge is all about - and also exactly how to hear it at its best.
With that in mind, it's clear that many of its detractors, for perfectly understandable reasons haven't had that experience, and enjoyed what this truly wonderful cartridge is capable of when used optimally in the right context. I say that because I *know* that if I demonstrated my own one, in my system, or even took my turntable, fitted with one (and perhaps also my preamp/phono-stage and head amp, to a bake off, that most would be impressed with the sound, even if they still ultimately preferred something else.
Ok, so let's establish a few facts about the DL-103, and also what it needs to perform *optimally*:
1) Price: it's only 'cheap' because of economies of scale, having been in production by Denon since 1968, and so many thousands have been made in that time, so the associated costs of producing it have long since been paid for. Every part contained on the cartridge, aside from its stock plastic shell, is of the highest quality, and if it were produced instead by a smaller 'renowned high-end cartridge manufacturer', not tooled up to make it in the way Denon are, and priced to appeal to 'audiophile snobs', it would cost nearer £1000, than it's current £250, especially if housed in a metal body-shell.
2) The latter is key, because that's where the bulk of the cost cutting has been done: the plastic body-shell. It's also the SINGLE most contributory factor to its sonic limitations. Remove that (and use it 'nude') or house it in any of the superb aftermarket wooden or metal body-shells available, and quite simply
it is a different animal.
3) Therefore, bearing the above in mind, you simply *haven't* heard a DL-103 properly unless:
a) It's been 'nuded' or rehoused in a superior body-shell, as the stock one
massively limits its performance.
b) It's fitted onto a high/medium-mass classic Japanese tonearm with detachable headshell, and the headshell in particular is of the correct mass (minimum 15g) and very well-damped.
DL-103s simply do not work on the vast majority of modern tonearms!
c) It's preferably used with a direct-drive or idler turntable, fitted with a high-torque motor unit, which is able to combat the effect of stylus drag, from the existence of all of the above mass, combined with tracking forces of 2.5g+
d) It's preferably used with a valve MM phono stage and SUT or head amp, the combination of which loads it optimally and provides sufficient gain, but *most importantly* is a correct match, sonically/tonally, in order to release its true potential.
Therefore, folks, because I really do know what I'm talking about on this particular subject, I can say with absolute certainty that unless you can tick ALL of the above boxes, you simply haven't heard what this deservedly iconic cartridge is capable of, and therefore that will naturally influence your opinion of it accordingly
Marco.