Just had some cartridges returned from Expert Stylus. I asked Wyndham to do the following:
Sapphire cantilever and Paratrace tip on 2 x Denon cartridges - a 103C1 and a standard 103
Paratrace retip to a vintage 60s Ortofon SL15Ell
These arrived back today. I have mounted the 103C1 into my second system - Technics 1200, Lentek integrated, Wilmslow HSM (Home studio monitors - ex-Ovlov of this parish). Wow! How much better is this than a standard 103. Same bass drive and flow, but with much faster and refined mids and top end - better vocals, real shimmer to cymbals. Sounds much more dynamic too. Definitely worth the money - current price £330 for the sapphire paratrace mod.
R2R: Studer A820 1/2 inch 2 track; Otari MTR-12 1/4 inch 2 track; Sony APR 5003; Sony APR 5002; Studer A807/II. Vinyl: Platine Verdier Allaerts MC1B/Schroeder Reference & Model 2 Decca C4E/Hadcock 228 TRON Seven Reference phono. Keith Monks MkII RCM Other analogue source: Nakamichi Dragon with ANT4066 mods. Amplification: TRON Meteor preamp TRON Voyager 20B SET power. Speakers: Avantgarde Duo. Digital: computing at last with Prism Sound Lyra 2 A2D converter