My Denon DL-103 journey (long boring rant, had to get it off my chest)

[Fiddlefye]

I think that this highlights the issue about cartridges. On shouldn't look at cartridges alone. The most important items in the audio chain are the two sets of transducers - the front end (cartridge) and the back end (speakers).

Getting the transducers to work at their optimum depends on other factors. For cartridges, the crucial issue is the interaction with the arm - vibration transmission (and the effect of damping), bearing chatter, as well as resonant frequency of tonearm/cartridge (cartridge compliance, total effective mass etc). Every cartridge has a sweet spot, and the 103 is no different. You just have to find it in your own system.

The DL-103 likes mass, no doubt about it. One can get it to behave adequately with less, but it will not sound anywhere near potential.

[Floyddroid]

I think 103 is very good. However, I prefer the 110 in my system. I think the 110 is easier to match.