Cack handed with dl103

[Papa Dee]

Wanted to give my turntable a thorough clean and to my horror must have snapped the cantilever clean off of my Denon dl103....I have no idea how it happened and it’s nowhere to be seen .Do I have any worthwhile replacement options or should I just put it down to experience (very costly) and buy another one:

[walpurgis]

Done exactly the same with a DL-103. I didn't bother to replace it or retip it, I had other cartridges.

[topoxforddoc]

Send it to ESCo for their sapphire cantilever and ultra low mass para trace. It totally transforms the 103.

[Barry]

Sadly, the cost of repair (by say Soundsmith, or Expert Stylus Co.) will be at least the cost of a new replacement DL103.

I would bite the bullet and cough up the £230 for a new cartridge.

[topoxforddoc]

Sadly, the cost of repair (by say Soundsmith, or Expert Stylus Co.) will be at least the cost of a new replacement DL103.

I would bite the bullet and cough up the £230 for a new cartridge.

Barry, the ESCo sapphire cantilever and paratrace takes the 103 to a totally different level - way better than any stock 103 version (standard or esoteric). It is astonishing - yes the upgrade costs more than a new standard 103, but the upgraded 103 will be better than any other unmodified 103 IMO

[Barry]

Yes, but the 'upgraded' 103 is not the standard version that Dee had, and presumably was one whose sound and presentation he enjoyed.

[Lawrence001]

Good to consider all the options anyway.

[worrasf]

Yes, but the 'upgraded' 103 is not the standard version that Dee had, and presumably was one whose sound and presentation he enjoyed.

I have been down this road with "esoteric" cantilevers and styli both on a DL-103R and a Goldbug Brier and it drastically changes the presentation. I really couldn't get on with the "new sound" and moved the 103R on. The Brier is still in it's case on my bookshelf.

The only "upgrade" I have found to my liking is my Paradoxpulse Guard DL-103R with original cantilever and stylus - sounds wonderful

[Papa Dee]

Hi Barry,thanks for your comments ..the Dl103 was my first foray into lo moving coils and I was very happy with it.The sound was always going to be a compromise because it was mounted in a SME Improved series
2. with heavy counterweight care of MAGNA audio.,but I enjoyed the sound. Its not an end journey choice,
I had actually been looking at the Hana range of cartridges ,but I felt it was an honest capable cartridge and I’m just going to have to bite the bullet and buy another one. I still have a Denon dl110,Shure v15 and Goldring 1042 to hand to commiserate with😢

[Chas B]

Hi Barry,thanks for your comments ..the Dl103 was my first foray into lo moving coils and I was very happy with it.The sound was always going to be a compromise because it was mounted in a SME Improved series
2. with heavy counterweight care of MAGNA audio.,but I enjoyed the sound. Its not an end journey choice,
I had actually been looking at the Hana range of cartridges ,but I felt it was an honest capable cartridge and I’m just going to have to bite the bullet and buy another one. I still have a Denon dl110,Shure v15 and Goldring 1042 to hand to commiserate with😢

This is interesting ( well, to me anyway) because I have the same carts in my own collection. Do you have a preference amongst them?