Denon 103 Pro and his step up

[Historicus]

The Haufe capsules are built in the phono imput of EMT (950, 948,938), to be precise model T-890 (1:10) and T-451 (1:7).
Here you find the data sheets of all the Haufe capsules
http://audio.kubarth.com/rundfunk/index.cgi
This is the Haufe site http://www.haufe-uebertrager.de/html/profil.html
Some other good capsules are Amplino TM3 or Lundahl LL9206 (http://www.kandkaudio.com/mccartsetup.html).
On the german AAA-Forum was a great talk about auditorium 23 and the Haufe capsules because for some the price of the first was too high related to these built in capsules. Mr. Aschenbrenner's success in Germany (import of Shindo and Verdier and self designed speaker, cables and transformers) created lot of envies, as latin say "nemo profeta in patria!" and that's why he sells in the US very well!

Jensen publishes even a good Moving Coil Cartridges/Transformers Table to select the right step up http://www.jensen-transformers.com/mc.html

[dmckean]

The Haufe capsules are built in the phono imput of EMT (950, 948,938), to be precise model T-890 (1:10) and T-451 (1:7).
Here you find the data sheets of all the Haufe capsules
http://audio.kubarth.com/rundfunk/index.cgi
This is the Haufe site http://www.haufe-uebertrager.de/html/profil.html
Some other good capsules are Amplino TM3 or Lundahl LL9206 (http://www.kandkaudio.com/mccartsetup.html).
On the german AAA-Forum was a great talk about auditorium 23 and the Haufe capsules because for some the price of the first was too high related to these built in capsules. Mr. Aschenbrenner's success in Germany (import of Shindo and Verdier and self designed speaker, cables and transformers) created lot of envies, as latin say "nemo profeta in patria!" and that's why he sells in the US very well!

Jensen publishes even a good Moving Coil Cartridges/Transformers Table to select the right step up http://www.jensen-transformers.com/mc.html

I don't speak german so I'm not really sure if it's still possible to buy these transformers from Haufe. I'm happy with my Cinemags but I wouldn't mind seeing what the Auditorium 23 is all about on the cheap.

[dmckean]

Are you any good with a soldering iron then, Dave?

This is useful information for anyone into D.I.Y because the reason the A23 sounds so good is because the transformers match the DL-103, 'R' or 'Pro' so well.

Marco.

Marco, if you buy the right RCA jacks you don't even need to solder.

[Chris]

I´ve emailed Haufe (in English) about the best way to get hold of a pair. If I get any joy, I´ll let you know.
Chris

[Marco]

Nice one, Chris. Keep us posted

Marco.

[Chris]

Assuming I manage to source these trannies, is there any way I might incorporate a balance control in the box - my Sugden a21Se doesn´t provide balance and I am sick and tired of my room/decor induced off centre image. I don´t doubt this is a bit off-track but is it possible using a top notch potentiometer somehow or am I way out of line.

[Chris]

Marco,
you have a pm.

[Marco]

Hi Chris,

Got it - thanks

I've had friends round today so been a bit busy

Marco.

[anubisgrau]

I was quite enthusiastic when I've managed to source a NOS AU-320 SUT last year to use it with plain 103. However it turned out there was no competition with a built in trannies in EAR 864 I owned, also with EAR 834P which is my temporary solution (not sure if I would agree with so much raving about it).

I'm currently testing a rather wonderful sounding RIAA made by a local designer, fully valved (5Y3 rect., ECC82 & 83) which is much more engaging and natural sounding than stock 834P.

However it's again that AU-320 is underperforming - at 40 ohm setting there's hardly any serious bass, slam & dynamic.

It makes me wonder if AU-320 is actually made for a 14ohm 103R, and not for a 40 ohm 103, though it seems that lots of Cinemag users have lots of joy at 37.5 ohm primary wiring.

Is there any kosher way how to lower an impedance of the 103 that's seen by the windings?

Or should I give it up - could be it's just a bad product and that's it.

Thanks for your input.

PS. forgot to add, current testings are done on 1210, 3g extra weight on a stock headshell (tomorrow i'm putting 5g), a diff. mat and M6 (?) screws instead of its stock rubber feet. my stabi 2/stogi is still being overhauled...

[Prince of Darkness]

Loading for MC cartridges can be a complex matter (unlike MM's which are designed for a 47K load). Normally, correct loading is achieved by a combination of the step up transformer and the loading resistor on the input of the phono stage. An alternative is to load the primary with the required value instead. There is some information on this on these threads from the World Designs Forum.

http://www.wduk.worldomain.net/forum...rimary+loading

http://www.wduk.worldomain.net/forum...ead.php?t=2442

In practice it may be worth experimenting with a number of values of load to find what works best for you.