Just pulled the trigger on one of these babies....

[Clive]

This is normally used to contrast managers and engineers but seems to chime with the current topic too.

[John]

[Marco]

Quality... Nice one, Clive!

Marco.

[JazzBones]

Life's too short to obsess over the 'whys and wherefores' or the 'ifs and buts' (not that I'm saying you're doing that, though). I never understand why folk insist on turning their hi-fi hobby, which ultimately is about (or should be about) the enjoyment of music, into a fooking science thesis!!

Marco.

Someone buy this man a good bottle of wine, my feelings are the same. I have been using Townshend Maxim supertweeters for years now and with the variable output of frequency I can dial in as and when needed. Normally they are set on Position 1 so just ticking in, would not be without them. Marco, get a move on lad and write up your findings on the new cartridge, looks like it would do nicely on the end of my AO modified Linn Ekos

[MartinT]

I don't think there is going to be a massive difference between them if I am perfectly honest.

I found the difference between the two platters to be about as much as between the bearings, i.e. significant but not 'massive'.

[Marco]

I'd say that the improvement brought about by going from the stock bearing to the MN one is bigger than that obtained by going from the Funk platter to the ETP, quite simply because in the case of the former, you're going from something that was fundamentally built to price, and whose performance is thus constrained on that basis, to something uber-engineered and built to be the best it can.

In terms of the Funk versus the ETP, you're going from one inherently well-engineered bespoke-designed platter, free from the cost constraints/sonic limitations of the stock Technics item, to another, and consequently any perceived superiority of performance with either is ultimately less apparent than when comparing the Technics bearing with the Mike New one (and the same would apply when using the Technics platter as a benchmark for quality against either the Funk or the ETP).

In saying that, however, the sonic benefits I've obtained by changing from the Funk (MKI) to the ETP have been entirely worthwhile

Marco.

P.S Thanks, Ron - as soon as the DL-S1 lands, chez-moi, you'll be hearing all about it!

[thankyoumisterman]

I haven't replied on this board in a loooong time...but I confidently predict you'll love the DL-S1. With a wide-band SUT or the like to boost that delicate signal, it's a great distillation of the Denon sound. I run a few Denon carts now - a Zu 103r, a 103D that I recently had retipped, and a DL-S1 that I bought 5 months ago. It's not as full-sounding as the 103r, but it's more refined, particularly in the treble, where the 103 had a bit of tendency to sound a bit ragged or distorted, no matter what I tried with its setup. Maybe the S1 isn't quite as "downtown" sounding as the 103, but it's definitely a more sophisticated older brother. The 103D is a great cartridge too, BTW - I wish Denon would put it back into production, but I doubt they will. I've read rumors that the S1 is scheduled to be discontinued, which is a shame, if true.

As far as bass goes, the S1 isn't as fulsome subjectively as the lower-range 103, but it is certainly better defined and tauter. I don't think you'll be disappointed with it.

[Tarzan]

You might end up with one yourself, Andy, as an upgrade over your DL-103

Marco.

Possibly mate, but l am really enjoying my DL103, in my, plus l am a bit nervous that l will lose the boogie factor l am getting, l will most certainly in the near future upgrade the cartridge, but like the musicality l have at the moment.

[Marco]

Hi Trey,

Nice to see you popping in again and thanks for your input, which is much appreciated

I haven't replied on this board in a loooong time...but I confidently predict you'll love the DL-S1. With a wide-band SUT or the like to boost that delicate signal, it's a great distillation of the Denon sound.

That's exactly what I suspected and was hoping for! What you describe with the following is also spot on, in terms of what I thought would be the case:

It's not as full-sounding as the 103r, but it's more refined, particularly in the treble, where the 103 had a bit of tendency to sound a bit ragged or distorted, no matter what I tried with its setup. Maybe the S1 isn't quite as "downtown" sounding as the 103, but it's definitely a more sophisticated older brother.

<Snip>

As far as bass goes, the S1 isn't as fulsome subjectively as the lower-range 103, but it is certainly better defined and tauter.

With having very large and efficient speakers, featuring 15" Tannoy DCs, driven by a powerful push-pull valve amp, and a system full of components that produce a weighty and 'purposeful' sound, there is no lack of bass, so if the DL-S1 is a little leaner sounding in that area, it won't be perceived as a negative. Therefore, coupled with its undoubted refinement, the Denon will offer a slightly different style of presentation than I'm used to from my SPU - and one which I'm very much looking forward to hearing.

I've read rumors that the S1 is scheduled to be discontinued, which is a shame, if true. I don't think you'll be disappointed with it.

I've also heard that. It’s one of the reasons why I nabbed one now whilst the price was good and they're still available. Clearly these are specialist items. Apparently, Denon produce them in very small batches on a production run, and then supply them to selected outlets. Once those are sold, there's a long waiting list for the next batch to be produced.

I suspect that the limited demand for the DL-S1, compared with their more mainstream designs, is making it more and more costly/difficult for Denon to facilitate their production. Therefore, once the one I'm waiting for arrives, and I express my thoughts on it, if anyone likes my description of how it sounds, and feels that they have a suitable system with which to optimise it, my advice would be to snap one up while you can, as it's destined to go the way of the 103SA!

Marco.

[Marco]

Possibly mate, but l am really enjoying my DL103, in my, plus l am a bit nervous that l will lose the boogie factor l am getting, l will most certainly in the near future upgrade the cartridge, but like the musicality l have at the moment.

No worries, dude - I totally understand. I'm just pleased that the 103 hit the spot! Told you it would, didn't I?

Marco.