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RE: Has anyone compared a Zu 103 to a wood body 103?

Posted by nu2toobs (A) on December 2, 2008 at 21:03:39

In Reply to: Has anyone compared a Zu 103 to a wood body 103? posted by mingles on December 1, 2008 at 23:02:20:

I've used the ZU 103R, Uwe 103R, and the SS retipped Uwe 103R. The difference between the ZU and Uwe depends on how the Uwe is potted. I used a small ammount of regular epoxy to pot the Uwe, and the ZU was noticeably better.
I posted my findings on another site:
"I'd like to share my results with the SS retipped Denon DL-103R with a Uwe ebony body.

I sent the cartridge to Peter in March and received it back around the middle of Nov. I was emailing and calling in the interim to find the status. I heard the same shipping guy was out excuse, then an illness and great backlog.
I bought a ZU 103R while waiting and I absolutely loved this Beauty.

I installed the SS version and it sounded very detailed,quiet, THIN and fatiguing with my system which consists of VPI Scout, Cinemag SUT, Juicy Music Extreme Preamp, VRD st-45 amp, and Klipsch Lascala speakers. I played with the vta and vtf with no improvements. I finally switched back to the ZU Audio and promptly put the SS version up for sale.

During Thanksgiving vacation I decided to try the SS again. This time I decided to pot the cartridge with some Marine/Plastic epoxy putty. This time it sounded a little better but still a little thin. I put about 10 more hours on it and WOW.

This thing opened up and sings. It's very smooth and detailed with a much better soundstage than ZU's model. The more I listen to it, the better it sounds.

I put the ZU up for sale last night and it sold within 2 hours and I'm keeping this amazing cartridge!!!
Definitely worth the wait. "

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