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Somebody has to sing the praises of the Denon DL103

A week or so ago I sadly noted in VA that my venerable old Denon DL103D needs a retip and I was considering allocating the money that would have been applied to a Denon trade-in toward a Benz. (Note that I'm set up for and prefer low-compliance, low-output MC's). I got passionate replies saying the DL103 outclassed anything under $1000, even $2000!

It may be an actual "reference," in the true sense of the word, since it is has been used for critical monitoring in broadcast and record production since the 60's. It's a very limited analogy, but if you use a DL103, you hear it they way the original sound engineers intended in many cases.

It is a very neutral cartridge, by which I mean it is neither too "etched" nor too soft, doesn't over- or under-emphasize any octave. It is easy to set up and use, lasts 1000 hours if cared for, and I guess you can buy an new DL-103D (w/ the modified line-contact stylus) direct from Denon for about $300- search VA. Figure a few hundred bucks for a compatible MC step-up (many VA'ers prefer transformers) or to upgrade your preamp to one with a good MC input (that was my choice), and you're prepared for future low-output MC options also.

If I had any sense I'd probably exchange my DL103D, but sense clearly isn't a prerequisite to spin vinyl ;-) Good luck on your journey.



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