|
Vinyl Asylum Welcome Licorice Pizza (LP) lovers! Setup guides and Vinyl FAQ. |
|
|
|
Vinyl Asylum Welcome Licorice Pizza (LP) lovers! Setup guides and Vinyl FAQ. |
|
In Reply to: Denon 103D / SUT / ARC SP10 loading question posted by Ross on February 23, 2017 at 08:43:06:
Do a little more searching here on VA regarding transformers' effect on impedance. Briefly, the voltage output of the MC cart is increased by the turns-ratio and the preamp input resistance (impedance) is stepped down by the SQUARE of the turns ratio.
As a long-term DL103D user, I've found that cart is happiest with a net 100-ohm loading. Considering the output level of the Denon I'd guess it might be happiest at the 20:1 setting. That implies that the preamp load should be set to 100 x 20^^2 = 100 x 400 = 40k ohms [as close as possible] to result in 100-ohm cartridge load. [With your ARC set to 100-ohms you were almost shorting out the Denon through the trafo and the sound must have been wacky and very low-level, as you note.]
This is a personal taste issue, but I found the combination of SUT and the DL103D never resulted in its highest level of performance. I tried several SUT's culminating in a very expensive Quicksilver and always went back to a solid-state headamp. Surprisingly, I got some of the best results with relatively inexpensive, solid-state, battery powered Marcoff PPA-1, then later with the MC stage inside my Pass Forte 2. I believe that's why Denon themselves built a headamp as their high-end option for the DL103-series back in the Golden Age. That may have been the 'DC-to-light' era but you gotta' admit, Denon had an ear! There's a Marcoff for sale now on AA [of which I have no affiliation whatsoever!] and you might like it, might not.
In any case, I found the performance of the DL103D is SLIGHTLY enhanced by soldering tiny, low-noise, 100-ohm loading resistors in the headshell and using the highest load setting in the (solid state) headamp. It seems to improve the electromechanical damping of the cartridge, it tracks perfectly, and tightens up the lows to low-mids; the effect is subtle but discernible. Search VA fie E-Z instructions, I've been repeating that same story for 10 years... Think about it- the cartridge is a tiny little electric motor/generator and a low-impedance load dampens the electromechnical resonance [talking about damping at or near resonance, only].
I think my comments do apply to the Denon, because I found almost the opposite prevails with my current Dynavector XX cart. It loves transformers and is somewhat insensitive to loading, but that's inextricably woven with performance issues of my whole system and aging ears, as are all cartridge matter -- matters of taste [only digital promises 'perfect sound forever' (...hahahah)]. Good luck.
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Follow Ups
- RE: Denon 103D / SUT / ARC SP10 loading question - mr.bear 02/23/1712:24:46 02/23/17 (0)
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
