Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Denon Denon DL103R with Van Den Hull retip Phono Cartridge by SirAnthony

Model:	Denon DL103R with Van Den Hull retip
Category:	Phono Cartridge
Suggested Retail Price:	$249 + aprox $300 for retip
Description:	A retipped 103R
Manufacturer URL:	Denon

Review by siranthony on October 24, 2008 at 14:11:21
IP Address: 67.166.142.204 Add Your Review
for the Denon DL103R with Van Den Hull retip

This is a quick update to a previos review. I wanted to clarify a couple of things. First in my review I was using an MMF-7 turntable. While this was a good value TT at the time, I have a much better one now. Inflation seems to have got the MMF-7 like everything else in the audiophile buisiness these days.

Now I have alot more experience with different carts and different tables. I can say now the drawback I listed about the retipped 103R are more subjective than anything else. What arm, table you use make a big difference. Further mods like nudeing the 103 make huge differences also.

It's more a matter of taste. I find I like different carts at different times. The Dynavectors are better at dynamics and are more in your face (in a good way). The denon is a bit more relaxed. But not as relaxed as a more euphinic cart. But loading can change things quite a bit also.

The real strength of the retiped 103R is it's ability to play alot of different music with competence, aglity musicality (if that's a word). If I only had one cart to choose and couldn't use any other I would probably pick the retipped 103R because of it's overall ability. Of course that could never happen and I can put on any cart I can afford. Thank goodness for that.

All the best to you all.

Product Weakness:	It's not nuded yet
Product Strengths:	It's good

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: ARC D76A modified
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): AI Modulus 2D modified
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Origin Live
Speakers: Axiom
Cables/Interconnects: DIY
Music Used (Genre/Selections): na
Room Size (LxWxH): na x na x na
Room Comments/Treatments: na
Time Period/Length of Audition: na
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): na
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition): na

Amplifier:	ARC D76A modified
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	AI Modulus 2D modified
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Origin Live
Speakers:	Axiom
Cables/Interconnects:	DIY
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	na
Room Size (LxWxH):	na x na x na
Room Comments/Treatments:	na
Time Period/Length of Audition:	na
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	na
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	na