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by **vintage_dog** » Fri Mar 14, 2003 9:03 am

the DL103 looks like a real winner.

here's a nice review from tnt:

http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/denon-dl103_e.html

by **corrsty** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 6:45 pm

ambel wrote:For it's price and performance the Denon DL103 is really hard to beat.
Here's the list of cartridges that I am using right now Shelter 501 II,
Koetsu Black, Denon DL103, DL103D, Grado Reference Platinum, and
Grado MCZ. The ones that I borrowed and compared Benz Micro Ruby
2, Glider 2, Lyra Helicon, and Koetsu Rosewood Signature.
If I've got the moolah I will go for the Koetsu Rosewood Signature
the mids are killer but I play a lot of vinyls so I need to retip every
2 years or so.
But I settled for the Shelter 501 II a little bit analytical closer to the
Lyra in sound but the price is just right compared to the Helicon. The
Shelter is my reference right now.
The Benz Ruby 2 the mids are a littel bit on the sweet side but it lacks
the excitement of the Lyra and Shelter.

Hi ambel,

Can you elaborate on your thoughts about the Shelter 501 mkII cartridge? How much did you pay for it? Is it worth it compared to the Denon 103?

Thanks.
Edrich

by **ambel** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 7:46 am

Overall cart I'll go for the Denon it goes deeper than the Shelter and
it rocks. But If you want refine, open, a very good mid that's the Shelter
which is also faster than the Denon. I paid $650.00 for the Shelter,
$365 for the 103D, and $175 for the 103.
For the kind of music that I listen I like the cart. that can rock and swing
and which the Denon can provide. The Denon is my workhorse and I can
easily swap cart because of the Graham's detachable armtube.
I recommend the Denon to my bud Mel and he did get it but also bought
the Koetsu Black, Grado Sonata Signature, and Benz L2.
After a month of comparing it he ended selling all the cart. except for
the Denon and I told him that he will wasting money buying those cart.
the Denon 103 family has a lot faults but overall it's a musical cartridge.

by **Noam** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 9:44 pm

I asked basically the same question on Vinyl Asylum a while back and got some interesting responses.
http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.pl?forum=vinyl&n=166320

I've stuck with my 103D. From what I've heard I think you can still buy the 103R (silver wired 103) for $260 in Singapore. Just another choice. Just note the very low compliance of the basic 103 version.

Noam

by **corrsty** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 1:54 pm

Thanks ambel and Noam!

The Denon DL103 looks to be my next cartridge.

by **rtsyrtsy** » Sat May 03, 2003 3:25 pm

http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthre ... adid=22810
http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthre ... adid=22809

I read this like I'd read a Playgirl magazine (to those who don't know me, that'd take no more than 0.025 milliseconds).

Anyway, hope this helps!

by **setup4** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 6:15 am

whatever mc cartridge you choose, you should always try and match it with a good MC step up transformer to be able to see its full potential.just my 2 cents worth

by **johnmarc0** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 8:16 am

Though my first MC cartridge is a DL103, I am pretty happy with it, no complaints from my end, I think its a real winner.

JM

by **red76** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 1:03 pm

The DL-103D (elliptical) is still available at Denon America (great if you happen to have a relative there.) EIFL doesn't list the D version on their site, I guess they don't have them... Btw, I think the DL-103's design was based on the vintage Ortofon SPU series like the EMT mc cartridges.

http://www.audioinvest.no/denon/products/ca_103d.htm

http://www.vinyl-lebt.de/SME/DL103/Thumbnails.html
Various DL-103 Types

red76

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Best MC cartridge for the money. Which do you prefer?

Shelter 501 mkII

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