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Ana Mighty Sound 103.3

I am offering a quick description of my modified Denon 103r. I have read reviews about how great the already good sounding Denon 103R or plain 103 can be once re-bodied. I am the type who has to try it for myself in order to be sure eveything is optimized. After looking at the various companies performing mods, Zu, Sound Smith, etc. I decided to go with Ana Mighty Sound in France. One of the things that helped me make my decision was the fact that I mistakenly thought the cue was up on my SL-1200 GAE and I ended up knocking the cartridge into the platter thereby scewing the cantilever. Choice made, get the mod :)

While I waited I bought a second Lp Zupreme Headshell and a second 103r so that I could do a head to head comparison once my modified 103r was returned to me.

I received the modified 103r (henceforth referred to as 103a, for "103 Ana") this past Friday so it is REALLY new, read not run-in.

Even so, cold out of box it is better than the stock unit but after about two hours it is surprising me with just how well it is performing. It is at this point far beyond the 103r. Whereas my mac mini with LPS and Uptone JS-1 power supply (also with the fan kit), iUSB 3.0, x2 iFi Gemini II USB cables, AMR DP 777 se, HQPlayer and Roon, easily outperforms the 103r, the 103a has pulled slightly ahead of my digital on the admitted limited testing I have been able to do.

I purchased the 103.3 with the Malachite body, boron cantilever with micro-ridge stylus and the 22 degree angle adjust for the modern stylus (Ana Mighty Sound are the only modifiers I know of who correctly adjust the angle of the cantilever on the 103 after installing a more modern and acute stylus).

I now have a cartridge that is absolutely world class for 783 Euro (plus the original) cost of the 103r. I have compared it directly to my London Reference ($5K) which is mounted on a Schick Oil-Soaked graphite headshell. They sound very close but the 103a has a bit better body on female vocals. If 50 is dead neutral I would say the London is 49. It is on jazz or blues, basically anything with drums, piano or large dynamic swings and peaks where the London just simply cleans the clock of any other cartridge I have heard. The London very much reminds in some regards to my R2R running 15ips.

I am going to order another Lp Zupreme today so that I can compare my Ortofon MC Anna to the 103a.

I will say that my SL1200 GAE with the SPL Phonos and my 103a is absolutely world class. I don’t know at this point if I will ever purchase another expensive cartridge. I actually was not prepared for my secondary analog rig to take that big a leap in performance. I am very very pleased with the purchase.

I will continue to comment as the unit runs-in.

The linear power supply project for my SL 1200 GAE was delayed do to extreme flooding in the area which delayed parts delivery. That project will probably commence in about the next 4 weeks and I will write that up. I am glad it happened that way as I don’t like changing more than one variable at a time.

Until next time.
audiofun
audiofun OP
669 posts
 
Pani:

Unfortunately I do not. I will say that in my discussions with Francois of Ana Mighty Sound, I have found him to be a connoisseur of good sound. That guy knows what he is doing and the equipment he deals with is TOP NOTCH (Neumann DST's, Tsar, EMT, Thrax, etc.), so I would venture that if he is representing it, you're probably safe. 

Sometimes you just have to take a chance :) I did just that when I ordered an AT ART 1000 cartridge yesterday LOL, hope I love it :)

I would be super interested if you decide to move forward with the Le Phono.
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rauliruegas
9,123 posts
 
Dear @audiofun : " hope I love it ".  Well, the ART 1000 is really special and different to other top cartridge regarding its " presentation " of what we are listening. You will love it, can't do in other way.

Regarding your 103r up-graded cartridge and as @francoissg said the Denon 103 was modified almost just from the begining more than 50 years ago. The first modifications were made it by Denon it self with new models using the same cartridge motor.

There is no doubt that the 103 " motor " is an iconic one and not only used by today companies as Zu or Ana Migthy even in the past and I think they still do we have to remember the Magic Diamond cartridge that the original modifier try, with out success, to cover that the cartridge motor came from Denon 103 and that Magic Diamond was on sale for 5K big dollars in those times.
I had the opportunity to listen it in an agoner friend mounted in a Walker TT and performs very well.

I'm sure that yours is a serious up-date over the stock one. Make sense to me to use a well trusted and good quality executed cartridge motor as the 103 even to market a new cartridge out there because we don't have to " invent " almost nothing at all.
Obviously that the 103 motor can't makes or have the same quality performance levels as the cartridge motors and how are " surrounded " by the top manufacturers as Ortofon, VDH, My Sonic Labs or Benz Micro to name some of them.

So, your " new " cartridge is made it around a price point and that's why comes with some overall performance limitations but those French gentlemans can re-coil with silver too and other additional modifications.

Obviously that for any cartridge can performs at the Lyra Atlas or your Anna cartridges or the Colibri then it need it a new whole cartridge design and not a 103 modifications even that those modifications been " sophisticated ".

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.
pani
1,049 posts
 
@audiofun , I am going to have a chat with Francois today. If all goes well I will get the Le Phono. The other phonostage I am considering is the FM Acoustics 122 mk2. I can get it for about 60% more than the Le Phono but it is one of those phonostages which has a solid reputation for being in a top-tier system. I have heard the FM and I love it.
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rauliruegas
9,123 posts
 
Dear @pani : Do you know that the RIAA deviation spec in that Le Phono has a swing 0f 1.0 dbs? ! !  not 0.1 or 0.2 but a full 1.0db. In that critical regards is terrible for say the least.

FM Acoustics belongs to a way different league against any top phono stage.

R.
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rauliruegas
9,123 posts
 
Dear @audiofun : I don't have doubts on what you posted on your re-vamped 103.

My very first LOMC cartridge was the 103 and after that I " fall in love " with Denon cartridges and bougth evry single model Denon had in those very old times, including the Dl-1000, I still have that 103.

My last experiences with re-vamped 103 cartridges was like 5-6 months ago  when an audio friend  lend to me his ZU 103 best ZU modification level and I listened by 6 days and compare it against a Lyra middle of its line the Kleos one and even that the Kleos is not the Atlas outperformed easily ( btw, I'm listening the Etna sl. ) and could not be in a different way.

The Kleos has a lot of research in its overall design ( the Atlas is a design with refinements over the Kleos but the same main design. ) when the ZU or your Ana Migthy still are the " venerble " 103 designed not for audiophiles.

So, the differences are huge true differences no matter what.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.
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