Affordable Japanese LOMCs--Recommendations?

Johnny, they sound different, but I don't know if there is much giving up to be done. The 103 has a very full midbass and an extended and prominent deeper bass, but only in a high mass arm. This conceit is very finely balanced by a very nicely developed midrange, with good dimensionality, and bit of a push in the presence region to offset the bass somewhat. The problem is that it is like talking about sex. You never really get it, because the greatest strength of the 103 is how well it melds all of it's elements and how hard the seams are to hear. No doubt, others will feel differently.

The 301 is more modern and extracts more detail, without throwing it at you. It's more even, with a more compact image, with sharper edge detail, and greater extension into the upper treble. The midrange is quite good without as much dimensionality, but greater eveness and uniformity. The lower midrange is less zaftig and the bass leaner, though not lean, and a bit faster sounding. Again, only in a sympathetic arm. Loading on my transformer was 40 ohms for the 103, and 3 ohms on the 301. Is that what you are looking for?

Thanks Mr. Viridian, that's exactly what I'm trying to find out--what are the differences in personalities of the two cartridges. The subjective descriptions of the 103R do sound pretty attractive, but I have a Technics SL1210 and currently the effective mass is about 19g. I could probably bump it up to 24g with a headshell weight and heavy screws. The 301 II should drop right in without much arm tweaking, and it tracks lighter, so that's a plus for me too.

The $64 question is which one would ultimately give me more musical satisfaction. I like my MM AT150MLX but I wouldn't mind a little more bass fullness. If the DL301 II has better bass response I'd probably be happy with that.

I'm getting a new preamp in today (Jolida JD 9A). It has some impedance and capacitance loading DIP switches, but the impedance choices are 100, 300, 1000 and 47K ohm, so I guess I'd have to use 100 ohm for either cart.

It sounds like the 103R slightly tweaks up the bass and midrange. That always works for rock and pop, often for jazz, but not so much for classical. However, I also get the sense from the descriptions that the 103R's dimensionality and musical cohesiveness is the stronger feature and any frequency emphasis is minor by comparison.

Sound about right?

Johnny, no loading with a transformer and an active stage are totally different animals. With your active phono preamp 100 might work for the 103, but 300 or 1K might work better with the 301. The beauty of your phono stage is that you have several choices and it is easy to try them all! That's what makes it a hobby.

The truth is, if you are flush, you could buy both and probably lose very, very little money when you go to sell the one that you don't like.

I don't consider the 103s frequency tailoring minor at all, and I am sorry if I gave that impression. As Buco says, it is a coloration, and all colorations are serious and really wear on some people at some times. It is consonant with the fabric of the music, however, which makes some people prefer it to a more literal presentation. Youz pays your money and makes youz choices, douchebaggery, indeed!

Well, I just replaced my entry-level Cambridge 640P with a tube-driven Jolida JD 9A phono stage. I replaced the stock Chinese 12AX7's with mil-spec NOS Sylvania Gold Tube 5751's equipped with Herbie's Teflon HAL-O tube dampers.

The increased musicality and resolution of this unit shows me that my AT150MLX is even better than I thought. The midrange is very alive and transparent, and it tracks the high frequencies and very high overtones with great speed and aplomb. There was a very noticeable difference on how brushwork sounded on the snare drum and cymbals. So now I think I need to let the system settle in as is for awhile to determine if I really need a new cartridge yet, or if I just needed a better phono stage.

Concerning the cartridges, however, If the DL103R plays some tricks with the frequency response curve (or could it the plastic body resonating?), I'd probably lean toward the 301 II.

Just to update this thread I purchased a Benz Micro Wood SL. It is much quieter in the groove than my 103r ever was and much more acurate. I am not looking back ...

Chuck