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DL103 vs. DL103R

Yes, yes , yes... I KNOW this topic has been sort of DONE TO DEATH. However - there's one thing I kind of need to know. I was going to jump on one as a preliminary pickup for my new analog rig (SOTA Star, no tonearm yet) - I'd kind of decided already against it becuase the 103R supposedly had a really hot top end. My Linn Saras are just about at the threshold of comfort on the top end for me anyway - and I didn't want to put them over the edge. From what I UNDERSTAND, the 103R is much hotter (peaky) in the treble regions than the regular 103. But then I'd read a vague mention of the OPPOSITE as well. Can anybody relate the character of these to eachother in this regard? Or in absolute terms? Thanks so much even though there's so much out there on the subject already.

Jonathan
letranger
david99's avatar
david99
1,467 posts
 
TWI (Tom) is the authority on Denon carts.
I was going to get 103R but ended up with a 103S (silver) instead.
There was never a hint of brightness.
I've read the 103 is somewhat inferior to the R or S.
I've never read of any Denon cart.being 'hot'fwiw.
jphii
485 posts
 
I've got a 103r, and it behaves nothing like that. Read TWL's review.
armstrod
498 posts
 
I also own the 103R, and find the top end very smooth, not overly bright at all.

David
amandarae
512 posts
 
Same experience here with Jphii and Armstrod! Loaded properly, I do not experienced any brightness.
letranger OP
9 posts
 
Okay hmmm... I found the article - and it was on AUDIOGON, of all places!

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?ranlg&1034089946&read&3&4&

Here is a direct quote;

For the down-sides, there is a hint of edge on some vocals, especially ones that are already edgy voices. It is not the last word in "smoothness" but it is certainly not bad here. It could be a little better though. There is a very slight hint of some upper midrange coloration, like the standard 103 has, but much less. The lighter coils create a slight rise in amplitude over 15kHz, that the standard DL103 does not have. I did not find this to be problematic, although those with a "hot" tweeter may not like this. The low compliance of this cartridge is not compatible with all tonearms. It likes a heavier arm, and really does perform better with gimbal arms. Heavier unipivots, or ones with damping and stabilizing may work, though.

I was all set to get one - but this kind of threw me a bit - since my tweeters tend to be a bit on the spikey side.

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