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5stars
67ratings4stars
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Easy to set up93% agree
Well designed100% agree
Performs well100% agree
55 reviews
I Love This Cartridge!!!!
This is my second DL-103 installed on a VPI Aries turntable. Although the Aries is a fantastic turntable, it doesn't always work well with some cartridges. With this turntable, the DL-103 has next to no phono hum and sounds incredible and it's not even broken in yet. What everyone's saying about this cartridge is true. It really does play rings around cartridges twice the price. It's a moving coil cartridge so you will probably need a step-up transformer. I have a Ortofon ST-80 which does the job. They're others so do your research. I'm also using a DL-103 with the classic Thorens TD-124 which also sounds fantastic. Again, for the price of this cartridge, you can't beat it with a baseball bat!!! Break out your plastic and get your click on. You won't be sorry.Read full review...
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: innovee.tech
Denon DL 103
I'm not sure what I can add to what is already one of the most affordable, icon stereo carts ever.
This is my 2nd one and I modded it with a wooden snake wood body but before I did I mounted it up and gave it a spin in stock form and it sounded superb! So much so that I was hesitant to go thru with the mod but seeing how I had the snake wood body, I was pretty much committed.
After doing the transplant mod it took on another level of greatness that I had hoped for. All of the wonderful qualities that has made this cart so enduring for so many years remained but with more authority.
I have a tiger wood wooden body on the way and will be looking for a great deal on another DL-103!Read full review...
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: mobilepc_phones
Excellent Cartridge!
Warm, not harsh, has bottom end authority!
It is “Low Compliance” which means it’s for higher-mass tonearm so make sure to add a weight to your headshell if you tonearm is not high mass. Also you need a Moving Coil phono pre amp or step-up transformer. Get one of the vintage Denon AU320’s on EBay before the price goes crazy on those. Read full review...
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: 2juki
Bringing back to life a dead cartridge
Had my broken DL-103r re-tipped after a broken cantilever accident and I'm very happy with it.
Job was done very professionally, everything is straight (you'll be surprised...), balanced, cleaned and to speck. The diamond is of good quality, and as expected for the price.
It was also done quickly, and communication and advice was great.
Just had it compared with a regular 103r:
a) Compliance is the same - which is important to know. Both the regular and the re-tipped cartridges resonance on a Lenco arm at a good 8.5 Hz, putting the compliance at 10-11 Cu (at 10Hz).
b) Sonically, it's a changed beast - the cart lost some of it's full-bodied warmth, and got a distinctive gain in details and sound-stage. Still musical and easy on the ear.
would I do it again with a broken/worned cartridge? - certainly - got back an somewhat improved cart, in place of a destroyed one, for a VERY good price.
Would I re-tipped a good/new cartridge - That's probably a "no". If some more details, as a trade off for some warmth is what I'm looking for - I'll choose another cart from start.
Thanks from a happy customer!
Read full review...
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: groovetickler
Denon DL103
Best mc for the price. It has better noise suppression than my Shure V15 iii. I cannot justify to get Benz Micro Gold, which is better sounding but 4 times more money. I enjoy more with records than CD, which do seemed not as lively sounding. Highs and Base are better from records, which sounded crisp and accurate, as said those recording are from the 70's.Read full review...
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: innovee.tech
Best entry level Low Output Moving Coil cartridge I have ever heard! " Fantastic" worth every penny!
I did a lot of research on Vinyl Engine and on The Carver Site before buying this from a different vender. I am simply blown away at the detail this cartridge gives with vinyl playback.
I had both a Shure M97xE and a Sumoko Pearl MM cartridge set that I often swapped on my Technics SL-Q2 turntable and decided I wanted to take advantage of my Carver C-1 preamps MC phono stage.
This Denon 103 uses a conical stylus, and has been around since the early 70's's for use in FM broadcast radio in Japan and the United States. For this reason it needs up to 2.5 grams of tracking force, but can track just fine with 2 Grams if your tonearm is heavy enough.
If your looking for a hand built and well designed M.C. cartridge at a very solid .3mv output, look no further! The output is really loud at about 12:00Oclock on my C-1 preamps volume control and the noise floor is lowered because of this as well. Fantastic sounding MC cartridge at a very fair price point.
The best entry level M.C. cartridge I.M.H.O. if your looking for a solid cartridge and already have a good MC phono stage in your preamp or an external phono stage capable of driving low output Moving Coil's then this is one of if not the single best sounding MC you can pick up for under $200! "JUST FANTASTIC"Read full review...
Verified purchase: No
Best cartridge I ever owned
This one is a timeless classic for a reason. Great depth and very rich sound. I rediscovered my records with it. Very easy to handle for a moving coil cartridge, and very gentle with used records. Brings them back to life, really.
For casual users remember you will absolutely need pre-pre-amplification with a moving coil cartridge, unlike the more common moving magnet cartridges. So do not invest in this one before making sure your integrated amp has a MC position or getting a pre-pre-amp. Way worth it though !Read full review...
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: innovee.tech
Will buy this product again! A true craftsman!!
Replaced an old cartridge with this excellent refurb. Was blown away with the improvement in sound and clarity. Really brought the music to life and filed the sound stage in my listening room. Most important to get everything balanced and had to add a little extra weight to the counterbalance.Read full review...
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: vas_cartridge_r...
Solid experience all the way around!
I made the mistake of snapping the stylus off of my DL-103R while trying to debody it and transfer it to a Paradox Pulse Guard body. After contemplating the price of a new 103R and the retip service, I decided to give it a retip at 1/2 the price. All prior reviews pointed to a good experience, So, I sent the cart to Steve priority mail, where he repaired it and sent it back out on the same day he received it! Turn around time was less than 10 days. I knew the performance was probably going to be on par with the stock 103R, I wasn't expecting it to be better but IT IS! The detail being pulled out of the vinyl is incredible. Just a tad brighter out of the box but started to settle in after about 10 hours. I am extremely happy with this retip. A better cart at half the price of a new one. When the time comes, I will definitely go this route again.Read full review...
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: vas_cartridge_r...
Great Cart!
It was a good cart to begin with... but then I decided to make it a Cocobolo shell. I learned how to remove it from the plastic shell and made my own shell by taking the measurements of the old one. It bloody sings now. Since then I've made two others for friends who've heard mine. Great tech in a not so great body, but a little elbow grease and about a dollars worth of wood is all worth the effort.Read full review...
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: innovee.tech