Denon DL103-SP is home !

[Jerome W]

Hello folks,
I had the time tonight to set up the 103 SP I received last week on my Clearaudio TT. It is a new 103 modified by the Expert Stylus Company in UK.
According to my dealer, South West Analog, the work they do on it would place this glorious cart among the best ones on the market. I can't judge this because I don't have any other cart than the Clearaudio Talisman ( also derived from the 103 ) and the Rega Exact.
Thanks to the Dr Feickert protractor, setting up the cart took me 30 minutes.
I first adjusted the tracking weight at 2.5g but the treble was too sharp and aggressive. My dealer had sent me a mail telling me to use a tracking force of 2 to 2.5, lower to the one recommended by Denon, because of the change on the cantilever. I 'm now on 2.2g and bingo !
The treble is much more acceptable now, although I'm sure that the sound will improve after 50 hours of burn in. It is actually sounding very good out of the box.

The surface noise seems to be lower than with the Talisman. But I will have to listen to many records I know to be sure of this.
The overall sound has more bloom than the Talisman, a bit like the vintage sound or like a very good MM cart, but still it manages to keep a very high level of details and resolution. It is a high end sound for sure, at least to my ears.
Wether it is at the level of very high end carts, I don't know, and I will probably never know !

[turntable]

Hi Jerome

I had the same ESC cantilever/stylus build done on one of my 103r's. It certainly at first does not sound like a 103r, thing, etchy and bright.
That settled down after 20 or so hours and now it sounds pretty good.

IMO I would put the tracking weight back up to 2.5 after 20 hours, as it will sound better.

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by turntable

Hi Jerome

I had the same ESC cantilever/stylus build done on one of my 103r's. It certainly at first does not sound like a 103r, thing, etchy and bright.
That settled down after 20 or so hours and now it sounds pretty good.

IMO I would put the tracking weight back up to 2.5 after 20 hours, as it will sound better.

Ok, will try that my friend !
Thanks a lot !

[69sixpackbee]

You'll love the Denon. I have a DP-62L myself.
Great score!
Bud