Do you know the DL103-M by the Expert Stylus Company?

[Jerome W]

Hello friends !

When I was shopping for a high end TT, I received this recommendation from a british dealer ( SouthWest Analogue ) :

"The cartridge we would recommend is a UK modified version of the Denon
DL-103, this modified version is designated the DL-103M. The modification
is undertaken on the very best hand picked new DL-103 cartridges by the
Expert Stylus Company. They fit their own special Sapphire cantilever and
Paratrac stylus to totally transform a good cartridge into a real high end
model, we use one in our own SME Model 30/2A. Please add £425.00 if
you require this excellent cartridge"

I'm interested because the Talismann cart I'm using is already a modified DL103 in an Ebony case, and it sounds extremely good through the Ref 2, so I'm curious about this DL 103 -M.

Thanks in advance !

[Rafale]

Originally Posted by C220MC275

Hello friends !

When I was shopping for a high end TT, I received this recommendation from a british dealer ( SouthWest Analogue ) :

"The cartridge we would recommend is a UK modified version of the Denon
DL-103, this modified version is designated the DL-103M. The modification
is undertaken on the very best hand picked new DL-103 cartridges by the
Expert Stylus Company. They fit their own special Sapphire cantilever and
Paratrac stylus to totally transform a good cartridge into a real high end
model, we use one in our own SME Model 30/2A. Please add £425.00 if
you require this excellent cartridge"

I'm interested because the Talismann cart I'm using is already a modified DL103 in an Ebony case, and it sounds extremely good through the Ref 2, so I'm curious about this DL 103 -M.

Thanks in advance !

Hello Jérôme

ESC is one of the best company regarding retipping, rebuilding high end cartridge They are very renowned in particular and considered as the reference for the renovation of LINN MC, it is towards them that I send all my MC cart for expertise, cleaning etc...you can trust them

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by Rafale

Hello Jérôme

ESC is one of the best company regarding retipping, rebuilding high end cartridge They are very renowned in particular and considered as the reference for the renovation of LINN MC, it is towards them that I send all my MC cart for expertise, cleaning etc...you can trust them

Thanks Philippe !

What do you think about the quote stating that they transform a regular cart in a high end one for just 425 pounds ?

[Rafale]

Originally Posted by C220MC275

Thanks Philippe !

What do you think about the quote stating that they transform a regular cart in a high end one for just 425 pounds ?

I have never heard this modified DL103 but I tend to believe them on word, their work is really irreproachable and they know about what they speak
Philippe

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by Rafale

I have never heard this modified DL103 but I tend to believe them on word, their work is really irreproachable and they know about what they speak
Philippe

Hum.... Interesting. I will give this a try for my next cart, when the Ref 2 will stop to impress me, let's say.....in about 20 years !
But my actual cart will die before this.... ( and me too ! )

[jdandy]

Jérôme.......Ruby cantilevers have intrigued me for some time. Most recently, I have read good things about the Ortofon Credenza Blue moving coil cartridge with the ruby cantilever and nude FG 70 diamond stylus.

I did not know that there was a company that modified the Denon DL-103. I will have to do some research on the Expert Stylus Company DL-103M.

[Rafale]

Jérôme
here a link concerning the DL 103 M by ESC

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by Rafale

Jérôme
here a link concerning the DL 103 M by ESC

Thank you Philippe ! Very good !

[Tonepub]

I've had good luck with both the Soundsmith and the Zu Denon mods.

[turntable]

I got ESC in the UK to re-tip my Uwe Ebony denon 103R. Its their ruby paratracer stylus from memory. Not sure if that is the same asd the Ruby, I think it is. It was only a couple of hundred pounds from memory.

For the first 6 or so hours I thought WTF. agressive, thin and bright. Where was the luvely 103r tone.

Anyway, after 10 or so hours it started to settle down and is now sounding good. It still has that denon boogie in the bass and is a lot cleaner in the mid and treble. Frankly, it does not really sound much like the old denon 103r, however it does sound good. A really good rock n roll cartridge.
It still lacks a little refinement compared to more expensive MC carts.

I also have a Linn Troika that has been re-tipped by ESC a couple of month ago and that sounds really great. The Troika was my Dream cartridge in the mid-late 80's and I stupidly upgraded to the then Archiv. ESC do a lot of Troika's I believe and closest to the orginal specs.

I guess the better the cartridge to start off with, the better the results should be.

So, yes highly recommended, but as ever be careful what you wish for :-)