Denon DL 103R Moving Coil Cartridge Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I decided to buy this cartridge after seeing several positive reviews about it on the internet.I have had a Koetsu for many years and it was simply worn out.I plan to have it rebuilt but my curiosity was piqued with this Denon cartridge.Well, I am not disappointed.I am using this cartridge with an Audio Research Pre-amp made for MC cartridges mounted on an SME tonearm and Sota turntable.I set the cartridge loading impedance at 100 ohms as recommended in the manual and VTF set at 2.6 grams.I have about 10 hours on the cartridge now, so it might still be too early to make a final assessment, but so far I am very pleased.Since I have been using a Koetsu for so many years I am comparing the Denon to that.

The Koetsu is a very fine cartridge and at 5-6 times the cost, one expects proportionally more performance.Such is not the case.First, the Denon tracks much better than the Koetsu ever did.One of my favorite records is a Direct to Disc recording at 45 rpm of Beethoven's Passionata.It is a very dynamic recording and difficult to track.I had given up listening to it years ago because the piano crescendos break up so much.Well, after listening to a few records and noting how clean and clear this cartridge was tracking, I had to try this record again.It plays it perfectly!Plus the detail is all there.I can hear the pedals moving as well as the pianist taking deep breathes just before an energetic run of the keys.

I'm not sure if the Koetsu had just gotten darker sounding over the years, but the Denon sounds so much more lively and clear.Not bright, not dark, but just right.Of course, I could increase the cartridge loading impedance to make it sound even brighter, but it sounds clear and natural to me at 100 ohms.I was up to 47 kohms loading on my Koetsu cartridge.

All in all, I can't imagine spending big bucks on a phono cartridge ever again.I find this one quite satisfying.

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Product Description:
The DL-103R is an up

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