Denon 103 & 304

[Gerry]

I've had a couple of 103s and loved them.
Well i thought I might give the 304 a go....it has plenty of follower and good reviews.
Well, I wasn't that impressed!
Oudles of bass...someting which has been missing with my latest 103, but I know it is capable of it...I've had it before.
But the top end and mid band is something I could not get used to...very sharp. There was not the width of sound stage the 103 has either.
And to boot...the surface noise was incredible....not rumble or groove noise, but snap crakle and pop. I really thought all my lps were dead...not surprised everyone thought cd was better in 1983!
So back went the 103, this time with a 3mm aluminum plate (2.6g) between it and the head shell....bass is back!
So is the soundstage etc.
My only complaint with the thing, is the mounting holes....******s to deal with....the plastic shell does not like the nuts and bolts being tight!!!
I will have to think about this...why can't they make the old alu bodied one again....please Denon!
Interesting link: http://www.analogue-classics.com/html/denon_dl_103.html

Regards
Gerry

[James D]

It's a real bummer - the best denon low output m/c is the cheapest! Don't you just hate it when something plays with your preconceptions like that

THe germans do some nice rebodied ones: wooden ones.

James

[Black Stuart]

James,
I shall have to e-mail them re. prices.

Black Stuart

[Gerry]

Stuart

€898 each!
Maybe I can make one...I did see a German site discribing the making of one...translation wasn't great.

Gerry

[Paul Barker]

I once had that most expensive one, but actually at that time (5 years ago) I hadn't progressed to lenco / unipivot (then I only had a ar legend, Alphasun arm) and didn't apreciate how good the 103 family is.

I gave that cart away when the tip came off.

The dvxx1l I replaced it with seemed better to me at the time, but I believe that the 103 I have now with the lenco Mayware is far superior to the xx1l in terms of voices coming forward three dimentional and correct. ptar is also good.

I'am wondering what loading you are using with the 103 using stepup's.
Just got the kit to play today (yesterday) this has taken ages (starting from scratch), my stepup txs are 8.8 gain not the full 10. I began into the tube phono 47k no bass, added 68k wonderfull life and bass but a little cd like, moved to 20k same but less get up and go, something in between, I know it depends on the rest of your gear and I will change the loading. BTW the Decca arm is stunning if it beats the Hadcock I will be gutted.
Kicks ass, stonking, blows something away, into the river it goes, blew it over the hill into the lake. Snap crackle and pop.
I have a direct to disc Jap Lew Tabakin 45 it nearly gave me a heart attack.
**** Will.

A pic of todays fun.

[Paul Barker]

My Carver transformers have selector, I selected max which is 100r.

[IslandPink]

Nice work guys,
That's the Decca International, is it Will ?
I was using 27K on the secondary of my step-ups last time ( until a day or two ) with the 103 , Will , that means 270R as seen by the cartridge . This is on the high side for my current set-up , but could be OK in a better-damped arm or a softer-sounding amp/cables .

Paul,
I think the 103 is potentially better overall than the XX-1L ; it's partly better in the set-ups I've had recently - loses out on top end finesse , but beats the Dyna on soundstage , bass and tonal depth . With the right arm it could be the final answer . It might not beat the top zyx, Koetsu or the Dyna XV1 though ... !

Mark

[Gerry]

Will
I'm using the matching Denon AU-300LC....stunning little transformer (only £72)....so loadings etc should be OK.
I've got the bass that was missing back by putting the Aluminum plate inbetween the cartridge and headshell.
Gerry