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Installed brand new cartridge on Kenwood KD-550, new sound is terrible.

C

Carlo1208

Active Member
I have a Kenwood KD-550 Turntable. It’s been serving me well with my Marantz 2270 and ADS L880 speakers.

Up until today. I got myself a Denon DL-103R Cartridge after being all sale on Amazon for $250.

I installed right now. Using a tracking force of 2.5, having the tracking force weigh machine by Riverstone. And aligned along with the protractor I have.

And it sounds just terrible. Even when there isn’t music playing. Used to be that there was only a light static with the music off. Music played great. Now my speakers give off a motorcycle engine like noise. Sounds disgusting. My music sounds waaaayyy to low. Plus it’s sounds empty and baseless despite the fact that I have the bass knob turned almost all the way up.

What can the problem ? I will
Post pictures of my head shell.

I feel like that’s the problem. My white cable on the head shell doesn’t connect as well as the other ones. It’s loose and easily removable. Buts it’s still very much in contact with the cartridge pins. Let me show you.
 

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The Denon is a LOMC (low output moving coil design), in particular Output: 0.25 mV. This level is one order of magnitude lower than standard levels associated to moving magnets (or moving iron) type cartridges. You need either a step-up transformer or a phono preamplifier with the MC setting. Do you have this issue sorted out? Sorry if I´m saying something obvious but this point does not come out clearly to me from your post.

PS: from https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/marantz/2270.shtml , it seems that your Marantz only has a moving magnet (MM) phono input. So, you would need a SUT or another preamplifier.
 
guiller said:
The Denon is a LOMC (low output moving coil design), in particular Output: 0.25 mV. This level is one order of magnitude lower than standard levels associated to moving magnets (or moving iron) type cartridges. You need either a step-up transformer or a phono preamplifier with the MC setting. Do you have this issue sorted out? Sorry if I´m saying something obvious but this point does not come out clearly to me from your post.
Click to expand...
Well I have a Marantz 2270 Reciever but I’m not exactly sure how I would put into the MC setting as you say....

But he’s it a Phone Pre Amp. It’s from the 70s. Sorry I I don’t answer you question cause I’m not exactly sure what it is you’re talking about
 
All I´m saying is that the class of carts that the DL-103R belongs to does not work properly when connected to the MM phono input of your receiver. You need either a SUT or a head preamp.
 
Ooofff. Well I’m sure am a dumbass aren’t I. Guess I should’ve done more research. What do you all recommend?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Carlo1208 said:
Well I have a Marantz 2270 Reciever but I’m not exactly sure how I would put into the MC setting as you say....

But he’s it a Phone Pre Amp. It’s from the 70s. Sorry I I don’t answer you question cause I’m not exactly sure what it is you’re talking about
Click to expand...
The phono input in your Marantz is set up for Moving Magnet (MM) cartridges. It simply does not have enough gain for a Low Output Moving Coil cartridge. So, you would have to buy an outboard Step Up Transformer or return the 103 and get something like a 110 - a High Output Moving Coil, which would be compatible with your Marantz.
 
Carlo1208 said:
Ooofff. Well I’m sure am a dumbass aren’t I. Guess I should’ve done more research. What do you all recommend?
Click to expand...

The Denon could be a door entrance to the world of MC carts, that have something special to them. Perhaps the cheapest way is to get a used transformer (SUT) but you would need to make sure that it is adequate for the Denon (BarterTown, eBay, craigslist, etc).
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Nashou66 said:
Just did a search for an SUT and this came up.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Save-100-o...090406?hash=item2618dfffa6:g:8dAAAOSwsnNceFBz

Guy bought it for a HANA LOMC but it didn't have the adequate load resistance for it.

But I think it should be perfect for your 103R

And its a very good price.

Nashou
Click to expand...
How do I know the inner resistance or my cartridge? On my manual it says the Denon’s load Impedance is 40ohm when using the transformer, and in the description of the time you sent it says the transformer is made for cartridges with 30 ohm. Not sure if they’re related. It also says recommended for carts with .3-.8 of output voltage. Mine is .25 mV.
 
I've looked at many threads from here, Vinyl Engine, Steve Hoffman, and such. Lots of recommendations include buying from CineMags and Bob's Services, but I all require like... a giant ****ing budget that I'm not prepared for. However there also seems recommendations for Denon 300LC, Denon 310, and Denon 320. The first two are on eBay for affordable prices, and there's plenty of them. All from Japan for some reason.
 
It should be enough I would think . The numbers do not have to be exact , but ideally they should be.

Your cart is 14 ohms +/- 20% . I think it would work. it has a 20 db gain, but I think a little more would be better like 22 db, but its not that big a
difference.

@rothwellaudio is the expert on this. maybe they will see this.

nashou
 
The 300 LC SUT also has a 1:10 coil ratio , same as the one I showed. SO Based on that it should be adequate .

Nashou
 
MRL_Audio said:
Check this one out. Completely flexible for LOMC and MM cartridges. Priced very fairly.

View attachment 1523620
Click to expand...

I concur. Given the prices of the SUTs, and having in mind that the OP perhaps would like to try other LOMC carts in the future, a phono preamp that supports both MM and MC carts, with adjustable settings for load seems a good choice if the price is fair.
 
guiller said:
I concur. Given the prices of the SUTs, and having in mind that the OP perhaps would like to try other LOMC carts in the future, a phono preamp that supports both MM and MC carts, with adjustable settings for load seems a good choice if the price is fair.
Click to expand...
I know, I saw already checked out the products. It’s only $70, which is more attractive compared to the $200-400 priced Denon SUTS from eBay.

But I’m concerned about performance. Which are to give me better performance? An upgraded phono stage or a SUT?
 
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