losthorizon
Well-Known Member
I have a Kenwood KD 990, and I want to fit a Denon DL 103r to it, but I have been getting conflicting advice on the pairing, has anyone tried this, and does it work?
Is my cartridge a match for my arm
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I have a Denon DL-103SA (103R sub-type) on my lightweight SME 3009 Series 2 (Improved) arm. OEM, the SME 3009 is designed for high-compliance MM-type cartridges. The Denon DL-103R MC cartridge is a low-compliance type.
I needed to go to a heavier headshell (Sony SH-135 vs. the OEM perforated SME) and a heavier counterweight (138 gm vs. OEM 110 gm). This got the tonearm resonance into the proper 8-10Hz range (mine is 8Hz on a test record).
The bass is great, and the thing tracks very well.
You may also need to adjust the Kenwood's arm weight to use the Denon MC cartridge properly.
Good luck!
Heavier SH-135 headshell.
Heavier counterweight.
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sound hound
Super Member
What is the effective mass of your tonearm and the weight of the headshell?
I Googled this. The only difference I could find between the KD-990 and KP-990 is that they are nearly identical — except for the intended regional markets.
The KP-990 is Japanese Domestic (100VAC). The KD-990 is for export (120 or 220VAC).
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mrwood200
Well-Known Member
(Those are some more really High-Quality photos! Clean parts & well lit!)
mrwood200
Well-Known Member
AI - Original Configuration: The stock 17.5g specification includes the original Kenwood headshell, which weighs roughly 11 grams
fyi - I would like more weight. Consider a heavier shell. This might work well:
sound hound
Super Member
Yes! That was the one I was thinking about too.
mrwood200
Well-Known Member
I want it. I have the at-lh13/occ
Nice shell if you need weight. Adjustable azimuth & overhang. fyi - get the 'H' model (e.g., at-lh13h) if your cartridge has a threaded body.
Merci beaucoup!
The whole thing.
In action.
Sade. "Promise." Sony-EPIC (Japan pressing) 28•3P-682. 1985.
Run-out: 28-3P-682A2 1 A 15 〄CS
tabarddn51
Super Member
Hi yep, MORE weight, easiest trick is to insert a 10 gram brass Head-shell spacer
Cheers
PS, you may also have to add more weight at the C/W, try Blu-tack if you have nothing else.
Cheers
PS, you may also have to add more weight at the C/W, try Blu-tack if you have nothing else.
Nope.
There are these that go between the cartridge and the headshell. You would need to reset the vertical tracking angle.
I bought heavier headshells. Three were different weights, and I used the one that put the cartridge and tonearm weight in the proper resonance range.
I bought heavier headshells. Three were different weights, and I used the one that put the cartridge and tonearm weight in the proper resonance range.
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KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
I recommend a Denon DL-301, or Audio-Technica or non SPU Ortofon LOMC. DL-103 is for very high mass broadcast arms, your Kenwood arm is low side of medium mass.
tabarddn51
Super Member
Hi, Look on E/Bay or easier make your own
Cheers
Cheers
