Tonearm for Denon DL-103

[cafe latte]

I use heavier headshell and counterweight on the 3009 Improved --- with Denon 103SA cartridge with Soundsmith boron/nude contact line mod. Resonance frequency is 8Hz.

View attachment 2955259

Many retippers either lengthen the cantilever or adjust the suspension when retipping 103 to alter the compliance, but if you did not ask for it to be changed they should have left it the same.
Chris

 

[Mr Boochie]

Many retippers either lengthen the cantilever or adjust the suspension when retipping 103 to alter the compliance, but if you did not ask for it to be changed they should have left it the same.
Chris

It's slightly longer.

OEM.

Soundsmith modded.

 

[cafe latte]

It's slightly longer.

Yes for sure. A good thing though unless you have a old heavy broadcast arm.
Chris

 

[Mr Boochie]

Yes for sure. A good thing though unless you have a old heavy broadcast arm.
Chris

SME 3009 Series II Improved.

 

[tabarddn51]

Hi, I did this for the guys at L/H, but it is equally as viable here. Arm suitable for the 103 range (apart from 103D/S/M) so 90%.

1st graph is on a 12 gram arm, defiantly not suitable. Arms need to add a lot of mass.

2nd graph a 25 gram arm, OK & most people would be happy. But more can be achieved.

3rd a 35 gram arm, this is where you find out that the 103 really has bass slam & depth & the midrange opens up to near, but not quite to Koetsu level.

So I guess around 95% of users are missing out on a lot of what the Denon can offer & is this one reason why Stereophile Recommended Components mag lists the
- standard 103 as Class C,
-Zu 103 class B
-Audio MusiKraft 103 Class A

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrjbKq_Jt1kITcMSw3zZgx.;_ylu=Y29sbwNncTEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1692243776/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.stereophile.com%2fcontent%2frecommended-components-2023-edition/RK=2/RS=ALMBCSqgJ08NyE3Pn2IFHWAybnE-

Cheers

 

[dvdr]

suitable for the 103 range (apart from 103D/R/M)

thank you for posting this! Just a quick follow up: why did you mention the DL103R? As far as I have understood, compliance is the same as the stock DL103, the difference being fewer windings on the (then lighter) coil and different coil material. Would that exclude the R version from your calculations?

 

[tabarddn51]

Hi Sorry, Finger slip, should be ''S'', corrected now

Cheers

 

[dvdr]

Great to hear that - could you kindly give one or two examples of both classic and modern arms that can provide 35g of effective mass?

Hi Sorry, Finger slip, should be ''S'', corrected now

Cheers

 

[tabarddn51]

Yes, No prob's Fidelity Research FR-64 S & Temaad Merlin-35 (via special order, see website) & some of the Ikeda arms
This is what a review on V/E say's about the 64s, all reviews were 5-star
''This arm has the same high quality build and attention to detail as other FR arms I've used. What sets it apart is it's high mass which makes it ideal for use with low compliance carts such as the Ortofon SPU, Fidelity Research FR7 or Denon DL103 standard. There are few other arms can get the best from these carts''

Cheers

 

[miles2002]

A denon da-308 works very well, a da-309 with a "cap" and stub weight is also a good match, at least to a vas 103

 

[Dave_in_Va.]

Herb Reichert (in Stereophile) recently mentioned that the Sorane/Abis SA 1.2 arm is a perfect match for the DL 103. I believe it's around $2000.

 

[tabarddn51]

Here is a picture produced by Ortofon on their website that graphically shows the matching level of arm Eff Mass to cart compliance.
Here the arm Eff Mass is the horizontal line going from 5 to 40 grams and the vertical line is the carts compliance going from 5 to 40.

Cheers