Upgrade from MM to MC cartridge and....holy crap!

[belgianbrain]

Been getting back into vinyl. Bought a Pioneer PLX-1000 turntable, a Schiit Skoll preamp, and an Audio Technica VM540ML cartridge.

The sound was very good, but my digital setup based on a Schiit Yggdrasil was better. The best I'd heard from my digital setup was definitely a solid step up from the analog setup.

So, I decided to try an MC cartridge. I ordered a Denon DL-103R.

Wow. What a huge upgrade. Digital no longer has an advantage on this. This is stunning. I had no idea this would be such a huge upgrade.

My analog setup now has the soundstage, the space, and the ambiance of the best digital I've heard. Maybe the analog setup is even a tad better. Maybe.

 

[justjed2]

I made the move to LOMC about 7 months ago, with a MM-only phono pre and a SUT. Yeah, I hear ya! It's almost like getting a new system, music ya know suddenly becomes music ya thought ya knew!

 

[Carbsandcaps]

I bought a denon dp1100 from a guy for $250. Came with TWO Mc carts and the transformer. Honestly, I wasn’t very impressed. I think I just like the more gritty sound of a good mm cart. That being said, there is a whole new world of sound coming from that Mc cart and I will audition them again since I only listened for a little bit with the one. But I think it’s like everything else it’s in the ear of the beholder.

 

[Sgt Shultz]

Been getting back into vinyl. Bought a Pioneer PLX-1000 turntable, a Schiit Skoll preamp, and an Audio Technica VM540ML cartridge.

The sound was very good, but my digital setup based on a Schiit Yggdrasil was better. The best I'd heard from my digital setup was definitely a solid step up from the analog setup.

So, I decided to try an MC cartridge. I ordered a Denon DL-103R.

Wow. What a huge upgrade. Digital no longer has an advantage on this. This is stunning. I had no idea this would be such a huge upgrade.

My analog setup now has the soundstage, the space, and the ambiance of the best digital I've heard. Maybe the analog setup is even a tad better. Maybe.

Welcome to the world of LOMC carts, I have the original Denon DL-301 and 301MKII along with a few others from other manufacturers. The Denons have a nice balanced SQ with clean crisp highs, a smooth midrange, and tight bass, I'm not surprised you're liking the 103R.

I also have a number of great MM and MI carts, recently had my Grado Reference Platinum wood body re-tipped with a nude Shibata and my Well Tempered Lab Turntable never sounded better.

Still running LOMC on other decks.

 

[twiiii]

The 103 is a great cartridge and some feel a 110 is better,, I have friends that use both and they both sound wonderful. Better than the Ortofon and AT they replaced. The price isn't so bad either. I am a Dynavector guy and have been since 2010 using the 20 series. I feel they just have a bit better detail and staging. But then it could be other differences in the chain of sound reproduction. But I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Denon 110 if I were starting all over.

 

[drbranch]

Welcome to the world of LOMC carts, I have the original Denon DL-301 and 301MKII along with a few others from other manufacturers. The Denons have a nice balanced SQ with clean crisp highs, a smooth midrange, and tight bass, I'm not surprised you're liking the 103R.

I also have a number of great MM and MI carts, recently had my Grado Reference Platinum wood body re-tipped with a nude Shibata and my Well Tempered Lab Turntable never sounded better.

Still running LOMC on other decks.

Sgt, how does a LOMC compare to a HOMC? I have a Denon DL-160 that I am not using currently and when I obtained it I didn't use it enough to really explore that option. I do know that you can use HOMC as a MM.

 

[Blackdog61]

I entered the world of LOMC about ten months ago with a DL103 and AU320 SUT and it was very enlightening. There is something special there.

 

[adnick]

Been so impressed with the 103s, I’ve ended up with:

VAS 103 elliptical,
103R with aluminum cantilever and ML
103D stock 2 of these
103M stock (looking for another)
103 Soundsmith modified Ruby cantilever ML and aluminum body

VR
Andy

 

[Sgt Shultz]

Sgt, how does a LOMC compare to a HOMC? I have a Denon DL-160 that I am not using currently and when I obtained it I didn't use it enough to really explore that option. I do know that you can use HOMC as a MM.

I only have one HOMC the SAE 1000 so many here jumped on NOS for $99, it sits idle with about 10hrs on it if that's any measure.

I'm not married to any cartridge "type", brand, or manufacturer country of origin.

I'm currently using a Grace MM on the Kenwood KD-500/Grace G707, the Grado MI on the Well Tempered Lab, and a Windbell LOMC on the Kenwood KD-770D.

The Windbell has the Denons sitting the bench, not as refined or balanced but man it rocks, outstanding gut punching bass, great upper extension, just a fun cartridge.

Windbell MC100MKII

 

[Blue Shadow]

Wow. What a huge upgrade. Digital no longer has an advantage on this. This is stunning. I had no idea this would be such a huge upgrade.

My analog setup now has the soundstage, the space, and the ambiance of the best digital I've heard. Maybe the analog setup is even a tad better.

Glad you were able to make the move. Many just want the clean, dynamic (before the loudness wars) sound of digital, but on the flip side of the technical benefits digital offers, moving coil and vinyl/tape in general can offer a more musical presentation. These are the ones that proclaim digital as better.

We were playing a CD at Mark's one year and Mike (R.I.P.) finally heard vinyl juxtaposed to CD and immediately bought a phono system. The fullness, richness of the sound was something he was not getting with is 5k worth of DAC and transport from NorthStar. Those of us that prefer the characteristics Mike appreciated will prefer vinyl. Maybe we can get along anyway and not argue about it.

 

[Blue Shadow]

Sgt, how does a LOMC compare to a HOMC? I have a Denon DL-160 that I am not using currently and when I obtained it I didn't use it enough to really explore that option. I do know that you can use HOMC as a MM.

A low output MC will have fewer winding on the coils attached to the cantilever meaning lower moving mass and better response to the movements induced by the vinyl groove. I don't know if you are going to miss something using a DL-160 which I have on my brother's table because it was so much better than a 1970 TOTL Shure cartridge with an SAS stylus.

Would probably really need to hear the same cartridge in Low vs. High output versions to tell the difference. I haven't done that and enjoy both. The DL-160 and a number of different LOMC and one VLOMC, the Ortofon MC-20 which has an output of 0.07mV, 1/10th that of a normal LOMC. I have the amplification needed to handle this cartridge just fine.

 

[Blackdog61]

Many of us are old enough to remember when digital music first became available in the early 1980s. I was using a very cheap JVC DD turntable and bought into the hype. Sure, CDs sounded better than that so I began buying a lot of CDs and continued for several years. Then I heard music delivered by a good turntable and bought an AR, and put a cheap Grado on it. That set me into the habit of frequenting a local record store every week and I began building my vinyl collection. Although I continued buying CDs and later downloading music from ITunes, vinyl won out and it is all I buy now. There is something about the medium that connects in a way that ones and zeros just can’t.

 

[T68]

"holy crap!" ...isn't that what you scream when you fumble and break your shiny new (and very expensive) MC cartridge?!

Seriously, I would really like to try a MC, but man I would be nervous every time I get close to that tiny needle...

 

[Blackdog61]

"holy crap!" ...isn't that what you scream when you fumble and break your shiny new (and very expensive) MC cartridge?!

Seriously, I would really like to try a MC, but man I would be nervous every time I get close to that tiny needle...

The stock Denons are fully clothed just like other carts and come with a stylus guard.

 

[sqlsavior]

I have a Denon DL-160 that I am not using currently and when I obtained it I didn't use it enough to really explore that option. I do know that you can use HOMC as a MM.

A DL-160 was the first cartridge I bought after getting back into audio. Yes, you can use it with a MM input; that's all I had. I found the sound very good, and very entertaining. But a move to a DL-103 with an AU-300LC step-up transformer, brought something more, even though the conical stylus doesn't pick up quite as much detail. The 103/SUT combo just sounded 'right', and more natural. I call it a workingman's reference. You know exactly what you have, and that people have admired its sound for sixty years now.