I saw that car a few months back in Derbyshire UK. Don't believe many have been produced. May have been over here for a publicity round.
I was out on my motorbike in the national park. Caught a look but not a good one. Enough to say it looked very good.
Was not until i searched later that I discovered what it was.
Looked like a P1800 but wasn't , had me confused.
Serious money though.
I have one (not in use now since I’m using a Denon DL103 MC on an SME 3009 II).
It was originally a black but when removing it from a project TT to mount it on the SME one of the pins came out.
On @billshurv’s recommendation I bought a Red and simply used the Black stylus.
Great sound I have to say!
I only skipped over some postings so forgive me if things have been said before.
First: Although SAS Needles come very close the Original V15VMR Needle still is slightly better. Only the SAS/R is close to the real thing.
Second: The V15V is hard to beat in a Project 9c/9cc/ 9cc Evo Arm. It's a near perfect match. If you want to stay with the same Soundcharacter a Benz Wood SL would be a real upgrade, if your MC Preamp is good enough (avoid Stepups it will not work well with the benz for most of them). Hint: Use a Stevenson Alignment for best results with this Arm & Cart!!!
One real alternative and a very well kept NOS MM secret is a Sony XL-50 with either Original or SAS/B Needle, that is imho a (slight) upgrade over your cart. The Sony XL-70 with original needle is extremely close to he Benz, but unobtainium.
Another "Sidegrade and very good match if you want to try MC is a AT-OC9/III which is very slightly leaner sounding, but also a very good match to the Project arm (one of the few higher compliance MCs!).
I'm not aware of any MM / MI which can be bought new (not NOS) which really outperforms a V15V with Jico SAS/R (and more so original Needle).
First: Although SAS Needles come very close the Original V15VMR Needle still is slightly better. Only the SAS/R is close to the real thing.
Second: The V15V is hard to beat in a Project 9c/9cc/ 9cc Evo Arm. It's a near perfect match. If you want to stay with the same Soundcharacter a Benz Wood SL would be a real upgrade, if your MC Preamp is good enough (avoid Stepups it will not work well with the benz for most of them). Hint: Use a Stevenson Alignment for best results with this Arm & Cart!!!
One real alternative and a very well kept NOS MM secret is a Sony XL-50 with either Original or SAS/B Needle, that is imho a (slight) upgrade over your cart. The Sony XL-70 with original needle is extremely close to he Benz, but unobtainium.
Another "Sidegrade and very good match if you want to try MC is a AT-OC9/III which is very slightly leaner sounding, but also a very good match to the Project arm (one of the few higher compliance MCs!).
I'm not aware of any MM / MI which can be bought new (not NOS) which really outperforms a V15V with Jico SAS/R (and more so original Needle).
I was very close to acquiring the famous "best buy in MC" until I read this ....
Denon DL-103 - The most overrated MC of all time!- Vinyl Engine
Could you give us your opinion ?
@academia50
I would not take opinions that are based on subjective assessments too seriously - including mine.
However, a plot of the cart output came in the box - its flat out to 20 kHz and the channel balance is outstanding for an electro-mechanical device.
This says it all:-
“Hi Fi World, by the way, has the 103/103R on their list of most recommended cartridges (November 2006 issue), not that that really means much to me.”
I used a Hanna SL for a few weeks and that was very good (highly rated by Keywood) but it cost £999 vs the DL103 at about £250.
The DL103 has been around in various guises since the early 1960’s and has stood the test of time. I doubt there is a better MC for the money.
I’m using an SME on a Michel Gyrodec and a self designed pre (different to the self-designed one I used on the Hana SL)
I would not take opinions that are based on subjective assessments too seriously - including mine.
However, a plot of the cart output came in the box - its flat out to 20 kHz and the channel balance is outstanding for an electro-mechanical device.
This says it all:-
“Hi Fi World, by the way, has the 103/103R on their list of most recommended cartridges (November 2006 issue), not that that really means much to me.”
I used a Hanna SL for a few weeks and that was very good (highly rated by Keywood) but it cost £999 vs the DL103 at about £250.
The DL103 has been around in various guises since the early 1960’s and has stood the test of time. I doubt there is a better MC for the money.
I’m using an SME on a Michel Gyrodec and a self designed pre (different to the self-designed one I used on the Hana SL)
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To me the DL-103 is the flathead ford V8 of the cartridge world and popular because you can mod it for much better performance, so people do.
Three years ago i should have been sensible and just got my Benz wood retipped (about £200) and got an AT150MLx for MM duties, but I sold the Benz and went on a spree. My mid life crisis as I don't have a garage for a sports car at the moment
My next impulsive sillyness will be a rebuild of a Mk1 Ortofon MC20. 0.07mV output as new with 2.5Ohm coils. It'll be less when finished.
Three years ago i should have been sensible and just got my Benz wood retipped (about £200) and got an AT150MLx for MM duties, but I sold the Benz and went on a spree. My mid life crisis as I don't have a garage for a sports car at the moment
My next impulsive sillyness will be a rebuild of a Mk1 Ortofon MC20. 0.07mV output as new with 2.5Ohm coils. It'll be less when finished.
Also, having weighted up my options I am going to make some updates to the LP12 in the near future.
1. Stiffer subchassis
2. Update the bearing
3. Given reports a stiffer top plate makes gains but at quite an expense I may op to add some T section ribs at random angles to the underside. I just need to check clearance.
4. I will add a removeable beech wood cross brace to the underside. I currently run it with no base board in place.
I will keep looking out for alternative carts to try but feel this will gain me more initially.
1. Stiffer subchassis
2. Update the bearing
3. Given reports a stiffer top plate makes gains but at quite an expense I may op to add some T section ribs at random angles to the underside. I just need to check clearance.
4. I will add a removeable beech wood cross brace to the underside. I currently run it with no base board in place.
I will keep looking out for alternative carts to try but feel this will gain me more initially.
Ok, now listening to the first of the three B&O cartridges I have.
They are a lot lighter than the V15.
Needed to put my heavier anti skate weight back on.
Counterweight quite far in but I recall I have the heavier option on my 9cc arm.
Setting the arm level did not sound best, now have the base of the cart about level. I will try more nose down after.
Running the mmc20e first. Wasn't particularly impressed via headphones.
Ran for a side while main amps warmed up.
First impression is it does not have the weight of bass to match the V15. Speed though is there.
This cartridge though has a trick. Its throwing a very wide sound stage and 'hanging' sounds in the air.
I am going to listen further before trying another.
I still have my pot fitted to adjust resistor loading. Reading though these may need more capacitance than I am running.
They are a lot lighter than the V15.
Needed to put my heavier anti skate weight back on.
Counterweight quite far in but I recall I have the heavier option on my 9cc arm.
Setting the arm level did not sound best, now have the base of the cart about level. I will try more nose down after.
Running the mmc20e first. Wasn't particularly impressed via headphones.
Ran for a side while main amps warmed up.
First impression is it does not have the weight of bass to match the V15. Speed though is there.
This cartridge though has a trick. Its throwing a very wide sound stage and 'hanging' sounds in the air.
I am going to listen further before trying another.
I still have my pot fitted to adjust resistor loading. Reading though these may need more capacitance than I am running.