midrange
Sound Smith did the work.
I was shocked at first as the sound sped up, detail was incredible in comparison. Seemed very different. After I calmed down and assimilated to it the detail is still there but can fall within the music. The sound did lose some baby fat but the midrange is still very very nice. I run it at 2.4g VTF with the tail down a bit.
With every upgrade down the chain you see more and more of what the 103 does.
Sound Smith did the work.
I was shocked at first as the sound sped up, detail was incredible in comparison. Seemed very different. After I calmed down and assimilated to it the detail is still there but can fall within the music. The sound did lose some baby fat but the midrange is still very very nice. I run it at 2.4g VTF with the tail down a bit.
With every upgrade down the chain you see more and more of what the 103 does.
Re: Re: midrange
just the opposite, johnsonad.
You have to spend the time to align it even more so with the fine line and Peter says that azimuth is of even more importance with this stylus cut. But it rides very snug. I get no distortion at all even on a crowded inner groove.
But if you mean noise by way of detail then the following settings gives it the familiar weight:
VTA = down at back
VTF = 2.3+
arm effective weight = 19+ grams, at least
After about 20 hours it is very very smooth. Used records are even more playable than before; noise being delegated second class status. For me it is the apotheosis of the 103. I have a 103 re-tipped in Panzerholz body I bought from a friend, an Ebony of the same at SoundSmith now, and will mount an 'R' in another wood body and send off later. I have a brass plate also from anumber1 that I will have to get another 103 for and run that one nude. All of them will get the fine line re-tip and I may spring for the super fine line re-tip on the nude one ... I am pretty convinced and very happy with the results.
The results being resolution of detail that does not over-ride the cohesive gestalt. Display of complicated/busy orchestral music with the congestion, just the opposite - all instruments are distinct and threaded. Voices are human, can tell all kinds of inflection. Bass has that wrap around tightness not losing the bottom weight. And there is a smooth elegance after a small bit of break-in.
I am replacing the Technics tonearm as it really does not like running the 103. I had a rb250 previously that did a far better job so that is getting rewired and placed on the wheel of steel.
If in some crazy chance you don't like what you get you can easily sell it for everything you spent on it. I think a wood body, potted, fine line re-tipped 103 would easily go for $500 if not $600-700. Who out there is selling such a thing commercially? No one.
johnsonad said:
just the opposite, johnsonad.
You have to spend the time to align it even more so with the fine line and Peter says that azimuth is of even more importance with this stylus cut. But it rides very snug. I get no distortion at all even on a crowded inner groove.
But if you mean noise by way of detail then the following settings gives it the familiar weight:
VTA = down at back
VTF = 2.3+
arm effective weight = 19+ grams, at least
After about 20 hours it is very very smooth. Used records are even more playable than before; noise being delegated second class status. For me it is the apotheosis of the 103. I have a 103 re-tipped in Panzerholz body I bought from a friend, an Ebony of the same at SoundSmith now, and will mount an 'R' in another wood body and send off later. I have a brass plate also from anumber1 that I will have to get another 103 for and run that one nude. All of them will get the fine line re-tip and I may spring for the super fine line re-tip on the nude one ... I am pretty convinced and very happy with the results.
The results being resolution of detail that does not over-ride the cohesive gestalt. Display of complicated/busy orchestral music with the congestion, just the opposite - all instruments are distinct and threaded. Voices are human, can tell all kinds of inflection. Bass has that wrap around tightness not losing the bottom weight. And there is a smooth elegance after a small bit of break-in.
I am replacing the Technics tonearm as it really does not like running the 103. I had a rb250 previously that did a far better job so that is getting rewired and placed on the wheel of steel.
If in some crazy chance you don't like what you get you can easily sell it for everything you spent on it. I think a wood body, potted, fine line re-tipped 103 would easily go for $500 if not $600-700. Who out there is selling such a thing commercially? No one.
Inspired by Uwe's handiwork and emboldened by Thomas Shick's video, I set out to make a Denon casing unlike any other.
FROM THIS
TO THIS
TO THIS
I am grateful to Uwe and Thomas and I dedicate this work as a tribute to them. I am very proud of this accomplishment, I hope they are too.
MandyM
FROM THIS
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
TO THIS
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
TO THIS
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
I am grateful to Uwe and Thomas and I dedicate this work as a tribute to them. I am very proud of this accomplishment, I hope they are too.
MandyM
vinylkid58 said:
It sounds better than it looks! Here is the mammoth case mounted on my DIY Ebony tonearm:
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Here is my DIY slip-on stylus guard for all nudies, Denon or otherwise:
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
MandyM
Hello,
The French magazine L''Audiophile did publish an article about replacing the standard plastic 103 '' housing '' with one made in lead. It was sold in their shop for several years but i think you need help of some technical company that is experienced in molding. It was published in nr22 november 1981. I think you can find a copy of that article on the internet ( in French ) or get a cd with all the articles. Good luck, Eduard
The French magazine L''Audiophile did publish an article about replacing the standard plastic 103 '' housing '' with one made in lead. It was sold in their shop for several years but i think you need help of some technical company that is experienced in molding. It was published in nr22 november 1981. I think you can find a copy of that article on the internet ( in French ) or get a cd with all the articles. Good luck, Eduard
fergs1 said:
Hi fergs, you can see more of my tonearms on this thread:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=113772&perpage=25&highlight=&pagenumber=4
MandyM
Just one more voice on this topic. 
I discovered Tomas Shick's video and de-nuded my DL103 also. I made up an aluminum plate 2mm thick with threaded the holes for mount. This was affixed with ACA (crazy glue).
I agree with all the positive things said - this mod utterly transforms a stock DL103. I will be looking at glueing the body next.
VERY highly recommended.
Jess
I discovered Tomas Shick's video and de-nuded my DL103 also. I made up an aluminum plate 2mm thick with threaded the holes for mount. This was affixed with ACA (crazy glue).
I agree with all the positive things said - this mod utterly transforms a stock DL103. I will be looking at glueing the body next.
VERY highly recommended.
Jess
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