Vortrex did I read correctly that you recommend a phono RIAA PRE stage to phono cartridge price ratio of 10 to 1 and recently upgraded to a phono RIAA PRE stage to phono cartridge price ratio of 20 to 1? Please tell me more about your Denon DL 103R. I am looking to extract more out of mine by upgrading from my Graham Slee Reflex M and Denon AU-300LC 1:10 ratio SUT to something else. The 103r I am using was purchased from the comet supply store and is not a graded cart i.e.: "tolerance between L&R output voltage and internal coil impedance" being less than or equal to 1 percent. Vortrex do you have a graded 103R? And are you currenlty using an upgraded cantilever and stylus and body with your 103 R? I am just curious because it just seems unlikely for one to pair such an inexpensive cartridge with such an expensive phono RIAA PRE stage unless your 103r is graded 2 prime(a ZU ranking) with upgraded wood or aluminum body with ruby cantilever and with a Contact Line stylus which would change the phono RIAA PRE stage to phono cartridge price ratio to 2 to 1 and 4 to 1.
ZU Rankings
"tolerance is referenced between the two channels' internal resistance and output Voltage"
Denon DL 103R Standard ≤ 4.0%
Denon DL 103R Grade 1 ≤ 1.0%
Denon DL 103R Grade 2 ≤ 0.5%
Denon DL 103R Grade 2 Prime (2') ≤ 0.1%
ZU
Denon DL 103 Grade 2 PRIME $874 0.1% inter-channel tolerances
Denon DL 103 2 $749 0.5% inter-channel tolerances
Denon DL 103 1 $624 1.0% inter-channel tolerances
Denon DL 103 (standard grade) $549 2.0% inter-channel tolerances
Soundsmith
Denon DL 103R-Ruby CL $829.95
Denon DL 103R-Ruby CL NUDE $999.95
Denon DL 103R-Ruby OC/CL $929.95
Denon DL 103R-Ruby OC/CL NUDE $1099.95
phono RIAA PRE stage
Zesto Audio Andros PS1 Vacuum Tube Phonostage Preamp $4,300
Manley Chinook Phono Stage $2,250