[Indiansprings]

New toy.
I am in the process of rebuilding my Thorens TD 160. Setting up the 103R while I had a little down time.
I thru it on my Technics SL-Q3, had to back the weight all the way off the tonearm and just start it on the first thread. Probably around 2.5g, WOW its a big difference. I cant wait to get it set up right on the Thorens.

[toxteth ogrady]

I was pretty impressed with how much difference it made when I nuded my 103R and mounted it in an aluminum body -- same one as yours, by the way. It's a crazy good value, as far as mc cartridges go. I'm thinking about getting another and having it retipped by Peter at Soundsmith.

[texendo]

I will concur with the high value of the Denon 103 carts.  I've had the 103R for over a year.  I nuded it myself and put it into a wood body from Uwe out of Deutschland.  It has been a very highly musical cart.  This week I just received a new 103 wooded silver from Soundsmith (I use an Auditorium 23 SUT that is spec'd for the 103, not 103R).  Even with minimal break-in, it sounds f-ing awesome.  It says a lot that the Denon 103 carts have been produced for almost a half century now.  The caliber and value of work from Soundsmith is outstanding.

[TomS]

What aluminum body are you using?

My new 103R is at Zu Audio to get their aluminum body installed so I'm really looking forward to hearing it in a couple weeks. I just didn't have the nerve to do it myself to a brand new cart.

[TONEPUB]

Big fan of the 103 in stock or Zu form.  One of the best values in cartridges I think I've ever experienced!

[jtwrace]

Good to know that I'm headed in the proper direction with the Zu 103.

[Indiansprings]

What aluminum body are you using?

My new 103R is at Zu Audio to get their aluminum body installed so I'm really looking forward to hearing it in a couple weeks. I just didn't have the nerve to do it myself to a brand new cart.

It came out of the UK. http://www.ebay.com/itm/320831558314?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
OK, after I got it on and installed. The first record to go on was Qualitys new Dusty Springfield, Dusty in Memphis, side one track one. Just a little lovin. I still feel it when her vocals came in.

[jtwrace]

It came out of the UK. I will have to try and find the reciept or the website.
OK, after I got it on and installed. The first record to go on was Dusty in Memphis side one track one. Just a little lovin.

What epoxy will you use?

[jtwrace]

Also, what SUT's are you guys using with your 103's?

[Indiansprings]

No epoxy, interfierance fit. I am using a Denon SUT out of Japan.

[SteveRB]

running a 103 in a Midas Aluminum body with extra de-coupling piece (Midas Touch). I have it mounted on a Jelco 10" tonearm -- Sounds fantastic.

I am using a vintage Denon Step-Up transformer into my rebuilt Eico phono stage.

[sebrof]

It came out of the UK. http://www.ebay.com/itm/320831558314?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
OK, after I got it on and installed. The first record to go on was Qualitys new Dusty Springfield, Dusty in Memphis, side one track one. Just a little lovin. I still feel it when her vocals came in.

Indiansprings - Did you listen to the 103r with the stock body first?
I have the stock 103r and am considering the aluminum body (or aluminium since it's coming from the UK). Just would like to get peoples' thoughts on the delta between stock and metal body.

[Indiansprings]

Indiansprings - Did you listen to the 103r with the stock body first?
I have the stock 103r and am considering the aluminum body (or aluminium since it's coming from the UK). Just would like to get peoples' thoughts on the delta between stock and metal body.

I have listened to it in stock form for the last year or so. It sounds better now. There is a noticeable improvement. 

[sebrof]

I have listened to it in stock form for the last year or so. It sounds better now. There is a noticeable improvement. 

Thanks!
Sounds like it's worth a shot at $70 or so.

[toxteth ogrady]

As I mentioned earlier I have the same aluminum body, and it completely transformed the stock 103R. The difference was not subtle. I've since tried it on several tonearms and it really shines on the Jelco 750D and 750L. The level of sound that can be achieved for less than $1000 with the Jelco/Denon combo is pretty impressive imo.

[Indiansprings]

Well in a month or so I will be able to report how it sounds with a Jelco SA 250-ST.

[TomS]

I've had a brand new stock 103R on my Trans-Fi Terminator T3Pro arm for a few weeks, putting maybe 20-30 hours on it. Recently I also had the opportunity to demo a new Zu Denon 103 (not the R) and found it a huge improvement mostly on both frequency extremes, while preserving the nice midrange. I honestly couldn't bear to go back to the stock one. As a result I sent my stock 103R to Zu for the aluminum body/epoxy upgrade.

Hopefully, when the 103R comes back, I can compare both Zu's side by side on my two arm wands for a few days. The wands are identical, other than the wiring is copper with an extra molex connector to RCA jacks in one and silver wire in the other straight through to Eichmann RCA plugs. The swap is about 30 seconds on this arm so very convenient other than just matching the levels. My 103R is 0.27mv and I think the 103 was about 0.45mv.

[toxteth ogrady]

What does ZU charge if you send in your own 103R?

[TomS]

$200 plus return shipping.

[roscoeiii]

$200 plus return shipping.

And is that just for installing the aluminum body or do they do anything else to the cart?