103R is more hifi. Sounds more like cd. Sweet harmonics though. The 103, whilst requiring adjustment, is much more natural and organic. Sounds like the pre amp is better matched to the 103. Suspect the 103r could fantastic in a well matched system. Thank you for posting.
If I'm not missing something, the DL103 and DL-103R are pretty much the exact same cart with different coil winding. Same stylus, same cantilever, same mass, same suspension, same materials, same channel separation. The only difference is coil winding with "better" 6N wire in the R model and slightly lower impedance and output. So it's not surprising they sound pretty much the same. Maybe high purity copper sounds better, I don't know. Maybe you can hear slight difference but it's definitely not night and day. I have both and the DL-103 seems a better value because the R model basically charge you 150$ for less wire.
it would be nice if the differences were explained between the two cartridges , so folks wouldn't have to look up the information. But both are good for a system needing a more forgiving resolution , as many more modern carts have the ability to transmit more detail. one must remember the internet is forever, and a lot of the praise these carts received were from a different time , like old TV shows without much competition . Lot's of people like them , and I like the denon company , but I favor a different path.
Yea, getting just a bit of sibilance. But that’s been the age old problem with conical styli since the late 1950s to early 1960s. That’s why the elliptical stylus was invented. The 1970 ADC 10E MKIV shames both of these MC cartridges. But the 103R sounds a tad more clear here.
Este tema, en concreto, tiene un grave problema de sibilancia en la grabación, que se hace especialmente molesto con la Denon dl 103 normal. Me hubiera gustado escucharlas con otra grabación de más calidad. Creo que la dl103r suena un poco mejor.
So I pull this song up on Amazon Music running HD SACD quality and compare. Same album and same artist. I play it on my phone as comparison. The streaming version of course doesn’t have the vinyl’s organic vibe and mechanical sound but the music can be a good baseline. What I found is the 103R sounded a bit closer to the SACD but with some distortion. I’ll say both may sound a bit less demanding on the high frequencies if there is a tube phono pre amp to tone it down. The 103 sounds a bit less fatigue. Based on my experiences with DL-110, a phono pre with matching independence does help toning down the fatigue high and brings out a better balance to the whole spectrum. So I would imagine the DL103 or DL103R also require a careful matching pre setting and obviously one setting does not apply to the other cartridges.
Everything more defined with the R, especially the bass and the piano. The wheezing in the voice may be due to poor cartridge damping / alignment. Either way, the AU 320 is more suitable for 103 than R. (40 ohm for 103; 14 ohm for R)
If you can pick any real differences from a lo-res compressed sound clip like this, good luck. I went to look for the Hi-Res file download link, but there isn't any? Are you able to give us a link to the actual high-res files so that we can take the RU-vid compression out of the equation? Thanks!
In the end it's all down to your own ears and what you're listening through, my Denon 103R set up correctly on my Linn sounds just beautiful to me, I have tried many, many, many other carts. and have to say some which were a great deal more expensive didn't come even close so get off you're snooty horse and listen to the cart. NOT it's name and price! OK you may not get on with the Denon then find a cart. you do get on with but for me Denon 103R is my thing and that's all I care about, suppose I didn't have to pay an arm and a leg for it but that's another bonus! There is sooooo much crap out there that is way overpriced and performs way under par but because it's a ********* or a ********* and is much more expensive some ears hear things that just aren't there, my ears don't care who made it just what it sounds like, the same with everything else in the chain, one thing I'm not is a HiFi snob, THANK GOD!!! Oh and my interconnects didn't cost thousands, SO VERY VERY SAD, FOR GOD'S SAKE WAKE UP they're having it right up your rear end and laughing all the way to the bank. Ah well that's my rant done!
You’re 100% correct, Keith! What matters is the QUALITY of sound-not the price tag or name brand or other marketing BS. That includes the fake, paid-for-by-advertisement “professional” reviews by so-called audiophiles!!! And you can do a lot of things to “tweek” and improve your home audio system without spending $10,000+ dollars!
@@z90012 Hi Trevor, sorry for the late reply, I use the Cambridge Audio 640P again lots will cock their nose up at that but for my ears it's just superb, it's not easy to get hold of but of course that doesn't bother me now :-) may I wish you many happy hours of LISTENING!
Oh and by the way listening to and commenting on ANY piece of HiFi component via RU-vid is just one big joke, are they aware of the signal processing that happens from source to their ears, give me a break please! I'm sure I heard a mouse tippy toeing across the floor in part of that music :-) :-) :-)
Absolutely zero sibilance (I think that is what one comment meant by 'distortion at higher frequencies') audible listening on my old 27" iMac Retina. Altho I own two 103R cartridges I have to admit the 103 is more relaxed.
No, the typical standard 103 does not sound natural because it has a slightly distorted midrange, and enormously (even reprehensively) distorted all the highs, sharp sibilants. Nothing and nothing to do with the neutral and natural sound recorded in the pressing plant on the disc.
Are you serious? Are we meant to A-B through limited bandwidth audio and PC speakers? Oh and my office acoustics were not especially designed for HiFi ... think I'll pass on reading comments by folks talking smack about a track most have probably not heard before now.
Why do all vinyl enthusiasts listen bizarre obscure artists no one has ever heard of ? Was this album in the $1 bin at the convenience store ? Just weird...
I think they both sounded mediocre and I cannot stand the singer I think she’s overrated I have heard that song thousand times I do not understand the audio files community love affair with this singer