Best budget cartridge: Shure M97XE, Ortofon OM10/OMB10, Denon DL-110/160, or AT440ML? - Page 4

Well, every 1200 has a near identical arm with the same moderate mass. So, yes.

But, why would anyone want a blatantly colored cartridge like the 103(at least, that is how people seem to describe it)?

-Chris

Zu Audio offers an upgraded Denon 103 which was just reviewed by 6moons if you care to read it and once the 800 hours are done, Sound-Smith offers some nice styli for it. All cartridges are colored to one degree or another. The trick is to find the flavor you like bolted to your colored tonearm.

Pretty much. check the other thread I just posted. Most SL**00 series have either a MKI tonearm which is about 15g effective mass or a MKII (like the SL1200MKII) which is slightly lower at 13g. The Denon will work mechanically better with the higher mass arm on paper but in practice due to the extra damping afforded by all the various joints in the Technics SL**00MKII arm it's also a perfect match.

I couldn't find any measurements on the original SL1200 MkI arm but it looks quite different to the SL1300-1900 MKI. Based on the naming conventions I'd bet it was an EPA-120? The further you go back into the '70s though the higher in mass arms get as a rule, so the Denon's ought to work fine as you say.

The Pearl is pretty similar in compliance to the BPS so that should work fine on the SL1200MKII. The sound isn't too far from the AT if memory serves.

Apparently the 110/160 is not that much less derided in some quarters.

dl110

Like Ssportsclay suggests it's all a question of perspective and as I mentiond above the plot that you get with the 103 looks pretty much textbook flat upto 20Khz.
Since you like the 110 you may well also like the 103, i found it too intriguing to resist

Adjust+

I have ordered this software from Chris and will start a thread after I have some time on it to relate my experience.

bump to a good thread

 

well ive been researching carts for ever it seems,   had considered the prestige, but read so many bad reviews, i couldnt believe it,  initially i had wanted denon,, but worried after reading that many mc carts can be over detailed or dare i say bright?,,   

 

 but after reading more and more, denon gets more praise than any other,, for a minute i wanted the goldring 1042, but read how the denon 160 whips it. ?????   but a thousand people cant be wrong can they,,, the 160 gets more praise than any other ive read. 

 

i also read the 160 is better than the ortofon 2m black,,, which i couldn't believe,, but more than  a few have said this.   i have been doing some serious research.

 

so it comes down to either the 103(which i read was used by major broadcasting and recording company's as their reference cart, which initially peeked my denon cart interest,, that and being somewhat down with denon  phones( did i say somewhat down, i meant in love with)   but i dont drink kool aid  i listen and do research.

 

or the 103 R   which seems to be a 103 clone and upgraded wiring?   i am skeptical at all that i could hear a diffference,, has anyone compared these two iconic carts??

 

 

and finally the 110 or 160( i also have read that others cannot tell the difference between these two,, some could)

 

my main question is between the 160 and the classic 103,,, i can get the 103 for a deal only 30 more than the 160,, is it worth it?????

 

any of your comments or expertise is highly valuable and appreciated, thank you

 

im also very curious about  MP carts as well.. that would compete with above denon carts

 

 

The Denons are good budget moving coil cartridges. These are popular on the Technics 1200 turntables because they generally match the stock tonearm better than most of the moving magnet models. One of the main objectives with cartridge matching is to achieve the best tracking. Getting back to the original theme of this aging thread, I am amazed by some of the comments I have been reading on the Shure M97xE lately. JICO has recently released their SAS stylus for this cartridge and people who have heard this combination are claiming it as one of the best MM cartridges available. Stylus quality definitely has a major influence on cartridge performance.

 

 

cool, i almost ordered a 103r but im gonna try the classic 103, if for any reason its historical back ground in relation to broadcasting.

   that is interesting about the M97xE.   i was kinda sold on trying that one, but i read it can be difficult to setup correctly.  im also interested to read about all of the good dl160 synergy. 
         i also read good things about the other sure  upgrade tha's super expensive i forget the exact model.    thanks,  keep spinning the 180 gram goodness:)

Which stylus are you referring to specifically? Their website is not very helpful. Do you know the model? I have this cart. and would love to hear the difference that stylus might make.