Audio-Technica AT95E vs Denon DL-103

Could be wrong here, but the cartridge (the thing at the end of the tonearm where the needle goes on) looks like the venerable Audio Technica AT95E-commonly included on turntables that cost upwards of $500. Great sounding cartridge, and it’s the cartridge and stylus that actually determine how good a turntable sounds.

Sadly, it sounds awful compared to the AT85EP. It's very quiet, sounds tinny, and just doesn't offer the dynamic range that the AT85EP does. I had friends listen to it to ensure that I wasn't crazy, and the results were unanimous. Do yourself a favor and try the AT85EP, and don't forget the AT-PMA1 1/2" mount adapter (not needed if you already have a P-Mount head shell)

8 this morning, and loving how the DL-103 sounds in this system - warm, but clear in the high freqs. My whole setup is as follows: Thorens TD145 mkII w/ Denon DL-103 (Herbie’s Way Excellent II, Schopper armwand upgrades)—> Black Ice Audio F159 —> NAD T758 v3 analog (L and R of 7.1) inputs for vinyl, HDMI otherwise —> Odyssey Audio Khartago Stereo Plus w/ Kismet board and upgraded caps —> NOLA KOs.

Apparently, this is an updated version of Audio Technica's consumer workhorse cartridge. The updated version of the AT-95 now requires slightly greater tracking force (2 grams of nominal tracking force as opposed to 1.75 grams). Compared to the older version that came with a Thorens TD-235 that I purchased 4 years ago, the current version sounds more dynamic

Alignment was quite easy. I mounted it on the removeable headshell that came with the Classic turntable, set the overhang with a set of calipers, eyeballed the alignment, and set the tracking force at 2.5 grams. My integrated amp is an Emotiva basX TA1 with a built-in MC/MM preamplifier

At95e is bright compared to AM30s, and my ears tell me that the AM30s has a wider frequency response. Play the same record with both with my eyes blind, I'll tell you which cart is which. Which one I like? I like them both, but I'd rather listen to classics with the Signet. Rock tends to like the AT

However, such was not the case in my system and less so for my tastes. This upgrade to a mc cartridge did not provide the balanced frequency response and performance that I sought. The soundstage, the mid-range and the bass were much better represented with the DL-103 than with many of the mm cartridges I have used previously. With the DL-103, I was hoping to hear much better and more refined upper frequencies

If you don't trust YouTube compression to adequately represent the sound, follow the link in my description to an uncompressed wav file that you can l...

All very good cartridges, especially the DL-110, but in my opinion the DL-103 is the finest cartridge I've ever used. Bear in mind, I have it installed on a vintage DENON DP62L turntable with the S-shaped wand. My preamplifier is a KENWOOD C1 that supports both MM and MC cartridges, and my power amplifier is a CARVER M400a power amp driving the original Smaller Advent speakers. This cartridge has a HUGH sound stage