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Phono Cartridge

Denon DL-103 vs Denon DL-110

Denon DL-103

31 reviews

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Upgrade Pick

in Phono Cartridge

Denon DL-110

40 reviews

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Great value for the price

Compatibility with various turntables and upgrade options

Liquid midrange and punchy bass

Adds extra detail and trackability

Fuller sound with more defined midrange and bass

Great value for its price range

Adaptable to different genres and turntables

Brings out more detail in records

Highly recommended for its compatibility and sound quality

Not ideal for all systems and tastes

Some users have experienced hum and surface noise

Requires high mass tonearms and phono preamps with extra high gain

Not tracking well on some HiFi News test tracks

Some users have experienced a harsh edge in the sound

May require adjustments to preamp settings for optimal performance

Verdict

Overall, the Denon DL-103 receives mixed reviews. Some users praise its warm and clear sound, while others find it lacking in certain areas. It is recommended for those with high mass tonearms and phono preamps with extra high gain. Some users suggest looking into pre-owned cartridges for better value. The cartridge is also noted for its compatibility with various turntables and upgrade options. However, some users have experienced issues with hum and surface noise. Overall, the Denon DL-103 is a solid entry-level moving-coil phono cartridge, but may not be the best option for everyone.

Verdict

The Denon DL-110 is a highly recommended cartridge for its compatibility and sound quality. It is a great upgrade from stock cartridges and brings out more detail in records. It is adaptable to different genres and turntables, but may require adjustments to preamp settings. Some users have experienced issues with tracking and a harsh edge in the sound. Overall, it is a great value for its price range and a popular choice among audiophiles.

Reviews by Topic

Our analysis shows how reviewers feel about different topics. Please note these are not full reviews.

Sound Quality

Upgrade train stopped... for now

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.

Positive

reddit.com/r/audiophile

I've been wanting to upgrade to an MC cartridge for awhile and the opportunity recently presented itself via a NIB Denon DL-110 from Japan at an affordable price. My fears that my Musical Fidelity V90-LPS would have insufficient gain to drive it were immediately proven to be unfounded as I'm able to obtain a comfortable listening level at about 11 o'clock on the dial on my Cambridge Audio 640A amplifier. First impressions are very good, considering that the cart hasn't even begun to break in yet. It's already an improvement over my 2M Blue and Nagaoka MP-110 which were my top MM carts in my collection

Positive

reddit.com/r/turntables

Frequency Response

Good, but not quite what I hoped for...

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

Very disappointing.

The popping went away in Phono, so I figured no big deal, swapped to Phono and: Issue 2: So. Much. Treble. If I were to graph it: 2/10 on bass, 0/10 on mid, 11/10 on treble

Cartridge Type

Lower Budget Low Compliance Cartridge?

Positive

reddit.com/r/turntables

Good but a bit harsh

I used this cartridge in the latest Rega RP3, NAD 350, HD650, very clear but with a harsh edge. I am now using a Grado Reference Platinum 2, which is as clear as the Denon but smoother. The Denon is very good but a bit aggressive. My preference is the Grado

Soundstage

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

Just wonderful sounding

My Blue Point slurred the S's and the Audio Technica cartridge on my Technics SL-1700 also was very sibilant. The Denon reproduces the S's very sharply with no overt sibilance. Dropping the needle on Micheal Jackson's Billy Jean from "Thriller", another track that give cartridges issues, played very well. The sound stage width is very nice, too

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