Ortofon SPU Classic vs Denon DL-103

[donic]

Hope you don't mind I jump in as a newcomer in this forum.

My experience has been around SPU Gold, SPU Classic(Spherical), EMT XSD 15 & Zu 103R SS retip using Fidelity Research FRT-4 as step up on Thorens td-124. All these cartridges sound different and there is no single one that suits all classical music. IMHO, the presentation of SPU Gold is beautiful & sweet but SPU Classic is more original & sincere. On the other hand, EMT has more authority and ZU 103R SS retip has more details with less coloration. At the end of the day, select different cartrige for different music is still necessary. Do you agree ?

Could be true but changing carts costs some time. I would prefer to have one, good quality, universal (as much as it is possible) cart. I have just ordered SPU Royal N and hope this one will be that cart.

Regards

[kennethyuen]

Hi Donic,

Agreed. May be one SPU Royal N is good enough as you listen mainly to Jazz. Playing Rock will likely be another story. Anyhow, it would be nice to hear your feedback soon. All the Best !

Cheers


Kenneth

[Boukman]

I am just in the middle of comparing an SPU Classic with a DL103r. On my Garrard 301 with SME 3012 arm. The Denon in stock body. Running through a Luxman SQ38u with nos phillips and amperes tubes and Siemens EL34's.

My initial impression is that the SPU is soft, sweet and engaging. The DL103r gives far more resolution, separation and swings more. However, the SPU beats the stock 103, even with a modded aluminium body etc.

My clear favourites now are the DL103r, my Ortofon 2M on the 401 with SME V, the Nagaoaka MP500 on my GL88 with Jelco 750l. The SPU I will try on my ATP12 arm, and I keep the stock 103's as spare. Also nice are the SAE1000's - have one on my SP10 with SME3009.

The DL103r looks like the best audio bargain out there. For reference, I have been playing Jazz - Sun Ra Jazz in Silhouette and Duke Ellington's Such Sweet Thunder.

Would have to check the cartridges on classical, reggae, soul, Hiphop and rock. I have a feeling that the Nagaoka and the 2M Black will excel on non-jazz and non-classical

[blakep]

I am just in the middle of comparing an SPU Classic with a DL103r. On my Garrard 301 with SME 3012 arm. The Denon in stock body. Running through a Luxman SQ38u with nos phillips and amperes tubes and Siemens EL34's.

My initial impression is that the SPU is soft, sweet and engaging. The DL103r gives far more resolution, separation and swings more. However, the SPU beats the stock 103, even with a modded aluminium body etc.

My clear favourites now are the DL103r, my Ortofon 2M on the 401 with SME V, the Nagaoaka MP500 on my GL88 with Jelco 750l. The SPU I will try on my ATP12 arm, and I keep the stock 103's as spare. Also nice are the SAE1000's - have one on my SP10 with SME3009.

The DL103r looks like the best audio bargain out there. For reference, I have been playing Jazz - Sun Ra Jazz in Silhouette and Duke Ellington's Such Sweet Thunder.

Would have to check the cartridges on classical, reggae, soul, Hiphop and rock. I have a feeling that the Nagaoka and the 2M Black will excel on non-jazz and non-classical

Have you tried either of your Denons on the Jelco arm?

[KentT]

What is so bad about changing cartridges on a SME? I do it correctly in 10 minutes. All of my favorites are mounted on headshells. On Jamaican Reggae pressings or old imperfect R&B originals, keep a beater MM handy. I use the Stanton 680 AL for this job.

[bauzace50]

Hello,

I had one SPU/T-E, and one SPU/T many years ago, and own one DL-103R right now. My preference leans slightly in favor of the DL-103R in terms of its better tracking ability and somewhat lighter tracking force setting. Both models have very similar sound signature, and it is extremely difficult to distinguish one from the other in those terms.

If I had the money to buy another one today, I would opt for another DL-103R.

Regards, and good luck,
bauzace50

[Boukman]

Hi Blake - I have tried the denon's on the Lenco 88 with the Jelco. Its ok, not great. Maybe because I use a Musical Fidelity V-LPS phono stage for that deck (distance from the amp, too lazy. Have the 301 with 3012 connected to the Luxman phono stage). I prefer running the Jelco with a Nagaoka MP500 for more modern records, rock, hiphop, punk etc. And the 301 with the 3012 and 103r for Jazz, classical and, at this moment, Tom Waits' Blue Valentine. Lovely.

I just tried the SPU again and it sounded great with Clifford Jordan's Glass Bead Games, but less so with The Return of Art Pepper and Blue Valentines. Tried the SPU on the Jelco, and sounded better with Tom Waits, but the counter weight isn't heavy enough.... Had it tracking at 5grammes....

My favourites are still DL103r, MP500 and Ortofon 2m Black. I do like the look of the SPU, its very cool, retro and beautifully integrated. But the sound doesn't yet do it for me. Maybe it needs to run for a while longer.

Problem with all these components is that there are some many discrete variables that affect the ultimate reproduction.

Overall, I love the sound of the system. Works for me. I spend way too much time listening and loving it.

What are your experiences with the Jelco and Denon?

[blakep]

Hi Blake - I have tried the denon's on the Lenco 88 with the Jelco. Its ok, not great. Maybe because I use a Musical Fidelity V-LPS phono stage for that deck (distance from the amp, too lazy. Have the 301 with 3012 connected to the Luxman phono stage).

What are your experiences with the Jelco and Denon?

I've had very positive experiences with 103R's on the 750D. My current 103R is in an aluminum body and has been potted and retipped by Soundsmith with a ruby cantilever and line contact stylus. I also have an ebony bodied 103R with the same potting and retip.

Most people report great synergy with the 103/103R/Jelco combination; that's why I asked.

Mine is on a Gyrodec and run fully balanced into an Aqvox phono stage. I'd suggest that the 103R is 1) deserving of a much better phono stage than the V-LPS-because it's a relatively cheap cartridge there's a tendency to pair it with budget phono stages and 2) the V-LPS is light on gain for the 103R. With about 55 db of gain from that stage and the cartridge really benefiting from around 60-61 db of gain, I would expect it to sound pretty anemic with that gain.