Micro Seiki Dd40 - Denon Dl 103 Lc

[leondutch]

Hello,

Since I am new on this forum, and just acquired a Micro Seiki DD40 with à Denon DL103LC Moving Coil cartridge (seems to be quote rare and excotic) I wonder if this combination is suitable. The only info on the cartridge I found is that trackingweight is 2,5 grams, needle is round and compliance is 5 (?) whatever.

Being an audiophile, but no technical nut I wonder if cartridge is suited for MA505 arm, and, if not what cartridge I should use? Also I wonder what type of protractor (Baerwald, etc) I should use?

Many thanks in advance,

Regards from the Netherlands.

[nuso]

Hello leondutch, did you finaly use this combination? And what is your conclusion?
Since Denon 103LC is very low compliance cartridge, it should benefit from use with higher mass tonearm. MA-505 tonearm is medium mass, so this combination is not the best match. However you can still replace the headshell (H-303 10g) with heavier one to increase the mass.

[Enochrome]

You cannot added any mass on the headshell for this situation. I have the exact same tt and cart and if you added 3 grams or more, the arm cannot balance itself because the counterweight is not heavy enough. You can do this if you have the optional sub counter weight but that items is rare. I did the resonance calculations here on V.E. and it juuuust works. If you factor that the compliance for the 103 is actually 10, not 5, and the arm is 16.7 grams, you get into the green, just barely. I played and it works fine, you need to balance the arm correctly or it won't work. I think this combo is killer for somewhat bright or lean speakers.

[leondutch]

Hello,

Many thanks, I managed to balance the arm (not easy but I was warned) and I also checked arm setup by means of HiFi News Test LP plus included printed setup instructions. It doesn't beat a Baerwald, but it's very usable. I also ran the LP with all torture and it held well....

I play alot of jazz and, mostly female, singer / songwriters, but also oldtime goodies such as Pink Floyd, even up to Pearls Before Swine (for babyboomers and former hippies such as me)

On the hardware front I use a 300B based SET, combined with active pre-amplifier, but I will detail that on THE appropriate thread.

Regards from very windy Holland