Denon DL-103

newbie308
newbie308 Posts: 767
edited July 2012 in 2 Channel Audio
I have read many great things about the DL-103 cartridge, and I want to order one. However, I don't know if it is compatible with my Dynaco PAS-3 preamp. The pre has been modified to eliminate the tone controls, the selenium rectifier was replaced with modern silicon diodes with the power supply board from Tubes for Hifi, and the phono circuit was upgraded to RIAA equalization standards as suggested by Circio Audio. I replaced all of the phono jacks with new gold plated copper, and I have a full compliment of NOS Amperex Bugle Boy tubes installed. The capacitors are foil orange drops, and the resistors are all metal film. The pre sounds fantastic, but I don't know if it will support a low output cartridge. Do I need a MM/MC pre? Would the hook up be TT, MM/MC pre, and then into the Aux inputs of my Dynaco, and then into the amplifier? Or do I set aside the Dynaco and run TT, MM/MC pre, and then into the Amplifier?

Help please!
Sources: Technics SL1200MKII | SME3009 Tonearm | Monster Alpha 1 MC cartridge | Oppo UDP203 disk player | Nikko NT-790 analog tuner | Musical Fidelity Trivista 21 DAC | Preamp: Threshold SL-10 | Amplifier: Threshold Stasis 2 | Speakers: Snell Acoustics C/V | Kimber 12-TC bi wire speakers | Analysis plus Oval 1 preamp to amp | Wireworld Eclipse 7 DAC to Preamp | Wireworld eclipse digital IC Oppo to DAC | Audioquest Quartz tuner to preamp |
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Comments

  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited July 2012
    It sounds like your Dynaco's phono input is for a MM (high output) type of cartridge, but your Denon DL-103 is a MC low output cartridge.

    You have two choices:
    1)Buy a step up transformer to connect your TT to, then into the Dynaco Phone Pre
    or
    2)Buy an external phono preamp that accepts MC cartridges and then connect that to one of the other inputs on the Dynaco ("AUX" for example).

    Here is a nice article on MC and stepup input devices:
    http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/stepup/primer.html

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,499
    edited July 2012
    If you go with another phono pre amp, don't forget about load impedance. Suggested loading for the Denon DL-103 is 100 Ohms. Some phone pres with MC capability have a fixed loading, some have adjustable loading.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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