Denon - DL-103 Low Output MC Cartridge

the DL-103 was introduced in the early 1960s. tonearms at that time were heavy and had detachable headshells. accordingly, the DL-103 has low compliance (aka stiff suspension). mount the DL-103 on a vintage SME 3012, and it will sing. use it with a modern SME V with low tolerance bearings, integrated headshell etc, and it will screech. no wonder - the resonances caused by the stiff suspension will not be absorbed by the detachable headshell or in the (rather loose) bearings. instead, they make the whole tonearm vibrate. but the cure for your bleeeding ears is simple: loosen the screws by 1/6 turn and/or place two thin (~0.5 mm Ø) pieces of copper wire between DL-103 and headshell, and the sound will mellow… (and please give the DL-103 at least 100hrs time to break in. the stylus will last ›1500hrs in general)