New Cartridge brake-in deadly

[Pelliott321]

Breaking in a new cartridge since my prized Alpha Genesis 1000 died.
The suspension gave way and SoundSmith said it was unrepairable. So I decided to try the Denon103R.
I bought new off the Web for just over $300 and immediately tore the cover off and mounted into an aftermarket body.
so I am into the burn in just about 10 hrs. First 5 albums were deadly. I am now starting to hear some musicality, but it need to go much further if this is going to be a keeper

Attachments

Denon103R_3_THM.jpg (67.8 KiB) Viewed 21485 times

Denon103R_1b.jpg (86.05 KiB) Viewed 21485 times

[SoundMods]

Breaking in a new cartridge since my prized Alpha Genesis 1000 died.
The suspension gave way and SoundSmith said it was unrepairable. So I decided to try the Denon103R.
I bought new off the Web for just over $300 and immediately tore the cover off and mounted into an aftermarket body.
so I am into the burn in just about 10 hrs. First 5 albums were deadly. I am now starting to hear some musicality, but it need to go much further if this is going to be a keeper

I did a Denon 103D a long time ago. That after-market metal fitting you bought is probably your problem. Reuse the stock plastic fitting -- only when putting it back fill all the voids with RTV silicon being careful not to damage any wiring. Put it together caefully and wait 24-hours to give the RTV enough time to cure properly. You'll find the Denon will behave itself in a musical way. Tight with good midrange bloom. However, compared to the competition the Denon can be somewhat opaque.

[TubeDriver]

What arm are you using?

Breaking in a new cartridge since my prized Alpha Genesis 1000 died.
The suspension gave way and SoundSmith said it was unrepairable. So I decided to try the Denon103R.
I bought new off the Web for just over $300 and immediately tore the cover off and mounted into an aftermarket body.
so I am into the burn in just about 10 hrs. First 5 albums were deadly. I am now starting to hear some musicality, but it need to go much further if this is going to be a keeper

[Pelliott321]

Walt:
I did a lot of research and there are two preferred mods based a lot of Denon lovers out there. Both preferred mods are aluminum bodies. The one I picked also uses lead as an additional dampener as well as epoxy as a potting method.
Your opinion is only one of thousands

[Pelliott321]

Tonearm is Fern&Roby unipivot that Chris Hildebrand modified to fit on my Sota Nova

Attachments

tonearm_sm.jpg (103.04 KiB) Viewed 21455 times

[Pelliott321]

Aluminum body for Deno 103R

Attachments

cartridge.jpg (172.17 KiB) Viewed 21451 times

[SoundMods]

Walt:
I did a lot of research and there are two preferred mods based a lot of Denon lovers out there. Both preferred mods are aluminum bodies. The one I picked also uses lead as an additional dampener as well as epoxy as a potting method.
Your opinion is only one of thousands

And how is that working out for you?

[Roscoe Primrose]

Walt:
I did a lot of research and there are two preferred mods based a lot of Denon lovers out there. Both preferred mods are aluminum bodies. The one I picked also uses lead as an additional dampener as well as epoxy as a potting method.
Your opinion is only one of thousands

And how is that working out for you?

Oh, come on Walt, he read it on the Internet, so it HAS to be true.

Roscoe

[SoundMods]

Walt:
I did a lot of research and there are two preferred mods based a lot of Denon lovers out there. Both preferred mods are aluminum bodies. The one I picked also uses lead as an additional dampener as well as epoxy as a potting method.
Your opinion is only one of thousands

And how is that working out for you?

Oh, come on Walt, he read it on the Internet, so it HAS to be true.

Roscoe

Rosco -- the more I get to know you -- the better I like you.

[Pelliott321]

just saying everyone has an opinion, not necessarily right.
I started this in just stating that Cartridge brake-in is a pain. I only have 10 albums in, less than 7 hrs
I was not asking for any opinions of my choices, but some on this site just has to spew out declarations as if there is only one way