Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice

[Russ I]

Steve at Vinyl Audio Science makes a series of wood-bodied Denon DL-103 mods that may give your old one a second life. Here is a description of one:

VAS Ebony 103​

The VAS Ebony 103 is a new edition to the VAS line of cartridges. Building upon the original and highly successful Denon DL-103, Steve of VAS enhances its low output performance by using an Ebony wood body to warm up and amplify the sound for rich music. In addition, a refined nude hyper elliptical stylus is installed for detailed pickup. Increasing the mass to 12.5 grams further stabilizes the cartridge for steady playback of your LP, similar to the Ortofon SPU’s and EMT cartridges. This cartridge is ideal for jazz and soft rock.​

There are two other versions. Give him a shout if you're interested.

VAS | VAS Audio

VAS Designed or Made Equipment

vasnyinc.com

Interesting. I've always shied away from this kind of modification thing for some reason. But I'll look into it. At the very least I'm sure it will be an enjoyable rabbit-hole experience! Thank you.

 

[Russ I]

The SPU will work. Some don’t like them because of the 4 gram tracking force, but your records won’t be damaged.

The Hanas will work well, as will the Ortofon Quintet Black S.

I hadn't come across the Quintet Black S, also from Ortofon. And I really don't know anything about the Hanas, so I'll take a look. Thanks! This is starting to feel like shopping for running shoes.

 

[Angsty]

This is starting to feel like shopping for running shoes.

It is! There is an option for every fancy.

 

[Jbraswell]

Steve at Vinyl Audio Science makes a series of wood-bodied Denon DL-103 mods that may give your old one a second life. Here is a description of one:

VAS Ebony 103​

The VAS Ebony 103 is a new edition to the VAS line of cartridges. Building upon the original and highly successful Denon DL-103, Steve of VAS enhances its low output performance by using an Ebony wood body to warm up and amplify the sound for rich music. In addition, a refined nude hyper elliptical stylus is installed for detailed pickup. Increasing the mass to 12.5 grams further stabilizes the cartridge for steady playback of your LP, similar to the Ortofon SPU’s and EMT cartridges. This cartridge is ideal for jazz and soft rock.​

There are two other versions. Give him a shout if you're interested.

VAS | VAS Audio

VAS Designed or Made Equipment

vasnyinc.com

I wonder what he is charging for this?

 

[Angsty]

I wonder what he is charging for this?

$650. A mod of an existing cart may be less.

VAS Ebony 103

Description Specification Shipping & Return The VAS Ebony 103 is a new edition to the VAS line of cartridges. Building upon the original and highly successful Denon DL-103, Steve of VAS enhances its low output performance by using an Ebony wood body to warm up and amplify the sound for rich...

vinylacoustics.com

 

[HiFi Guy]

$650. A mod of an existing cart may be less.

VAS Ebony 103

Description Specification Shipping & Return The VAS Ebony 103 is a new edition to the VAS line of cartridges. Building upon the original and highly successful Denon DL-103, Steve of VAS enhances its low output performance by using an Ebony wood body to warm up and amplify the sound for rich...

vinylacoustics.com

I’d have a hard time with $650 for the VAS when the Hana SL is $750 and occasionally goes on sale.

 

[Angsty]

The Hana SL is a great cartridge for the price; just talkin’ options, particularly if it is a mod versus a “new” buy.

 

[Jbraswell]

$650. A mod of an existing cart may be less.

VAS Ebony 103

Description Specification Shipping & Return The VAS Ebony 103 is a new edition to the VAS line of cartridges. Building upon the original and highly successful Denon DL-103, Steve of VAS enhances its low output performance by using an Ebony wood body to warm up and amplify the sound for rich...

vinylacoustics.com

Here is one I have on bookmark for a while.
I need to get my used 103R out one day.

Services – PHONO CARTRIDGE REPAIR & RETIPPING.

phonocartridgeretipping.com

 

[TenderLovingKiller®]

The New York Times Wirecutters; which is kinda like the NYT’s version of Consumer Report, did an article about how listening to vinyl doesn’t have to be intimidating and they use their music critic as a vessel to show off essentially what is a great example of a vinyl set up for the non-audiophile, the article is fine and I think explains itself well. It’s not meant as anything more than a “you wanna listen to vinyl and don't want it to sound like shit but also don’t want to spend a small fortune” article but man, the comments are vicious, they are the sort or thing the make audiophiles look like pretentious insufferable assholes. Enjoying music is supposed to be fun.

Everything New York Times Pop Critic Lindsay Zoladz Uses to Listen to Vinyl

The ancient art of spinning records is alive and well at Lindsay Zoladz’s Brooklyn apartment. Here’s all the gear the music critic uses to get her grooves on.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Nee Lewman]

The New York Times Wirecutters; which is kinda like the NYT’s version of Consumer Report, did an article about how listening to vinyl doesn’t have to be intimidating and they use their music critic as a vessel to show off essentially what is a great example of a vinyl set up for the non-audiophile, the article is fine and I think explains itself well. It’s not meant as anything more than a “you wanna listen to vinyl and don't want it to sound like shit but also don’t want to spend a small small fortune” article but man, the comments are vicious, they are the sort or thing the make audiophiles look like pretentious insufferable assholes. Enjoying music is supposed to be fun.

Everything New York Times Pop Critic Lindsay Zoladz Uses to Listen to Vinyl

The ancient art of spinning records is alive and well at Lindsay Zoladz’s Brooklyn apartment. Here’s all the gear the music critic uses to get her grooves on.

www.nytimes.com

Andrew Robison did a three kits under $250 grand video recently and basically begged both sides (kit has to cost $$$ and the buy cheap side) to chill because the hobby (hi-fi enthusiasm) is dying and acting this way isn’t helping.

 

[TenderLovingKiller®]

Andrew Robison did a three kits under $250 grand video recently and basically begged both sides (kit has to cost $$$ and the buy cheap side) to chill because the hobby (hi-fi enthusiasm) is dying and acting this way isn’t helping.

Yeah, I don’t know why there needs to be “both sides” there are many different ways to enjoy this hobby. It all seems a bit goofy to me.

 

[Mather]

Yeah, I don’t know why there needs to be “both sides” there are many different ways to enjoy this hobby. It all seems a bit goofy to me.

There are exactly zero comments sections on any website that aren't a total cess pool. There shouldn't even be comments sections, they're pointless.

 

[TenderLovingKiller®]

There are exactly zero comments sections on any website that aren't a total cess pool. There shouldn't even be comments sections, they're pointless.

Very true. Honestly, I don’t usually see comments on NYT articles, not sure if it’s because It was a Wirecutter article or if it was because I was reading it in my browser instead of the app but it’s not something I’ve noticed in the past.

 

[Mather]

Very true. Honestly, I don’t usually see comments on NYT articles, not sure if it’s because It was a Wirecutter article or if it was because I was reading it in my browser instead of the app but it’s not something I’ve noticed in the past.

They seem to be totally disabled when I view it, who knows.

 

[Nee Lewman]

Yeah, I don’t know why there needs to be “both sides” there are many different ways to enjoy this hobby. It all seems a bit goofy to me.

I’m with you.

 

[Slimwhit33]

Any McIntosh owners out there?

Strongly considering jettisoning the L550, the D-03x and the Pass XP-15 for a McIntosh MAC7200 to pair with the new C7ES-3’s..

Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[BazookaTooth]

Any McIntosh owners out there?

Strongly considering jettisoning the L550, the D-03x and the Pass XP-15 for a McIntosh MAC7200 to pair with the new C7ES-3’s..

Anyone have any thoughts?

@Tanqueray maybe ?

 

[OMC]

I’m with you.

The Times have been grinding on audiophilia and vinyl forever. Complete and uneducated bullshit.

 

[DJSJ]

So I posted here awhile back, but my NADC375BEE hasn't been working properly, just funtions for a few seconds before turning into shutoff (red light) mode. I've been having a hell of a time trying to find a repair place in the East Bay that works on these and am starting to run out of options. Really sucks not being able to spin records.

Worst comes to worst I'll need a new amp, which is a major bummer as this is easily the nicest one I've ever owned. If I needed a replacement and didnt want to spend more than $300, what would by best options be? Just want something analog, that can drive my speakers, and has a headphone input. Want to line them up now so if I decide to go that route I can just bite the bullet and get something on the way. Would of course prefer to get this amp repaired first, but that's becoming less likely as this goes on (reaaaaally don't want to bring this heavy ass amp into SF).

 

[Angsty]

I've been having a hell of a time trying to find a repair place in the East Bay that works on these and am starting to run out of options.

Contact Peter Williams at Quirk Audio. I’ve used him before and he did great work on my NAD C272 amp.

Home - QuirkAudio

quirkaudio.com