12 replies to this topic

[houdinifangs]

Ok I'll admit I'm totally inexperienced,  a bit shaky and cursed with stubby hobbit fingers. So the thought of my first real cart was freaking me out. What if I don't do it right? What if I break my new $$$ cart? What if I just plain suck and can't be a man by changing my own freaking cart?

Now I had successfully changed from a 2M Red to a Blue but that isn't a real change is it now? The Red and Blue using the same body and tracking force so all I had to do was switch the plastic stylus case around - too easy. Oh yeah, I had the original cart set up for me by the man when I purchased my TT.

This time it was real and the stakes much higher as I was going from the MM Blue to a Denon 103r in a Silver Midas Body. Not only does the new one cost a good bit more but I have read several accounts of others breaking the needle while changing -  crikey! It's also  heavier, needs much more tracking force and is MC.

I was saying that was saving the cart until my new TT arrives in a month or so but some characters from the west gave me sufficient encouragement to just do it now. And besides, if I saved it until later it wouldn't be run in and that wouldn't be the best way to induct a new TT.

Ok - so lets do it. First up I have a Rega RP1 so I have to contort my self to get in a reasonable position to remove the old cart. I'm already working up a sweat and shaking like a MoFo - perhaps 3 espresso's were too much. Anyway I think I managed to remove the old cart without damaging anything. But I've realised that this was a one way trip by now - no turning back!

Anyway, boosted with the confidence from getting the 2M off mounting the 103 proved a breeze - no dramas. I did it all by eye and it all looked ok. I don't understand over hang so I positioned the 103 in the same place as the 2M. They appeared to about the same length and the needle sat in the same position relative to the head of the arm on both. It must be fine.

Now the tracking force. So I cheated a purchased a digital stylus gauge - good idea me thinks. The 2M had 1.8g on it and the 103 needed 2.5. To my inexperienced brain this didn't seem like much - c'mon, only 7g. Luck I had the scales it's a massive difference! The counterweight on the Rega needed to be pushed all the way to the back of the arm less half a turn. If the new cart was any heavier I would have been stuffed. However it now seemed the cart was on and set up reasonably well. Breath out.

Next I had to change the settings on my phono to MC. Unscrew the casing , read the instructions, move the plastic doohickies around and don't break anything. Done. Plug everything back in, cross fingers and take a deep breath. Did I do it all right?

YES! YES! YES!

I let the needle drop and my god it had worked! Massive waves of relief. I'm not a total tool after all. And even without running in the 103 obviously totally owns the 2M. Awesome. But I won't gush about the sound here, that's another story.

So thanks to those who gave encouragement and to those who were afraid - don't be, it's not that hard, just do it.


Oh and BTW I havn't adjusted the anti skating. Originally I had forgot in the excitement of it all. The 2M had none and the 103 sounds great to me as is and I don't know what I should set it at. So advice on this or another sage wisdom welcome.

The VTA also looks wrong but it's a Rega so hey...
Joy.

Edited by houdinifangs, 14 April 2012 - 04:12 PM.

[RockandorRoll]

Great story

You need to chuck in the extra challenge of having one of the tonearm wires becoming unsoldered from the connecting pin and then the cart being to heavy for the counterweight and the headshell screws being too wide for the headshell and cart

its nice having a noticeable improvement in the end though

[kunalraiker]

What did you pay for the Cart? worthy upgrade ?

[proftournesol]

you're well and truly accelerating down the slippery slope now houdini:)

[Hergest]

Oh and BTW I havn't adjusted the anti skating. Originally I had forgot in the excitement of it all. The 2M had none and the 103 sounds great to me as is and I don't know what I should set it at. So advice on this or another sage wisdom welcome.

The VTA also looks wrong but it's a Rega so hey...
Joy.

If it sounds great and there's no sign of any mistracking then don't worry about the anti skate.

[audiohobbs]

I had the same trepidation as the OP when I had to fit my 103 to my new (2nd hand) P5. I, too, was very unsure in my abilities, but yes, it is relatively easy. Not having a short enough screwdriver to put the screws in the conventional way (just to hold it still) I put the screws in from the top, using a couple of small pieces of selotape to hold the nuts in place while the screws got roughly into position and fitted into the thread From there, it was easy enough to hold the nut in place wile using the other hand to twirl the jeweller's style 'driver to tighten.

But yes, it is a nerve-wracking procedure when one is not very handy and not at all sure. :-D

[mikey d]

If you want to try the anti-skate set it at the same as the tracking weight, e.g., 2.5. Wow, those Denons sure have a mystery about them, some like 'em, some don't. Please post pix & listening impressions. What arm is on the RP1? What about the VTA, did you fiddle with it?

Good story though Houdi

[houdinifangs]

What did you pay for the Cart? worthy upgrade ?

So far so good but don't have much to compare it to though. I got my cart used but as new from here and don't really know how much the Midas body is worth. I was going to buy the 103r from 2Juki on eBay for around $300 or $320 can't remember. Was also tempted to get another 103r in the group buy to compare to the Midas body and perhaps a wooden one further along. Can't wait for my new TT as the arm has a removable head shell so changing carts will be way easier. The Midas body is chunky, ok it's a brick, so the lack of space between the head shell and the arm means the wires is a bit tight.

Compared to the 2M Blue the sound is more detailed, the imaging is better and their is less surface noise. Within making a judgement they sound very, very different and I'm still getting familiar with the MC sound. Especially on rock music. I unconditionally say that for stuff like Melody Gardot and Madeleine Peytoux the 103r is amazing.

[kunalraiker]

So far so good but don't have much to compare it to though. I got my cart used but as new from here and don't really know how much the Midas body is worth. I was going to buy the 103r from 2Juki on eBay for around $300 or $320 can't remember. Was also tempted to get another 103r in the group buy to compare to the Midas body and perhaps a wooden one further along. Can't wait for my new TT as the arm has a removable head shell so changing carts will be way easier. The Midas body is chunky, ok it's a brick, so the lack of space between the head shell and the arm means the wires is a bit tight.

Compared to the 2M Blue the sound is more detailed, the imaging is better and their is less surface noise. Within making a judgement they sound very, very different and I'm still getting familiar with the MC sound. Especially on rock music. I unconditionally say that for stuff like Melody Gardot and Madeleine Peytoux the 103r is amazing.

That is good news to hear, I might soon be following suit.As am planning my first TT and am having discussions such as these about cart upgrade.

What phono stage are you using and what's the new TT ?

[houdinifangs]

If you want to try the anti-skate set it at the same as the tracking weight, e.g., 2.5. Wow, those Denons sure have a mystery about them, some like 'em, some don't. Please post pix & listening impressions. What arm is on the RP1? What about the VTA, did you fiddle with it?

Good story though Houdi

The RP1 has the entry Rega arm and had no VTA - a shame as I think the arm needs to be at least 3-4mm higher. I can already tell the 103 is capable of some 'magic' but can equally understand how it could be an aquired taste and might not suit some equipment.

I'm using a Dynavector P75 which I would love to see in a shoot out with a Nighthawk and Graham Slee

Edited by houdinifangs, 14 April 2012 - 05:21 PM.

[colby1970]

the cartridge change thing is a bit nerve wracking isnt it? I did my first one yesterday afternoon when i swapped my 2m blue from my old planar 3 to the new scoutmaster

[rehabitat]

Good story houds. I will be following a similar path fairly soon. I'm interested to hear how the denon goes with densely layered & noisy music.
Have fun mate and well done.

[houdinifangs]

Well I don't have any Merzbow or Wolf Eyes on vinyl but i've got an Oren Ambarchi LP that I could give a whirl on the headphones tonight. Hmmmm I should get a Wolf Eyes LP now I think of it...