Denon DL-301 ii and others

[Entrigo]

Recently sold my Audio Technica AT-VM95ML as it was just gathering dust, as the RigB AT-VM540ML and the AT33PTGII are getting all the play time.

But I now have a little itch for another cartridge and preferably something a little different from the Audio Technica - possibly something a little warmer, and I was thinking Hana SL, Denon 103 or Dymavector 20x2 (I know, very different beasts but was casting my net wide).

Then I came across the DL-301 II on a thread and the more I look around the better things I hear about it.

Has anyone heard it, even better compared to the AT33PTGII?

Or has compared any of the others against the AT33PTGII?

Will be used on a stock Technics arm with KAB fluid damper (headshell to be purchased according to cartridge).

Thanks for any input folks!

 

[daytona600]

Warmer sounding try a Grado's Platinum 3 . Poor Man Koetsu
IMHO SL1200GR2 or SL1300G would be my next Step

Gramophone Dreams #67: Grado Platinum3 and Goldring Eroica H phono cartridges; Herbie's Way Excellent II turntable mat Page 2 | Stereophile.com

What the Platinum3 does best is rich and articulate. It played Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ) & Guests' Third Stream Music (LP, Atlantic SD 1345) with uncanny true tone, high-tactility instrumental textures, and move-my-mind momentum. Its presentation was the kind that sucks you in.

www.stereophile.com

 

[Entrigo]

Warmer sounding try a Grado's Platinum 3 . Poor Man Koetsu
IMHO SL1200GR2 or SL1300G would be my next Step

Gramophone Dreams #67: Grado Platinum3 and Goldring Eroica H phono cartridges; Herbie's Way Excellent II turntable mat Page 2 | Stereophile.com

What the Platinum3 does best is rich and articulate. It played Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ) & Guests' Third Stream Music (LP, Atlantic SD 1345) with uncanny true tone, high-tactility instrumental textures, and move-my-mind momentum. Its presentation was the kind that sucks you in.

www.stereophile.com

Thanks for that. Aren't the Grado meant to be a bit "soft"? Seem to remember reading some people saying that - but I might be wrong. I am now starting to lean more towards the Dynavector, have read a few posts/reviews saying how good it is for "rocking out". But will look into the Grados

In terms of deck, I was hell bent on an upgrade to the higher tier Technics (1200GR2 or more likely 1300G) before realising they all have the same arm as the SL1500C... As mine is on a thick, wall mounted shelf, I thought the extra weight, isolation etc wouldn't be as useful as to someone who has it on a rack for example, and just the motor upgrade wasn't worth the outlay. So decided to splash out on cartridges and records instead.

At least for the time being... Next March is my 50th so a 1210G is likely on the cards!

 

[daytona600]

Dynavector start @ £649 bit overkill for a £799 SL1500

SL1500 sound nothing like a well sorted 1300G/1200G these can compete with a £10,000+ turntable
Have a SL1300G/Grado & runs rings around my Rega Naid £13k which will be Sold

Grado sound " Soft " do not know what this means
Used various Grados myself for 40+ years
Best cartridge i ever heard was the Grado Epoch would buy one in a heartbeat. Only drawback they cost $12,000

 

[Entrigo]

Dynavector start @ £649 bit overkill for a £799 SL1500

SL1500 sound nothing like a well sorted 1300G/1200G these can compete with a £10,000+ turntable
Have a SL1300G/Grado & runs rings around my Rega Naid £13k which will be Sold

Grado sound " Soft " do not know what this means
Used various Grados myself for 40+ years
Best cartridge i ever heard was the Grado Epoch would buy one in a heartbeat. Only drawback they cost $12,000

Well, I had people saying the AT33PTG was overkill on it and it is anything but. (what does it even mean anyway??)

And after all, as mentioned the tonearm is the same as on the 1200GR2 and on the 1300G. Wow and flutter and rumble measurements are also the same. I am therefore still very unconvinced on the 1200GR2 or 1300G being a night and day improvement over the SL1500C...

That said, I haven't yet done an A/B demo - but very happy I haven't done one a couple of months ago or so, while in the throes of the upgrade bug. I suspect confirmation bias towards the SL1300G would have been sky high. Will probably do some in the next month or so, with a now much more objective and sceptical mindset, which is necessary to factually evaluate and compare two options.

And maybe it would makes sense to wait until I have done the comparison to to buy another cartridge.

 

[RoA]

I believe both the 1300 and 1200G use a higher grade arm. For a start, they have magnesium tubes instead of alu. Better bearings are likely used too and the arm housing looks different from underneath/open plinth. The improved drive is likely also a big thing and of course the whole platter/drive assembly has been substantially upgraded. Plinth is better built too.

Technics are clever, they obviously use incrementally better materials as models go up. Good thing is that even the cheap ones are benefitting from much of the technology and build quality at a fraction of the cost. Good enough for me (100C).

The one thing they all do have in common is the same spindly lever to raise and lower the tonearm. Seems Technics had plenty of those left in the parts bin 🙂

https://www.technics.com/uk/products/grand-class/turntables/sl-1200g.html

It will be interesting to find out what cartridge you end up with and why.