Denon- Soundsmith DL-103d mint Soundsmith re-tip

Level 3 re-tip with ruby cantilever and optimized line contact stylus housed in a Uwe Roseweed body. Re-tip alone justifies the price. 100 hours, maybe 150 since re-tipping. Microscope photos show the stylus is as clear and sharp as the morning sun.

Why am I selling it? Well, I snagged it on a mohair sweater and have reattached the stylus with wood glue. Just kidding. I have too many cartridges. I have 2 A90's, 2 Transfigurations, a VdH and a few others. This cartridge is really really good and not like any DL-103D you've ever heard. That Soundsmith guy really knows what he is doing (and he has an attitude to match). It tracks like my erstwhile Dynavector XX2mk2 (just sold), has bass like the Dyna but isn't quite as airy on classical as the Transfiguration or A90, which is what I listen to. It was a great match for my Spiral Groove arm as well as the Bergmann Air Bearing arm. It puts out decent voltage so unlike my VdH which requires 4 step up transformers and phono cable made of angel's nose hair, you can run normal gear.

So in conclusion, it's no A90 or Transfiguration when it comes to solo cello, but for less than 500 bucks this cartridge competes with DV XX2mk2, blows the Benz Glider to smithereens and rocks out with its...you get the point.