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Denon DL-103r phono stage choices

Printed From: Graham Slee Hifi System Components
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Forum Name: Buying a headphone amp, phono preamp or hi-fi accessory?
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URL: https://www.hifisystemcomponents.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5826
Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 4:01am
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Topic: Denon DL-103r phono stage choices
Posted By: MarcG
Subject: Denon DL-103r phono stage choices
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2025 at 8:20pm
I’ve just been given a new Denon DL-103r MC cartridge and my old Densen phono preamp doesn’t cater for its low 0.25v output or its 100 ohms minimum load impedance. I also have a Dynavector 10x5 MC, so would like a phono preamp that caters for both and any future cartridge upgrades I make. My system consists of a newish Denon DP-3000NE turntable and it’s medium mass arm, Densen pre and power amps and my lovely Shahinian Arc speakers. I have a Graham Slee solo headphone amp and love everything about it. Any suggestions on which GS amp would match will be much appreciated, thanks. 



Replies:
Posted By: patientot
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2025 at 11:40pm
Originally posted by MarcG MarcG wrote:

I’ve just been given a new Denon DL-103r MC cartridge and my old Densen phono preamp doesn’t cater for its low 0.25v output or its 100 ohms minimum load impedance. I also have a Dynavector 10x5 MC, so would like a phono preamp that caters for both and any future cartridge upgrades I make. My system consists of a newish Denon DP-3000NE turntable and it’s medium mass arm, Densen pre and power amps and my lovely Shahinian Arc speakers. I have a Graham Slee solo headphone amp and love everything about it. Any suggestions on which GS amp would match will be much appreciated, thanks. 


The way GS phono preamps work is that you either buy one for high output cartridges or you buy one for low output cartridges. The only alternative is to buy an Elevator and pair it with an MM GS phono stage, but then if you want to switch from a LOMC to a HOMC you need to unplug the Elevator.

GS does not sell switchable gain phono stages.

If I were you I would concentrate on the cartridge you plan to use the most. For most people that should be the Dyna, as the Denon 103 is a very old fashioned broadcast cartridge meant for a high mass broadcast type arm.


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SL-1200 MK7 (modified) + Reflex M + PSU-1 used with AT150-40ML, AT VM610 MONO, AT VM95ML, Stanton 680mkII + Ogura, and Shure M35X cartridges.



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