You spell that sound characteristic...DENON

Posted by EdAInWestOC (A) on March 15, 2012 at 05:30:13

In Reply to: A cart that sounds like a Grado from midrange upward but...? posted by hesson11 on March 13, 2012 at 21:16:37:

A lot of people dismiss Denon cartridges due to a variety of reasons but the point of fact is those who try Denon cartridges often hold on to them.

I have yet to hear a Denon that was offensive in the mid to upper frequencies and each Denon that I've tried (except for the old DL-300) was a very neutral cartridge that had outstanding tracking. If a potential buyer can get by their audiophile snob attitude towards Denon cartridges they will find a very good cartridge with just the sound quality that you have described.

There is too much talk about the DL-103 family to even begin repeating it here. There are other cartridges in the Denon line that also deserve attention. The DL-S1 is an outstanding performer at just under the $1000 price point you mentioned. The DL-S1 does require a top quality phono preamp to handle its very low output so please be aware.

If you want something with a little higher output the DL-301II has a more healthy output for a LOMC cartridge. This cartridge is available for about $325 and you may be more happy with the DL-S1 if you phono front end can handle its output. For around $700 there is the DL-304 which has the same very low output requirement that the DL-S1 possesses.

I've never been a fan of Grado cartridges for the reasons that you have stated. It seems to me that a cartridge maker should be able to make a top quality transducer that properly tracks all ends of the audible spectrum. Maybe thats unreasonable, but I don't feel like I've sacrificed anything since I gave Denon cartridges a try.

I don't have to put up with lousy tracking of anything and it is a very neutral transducer. And I have owned and heard a lot of them.

Ed
Life is analog...digital is just samples thereof

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - A cart that sounds like a Grado from midrange upward but...? - hesson11 21:16:37 03/13/12 (13)

You spell that sound characteristic...DENON - EdAInWestOC 05:30:13 03/15/12 (6)

I can hear the character ... - TBone 09:41:42 03/16/12 (5)

What, in your opinion... - genungo 01:01:51 03/17/12 (4)

RE: What, in your opinion... - bluemooze 02:48:01 03/17/12 (3)

Interestingly enough - EdAInWestOC 04:10:14 03/17/12 (1)

Great info. (nt - genungo 09:24:27 03/17/12 (0)

Synergy is what matters most, I think. - genungo 03:16:13 03/17/12 (0)

Thanks, folks. I appreciate it. n/t - hesson11 21:14:48 03/14/12 (0)

AT 33 ev - mark111 16:31:48 03/14/12 (1)

Ditto... - Waxxy 15:26:36 03/15/12 (0)

Not south of a grand, but go up the Grado line to a Master 1. nt - Rick W 12:43:22 03/14/12 (0)

RE: A cart that sounds like a Grado from midrange upward but...? - sjg 06:16:15 03/14/12 (1)

RE: A cart that sounds like a Grado from midrange upward but...? - michaelhigh 11:59:45 03/14/12 (0)

Follow Ups

You spell that sound characteristic...DENON - EdAInWestOC 05:30:13 03/15/12 (6)

I can hear the character ... - TBone 09:41:42 03/16/12 (5)

What, in your opinion... - genungo 01:01:51 03/17/12 (4)

RE: What, in your opinion... - bluemooze 02:48:01 03/17/12 (3)

Interestingly enough - EdAInWestOC 04:10:14 03/17/12 (1)

Great info. (nt - genungo 09:24:27 03/17/12 (0)

Synergy is what matters most, I think. - genungo 03:16:13 03/17/12 (0)

You spell that sound characteristic...DENON

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