Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Denon DL 301 MKII Phono Cartridge by AudioSoul

Model:	DL 301 MKII
Category:	Phono Cartridge
Suggested Retail Price:	$199
Description:	High compliance MC cartridge for low mass tonearms.
Manufacturer URL:	Denon

Review by AudioSoul on October 29, 2009 at 18:24:18
IP Address: 24.116.70.106 Add Your Review
for the DL 301 MKII

I let this cart. break in for 100 hrs before doing any serious listening.
I have owned Denon DL-103 and DL-103R,and Shelter 501mk2 in the past. The other carts were used with a little different equipment than reviewed here. Still I think the overall character of the carts. have shown through.The Jelco arm is a medium mass 10.5 inch arm that works very well with this cart.. The overall character of this cart. is smooth frequency response. It does'nt have the promenent midrange that the DL103/DL103R exhibit. My own theory on the DL103 series is, they were designed for the broadcast industry where the frequenct extremes dont come through so the designers of those carts. focused more on the midrange performance. However the DL-301MK2 is a true audiophile cart. It does not have the refinement of the Shelter 501 but is very close. I would say that this is a great alround cart. for all tyles of music. It is not fantastic with any peticular type of music. But I do like it better than the Shelter 501 that costs over three times as much......

Product Weakness:	None for the price
Product Strengths:	Smooth Frequency Response. But never sounding dull, there is no part of the frequency spectrum that is pronounced. Good stylus guard.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Forte 4a
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Assemblage L-1
Sources (CDP/Turntable): VPI HW-19 mk2/Jelco 10.5
Speakers: Meadowlark Kestral
Cables/Interconnects: DIY
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz, Classical, Rock
Room Size (LxWxH): 18 x 12 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments: None
Time Period/Length of Audition: Many Weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): VPI SDS
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Forte 4a
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Assemblage L-1
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	VPI HW-19 mk2/Jelco 10.5
Speakers:	Meadowlark Kestral
Cables/Interconnects:	DIY
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz, Classical, Rock
Room Size (LxWxH):	18 x 12 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	None
Time Period/Length of Audition:	Many Weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	VPI SDS
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner