Denon Phono Cartridge

rayslifecycle

Has anyone tried out the Denon DL-160 moving coil phono cartridge?
My TT isn't great - not even close - but it works well and I thought it could benefit from a moving coil cart..........or should I just hold off and get a better TT first.

strider

First thing I'd look at if I were considering an MC cartridge would be your phono stage. Can it provide the gain needed, or would you need to get a step up transformer or another phono stage?

I think the DL-160 is a high output MC, so you wouldn't nec. need a ton of gain, but something to consider.

Have you looked at the Audio Technica 440MLa? It's an MM design, but it's always mentioned when people are asking "bang for the buck" kind of questions. I think you can get it at LPgear.com for around $100.

Edit: After doing some reading, scrap the 440MLa idea, try out the Denon, lemme know how it sounds. This thread in particular helped me reach that decision.

rayslifecycle

Thanks Strider

I was at my local Denon dealer today and he is going to give me 25% off cost.....not bad....

My Rotel Phono Eq will do either Moving Coil or Moving Magnet......I have read a bunch of reviews on the Denon DL160 and they all say this cart will give the $500 level cartridges a run for their money - so I'll let you know - trying to get the Fiancee to get this for me for christmas.......

Rock on

Ray

erniejade

I had a Goldring 1042, Audio Technica 440MLa, and in my opinion, the DL160 beat them both. It was smoother, less harsh, and just a darn good sounding cart. for the $. You be hard pressed in that price range to find something to beat the 160.

I have used it on my adcom 565 without a separate preamp. You will have to turn the volume knob up a little vs a MM cart. but the high out does a nice job without a separate preamp.

I still use the 160 but I now run it with a Pro-Ject tube box II se.

rayslifecycle

Outstanding - thanks for the review - which seems to be quite consistent with everything I have read - I am very excited as my fiance is getting it for me for Christmas - and my local AV dealer is giving her a discount on it because we have a nice relationship - all in all - it is good news

1st album to be listenned to:
Roger Waters - The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking........I don't have amused to death yet.......

Gretsch6136

I have both the DL-304 and the DL-160.

I can't recommend the DL-160 highly enough. Although not in the same league as the DL-304 it is a massive bargain.

It works well through standard MM phono stages but also performs just fine through MC and MM options on a stand alone phono stage too.

I am using it on a Denon DP-35F TT through a Luxman LV-107u amp into Polk RT 12 speakers.

rayslifecycle

It seems they are real hard to get - anything comparable from shure or AT

Gretsch6136

Jump onto ebay mate. I got mine from WilliamThakker.com on Ebay. Price was right, and shipping was fast.

ZOOPDOOP22

Gretsch6136 wrote: »

I have both the DL-304 and the DL-160.

I can't recommend the DL-160 highly enough. Although not in the same league as the DL-304 it is a massive bargain.

It works well through standard MM phono stages but also performs just fine through MC and MM options on a stand alone phono stage too.

I am using it on a Denon DP-35F TT through a Luxman LV-107u amp into Polk RT 12 speakers.

I've heard the DL-110 is just as good as the DL-160.. like the benefits are negligible compared to the price. I have a DP-300F and I was going to go with a DL-110 cartridge.. Does anyone have any suggestions? Has anyone heard BOTH?

Cornbread

sdschwendener wrote: »

I've heard the DL-110 is just as good as the DL-160.. like the benefits are negligible compared to the price. I have a DP-300F and I was going to go with a DL-110 cartridge.. Does anyone have any suggestions? Has anyone heard BOTH?

Hello Polkies. Long time lurker here and long time Polkie. Proud owner of numerous Polk speakers throughout the years including my prized and never to depart from SDA-2's.

As for the Denon cartridges, I've been a long time fan of them as well starting with the now discontinued DL-80. I just recently purchased a DL-160 to compare it to the DL-110 that was on my Denon DP-47f for more than a year. The 110 is a fantastic cartridge for the money. It blows away my Grado Blue, Shure 97, 95, and various inexpensive Audio Technicas. The first things I immediately noticed with the 160, after proper set-up, was improved bass response, clarity (less congestion), and stereo image. Some report less ticks and pops with the 160 over the 110. I specifically listened for this on a couple of records and, if there was an improvement, it was very minor.

I am not a big believer in break-in but if does exist I can only hope things will get even better.

For $40 more I believe the 160 is worth it if your system can take advantage of the enhanced detail and imaging it provides. If you are going to use it for casual listening, transfering LPs to CD for the car, or don't have an ideal set-up, than the 110 is a fine choice. The overall sound and sonic traits are very similar. The 160 just does it a little better.

The 110 still has a place and replaced the 97 on the system with the SDA-2's.

Maybe next year I'l get a 103(R) or 304 to compare it to the 160.

mhardy6647

The Denon MCs have that rich, "they are here" sound that SET amp and high-efficiency/horn loudspeaker fans really love. Sort of hyper-reality. I don't mean to denigrate that sound; I like it too. There's a reason that the DL-103 has been around for decades.

The MCs are low compliance and will be happiest in heavier arms (which are quite fashionable nowadays, anyway). They aren't the best-tracking cartridges you'll find, but they'll sound good while they do the best they can.

FWIW, you can get (IMNSHO) some of that juicy sound in a more user-friendly format for similar (even less) $ with a Grado Labs MM (actually, technically MI) cartridge.

ozzy21236

Here is a good price on DL-160.

Russ

Cornbread

ozzy21236 wrote: »

Here is a good price on DL-160.

Russ

That is a good price. It is also the typical price of the 110. Do a search on that same site and see what they are asking for the 110. Get the 160, if that is what they will actually ship you, while you can.

That said, you can find the 160 for that "good price" on a couple of sites. I paid 5 bucks more than that over at the auction place.

mhardy6647

http://www.buy.com/prod/high-output-moving-coil/q/loc/111/208156820.html

strider

Well? Did you find one under the tree yesterday?

ZOOPDOOP22

Keiko wrote: »

I'll follow-up and post my impressions once I spin some vinyl with it later on.

I'm looking forward to what you have to say about the 160.

rayslifecycle

Holy Moly What a Great Christmas - not only did my Fiance team up with my best man to get the Denon DL 160 Cartridge - but my best man scored me a late 70s belt drive Yammy TT and got the whole kit-n-kaboodle professionally assembled at the Speaker Shop in Buffalo, NY while he waited - big ups to them http://www.speakershop.com/
.....He also picked me up a 200 gram Blue Note recording of Miles Davis that sounds absolutely amazing.

Hooked everything up right away - and after a little finagling fidgeting and fondling got everything working real nice - quite an improvement - and after a couple of albums the sound started to fill in and then the bass started to make an entrance - oh yes quite nice............

aaaaaaaaaand - my brother gave me an Audiophile USB external soundcard by M-audio.......which made quite an improvement to the quality of the sound coming out of my PC........as well as openning up the door to digital recording....

I just got back home from my holiday travels and will be updating some stuff shortly....review on all to come......

There is a Santa - don't let anyone tell you different........
Although the real thanks goes out to my fiance ,my best man, and my brother.....

Fongolio

Hey Keiko glad to hear the new cartridge worked out well. I will give serious consideration to this denon cart next time I'm in the market. Let me know how it works with the vinyl transfers. Oh and Happy New Year!!

inspiredsports

For the original post, it seems the DL-160 exceeds the needs of that particular turntable. Everyone seems to have low regard for the Shure M97xE, but places like amazon.com, onecall.com and others are routinely at $56 delivered anywhere in the US. You do need to be careful setting it up to get its best performance, but at nearly $50 it's hard to go wrong with this cartridge as a prime recommendation for turntables in the $200-$300 range.

inspiredsports

Keiko wrote: »

I like to exceed the need sometimes.

I was specifically thinking of Clark's original Yamaha YP-B4 from post #1 versus your Audio Technica. But you are so right, sometimes a better cartridge than necessary brings out the best in a turntable. I've been restoring my Thorens while off this holiday week and am considering a cartridge upgrade myself.

rayslifecycle

Actually - I had a realistic Lab-500 when I was looking for a new cart - and I got the yammy TT with the cartridge........I know it isn't the best - but it is the best I have ever had - and the cartridge can be installed on the next TT - which I really like "pro-jects".......and now that I have listened tothis cart for over 30 hours - it just gets better and better.

One definitive way I can tell how much I like listening to this set up is that I would rather go upstairs and listen to records then watch a movie in the home theater.......it has been a long time since I felt that way.......if maybe ever.......

rayslifecycle

Thank you all for your input. As always your advice was sound.
.....and thanks to you I am enjoying better sound....
...here's to the journey.

Ray

mhardy6647

The thing is: the old Japanese tts with heavy, S-shaped arms are better suited to (expensive) low-compliance MC catridges than the inexpensive MM cartridges they were typically used with.

Really nothing crazy about putting a Denon MC on a YP-B4; it's a good combination.

erniejade

"Really nothing crazy about putting a Denon MC on a YP-B4; it's a good combination."


Agree 100% on this.

I have put this on my Pro-ject and on my 1200 and honestly it sounds better on the old 1200 ( technics) I am actually thinking of getting rid of the pro-ject ( but keep the pro-ject tube box II se) and just using the 1200. I also have a denon 62. To be honest i still like the 1200 over that also.

rayslifecycle

crazy

and understandable - it gets better and better.

Been yanking out the Pink Floyd - Ummagumma came alive
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ummagumma

My favorite moment came while listenning to The Wall
There were passages I thought the instrument I heard was a symbol and in reality it was Roger Waters whispering......awesome..........

Fongolio

Overheard in church hall 12 step meeting: "My name is Kelvin and I haven't spun a record in over 3 hours".
Group:"Hi Kelvin welcome".

erniejade

The more it gets played the smoother it sounds. for the $ it is the amazing. I have spent more and got worse sound that is for sure.

If you have a copy of Ricky Lee Jones 1st lp, or Floyd Delicate sound of thunder, Simon and Garfunkel Concert in Central Park, Whitesnake slide it in, or bave brubeck time out, Dire straits brothers in arms, Genisis invisable touch, trick of the tail, or abacab, or any ELP, man ho man the list can go on!!!!!!!
Enjoy!!!!