 "It works as well as any manual in the same price range." | 2009-09-10 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3P16J0AFQ32LI |
When I bought mine, I also bought the Audio Technica 440ML (means micro line), and when you use this cartridge, you appreciate how good the arm really is (including magnetic anti-skate). I also use a felt mat and all can be bought at LP Gear. The pad helps eliminate normal vibration problems and helps eliminate static, and you can also buy special bases or rubber feet if you need more isolation. Understand this isn't cheap, and performs like the price ($400 with the cartridge and mat). If you want a bullet proof turntable, maybe it would be a good idea to look at some of the excellent direct drive models, S/N is not as good in this price range, but you can jump around (party atmosphere) and not have a lot of problems with a jumping stylus.
NOTE: With Amazon's price of $267 (no ship cost), I just bought my second turntable. I have two premium cartridges (my old Yamaha motor quit), so this will be an opportunity to have both available. I have and highly recommend these two cartridges as well: Audio Technica 1)AT440MLa, 2) AT311EP with ATN3472SA (shibata stylus), and both were bought at LP Gear. |
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 "Satisfied with sound quality - upgraded needle" | 2009-07-05 |
| - Reviewed By alan_lasu |
Summary - upgraded the needle to the affordable Shure M97xE audiophile cartridge. Sounds much better now. Hardest part of the setup for me was balancing the tone arm.
Installation - Since the turntable's headshell is removable from the tone arm, it wasn't as hard installing the Shure audiophile cartridge (paid only $58 at amazon.com)contrary to what some had said it was. However, for a nice tight grip, I had to insert the screw from below so that it was easier for me to use a small wrench to hold the nut above while I tightened the screw head (small screw driver provided).Although the receiver's manual had specific measurements on how far & what angle the needle should be from the head, at some point I just ignored it and made the best judgement I could.
Problems encountered - after installing the cartride on the headshell and tightening the whole assembly onto the tone arm, I balanced the tone arm. The manual says to make sure the tone arm is parallel/level to the record surface. I did. I pushed "start", the tone arm moved over the record but didn't play. After trying various things including reading up on 'trouble shooting' in the manual/online and almost giving up, I decided to adjust the weight some more. The tone arm was now heavy enough to drop down, and I heard some sound but it was skipping all over the record. Thinking rationally, I imagined that a stylus is supposed to sit in and follow the grooves, so it must be skipping because it's not dropping down deep enough onto the record. I adjusted the counter weight some more and then the needle didn't skip any more. Phew! Next I adjusted the counter weight to the opposite direction just to ensure the needle isn't digging too deeply into the record grooves so that it doesn't get ruined. Amazing sound. Second problem: I noticed that with the brush down (the Shure cartridge has a brush attached that is supposed to clean the record surface before the needle passes over the grooves), I had to adjust the counterweight again because the needle was skipping again. Once I did, the needle didn't skip anymore but I noticed that for me with the brush down, the sound isn't as clean, rich and full as it was without the needle so I decided to keep it up and not use it. This was smart because I played a brand new record after playing old records and noticed that the dirt picked up by the cartridge brush was getting deposited (by static electricity?)onto my new vinyl. I lifted up the brush. I don't think I'll be using the brush any more or at least only on an old dirty record. The only problem I have left to figure out is that when I push start, the tone arm moves and starts playing at the last song in the record instead of the first one. I'll figure this out soon, afterall, it's only been a couple of hours since I installed this turntable. I'm new to this; never owned a turntable before. To be honest,I never understood what the manual was talking about when it says use 2g or 1.75g for this cartridge and adjust the antiskating knob to thesame number. I just winged it! Hope I do not damage my cartridge...oh well, it's a learning experience.
Sound - the sound is amazing. It does sound better than a CD. I turned the volume very high that my glass window and kitchen glasses were shaking and rattling but the turntable kept playing! No skipping whatsoever. I don't know what the other reviewers were talking about. Now, when I tap or knock on the dust cover, the catridge picks it up and you'd hear it. But why on earth would you wanna do that for? Moreover, my large floor speakers stands on the right next to the turntable which is placed onto a shelf but none of the vibrations interferred with the sound. No hum is heard at all. On a brand new record, it's completely silent in between songs; the popping sounds are not heard. This turntable rules! You really gotta buy it to believe it...unless you're one of those die hard audiophiles who won't believe in a Denon but in a Debut III or Rega P1 (both of which I ruled out because these do not have built-in amplifiers so your receiver must have a phono input or you'll need to purchase a good quality external amplifier after shedding at least $400 on these babies!).
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 "Overpriced toy" | 2009-06-02 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3VQBJEOTQD809 |
| An overpriced toy. The table itself runs without discernable wobble, but the antiskate doesn't seem to work properly (I set my stylus pressure at under 2 but had to set the antiskate at maximum to keep the arm from sliding immediately over the blank space on the test record). Don't set the volume too high--at a certain point a feedback begins that would probably blow your speakers if you let it go. It's all plastic and light so plan to be very still while listening or the needle will go jumping all over the place. |
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| "Excellent Purchase" | 2009-05-16 |
| - Reviewed By User: A20JKTDAP4V41V |
After doing a lot of research, I landed upon the Denon DP-300F turntable. I didn't want to spend a lot of money but also didn't want sound that wasn't quality or something that just looked cheap.
I paired it with some basic Polk speakers and a Teac receiver that has a Phono input jack. I am thoroughly enjoying my vinyl!
The sound is wonderful and is great for my small apartment. Old vinyl sounds great, and new 180 gram vinyl sounds superb.
I am not an audiophile, but I do like quality sound. The needle that the turntable comes with is fine for me; however, at some point, I will upgrade to a needle that is more top of the line.
All in all, the turntable, speakers, and receiver I purchased from Amazon work perfectly. I am in heaven! |
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| "Great Turntable" | 2009-04-20 |
| - Reviewed By User: A34HY76YO6K8LX |
I was looking for a good turntable as I have recently returned to vinyl.
I wanted a vintage one but could not find any near my area. So I started looking for newer models. This one is fantastic. Fully automatic and it came with a cartridge. The standard cartridge wasn't bad, but I upgraded and bought a better one. This turntable gives a fantastic sound. I never realized the great sound from vinyl until now. In the past we just had cheap turntables and cartridges that came in the old record players or consoles. I highly recommend it. |
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| "Pure Perfection" | 2009-02-07 |
| - Reviewed By bigapplebooksnyc |
I love music and in my mind, having grown up in the 70's, music meant albums. So even though I have an extensive collection of CDs and MP3s for my iPod, I had been dreaming of getting back into the analog side of life. I purchased this Denon turntable last October at J&R Music World in Manhattan and I have to say, as I am now listening to a 180 gm vinyl re-release of John Coltrane "Live at the Village Vanguard", the love affair with this beauty is still intact. Everything about it is perfect, from it's automatic return arm to the weight of the system. It looks, feels and sounds like quality. I have mine hooked up to a Harmon Kardon HK3490 stereo receiver and the two together make beautiful music.
Another reviewer on this site wrote that he didnt like the sound, I had to adjust the tone arm to get the right sound, which I had never heard of until I did a lot of research on how turntables work, but once I did - the sound is heavenly.
One more thing, if you haven't heard the new heavy grade vinyl that albums are being re-issued on today, you owe it to yourself to find a friend who has one (me - in the NYC area) or just go take the plunge. The sound is like nothing you have ever heard on a MP3. The Coltrane album I am listening to makes the sound so real it is like you are actually at the Village Vanguard. Amazing! And I have recently bought some of those old garage sale LPs for $1 and the sound doesn't compare. The new stuff is the real thing.
LOVE IT! |
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