A Trilogy of Trackers

[bauzace50]

@ goatbreath,

and during the last few days I have been tuning my ears, also. Have been in a comparison spree among DL-160, DL-103R, M97x-SAS, and 500 E/II-Paratrace (ALL favorites of mine, for different reasons). Adding your observations, that is a good welcome for the DL-110.

Regards,
b50

[goatbreath]

The Denon DL110 has officially become known as "The Wee Red Beastie",,as someone put it..Visitors marvel at it's sound..I think I've struck gold with this cartridge...

[bauzace50]

@ goatbreath,

Your previous comments promted me to acquire a DL-110, ant it just arrived from LP Gear at http://www.lpgear.com It took only three days to arrive from the first working day after placing the order! Perfectly safe and fast delivery.

Pictures dont do justice to its subtle red/pearly color with the golden reference line up front! A thorough visual examination denotes classy manufacturing.

The golden cartridge pins, the color coding, the small-diameter/short cantilever, the notably SMALL/pretty diamond, and the quality application of adhesive speak of a classy manufacturer. The packaging is a classy presentation with an eye for economy...nice and safe, with a stylus brush, two quality mounting bolts with an extra weight plate (for optional headshell balancing) and a cartridge travel mount that doubles as an overhang gauge and magnifying lens.

Signs of classy manufacture with respect for the client's money. Very High return for $139.00 plus shipping cost.

Performance feels good! Pertinent comments will follow with goatbreath's consent. Not unlike a "cartridge bicycle" but without traveling laps.

Regards,
bauzace50

[bauzace50]

Hi,

Several LP sides later on favorite recordings reveal this cartridge as "very likeable".

"Staging" is quite impressive, showing a wide, deep stage with focused images within the stage, and good positioning. Movement on stage is completely believable, as shown on some opera recordings, and on Dark Side Of The Moon.

Tone: NOT completely neutral, it has an identifiable character which is easy to like. Good bass energy and tightness. Male voices sound completely natural. Upper female voices begin to show a slight recess, more like a deeper position on stage than a tonal difference (but traceable to a very slight relaxation in the tonal coverage). Same effect on massed orchestral violins, appearing somewhat deeper on stage, rather than a shifted tone ( but it is, really, a slight relaxation of tonal energy at that area). By the way, this mild "tonal signature" exists to a smaller degree on the DL-160.

Above that region of the midrange there is a modest recovery of energy all the way into the treble. This results in a very interesting tonal balance, where a likeable golden shine comes through. Insufficient to be called "bright", but very likeable.

This "character" is easily detected in direct comparison with the DL-103R, which shows no treble lift whatsoever. This is very pleasant and interesting. Analogous to choosing a different wine flavor to suit one's mood, and sufficiently likeable to become a permanent choice. In other words, the folks at Denon are very astute in their manufacturing choices!

But it exposes faulty LPs, specifically hashy dusty ones. Alternatively, the DL-103R is more benign with such faulty LPs, and makes them half-way listenable.

This character is contrasted with the "stock" M97xE, with its softening treble lacking the recovery on top. Quite different with the JICO SAS stylus, which CAN become bright on some LPs. (Proponents of the M97xE will point out that this treble softening is totally erased by modifying the preamp for 62 KOhm loading, instead of the accustomed 47 KOhm loading). But I refuse to modify my preamp for this purpose...it alters my preamp for all other cartridges.

In other words, the DL-110 is a keeper here. I like its colors a lot.
Thankyou, goatbreath, for pointing it out. It had been hiding in plain sight!

bauzace50

[goatbreath]

I love it myself...The basic Denon DL 103 is starting to grab my interest..But I would really need to mount it on a Rega arm and add extra mass..So I'm not entirely sure about that one...

[bauzace50]

goatbreath,

It appears that the DL-110 incidentally confirms my long-held disregard of "running in" audio components.

This DL-110 has been put through a grinder of about ten difficult LPs of mine since last post. I am awed that so much quality comes through, even on A/B comparison with the DL-103R and Stanton 881S. (It has been a frenetic two days).

The ONLY difficulty has been one faulty/noisy LP with a hashy background noise heard through all other cartridges here (only a bit more through the DL-110).

All the LPs have been a joy to hear, with a mild-but-recognizable sonic signature, but with total freedom from "considering its price". And, showing generous tracking ability, if not up to super-tracking status...that is, tracking (including sibilance) was NOT an issue on the folowing ten difficult LPs of mine.

My categories for attention in the recent ten LPs:

PITCH:
from very low through very high. No missing parts, and only a slight relaxation in the area of feminine voices and massed violins.

DYNAMICS:
since this cartridge is virtually SILENT, no hum is robbing the attention from very low-volume sounds, and all the way into very loud sounds, either sustained or instant, such as an entire orchestra, a solo trumpet, some solo percussion instruments, high flutes at high or low volume, cymbals (jazz or classical music), drums (low whomps to high snare sounds), xylpohones, guitars, finger clicking, applause, sustained organ cords or rapid piano runs, or instant cords.

STAGING: to include DEPTH / AMBIANCE and DIRECTIONALITY:
a solo piano in stereo is perceived with its ambiance and spaciousness, orchestral sections are perceived in the area they belong, instumental quartets (either wind or string, or both) show believable placement, focus, and ambience. Opera recordings show appropriate stage movement and stage depth...even the direction where a singer is AIMING the voice, as in exchanging phrases between two singers. Massive choruses, as in Aida, are appropriately grand yet specific with appropriate ambience and impact...an impact, clarity, and massiveness which is never approached in mono versions of the same choruses.

TIMBRE, or TONE:
fidelity to the original tone, the original sound. Placing a glass tumbler on a table sounds different from placing a plastic cup on the same table. Different timbres, to be perceived as the originals.

The DL-110 excelled in all these categories of attention. Spot checking with the DL-103R and the Stanton 881S showed virtual exactitude, except for a Tiny golden filigree on the timbres of the DL-110!

That is saying quite a LOT about this unassuming pretty runt or the litter, which allows music in an integrated, whole, believable manner.

It is in my category of "outstanding". Nothing average about it at all. It excels and is a special candidate for a "blind" demonstration in front of unsuspecting auditors...just watch their dropped jaws when finding out who is the transducer working that magic. ( By the way, the DEFT 2 does not approach the DL-110's verisimilitude with music, despite its characteristic lushness).

An impressive and lovable cartridge regardless of price ,
b50

[bauzace50]

Ooops,

To be fair, intentionally searching for older beat-up records, I found about three which were repeatedly abused over the years. And these showed the hashy distortion typical of scratchy, hashy abused records. The DL-110 exposed them. But the DL-103R and M97xE make them a bit smoother.

Fair warning. The DL-110 will expose hashy worn out records for what they are. So, it is better to use the DL-110 with records which are clean and in good condition.

Regards,
bauzace50

[Snead]

That was well worth reading! Thanks Bauzace50!

[zeplin43]

@ goatbreath,

Your breathless testimonial motivated me to purchase one DL-110 today. It will ship from LP Gear after Memorial Day. Am already holding my breath .

Regards,
b50

PS- be sure to SEE the wonderful photos of the tip and cantilever on the DL-110 right here in the VE Gallery! Just go to Gallery, and then to "Denon". Our VE member Zeppelinn posted two powerfully impressive photos on the first page. Scroll sufficiently down for both. Quite distinctive, especially for a "budget" model!

Nice move wonderfull cartridge. I have 3 in reserve because it sounds better than the DL160 to my ears.

[bauzace50]

@ zeplin43,

Thanks for your comment. Now I have both DL-110 and DL-160, AND (to continue the original premise of goatbreath's thread) the M97xE in original plus SAS versions.

The two Denons above DO have differences. To my ears, the DL-110 has a recognizably mild low-treble lift which gives it that special distinctiveness (and deviation from absolute accuracy).

It is a pretty, euphonic coloration, in my view. The trick is its Very Low Intensity, and placement in frequency, which BLENDS in without becoming an independent artifact in itself. The folks at Denon seemed to work just right for that precise effect. Is that an example of custom tuning, or what? And that, precisely is what relaxes the upper midrange, in what must have been a conscious design tradeoff (picture the bell-shape of a response curve, for a clearer visualization).

Which brings attention to a design feature of Denon which goes almost unmentioned. The "2-way damping method" is mentioned in passing within the instruction booklet, as if wanting to hide the fact. But I see it as Denon's secret ingredient .

As a matter of fact, Ortofon has it in the Jubilee, the Kontrapunt, the A90 and MC-Anna: The 2-Way Damping Method

It is the technique of using dampers in two chosen frequency regions, for better tuning of the entire moving system.

In the DL-110 and DL-160 there is one damper behind the coils, and a different damper in front of the coils. Analogous to automobiles: spring damping, and shock absorbers...two different actions for better results.

The DL-160 has the extra feature of tapered cantilever, which probably accounts for the higher placement of the treble resonance, and absence of what I call the "golden filigree" of the DL-110. Strictly in those terms, the DL-160 is probably more accurate to the source, while the DL-110 is the more colorful character. Not unlike their body colors!

Regards ,
b50

PS- Denon do NOT use the 2-way damping system in the DL-304, nor the DL-S1 (I have no information about the 301-II, though). Damping in those higher-end models is achieved with different combinations of design features, to include a single damper, special tie-wire, lower cantilever mass, diamond characteristics, bobbin design, and coil-wire details. But not the 2-way damper. In my mind, they perform better than the lower-cost ones, but without leaving them eating dust in the wake.

[bauzace50]

Hi,

a few days of slow cooking is always pertinent in regard to cartridge exploration. It's like hiking a mountain to get to a panoramic view. The vigor and work on the ascent is eventually taken to a serene enjoyment of the panorama. Journeying and settling down are both part of the experience.

So, a few days of serene enjoyment of the DL-110 allowed savoring of the product. An additional comparison with the 881S showed two differences.

First, the DL-110 has a recognizable clarity, freedom from midrange brightness, and ingratiating and well-integrated treble signature on top, as well as ample stereo staging and tracking ability.

Second, the 881S has a recognizably neutral sound, super tracking ability, and an uncanny sense of ease. You can throw any obstacle and it does not even flinch.

One example is Beethoven's Fourth Symphony, Last Movement. The music has a constantly dynamic motif on the violins which makes one wonder if the players will get to the finale. This energetic vibration is passed e-a-s-i-l-y by the 881S, while the DL-110 shows a bit of strain on the violin tone, which hardens a bit.

The record is a 200-gram reissue by Classic Records of RCA Victrola VICS-1102 with the London Symphony conducted by Pierre Monteux. A record of Special Merit for sound and musical content (purchased at www.acousticsounds.com ).

After many record sides, the principal difference between these two is the treble behavior, where the DL-110 can expose harshness in some grooves, while the 881S navigates with consummate ease and freedom.

The DL-110 is a keeper here, for plain enjoyment with great admiration for the product that is achieved for a budget price.

Thanks, goatbreath, for allowing comments on your thread ,
b50

PS- in my mind, the M97xE shows a signature treble rolloff which puts it one step below, for use with specific harsh records which need that "filtering" to be listenable. And the SAS version shows its treble color more strongly than the DL-110.

[bauzace50]

ANd a little tail to the tale,

I will try down-loading the DL-110 to explore any changes to its signature gold. Maybe down to 32 KOhms, or even down to 1 KOhm? Will report in a few days.

To be sure, a friend of mine prefers the AT 440 MLa loaded to 32 KOhms, but inconclusive at 47 KOhms. Only fair to mention it.

Regards,
b50

[goatbreath]

HMM !!! Quick winge here....Got spare DL 110s from LP Gear,,Just been billed..Between customs and mailing £44.20 by customs it was just over £97.00..
So they actually come in at £121.70 each quite a bit different from,,£89.50 each...When you buy three it fairly builds up..

They are being held hostage just now... But it will be sorted soon hopefully..

[bauzace50]

Goodness, goatbreath!

So, each cartridge cost you an additional 32.2 Pounds, for a total of 121.7 Pounds each! That would be US$189. each, including shipping and duty fees.

The price in all the vendors I verified in USA is $139.00 plus shipping charges. One question is whether the inflated price represents value to you.

Comparing with the cartridges I've owned, my opinion is "Yes, that is still good value to you, on the face of its performance". For example, I would not give up my DL-110 for one Sumiko EVO-III, which sells for $500. Nor would I give up my DL-110 for an AT 150 MLX costing $480.

Both examples are sufficiently colored for me to keep away at any cost. And loading the AT 150 MLX at 1 KOhm tamed it enough to be a keeper with me. But the DL-110 needs No such tinkering and inconvenience. It works just fine as it comes out of the box.

Still a great deal, my friend , AND NO OFFENSE MEANT TO PROPONENTS OF THE GIVEN EXAMPLES...it is just a matter of personal preference.

b50