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Denon DP-300F anyone?

T

Tanker Desk

Member
Just wondering if anyone has any experience with these. I've been leaning toward a Pro-Ject Debut, but noticed this had been getting recommended in the same price point as the Rega and the ProJect on other sites.

I probably wouldn't consider it, but I'm cautious about moving from an automatic to a manual.
 
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That table is very nice looking and the arm looks substantial. I don't personally have any experience with it, but the price seems very reasonable ($247 @ Amazon). I only wish they had made the plinth about 1" thicker and also the platter about 1" thicker -- then the DP-300F would be a really sweet looking machine.

I think, though, for $250 one could get a nice vintage table and then put and extra money into a nice cartridge.

I have nine turntables presently, and I am about to get another one. Most were purchased for less than 200...

Thorens 126 MKII $200 <--- awesome
Harman Kardon ST8 (Rabco arm) $30 <--- a rare linear/tangential
AR, The Turntable (with Grace 707) $200 <--- one of the best
Empire 598III - $30 <--- jaw dropping beauty and supra light tracking
Philips 312 - $20
Marantz 6300 - $50 <--- this is a sweet table
Yamaha YP-B2 - $30
Pioneer PL-12D - $30 <--- nice
Sony 5520 - $25

Bear in mind that some of them were very dirty and needed cleaning and some servicing. But it's all well worth the effort!
 
Maxseven's turntables are beauties, but I think all except the linear are manuals.

There are many vintage automatics worth considering if you come across them. Just some examples are Pioneer's PL-570, 600 and 630, the Technics SL-1600MK2, and Sony PS-X60, 65, 70, 75, 600, 700.
 
I had the Pioneer PL-530 (which I sold), and it is a fine automatic (I think). The only negative thing is that it has that fake vinyl **** on the plinth. Other than, that it is a mechanical marvel.

What about the Technics 1210 M5G? Now that's the one to go for.
 
Tanker Desk said:
Just wondering if anyone has any experience with these. I've been leaning toward a Pro-Ject Debut, but noticed this had been getting recommended in the same price point as the Rega and the ProJect on other sites.

I probably wouldn't consider it, but I'm cautious about moving from an automatic to a manual.
Click to expand...




as a former owner of a DP-300F, it was not all it was cracked up to be. you're better off (if you want a denon) to spend a little more on the 500M. i had my 300F for about three months and it ended up in the tip. the base/plinth was nice and substantial, but the rest of the table i would best describe as "clunky".

so, my recommendation is either the Denon 500M or the Pro-Ject.
 
iLUVanalog said:
as a former owner of a DP-300F, it was all it was cracked up to be. you're better off (if you want a denon) to spend a little more on the 500M. i had my 300F for about three months and it ended up in the tip. the base/plinth was nice and substantial, but the rest of the table i would best describe as "clunky".

so, my recommendation is either the Denon 500M or the Pro-Ject.
Click to expand...

I have read that the Denon 500M is nothing special and that if you are considering something new, you'd be better going for one of the Technics SL-1200 series.
 
Tanker Desk said:
I only choose the denon because it was an auto, I'm guessing the 500M means its a manual
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Correct.

If you don't want to spend a lot of money, you really get the best value buying a used turntable. Look on Craigslist and see what you can find.
 
just got a Denon 300F turntable but sadly the Grado headphones made it sound a bit crap. at least compared to my last TT, the sadly wavering Hitachi HT-550. I put my old Sony cartridge in and that improved matters but it's a straight one, the Denon has a curving cartridge: will it bugger something up (records or otherwise) playing the records at a bit of an angle? daft question I know but to me it sounds great!
 
hakaplan said:
I have read that the Denon 500M is nothing special and that if you are considering something new, you'd be better going for one of the Technics SL-1200 series.
Click to expand...



Wondered how long before the Technics SL-1200 would be recommended.
I got one cheap but did need to change the tonearm.
 
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Sprague said:
just got a Denon 300F turntable but sadly the Grado headphones made it sound a bit crap. at least compared to my last TT, the sadly wavering Hitachi HT-550. I put my old Sony cartridge in and that improved matters but it's a straight one, the Denon has a curving cartridge: will it bugger something up (records or otherwise) playing the records at a bit of an angle? daft question I know but to me it sounds great!
Click to expand...
hehe, oops, last tracks start skipping when played on an angle, ahh well, live and learn.

any recommended cartridge upgrades that will fit/won't break the bank?
 
Sprague said:
hehe, oops, last tracks start skipping when played on an angle, ahh well, live and learn.

any recommended cartridge upgrades that will fit/won't break the bank?
Click to expand...

What do you mean about the cartridge being curved? The only thing that makes one cartridge work on not work on any given arm is compliance, that's a mass issue. Do you have the cartridge properly aligned?
 
oops, sorry, I mean angled, like this:
images


ps, have never changed a cartridge before, is it a massively twiddly job?, any advice?
 
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