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Denon DL-160 cartridge. Worth getting?

gary7

gary7

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Been wanting to move up to a MC cart on my Yamaha PX-3. Have a chance to buy a Denon table with a Denon DL-160 cart at a reasonable price. I do have an AT30E but want to try something different. Would the DL-160 be worth it?
 
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The DL-160 is a nice HOMC. Sounded better than a Shure V15 II SAS or a near new M91ED in recent test. I have one in low hours condition on my brother's Sony PS-X7 in the main rig these days.
 
Mc is not a step up, don't want to repeat myself too much, but mm mi and m&s are all either a fixed magnet and a coil moving or magnet or iron moving and coil fixed result is the same. MC long ago equalled low moving mass, but today mm and mi are just as low or lower. High output mc is higher moving mass anyway so no point. Yes I have a dl160 and a load of mc's mi and mm carts, close to 50 all up.some of my most expensive mc's are around 1800 dollars, but my best carts are mi not mc.
Chris
 
cafe latte said:
Mc is not a step up, don't want to repeat myself too much, but mm mi and m&s are all either a fixed magnet and a coil moving or magnet or iron moving and coil fixed result is the same. MC long ago equalled low moving mass, but today mm and mi are just as low or lower. High output mc is higher moving mass anyway so no point. Yes I have a dl160 and a load of mc's mi and mm carts, close to 50 all up.some of my most expensive mc's are around 1800 dollars, but my best carts are mi not mc.
Chris
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I have a td160 (fully modded) with lin basik plus arm and AT110e cart. I like the ballsy sound of it but it picks up more surface noise than id like. What cartridge could u recommend that would be a good upgrade.........i know nothing of AT latest carts the VM series do u have any experience with my curent cart and the new AT ones??..........i was thinking Shure V15 3 with Sas stylus or Denon dl103..........

Also have a lenco l78 thats next in line for hot rodding..........
 
MRL_Audio said:
^^^ might want to start another thread since this is about the DL-160.
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Mainly I can get the 160 and DP-30L for less than a DL-110. Would it be worth buying used if in good condition, or should I buy new, That's my question.
 
gary7 said:
Been wanting to move up to a MC cart on my Yamaha PX-3. Have a chance to buy a Denon table with a Denon DL-160 cart at a reasonable price. I do have an AT30E but want to try something different. Would the DL-160 be worth it?
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I had a DL-160 on my PX-3. It was a nice, capable cart and I liked it a lot. A low hour DL-160 will get 150-200 so if you break up the table and cartridge and find the net cost to you on the cartridge is a lot less than that, then you get to listen to one for a good price.

There are probably a lot of lateral or close to lateral moves in the under $300 price range, all the way up and down the price scale. While I much enjoyed the DL-160, it didn't outdo the AT155LC (worn stylus) it replaced. I eventually got an ATN150Sa stylus and another AT155LC and moved Denon along.

I also have a Denon DL-300 I think holds its own. I have wanted to get something up the DL-3xx line and feel like the price point can be fairly reasonable.

So again, if the package gets you in for a low admission price there is no reason not to give it a go, but I wouldn't expect jaw dropping amazement.

Last thought ......I have two headshells for my PX-3 and the azimuth is definitely different on them. It's not something I am thrilled about and has kept the Yamaha on the sidelines. Whatever you decide, consider that the azimuth could be off and might keep you from getting the most from advanced stylus shapes. Fortunately it's a standard mount so an azimuth adjustable headshell can be used.
 
cafe latte said:
Mc is not a step up, don't want to repeat myself too much, but mm mi and m&s are all either a fixed magnet and a coil moving or magnet or iron moving and coil fixed result is the same. MC long ago equalled low moving mass, but today mm and mi are just as low or lower. High output mc is higher moving mass anyway so no point. Yes I have a dl160 and a load of mc's mi and mm carts, close to 50 all up.some of my most expensive mc's are around 1800 dollars, but my best carts are mi not mc.
Chris
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Interesting! I own more MI than MM, but no MCs. Certainly by specs, what you’re saying is true. I just haven’t had the bug to make the leap to MC carts.
 
Back when the 160 was in production it was a 'big bang for the buck' cart -- IMO

I have one mounted on a Technics headshell I use periodically on SL-1200 TTs -- still like it :thumbsup:

I was fortunate to buy a 2nd one before they disappeared -- sitting in a drawer now
 
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gary7 said:
Mainly I can get the 160 and DP-30L for less than a DL-110. Would it be worth buying used if in good condition, or should I buy new, That's my question.
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It is long OOP. It's safe to assume that it has been on the turntable for a long time. You don't know though how much it's been used. Better to buy something new. If you can find one NOS it would be worth it because it's a great sounding cartridge. Good luck.
 
The used DL-160 performance is dependent on stylus condition. Since it is not a removable stylus it would need a retip if bad and a retip is very close to the cost of the Denon HOMC that moved into the 160s price range, the DL-110 which became the darling when the 160 was discontinued. I don't know the sound of the 110 but since it was less expensive than the 160 when both were available, I would think the 160 should sound better. With the 110 now in the mid-300 range the ability to try a 160 in unknown condition is probably worth a bill. Up to you to decide what kind of stylus life might be left and how much you might be able to get the cartridge for with the purchase the table.
 
The 160 was not a bad cart, like I said I have one, as others have said they were cheap when new so regardless of being a MC they were good value. My point was though people seem to have this thing in their head that MC is the path to nirvana and there is no other way which is just not true especially when spending the price of high output MC's there is a lot of options either MM or MI which will sound better for the same money. As I said my best cart is a MI anyway not a MC (a Decca super gold).
Chris
 
Blue Shadow said:
The used DL-160 performance is dependent on stylus condition. Since it is not a removable stylus it would need a retip if bad and a retip is very close to the cost of the Denon HOMC that moved into the 160s price range, the DL-110 which became the darling when the 160 was discontinued. I don't know the sound of the 110 but since it was less expensive than the 160 when both were available, I would think the 160 should sound better. With the 110 now in the mid-300 range the ability to try a 160 in unknown condition is probably worth a bill. Up to you to decide what kind of stylus life might be left and how much you might be able to get the cartridge for with the purchase the table.
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cafe latte said:
The 160 was not a bad cart, like I said I have one, as others have said they were cheap when new so regardless of being a MC they were good value. My point was though people seem to have this thing in their head that MC is the path to nirvana and there is no other way which is just not true especially when spending the price of high output MC's there is a lot of options either MM or MI which will sound better for the same money. As I said my best cart is a MI anyway not a MC (a Decca super gold).
Chris
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A lot of good points. I am currently running a Azden YM-10VE om my PX-3. Really like it. I have a AT30E LOMC that I've used on other tables, really fond of. Question is, if it is in good condition, can I expect the 160 to be much better than what I have. As far as price, it's less than 2 bills, and I could mount another cart on the table & sell it. That too, would offset some of the cost. Choices, choices.
 
gary7 said:
A lot of good points. I am currently running a Azden YM-10VE om my PX-3. Really like it. I have a AT30E LOMC that I've used on other tables, really fond of. Question is, if it is in good condition, can I expect the 160 to be much better than what I have. As far as price, it's less than 2 bills, and I could mount another cart on the table & sell it. That too, would offset some of the cost. Choices, choices.
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The Denon DL-160 has a finer stylus than the Audio Technica AT 30E. :thumbsup:
 
The DL-160 is a HOMC that goes into a standard phono input. It works just fine into the phono input of my preamp no need to adjust anything vs. using one of the Shure carts that were part of the comparison as my brothers decided which nail he wanted on his table.
 
gary7 said:
A lot of good points. I am currently running a Azden YM-10VE om my PX-3. Really like it. I have a AT30E LOMC that I've used on other tables, really fond of. Question is, if it is in good condition, can I expect the 160 to be much better than what I have. As far as price, it's less than 2 bills, and I could mount another cart on the table & sell it. That too, would offset some of the cost. Choices, choices.
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Why torture yourself? If you really want to know just make the purchase. If it doesn't suit your desires or needs you can always sell it and move one. That's the general POV I take with all things audio. I can read reviews etc. but will "I" like it. Only one way to find out. What a reviewer says is a positive may not be something I like in my setup and system. Just sayin' ;)
 
MRL_Audio said:
Why torture yourself? If you really want to know just make the purchase. If it doesn't suit your desires or needs you can always sell it and move one. That's the general POV I take with all things audio. I can read reviews etc. but will "I" like it. Only one way to find out. What a reviewer says is a positive may not be something I like in my setup and system. Just sayin' ;)
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Well, the only hitch is that the table & cart would have to shipped to me. Just that kinda stressed me out, guy was talking about taking it to UPS store to get it packed. So I messaged him and am not getting it. Why do things I want seem so far away? Anyway, I'll save my money and do some more looking at what's available. Any other recommends that might go good on my PX-3?
 
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