Denon dl-160
- Thread starter pirca
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Duffinator
Spin The Black Circle
Pretty much universal praise that it's a great cart for the money. I don't have one but I do have a Denon 103R and like it a lot.
JimmyNeutron
Super Member
Yep. Very impressive cart. I have it currently on my Yammie PX-3. Great clear and extended highs, bass is nice, not as fat and tight as the 103r, but still very natural, and the midrange really shines. It's a very non-fatigueing cart to listen to. These carts go for less than $160.00 and really it just boggles the mind that it's priced so damn low! Pick it up, you certainly won't be dissappointed.
Jimmy
Jimmy
Funny that this thread is here. After the universal disdain for my current cartridge (the Oyster), I was just coming to post a thread asking readers to choose between the Ortofon 2M Red, the Denon DL160 or a Sumiko Blue Point No. 2 (if I got really saucy).
Pirca, can you provide us with the details of your system?
Pirca, can you provide us with the details of your system?
Flammaster
DrumCorpsZappaFreak
what about the DL110?
Tiver
Enjoy the music
I would say it is a very good cartridge for the money. I can't say if you would like it though.
Consider the equipment you will be using the cart with. So long as the mass and compliance works with your TT (arm), only you will know if you like it.
I would speculate one could spend quite a bit of money on other components in their systems before this cartridge started to show its limitations. I don't know how many cartridges at this price point would keep up as well.
Consider the equipment you will be using the cart with. So long as the mass and compliance works with your TT (arm), only you will know if you like it.
I would speculate one could spend quite a bit of money on other components in their systems before this cartridge started to show its limitations. I don't know how many cartridges at this price point would keep up as well.
Bob_in_OKC
Addicted Member
Can anyone here compare it to the AT440MLa?
Old_Tech
Yer-isn't!
The DL-160 is a really great cartridge and very affordable. You would need to spend alot more money to exceed its qualities and even then you may never want to. The entire spectrum of sound is well portayed from solid tight bass, well defined mid range and very well tempered high frequencies. Not at all fatiguing to listen too and certainly of high quality both in design, sound and assembly.
Comparing it to the AT-440mla I would say it is more refined and warmer sounding and much easier to align to your arm. The 440mla can be very detailed but requires alot of alignment and break in time to tame its sometimes very accurate but shrill behavior.
Both are extremely nice cartridges but for the money I would buy the DL-160 and not look back. I do own both. :thmbsp:
Comparing it to the AT-440mla I would say it is more refined and warmer sounding and much easier to align to your arm. The 440mla can be very detailed but requires alot of alignment and break in time to tame its sometimes very accurate but shrill behavior.
Both are extremely nice cartridges but for the money I would buy the DL-160 and not look back. I do own both. :thmbsp:
goldwax
dozy ming-mong
I have both too. I've not done any close A/B testing, but generally speaking, I can't tell any difference between the newish DL-160 and the more-used AT440MLa on my system. They both sound fantastic. I plan to do some A/Bing at some point, though.
A year ago, I would have told you to get the 440MLa and not look back. Now, though, they are much closer in price, and as far as I can tell, no one complains about the DL-160 while some complain about the 440MLa, so it's not as easy to steer you.
A year ago, I would have told you to get the 440MLa and not look back. Now, though, they are much closer in price, and as far as I can tell, no one complains about the DL-160 while some complain about the 440MLa, so it's not as easy to steer you.
thedelihaus
Nocturnal transmissions
The DL-160 (and the very close one model down DL-110) are a very pleasant and rich sounding cartridge.
Only (minor) gripe is no removeable stylus-when the stylus is done, you Toss the whole thing out and buy a new one.
The AT-440MLa? I have owned the previous model, the AT 440 ML and a few AT 440 MLas. A bit more detailed and perhaps hotter than the DL-160. Good for certain records that appear a bit dull, and seem to extract a bit more detail.
The negative? Can sound a tad bright at times on some records, in some systems. However this diminishes as the cart breaks in, and remains in high regard.
A monkey wrench- my friend Mike swears by the new MM Ortofon line; the Red and Blue he says are exceptional.
Of course I imagine the Bronze and Black to be heavenly, but the caveat there is it will show any weakness in your system and at $389 up, that'd be a shame. You need gear that really is set up perfect and of very high quality.
For most folk he says stick with the Blue and Red for 80% of the performance of the Black and Bronze with a more forgiving presentation and easier pairing with gear.
I have not heard these, but trust Mike's opinion.
A wildcard not mentioned yet is the Grado Gold. A fine sounding cart with a warmth to vocals and woodwinds and tenor sax that could melt butter on a cold Thomas'es English Muffin. Downsides? The creamy warm sound may not suit well in dullish systems or folk who want to eek out every nook and cranny of detail at the top end, and although it tracks well, extremely challenging records may present, well, a challenge-but only in the hardest of passeges (say, the TelArc 1812 Cannons).
The winner here? All of them. All these carts are fantastic, and it comes down to fine tuning in regards to your ear and your system.
I feel lucky as I own all of them (except I own an older Ortofon model) and all work extremely well in my system and all are pleasant to my ear.
Only (minor) gripe is no removeable stylus-when the stylus is done, you Toss the whole thing out and buy a new one.
The AT-440MLa? I have owned the previous model, the AT 440 ML and a few AT 440 MLas. A bit more detailed and perhaps hotter than the DL-160. Good for certain records that appear a bit dull, and seem to extract a bit more detail.
The negative? Can sound a tad bright at times on some records, in some systems. However this diminishes as the cart breaks in, and remains in high regard.
A monkey wrench- my friend Mike swears by the new MM Ortofon line; the Red and Blue he says are exceptional.
Of course I imagine the Bronze and Black to be heavenly, but the caveat there is it will show any weakness in your system and at $389 up, that'd be a shame. You need gear that really is set up perfect and of very high quality.
For most folk he says stick with the Blue and Red for 80% of the performance of the Black and Bronze with a more forgiving presentation and easier pairing with gear.
I have not heard these, but trust Mike's opinion.
A wildcard not mentioned yet is the Grado Gold. A fine sounding cart with a warmth to vocals and woodwinds and tenor sax that could melt butter on a cold Thomas'es English Muffin. Downsides? The creamy warm sound may not suit well in dullish systems or folk who want to eek out every nook and cranny of detail at the top end, and although it tracks well, extremely challenging records may present, well, a challenge-but only in the hardest of passeges (say, the TelArc 1812 Cannons).
The winner here? All of them. All these carts are fantastic, and it comes down to fine tuning in regards to your ear and your system.
I feel lucky as I own all of them (except I own an older Ortofon model) and all work extremely well in my system and all are pleasant to my ear.
G'day all. Pirca, you confuse me :scratch2: as according to your profile over at the VE you've had a Denon DL-160 for ages and I seem to recall you praising it frequently over there, so why do you ask this question here? :scratch2: I don't understand. Regards, Felix aka catman.
JimmyNeutron
Super Member
DAAAAANG! That's harsh dude. I'm gonna just sit back and watch this movie. 
Jimmy
Jimmy
