Denon DP-1200

fiddlefye

fiddlefye

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
After a couple of decades of owning only one turntable I suddenly find them flying at me from everywhere. Today I was given a Denon DP-1200. Apart from a chunk out of the back of the dust cover it is in terrific cosmetic condition and works properly. Here's the down side: no headshell or cartridge. It looks like a "standard" sort of shell, but is it? What would you call it when hunting one down?

Any comments on the DP-1200? Is it a decent table? I realize it's not top of Denon's line, but it seems decently made. What sort of cartridge would be suitable? Any info would be a a help.
 
Register to hide this ad
Yes, the Denon DP-1200 is a very nice Table.
I have a DP-2550 here as a second Table.

Sadly, acquiring parts is almost impossible, I only know of one vendor, which if my memory serves me correctly, is Pacific Parts.

I don't believe the DP-1200 is unusual in it's Headshell requirements, in that a standard Universal Headshell, available from folks like Turntable Basics should fit. Other sources for Headhsells, might be KAB, and I think even the Sumiko HS-12 will work, although a little pricey at about $40, it is a quality Headshell made from solid billet aluminum, and is adjustable in Azimuth.

Cartridges? If you want to stay within the $100 mark, and need a Moving Magnet, so that it's compatible with MM Phono Stages found within virtually all vintage Recievers, and Pre-Amps perhaps the Shure M-97XE, the Audio Technica AT-440MLa.

Beyond this, at higher cost, could be one of the new Cartridges from Ortofon, or the very good Audio Technica AT-150MLX. Mark
 
I've got a DP-1800 (which I think preceded the DP-1200 a little). Standard headshell. As a matter of fact, mine is fitted with an Audio Technica AT-15Sa cart/headshell pre-packaged combo.

BTW: It's a nice deck. :yes:
 
Last edited:
pmsummer said:
I've got a DP-1800 (which I think preceded the DP-1200 a little). Standard headshell. As a matter of fact, mine is fitted with an Audio Technica AT-15Sa cart/headshell pre-packaged combo.

BTW: It's a nice deck. :yes:
Click to expand...
I thought the headshell looked like a standard item, but you know how often audio stuff looks alike and isn't, right? I'm glad it's a straightforward item to find. I'm going to see if I can't get things up and running this weekend. It is a really quiet-running deck. I guess I should pop things open and see about some fresh lube for the main bearing as well?

(A bit OT) I see you have a Fons deck. I was sorely tempted to bid on one this week as they look like a really fine design. How do you like yours?
 
pmsummer said:
I love it, especially with the Mayware arm and Shure M97xE.
Click to expand...
I just looked up the Mayware arm, looks cool. Which one do you have?

I got lucky today and picked up a nice Audioquest headshell for the DP-1200. It also turned out that some nit had broken off the ground screw and that needed to be replaced. I had a Shure M95EJ cartridge lying around and got a new stylus for it so that will be the starting point. Probably not my ultimate choice, but it should be decent and keeps the cost down for now. The speed adjustment pot will also get a good cleaning shortly and then it will be plug-in-and-listen time!
 
fiddlefye said:
I just looked up the Mayware arm, looks cool. Which one do you have?
Click to expand...

PLS4/D MkIII Formula 4... the name is proof that engineers needing marketing help. :yes:

I got lucky today and picked up a nice Audioquest headshell for the DP-1200. It also turned out that some nit had broken off the ground screw and that needed to be replaced. I had a Shure M95EJ cartridge lying around and got a new stylus for it so that will be the starting point. Probably not my ultimate choice, but it should be decent and keeps the cost down for now. The speed adjustment pot will also get a good cleaning shortly and then it will be plug-in-and-listen time!
Click to expand...

I think you'll be pleased. My 1800 came with a HEAVY coating of tar and nicotine, but cleaned up very well, and runs like a champ.
 
pmsummer said:
PLS4/D MkIII Formula 4... the name is proof that engineers needing marketing help. :yes:



I think you'll be pleased. My 1800 came with a HEAVY coating of tar and nicotine, but cleaned up very well, and runs like a champ.
Click to expand...

My 1200 is in fantastic condition as far as cosmetics go, virtually like new, except that there's a big chunk of the dust cover missing where there used to be a hinge:tears: Maybe I'll turn up another some day. For the time being I can at least set it on to keep things clean. I do have to give the pot that controls the speed a good cleaning as it's really touchy. I get where it I want it and then when I take my finger off it it shifts. Hope that's all it needs. What a sturdy beast it is. The base is a really serious bit of construction. The bearings are terrific; give it a little nudge and it spins for ages. The tonearm bearings are really nice as well, really smooth and no slop to them at all. When I was in the shop hunting for a headshell I was told that the tonearm was the same as an English one, Rega I think? Dunno about that, but it looks almost identical to the R200 (which apparently was made in Japan).
 
Quick update on the DP-1200. It's a lovely table, indeed. I got a nice Audioquest headshell for it (minus finger lift, got one coming from another Aker) and put on a Shure M95 cartridge that I got with broken stylus with the BIC 960 and 980 last week. Even with the n35X conical DJ stylus I managed to turn up for it it sounds wonderful, very precise but musically satisfying at the same time. Now all I need to do is get a good stylus for the M95 (which is much better than I'd expected); but that's another thread. I do need to give the pitch adjustment pot a good cleaning, but I guess I'll have to stop spinning vinyl to do that.....
 
We really do NEED pictures, you know. :yes:

I'd like to see the tonearm.

AK'er Clydeselsor has a DP-1200. Here's a pic of my DP-1800.

pb170003up8.jpg
 
Last edited:
Pics as requested, pardon the crappy quality. That 1800 is definitely a few steps up from the 1200 if that marble slab is part of the original! Gorgeous. I see your arm and mine are variations on the same theme, just a few changes here and there but basically identical to the Rega R200 arm. I think it's a very good arm indeed from my listening experiences of the past 24 hours or so. You can see I'm missing a lift for the Audioquest shell, but Clyde's generously dug up one from a Sumiko for me from his parts drawer and is sending it on. Now all I need is to invest in a decent needle for the M95 and I'm in business, at least until my budget allows for a Denon DL-103R. I hear the tables were generally sold with a 103 when new, but that's just hearsay.
 

Attachments

  • DP-1200.jpg
    DP-1200.jpg
    55.1 KB · Views: 83
  • PD-1200 arm.jpg
    PD-1200 arm.jpg
    55.5 KB · Views: 79
fiddlefye said:
Pics as requested, pardon the crappy quality.
Click to expand...
Looks very nice!

That 1800 is definitely a few steps up from the 1200 if that marble slab is part of the original! Gorgeous.
Click to expand...
Yep, the marble was standard, but when I got it, the cheese knife was missing. ;)

I see your arm and mine are variations on the same theme, just a few changes here and there but basically identical to the Rega R200 arm. I think it's a very good arm indeed from my listening experiences of the past 24 hours or so.
Click to expand...
I've been pleased with it, but I'm easy.

You can see I'm missing a lift for the Audioquest shell, but Clyde's generously dug up one from a Sumiko for me from his parts drawer and is sending it on. Now all I need is to invest in a decent needle for the M95 and I'm in business, at least until my budget allows for a Denon DL-103R. I hear the tables were generally sold with a 103 when new, but that's just hearsay.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what cart my deck came with, as it had the Audio-Technica AT15Sa (which apparently came pre-mounted on an AT headshell). I upgraded the stylus to a gin-u-wine AT15SS. :thmbsp:
 
Hey FF, I see you're heading into the realm of S arms and universal headshells. Great way to go. Denon is nice. I'd suggest getting a few generic headshells off the 'Bay for maybe $15 (C) or so. they are light at around 6.7 grams so you can mount older heavier cartridges that you might find on thrift store tables, garage sales, etc. Usually plenty of good styli out there for older bodies.

My basic recommendation for a small cartridge library is a Shure (the M95 might do fine with an upgraded stylus?); a Grado just to have that voice - a BLACK or older model like a GT with new stylus will do for starters; and a decent Audio Technica. The latter starts to get really interesting at around the 440MLa range. For best balanced highly detailed work I like the AT150MLX, but it's kinda pricey.

There are lots of options that table will support. Denons own HO MC cartridges are very well thought of. AT's OC9 is another option for MC without breaking the bank. I have about 15 cartridges mounted and usable to match to LPs. Depending on studio work and production values in the LPs, swapping cartridge/headshell combos sometimes just makes an LP really go well. Once you get used to the voicing and output, it's pretty easy to mate a cartridge to an LP. Doing it this way means all the qualities of that voicing are built into the signal stream so it means less work if ripping to digital, taping, etc.

Good table and great addition. Have fun :)
 
BrocLuno said:
Hey FF, I see you're heading into the realm of S arms and universal headshells. Great way to go. Denon is nice. I'd suggest getting a few generic headshells off the 'Bay for maybe $15 (C) or so. they are light at around 6.7 grams so you can mount older heavier cartridges that you might find on thrift store tables, garage sales, etc. Usually plenty of good styli out there for older bodies.

My basic recommendation for a small cartridge library is a Shure (the M95 might do fine with an upgraded stylus?); a Grado just to have that voice - a BLACK or older model like a GT with new stylus will do for starters; and a decent Audio Technica. The latter starts to get really interesting at around the 440MLa range. For best balanced highly detailed work I like the AT150MLX, but it's kinda pricey.

There are lots of options that table will support. Denons own HO MC cartridges are very well thought of. AT's OC9 is another option for MC without breaking the bank. I have about 15 cartridges mounted and usable to match to LPs. Depending on studio work and production values in the LPs, swapping cartridge/headshell combos sometimes just makes an LP really go well. Once you get used to the voicing and output, it's pretty easy to mate a cartridge to an LP. Doing it this way means all the qualities of that voicing are built into the signal stream so it means less work if ripping to digital, taping, etc.

Good table and great addition. Have fun :)
Click to expand...
I've been running MC carts on the Linn Basik arm on my TD-125 for a couple of decades now and the idea of being able to play around with the sort of possibilities you are into is really something to look forward to. There's a shop here in town has nice used headshells at $10 a pop and I think I might just wander in and clean him out. A Jico SAS stylus for the M95 seems like a good starting point (not cheap, but great for my ancient vinyl) and then I can follow your lead and do a bit of collecting. That's nice list of carts you suggest, haven't managed to hear most of them yet (I guess I don't get out enough). I have an Ortofon MC10 Super that I used for a long time and loved which needs to be re-tipped and that will definitely go into the mix eventually. The Denon seems like a really nice table to work with and I like the fact that it's relatively insensitive to footsteps in my 100 yr. old house as well. I have a little 10 lb. Jack Russell who can skip a needle just trotting gently across the room. Oddly, her 110 lb. Rottie sister never does!

One odd question: I notice that the Denon builds up much more static during playing a record than my Thorens. Is this typical of direct drive tables? It's definitely grounded properly, but I get a tiny "zzzt" sound through the system whenever I touch the tonearm to move it back after play (enjoying the auto-shutoff I must say).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom