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Denon DP-300F Troubleshoot

M

Mister Pants

New Member
Hey All,

I'm a newbie, so I'm looking for a little direction.

I just ordered a Denon DP-300F turntable.

I assembled it last night and plugged it in to the phono input on my vintage Kenwood 6600 receiver.

On my first spin, the sound was extremely distorted and bass heavy.

In order to get what I would consider a quality sound, I have to drastically adjust my Bass down, and a turn my Treble way up from what they would normally be set at if I was just listening to FM radio.

Once I make the adjustments I feel like it sounds good.

The Denon DP-300F comes with an internal equalizer, which you're instructed to turn off if your hooking up to an actual phono input. I turned the equalizer off. The rep at Crutchfield suggested turning the equalizer back on, and plugging in to my AUX input, vs my Phono input to see if there is any difference in output.

I'm wondering if anyone has a similar experience with a new model turntable and vintage receiver, and what some possible troubleshoots are? It's interesting because I had an older model (80's) Technics hooked up to my Kenwood, and did not experience the same problem.

Thanks all.
 
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Hi,

I have the same TT. How is the tonearm setup? It has a Preamp built in for receivers without phono inputs. If you have a phono input you should use that with the preamp off 1st. Where is the TT placed?

Hope this helps some.
Thanks,
John.:music::D
 
I set up the tone arm the way the directions instructed, so I have it set at 2 and the anti-skate set at 2. It seems to be balanced correctly.

My Kenwood has a Phono Input, so I turned off the internal pre-amp on the Denon and have the Denon plugged into the Phono Input.

As far as placement, I have two bookshelves that are built into our wall, which are seperated by our fireplace.

So the entire wall is bookshelf-fireplace-bookshelf. Each bookshelf has a countertop. The turntable sits to the far left, next to my left speaker (Bose 301) than my right speaker sits on top of the other bookshelf on the otherside of the fireplace.

I'm assuming this may be a little bit of the problem as well, but would the placement really require me to have to adjust my bass level so drastically? It's set at about -8 right now.
 
"I set up the tone arm the way the directions instructed, so I have it set at 2 and the anti-skate set at 2. It seems to be balanced correctly."

Did you zero out the arm 1st? The set both at 2 grams.

Thanks,
John.:music::D
 
Last edited:
I think I did.

Do you think I maybe did not set up the tonearm correctly? Would there be a way to test to see if I balanced it correctly?

Is it possibly digging too deep into the record?
 
Mister Pants said:
I think I did.

Do you think I maybe did not set up the tonearm correctly? Would there be a way to test to see if I balanced it correctly?

Is it possibly digging too deep into the record?
Click to expand...

put the needle guard down to protect it, Set the counter weight and anti_skate at zero, does the tonearm float over the record? If it does then it is set right, return the counter weight to 2 grams.

If not, turn the counter weight till it floats level over the record,Then zero the counter weight by turning the numbers in front and holding the back weight. It should still be floating at zero, now turn it counter clockwise to 2 grams. Set your anti-skate at 2 also.
Now try and play lp and see if it sounds better.

You can also do a search and find info with pictures to help you set it up.
Page 3 in the owners manual explain this too.

Thanks,
John:music::D

Thanks,
John.
 
I checked to make sure the tone arm was set right and it is.

I even tried switching over to the auxillary input, and turning the internal equalizer on the TT to On.

Same problems.

I think I might be sending this TT back to Crutchfield.
 
Is the cartridge installed correctly? It sounds like there may be a loose connection. But, is it in both channels? Kind of weird if it is both channels.

I have the same table, and it worked excellent right out of the box.
 
Mister Pants said:
I checked to make sure the tone arm was set right and it is.

I even tried switching over to the auxillary input, and turning the internal equalizer on the TT to On.

Same problems.

I think I might be sending this TT back to Crutchfield.
Click to expand...

Send it back and get a refund or new one, Crutchfield is good. Sorry you had a problem, I like mine, worked great from the begining, 1 yr ago.

One last question, have you hooked up any other TT to that receiver? How did they sound?

Thanks,
John.:music::D
 
Qoute: "The turntable sits to the far left, next to my left speaker..."

Just for grins, try setting the channel balance on the Kenwood all the way to the right temporarily. Still have the problem?
 
Live_Wire said:
Is the cartridge installed correctly? It sounds like there may be a loose connection. But, is it in both channels? Kind of weird if it is both channels.QUOTE]

Well I reinstalled the cartridge thinking maybe I didn't have it tight enough. I started listening to Endless Summer and it sounded great for two songs, then in the middle of Surfin' Safari when the bass drum really kicks in is when I started having problems. It does the same thing to me when I'm listening to ZZ Top Gimme All Your Lovin. It seems like it can't handle songs with a lot of bass. :thumbsdn:
Click to expand...
 
jleon92f said:
One last question, have you hooked up any other TT to that receiver? How did they sound?
Click to expand...

Before my Denon arrived I had a 80s model Technics hooked up to it. Not sure the model number as it belonged to a friend.

When I had the Technics hooked up it sounded fabulous with no problems. I absolutley couldn't wait to hear what my new Denon sounded like when it arrived.

I'm going to try switching out my vintage Kenwood receiver with a more up to date Pioneer receiver and see if I run into the same problems. I think that will tell me if it's the TT or my Kenwood that is causing the problems.
 
Does it do it at high and low volumes? If it does it when turned up, you might be getting feedback from the speakers. Does this TT have a suspension? Is it near the speakers?
 
I think I've diagnosed that the problem is with my Kenwood 6600...damnit...that receiver is so pretty.

I've got the Denon now hooked up to my Pioneer that drives my Surround Sound and it sounds great. I've made it nearly all the way through Endless Summer at a very high volume and deep bass and no problems.

Now my question would be, can the Kenwood be fixed? Where do I start? I'm guessing I would start with the Phono Inputs???
 
Does the Kenwood have an input voltage selector on the back? My Realistic 2100D has this. IIRC it goes between 2, 4 and 8mV.

I honestly can't remember what I have it set on though.
 
Mister Pants said:
I think I've diagnosed that the problem is with my Kenwood 6600...damnit...that receiver is so pretty.

I've got the Denon now hooked up to my Pioneer that drives my Surround Sound and it sounds great. I've made it nearly all the way through Endless Summer at a very high volume and deep bass and no problems.

Now my question would be, can the Kenwood be fixed? Where do I start? I'm guessing I would start with the Phono Inputs???
Click to expand...

I am glad you have fixed it, one question, the other TT worked on your Kenwood??

Thanks,
John.:music::D
 
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