Denon DP-37F Cartridge ID

[Fafaafooie]

Hey...

Just picked up this really nice Denon DP 37f and I'm trying to ID the cartridge. I cannot see any obvious signs of who made it and if it's good or kaka before I sell it.
Any help appreciated.

 

[Wolfie62]

Looks like an Excel Japan cartridge. Variant of the LP Gear Vessel cart.

 

[Fafaafooie]

Looks like an Excel Japan cartridge. Variant of the LP Gear Vessel cart.

Thank you! I will do a little research later. Any idea if it's decent or crap?

 

[Hajidub]

The original cart/stylus was a DL-65, which they still sell a replacement for.

 

[Fafaafooie]

The original cart/stylus was a DL-65, which they still sell a replacement for.

I have never used MM cartridges before but know enough to screw something up. I know it has a removable stylus, are all stylus universal fit from one brand to another?

 

[Wolfie62]

I have never used MM cartridges before but know enough to screw something up. I know it has a removable stylus, are all stylus universal fit from one brand to another?

No!

Each manufacturer develops a cart and accompanying stylus very specifically. Within brands there are common styli.

Kinda like asking if all engines are interchangeable in all cars made.

 

[Hajidub]

I have never used MM cartridges before but know enough to screw something up. I know it has a removable stylus, are all stylus universal fit from one brand to another?

DL65 is actually a pretty sweet sounding setup considering the replacement needles are only $37.

 

[Fafaafooie]

DL65 is actually a pretty sweet sounding setup considering the replacement needles are only $37.

Is that a whole different cartridge than I have? Someone above mentioned it was an Excel made cartridge. Or is the dl 65 a Denon cartridge made by Excel?
What am missing?

 

[E.Man]

Is that a whole different cartridge than I have? Someone above mentioned it was an Excel made cartridge. Or is the dl 65 a Denon cartridge made by Excel?
What am missing?

It's a different thing entirely.

A Honda is not a Mazda but they're both cars.

 

[Wolfie62]

Is that a whole different cartridge than I have? Someone above mentioned it was an Excel made cartridge. Or is the dl 65 a Denon cartridge made by Excel?
What am missing?

The DL 60 and DL 65 were original equipment cartridges for many Denon Servo arm tables. The 60 was conical, 65 was elliptical. They weren’t anything special. They were good, not special. The DL 65 sounds exactly like a Goldring Elektra cart, IMO.


It’s better than the AT3600L, again, IMO. That’s a starter cart on many tables now. Is it (DL 65) made by Excel? Very well could be; I’ve read that the Goldring Elektra is, and that the DL 60/65 are, as is the LP Gear Vessel and Sumiko Pearl.

Adcom GFC-1A (Sumiko Pearl) on left, Pioneer 109 (I think) center, Denon DL 65 right. By build, I’d say YES, all Excel carts.

 

[timeltel]

Regards:
I believe your cartrige is a Signet. Look for the typical AT V-magnet configuration on the cantilever.

Models range from the TK1ea w/0.4 x 0.7 elliptical on tapered alu. cantilever through TK7LCa (Line Contact on beryllium cantilever). The TK1ea has a plastic body, the rest , (like yours) are metal. If the stylus is OEM, this should be identified on the stylus grip.

('puter is slow this a.m., if double post please forgive)

Peace,

 

[Montycat]

Regards:
I believe your cartrige is a Signet. Look for the typical AT V-magnet configuration on the cantilever.

Models range from the TK1ea w/0.4 x 0.7 elliptical on tapered alu. cantilever through TK7LCa (Line Contact on beryllium cantilever). The TK1ea has a plastic body, the rest , (like yours) are metal. If the stylus is OEM, this should be identified on the stylus grip.

('puter is slow this a.m., if double post please forgive)

Peace,

I agree it looks like a Signet.

 

[Fafaafooie]

I agree it looks like a Signet.

I think I'm leaning this way as well. Although I still can't find a picture of an exact match

 

[Montycat]

TK3Ea?

Have you removed it from the headshell? It might be labelled on top.

 

[Fafaafooie]

TK3Ea?

Have you removed it from the headshell? It might be labelled on top.

I noticed that while looking at a ton pics of cartridges there could be info where the head shell covers the top, but I have no idea how to remount.
I guess it doesn't matter being it doesn't appear to be anything special; I was hoping it was something a little better than average.
I'm selling this table so I will let the new owner sort it out. If I somehow end up keeping it I will pop on a MC and move along.

Thanks for all of the information!

 

[Montycat]

It's not that hard to get it back in the exact place you started from if you take a close look first at the position of the nuts on top. Also, the headshell comes off by loosening that thumb wheel near the end of the tonearm and this requires no more skill than operating a bottle opener to remove and reinstall it. If it's a genuine Signet (or even other brands) it might say so on the underside. Still scared? Get a mirror underneath it and you might see the name.

 

[Wolfie62]

Yup. Removable headshell. Loosen the thumb screw at the base of the headshell. Pull it out, away from the tonearm.

Who cares if you move the cart alignment, anyway?? The new owner can realign it!

In selling your table, you’ll want to know what cart is on your table. Part of your selling price. Do you even know if your table is fully functional?

I have the Denon DP45F, DP52F, DP15F.

 

[ETI_5000]

I noticed that while looking at a ton pics of cartridges there could be info where the head shell covers the top, but I have no idea how to remount.
I guess it doesn't matter being it doesn't appear to be anything special; I was hoping it was something a little better than average.

It's not a Denon DL-65 (standard cartridge), which has that marked at the top of the front on the cartridge, as shown in Wolfie's picture.

While I haven’t seen many of them, it does look similar to a Signet (AT’s high performance brand in the past), and like them, may have the model name on the top of the cartridge, which AT always does.

Some Signets (e.g. TK10ML, boron cantilever, Microline stylus) were close to the best MM's ever made, according to reviews of the time. The founder of Stereophile ranked the TK10ML level in performance with the superb Shure V15 Type V-MR, his reference cartridge for many years, and High Fidelity mag described its performance as flawless.

Now, I'm not saying that it is a TK10ML (I don't think it is, as the front looks different), but Signet made some superb cartridges. So depending on what model it is, it may be worthwhile to keep it, if you keep the turntable.

The cartridge is aligned like this (see below) for the DP-37F. Denon did have a special alignment gauge for the turntable which simplified the procedure, but it’s obviously gone missing.



Incidentally, there is an error in the user guide for the DP-37F (the service manual is correct), which incorrectly states in the specifications at the end of the manual that the allowable cartridge weight is 4-6g - it should be 4-9g! Someone obviously got the 9 upside down.

 

[lini]

I guess it doesn't matter being it doesn't appear to be anything special;

Might as well be a TK5Ea, which would already be pretty good. Did you already take a mirror and look at the bottom of the needle (or alternatively remove the headshell from the arm to do so)?

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[Wolfie62]

Yea, Sugnet TK3EA looks awfully close.

OP’s:



TK3EA: