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Denon DP-60L v Sony PS-LX3

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willediii

New Member
I have a Sony PS-LX3 that has been a fantastic turntable for me for years. To my ears, it sounds great, and I've only needed one repair. I have the chance to get my hands on a mint Denon DP-60L in mint condition (in storage for 30 years in dry cool location in the original box). I realize there is very very little info out there on the Sony as it was a pretty rare unit.

Yes, I have to choose, I don't want or need both.

Any thoughts or opinions on whether or not the Denon will be that much better.

I have a Marantz 2238 feeding into 2 EPI M150s

Looking forward to the input!

I can send pictures later.
 
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What an awful situation having to decide between two marvelous turntables.

I own the Denon and love it. But the Sony looks ever so sweet. My advice? Keep the Sony. If it’s a screaming deal on the Denon, then buy it, compare both and sell the one you like least.

The only drawback is if you can’t decide and have to keep both. This, in a nutshell, is my audio journey. I love them all.
 
Assuming both work, good condition, all the parts - I think the Denon offers an upgrade. Looks like better motor, better arm, probably better plinth.
Only semi-auto (vs your full auto) AND appears to be 100V. Plus replaceable S or straight arm wands (not headshells); check the box before purchase.
Any cartridge with the Denon?
While you will only keep one, if you buy the Denon, you can always trial side-by-side prior to selling one of them ...
 
The Denon offers more flexibility with the interchangeable tonearm wands. Someone on Vinyl Engine said the tonearm on the Sony was low mass, which may be a limiting factor in matching with various cartridges, some of which will not sound good with a low mass tonearm. If you are really limited to just one turntable, I would seriously consider the Denon for its flexibility and "being future proof."

The option someone would use would be to buy a taller stereo shelf with more shelves, so you could have a choice of turntables to use. I would offer the alternative philosophy: "Can anyone really have too many turntables???"
 
All; of these comments have been very helpful.

Some additional information:

It has both tonearms but not the weight for the straight arm.

There is a cartridge on the s arm, not sure about the straight arm.

My Speakers are quite close to my reciever and turntable. They have to be because of the idiosynrasies of the space. It hasn't been a problem with the Sony.
 
willediii said:
It has both tonearms but not the weight for the straight arm.
Click to expand...

The weights are the same regardless of which arm you use (of course the S-arm is heavier so uses a heavier weight). There are after market weights and occasionally original Denon weights will come up for auction. That’s how I completed my set.
 
willediii said:
It has both tonearms but not the weight for the straight arm.
There is a cartridge on the s arm, not sure about the straight arm.
Click to expand...
Good to hear from another owner above AND you have both arm$. I do not know what weights are required for what arm. But if weights are missing, I do like to check for replacement parts prior to purchase.
The cartridge(s) could be a real nice sweetener on this deal. Nice vintage TT in box, with both type arm wands ...... could be nice cartridge(s). Stylus probably need replacing, but certainly worth a look.
 
No comparison in my mind. The Denon is superior to the Sony (and I'm a Sony guy). Especially if it is in the condition you describe with the original packaging.
 
Update: the thing is beautiful and I am definitely going to buy it. Now, it has the original DL103 cartridge, but the stylus is snapped off. So heartbreaking should I try to send this off to get re-tipped or buy a replacement? I really can’t afford to go above $200 so, play me straight, is there a good replacement cartridge out there for the S tone arm I could also do the straight arm, of course. I’m not really partial to either. But the head shell is so sweet on the DL 103.
 
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willediii said:
Update: the thing is beautiful and I am definitely going to buy it.
Click to expand...
Great - should be a solid upgrade.
Consider developing an inspection list for this 30-year-in-storage TT. I would check out the arm for damage & TT speed for accuracy prior to purchase. After purchase, maybe some minor DIY service (e.g., spindle oil)
willediii said:
Now, it has the original DL103 cartridge, but the stylus is snapped off. So heartbreaking should I try to send this off to get re-tipped or buy a replacement? I really can’t afford to go above $200 so, play me straight...
Click to expand...
Please note the 103 is a MC cartridge; you will need an additional phono preamp (e.g., headlamp) for use with the Marantz. If you watching your cash, you may want to wait on your denon cartridge decision. Maybe move your sony cartridge over?? If you have a price range in mind, we can offer a replacement cartridge recommendation.

That said, the 103 is very nice to have & gives you some future option. I have a 103 & plan to try a 301 some day. As you continue your analog journey with your sweet new denon TT, you should probably plan to try a denon MC cartridge someday. If you are ready now...... I am not sure what you should do with your 103. If you got a working cartridge you have heard & like, but the diamond is worn down, I like to retip. You say your stylus 'snapped off'? You mean the cantilever?

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Post a pic of the headshell you are liking will help us make a suggestion. I'm thinking an AT-VM95E or ML would meet your budget. Personally, I prefer the 'S' arm with the SME bayonet mount for ease of swapping cartridges.
Getting the DL-103 retipped will run from $250-500, depending on how fancy you want to go. Plus, it is a fairly demanding cartridge for a preamp with only 0.3mV output.
 
I'll stick with my recommendation of the AT-VM95 cartridge with whichever stylus you wish to afford (at least elliptical is my suggestion).
Once funds allow, having the DL-103 refurbished with a new cantilever and stylus by one of our "known good" retip folks is a worthy eff.ort. Am quite fond of my DL-103r
 
What is the cartridge you have on your Sony? Maybe it could serve as an interim cartridge to get the Denon up and running. It might even be a better match for the Denon turntable tonearm than the 103.
 
The guy I’m buying it from has a $40 cartridge for the s arm that probably isn’t much worse than the Sony. I have replaced the stylus with a very mid range AT. I think it’s the original cartridge. I’ve never pulled it off. It does sound good!

Would I really need a phono stage or extra boost for the DL-103? I thought the Marantz phono stage would be enough.
 
Also, I’ll have to buy the straight arm counterweight to use it. That part is missing. So finding a cartridge that will work with the s arm is ideal.
 
Your 2238 was made before LOMC cartridges (like the DL-103) were a thing. You could use a SUT (step-up transformer), but they cost as much as a phono preamp and are generally not as flexible
 
Got it.
MX117.MC7150 said:
Your 2238 was made before LOMC cartridges (like the DL-103) were a thing. You could use a SUT (step-up transformer), but they cost as much as a phono preamp and are generally not as flexible
Click to expand...
I have a phono stage if I need it. but I like the idea of a simpler setup. I really appreciative of all of this input and support.
 
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