• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Denon DP80 & DP75 Owner's Thread

MX117.MC7150

MX117.MC7150

Listener
Subscriber
Know that there are several of us that own DP80 & DP75 TTs, so thought we should start a thread to share info and resources, pic's, etc.

Am designing a Michell Gyro "style" plinth that will be made from either steel (pretty spendy) or aluminum (less spendy). We'll see where that goes, based on cost. I want to run two TA's, so would need to accommodate my "wants".

Of course, now that I've started this my wife is dragging me away for our 'anniversary lunch'. I'll be back in a few hours and will post a pic or three of mine. Will be some 'before' pic's of the plinth, which is getting a new suit of clothes (veneer). Should have it back in black walnut in early July.
 
Register to hide this ad
Looks like I'll be the second member... I have the DP80. I use it without a plinth. I played with an idea similar to yours — Oracle/Gyro style — even gathered most of the necessary parts, and planned construction. But I decided the sonic difference would be minor and not worth the effort — to me at that time.

As for adding a tonearm or two, I can do it fairly easily with my no-plinth design. The expanding flange restricts locations for 9" arms, but will allow longer arms elsewhere on the perimeter. Sometimes I wish the controls were in an outboard unit, other times I like where they are.

I expect the thread will get into praising these TTs, and more importantly tips on maintenance and fixes. I'm glad you started it, MX117*, and look forward to others contributing.

* Hope it's okay I shortened your 'name'.
 
I will happily join in here. I know there are a fair number of owners on forum sprinkled around the globe as I've heard from a number of them.

My DP-80 came with a nice vintage non-Denon two-armed plinth which had removable rear board and just a hole for a Denon arm in position 1. I had routered out a spot for an arm board in that spot and made two boards of nice flamed maple.

When my DP-80 came to me it was "brain-dead" and was completely rebuilt, something I am in the long-term grateful for - at the time "not-so-much".

Currently sporting an Audiocraft AC-400C out front and a Technics EPA 250 in the rear.
DSC_3564 by fiddlefye, on Flickr
 
First congrats on the anniversary.

The DP-80 was Japan only so I doubt there are many of these floating around. Have to use a voltage converter with mine. The DP-75 came with a 120v option so I expect these are much more common. Having said that the first couple replies are 80's, and here I am contributing yet another one!

I picked up my DP-80 drive looking to step up from my prior situation. Massive AC motor with gobs of torque, split platter for great isolation, excellent specs overall. After which I started looking around for something to mount it in. I first contacted a custom plinth builder, that went nowhere. Eventually ended up at a Japanese site. Picked up a used Denon DL110 plinth for a reasonable price, I think due to the fact cover was in rough shape. Prefer the topless look anyways. The armboard was drilled for a Denon 10.5" arm; I was looking to fit a 12" arm. I filled in the hole with a wooden dowel piece, sanded the works flush, and then applied fresh veneer. Also replaced the original tie down screws with brass finger nuts for added bling. I briefly considered re-veneering the entire plinth but in the end I'm glad I kept with the Rosewood of the original. Classic Denon look.

Superlative drive eclipsing all others I have experienced, a real gem.

reed 3p.JPG

Starting point:

DP80.JPG

Denon DK110 Plinth:

DK110_3.JPG
 
Last edited:
Legrace said:
First congrats on the anniversary.

The DP-80 was Japan only so I doubt there are many of these floating around. Have to use a voltage converter with mine. The DP-75 came with a 120v option so I expect these are much more common. Having said that the first couple replies are 80's, and here I am contributing yet another one!

I picked up my DP-80 drive looking to step up from my prior situation. Massive AC motor with gobs of torque, split platter for great isolation, excellent specs overall. After which I started looking around for something to mount it in. I first contacted a custom plinth builder, that went nowhere. Eventually ended up at a Japanese site. Picked up a used Denon DL110 plinth for a reasonable price, I think due to the fact cover was in rough shape. Prefer the topless look anyways. The armboard was drilled for a Denon 10.5" arm; I was looking to fit a 12" arm. I filled in the hole with a wooden dowel piece, sanded the works flush, and then applied fresh veneer. Also replaced the original tie down screws with brass finger nuts for added bling. I briefly considered re-veneering the entire plinth but in the end I'm glad I kept with the Rosewood of the original. Classic Denon look.

Superlative drive eclipsing all others I have experienced, a real gem.

View attachment 1504195

Starting point:

View attachment 1504196

Denon DK110 Plinth:

View attachment 1504197
Click to expand...
Oh, and that arm. Wowza...
 
fiddlefye said:
Sweet! Nice pairing of arms. Don't you just love having choice?
Click to expand...
I do. I just got a second step up transformer so am excited to be able to try two MC at the same time on the same record and compare. Maybe this weekend. Although so far I think the SME 3010R is a few steps above the Denon DA-401.
 
Survived lunch. ;) Actually, some great food & even better company (am fortunate to have such a 'good sport' for a wife).
Nice to see several responses.
fiddlefye - What did the electronic fix consist of? No problem with parts availability?
Here's what my DK100 plinth looked like prior to going out for new black walnut veneer. New veneer is finished, but I'm traveling for the next several weeks so won't have it back until July. My 'verneer guy' said he would send a couple of pic's in the next day or two, which was nice of him.
Currently running a Stax UA-7/CF, but am jones'g for either a Jelco TK-850L or Sorane SA1-2. I'm leaning toward the SA1-2, but it would be fun to try a 12" arm. I'll run my MCs in the new arm and MMs in the Stax.

IDK-100 rough2.jpg
Stax & Carts.jpg
 
Last edited:
MX117.MC7150 said:
Survived lunch. ;) Actually, some great food & even better company (am fortunate to have such a 'good sport' for a wife).
Nice to see several responses.
fiddlefye - What did the electronic fix consist of? No problem with parts availability?
Here's what my DK100 plinth looked like prior to going out for new black walnut veneer. New veneer is finished, but I'm traveling for the next several weeks so won't have it back until July. My 'verneer guy' said he would send a couple of pic's in the next day or two, which was nice of him.
Currently running a Stax UA-7/CF, but am jones'g for either a Jelco TK-850L or Sorane SA1-2. I'm leaning toward the SA1-2, but it would be fun to try a 12" arm. I'll run my MCs in the new arm and MMs in the Stax.

IView attachment 1504568
Click to expand...
I got lucky on the parts side of things. I sent the DP-80 to Peter Noerbaek and he had a chip to replace the dead one in mine. He did a full rebuild/service so it should be good for a long time now. I sweated bullets for a bit there!

I'm liking both of the arms I have on mine. The Audiocraft is a devil to set up, but it sounds really good, slightly more "romantic" presentation than the EPA. The EPA 250 is absolutely glorious, both in terms of performance and ergonomics and build. It really is an "end game" arm as far as I'm concerned.
 
I'v posted photos of my DP-75 with Technics EPA-100 tonearm in a VPI light walnut plinth before, have to find them. All beautiful examples of Denons premier tables, as for plinths Japan would be an excellent place to look and even with shipping would probably be a lot less costly than a custom built plinth. This is my last turntable unless I'm tempted by a DP-80.
 
Here is a the pic of Phillip Holmes (Mockingbird Distribution LLC) DP80 with SA1-2. Phillip brings in the Sorane & GrooveMaster tonearms and other products. This is an early VPI suspended plinth, which looks to be the same as my HW-19 IV plinth without the pulley hole. Phillip tells me he recapped his DP80 due to leaking caps. Probably should pop my DP80 open and check the physical condition of its caps to be on the safe side.

Holmes 2.jpg
 
MX117.MC7150 said:
Here is a the pic of Phillip Holmes (Mockingbird Distribution LLC) DP80 with SA1-2. Phillip brings in the Sorane & GrooveMaster tonearms and other products. This is an early VPI suspended plinth, which looks to be the same as my HW-19 IV plinth without the pulley hole. Phillip tells me he recapped his DP80 due to leaking caps. Probably should pop my DP80 open and check the physical condition of its caps to be on the safe side.

View attachment 1504806
Click to expand...
Mr. Pig had the same plinth with his DP-75. If what I've read is correct that plinth was the very first VPI product.
 
My DP-80 was in a VPI plinth when I got it. It wasn't nearly as svelte or compact as the VPI plinth in #14. It was HUGE, maybe a custom order for 2 16" arms, and weighed a ton, maybe twice a much. Lifitng it, even moving it for position, was heavy labor. I couldn't fit it anywhere at that size, it would need its own stand and that wouldn't work.

I took the DP-80 out of the plinth, rigged an arm/cartridge, and sat it on its own — its flat bottom made that easy. It sounded great.

After several back-and-forths to the plinth, I really heard no difference... maybe it seemed a bit more "airy" or "transparent" free-standing, without the monster plinth.

I've been using it on its own, "plinth-less", ever since. I have one tonearm now (Linn Ittok) for MC, and it will soon have an SME 3009/II/Imp for MM/MI, and there's room for a 12" I'm restoring. Armboards are easy to make and easy to mount, using the existing pre-drilled holes in the Denon's 'flange', which were intended to secure it to a plinth.

I like the minimalist look, and as mentioned several times, I heard no benefit from that special plinth, and hear no downside using it 'naked.'
 
bimasta said:
My DP-80 was in a VPI plinth when I got it. It wasn't nearly as svelte or compact as the VPI plinth in #14. It was HUGE, maybe a custom order for 2 16" arms, and weighed a ton, maybe twice a much. Lifitng it, even moving it for position, was heavy labor. I couldn't fit it anywhere at that size, it would need its own stand and that wouldn't work.

I took the DP-80 out of the plinth, rigged an arm/cartridge, and sat it on its own — its flat bottom made that easy. It sounded great.

After several back-and-forths to the plinth, I really heard no difference... maybe it seemed a bit more "airy" or "transparent" free-standing, without the monster plinth.

I've been using it on its own, "plinth-less", ever since. I have one tonearm now (Linn Ittok) for MC, and it will soon have an SME 3009/II/Imp for MM/MI, and there's room for a 12" I'm restoring. Armboards are easy to make and easy to mount, using the existing pre-drilled holes in the Denon's 'flange', which were intended to secure it to a plinth.

I like the minimalist look, and as mentioned several times, I heard no benefit from that special plinth, and hear no downside using it 'naked.'
Click to expand...

Can you post a pic or two of your 'plinth-less' DP-80? Would be interested in how you arrange your arm(s).

Phillip guesses the weight of his DP80/VPI plinth approaches 80#. Plinth is layers, which includes 1/8" steel plates.

As an alternative to trying to mount a second TA in my plinth I'm thinking of going 'plinth-less' and having a couple of pieces of metal (whatever is cheap - even aluminum is surprisingly heavy) round-stock (5-6") drilled & tapped for my arms. Would be easy to set the spindle-to-arm pivot length, etc.

Here's a pic of Alfred Kayser's DP80 in a stock DK100 plinth (he told me he has something like 70 TT/TAs in his arsenal).
Alfred DP80.jpg
 
Last edited:
MX117.MC7150 said:
Can you post a pic or two of your 'plinth-less' DP-80? Would be interested in how you arrange your arm(s).

Phillip guesses the weight of his DP80/VPI plinth approaches 80#. Plinth is layers, which includes 1/8" steel plates.

As an alternative to trying to mount a second TA in my plinth I'm thinking of going 'plinth-less' and having a couple of pieces of metal (whatever is cheap - even aluminum is surprisingly heavy) round-stock (5-6") drilled & tapped for my arms. Would be easy to set the spindle-to-arm pivot length, etc.

Here's a pic of Alfred Kayser's DP80 in a stock DK100 plinth (he told me he has something like 70 TT/TAs in his arsenal).
View attachment 1504984
Click to expand...
Interesting choice of "mat". That appears to be in place of the original Denon thick rubber. I wonder how it changes the sound?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom