Denon DL-110 High Output Moving Coil Cartridge

3 comments

1. 

   Tomas Jakl on April 3, 2010 at 6:58 pm

   I am not par-time vinyl listener, it is my life, so I decided to make digital archive of all my records. Already owned cartridges(Ortofon Gold, Ortofon Broadcast) are not capable to get the same quality recording as this piece. This is really for set/sit play and listen/record, no scratching or manual handling.
   
   There are some better ones for sure (Shure,AKG) but I am not hi-fi freak i just want to get good quality vs acceptable price and possible mounting on actual gramophones/turntables.
   

2. 

   S. J. Graci III on April 3, 2010 at 8:03 pm

   I have this cartridge set up on a Denon DP-47f turntable. I have also used the Denon DL-80 and Grado Blue cartridges. This cartridge offers more detail, openness, and imaging than those other cartridges. Its square lines make it easy to initially set up and the included overhang gauge is a bonus. It is a fairly light cartridge and additional weight is also included should you need it with your tonearm. I have the tracking force set to the cartridge’s recommended high side of 1.9-2 grams with great results. It is an excellent tracker even on some discs that are badly warped. This is a great cartridge if you are new to Moving Coils because it is a High Output MC and allows you to hook it to a pre-amp’s Moving Magnet input (if you are lucky enough to even have that offering on some of today’s receivers). It’s well worth the money if you don’t want to spend a fortune on higher priced MCs and fuss with prerequisite phono pre-amps while still gaining many of MC’s sound attributes. Also, at this price I don’t hesitate to play used vinyl with it. This cartridge’s little diamond really gets down in the groove and bypasses much of the surface noise. Although, I do tend to pair visibly and sonically bad records with the beefier Grado just so I don’t damage the Denon and in turn damage the clean vinyl. If you enjoy sitting down and seriously listening to the sound of music on vinyl you will really enjoy the offerings of the DL-110 at a great price. Many cartridges that are well over twice its price are not as good.

3. 

   Armando M. Mesa on April 3, 2010 at 9:09 pm

   I have been utilizing the Denon DL 110 for two years.I am not able to compare it with other brands of moving coil carts in it’s class or price range (either low or high output) since this is my first leap or crossover from an MM(moving magnet) set up.I can certainly say what I DO like about this high output MC cartridge,though…

   It presents itself VERY favorably as a musically and sonically involving cartridge. There are other cartridges out there which cost more(defunct Shure V15VxMR comes to mind, which now commands outrageous “new old stock” prices on various bidding internet sites,but I digress) that are known to be “dull”,”flat”, and, or, simply boring;The DL 110 is anything but.Period. Due to it’s high output 1.6 mV signal and freq.range or response of 20,000 Hz -45,000 Hz, yes, it does remind me of a pricier MM cart soundwise— but that’s where any sonic similarities or mimicking audio playback characteristics end.It is a bit more refined and resolved in the high frequencies range when compared to my other less costly MM carts AND even against my expensive Shure…Bass is also notably clean but NOT too tight, restricted,thin,sloppy,muddy nor exaggerated.The middle frequency range,however, while still admirably presentable with vocals,both male and female, it could be tipped a tad more in the “upfront” sense.Still, it is not recessed nor sounds as though the cartridge is performing in that “V” shaped in-line equalizer frequency formation(bass turned up full blast,mids way down low to the “V”’s point tipped bottom,and highs pushed up to ear piercing status)—Visually, that “V” shaped frequency setting on any EQ always reminds me of a flock of birds flying south for the winter,LOL.— I would never want to give up the Denon DL 110 and chastise it regarding the mids department.Sure, there are other cartridges out there whose performance might outshine the Denon in reference to the mids or prove that that is one of their sonic or signature strengths.For what this Denon does so exceptionally well and in it’s modest price range, the mids are not really an issue at all now that I think of it!

   As an inner groove tracker and sibilance handler , the DL 110 shows that it can put up a decent fight with it’s elliptical shaped stylus (not a perfect victorious win, but a decent one). I must first say that I have used this Denon cartridge on a Technics 1600MK2 turntable, a JVC QL Y66F, and now it is mounted onto a Denon DP 59L—I really like the way it performs with the Denon( Denon on Denon). I don’t know if it’s that psychological play on the consumer mind(in me) that name brands should always stick with same name brand equipment or it really is a great synergistic matching/pairing.I don’t doubt the latter since I really like the way it sounds on my Denon DP 59L than it did with the Technics or JVC—still, the Denon DL 110 did take a liking to the Technics medium mass arm.However,with all three ‘tables,the DL 110 displayed a sort of etchy-like sound quality,but not shrill;It did take a number of hours(not sure if it’s 10 or 20 or even 40 hours) before a well balanced tonal characteristic projected from this cart(“broken in”)…

   Inner groove distortion (IGD) is that pesky audible trait caused by the stylus trying to track tightly packed groove modulations and information contained in the last few tracks of a record side—Sometimes, that can also be a characterstic combo of a worn out record or stylus, or both,incorrect anti-skate setting,misalignment of the cart,etc.It is IGD that has kept many a record listener thinking or believing in the myth that IGD is completely unavoidable and must be tolerated;That is is a permament part of the vinyl medium. Less expensive or cheaply made cartridges with their styli cannot overcome this or exhibit poor tracking abilities towards the end of a record.Also, the shape of the stylus will determine this (spherical versus elliptical versus fine line contact).The “annoyance” is made obvious by a shrill or distorted sound in which music and vocals take on a screechy or harsh-etch-like quality.A finer shaped and cut stylus (usually with a smaller footprint)such as some ellipticals and a plethora of fine-line or line contact styli can defeat this with no problem—unless, you truly have a worn out record. I have caught the DL -110 on a few occasions trying to just barely give up this fight;It doesn’t.

   As for sibilance (the letter “s” in vocals or the “th” and harsh “z” sounds as well as cymbals sounding like brittle static), again, the Denon does require some broken in time to start to smooth this type of vinyl medium playback anomaly out…With the DL 110, there is NO sharp “sssss’s” cutting across the room through your speakers once it retains it’s not-so-brand-new-outta-the-box period.

   How does the Denon DL 110 compare to my other cartridges???My other cartridges happen to be a Shure V15VxMR ,an Audio Technica AT 440ML, and a Grado Prestige Blue…

   As a sidebar,Shure ceased it’s production of their cart a few years ago due to “exotic materials” becoming unobtanium according to Shure’s website( I will mourn my Shure when it wears out)…Against the Shure, the Denon is more inviting and musical.It has a nice ample supply of solid bass.Yet, the Shure is an absolute winner and gem of a tracker for both sibilance and inner groove distortion right out of the box through and through over the Denon DL 110!The Shure is one of the BEST groove trackers I have ever owned,thus so far, even though just a little bit somewhat lacking in the “rich bass,bright highs, and musically inviting” analog vinyl categories…The Shure also only requires anywhere from 1 g-1.25, pushing no more over 1.5 g for optimal stylus pressure tracking force;The DL 110 requires anywhere from 1.6-2.0g of tracking force for optimal performance.Cartridges that require lighter tracking forces for optimal play will save your precious record collection from quicker wear and tear.The Shure requires so little stylus pressure to be able to extract so much groove wall information versus the Denon. The Denon can hold it’s own pretty well but not like the Shure.Again, the Denon ,at times, seems to want to give up the battle but always leans towards the winning side!

   Now, the Denon DL 110 against the AT 440ML? The Denon has better soothing and more detailed highs to my ears(NOT soft or rolled off highs like the Shure). The finer subtlety allows me to hear things that otherwise just sound BRIGHT on the AT 440ML.The mids are more pronounced on the Denon.The AT 440 ML has that “V” shaped graphic equalizer frequency setting I mentioned earlier in this review. However, the AT 440 ML has a wider soundstage field and greater channel separation. The Denon’s is just admirable and firm with good central imaging. Nothing sounds smeared or confusing, though I do wish I could pinpoint certain instruments easier in the air with the Denon’s soundstage dimensional field as I can with the Audio Technica. The AT 440 ML has more lush and deeper bass,not boxy(albeit,kinda colored along with the highs)…

   I’ll just say that out of all these cartridges, my least favorite to compare with the Denon is the Grado Blue. What I did like about the Blue against the Denon is it’s punchy and very solid central sonic imaging (some mistake this for sounding too mono, but I think of it as the Grado filling a void where other carts fail to do and end up having a “hollow” exaggerated stereo sound).The bass on the Grado feels more solid, also… However, the Grado (no matter what turntable or cart I used it on) could NOT handle sibilance or inner groove distortion like the Denon! Plus, on a Technics turntable, the Grado is an unshielded cart that will sonically hum as it nears towards a direct drive magnet motor. So, the Grado Blue and this wonderful Denon “Red” are worlds apart…

   To look at the big picture,overall, one cannot go wrong in purchasing the Denon High Moving Coil DL 110 cartridge.I have yet to personally hear from another Denon DL 110 owner to dislike or have any type of disdain for this red pearlescent beauty…Almost forgot to mention, aesthetically, the Denon looks like a cart that should sell for a lot more loot; It just looks expensive and very solid,big and blocky in that audiophile sorta way