Denon DP-3000NE Direct-Drive Turntable with DL-103, DL-103R, and DL-A110 Cartridges
Review sample supplied by Masimo
Retail prices:
DP-3000NE – 2.499 euro
DL-A110 Headshell and Cartridge – 600 euro
DL-103 Cartridge – 329 euro
DL-103R Cartridge – 429 euro
Denon has a strong reputation for its direct-drive designs of the past, and the DP-3000NE is their current flagship premium direct-drive turntable. Featuring a carefully designed S-shaped tonearm with optimized tracking, this newly improved Denon arm is equipped with cartridge weight adjustment, anti-skating compensation (0-3 g), and a newly developed arm height adjustment ring (0-9 mm).
The turntable’s sturdy and surprisingly heavy construction, weighing in at 18.5 kg, combined with extra large height-adjustable damping feet, provides a very rigid and low-resonance foundation.
The DP-3000NE incorporates the new SV-PWM-controlled Quartz-Locked motor system that guarantees an extremely accurate RPM with less than 0.06 % WRMS. A soft touch button starts platter rotation, and a second soft touch button selects between 33 1/3 rpm and 45 rpm speeds.
According to the Denon website, the turntable even supports 78 rpm records. At first, I thought it may have been a mistake because the speed button is labeled 33/45, but when reading the manual, I discovered that you can select 78 rpm by pressing the Speed button while also pressing the START/STOP button. After that, both speed lights turn on to indicate the selected 78 rpm speed.
The turntable comes complete with a nice interlink and earth cable. The interlink provides a smooth and non-aggressive sound. But the turntable is well worth spending extra on interlinks. For instance, I obtained better definition, transparency, refinement, and dynamic impact with the Driade Flow Link Reference 808.
More accessories: 45 RPM adapter/record weight, counterweight with extra add-on weight, aluminum headshell, cartridge adjustment gauge, screwdriver, headshell screws, and spacers
Thanks to the strong motor, the platter is at the target speed within half a turn (under 1 second for 33 rpm), and a nice extra advantage of Direct Drive is that there is no belt to wear out and no parts to replace. I am particularly sensitive to speed variations, but the speed was always 100% stable with this turntable. Lastly, but not unimportantly, the 100% seamless dark ebony natural wood veneer adds a very classy touch, and a nice crystal-clear dust cover completes the package.
Rigid versus damped construction
While handling the DP-3000NE’s tonearm to attach the headshell, I noticed that the arm has considerable play in all directions. Even when fitted very securely, the headshell can rotate around its axis (Azimuth) by quite a large amount, and it does not have a defined mid-position. Furthermore, the arm bearing also has considerable play both front-to-aft and sideways. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that I could wobble the counterweight section up and down by rotating the headshell around its axis. That’s when my initial infatuation started to dwindle, and suspicion arose that my sample might not be optimal. Not wanting to reach the wrong conclusions, I held off on listening to the turntable and sent an email to Denon.
I’m glad I asked, as it turns out that all this is by design.
Senior Sound Engineer Rainer Finck provided the following explanation:
“There are two basic philosophies. Make everything as rigid as possible or make it loose and damp it. The Denon tonearm may look conventional, but it has a unique geometry, and it looks rigid when it’s not. The so-called Unipivot (single point bearing) tonearms have play in all directions and are usually damped by a silicon oil bath. With the Denon tonearm, the damping is defined by special materials.”
In addition to providing Rainer’s initial response, Denon relayed my concerns to Ryo Okazeri, Denon’s turntable engineer in Japan, who kindly responded:
“It is understandable that audio intellectuals like a tonearm to be rigid. However, we made particular considerations concerning the arm’s physical characteristics for the Denon tonearm. In particular, we aimed to remove the typical peaks and dips in the frequency response of the tonearm pipe that are caused by resonance and mechanical rattling”.
To illustrate that point, he provided two graphical responses. Below are the measurements of a rigid-construction tonearm, similar in design to the familiar Technics tonearm. Note the resonance peaks circled in red.
“These peaks and dips became an issue for the NHK broadcaster; thus, Denon studied this problem and came up with the loosely coupled and dampened construction as a resolution.”
Below are the measurements of the DP3000NE tonearm; note the flatter response.
Mr. Ryo Okazeri continued to explain that the play that I noticed when handling the tonearm is a direct result of how it was designed. The tonearm pipe is not fixed to the main body. Rather, it is fixed through a plate spring and damper.
The same principle applies to the pivot bearing, which is not mounted rigidly but installed in a cushioned manner.
“The Denon tonearm does not appear rugged compared to other makers’ tonearms, and the concept is different from the general conceptions, but it makes a lot of sense from an engineering viewpoint.”
After reading the above feedback, it became clear that damping is a major theme in this turntable’s design, and it’s not just in the tonearm, but it is everywhere in the turntable. From the large damping feet to the damped platter and the specially constructed tonearm, and even inside the headshell, the main objective was to get rid of bad resonances.
Next: DL-A110, DL-103R, and DL-103, Cartridges
Christian another fantastic review lots of comparisons and common sense and a distinct lack of hyperbole well done. And happy holidays!
Cheers,
Jon
Thanks for the nice feedback, Jon! Happy days for you, too!
Excellent, and insightful review. I have a Denon DP- 3000NE and concur with all of your observations…with one exception….there is no Ebony Wood Veneer on this table.
The outer surface of this table is metal (probably aluminum ), with an anodized finish that has the “appearance” of Ebony.
At any rate, the Denon DP-3000NE is a superb table and allows one to enjoy their music at a very high level
Cheers.
Thanks for the info, Thomas! I wondered how they got it to be this utterly seamless! So now I know:-) But I can tell you from touching it and inspecting from real close, to these ageing eyes at least, it looks really nice and truthfully resembles real wood.
Re: the ebony that is not the reviewer’s observation but official specification from Denon. I have felt underneath mine and there is a rough wood feeling where the surround is unfinished unlike the top and sides where it is incredibly smooth. I would say that I wouldn’t bet my life on it though as it is so smooth and cool to the touch. I just don’t understand how they could claim ‘dark ebony natural wood veneer’ if it isn’t.
Your Turntables are awesome!!
Hi Christian, thank you for the review. If you have to chose between Denon dp 3000ne and Thorens td1500, what would you do or maybe you have some thoughts about it?
I’ve not yet heard the TP-160 tonearm that’s on the TD-1500 prefer the Thorens, but based on personal taste, as well as the more precise tonearm, I prefer the TD-1601 to the DP-3000ne.
I do not agree with the views expressed about tge Technics SL-1200G. I have four turntables and acquired the Denon recently. One of my turntables is a Technics SL-1200G. The other four are a VPI Titan Direct, a Linn LP12 modified in Scotland, a Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn with Cobra tone arm, and a Bergmann Galder-Odin Signature. The Technics is fitted with a Hana Umami Red cartridge and it sounds wonderful with classical and jazz music, which comprises about 95% of the music I listen to. I found that the Technics makes a better more refined presentation than the the Denon, while the Denon has a more foward presentation. The Denon is equipped with a Denon 103R cartridge.
The Technics I used was an old SL-1200 MkII, not the latest 1200G, maybe that accounts for the difference?
Hi Jose, you have some amazing turntables there, especially the Caliburn. I was wondering how the Denon with the 103R really does compare with the others in your stable?
A 4000.00 cartridge in the Technics and a 400.00 cartridge in the Denon…..perhaps that may have had something to do with your observations between these two excellent tables.. ..
Cheers…
The SL1200 and the DP-3000NE were compared using the exact same Denon DL103 cartridge, first, with two DL-103’s in their respective headshells, then by swapping a single headshell with mounted DL-103 between the turntables. And I did that both ways, so with Technics headshell in the Denon turntable and vice versa.
Actually my comments were meant for one of your other readers replies. He mentioned using a 4K Hanna Red, on a Technics 1200G in a compare with the Denon DP 3000NE that had the 400.00 Denon 103 R….Anyway I thought his observations might have been due to the different cartridges used….perhaps he swapped head shells to keep the compare even, if he did he didn’t mention it.
I noticed in Steve Gutenberg’s YouTube video review he also used a Technics 1200G in his compare. He apparently liked both tables, but mentioned that the Denon had a more relaxed, warner presentation compared to the more lively dynamic presentation on the Technics 1200G (a substantially more expensive table BTW). He was using a 500.00 Grado on both tables for this evaluation on both tables.
Ah, I see:-)
Hi Christiaan, thank you for another excellent article! I love reading your reviews – you always seem to anticipate the questions that pop into the reader’s mind and then promptly answer them. I was interested in how the Denon would compare with a SL-1200 and even how the 103, 103R and a more modern stylus profile would compare and you answered it all – thanks! I noticed that the ‘loose’ rather than ‘rigid’ approach to coupling by Denon is not unlike something you discovered with Origin Live’s Calypso turntable. Maybe there’s a similarly ‘musical’ sound shared by both decks?
Thanks again,
Adrian
Now that you mention it, there is indeed a similarity in these two approaches!
Very good review with very good insights!
Thanks, Dick!
Great review that helps my perfectly to mad a decision in buying my first direct drive turntable. Thanks a lot Christiaan! 😀👍
I read with interest your recent review of the Denon turntable. I was particularly interested in your comments about the head shells and their differences. Could you tell me if the Anniversary head shell came with the Denon table as standard or is this another head shell you refer to please?
Hi Craig, The DP-3000NE comes as standard with the aluminum headshell that is pictured in the 3rd image from the top (4th, if you include the main image). If you scroll two more pictures down, you will see the full extent of the accessories included with the DP-3000NE turntable. The DL-A110 Anniversary headshell (with DL-103 cartridge included) is available separately.
I’m not sure about the comment that denies ebony veneer. I’m sure you can feel grain underneath where it is unfinished. Surely Denon couldn’t advertise it if it wasn’t?
I’m a few days into ownership and very impressed so far.
Great review that help my decision, I was between the sl-1200GR and the Denon, and thank to your review, Denon is the winner., actually I have in my Rega a dl-103r with a Denon-au320 SUT and an old AT-OC9, that going directly to the Denon 🙂
Thanks again Christiaan, and regards from Spain
Bom vi aqui nos comentarios que o Denon não e de Madeira Ebano,si poder por o link da fonte aqui,eu pesquisei muito sobre isso,vi algumas entrevistas de funcionarios da Denon,vi tambem alguns videos falando sobre,Proprios artesão e engenheiros da Denon fala que e Ebano a madeira,um dos motivos dela ser tão pesada e por conta de suas camadas de madeira,tem um foliado ebano..Denon e um marca muito respeitada,ate hoje ainda não vi um produto falso ou imitação feita pela Denon,vi alguns criticando a Denon porque mandou a fabricar esse Gira disco Denon na china,eu paguei pra ver si prestava,comprei uma Denon DP-3000NE ,construção Premium acabamento de qualidade,não tenho o que reclamar..ate porque grandes marcas audiofilo tem seus produtos fabricado na china,Technics mudou a fabrica pra Malasya,então vejo que o que manda e a supervisão e peças que e colocado no produto,A Denon teve muito cuidado com seus engenheiros pra fazer um produto de qualidade,mesmo sendo feito na china…agora tem por ai uns falando pela internet que não e ebano mais não tem como comprovar o que fala..eu estou acreditando na Denon que ate aqui ainda não vi fazer produto falso…
It’s best if all comments are posten in English so everyone can read… translation below.
Well, I saw here in the comments that Denon is not made of Ebony Wood, if you can put the source link here, I researched a lot about it, I saw some interviews with Denon employees, I also saw some videos talking about, Denon’s own craftsmen and engineers It says that the wood is ebony, one of the reasons it is so heavy and because of its layers of wood, it has an ebony veneer. I saw some people criticizing Denon because they ordered this Denon turntable to be manufactured in China, I paid to see if it was any good, I bought a Denon DP-3000NE, premium construction, quality finish, I have nothing to complain about…even because big audiophile brands have their products made in China, Technics moved the factory to Malaysia, so I see that what is required is the supervision and parts that are put into the product, Denon took great care with its engineers to make a quality product, even though it is made in China. ..now there are some people out there saying on the internet that it’s not ebony but there’s no way to prove what they’re saying…I’m believing in Denon, which I’ve yet to see a fake product made…
Officially, it’s Ebony veneer. Traditionally, veneer is a thin wood layer but I don’t know if there are more advanced forms of veneer. What matters is that the finish looks stunning! Even up close and looking very carefully, I absolutely cannot see any evidence of it being a print. But even if it was, the quality is so high that I would argue it still would not matter.
The surface is Definitely Not A Wood based Veneer of any kind …it is clearly ( to me anyway), metal….just tap it with your finger tip and one can clearly hear the slightly “metalic” timbre that eminates….
The structure below is using some non metallic parts….probably MDF, or HDF…hence the substantial weight ( 40+ pounds).
I should mention that the lack of a real wood based Veneer finish on top in no way detracts from the overall performance of this well designed and executed table. I like it very much and at its selling price it’s an excellent value for money spent.
Please suggest an MC phono preamp that matches well with the denon DP-3000NE
That will depend on your budget and personal preferences. But for my preferences, the best, as well as best value phono preamp at 800 euros would be the Manunta EVO Phono 3. See also my review on this site. Sure, you can go (much) cheaper, but the SQ will also be MUCH lower. If you want the cheapest still ok preamp, the Schiit Mani is an option. Lastly, I’ve not heard it, but you may want to look at the 400-euro Rega Fono. But if you can spare 800 euros, I would absolutely go for the Manunta.
Hi Christian, very detailed review and thanks for sharing your experience. Can you recommend an MC Phono preamp that pairs well with the DP-3000NE? My current preamplifier, the Marantz SC-7S2, does not have a phono input