Denon DP-3000NE Direct-Drive Turntable with DL-103, DL-103R, and DL-A110 Cartridges
Listening
Although I mentioned postponing listening until receiving feedback from Denon, I did start listening shortly after sending the email, using the DLA-110 headshell (with DL-103 cartridge).
What I heard utterly defied my beliefs!
Here I was, expecting a sound devoid of energy and substance, and, considering the conical stylus and tonearm’s play and imprecisely defined Azimuth, with much more distortion than I am accustomed to.
You see, my normal analog diet consists of line-contact, Shibata, or Micro-Ridge cartridges at least double as expensive as the entire DP-3000NE turntable + cartridge, mounted in a tonearm that costs two DP-3000NE’s, with turntables that cost four DP-3000NE’s, combined with phono stages… well, you get the idea.
Yet, I was presented with a full-bodied, amazingly engaging, toe-tapping sound with a natural, warm midrange and remarkably smooth treble. Sure, the resolution and treble airiness were not on par with what the aforementioned more exotic stylus shapes can reproduce, but the combination has a royal soundstage with great presence, and even when listening to vocals with hard “S-ses”, there was no harshness whatsoever. This, I totally did not expect.
All this time, I thought a conical stylus would inevitably lead to distortion and sibilance. I should add that this assumption was not based on prejudice alone. I reviewed a DL-103 over 10 years ago, but from what I can reconstruct now, the turntables I used back then must have formed an unfortunate marriage with this cartridge. Hearing it now, as it is supposed to sound, I can understand the unrelenting universal praise that it receives. For its modest price, it does indeed perform absolutely admirably.
The dust cover can easily be removed by simply sliding it in or out of its spring-loaded clamps
Now, I wondered, how much of this inviting sonic character was attributable to the DLA-110? To answer that question, I removed the DL-103 cartridge from the Anniversary headshell and mounted it in the turntable’s standard aluminum headshell.
Oh, boy, that difference was not subtle! The anniversary headshell has an undeniable charm with its richer, warmer, and more laidback overall presentation, while the aluminum headshell provides a relatively cooler and cleaner sound but with a crisper overall delivery and higher apparent resolution. Musically speaking, I can imagine listeners opting for the anniversary headshell for its “stereotypical” warm vinyl delivery. However, from an audiophile standpoint, the aluminum headshell provided a more modern and neutral sound with higher precision.
Since the DP-3000NE Direct Drive turntable reminded me of that old classic Direct Drive DJ turntable we all know, I asked a friend to bring his Technics SL-1200 MkII for a comparison.
It’s funny when you set up an SL1200 next to the Denon DP-3000NE. In my mind, the two were roughly the same size, but as it turns out, the Denon is considerably wider, deeper, and heavier. Also, while I always remembered the Technics’ feet as substantial, the Denon’s massive feet make them look almost diminutive. As I mentioned at the start, the Denon’s construction is impressive, and after seeing it next to the comparatively small Technics, that feeling is only further substantiated. By the way, the SL1200 was also outfitted with a DL-103, which made for an easy comparison.
These two turntables use what may superficially appear as similar techniques, but it took only a moment of listening to realize all the measures Denon took to elevate the turntable’s sound have paid off. The Technics remains a great DJ machine, and it still pumps out house and other electro with immense incisiveness and dynamic attack. But compared to the Denon, it is also quite cool, “technical”, and tonally gray. While it is technically proficient and a little more incisive and spritely than the Denon, it does not have the best lyrical qualities. Emotionally, it just doesn’t move me. Depending on your musical diet, the SL1200 can still be great, but the Denon is considerably better versed in relaying various musical styles. For example, Soul can sound flat and matter-of-fact on the Technics, while the Denon adds juice and a lyrical element to make for deeper emotional involvement.
Since both turntables use the SME headshell standard, it was easy to give the Technics headshell a go in the Denon turntable while always adjusting the VTF. The VTA was the same for both cartridges, enabling a quick swap. Upon hearing the Technics headshell (a standard aluminum type), I realized that the Denon turntable had now attained some of the incisiveness and spriteliness that I attributed to the SL1200. It still had a richer, more relaxed, more saturated, and friendlier sound, but now with more bite and attack, which I found to be welcome. This, in turn, led to my trying the DL-103 cartridge with an Audio Technica AT-HS10 headshell, which turned out to sound very similar to the Technics headshell.
Between the DP-3000NE’s standard headshell (with its rubber intermediate layer) and the Audio Technica or Technics (with direct hard coupling), it comes down to taste, not quality. The Denon headshell is ideal if you prefer liquidity with a sweeter, smoother, more inoffensive, and more relaxed presentation. If you prefer precision, with a more incisive sound and more attack, and you don’t mind the extra bite, the AT will be a better choice. The beauty is that a headshell swap is as easy as pie.
AT-OC9XML and AT-OC9XSL
Meanwhile, I had also prepared two newly purchased Audio Technica cartridges that I wanted to compare: the AT-OC9XML (MicroLinear) and AT-OC9XSL (Special Fine Line). Without going into the sonic differences between the two (for another review), I should add that these cartridges dig deeper into the vinyl grooves to unveil significantly finer details. Especially with second-hand and worn records, this can make a very large difference where the DL-103 can sound flat and dull, and the AT’s remain lively and expressive as they access still intact information deeper in the grooves.
The DP-3000NE turntable has proven to be capable of supporting such higher-end stylus types despite my initial reservations regarding its unusual tonearm behavior. I tried my best to get the Azimuth as good as possible, but with the headshell and tonearm play, I can’t be sure it was perfect enough for these higher-precision stylus shapes. As a side note, off-axis Azimuth can, among other things, lead to a leaner bass. In any case, the Fine Line and MicroRidge stylii certainly provide a much more nuanced and extrapolated sound with individual sounds placed at various depths within the soundstage where they were previously more lumped together, much more differentiation in hi-hats, and more extended, airier treble.
However, I soon started missing the DL-103’s warmth and fullness. This turntable obviously has an appealing and effortlessly musical synergy with the DL-103 that is not there with either of the AT cartridges. The latter are clearly superior from an audiophile standpoint, but musically speaking, I found them lean, cool, and tonally flat, and with this turntable, I much preferred the Denon cartridge.
Interestingly, with the DL-103, one need not worry about Azimuth, and even the exact VTA seems trivial. The only factor that really matters is the VTF, which is the tracking force. Use less than specified for the cartridge, and the sound becomes airier and more free-flowing; use more, and the sound becomes fuller and more relaxed but also less dynamic. Somewhere in between is the ideal. For me, that ideal was the standard 2.5-gram setting.
Next: DL-103R, DL-304, and Conclusion
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