Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Denon DL-140 Phono Cartridge by TimB5881

Model:	DL-140
Category:	Phono Cartridge
Suggested Retail Price:	$140.00
Description:	High output Moving Coil cartridge.
Manufacturer URL:	Denon
Manufacturer URL:	Denon

Review by TimB5881 ( A ) on February 08, 2003 at 19:24:48
IP Address: 63.167.246.2

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for the DL-140

Ok here we go, lowest priced and currently availble new (not NOS) high out put moving coil cartridge, what more can you say. Well first off, this really is a decent cartridge for it's price range. Second it is the absolute best way for someone who wishes to try MC cartridges with out going broke. And third ya gota here it to believe it.
I bought this cartridge way to many years ago, and up until now, it has less than 100 hours on it. That was going to be the bad news, I always thought this was a no win deal. But I was wrong, I just did not leave the DL-140 on long enough to break in. At first it sounds very bad, dreadful actually, loose, bloated bass, no detail, and lifeless mids. Well, I was swapping out tone arms, and could not find the mounting hardware for my Koetsu Black, tried a Ortofon OM20, it humed, so in an act of desperation, I installed the Denon. Not expecting much, but wanting to check records that I had recently vacumed and trested with Last, I figured it would be ok. And agin it sang the same lack luster song. But after about 20 more hours, the bass firmed up, the mids cleared up and detail that lost to muffled bass and mids actually appeared.
So whats it sound like, no not as good as my Koetsu, but a similar warm sound. This is not a bright cartridge by any means, which in it's self is a mircle in cheap MC's. The high frequency detail is there, just not in your face like say my OM20 or any of my old AT MC's. I like that idea of detail with out being bright. The detail is good, about as good as you can get in the sub $200 range, the OM20 Ortofon MM is actually more detailed, but $60 more. The high frequency does not exhibit sibilance nor is is whiteish. The bass is better than the OM20, about on par with a Shure V15V series cartridge. And it tracks all 4 torture tracks on the HiFI and Record Review News test lp.
As a whole, this is a good begining cartridge for any one. It also makes a good comparison cartridge for the under $400 crowd. The dynamics are actually very good, not the best I have heard but very good. I am useing it on a Linn LP12 with an Ittok VII arm, Valhalla power and a Musical Fidelity LP^2 phono unit, through a MF A3cr amp and MF X-Pre. Currently the speakers in use are Infinity Interlude 50's.
Now how does it sound with music. The Bealtes came through with foot tapping vibrancy, as is to be expected even in a budget MC, the cartridge was quick and nimble. It gives a solid left to right presentation of music, and some front to back depth. An example is Hearts Little Queen lp, the 3rd song on side 2, "I say When" has an intro in what sounds like a pub, you hear coins droping comeing from back, towards you. The Denon presented the illusion of the coins bouncing trowards you very well, and continued to let the Wilson Sisters belt a fine song. One of my favorite demo discs is a vinyl copy of Tubular Bells II, the 1992 sequel to the original TB. This is a very layered dynamic pice of music that allows several instruments to show of textures, detail and sound staging. While the Denon was no match to my Koestsu on this, it held up very well, comperable to the OM20. I also played some Enya to see how the bass would do. It is extended and well detailed for such a budget cartridge. On music where bass and kick drum are both overlapping each other, I was able to discern between the bass and the kick drum. This is of course when a lp had the resolution to begin with.
Compared to the Blue Points I have listened to, I think it is better than the standard, but falls short of the nude. In the case of the P mount, the Denon has much less tiz in the highs, better bass. These of course are the older P mount and older nude BP's. I still like my Shure V15V for tracking warped records better. The Shure has as good of bass, a smidge better midrange flow, but lacks a touch of the detail that Denon offers. Surface noise is in the good to very good range maybe the Shure is better there. The Shure I think has a bit better continuity through the entire sound spectrum compared to the Denon, but again that is close.
So, there you have it, let it break in before judging it (it took me almost 10 years of playing 10 hours here, 10 hours ther till it got it), and you find that this is a pleasant cartridge to own. A great one when you wish to jump from MM to MC. And a very great one to recomment to that friend who has pulled out his/her's old turntable and is asking for a recommendation.
The final word, buy it as a budget reference if nothing else, buy it as a move to from MM to MC, and buy it just to have fun playing records!

Product Weakness: Illusion of being very poor during breakin period. It is not a giant killer. Cheesy looking with it's red marbled finish. Really at this price one can not list anything horrible or unforgivable.
Product Strengths: Decent for the money, good resolution, excellent tracking, deep bass and very smooth non etched highs

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Musical Fidelity A3cr
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Musical FIdelity X-Pre
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Linn LP12/Valhalla/Ittok
Speakers:	Infinity Interlude 50
Cables/Interconnects:	Monster,AudioQuest
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Rock and Pop
Time Period/Length of Audition:	10 years of non listen, 3 weeks of good lidten
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Illusion of being very poor during breakin period. It is not a giant killer. Cheesy looking with it's red marbled finish. Really at this price one can not list anything horrible or unforgivable.
Product Strengths:	Decent for the money, good resolution, excellent tracking, deep bass and very smooth non etched highs