REVIEW: Denon DL-305 Phono Cartridge

Model:	DL-305
Category:	Phono Cartridge
Suggested Retail Price:	$395 (1980)
Description:	Low Output Moving Coil Phono Cartridge
Manufacturer URL:	Denon
Model Picture:	View

Review by mr.bear on June 05, 2014 at 16:27:30
IP Address: 71.119.30.205 Add Your Review
for the DL-305

THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE DENON DL-303. I couldn't get The Asylum to process it as other than as a 305!!

The Denon cartridge lineup circa 1980 included the venerable DL-103 series (with 3 optional stylus shapes) and three models not from Denon’s ‘professional’ broadcasting ancestry but newer, consumer products: the DL-301, 303 and 305 models. Extremely low effective masses for the stylus/cantilever assembly were claimed and sintered boron was use for the cantilever on the 305 model. All claimed excellent tracing.

The 303 uses a stepped aluminum cantilever that seems akin to the 103-series and the finer .05 x .1mm “Special elliptical” stylus profile in common with the 305. The original retail for the 303 was $395 (in 1980 dollars.) Trade-in of your worn Denon lowered the price to $277 which was also available in lieu of retipping.

My notes from 1980 or so note the 301 “Very nice” and the 303 was the winner, probably considering the price of the 305 was $800 at the time. I ended up choosing a DL-103D and was totally in love with its performance and sound for over 15 years. Over time, the DL-3xx series got obsolete and I picked up a N.O.S. DL-303 (never out of the cute little leather case) on eBay. Now, 35 years on, I am enjoying it daily.

The DL-303 body is plastic with a weight just under 6 gm and a compliance of 35CU (static) and 13 CU at 100Hz, roughly equal that of the DL-103D. A formidably low output voltage off 0.2 mV is specified, and the upper limit of frequency response is quoted as 70 kHz. Specifications from Denon:

Output voltage: 0.2mV

Channel balance: 1dB or less

Channel separation: more than 28dB

Stylus tip: 0.1 x 0.05mm special elliptical solid diamond

Stylus force: 1.2gm +/-0.2gm

Frequency range: 20Hz - 70kHz

Weight: 5.8g

Output Impedance 40 Ohms

Load impedance: “More than 100 ohms”

See the brochure at Vinyl Engine- http://www.vinylengine.com/ve_downloads/index.php?denon/denon_da-401_dl-303_flyer.pdf

The setup I am listening to now mounts the DL-303 in a Denon DA-401 arm, in a Denon /VPI DP-75 turntable /base assembly. MC step-up and preamplfication is performed by a Nelson Pass Forte solid state unit. The loading on the Forte is set at 100 ohms. The cartridge is sensitive to loading and sounds satisfactory only at the 100 ohm setting. It also is quite sensitive to small setup adjustments.

The sound is amazingly smooth, much as I recall my reaction in the 80’s. The response seems pretty flat and emphasizes no portion of the spectrum. It’s airy and transparent and tracks the most complex dynamic passages yielding excellent resolution. Highs strike me as close to the DL-103’s presentation. The midrange is a bit recessed, giving it a “polite” sound; compared to my previous main cart- a Dynavector XX -it’s not “ruthlessly revealing.” That seems to make for nice everyday listening but some things like solo piano lack some lustre. You want a cart that provides just the right amount of lustre- not too much, not too little. The DL-303 errs on the lower-lustre side but it certainly is not egregious.

This is a cartridge without the all-too-common upper midrange emphasis that can prove fatiguing over extended use. Music sounds natural and unstrained; guitars in a small room sound like they're here in my salon. It is outstanding on rock music, really sorting out the bas and drums. My phono gear is all-Denon so I’m somehow prejudiced but the sound seems to be an extension of the whole Denon house sound, which I have lived happily with for several decades.

Product Weakness:	A little polite. Quite low output voltage.
Product Strengths:	Smooth natural sound, great tracking, amazing bass.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Depends on day
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Forte 2
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Denon / VPI DP 75
Speakers: Thiel CS3, Focal sub
Cables/Interconnects: Mogami Neglex DIY
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Wide range- classical, jazz, rock.
Room Size (LxWxH): 20 x 30 x 10
Room Comments/Treatments: Various
Time Period/Length of Audition: ~4 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Various
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition): N/A

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Topic - REVIEW: Denon DL-305 Phono Cartridge - mr.bear 16:27:30 06/05/14 (1)

RE: REVIEW: Denon DL-305 Phono Cartridge - mjw25a@gmail.com 22:39:01 12/03/15 (0)

Amplifier:	Depends on day
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Forte 2
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Denon / VPI DP 75
Speakers:	Thiel CS3, Focal sub
Cables/Interconnects:	Mogami Neglex DIY
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Wide range- classical, jazz, rock.
Room Size (LxWxH):	20 x 30 x 10
Room Comments/Treatments:	Various
Time Period/Length of Audition:	~4 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Various
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	N/A

REVIEW: Denon DL-305 Phono Cartridge

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