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Denon DP-A100 - is it that bad?

Maybe I sorta have the DD itch, maybe I dont. Picked up a used 1210 a little while back for giggles. It's definitely pretty good but doesnt blow me away. My plan is to build it into a nice wood sandbox plinth and use it in my family/party room which I'm currently renovating - maybe I'll also add an Audio Mods Rega arm too. My prize belt drive SOTA Star with Jelco arm is substantially better overall though and according to my tech who serviced it a ways back, the speed was bang on and consistent, so it doesnt falter there either.

Now I see the Denon anniversary table has hit the market at $1000-$1100 below it's original list. Well its reel purty, but some reviews, ie a thread on AK, are not so complimentary. Has anyone here had a chance to live with it for awhile? Especially been able to compare it to something like my SOTA? Please, no jacked up answers from guys looking to rid themselves of theirs anytime soon....LOL
Does it make sense at $1400 or is it just a dog at half that still? If it's actually better, I may flip the 1210 for it.
mickeyf

Showing 1 response by tobes

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tobes
436 posts
 
11-15-11: Glenfihi
There appeared a article in the latest Sterephile about the Denon, outside of an issue with the mounting of the cartridge, the reviewer seemed to like it.

I don't think Art Dudley actually did much listening to it.
The 'issue' with mounting the cartridge was that the supplied cartridge - aniversary Denon 103 - could not be aligned to Baerwald geometry in the headshell.
IME the Denon 103 has standard stylus to mounting distance and has always landed in the middle of the headshell slots for Baerwald alignment (on the Graham arms I've used).

The arm on the DP-A100 has either been very poorly designed or Denon intend you use a different alignment, for which I'd presume they would supply their own protractor (Art didn't mention anything like that in his review).
Buyer beware IMO.
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