Denon DL-110 High Output Moving Coil Cartridge

In the analogue circles, you'll often hear about the superiority of Moving Coil over Moving Magnet and through personal experience I can attest to the validity of that on a lot of fronts. But not everyone can afford a good sounding MC cartridge; they are difficult to manufacture and assemble and as such end up costing a lot more. On an average, if you're upgrading to get into the MC experience, it'll set you back about $500 which is a lot of money for most folks.Enter Denon! It's not uncommon to be able to find this cartridge for as little as $100 which is the same price as the Ortofon 2M Red which is also a very popular MM cartridge, however, I didn't compare these two cartridge, instead, I compared the DL-110 to the Ortofon 2M Blue, which is twice the price of the DL-110.DL-110 vs. 2M Blue1. Output is higher on the 2M Blue, this may be preferable if you're running a budget preamp as the noise will be less discernible as you won't have to use higher volumes. But if you have any preamp in the $200 range, this won't be an issue.2. Break in time is fairly similar for both cartridges, but the 2M just sounds flat when it's new. The DL-110 impressed me right from the get-go. It was clean, clear and detailed and only got better with use. The 2M blue improved as well, but it took a lot longer and even then it didn't seem to change a lot.3. Sound stage is where the DL-110 beats the pants off the 2M Blue, the sound is very three dimensional whereas the 2M Blue sounds very directional.4. High end detail is another area where the DL-110 easily betters the 2M Blue. I could hear this difference especially when listening to Jazz, the shimmer of the cymbals was so clear and lifelike, it gave me goosebumps. The 2M Blue isn't a slouch in this area, but it's definitely not the same as the DL-110.5. Sound signature is very different on these cartridges; the DL-110 is a little more laid back and even-footed across the frequency spectrum. It's very non-fatiguing and hours can go by before you feel you need a break. Vocals are very present and warm, but not too overwhelming.With the 2M Blue, there is a definite dynamism and impact, but this is also due to the fact that it's a brighter sounding cartridge with a higher output. I found the sound from this cartridge great for short periods of time, but found myself taking more breaks. Also, if you're listening to any recordings that are already bright, the 2M Blue can sound downright disturbing.DL-110 vs DL-103rThe DL-103r is an updated version of the venerable and well regarded DL-103, the upgraded version uses 99.99% pure copper wires which promise higher sound fidelity. If you shop around, this cartridge can be had for around $250. My comparison between this and the DL-110 lead me to the following conclusions:1. The DL-110 has a higher output and can be easily integrated with a MM preamp, the DL-103R is a low output MC and will need a good MC preamp.2. The DL-110 is an excellent cartridge, but when compared to the DL-103R, it lacks that slight edge especially in high frequency detail. With regards to bass, I found the DL-103R to be very detailed and tight, the DL-110 is just a little looser in comparison.3. The sound signature is very, very similar on both these cartridges and that's a good thing; where you find a difference is in the overall refinement that the 103R provides.To summarise, if you're looking for a cartridge that gets you into the MC realm, can easily best MM cartridges and sound very similar to MC cartridges up to about 3-4 times its price, this is it! What's great about the DL-110 is also the fact that it's a high output MC cartridge, which means you won't necessarily need to upgrade your preamp to an MC preamp.I definitely think this cartridge is one of the best values for money in analogue and I recommend it very, very highly.

Mounted on a PL-540 TT, SH-4 headshell, GS communicator phono amp. At first I installed it without the supplied weight. I did not like the sound. The separation would be great and then collapse. Next I installed the supplied weight. The separation was better and the bass improved. After about 50hrs of use the cartridge is starting to loosen up and has a nice sound stage and good bass. I noticed that it seems to diminish the volume of pop and click noise compared to my M97XE. I have one classical album that this cartridge seems to has a confused sound on it is FELIX MENDELSSOHN Symphonie No. 3 »Schottische · Scottish. Really sounds good on my jazz and rock LP's.

My background: I am not your classic audiophile in the sense that I am constantly tweaking my gear in search of the perfect sound. I am an avid music fan and I know what sounds good and what doesn't. I could be listening to music on a Fischer-Price talk and rock and as long as it sounds good I'm happy. I use a Marantz Model 22 receiver paired with a set of vintage Klipsch passive woofer speakers. All that being said...This cartridge is the flippin' bomb.I bought the DL-110 for a 1976 JVC JL B31 turntable I picked up cheap on Craigslist. I just wanted to be able to play the albums I have been dragging around for years. I have owned many of my LPs for well over three decades, and they have been played on some of the worst stereo set ups known to man (think 70s era Radio Shack turntable/tuner combos). They have also been played on some very, very good turntables paired with some very, very good cartridges. I know what these albums sound like on beat to hell turntables and extremely nice turntables. In addition, I also have one "reference" album I use to gauge the sound of a turntable (AC/DC "Powerage" 2003 re-mastered re-issue--I use this because I also own a first pressing of the original Atlantic release and I know what it should sound like without even thinking about it).My cranky old album collection has never sounded so good. I was floored by the quality of the sound. The highs are crisp without being shrieky and the lows are clear without sounding boomy or overpowering. The mid-tones, though, are what make this cart stand out. Every note of every song I have listened to shines. The tone separation is absolutely incredible.The first album I put on was my reference album. To be fair, the 2003 re-issue is not my favorite pressing of "Powerage," to me it has always sounded a bit muddy, like they just transferred the CD version to vinyl. But I KNOW what it sounds like on a high-end set up, and that is why I use it. For the first time ever that record actually sounded like the original vinyl release. I was shocked. I even thought I might be projecting some wishful thinking onto the old banger turntable, so the second album I played was the original Atlantic release of "Powerage." It was not my imagination. They sounded nearly identical.I spent the rest of the day spinning through my vinyl--Rod Stewart, Jackson 5, Pink Floyd, even Cher had me wowed. A friend who records/engineers for local bands happened to drop by while I was in my record frenzy. I made him sit and listen to a few sides. He was blown away, too. He said it sounded better than the Technics 1200 turntables he favors, and I have to agree. I really bought the funky old JVC as a placeholder until I could pick up something a little more high-end, but with this cartridge that won't be necessary. I can't imagine anything sounding better than what I have now, and I'm pretty certain the Denon DL-110 is a major factor in the great sound.Tech geek stuff: The cartridge was super easy to set up. It includes a weight plate as well as a gauge with magnifier. I used the Denon gauge to set overhang as well as the Denon recommended tonearm settings (180 tracking weight and 2 anti-skate). No other tinkering was necessary.This is one of the best audio purchases I have ever made!

Very well balanced sound quality and will work with the MM input.Supposed to have a stylus cleaning brush included but was missing. But when I complained to Amazon this issue resolved very quickly to my satisfaction by Amazon - excellent service.PS - sound quality improvements over the first 10 hours. It is a mechanical devise like your car and it needs running in. With my tone arm it sounds best at 2gm tracking force but your setup may differ

This cartridge brings every detail of your records. The bass is clear and not muddy, the mids are a little laid back, the highs are clear and not fatiguing. Although this cartridge is not as refined a the DL-103, it is compatible with most phono inputs because of the high output voltage. In this price range it is one of the best. I have owned the Ortofon 2M blue and AT440LMA this cartridge is less expensive and sounds better.

Great tracking, great sound, great value!

I had high hopes for that entry level moving coil cartridge because of all the positive reviews I read about it before buying one.Sadly, when I receive mine, the cantaliver ( the piece who hold the small diamond) was bend so it was impossible to adjust the cartridge and have a great sound with that cartridge.You need to almost be a professional to make the alignment correctly and whatever the tools you use, it's very hard.That cartridge was suppose to be able to reduce the clicks and pops sound from your old records because it can reach parts of the vinyl groove that cheaper needle can't reach but it's not true at all. The sound is very noisy, even on new LP, the bass are almost absent, the amount of treble is high...and the distortion in the sound is the worse I hear from a needle especially in that price range...If you plan to buy this cartridge, make sure when you receive it that the needle is not bend and find someone who have experience in cartridge alignment to install it.I finally buy an Audio Technica 440 Mla, it's a better cartridge than the Denon 110. It's very easy to install and get the right alignment and the sound is far better. It's also a very quiet cartridge and it's tracking ability is a lot better than all the other cartridge I owned before. The bass sound is great, the treble are a little bit harsh but it's improving with some hours of use. I love it! Yes it's more expensive but the quality is also better and the sound also. And when you play an old record, it's still a very quiet experience.Overall, avoid the Denon, unless you really want a moving coil, but the Denon 110 is a high output MC so it's not a true MC, so save your money and buy a true MC or an Audio Technica.

After looking for the best cartridge combo for my turntable, I finally stumbled upon this little gem. Now my quest to find the optimal sound is over. Do not hesitate to give this a try, specially if you experience distorsion, (toward the end of a record), the special stylus, once aligned properly, track so well, the sound is perfect from start to finish. I paid 150$ for this, and it perform like cartridges that cost 3 times more.