Low Budget Vinyl Source - Page 7

As Nightowl says above, Denon were mostly about Broadcast and high end, and never really made that many budget decks, so they don't turn up much in the magazines and therefore were omited.

The only review I can find is in Hi-Fi Choice, of the DP-2000 motorboard and DA307 / 309 tonearms sold as the DP2500 in 1980 for the princely sum of UKP250, just 40 odd quid short of the top British deck of the day, the Linn Sondek.
HFC weren't that impressed by the tonearms which were low to medium mass with all the associated issues of wand flexure causing unwanted resonances, but they did like the motorboard and reckoned with a better arm on a heavy support this would be very good indeed.

So if you can pick up one of these flying saucer style Denon motorboards today and mount it in solid plinth with a better modern arm on it like a Rega RB250, it would potentially be stunning. The only fly in the ointment is that Denon used a particular style of magnetic tape speed lock based on markings on the inside of the platter which can wear out with age so don't pay too much for one. These can be reconitioned but it wouldn't be so easy to sort out. A Technics SL1200 would probably be a more reliable bet unless you get it for a bargain price.

Curious that Denon went into low mass tonearm designs considering their core expertise in Moving Coil carts there you go.

I recently bought a DP-30L for a friend and fitted with an appropriate cart, like a Nagaoka MP10/11 it's a good enough entry level deck for under 100USD (I paid about 80). So I included this and the next model up in the section along with Micro Seiki.

Those are about 100USD new on Amazon. Just some generic midi system level crap which they probably have left over from the 1980s. Not a proper Denon in other words. If you want a Denon look out for the DP-500M which is widely available and the DP-1300M which is 'Japan only' but available through Audiocubes.
Personally I'd go for a Technics as the tonearms are easier to upgrade.

The Lenco models are probably the best for this on the list followed by the older Duals which arn't on the list but seem to be more readily available 2nd hand in the USA.

The Lenco's have the benefit of being able to continuously vary their speed between 16-85RPM so they can play pretty much any record ever pressed at the right speed. NB. Not all 78s are actually recorded at 78rpm for various reasons like lack of standardisation between different compnaies, and a tendency for old record dance records like the Charleston to be pressed a bit slower so that they speed up when played at the right speed.

Lencos are also heavier-made on the whole with a heavier top plate which can accomodate changes of tonearm as well, so worth checking if you can find one.

There is another old German-made deck similar to the Dual called Elac Miracord which seems common in the USA and would be perfect for 78s.

The ability to change headshells or at least stylus profiles is also an important consideration, as groove widths also are different being mono, and so you need at least one 78 stylus, if not a whole selection to optimise the playback from worn old shellac.

These guys Esoteric Sounds seem to be one of the leading specialists in North America, although I'm not convinced by the look of their own 'Rek-O-Kut' decks which resemble rebadged Technics knock-offs sadly having little to do with the famous US turntable manufacturer of the '50s.

They sell everything else you could possibly want for 78s though. KABUSA also sell a modified Technics SL1200 which plays '78s, and good a range of stylii. Lots of enthusiasts favour the DJ stalwart Stanton 500AL cart for the range of profiles available.

Lastly you should also be aware that there is a school of thought which says 78s should actually be played acoustically and not electrically at all... oh yeah.

In other words via the original HMV style horn gramophones which amplifiy the vibrations on the disc without using an electrical transducer of any kind. These guys argue about whether steel needles are better than thorns or wooden ones

I've heard a classic HMV type horn gramophone playing Caruso and there is definitely something in it. It's akin to having someone from nearly 100 years ago singing down a cardboard tube at you from a long way a way and it sounds eerie because it's not like listening to a recording at all but an actual person...

Yes it's a good starter deck from the mid '80s, pretty much identical to the SL-BD20 you can still find today for around 150USD.

SL1400 is the same original series as the SL1200 but it's the more automated version see here Technics SL-1400. What you really need is a Denon DL-110 cart to make it shine but if you want an amp and speakers as well you'll be lucky to get very far for 150USD.
Best thing to do is look at craigslist, thrift stores, garage sales and your local classified ads for a '70s Reciever from one of the major Japanese brands as these will have a phono pre-amp built in. Pioneer, Technics, Sony etc and Marantz were very good too. While you're at it see if the vendors are selling their '70s speakers. On the whole the Japanese ones you'll probably come accross won't be the best so look for the likes of AR or JBL assuming you are in the US.
Your priority should be to find out what cart is on the Technics and see if it's worth getting a new stylus for it, or otherwise a new cart. The Technics arm of this era is fairly high mass so the cheapest modern cart that can deal with this would be an Audio Technica 95E for 50USD. Once you have this sorted then look for the other stuff.