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The immersive science of Audio Equipment, brought to you by {name}

Ariel Cabello

DENON DL-301 MC phono cartridge

This famous Denon cartridge came to market in 1980, and was a success because it combined two important characteristics: high quality build and sound, and affordability. At least, for the quality it delivered. Moving Coil cartridges were always (and still are) more expensive than their counterpart, the Moving Magnet carts, not only because of their higher quality on average, but because their output voltage was generally a lot lower and they therefore needed additional amplification before entering the phono stage of (most) amplifiers. When the stylus on a MC has had its best time, you have to have a new diamond tip put on the cantilever, whereas a MM owner can buy a standard replacement unit (a cantilever and tip in a plastic housing) that goes into the cartridge easily.

Why does a Moving Coil generally sound better than a Moving Magnet?

Although both types of cartridges work electro-magnetically, the two are each other’s opposite in construction, which explains the difference in sound quality. A moving magnet on a sturdy cantilever has more weight than moving coils on a thin and light cantilever, which is why the MC is able to ‘follow’ the grooves of the record more precisely, delivering a substantially more detailed sound.

DENON DL-301: specs and use

Although it’s obviously an older cartridge (its successor, the Mk II came in 1984-5), there’s nothing to worry about when buying an old cartridge. With the build quality of this cartridge, it may easily last for another 10 years or more, as it doesn’t deteriorate technically. Optically, it may develop a yellowy appearance, not unlike the off-white computer accessories from those days. 

Relevant DL-301 specs:
Output voltage:  0.3 mV
Output impedance:  40 Ohm
Channel separation:  >28 dB
Compliance:  13 x 10⁶ cm/dyne
Tip:  0.07 x 0.14 mm Square solid diamond special elliptical needle
Recommended pressure:  1.2-1.6 g
Weight (unmounted):  4.7 g
As you can see, the Denon DL-301 is a high compliance, low output moving coil cartridge. What does that translate into using this amazing cartridge?
When you want to get the best out of your DL-301, I’d recommend to mount it on a low mass-arm and shell. If your (pre-)amplifier does not feature a serious phono stage, it’s wise to invest in a phono pre-amplifier that, other than RIAA correction, offers a MM/MC switch and, very important quality-wise, a widely adjustable input impedance. This should be adjusted to at least 200 Ohm, preferably even higher on most systems. I’d also use a (electronic) pressure gauge to check if the tip has the right amount of pressure (around 1.4 g). Too much pressure may result in serious damage, too little will make the tip jump off the record too easily, which is equally unwanted. 
Although this is a matter of opinion, I’d say the DL-301 lends itself better to classical and jazz than to pop music, because of its precise and detailed sound that may be too sober for some listeners (and systems).  

This copy of the DENON DL-301: what you get

This is an original DL-301 (with the original tip), serial no. 7966, in excellent state (recently checked by a trained professional) and with relatively few hours of playing time, as it has been used alongside other cartridges (dependent on preferences in use for different types of music). Estimated playing time amounts to around 400 hrs, which would give you another 600 hrs of musical pleasure before you have to have a new tip put on. And luckily (when that time has come), custom tip replacement services have become relatively affordable, due to the renewed interest in gramophone records and analogue audio in general. The cartridge has always been used on very clean records: no hardened dust particles on the tip. 
The cartridge shows clear signs of age (not very visible in the photos), but is 100% technically. 

As this is a tiny, high-precision piece of hifi equipment, the packaging will make sure that the cartridge is very well protected. It will be put in a hard box within a bigger package (to prevent loss or theft). 
Buyers in the Netherlands are welcome to pick up the cartridge themselves. 



Very good - Number of items: 1 - Including: No extra's

Denon - DL-301 Cartridge and/or needles

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Bang & Olufsen - BeoMaster 1200 Solid state stereo receiver

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Bang & Olufsen - Flat screen TV (3) - BeoVision Horizon 40 inch

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Bang & Olufsen - Beolab 6000 MK2 new speaker edges in unique sky blue. Speaker set

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Edison - Edison Standard Phonograph Phonograph

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Bang & Olufsen - Beosound ouverture met nieuwe cassette riemen, volledig herzien! CD player

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Bang & Olufsen - Beolab 4000 Speaker set

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Bang & Olufsen - Beolab 4 ICE Pyramids with line and active components. Black or white. Speaker set

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Bang & Olufsen - BeoLab 6000 MK II - Bass upgrade - New front fabric Active Speaker set

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Denon - DL-301 Cartridge and/or needles

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