Denon DL-S1

[oldius]

Superb condition with all original packaging, full test certification and wooden presentation box. There are minimal fixing marks on the underside but they do not detract from the excellent condition of the cartridge.

This cartridge is only available on import. It is very rare in the UK but is Denon's top moving coil with a wonderfully lucid sound and beautiful treble detailing. I remember Marco hearing mine and describing it as a £2k cartridge from a smaller manufacturer.

I have reduced my turntable count in recent years and only need one moving coil cartridge with a back up. This is far too good to be a back up cartridge in any system so I am offering it for sale to somebody who will appreciate it and get themselves a genuinely high end cartridge, with low hours for £375.

I don't have the technical skill to photograph the tip but it is immaculate under 30x magnification and still looks like brand new.

http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy332/oldius/Denon%20dl-s1%20test_zpsd1xkhben.jpg (http://s805.photobucket.com/user/oldius/media/Denon%20dl-s1%20test_zpsd1xkhben.jpg.html)

http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy332/oldius/denon%20dl-s1%20box_zpsstgkvkfs.jpg (http://s805.photobucket.com/user/oldius/media/denon%20dl-s1%20box_zpsstgkvkfs.jpg.html)

http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy332/oldius/denon%20dl-s1%20box_zpsstgkvkfs.jpg (http://s805.photobucket.com/user/oldius/media/denon%20dl-s1%20box_zpsstgkvkfs.jpg.html)

http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy332/oldius/P1000947_zpsczphr9xn.jpg (http://s805.photobucket.com/user/oldius/media/P1000947_zpsczphr9xn.jpg.html)

[Marco]

Jimbo should buy this, as he was blown away by mine, on my Techy, at NEBO! Jim, get yer wallet out, mate, and strap the Denon to that VPI........ :exactly:

Marco.

[Ali Tait]

PM sent..

[Ali Tait]

I liked it too Marco.

[struth]

was gonna type this wont last long...lol.

[oldius]

Sold to Ali Tait STP.

[struth]

Nice one Ali.;)

[Ali Tait]

Thanks Geoff.

[Marco]

I liked it too Marco.

Yeah, I forgot about that, mate. Nice one. Remember that it is very low output, and works optimally with a head amp or SUT :)

Marco.

[oldius]

I preferred it without an SUT but with a compatible phono stage. It worked superbly with my Trichord Diablo; even better with my Leema Agena and latterly, beautifully, with my Nakamichi CA7 preamplifier on a higher gain setting. I would definitely be interested to hear it with the AU-s1 SUT which was designed specifically for the cartridge.

[Ali Tait]

Yep, have a head amp, and a couple of SUT's to hand. Sounded great on your deck at NEBO, hopefully I'll get as good a sound at home.

I need a better arm though I think..

[Firebottle]

Good one Ali :thumbsup:

You've just clocked the 10000 posts, have a bevvy mate.

Alan

PS I've sent you an interesting e-mail

[Ali Tait]

Oh yeah, so I have. :-)

[Ali Tait]

I preferred it without an SUT but with a compatible phono stage. It worked superbly with my Trichord Diablo; even better with my Leema Agena and latterly, beautifully, with my Nakamichi CA7 preamplifier on a higher gain setting. I would definitely be interested to hear it with the AU-s1 SUT which was designed specifically for the cartridge.

I have a Denon HA500 head amp, we'll see how it goes with that. Should work into the Firebottle too, just have to crank it a bit.

[Jimbo]

Err got to this bit late Marco.:rolleyes:

Well done Ali - absolutely superb cartridge! Are you going to use a head amp or Firebottle MC phono stage?

[Ali Tait]

Will try both, have a couple of SUT's I can try too.

[Ali Tait]

Marco, what do you track it at?

[oldius]

It will track anywhere from 1.1 up to 1.5. It has such a well made tip that really I found it just a matter of sonic preference. In my Nakamichi/B&W 801 system I found 1.15 prefereable. With my Leema/Bryston/Shahinian system, with a leaner balance, I preferred 1.25g.

Denon DL-S1 Phono Cartridge Specifications
- Type: Moving coil
- Output voltage: 0.15mV
- Frequency response: 20Hz-70kHz
- Recommended load impedance: Over 100 ohms
- Channel balance @ 1kHz: < 1db
- Channel separation @ 1kHz: > 28dB
- Stylus tip: 0.07 x 0.07 mm square solid diamond
- Compliance: 14 x 10-6 cm/dyne
- Recommended tracking force: (1.3g +/- 0.2g)
- Color: Black/Gold
- Weight: 7 g

[RichB]

Oh yeah, so I have. :-)

Happy 10k Ali;)

[Ali Tait]

Cheers mate. :-)

[Ali Tait]

It will track anywhere from 1.1 up to 1.5. It has such a well made tip that really I found it just a matter of sonic preference. In my Nakamichi/B&W 801 system I found 1.15 prefereable. With my Leema/Bryston/Shahinian system, with a leaner balance, I preferred 1.25g.

Denon DL-S1 Phono Cartridge Specifications
- Type: Moving coil
- Output voltage: 0.15mV
- Frequency response: 20Hz-70kHz
- Recommended load impedance: Over 100 ohms
- Channel balance @ 1kHz: < 1db
- Channel separation @ 1kHz: > 28dB
- Stylus tip: 0.07 x 0.07 mm square solid diamond
- Compliance: 14 x 10-6 cm/dyne
- Recommended tracking force: (1.3g +/- 0.2g)
- Color: Black/Gold
- Weight: 7 g

Thanks Geoff, I will experiment.

[Marco]

Hi Ali,

I tracked mine at 1.4g, which seemed to be best. Which tonearm are you using? Undoubtedly the DL-S1 needs to be used with a top-notch tonearm :)

Marco.

[Ali Tait]

A Tecnoarm at the moment Marco.

[Marco]

Dunno what that will be like with a DL-S1, but I guess you'll soon find out! :)

Marco.

[Ali Tait]

Aye, looks good from the Vinyl Engine info.

[Marco]

You should be fine. I think the key to getting it to sing in your system will be to play around with different loading options.

Marco.

[Ali Tait]

What do you load it at?

[Marco]

It was fine here at 100ohms, which is also the way you heard it at Nebo, but these things can be very equipment and personal taste dependent.

Marco.

[Ali Tait]

Yeah, we'll see how it goes.

[oldius]

The dl-s1 is brilliant with Rega based arms, don't worry about the techno arm atall.
No matter what system I used I always came back to 100 ohm loading.

[Ali Tait]

Ok thanks Geoff, that's what the Firebottle is at in any case.

[oldius]

I had the DL-s1 on an rb251, Audiomods IV and an OL Conqueror.. The Denon cartridges naturally suit Rega based arms and the VE database will show that in terms of mass and compliance, their specification is very compatible.

It is nice to know that the cartridge will reveal the quality of any arm upgrade though. It was superb on my Goldring g99 with OL conqueror, the best I heard it and the combination that led to Marco's purchase of one I think.

[Ali Tait]

I'm looking at upgrading the arm. Not sure which way to go, SME 12" or Trans Fi are the favoured choices at the moment.

[oldius]

What deck Ali?

[Marco]

It is nice to know that the cartridge will reveal the quality of any arm upgrade though. It was superb on my Goldring g99 with OL conqueror, the best I heard it and the combination that led to Marco's purchase of one I think.

Yup, although it had been on my radar for some time before that. That G99 of yours was fab... You keep selling all your best stuff!! ;)

Marco.

[oldius]

Marco

I'm happier with my system now though than I've ever been so you win some and you lose some! The g99 is a cracker though.

[Ali Tait]

What deck Ali?

401 in a twin tier slate plinth.

[Marco]

Marco

I'm happier with my system now though than I've ever been so you win some and you lose some! The g99 is a cracker though.

Yeah, mate, I know and I agree. It's just that I remember hearing the G99 at your place (in my opinion) blow away your Garrard and Thorens, so if it had been me, I'd have sold the Garrard and kept the Lenco, and then modded that to its ultimate state of perfection! ;)

Btw, we should hook up sometime at your new place. I'm in Liverpool quite often. Must've been pretty near you a few months back when Del and I were at a wedding reception at the Sefton Park Hotel :)

Marco.

[oldius]

You're welcome to come over anytime Marco. I am right on the edge of Sefton Park.

The G99 was lovely no doubt and I could have kept it but decided on the 401. The system's changed so much and of course the room size so it's all a different proposition now.

[oldius]

With the right arm the DL-S1 provides a lovely balance to the bass heft and drive of a good idler deck like the 401 Ali.

[Ali Tait]

Aye, looking forward to hearing it.