Initial impressions of the Denon DL-S1
Ok, so having had a good few hours now assessing the beastie, I can say most definitely I like it and that it's an interesting and worthwhile alternative to my SPU :)
It certainly has a different sound to the latter. The first thing that was apparent when the stylus hit the groove was that hugely extended high-frequency response we discussed earlier, which makes for a very crisply defined, sparkly, airy and spacious top-end, but without the slightest hint of 'edge'. The DL-S1 is a very 'clean' sounding cartridge, and analytical in the level of detail retrieval it offers, but never to the extent that the masses of information it throws at you becomes overbearing.
The midrange is wide-open and hugely communicative, such that voices and instruments are rendered with convincing realism and clarity. Bass is tight, rhythmic, tuneful and extended (when the music demands), but without an ounce of flab. The DL-S1 doesn't underpin music with a forceful authority in the lower registers, in the way of the SPU, but it is not bass-light (at least in my system). Essentially, the DL-S1 is a very 'accurate' sounding cartridge, but it also has 'soul', and with beat-driven music it can boogie, too!
It doesn't have quite the 'funkiness' and 'ballsy' rhythmic drive of the various derivatives of the DL-103; the DL-S1 is altogether more sophisticated and refined sounding, but it still has plenty of 'fun factor' and can carry a tune with the best of them, turning pretty much any style of music you throw at it into a rewarding and entertaining listen.
I suspect that it still needs a bit more running in, as I can hear a slight 'tightness', indicating that the sound hasn't yet fully 'fleshed out', but as more hours are being put on it, it's gradually opening up and unleashing its considerable talents, and fulfilling its credentials as a rather enthralling music-making device.
One of DL-S1's real strengths is that it's a superb tracker, and so it positively sails through rather 'difficult' material which would cause the SPU (and most cartridges) some concern, and so even with a supposedly 'inferior' stylus profile, I can observe no obvious sonic weaknesses over the SPU's line-contact Replicant design. Even at the ends of sides on albums (where traditionally line-contact styli come into their own), there is no end of side distortion, even with highly modulated material - the DL-S1 stays clean right to the musical death!
It sounds best tracking at 1.45g (with anti-skate set at 1.25g), and just fine loaded at 100ohms, through my MC head amp, although I may experiment a little in that area. Gain is also not an issue, as indeed I suspected, because the Paul Hynes head amp packs an almighty wallop! I have to say that I'm really pleased with the synergy achieved with the PH head amp and the Croft's valve MM phono stage. Once the DL-S1 has run-in fully, its performance will be in the top rank, which is quite remarkable considering that we're talking about a low-output MC cartridge that 'only' costs £500.
I've still to take delivery of the Audio-Technica A-6106 headshell leads, so fitting those should further improve matters. The DL-S1 certainly seems to like the Audio Technica MG-10 magnesium headshell, where mass appears to be near-optimal. I've also ordered one of these chaps: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171070144679 as I'm curious to see if the graphite stabiliser can offer any further sonic improvements.
All-in-all, I'm delighted with my purchase of the DL-S1 and will continue listening to music on it, as it runs in from new. I'll add some more comments in due course, but that's it for now folks! :cool:
Marco.
