Denon DL-S1 MC cartridge

[Bigman80]

It's arrived!!! A day late due to Royal Mail technical issues (M6 crash causing huge delays)

More to follow

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[karma67]

Looks well suited mate, how are you liking it so far?

[Bigman80]

Looks well suited mate, how are you liking it so far?

I expected it to be a bit livelier than the Kontrapunkt b, but it's not coming across that way. It's kind of the same although the there is an openness which is a little eye opening. It's definitely a top level cartridge but I need to fine tune the setup. Im hoping to get a bit more authority and weight in the sound so checking the setup and just noticed the tail is a little down. Everything else is pretty much as close as can be gotten.



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[Marco]

Glad you've got it up and running! Bit busy just now, but....*Before* arriving at any conclusions, put it in the MG-10 headshell I've provided, as I'm not a big fan of the ones with the rubber strips (which I see you've removed, lol).

Trust me, that will make a difference! Not sure whether you'll prefer it or not, but it *will* be different.

Marco.

[Bigman80]

Glad you've got it up and running! Bit busy just now, but....*Before* arriving at any conclusions, put it in the MG-10 headshell I've provided, as I'm not a big fan of the ones with the rubber strips (which I see you've removed, lol).

Trust me, that will make a difference! Not sure whether you'll prefer it or not, but it *will* be different.

Marco.

I tried that one first. I felt it was lacking bottom end, put this one on and the bottom end returned. Whether it's supposed to be there or not Is a completely different matter

Setup was perfect in that on too, just refined this ones setuo and it's singing nicely. I've got a third head shell to try too.

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[Marco]

No worries, mate. Whatever works, works. Also, don't be afraid to track it right up to 1.5g, if you feel that the sound needs a little more 'solidity'. Plus, give it plenty of use because in reality the cartridge is probably hardly run in, as I was mostly using my 103s and SPU at the time, so it's virtually new!

Marco.

[Ali Tait]

Yep, track at the heavier end if you feel it’s a bit bass light.

[oldius]

It's not a bass monster IMO. It delivers high resolution in a natural, unforced manner.

[Bigman80]

It's not a bass monster IMO. It delivers high resolution in a natural, unforced manner.

No it's definitely not a Bass monster. It does have bass though, just not the quantity I'm used to. Doesn't make it a bad cartridge!!

Lots here to rave about. I will too when I have had a lot of listening to it.

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[Marco]

It's not a bass monster IMO. It delivers high resolution in a natural, unforced manner.

Spot on, Geoff. It's the cultured and more refined cousin of the DL-103, which *is* a bass monster. Both Denons have their respective strengths, and which one you enjoy most will largely depend on the music and/or recordings you listen to.

Plus, if you use the DL-S1 on the right turntable/arm, both of which intrinsically have no shortage of bass, and through a phono stage with a goodly dose of 'grunt', you're unlikely to find it lacking in the lower registers.

In comparison with most Ortofon MCs, which tend to superimpose their bass onto every recording, whether it should be there or not (a bit like some speakers do, which are purported as having good bass, but simply exaggerate it), the DL-S1 could be perceived as bass-light. It isn't; it's just more accurate and natural/unforced in its delivery of low frequencies.

It's fundamentally a very 'honest' sounding cartridge, and one for purists who appreciate some of its remarkable talents.

It tracks like a demon and cruises over 'difficult' material that some rather more expensive cartridges struggle with, and has one of the most lucid/liquid sounding midranges out with of a Decca, with similar levels of dynamic 'attack'. Plus, one of the most open and sweet sounding top-ends I've ever heard from a cartridge, married to an uncanny ability to unearth previously unheard information in familiar recordings, which can at times be rather unnerving....

At least that's how it sounded in my system, so I hope that Ollie's getting a nice slab of that, too!

Marco.