DENON HA 500, just a photo gallery

[DSJR]

... and it is very heavy, too. More than 2 kilos (my balance scales only up to that value).
Dave, you damn malicious: since yesterday evening my HA 500 was up and running

Glad it's doing the business for you My AT630 will have to do for now..

[Marco]

What you mean? maybe, in a few days are you going to sell the A23? you crazy man

Nooooooooo.... It'll be as well as, not instead of

Dave,

Try £550 (!!) - I've got an article on it somewhere, where the HA-500 is featured in a shootout with other head amps/SUTs

It was built as a 'no compromise' design in the true Japanese high-end tradition.... I wonder how much £550 would equate to today - and what else it would've bought in 1979?

Regarding the Lentek, any idea where I could obtain one? They never seem to turn up on Ebay, and I have rather fond memories of that little device!

Marco.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

£2200 aparently

[Marco]

Feck!

Marco.

[Rare Bird]

There was an HA1000 aswell

[Marco]

Yup - that was the one with the separate PSU:








There's one for sale in Japan now for 3,500 Hong Kong Dollars

I bet it's an awesome piece of kit, though!

I just LURVE all those types of high-end 'accessories', all produced in the heyday of vinyl. Thing is, even if I'd been old enough to have used them when they first came out, I'd never have known they even existed, as sadly they weren't exported to the UK. We never got any of the unusual or exciting stuff!

We only know about things like that now because of the Internet - and along with bespoke detachable headshells and leads it's what makes the DL-103 sing ....... Denon really went to town in those days producing ancillaries which optimised the performance that cartridge, and the fact is, if they're not used, you won't hear the 103 at anything like its full potential.

The saving grace is we've now got the A23 - thank goodness!

Marco.

[Rare Bird]

I prefer the looks of the 500 tho Marco

[Marco]

Yes, I agree, but looks mean f*ck all if the HA-1000 sounded better, which I'm sure it would!

Marco.

P.S If you could keep a look out for a Lentek head amp for me on Ebay, that would be appreciated

[Themis]

Yup - that was the one with the separate PSU:








There's one for sale in Japan now for 3,500 Hong Kong Dollars

I bet it's an awesome piece of kit, though!

I guess there can't be a "reasonable" price for exceptional equipment. The number of pieces produced must influence, too.

[Marco]

Absolutely right, Dimitri - the HA-1000 would've only have been produced in small quantities for dedicated enthusiasts.

Thing is, isn't it amazing how much detail (work and expense) Denon went into to optimise the performance of a (then) £80, supposedly 'budget' cartridge?

Although, people who use them with the right equipment know that it doesn't sound like one......

I reckon that Giovanni could upgrade a few caps (the originals must be rather 'tired' by now) and resistors, not to mention the power lead, and turn his HA-500 into something really special!

It was something I was going to do, but in the end favoured the slightly different presentation of a (bespoke) SUT. SUTs and active head amps do sound rather different. It's a matter of personal preference.

Marco.