Denon was founded in 1910 and in 1951 became the first Japanese audio company to sell long-playing records. In the early 1970s, Denon developed and manufactured the world’s first practical PCM digital recording device and in 1972, it released the world’s first digitally recorded long-playing records. Over the years, Denon has built a solid reputation, respect and numerous accolades worldwide as a manufacturer of exceptional Hi-Fi products.
The design of the Denon DP-300F vinyl player is made in an elegant, laconic style. The device boasts a heavier and more rigid plastic case with 4 mm thick walls and a weight of 5.5 kg, if compared with the junior player from this line. The table, finished with glossy varnish, has anti-vibration legs and is covered with a neat dust cover. The model is fully automated. After its assembly and setup, it is enough to install the disc, select its size using the appropriate button (12-inch longplay or 7-inch minion) and press the Start button located on the front end next to the Stop key, and then the DP-300F will do everything itself. The needle of the pickup head will be automatically installed on the initial track of the disc, and after playing the entire record, the tonearm will return to its place. It is possible to install the needle on the disc manually, which will be convenient in the case of an arbitrary selection of a track for listening. Includes adapter for 45 rpm EP records.
The support platter is made of aluminum by high-precision die-casting, which is important for its smooth, uniform rotation. A rubber mat is installed on top of it. A DC servo motor is used, which transmits torque to the platter using a belt drive. Switching between rotation speeds (33.3 or 45 rpm) occurs when a key is pressed.
The standard straight tonearm is equipped with an anti-skating system and a microlift. It is also possible to adjust the clamping force. Adjustment of vertical and horizontal angles is not provided here. The kit includes a DSN-85 MM cartridge with the ability to quickly replace the needle. If necessary, another model can be installed instead. According to the instructions, the weight of the pickup head should be between 5 and 10 grams. The removable shell greatly simplifies the installation of the cartridge.
The player comes with an interconnect cable with RCA connectors. The model can work with almost any amplifier or AV receiver, as it is equipped with a built-in switchable MM phono preamplifier. The switch-off function provides additional convenience when upgrading, for example, in the case of purchasing a separate external preamplifier. The sound of the DP-300F is well balanced and is characterized by purity, warmth, precision and accuracy. On the basis of this player, you can build a quite decent entry-level stereo system.
Denon DP-300F Review
Despite the fact that most of the units and the case are made of plastic, the quality of performance and assembly does not cause any complaints. The device itself is not as light as you might expect – five and a half kilograms of weight imply the presence of more or less intelligible filling. It is worth mentioning right away that the player is fully automatic – it is enough to install a record on the configured device, select its size – 7 or 12 inches with the button and press the “Start” button – everything else up to returning the tonearm to its original position will be done automatically. Of course, from the point of view of the impact on the sound, all these design complications do not have a positive effect, but it is not entirely correct to evaluate this device by traditional “audiophile” criteria – the player is not at that level, and the task of corresponding to this level is not set before it. Therefore, in this case, the presence of an automatic control can be considered a functional advantage. Structurally, in addition to the automatic control, the player is quite ordinary – a light metal disc, a belt drive without the ability to adjust the speed, a light tonearm, which, however, has all the adjustments except for adjusting the vertical and horizontal angles. The removable shell is also an unusual surprise – it would seem, why is it needed in this case, but installing the head is undoubtedly more convenient. Although this will not be required at first – the player is supplied with a pre-installed MM head, which, it is worth noting, is adjusted in geometry quite correctly and accurately. When assembling, you need to install a counterweight and set the required clamping force. There is also a built-in MM phono preamplifier with the ability to turn it off. In general, looking at the device, the following impression is formed – everything is simple, but solid and does not require any additional investment.
Characteristics of Denon DP-300F
Drive type belt (ribbon belt)
Supported disk rotation speeds 33.3 rpm, 45 rpm Wow and
flutter coefficient 0.10%
Platter material aluminum (high-precision die-casting)
Electric motor DC servo motor
Denon tonearm, straight, rotary, with adjustable tracking force and anti-skating
Effective tonearm length 221.5 mm
Stylus lead-in (overhang) 19 mm
Permissible cartridge weight 5 – 10 g
Tracking force adjustment range 0 – 4 g
Cartridge model and type DSN-85, MM, easily replaceable needle with a conical profile
Cartridge weight 5 g
Tracking force for the DSN-85 cartridge 2 g
Built-in phono preamplifier yes, switchable
Output voltage (phono preamplifier on) 150 mV
Output voltage (phono preamplifier off) 2.5 mV
Dust cover yes
Output built-in interconnect with RCA connectors
Power consumption 2 W
Dimensions (HxWxD) 434x122x381 mm
Weight 5.5 kg
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