The design of the Denon DP-400 is made in an elegant, laconic style. The device boasts a heavy and rigid plastic body with a wall thickness of 4 mm and a weight of 5.8 kg. The table, finished in glossy varnish, has anti-vibration legs and is covered with a neat dust cover. The model is fully automated. After assembling and setting it up, just install the disk, select its size using the appropriate button (12-inch “long play” or 7-inch EP) and press the Start button located on the front end next to the Stop button, and then Denon DP-400 will do everything himself. The stylus of the cartridge will be automatically set to the starting 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 if you randomly select a track to listen to.
The Denon DP-400’s platter is made from precision die-cast aluminum for smooth, even rotation. A rubber mat is installed on top of it. A DC servomotor is used, which transmits torque to the disk using a belt drive. The player has a belt drive that allows you to play discs at speeds of 33⅓ rpm, 45 rpm and 78 rpm and a built-in speed sensor that monitors the accuracy of playback. Ease of use is ensured by the semi-automatic operating mode of the player with automatic lifting of the tonearm and stopping of the record at the end of the side.
The new S-shaped tonearm is equipped with a moving magnet MM cartridge, which can be easily replaced with a higher quality MC moving coil cartridge. The standard straight tonearm is equipped with an anti-skating system and a micro-lift. It is also possible to adjust the downforce. Adjustment of vertical and horizontal angles is not provided here. The kit includes a Stylus CN-6518 MM cartridge with the ability to quickly replace the needle. If necessary, you can install another model instead. According to the instructions, the weight of the pickup head should be in the range from 5 to 10 grams. The removable shell greatly simplifies cartridge installation.
The player is equipped 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 stage. The shutdown function provides additional convenience when upgrading, for example, if you purchase a separate external corrector.
The Denon DP-400’s sound is well-balanced and characterized by clarity, warmth, precision and precision. Based on this player, you can build a completely decent entry-level stereo system. Unlike the DP-400, the DP-450USB has a built-in A/D converter, making it easy to record your favorite LPs and singles directly to a USB drive.
Characteristics of Denon DP-400
Drive type: belt drive
Supported disk rotation speeds 33.3 rpm, 45 rpm, 78 rpm
Detonation coefficient 0.10%
Support disk material aluminum (high-precision injection molding)
Electric motor servomotor DC
Tonearm Denon, straight, rotatable, with adjustable tracking force and anti-skating
Effective tonearm length 221.5 mm
Stylus overhang 19 mm
Permissible cartridge weight 5 – 10 g Tracking
force adjustment range 0 – 4 g
Model and type cartridge (Stylus CN-6518), MM, easily replaceable stylus with a conical profile
Cartridge weight 5 g
Tracking force for DSN-85 cartridge 2 g
Built-in phono stage yes, switchable
Output voltage (phono stage on) 150 mV
Output voltage (phono stage off) 2.5 mV
Dustproof cover yes
Output built-in interconnect with RCA connectors
Power consumption 2 W
Dimensions (WxHxD) 414x132x342 mm
Weight 5.8 kg
