Denon DL160 High Output Moving Coil Cartridge

by Denon

Product Details

• Item Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000I21PWW
• Item model number: DL160
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,024 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

Turntables & MC Cartridges

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing comes close at ANY price!!!, February 7, 2008

By 

Jay L. Rudko (Pembroke Pines, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Denon DL160 High Output Moving Coil Cartridge (Electronics)

Diehard audiophiles will tell you that nothing beats the sound of analog music, played from vinyl LP's. I tend to agree. The warmth of that analog sound comes through loud and clear with this miraculous cartridge. You could spend more, but there's just no point when you can get sound this good from a cartridge selling for under $200. This Denon cartridge is a high output moving coil design. Moving coils are known for a more detailed sound than the average moving magnet. There's more clarity and sheen to the music, and all the subtleties come through cleanly as well. Obviously, the better the record, the better the sound. But this cartridge is more forgiving than most. Surface noise is, when the cartridge is properly installed on a quality tonearm, less of a problem. The set-up of this cartridge is pretty straight-forward, but you have to take your time to do it right. I have mine installed in a Technics SL-1200mk2turntable, tracking at 1.75 grams. Anti-skate should be properly set, as well. The nice thing about the arm I have this cartridge mounted in is the VTA (vertical tracking angle) adjustment. This is often not provided for in many tonearms. It is, nonetheless, a very important parameter to get the best from any cartridge. It allows for proper angle of the stylus in the groove. Set incorrectly, it can make records sound harsh or dull. You'll just know when it's properly set. The sound of this cartridge is clean, detailed, and as right as rain. Channel separation is excellent. The cartridge tracks the Shure V15 type 5 test record flawlessly, with no distortion on even the most heavily modulated passages. There was no audible mistracking whatsoever. How many cartridges can claim that? One word of warning... as with most moving coil cartridges, the stylus is not user-replacable. When installing it in your headshell, use extreme care and the flip-down stylus guard. It could keep you from making an expensive mistake. Five stars are not enough to extoll the virtues of the DL-160. If you have a passion for vinyl as I do, you need this cartridge to really hear what's on your records.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best For The Money., May 31, 2009

By 

S. J. Graci III (Augusta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Denon DL160 High Output Moving Coil Cartridge (Electronics)

Give the DL-160 four and a half stars. But, for the money, it truly is one of if not the best cartridges you can buy and worthy of five stars. There are cartridges that are better of course (like the Denon DL-103R) but you are going to pay far more for less gain as you go up that ladder. This cartridge is very similar to its little brother the DL-110, which I also own. What the 110 does well, detail and soundstage, the 160 does slightly better. It extracts more inner detail (less congestion), better 3-D imaging, and tighter bass. Some users report less noise over the 110 when using less than pristine records but I have not noticed a difference although both cartridges perform very well with the well used stuff.

If you are currently using a Moving Magnet cartridge, have a decent enough system that is revealing and able to reproduce a stereo image, the High Output Moving Coil 110 and 160 are a step up from many MM cartridges that can be laid back, neutral, muddied, and monophonic sounding in comparison. The nice thing about the HOMC cartridges is that you can use them with a MM phonostage on the preamp. No need for a MC phonostage, step up transformer, or separate phono preamp. Although, I have used the 160 with a MC phonostage with decent results but it will overload at higher levels.

The 110 and 160 are both excellent cartridges. The 160 is worth the extra $40 if you are seeking everything vinyl records are capable of reproducing and have the rest of the components to go along with it. You won't be disappointed and if you've been using MM cartridges for years will immediately hear the difference.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Short and Sweet Review, February 26, 2009

By 

Mr. Lee "M L" (Hawaii) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Denon DL160 High Output Moving Coil Cartridge (Electronics)

Nothing even comes close to this cartridge at this price point. It can compete with other carts costing hundreds more. Moving Coil, High Output design makes it perfect to be used in Moving Magnetic Phono Stages also. The tiny stylus digs deep into the record groove to bring out even the slightest nuances of your vinyl. Produces a warm, well balanced sonic characteristic. Deep bass and sparkling highs. Well done Denon.