Customer Reviews

Denon DP-500M Direct Drive Turntable

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Denon is to be commended for replacing their previous micro-processor turntables with a more basic unit. This machine has no bells and whistles such as speed control, stobe, slip mat, or supplied cartridge. Such things are fine for professional use, but an audiophile user at home has no real need for such items. They more likely just want a solid table that will rotate at the correct speed, and track their records accurately and without distortion. They would probably also prefer to chose the cartridge with the help of a dealer. After several months use with a number of mid-piced cartridges, I can attest that The DP-500M performs these functions admirably. It also looks very attractive.

I have wanted a Denon DD manual turntable ever since I first saw and heard the unfortunately departed DP-62F.
I finally bit the bullet and bought the DP-500M. It may very well be the last of a breed, but I am so happy with how this table was easy to set up, and more importantly, how wonderful it sounds. It's a pleasure to listen to my collection of LPS again!
For the price, you can't do better. I've listened to several of the current crop of Belt drive manuals that cost hundreds more, and they don't sound as good as this table does.
For the money, you can't go wrong.
Kudo's to Denon!
TS

I tend to agree with certain points from most of the previous reviews already written on this piece. The DENON DP-500M is certainly part of a rare and disappearing breed of turntable. A high-end, massively constructed Japanese turntable so commonly found in the 80's and early 90's, has become harder and harder to find these days. In fact, as far as I know, it's the only one of it's kind comming out of Japan anymore...at least that has made it's way to the States.

Regardless, it is an elegantly and durably built table that takes a no-frills approach to vinyl playback. It lacks the automation and dynamic servo tonearms of generations past, but apparently also lacks some of the associated problems from previous models. However, I have to admit, I never had any issues with my similarly featured JVC QLY-55F model that has given me 20+ years of perfect service.

Maybe my ear isn't as finely tuned as some of your reviewrs, but with over 35 years of selling and enjoying high quality audio products I find very little to criticize when discussing the sound eminating from my DP-500M and the ORTOFON 2M BRONZE moving magnet cartridge I installed. It is certainly free from any disearnable coloration or lack of detail. Quite the contrary, I find the sound to be very smooth, colorless and even somewhat neutral.

Granted, I am currently using this turntable in what I would classify as a "mid-fi" set up with a MUSIC HALL PA-2 phono pre-amp stage coupled to a MARANTZ SR-8002 receiver and driving a CAMBRIDGE SOUNDWORKS NEWTON top of the line speaker set up. But nevertheless, given my budget constraints and having owned significantly more costly components in my younger days, I find this current set-up to be quite satisfying.

As for the price...well...it's not the cheapest turntable on the market, but let's face it, in a world where you can spend tens of thousands of dollars on an analog playback system, this ain't a bad return on your investment!

High praise to Denon for keeping a generation of enthusiests excited about analog playback and enabling us to own a gorgeous reliable turntable for well under $1000!

Five stars to Denon!

This is a Serious record machine. It sounds excellent with classical music. I played a recording of the Alpine Symphony of Richard Strauss and It masters symphonic music quite well. Every detail of the music is heard. I am impressed. It tracks very well in the inner groove. Distortion is minimal. This is an audiophile turntable and is comparable to tables of much higher price range. It is the best table in its price range. It also has the look of elegance because of the wood casing and makes it look like furniture rather than electronic equipment. I highly recommend this turntable to anyone who is seeking to upgrade the sound of their record collection.

The Denon DP-500MX is sort of the (half-hearted) continuation or in a long lineage of their high end audiophile turntables of years gone by.The two major questions I have for Denon is why they didn't make this newer model with improved or solid and reliable automatic micro-processed features and why the price? Obviously, turntables are not in high demand for home use any more. But, if a company is going to develop a pricey 'table, give us some reliable and solidly built bells and whistles to go with it... The last high end model was the micro-processed controlled DP-47F from the mid 90's.It was the last of a dying breed of fully automatic players for vinyl enthusiasts to revive the venerable l.p.It was a gorgeous piece of an audio component loaded with all the automated and computerized gizmos any hi-fi tech junkie could possibly desire (servo computer controlled tonearm, laser light to detect record size,precise cueing of the arm in either direction without ever touching the arm itself, heavy,shiny rosewood base, etc.)The only major drawback of the computerized loaded Denons was when a circuitboard or chip burned out or problems developed with the automated arm, without warranty, repairs became costly and parts were scarce and almost non-existant.On top, you had to find yourself a specialized turntable repair guy who not only could fix the mechanical issues, but who thoroughly understood and could repair or replace microprocessors(in this day and age VERY few turntable repair techs out there). The later Denon turntables proved to be finicky and touchy machines that would develop arm, servo motor, or speed playback problems...In the end they were pretty to look at but not reliable in the long run and expensive to repair.Just look at some of the Denons listed on eBay (some are listed to sell but with major computerized arm or motor speed fluctuation issues ). Still, their playback operation was ultra-smooth, precise and extremely quiet.That servo-computerized tonearm was something to marvel at.Unfortunately, the tradeoff that was sacrificed for all the electronic micro-processed controls was long lasting reliable durability! Hmmm...Maybe this is why Denon finally decided to go the manual route and avoid the high tech automatic controls that would malfunction sooner or later ?...

After testing out this turntable I was no more impressed or floored than using my reliable Technics SL1200 M3D...The MAJOR advantage the Technics has over this Denon is that it can be used either as a true bonafide DJ turntable or a home deck to listen to records and transfer some vinyl to cd-r format.The Denon is only an in home deck and sports no fine pitch control slide or dial or any other "user-friendly" sound/play-back adjustment except for the anti-skating control. This is used for decreasing inner-groove sound distortion. A tonearm will tend to drift and lean in more towards the left-inside channel as the needle nears the end of playback...

Now, fast forward to the present. In all likelihood Denon has probably addressed these automated/computerized/servo-motor issues by coming up with a manual operating turntable.Nothing gimmicky or electronic to malfunction.Straight and simple playback operation of your favorite vinyl tunes.The DP-500MX is simple,classy, yet understated in looks and mechanical design.It's in the internal makings that you get quiet and stable high performance from it's quartz-speed accurate controlled direct drive motor (that's right folks, no belts to break or stretch or replace, YAY !).It's contemporary styling and looks are decent to say the least. It's playback performance is ultra smooth. To get the most out of this turntable it should be used with a mid to high end audiophile grade cartridge (Audio Technica AT 440ML, any Grado cartridge in the Prestige series or higher---just to name a few).Again, this is not a DJ turntable. Buying a DJ or low grade cartridge/stylus would be a mistake. This time Denon has gone the extra mile to make the platter and base heavy and coat the underside of the platter to keep both internal(direct drive motor vibrations) and external noise or rumble away from the phono pick up stage. You get clear vinyl playback (though you still get the normal pops, ticks, and clicks inherent in analog vinyl). No distortion from any kind of unwanted feedback in the audio chain. This is a major plus !

As for the price you may ask? OUCH !!! You really have to be a die hard Denon fan. There are other top reputable name brands out there that sell their 'tables with more features and a higher reliability track record than Denon.Their cost is much lower or somewhat comparable to this Denon's price tag.However, since this Denon lacks any computer controlled or microprocessor automated functions (one -less- thing- to- break- down theory), it's reliability factor has shot up by a whopping margin. Only time will tell if Denon has hit the bulls-eye right this time with their manual, no frills approach (this is not the first manually driven Denon---the 60's and 70's produced some highly sought after models).If you are going for style,simplicity,solid build, improvement on noise filtering/isolation playback characteristics, the Denon fits the bill. HOWEVER, it is a very pricy bill at that!

Due to the heavy price tag issue(for a turntable in this class or range), lacking improved or updated automated features (couch potatos will not like this model at all),but still possessing both a solid anti-vibration platter and plinth chasis and motor build, 3 stars!

This model competes with more expensive high end turntables. It's a direct drive unit but there is no mechanical noise, and you can be sure of the speed control always. The capability of interexchange headshells keeps simple the process when you want to try different cartridges. Overall excellent sound and keep direct drives units alive on the turntables market.