DENON DL-301

Second-hand. In excellent conditions. No visible signs of wear. Comes with original packaging.

The Denon DL-301 is a moving coil phono cartridge designed and manufactured by the Japanese brand Denon. It was introduced during a time when vinyl was still the preferred medium for high-fidelity music and was conceived as a practical technical solution for enthusiasts and users looking for a low-output MC cartridge compatible with a wide range of low to medium mass tonearms.

The DL-301 has a compact body with a simple and functional profile. Its construction is aimed at providing rigidity and minimizing vibrations, without relying on overly complex or refined solutions. The cantilever is made of aluminum, a material chosen for its balance of weight and stiffness. The stylus is a specially shaped elliptical diamond, designed to track the groove effectively, without exaggeration or compromise. It is not a particularly heavy cartridge, which makes it suitable for tonearms with medium compliance.

As expected from a pure MC design, its output level is quite low, requiring a phono preamp or step-up transformer with appropriate gain. The internal impedance is moderate, allowing for stable interfacing with most dedicated phono stages.

Overall, the Denon DL-301 I represents one of Denon's early responses to the growing demand for MC cartridges that are accessible, stable, and versatile.

Technical specifications:

• Type: moving coil (MC) cartridge
• Output voltage: 0.3 mV
• Playback frequency range: 20 Hz to 60,000 Hz
• Output impedance: 40 ohms
• Channel separation: 28 dB or more
• Compliance: 13 x 10⁻⁶ cm/dyne
• Stylus tip: 0.07 x 0.14 mm square solid diamond, special elliptical cut
• Recommended tracking force: 1.4 g ± 0.2 g