Denon DP-60L vs Technics 1200 MK III
If you are looking for that style off TT, look a the
Reloop RP-8000
and the
Pioneer PLX-1000. I like the fact that the Reloop has a straight arm. A lot of audiophiles are using the Pioneer. Both TT's are within your budget new, and you can get either one at Guitar Center. Denon just released the new Prime series TT, but it sells for $900. If you can afford it, the Denon appears to be worth the extra money. |
I currently have 2 x Denon DP-80 they were near TOTL and very good. The 60L seems to be near TOTL also. I had a Technics SL-1200 and i upgraded the tone arm with a Jelco 750. My DP-80's sound clearer with better bass than the Technics. I believe the Denon 60L would perform better than the Technics also. |
by narowing your selection to those two tabels your missing out on many better tables out there . hell the Rega tables used are better tables in the long run. and i'm not trying to start a war here i know the denon and tech's are good tables but they are getting harder to find parts for now and they have specific drive systems and questionable arms. Either way get them checked out by a qualified tech if you can before you buy.. |
If you want a Denon,you should check out the new DP-500M. There are a few listed on Ebay. It has the same look as the older ones! http://www.smartimports.net/denon-dp-500m-direct-drive-analogue-turntable/ |
Maintenance of either the Denon or the Technics is and will be no problem, contrary to what's been written here. In my opinion (only), the Denon is a superior mechanism by a little bit over the Technics, but I am no fan of Denon tonearms. The notion that a "Rega" is superior to either table is at least open to debate, but in my own opinion, either of these direct drive tables is superior to the typical Rega. (Perhaps the high end Rega turntables are competitive.) By all accounts, the DP500M may look like the DP60L and others in the vintage Denon line, but it falls far short of the vintage models in performance and build quality. I agree with mick that the DP80 is a fine turntable. I had one side by side in my system with a Technics SP10 Mk2, and I've kept the DP80, sold the Mk2. However, the DP80 is upscale from the DP60L, which was sort of mid-level in the Denon line, as is the SL1200 in the Technics line. |
Thank you for your helpful information everyone. I pulled the trigger on the Technics, but then decided I'm keeping the Denon :-) So, the Technics is going to end at my dad's house and I'm keeping the Denon. When it comes down to it - I did like the bass and highs of the Denon better than the mids of the Technics. I felt it lacked in low low bass. I wanted to spend $500-$600 on a plug and play and not fiddle and upgrade endlessly. The Denon does it. I just hope it lasts a while. Then again - I can always find a good 1200. There are a lot of them out there. |
Hard choice, The Denon is just beautiful.....way back when, I sold the Technics, but 90% of them went out of our shop with some type of mod... The one we used in the shop was just tricked out.... incredible amount of damping, litz wired arm with a heat shrink damped arm tube, etc etc... My only time with the Denon was when my brother inherited one not working, he brought it to my house and I disassembled it, found a few issues and made the repairs. I really wanted to dive in with at least properly dampening that table, but never did..... It sounded decent, I had the stock arm with the S tube, I mounted an AT440OCC on it.....I would love to keep that beautiful table and if were mine, I probably would.... add a lot of damping in key areas and a new tonearm cable at minimum, but I bet they would be on par. One thing though, that straight arm is a low mass arm and would require a higher compliance cartridge than the technics....Not sure if that would influence your decision, I would prefer the heavier S tube. good luck, hard decision, Tim |
Hi 2channel8, I ended up getting the Technics 1200, then traded for a 1210 (same table, black exterior). And I've enjoyed it ever since. From what I read, a lot of the Denon tables from the time have a lot of parts that are proprietary and if they break you're SOL. That's what happens to the Denon I was testing. What I like best about the 1210, other than sound and ease of use - it is a tank. It always runs. Very solid unit. So, 2.5 years after the original thread, I highly recommend a Technics 1200. |
