I ordered a
Denon DP300F from Turntable Lab (TTL) for my daughter and received it yesterday. I just would like to share with you my observations as I put the unit into service.
Packaging was great -- double boxed with Denon box inside. Everything arrived in perfect shape. The table comes with the dust cover installed. You have to install the belt (taped into place already) platter and counterweight. You do have to choose if you will use the on board phono stage by turning on the switch that will be covered by the platter. Denon includes a pretty heavy rubber matt. TTL throws in a thin cork matt. TTL also includes a carbon fiber brush. Then you install the headshell. TTL did replace the stock cartridge with Ortofan 2M Red and had it installed on the head shell.
I don't know what "lab installed" means to TTL but it could be construed as "ready to play" for someone who may be new to setting up TTs. It was not. Tracking force had to be set at 1.8 Gram. According to Denon, you balance the arm to parallel with the counterweight. You are zeroing the balance. Then you set the "Stylus pressure adjustment ring" to 0. You then turn the ring to desired tracking force. I followed the procedure and it came out pretty close. I got 1.9 on the scale. So that wasn't bad. The cart was way off where they "lab installed it" though. Using Geo-disc, I had to move it about 1/2" in and turned to line up properly. I may use my Feickert Cartridge Alignment Tool for fine adjustment later when I have more time. The correct alignment is actually closer to what Denon says to do. It says that the tip should be 45 ft/mm from the back of the head shell. It's about that. BTW, no where in the manual does it suggest that you use a protractor or alignment tool to set up the cart.
So far that's as far as I got.
I will fill in later on how it sounds and how auto cueing and lift works.
