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Icon – Denon DP-A100

I've seen wackier turntables...This one looks less zany than a lot of other vinyl-spinners, I'll give you that. However it's the engineering that's un

I’ve seen wackier turntables…

This one looks less zany than a lot of other vinyl-spinners, I’ll give you that. However it’s the engineering that’s unusual. Unlike most high-end turntables, the DP-A100 uses a direct-drive motor, based on technology developed over the last 40 years.

So it’s still going to cost an arm and a leg?

It’s not cheap at £2250, but it comes fitted with a £500 cartridge, a sublime S-shaped arm and a luxurious black lacquered plinth. That’s a complete package, all working in perfect sonic harmony.

Aren’t Denon all about home cinema and micro systems?

Ah, how ignorant you are. Denon is Japan’s oldest hi-fi company – the DP-A100 is just one of a range of products that’s been launched to mark Denon’s 100th anniversary. The DL-A100 cartridge that comes with it is based on the legendary Denon DL-103, which has been in production since 1961, and Denon’s experience of crafting turntables stretches back to 1910, when it produced Japan’s first gramophone. You can almost smell the history.

 

Profile image of Dan Grabham Dan Grabham Editor-in-Chief

About

Dan is Editor-in-chief of Stuff, working across the magazine and the Stuff.tv website.  Our Editor-in-Chief is a regular at tech shows such as CES in Las Vegas, IFA in Berlin and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as well as at other launches and events. He has been a CES Innovation Awards judge. Dan is completely platform agnostic and very at home using and writing about Windows, macOS, Android and iOS/iPadOS plus lots and lots of gadgets including audio and smart home gear, laptops and smartphones. He's also been interviewed and quoted in a wide variety of places including The Sun, BBC World Service, BBC News Online, BBC Radio 5Live, BBC Radio 4, Sky News Radio and BBC Local Radio.

Areas of expertise

Computing, mobile, audio, smart home