Denon DL-S1 cartridge?

Yes, I too visited Yodobashi Camera and discovered the Denon. I purchased one, along with the matching transformer (about the same price), and eventually installed it in my Xerxes 10/Aro. It's an excellent performer, with superb tonality, detail (esp, musically significant nuance), and soundstaging, and very good PRAT. In my opinion, it's comparable to $2000+ cartridges. The low output (about 0.18) requires a quiet phono stage, however; since RFI is a problem in my area, I'm running the transformer (also excellent, requires some break-in) into a MM-level Stagelline. In any case, the DL-S1 is a major upgrade over an OC-9, which I have used in the past.

Thanks for the info.

PRAT had in fact been my big concern -- a problem with the other Denons I've tried (DL-103, 304) and Grado's and Ortofons for that matter.

The OC-9 is FAST (unnaturally so?). Am I likely to experience a reduction in that regard?

Cheers

John

First of all, I haven't heard the OC-9 Mk. II, but the original certainly was exciting to listen to--very rhythmic, but sometimes a little relentless, and also it had a slightly elevated treble. The PRAT is still there with the Denon, it just doesn't dominate the presentation. The DL-S1's outstanding characteristic is its ability to sort out individual musical lines, presenting each with its harmonic identity and timing information intact. There's just more musical information, but it doesn't feel analytical.; the overall experience is one of complex but coherent sensuality. In contrast, the best AT's (allegedly the ART-2000) present sufficient detail, but individual instruments sound homogenized, like merely different flavors of the same underlying substance.

I should add that the DL-S1 is a great match with the fluidity of the Aro, and the Xerxes is on the "pacey" side; needless to say, YMMV.

Gee, maybe I didn't answer your original question. Yes, the Denon doesn't sound quite as fast as the OC-9, but it sounds more natural, less overloaded with caffeine.