MEASURED PERFORMANCE

Output from the DL-304 was very low, measuring just 0.18mV at 5cms/sec rms and this demands use of a phono stage that is very quiet and has plenty of gain, 70dB or more. Even then mild hiss may be just audible.
   At the unusually low tracking force of 1.2gms tracking was poor, so 1.4gms was used, the quoted upper limit. This gave good results, although still way off what is possible, with a high lateral 63µm being cleared and 20cms/sec at 1kHz. The Denon  cleared high level test tracks, but not the highest torture tracks.
    Frequency response was almost ruler flat right out to 20kHz, almost as flat as CD! On inner grooves tracing loss introduced a small amount of treble fall, just enough to soften the sound a tad. This is a very accurate and neutral cartridge.
    The vertical tracking angle measured 25 degrees. As a result distortion was low at 3% on vertical modulation, mostly second and third harmonics. Lateral distortion was also low, measuring 1%.
    The Denon DL-304 needs a top quality phono stage, but it otherwise measures well and may well sound very good. NK

Tracking force    1.2gms
Weight    7gms
Vertical tracking angle    25degrees
Frequency response    20Hz - 20kHz
Channel separation    28dB
Tracking ability (300Hz)
lateral    65µm
vertical    45µm
lateral (1kHz)    20cms/sec.
Distortion (45µm)
lateral    1%
vertical    3%
Output (5cms/sec rms)    0.18mV

FREQUENCY RESPONSE

Red - inner grooves