This is our review of the Denon DP 300F Turntable
Turntables and vinyls are resurging and this time, they are here to stay because the modern vinyl players are built with better technology.
Even though this is great news, it also makes choosing the right turntable tricky. The old is becoming the new as record players are starting to make a comeback. But with so many record players in the market, it can be impossible to tell which one to buy.
It is quite exciting to observe this changing trend and see the re-emergence of the turntables. It makes us think that are we truly going to the days of the old or is it like drinking new wine in the old bottle.
Anyhow, my focus has always been on identifying such trends and reviewing the products from a comprehensive angle. And to be honest, my perspectives and viewpoints on these product reviews have been revered by the interest groups and my family/friends too.
Today, we’ll be looking at the Denon DP 300f to see if it lives up to all the hype and ask the question, “Should you buy the Denon DP 300f”?
The Denon DP 300f has been receiving a lot of praise. But is it justified?
Overall, yes. It is a suitable device with reasonably good quality sound that’s easy to set up. The biggest flaw, however, is that the buttons feel rather plasticky.
What we’re looking for in a record player
Before we can decide the quality of the Denon DP 300f, we need to look at what makes a good record player. We will be judging the Denon DP 300f based upon four critical factors.
Sound Quality
The whole point of the record player is to play music. If the sound isn’t top-notch, it will have failed at its fundamental purpose.
Ease of set up and use
The modern consumer wants everything done quickly and easily. Therefore a record player should not require an engineering degree to use.
Modern
Although some see it as a relic of the past, the record player is resurging in popularity. However, new record players need to offer something that their ancestors couldn’t.
Feel
Any product, particularly technology, needs to feel like it’s high quality and well made. People don’t want to pay $200 for something that feels poorly made with cheap parts. Moreover, if you have a lemon (poor quality product) it will be evident from the sound quality, its built, and overall performance.
About the Denon DP 300f
To write a review about the device, we’ll need to take a look at it and understand how it works. The best way to do this is objectively, free from emotion or bias, and look at the facts.
The Denon DP 300f is a two-speed turntable. You can go at their 33 ½ or 45.
It has a belt-driven motor and a gloss-coated rigid die-cast aluminum construction.
Denon DP 300F Review
Sound Quality
Let’s start by checking the sound quality of the Denon DP 300f. The aluminum it’s made of provides a solid base, which helps to lower vibrations levels, enabling it to provide noise-free, detailed, and rich sounds.
The preamp equalizer gives it an open sound stage, making it feel like you’re at a live concert.
The mid-range of the Denon DP 300f is excellent. With a full sound and rolled-off treble, you can’t complain. However, the bass is a bit uninspiring, so perhaps not ideal if you’re into dubstep.
Ease of setup and use
How easy is the Denon DP 300f to set up and use?
If you listen to a lot of music and often need to replace the cartridge, you’ll be happy to hear that the headshell is removable. This makes the Denon DP 300f much easier to take out the old cartridge and put in a new one.
The table works automatically, meaning that all you need to do is press buttons, and you’re listening to music.
However, the counterweight balance on the arm does need to be set up. For some users, this may not be easy.
Modernity
The Denon DP 300f makes clear that it isn’t an antique. It’s automatic, hands-free, and generally easy to use. So don’t worry if you don’t have an engineering degree.
Unfortunately, while it does do its job well, it doesn’t go above and beyond. There is no USB port and no Bluetooth. So if you want to listen to a song on your phone or computer, I’m afraid this won’t be an option.
The Denon DP 300f also doesn’t allow you to upload songs from vinyl to digital format.
Feel
How it feels is where the Denon DP 300f starts to lose its audience. At first glance, it looks relatively well made and of high quality. But it’s not until you start using it that you realize that looks can be deceiving.
The buttons are an essential part of the intuitive nature of the Denon DP 300f. However, the problem with them is that they feel cheap, flimsy, and very plasticky. It could even be said that the Denon DP 300f’s buttons make it feel more like a toy than a record player.
Summary
Pros and Cons
Pros
- The sound quality is perfectly okay. Not anything to complain heavily about.
- The device is strong, sturdy, and should last you a reasonably long time.
- The removable head shell makes it easy to replace the cartridge when you need to.
- The Denon DP 300f is automatic. All you need to do is press buttons.
Cons
- The bass isn’t as good as some of the other record players on the market. It is potentially ruining specific genres of music.
- The counterweight balance can be challenging to attach.
- There is no USB or Bluetooth. If you don’t have it on vinyl, you can’t listen to it on the Denon DP 300f.
Alternatives to Denon DP 300f
Before we can come to a verdict, let’s quickly go through an alternative to the Denon DP 300f.
We have the DP 400f, which has a smaller size than the DP 300f, almost by an inch on both the sides and the DP 400f also boasts a modern and stylish shape.
However, the DP 300f, is a fully automatic turntable, but the DP 400f is a semi-automatic, so that’s the basic difference.
Our Verdict
Should you buy the Denon DP 300f? It all depends on what you intend to use it for.
If all you’re after is an affordable device that lets you and your family listen to your vinyls, the Denon DP 300f serves that function. It’s easy to use, and the sound quality is high.
However, if you wish to use it in a commercial environment such as a nightclub or an event, there are much better alternatives on the market. The bass is disappointing, and it can’t connect to Bluetooth or USB.
Conclusion
In Conclusion, the Denon DP 300f is an acceptable but not jaw-dropping record player. The sound quality provides what you need to dance around your living room. It’s easy enough to set up. All you have to do is press the right buttons.
It’s automatic so that anybody can use it. However, the buttons do make it feel cheaper and lower in quality than it is.
We hope this review of the Denon DP 300f was informative and can help you make a buying decision.
