Denon DP-400 (White) Semi-Automatic Analog Turntable with Speed Auto Sensor | Specially Designed Curved Tonearm | Supports 33 1/3. 45, 78 RPM (Vintage) Speeds | Modern Looks, Superior Audio

9 reviews for Denon DP-400 (White) Semi-Automatic Analog Turntable with Speed Auto Sensor | Specially Designed Curved Tonearm | Supports 33 1/3. 45, 78 RPM (Vintage) Speeds | Modern Looks, Superior Audio

1. 

   5 out of 5

   Benjamin S. – March 24, 2020

   Disclaimer: I have not tested any other Vinyl players on the market, this review will only reflect on this particular unit.This is a fantastic vinyl player that I purchased after doing a bit if research online for an easy to use player that also could output into the phono inputs of a receiver. The assembly was pretty intuitive, and the packaging was great! I kept the box so I can repackage it in the event of a move.The instructions were clear, and this unit can accept other styluses or cartridges as well. It might be intimidating for a new owner to set up correctly (like myself), but as long as you follow the instructions, it will work flawlessly. Just make sure you keep those instructions with it for future reference.After setting up the unit for phono output, I hooked it into my 1990 Marantz Stereo System and played my first ever vinyl record on it (a brand new EP by Emery). I was blown away at the quality and clarity of the system, even with the record player sitting on top of my right speaker (due to space constraints).While the price might seem a bit steep, the quality and ease of use (once set up) is great with this system! I am glad I finally got myself this proper record player.

2. 

   5 out of 5

   Sarah – April 17, 2020

   Of all the turntables I tested, the Denon DP-400 offered the best combination of sound quality, ease of use, and convenient features—including a built-in phono preamp, a speed control dial, a cue lever, and automatic platter stopping with tonearm lift. Plus, it’s easy to upgrade the cartridge to get even better performance.The DP-400’s sound quality is very good. Background noise ranged from very quiet to almost inaudible, and this model did a good job suppressing pops and other issues in records that some turntables had problems with. As much as I enjoy listening to vinyl, hearing fewer pops and crackles is always a good thing. Some of the other turntables offered slightly better bass detail, but that was due to the cartridge that came preinstalled. When I replaced the Denon DP-400’s stock cartridge with an Ortofon Red or Blue, it sounded as good as or better than any of the other turntables I tested.The black record player cover standing on end next to the record player.The Denon’s cover does double-duty as a record presentation stand. Photo: Rozette RagoA close up of the denon counterweight on the record player arm.The counterweight has adjustment markings to help you balance the DP-400’s tonearm. Photo: Rozette RagoA close up of the speed selection knob on the denon turntable.The speed-selection switch makes it easy to choose 33, 45, or even 78 rpm without having to lift up the platter. Photo: Rozette RagoA close up of the raising lever for the denon tone arm.The DP-400 comes with a cue lever to easily raise and lower the tonearm. Photo: Rozette RagoThe black record player cover standing on end next to the record player.The Denon’s cover does double-duty as a record presentation stand. Photo: Rozette RagoA close up of the denon counterweight on the record player arm.The counterweight has adjustment markings to help you balance the DP-400’s tonearm. Photo: Rozette Rago1 of 4Measuring the performance using the Platter Speed app, I found the belt-drive Denon DP-400 to be the most speed-accurate of all the turntables we tested at both 33 rpm and 45 rpm speeds. In tests, it had a bit more wow and flutter than some competitors, but that’s not something that I heard when listening.Aside from the fully automatic turntables we tested, the Denon DP-400 was the easiest to use. Balancing the tonearm is simple, and speed selection is done with a dial, so playing back 33, 45, or even 78 rpm records doesn’t require lifting up the platter (as you must on some of the other turntables we tested). The included auto-stop function stops your record when you get to the end of a side and lifts up the turntable arm. This saves wear and tear on your stylus needle, which might only be rated for 300 to 400 hours of use, and lets you enjoy playing a record while you do other things without worrying that you aren’t there to stop it.The integrated phono preamp performed well and is easy to disable if you’d prefer to use an external phono preamp. Unlike some of the other turntables we looked at, the Denon uses standard RCA phono jacks instead of an integrated cable, so you can select a cable of the appropriate length. Using an external phono preamp worked well, and this turntable includes a grounding wire connection that some others lacked to help eliminate any ground hum that could occur.A side view of the denon record player showign the phono out and other ports.The Denon uses standard RCA phono jacks instead of an integrated cable, so you can select a cable of the appropriate length. Photo: Rozette RagoThe DP-400 is also an attractive turntable. Finished in a gloss black, it lacks the cheaper, plastic feel of some other models, and it includes a stylish cover that does double-duty as a record presentation stand.It’s easy to upgrade the DP-400 to a higher-quality cartridge down the road. With some of the turntables we tested, you are limited to using the company’s own cartridges. Others lack a counterweight that you can adjust to account for a new cartridge. The Denon accepts a standard SH-4 headshell, so it’s simple to install a pre-mounted Ortofon Red or Blue cartridge with no tiny screws. I upgraded to an Ortofon Blue, and the resulting sound was so good that I see no reason to ever upgrade past that.If you want to digitize your record collection to save to a computer or hard drive, Denon offers the DP-450USB, which is otherwise identical to the DP-400 but adds a USB output for an additional $100. This is an easy way to make digital copies of your favorite albums but not as easy as just streaming those titles from a music service (although the sound quality may not be the same and certain records might not be available to stream).

3. 

   5 out of 5

   DLDL – June 27, 2020

   The media could not be loaded.  First, this is not a “fully automatic” turntable. I know that on Amazon it’s not listed as one, but I have seen it called that elsewhere. The tone arm has a selectable auto-lift function, but placing the stylus onto the disc is still a manual process similar to most other TTs.I’ve put it through about 40 hours of listening over the past few weeks. Mostly it’s been classic jazz along with miscellaneous rock thrown into the mix. So far it’s held up pretty well. It took about 10-12 hours for the cartridge to loosen up, but after that everything sounded great. If I notice any issues down the road I’ll update this review.Perhaps my absolute favorite thing about it is the fully removable, low profile dust cover that doubles as an album sleeve display. It’s an ingenious concept. It’s 1.) sturdy and 2.) allows me to squeeze the turntable into a shelf as shown in the attached photo. That is, I don’t have to fret over needing enough room to flip up an attached dust cover.My first impression is that Denon designed this to smooth out the wrinkles in the DP-300f, which really wasn’t a bad TT to begin with. The 300f was plagued by rumors of speed / motor deficiencies, and the permanently affixed power and signal cables along with the absence of a ground point made it a non-starter for more finnicky consumers. With the DP-400, the power and signal connections are open and thus upgradeable, and there is a ground point.The speed monitoring function appears to work extremely well. The lines on the strobe disc that I use for speed checking are totally and completely static. They don’t move the slightest bit.The knobs are in a different ballpark compared to lower priced counterparts from Denon, which have buttons instead of knobs anyway. They are big, beefy, and they feel solid. The power on /off knob that is also the speed selector feels very durable. Same goes for the anti-skating dial.The counterweight is also a very heavy and solid upgrade to the counterweight for the 300f. No comparison. When I wanted to set the tracking force at 2.0 grams, I was able to get the gauge to 2.01 grams. Absolutely precise micro-adjustments are possible with this counterweight / tone arm combo.A complaint that 300f owners had was the so-called tone arm clamp that was really a twist tie. This time Denon included a fully functional clamp integrated into the tone arm rest. So that’s another item checked off the list. A big thank you to Denon for doing that. Also, it’s an S-shaped tonearm, which looks classy.Advertised signal-to-noise improved slightly over the 300f maybe because of the external power supply. It went from 60 to 62, the latter being similar to that of the highest quality tape decks of yore. I did not detect audible noise while playing 180g LPs through quality speakers powered by a flagship Denon AVR.Consider that this S/N rating factors the stock cartridge and “equalizer” into the equation. Both are low-output as far as voltages go. The manual –which is also a lot more detailed btw–says that total voltage output with EQ and cart is 150 mV. Compare that to the 500mV that an $80 after-market pre-amp like a Pro Ject Phono Box produces.Here’s my only real complaint: the cartridge. It is the same DSN-85 stylus / cartridge combo that is found in the 300f. I’m confused about that. The 200f has the DSN-84. So if the 300f has the 85, then shouldn’t the 400 have like an 86 or something? Denon couldn’t have just slightly changed the 85 to give us consumers peace of mind? I guess they figured if it ain’t broke then don’t fix it. But even the Marantz TT42 stock cartridge, the 251 S, is a better cartridge. Marantz and Denon both share the same ownership. Couldn’t Denon have just adopted the 251 S for this turntable?On the same token, enthusiast-grade turntables aren’t expected to include a cartridge anyway. The idea is that the money the manufacturer could’ve put into a cartridge went into the TT instead. That seems to be the case with the DP-400 —that Denon included a giveaway quality cartridge so that a better product overall could be produced.An after-market cartridge costing as little as $40 will be a noticeable improvement, as the DSN-85 is a low output 2.5mV cartridge. Consider that the $40 AT95e has 3.5mV of output, which is still on the low end. A $100 Ortofon Red has 5.5mV of output, more than doubling that of the DSN-85. Spend just $100 on a Pro-Ject Phono Box pre-amp which Denon recommends on their website and there is yet another improvement. That is when the real potential of this turntable has been unlocked. A $59 Phono Box E would also work.For $500 we expect a TT that will outperform tables like the Orbit Special and Debut Carbon, both dominating the sub-$500 market right now. Yamaha’s new turntable line just hit virtual shopping shelves as well.With the Orbit Special’s hardwood plinth, Ortofon cartridge, and acrylic platter, it’s hard to say that this DP-400 will be giving its competitors a run for their money. Then again, the Orbit has a straight tonearm and no on-the-fly speed selector. Nor does it have a ground point. But how much that actually matters is really debatable. It all depends. Also, neither the Orbit nor the Debut Carbon has a built-in EQ for <$500 if you need one.You might say the wow & flutter of .10% is where this Denon leads in its price group. It's difficult to find one spec'd lower than .2%. Consider that W&F of .3% is generally unacceptable. So, that did have some bearing on my decision. For the Debut Carbon to get anywhere near those specs, a $100 accessory, the Speed Box, is required.I guess the pros and cons could go on forever. The innovative dust cover is a major selling point for me, and if the speed monitor works perfectly for years and years then I am very satisfied. Ultimately, I gave it 5 stars because it clearly provides a better value than the 300f in many ways, and so far my favorite LPs sound terrific. For this table to sound its best, a cart and pre-amp upgrade is critical. But the same can be said about most TTs in this price range. Even if neither was included, it would still be worth it for its build quality alone.Also, kudos to World Wide Stereo for A+ cust service.

4. 

   5 out of 5

   Thomas P Martin – July 12, 2020

   Finally decided to upgrade my vinyl handling equipment after about 40 years. Bought this tt together with a Nagaoka cartridge (even though the tt comes with an OK Denon cartridge) and a Schiit Mani phono preamp (even though the tt has a built in preamp that can be bypassed). This is a good mid-priced setup for vinyl. This tt is just the right combination of automatic and tactile operation, in my opinion. The noise that other reviewers have mentioned is only apparent to me when I’m cleaning records with a brush or cloth and thus slowing the otherwise precise speed of the platter.For years I have believed digital reproduction (done correctly) was superior to vinyl, but now have changed my opinion. Am enjoying the classic vinyl sound once again.

5. 

   5 out of 5

   Jerome – August 13, 2020

   I love that you can get this kind of quality for the money. Keep in mind this is a not a fully automatic TT. You’ll still have to queue up your records manually, but the auto stop feature is nice. It has a phono pre amp, but I bypass it and use my amplifier’s dedicated phono input. I output to four vintage speakers. I replaced the stock cartridge with a Rega Carbon. I never used the stock cartridge, so I can’t say what the system sounds like out of the box, but the Rega cartridge is fairly inxpensive and sounds great. I don’t know if it’s for beginners, but I found the table easy to set up. This is the most “dialed in” turntable that I’ve had. The dust cover takes some getting used to. It’s cool that it turns into a record stand so you can demonstrate to your listener what they’re listening to, but I’m not sure how much it fights dust vs a traditional hinged cover. Time will tell, but so far I love it!

6. 

   5 out of 5

   Matt O – August 13, 2020

   First, I did change to an Ortofon Red cartridge. The original cartridge sounded good. But the Ortofon takes this into a whole new class. This was the only turntable I could find that satisfied a number of requirements. The semi-auto feature was necessary in case I’m not in the room or fall asleep when the album ends. I wanted belt drive because I’ve done direct drive. Direct drive is cool at first but age significantly affects direct drive performance. I wanted to be able to switch between 45 and 33 rpm. And finally, I wanted audio ports that I could plug in my own cables. I don’t like hard-wired cables that you can’t improve or change length. Since I have to have this turntable on a shelf with little clearance above, the dust cover is perfect. With a standard dust cover you have to have the turntable stored with a large amount of clearance to open. And while many complain about the dust cover, it’s perfect for me and it looks damned sexy!

7. 

   5 out of 5

   Amazon Customer – August 22, 2020

   I’m 3 weeks in, and you could say I’m over the top thrilled. Cut to the chase and buy it…But read on…Have owned top tables in my past, while climbing to the top of audiophilia…I’ve become more practical yet demand best sound.The Denon was an outright surprise.Features that separate this table are:1.Detachable head shell2. Auto lift and turn off at end of record. Until you experience this you have no idea how nice.How many times I’ve been across the house and the record is in the lead out groove spinning…no more thank you Denon!3. Auto start. Once you advance the arm manually to the lead in groove. Slick.4. Internal phono stage.I’m a critical listener and find it to be very musical. The supplied Denon on cartridge will carry most of us for a very long time.I know there are a lot of opinions on the cartridge but I feel it to be well balanced tonally, neutral and not bright.For fun I did order the upgrade Styli from LP Gear and I did notice more detail and better separation in music recording.As a fun side note I ordered the FX Audio 01 tube buffer. Many folks praised it.And it does add a nice layer of warmth and possibly more air to the treble. A crazy buy on Amazon for 31.Those that want to know, im using the new Premium Technics SBC 700 speakers and matching Integrated amp.I’m pleased as can be with my set up!

8. 

   5 out of 5

   George – September 18, 2020

   I purchased this primarily to record my vinyl collection of 500+ older albums. I also wanted a decent quality turntable. The sound quality is pretty good. I am not an audiophile but could appreciate the warmer tone of the vinyl and don’t mind the clicks. I connected to my audio receiver and did not need the built in preamp (e.g. for going directly to speakers). Setup was easy. The supplied cartridge is not that bad, but I upgraded to an Ortofon 2M red mounted on a red headshell (much easier to install, plus the red headshell adds a nice pop of color to the white turntable base). If you do upgrade, be very careful with the needle, it is easy to break. I purchased a Neoteck Digital Turntable Stylus Force Scale fo check the weight and instructions that come with the Denon. Denon was pretty accurate! The Ortofon is supposed to last longer than the Denon cartridge. When I have the time, I really enjoy listening to an album and not having the music just as background. I can often hear more in the music than with digital recordings. But you have to have the time and patience for one side at a time. On one occasion the turntable did not turn off at the end even with the off switch. Unplugging and plugging in again, solved the problem without recurrence.As for recording, the attractive part about the Denon is that it (only) takes a flash drive not a cable. So if your computer is far from your turntable and stereo system and you don’t want messy wires showing, this is an elegant solution. I had a lot of difficulty with it not recording a full side at times. I read on a forum somewhere to try a better flash drive. I upgraded to a SanDisk 256GB Extreme PRO USB 3.2 Solid State and that made all the difference. This was probably overkill but you need a faster flash drive for the recording to work properly. If you can have the wires hidden and go directly to your computer the Denon may not be for you.I tried using the free Audacity software to process the recordings (to split the album side into its tracks and reduce pops and clicks) but it was too difficult to figure out. I purchased Vinyl Studio, initially the basic version but then the premium which allows you to process both sides of an album at the same time. At first it was able to download album art from Discogs, but currently there is an incompatibility so you have to take a photo or capture a web photo for album art. A bigger problem was getting the volume right. You can’t adjust it when recording to the flash drive. After splitting the tracks, next in the Cleanup Audio tab, you can adjust the “preamp” volume so it will be closer to whatever your digital music recordings are (trial and error), otherwise the sound is noticeably and irritatingly softer. I transfer the flash drive recorded sides to a separate hard drive and then use Vinyl Studio to process and then add mp3 or WAV files to my iTunes playlists. This preserves the originally recorded album sound on the hard drive (without any processing) and will allow me to sell or give away the albums in boxes taking up too much room.

9. 

   5 out of 5

   Robin David – February 18, 2021

   About three years ago the stop and return feature on my 35 year old Technics SL-D30 direct drive TT became so unreliable that I realized that I had virtually stopped listening to my records. I started the search for a replacement with some hope given the revival of vinyl. To my amazement, due to some combination of stupidity and audiophile arrogance, no direct drive automatic TT existed at any price. In the heyday of vinyl, automatic direct drive TTs existed at every price point. I had my Technics repaired. It sort of worked, less and less over time. I began my search again with no luck. So I started to look at the alternatives. The only automatic TT were all belt drives. I bought the Denon DP-400 because it was the only one under $500 that has auto stop and return and didn’t have any complaints of inconsistent rpms. It got generally favorable reviews.It was very easy to set up and get running. It seems solidly built – it’s heavy – and sleek looking, although its hard to imagine that the rubber band that is the drive belt will last more than a few years. It has a direct drive motor and claims to be engineered to maintain reliable rpms. It has no strobe, unlike my Technics, but that seems to be true according to my ear. The RCA cables are detachable which allows for upgrading or in my case longer ones. Most reviewers think that for $500 it should come with a better cartridge. It sounded pretty good to me until I compared it to the relatively new AT92E cartridge on my Technics. I would agree that an upgrade is in order. It is semiautomatic, meaning it stops and lifts at the end of the record but does not return or start automatically. The claim is that the added features add cost and have the potential to undermine smooth playback. Surely, the tone arm moves more freely than my Technics. It’s also no big deal since you have to get up to change the record anyway. I don’t know if it is common to other TTs, but it has a cuing feature which easily lets you place the tone arm anywhere on the record. The cuing arm, though, should be placed further from or angled out more from the tone arm to avoid bumping it.I’ve returned the Denon because I finally figured out a way to adjust the Technics so it reliably shuts off and returns and because the old one sounds better. I’m giving it 5 stars and would recommend it because it is the best being offered if you want reliable rpms and auto shut off below $500. That’s despite it being a bit pricey, especially since it should come with a better cartridge.