Most people today either use an iPod, Mp3 player or their mobile phone to listen to their favourite music. Even our CD players at home have become outdated, being increasingly replaced with state of the art iPod docks. But in this age of digitalisation, the magic of the LP is still not lost. Many music companies continue to produce records and the charm of listening to the hum and crackle of needle on vinyl continues to enchant us. No wonder then that Denon, a world class manufacturer of home-theatre systems, AV receivers and various other electronics hasn't given up for good on record players. This month, we review the Denon DP-29F, a turntable for the modern day consumer.

Out of the box

At first glance, we liked the silver finish of the player which gave it a polished, modern appearance. The outer plastic body of the DP may look simple and economical, but one can hardly complain considering that this is not a premium product. If you're not looking for an antique, the DPs silver body should fit in nicely with your home theatre system.

Technology

The DP-29F has been constructed with high precision diecast aluminium. The rigid diecast material contributes to the turntable's steady performance, which in turn enhances the audio quality of the turntable. It also has an inbuilt automated system. Once you place a record on the platter and press the start button, the tonearm automatically positions itself on the record to begin playback from the first track. However, you have to first choose the size of the record you want to play and for that there is a selector switch that gives you options for an EP (17cm) or an LP (30cm). This system saves you the hassle of physically placing the tonearm on the record, not to mention the fact that the human touch, while you place the tonearm on the record, causes a little surface friction. The DP-29F also features a built-in phono equaliser. When you turn on the phono equaliser switch (which is hidden below the platter), the RCA interconnects can be connected directly to an integrated amplifier. As a result of this, you needn't route the low level signals of the turntable to a phono pre-amp.

Performance

They say that a record player is a tweaker's delight. This is because if you consider CD players there aren't really any adjustments you can make. Most of them come with their built-in DACs and other electronics with which you really can't play around. But a record player needs proper setup and that is exactly what we ensured with the Denon DP-29F. We placed the turntable on a flat surface to make sure that no external vibrations could make its way to the player. Some audiophiles may argue that basic features like anti-skate control and counter balance weight are missing on the DP-29F. In fact, we found ourselves wondering whether the tonearm would require changing in the future. We couldn't figure out an answer to that question. However, the sound quality of the DP-29F is what astounded us the most and it almost made us zip our lips within moments of listening to it.

When we placed “Plastic Beach” by the Gorillaz on the turntable we couldn't believe our ears for the first few moments. The dynamic range that the player covered was simply amazing. The DP-29F could easily deliver the deep bass notes from the Gorillaz LP. Usually, it isn't possible for a turntable to enter into the deep bass frequency region because a lot of low rumble noise is generated by the rotary mechanics and motor systems. But the DP-29F delivered a smooth and rounded bass response. The sound quality of the turntable was not only focussed in the low end region but also in the audible high frequencies which were sweet and clean. The dirt particles on the surface of the records did generate occasional noise during the audition session as they rubbed against the stylus during playback. However, it did not hamper the overall sound quality of the player.

Our verdict

The Denon DP-29F is perfect for everyday casual listening. This player will be an irresistible option for most of us. Tonally, the player is well-balanced, the mid-range is warm and beautiful and the treble is clean and easy on the ears.

In fact, a first time listener would be completely blown away by the charming midrange quality of the turntable. Moreover, the inbuilt pre-amp saves you the trouble of additional electronics and amplification. Overall, the DP-29F does a great job on the musical frontier. The absence of anti-skate and counter weight options may worry certain audiophiles, but the automated system built into the player takes care of all those things.

Love: Price, replaceable cartridge, good sound quality

Hate: Very basic design

Rs 9,900

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