DL-160

About the DL-160

The Denon DL-160 is a high-quality moving coil (MC) cartridge developed by Denon, designed to deliver excellent sound quality with a high output voltage of 1.6mV, allowing direct connection to moving magnet (MM) phono inputs without requiring a step-up transformer or pre-preamp. It features advanced technology such as a traditional cross-shaped armature, dual construction cantilever, and a vibration center one-point support method using suspension wires, which contribute to balanced characteristics and sound quality comparable to more expensive cartridges. The stylus is a special elliptical solid diamond (0.07 x 0.14 mm) mounted on a tapered aluminum cantilever, optimized for smooth and accurate response with reduced tracking weight. The cartridge is well-regarded for its solid bass response, detailed midrange, crisp high-end, and wide frequency response from 20 Hz to 50 kHz. It weighs 4.8 grams and has a recommended tracking force of 1.6g ± 0.3g. Originally manufactured in Japan from 1984 to 1999, the DL-160 remains popular among vinyl enthusiasts and DJs for its reliability and sonic performance.