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Phono Cartridge

Denon DL-110 vs Sumiko Pearl

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in Phono Cartridge

Denon DL-110

40 reviews

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Sumiko Pearl

27 reviews

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Great value for its price range

Adaptable to different genres and turntables

Brings out more detail in records

Highly recommended for its compatibility and sound quality

Great value for its price point

Elliptical stylus brings out detail in music

Generally considered to have a balanced sound and good tracking ability

Popular choice among audiophiles

Comes with useful small tools for setup

Not tracking well on some HiFi News test tracks

Some users have experienced a harsh edge in the sound

May require adjustments to preamp settings for optimal performance

Not considered the best option for all genres of music

Some users find it lacking in detail and too thick or heavy in sound

Not all users have had a positive experience with the cartridge

Verdict

The Denon DL-110 is a highly recommended cartridge for its compatibility and sound quality. It is a great upgrade from stock cartridges and brings out more detail in records. It is adaptable to different genres and turntables, but may require adjustments to preamp settings. Some users have experienced issues with tracking and a harsh edge in the sound. Overall, it is a great value for its price range and a popular choice among audiophiles.

Verdict

Overall, the Sumiko Pearl cartridge receives mixed reviews. Some users find it to be a great upgrade from their previous cartridges, with a balanced sound and good tracking ability. Others find it lacking in detail and too thick or heavy in sound. The cartridge is generally considered to be a good value for its price point, and its elliptical stylus is praised for its ability to bring out detail in music. Some users recommend other cartridges in a similar price range, such as the AT VM95ML or Grado cartridges. The Sumiko Pearl is generally considered to be a good choice for classic rock music, but may not be the best option for other genres. Overall, the cartridge is well-regarded for its clarity and smoothness of sound, and is a popular choice among audiophiles.

Reviews by Topic

Our analysis shows how reviewers feel about different topics. Please note these are not full reviews.

Sound Quality

I've been wanting to upgrade to an MC cartridge for awhile and the opportunity recently presented itself via a NIB Denon DL-110 from Japan at an affordable price. My fears that my Musical Fidelity V90-LPS would have insufficient gain to drive it were immediately proven to be unfounded as I'm able to obtain a comfortable listening level at about 11 o'clock on the dial on my Cambridge Audio 640A amplifier. First impressions are very good, considering that the cart hasn't even begun to break in yet. It's already an improvement over my 2M Blue and Nagaoka MP-110 which were my top MM carts in my collection

Positive

reddit.com/r/turntables

Sumptuous Sound, but a little heavy

The biggest improvement is in the stereo separation. There is now a tremendous depth in the soundstage that used to be very flat. Another review somewhere said it was great for classic rock. At first that struck me as a left-handed compliment, but now I see how that makes perfect sense

Soundstage

Just wonderful sounding

My Blue Point slurred the S's and the Audio Technica cartridge on my Technics SL-1700 also was very sibilant. The Denon reproduces the S's very sharply with no overt sibilance. Dropping the needle on Micheal Jackson's Billy Jean from "Thriller", another track that give cartridges issues, played very well. The sound stage width is very nice, too

A fine audio turntable cartridge.

The Sumiko Pearl stereo cartridge is a marvel of clarity and smoothness of sound. Great stereo stage, and very quiet. It makes even some of my battered (but still favorite) LPs sound good again. Good instructions and easy to install

Cartridge Type

Good but a bit harsh

I used this cartridge in the latest Rega RP3, NAD 350, HD650, very clear but with a harsh edge. I am now using a Grado Reference Platinum 2, which is as clear as the Denon but smoother. The Denon is very good but a bit aggressive. My preference is the Grado

Need a little help

If you’re ordering everything from the same place, contact them and ask if they can fit a different cartridge for you. If you want to stick with Rega then the Bias 2, otherwise perhaps the AT VM95EN or AT VM95ML, the Sumiko Pearl or Rainier, or something similarly priced from the Grado lineup. Avoid the Ortofon Red and Blue, they’re not good value. Otherwise get a Nagaoka MP110 or MP150 from another supplier

Negative

reddit.com/r/turntables

Frequency Response

Very disappointing.

The popping went away in Phono, so I figured no big deal, swapped to Phono and: Issue 2: So. Much. Treble. If I were to graph it: 2/10 on bass, 0/10 on mid, 11/10 on treble

audiophile cartridge at budget price.

This cart vividly captures all the frequencies that the human ear is capable of hearing. I got it here for less than $100, with free S&H. Mount it on a good turntable (mine is a Pro-Ject Expressions III with a carbon fibre tonearm), and you will be very pleasantly surprised! It makes CDs sound flat, and a bunch of "midrange noise", by comparison. Some people prefer cartridges made by other manufacturers, such as Ortofon or Grado, but this is a gem that is often overlooked, and doesn't garner the attention that it deserves

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