About the Denon DL-A110
The DL-A110 is a limited-edition moving-coil cartridge released to mark 110 years of Denon audio, built as an exact reproduction of the original DL-103's internal design but finished with an exclusive African blackwood body and silver-graphite headshell, plus its own carrying case. Like every DL-103-family cartridge, its copper wire is still hand-spun at Denon's Audio Works factory in Shirakawa, Japan, a level of hands-on craftsmanship that hasn't changed since the original design debuted.
An aluminum cantilever paired with a Microline diamond stylus is engineered for meticulous tracking and detail retrieval, delivering a wide, flat frequency response from 20Hz to 45kHz and channel separation of 25dB at 1kHz. As a moving-coil (MC) design with a 0.3mV output, it needs a phono stage or step-up transformer built for MC-level signals to perform at its best. A gold-plated bayonet connector makes installation quick and keeps the electrical connection reliable for years of use.
Recommended tracking force is 1.5-2.1g, with 1.8g as the optimal setting for flawless playback, and dynamic compliance of around 14cu at 10Hz suits a wide range of tonearms. As a limited-run anniversary piece built on a six-decade design, it's aimed at listeners who want the classic DL-103 sound in a distinctive, collectible finish.
Product Highlights
- Limited-edition 110th anniversary moving-coil (MC) cartridge
- Exact reproduction of the original DL-103 design in a silver-graphite headshell finish
- African blackwood body, aluminum cantilever, and Microline diamond stylus
- Hand-spun copper wire, built at Denon's Shirakawa Audio Works factory in Japan
- 0.3mV output voltage, 25dB channel separation at 1kHz
- Recommended tracking force 1.5-2.1g (1.8g optimal)
- Gold-plated bayonet connector for quick, reliable installation
- Includes exclusive carrying case
What's in the Box
- Denon DL-A110 moving-coil cartridge
- Mounting hardware
- Stylus guard
- Exclusive carrying case
- Instruction Manual
- Warranty Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the DL-A110 need a special phono stage?
A: Yes, as a moving-coil cartridge with 0.3mV output, it needs a phono stage or step-up transformer built for MC-level signals rather than a standard moving-magnet-only input.
Q: What's different between the DL-A110 and the standard DL-103?
A: The DL-A110 reproduces the original DL-103's design exactly but in a limited-run silver-graphite headshell finish with an African blackwood body, and it ships with its own carrying case.
Q: What tracking force should I set for the DL-A110?
A: Denon recommends 1.5-2.1g, with 1.8g as the optimal setting for flawless playback.
Q: Is the DL-A110 a limited edition?
A: Yes, it was released to mark 110 years of Denon audio and comes in a distinctive finish and carrying case not available on the standard DL-103.
Q: Where is the DL-A110 made?
A: Like the rest of the DL-103 family, its copper wire is hand-spun at Denon's Audio Works factory in Shirakawa, Japan.
