Denon DP 400 Review
Written by SaifZiya
Whether you’re just stepping in the whole new world of music or you’ve been spinning the disks of the legends or making your own gems for a long time, you must have relied on some pro turntables if you’ve been serious about the record making.
Let’s have a wide-ranging Denon DP 400 review that outlines the ins and outs of this high-end, higher-ranking turntable – Denon DP 400 with an S-shaped tonearm.
Most of the people, especially the audiophiles, love to feel the warmth of vinyl records and pay close every tiny detail therein to feel the out-of-this-world vibes in the music. That’s only imaginable if you’re possessing a world-class turntable i.e. a disk spinner that houses unmatched functionalities you’ve ever experienced in your life.
We know you’re on the lookout for a first-class turntable that offers smooth experience, excellent sound quality, tip-top rigidity, and most importantly, a phonograph that is equipped with the built-in phono preamp. However, into the bargain, there’re other aspects that play a major part in the end-to-end success of a turntable.
Denon DP 400 Review
In order for you to make an informed decision, we’ve broken down every minor and major aspect that plays a huge role in a turntable, and there’re big reasons why we are doing this Denon DP 400 Review and we, therefore, would like you to pay heed to each one of them so as to make sure you’re not making a mistake while doing the selection for the turntable.
Does Denon DP 400 give you the freedom to connect to a stereo receiver or stereo speakers?
If that’s what concerns you, you’re in luck – as luck would have it, this semi-automatic analog turntable lets you do exactly the same – it’s all under your control to use your speaker with it in a direct way. Besides, it’s extremely stylish, giving you a modern look and you could always play the vinyl records at three different speeds – at 78, 45, and 33 1/3 like a pro.
The tonearm follows an S-shaped curve which gives you an optimized tracking angle no matter which point the record is at. If your dream is to invest in a turntable that automatically turns or lifts the tonearm when the turntable is done playing the record, look no further – this Denon DP 400 is your dream come true.
Now, let’s dive into the in-depth analysis of different features of this Denon DP 400 to help you make an informed choice, beginning with the #1 aspect:
Denon DP 400 Turntable with Built-in Preamp
Let’s begin our in-depth Denon DP-400 Turntable review so we could easily help you decide if this is the perfect fit for you. First, we will go over those features that matter most, starting with the ‘Sound Quality’.
1. Sound Quality
9.5 Out of 10 Ratings
How’s the sound quality of this Denon DP 400? Does it offer the quality that is up to the mark?
Competition is stiff, and that’s why Denon does everything to compete with other competitors in the long run with an intention to provide its customers with an amazing experience. Speaking of sound quality, it brings transparency and warmth in the sound – something you won’t experience in other turntables. What’s more, the DP 400 is equipped with an S-shaped tonearm which helps improve the sound quality and gives more precision.
So, no more struggling through the distortion or tiny cutouts in the music – rather, experience a crystal-clear sound. Not just that, this premium turntable allows you to directly connect to a pair of stereo speakers, thanks to the built-in phono Preamp.
Need to experience tremendous sound with every detail possible in the music? If affirmative, you’re covered – the speed auto sensor does the job to make your day in that area. Plus, an inbuilt phono equalizer will give you the opportunity to have an enveloping sound stage that animates your vinyl collection.
2. Design
9.2 Out of 10 Ratings
What about the structure and the material used in the making of this pro DJ turntable? Is this Denon DP 400 turntable strong to keep your DJing career last longer?
Many such questions come to mind during the evaluation of the design or structure of a turntable. How your turntable looks and how long it lasts means a lot to the person who owns it because you don’t want to bring a poor-quality, ineffectual turntable home, do you?
Speaking of the appearances, you will get a premium look, and the body and footprint are made of the long-lasting material so your turntable doesn’t end up dead in a couple of months.
The finishing is up to the mark – no complaints received by the verified customers on Amazon with regard to the aesthetics whatsoever.
Since it follows a strong-built construction with perfect density you need, you’re unlikely to fee any kind of resonance while the music plays. It also adds an extra to the longevity, found to be true in this Denon DP 400 Review by our pro experts.
On the whole, it will perfectly fit your turntable stand and last longer than you can imagine.
3. Features
9.6 Out of 10 Ratings
Is the varying speed what you’re apprehensive about?
Don’t panic because this Denon DP 400 is all about taking your DJing experience to the next level – incorporates a 3-speed system to play your cherished tracks at 33, 45, and 78 RPM.
With the automatic feature, you will be offered state-of-the-start ease of access, allowing the turntable to lift off the tonearm without requiring human efforts.
Let’s face it. Most of us, especially if you’re a music enthusiast, wish to feel the warmth of sound, every beat, bass, and treble in the music which requires the connectivity of the external stereo speakers. Luckily, this turntable comes with a built-in preamp that lets you do exactly the same.
With this semi-automatic turntable, you can get the redefined sense of your musical world, giving you the freedom to operate the disk spinner with the least efforts possible. Other features can be accessed through the one-touch controls.
Give your music system a rebirth by introducing the MM and MC cartridges support – both available in this turntable. Unlike other photographs, this one is super easy to set up and requires no tool – the cartridge comes pre-mounted – no need to mount it.
Let’s shed light on other prominent features and be amazed.
4. Controls
9.2 Out of 10 Ratings
Being listed as a semi-automatic turntable, this Denon DP 400 is capable of keeping you at ease.
When you make up your mind to play your cherished track, all you need to do is push the “Start” button and there you go. Put differently, when you play the vinyl track, the tonearm will automatically sit on the start position and lets the music play. It’s ever more satisfactory as far as the stopping the players are taken into account i.e. you don’t have to stop the player physically because it automatically stops when it’s done playing the track.
However, if the semi-automatic function is NOT your cup of tea, you can also turn it off all the way through a switch that is given at the backside of the player.
This Hi-Fi turntable also houses a 3-speed playback, allowing you to play the vinyl records at 33, 45, and 78 RPM. This gives you a next-level DJing experience while mixing up your records.
5. Tonearm
9.4 Out of 10 Ratings
The tonearm plays a significant role in producing Hi-Fi and clearer sound and that’s why it’s important that you purchase a turntable that is equipped with a top-notch tonearm.
Thankfully, during our Denon DP 400 review, we noticed that this disk spinner brings an S-shaped tonearm to life that is featured with a standard Headshell.
On top of it, if your turntable houses an S-shaped tonearm, it’s likely to give you the optimized tracking which is the most important thing to produce a clearer and quality sound. The more optimized tracking you achieve via the tonearm, the better the quality of the sound will be, not to mention the smooth and cue level that makes the job super easy.
Among other good reasons, an S-shaped tonearm produces a crystal-clear sonic signal that is necessary to experience first-rate sound quality. Furthermore, the harmonic distortion is also minimized which is a good thing.
6. Setup
9.0 Out of 10 Ratings
Does this Denon DP 400 require setup?
We know setting up a turntable with no know-hows could be a pain in the neck and you could end up breaking the spares of the player.
Fortunately, you don’t have to set it up. Also, the cartridge comes mounted which means you just have to connect the wires and play your most treasured vinyl track in next to no time.
What if you need to connect external speakers?
The good news is that it’s one of the turntables equipped with built-in phono preamps, allowing you to connect the stereo receiver or speakers with no issue at all.
Another satisfying update is that it houses removable RCA and power plugs which is not something you will get in a DP-300F, so it’s an advantage over the previous model.
7. Dustcover
9.2 Out of 10 Ratings
Since we are investing in a top-of-the-line turntable, it’s crucial that we keep it safe and out of dust reach. That’s where the dust cover comes in.
Unlike the older versions of Denon, the dustcover on this turntable is removable and stylish, as well. Some audiophiles believe that the dustcover could be a reason for the poor sound, so it needs to be removed while playing the records. However, not everyone agrees with this concept. But if you find yourself skeptical about it, you can easily remove the dust cover, and use the dustcover stand to have better space management around your turntable.
What’s more satisfying is that you can use the dustcover stand to showcase the vinyl records like a charm.
Denon DP 400 Review: What’s in the Box?
Knowing whether the box is carrying all the supplies you need to rock the music or not is also essential. That’s why you need to ensure that you’re not missing anything.
In the box, you will get around 12 accessories (including the turntable) which will be sufficient to have music to your ears.
Take a look:
Final Verdict: Denon DP 400 Review
We have reviewed a variety of turntables on this website – i.e. SoundBoosted. And, in this Denon DP 400 review, we’ve concluded that it’s one of the best turntables that come with built-in preamps (i.e. preamplifiers). It houses all the features a professional audiophile will need. In spite of being a full-featured turntable, it won’t make you break the bank i.e. you won’t suffer financially if you invest in this model.
Get One Before It's Too Late
The best time to get your hands on this Denon DP 400 is NOW because, one minute, it's here; the next, it's gone – out of stock.