Review on 🎵 Denon DP-400 White Semi-Automatic Analog Turntable: Curved Tonearm, Speed Auto Sensor, & Vintage RPM Support for Superior Audio Experience by Christine Chance

Of all the turntables I've tested, the Denon DP-400 offers the best combination of sound quality, ease of use, and user-friendly features, including a built-in phono stage, speed dial, cue lever, and auto disc stop with arm lift. In addition, the cartridge can be easily upgraded for even higher performance. The sound quality of the DP-400 is very good. Background noise ranged from very quiet to almost inaudible, and this model did a good job of quelling pops and other pickup issues that some gamers have struggled with. As much as I enjoy listening to vinyl, hearing less pops and crackles is always a good thing. Some other turntables offered slightly better bass details, but this was due to the pre-installed pickup. When I replaced the stock Denon DP-400 pickups with Ortofon Red or Blue, it sounded as good or better than any turntable I've tested. The black cover of the turntable stands upright next to the turntable. The Denon lid doubles as a presentation stand. Photo: Rozette Rago. Close up of a Denon counterweight on a platter mount. The counterweight has adjustment marks to balance the DP-400's tonearm. Photo: Rozette Rago. A closeup of the speed selector knob on a Denon turntable. With the speed switch you can easily select 33, 45 or even 78 rpm without having to lift the disc. Photo: Rozette RagoClose-up of the Denon lever. The DP-400 comes with a lever that makes it easy to raise and lower the tonearm. Photo: Rozette Rago The black cover of the turntable stands upright next to the turntable. The Denon lid also serves as a presentation stand for records. Photo: Rozette Rago. Close up of a Denon counterweight on a platter mount. The counterweight has adjustment marks to balance the DP-400's tonearm. Photo: Rozette Rago1 of 4. Measuring power with the Platter Speed app, I found the belt-driven Denon DP-400 to be the most accurate turntable we tested at 33 and 45 RPM. It had a bit more wow and flutter than some of the competitors in tests, but I didn't hear that while listening. Aside from the fully automatic turntables we tested, the Denon DP-400 was the easiest to use. Balancing the arm is easy, and speed selection is via a rotary dial, so you don't have to raise the platter to play 33, 45, or even 78 rpm records (as is required on some other turntables we've tested). A built-in auto-stop feature stops recording when you reach the end of a page and lift the turntable handle. This reduces wear and tear on the stylus, which can only last 300-400 hours of use, and allows you to play a record while doing other things without worrying about not being around to do it to stop. The built in phono preamp works well and is easy to turn off if you prefer to use an external phono preamp. Unlike some other turntables we've tested, the Denon uses standard RCA phono plugs rather than a built-in cable, allowing you to choose the correct cable length. Using an external phono preamp worked well and this turntable has a ground wire connection which was not needed on some others to eliminate any hum that might occur. RCA connectors instead of built-in cable, so you can choose the right cable length. Photo: Rozette Rago DP-400 is also an attractive turntable. Finished in high-gloss black, it doesn't look cheap and plasticky like some of the other models, and has a sleek lid that doubles as a display stand. The DP-400 can easily be upgraded to a higher quality cartridge. Street. Some of the players we tested limit you to using the company's cartridges. Others do not have a counterweight that can be adjusted for a new cartridge. Denon is compatible with the standard SH-4 shell, so you can easily install a pre-installed Ortofon Red or Blue cartridge without tiny screws. I switched to Ortofon Blue and the resulting sound was so good I see no reason to ever update it. If you're looking to digitize your record collection for storage on a computer or hard drive, Denon offers the DP-450USB, which is otherwise identical to the DP-400 but adds a USB output for an additional $100. It's an easy way to make digital copies of your favorite albums, but it's not as simple as simply streaming those tracks from a music service (although audio quality can vary and some recordings may not be available for streaming).