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Extremely rare Denon DL-311LC low output Moving Coil (MC) phono cartridge with art deco styling cues and lettering originally released for the Japanese market in 1987. Known for its dynamic, highly resolving sound, it features an LC-OFC (Linear Crystal Oxygen-Free Copper) coil and a special elliptical stylus mounted on an ultra-lightweight cantilever. It is mounted on an Audio-Technica Technihard AT-LH15/0CC Headshell (15g). Condition: Excellent Channel Separation: 35db Diamond inspected under Shure SEK-2 Microscope and showed no wear (Black stylus gauge is for demonstration only) Denon DL-311LC Specifications Type: Moving Coil (MC) Output voltage: 0.25mV/1kHz 5cm/sec Tracking force: 1.2～1.8g (standard 1.5g) Frequency response: 20-60,000Hz Compliance: 12×10⁻⁶ cm /dyne Load resistance: 100Ω (head amplifier) Internal impedance: 16Ω Stylus tip: Special elliptical Weight: 6.0g Release date: March 1987
This US$649 asking price is ambitious, sitting well above the typical used market range of US$250 to US$450 for the Denon DL-311LC. While recent listings show units around US$450 and Japanese NOS finds under US$250, this price exceeds the 75th percentile significantly, making it a difficult benchmark unless the cartridge is in pristine original-owner condition with all accessories.
The DL-311LC remains a worthwhile buy for its smooth, never-nervous sound and rare LC-OFC class 1 wire technology, delivering excellent bass depth and a wide 20 Hz to 60 kHz frequency range. Originally made for the Japanese market, this fairly rare MC cartridge is well-liked by enthusiasts who value its refined, non-fatiguing character, but only at a fairer price point closer to US$400–US$450.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Denon traces its origins to 1910, when American entrepreneur Frederick Whitney Horn founded Japan's first audio equipment company, Nipponophone, initially focused on gramophones and records. The Denon brand emerged in 1939 from the merger of Japan Denki Onkyo—combining "den" for electricity and "on" for sound—with other entities, marking a shift toward professional audio development. This heritage includes pioneering Japan's first professional disc recorder in 1945, used to capture Emperor Hirohito's voice, and launching the nation's first long-playing records in 1951.
The brand excels across a broad spectrum of hi-fi categories, from amplifiers, turntables, and tuners to loudspeakers, cassette decks, and phono cartridges. Denon's innovations extend to digital frontiers, such as the world's first practical PCM recorder in the early 1970s, the inaugural CD player in 1981, and early home theater systems with Dolby Digital in 1995. Today, its lineup encompasses AV receivers, headphones, wireless streaming solutions like HEOS, and high-channel processors, blending professional-grade components with consumer accessibility.
Denon holds a commanding position as a mid-to-high-end mainstay in the hi-fi market, revered for its blend of technological firsts, robust build quality, and balanced sound signatures that appeal to discerning enthusiasts. No longer a vintage collector's niche, it competes confidently against premium rivals, backed by over a century of audio leadership and strategic partnerships like its merger with Marantz.
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