DP-70M
(1980 - 1983)

Good looking integrated LP turntable with middle of the road design between Denon's 1970s flying saucers and upcoming 1980s technoïd displays. The top veneer isn't the usual rosewood but bubinga.

Costing 98,000¥, the DP-70M was no toy at all, even if it sported a fixed tonearm. The Denon trademarks were in: double-platter (zinc diecast + aluminium diecast), strong torque from the AC motor, bi-directional servo motor, very high 80dB s/n ratio, ridiculously low speed deviation, a fair resistance to load and 16kg on the balance, too.
The step up was the DP-80 standalone drive which cost 95,000¥ all by itself - sans auto shutoff, sans tonearm, sans PCL-4 headshell, sans base. You guessed it : even if VTA was adjustable on the fly up to 9mm, the economy was here made on the tonearm.

Discreetely elegant nevertheless.