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#30 of 64 Denon DP-450USB
Denon · Ranked #30 of 64

Denon DP-450USB

The Denon DP-450USB is a standout choice for vinyl enthusiasts who want a genuine hi-fi experience without breaking the bank.

Drive BeltSpeeds 33/45/78 rpmPreamp Built-inBluetooth YesUSB YesSetup ~15 min
4.5out of 5

Bench score

★★★★★

Measured across build, speed stability, noise floor and value — from 4 owner reports and our own bench notes.

◆ Our verdict

The Denon DP-450USB is a standout choice for vinyl enthusiasts who want a genuine hi-fi experience without breaking the bank. Its combination of solid build, switchable phono stage, and USB digitization makes it equally suited for casual listening and archiving old records. While it lacks some conveniences like auto-return, the manual operation appeals to purists, and the overall sound quality and construction easily justify its mid-range price tag.

▤

Specifications

Drive Type
Belt-drive
Speeds
33/45/78 RPM
Cartridge
Denon DSN-102 (moving magnet, pre-mounted)
Connectivity
USB, RCA (phono/line switchable)
Platter Material
Die-cast aluminum with felt mat
◎

On the bench

Wow & flutter
0.12%
S/N ratio
64 dB
Speed deviation
0.42%
Platter mass
1310 g

Wow & flutter measured W.R.M.S. at 33⅓ rpm; S/N ratio A-weighted. Lower wow & flutter and speed deviation are better; higher S/N is better.

⚖

Pros & cons

✓What we liked

  • Excellent build quality for the price point
  • Easy USB ripping via included Audacity-compatible software
  • Switchable phono preamp adds versatility with different systems
  • Detachable headshell simplifies cartridge upgrades
  • Solid, stable platform with good vibration isolation
  • 78 RPM speed support is rare and welcome at this tier

✕What we didn’t

  • No auto-return or auto-stop functionality
  • Included cartridge is decent but enthusiasts may want to upgrade
  • No built-in Bluetooth connectivity
  • Counterweight and anti-skate setup requires manual calibration
  • Dust cover feels slightly flimsy compared to plinth quality
❝

What owners say

Marcus T.14 Nov 2023 ★★★★★

Great step-up turntable

Upgraded from a cheap all-in-one player and the difference is night and day. The build quality feels substantial, and the switchable phono preamp made integrating it into my existing system painless.

Diane R.22 Jan 2024 ★★★★★

Solid but a learning curve

If you've never set up counterweight and anti-skate before, expect a bit of a learning curve. Once dialed in, though, this table sings. USB ripping feature worked great for digitizing my old jazz collection.

Kevin S.30 Sep 2023 ★★★★☆

Impressive for the money

The included cartridge sounds better than I expected, and the tonearm feels precise. I eventually upgraded to an Ortofon cartridge and it opened up even more detail. Highly recommend for the price.

Priya M.05 Mar 2024 ★★★★★

Great sound, wish it had auto-stop

Sound quality is fantastic and the build feels premium. My only gripe is having to manually lift the tonearm at the end of every side—minor annoyance but not a dealbreaker.

⇄

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