The Denon DP-450USB sits alongside the DP-400 in Denon’s current turntable lineup, sharing the same belt-drive platform and S-shaped tonearm but adding an integrated USB-A port for direct vinyl digitisation. Where the DP-400 is a pure analogue deck, the DP-450USB bridges analogue and digital by recording directly to a USB drive in MP3 (192 kbps) or WAV (44.1 kHz/16-bit) without requiring a computer.
Drive System & Platter
A DC servo motor drives the weighted platter via a belt, keeping wow and flutter to 0.08% WRMS. Three speeds are supported — 33⅓, 45 and 78 rpm — covering standard LPs, singles and shellac records. An integrated auto-sensor monitors platter speed and compensates for fluctuations to maintain consistent pitch accuracy throughout playback.
Tonearm & Cartridge
The DP-450USB uses a static-balanced S-shaped tonearm with an effective length of 220 mm and 16 mm overhang. Stylus pressure is adjustable from 0 to 4.0 g, accommodating cartridges weighing between 5.0 and 13.0 g. A pre-mounted MM cartridge is fitted from the factory with an optimum tracking force of 2.0 g, delivering 2.5 mV output (phono equaliser bypassed). The replacement stylus is the DSN-85. MC cartridges can be fitted as an aftermarket upgrade.
Semi-Automatic Operation
At the end of a record side, the tonearm automatically lifts and returns to its rest position, protecting both the stylus and the vinyl from unnecessary wear. Playback stops automatically — there is no need to rush back to the turntable when a side finishes.
Built-In Phono Equaliser
An integrated phono equaliser allows the DP-450USB to connect directly to any amplifier, AV receiver or powered speaker with a line-level input — no separate phono stage is required. With the equaliser engaged, output rises to 150 mV. The equaliser can be bypassed for use with a dedicated external phono stage.
USB Recording
A front-panel USB Type A port accepts standard USB drives for one-touch recording. Vinyl tracks are saved as MP3 (192 kbps) or WAV (44.1 kHz/16-bit) files directly to the drive. The free Musicut software (Windows) provides track splitting and metadata editing after recording.
Design & Construction
The DP-450USB is finished in durable aluminium and measures 415 mm wide, matching the width of Denon’s Design Series and CEOL components as well as the classic 43 cm Hi-Fi separates. A removable dust cover eliminates the vibration issues associated with hinged covers and doubles as an upright display stand for the album sleeve currently being played. Power consumption is 10 W in use and 0.5 W or less in standby.
