Denon VL-12 Prime Review

Fresh Wind in the Turntable Market

Prime at the beginning of 2017 revitalized a market, and there is no doubt that the SC-5000 media player and the X-1800 mixer brought a touch of freshness and innovation to consoles worldwide.

These two models immediately proved to be the only alternative to what had been considered an absolute monopoly until then. With the announcement of the Prime series, Denon DJ also introduced the VL12 turntable, which immediately garnered great interest. Since then, however, the atmosphere has remained quiet for almost a year, until today.

It must be said that there was not the same advertising effort for the launch of the turntable as for the rest of the Prime line. We assume that Prime's initial assault aimed to divert attention from the standards of the time, while the VL 12 turntable was not subjected to the same challenge.

Made for DJs

It is true that Technics has reintroduced the 1210 to the market, but at a price that effectively puts them out of business and rather targets the hi-fi sector. And there's more - Pioneer DJ already has two turntables, with performance, form, and appearance similar to Technics - likewise Mixars and Stanton, but none of them has ever designed a turntable from the ground up meant for pure DJ use.

Considering what other names in the industry have done, Denon DJ has developed a turntable aimed at performance, a deck that has been developed "front to back" to be equipped with the latest technology.

The VL 12 does not try to imitate the 1200, the platter, start/stop control, lighting, and pitch are obviously in the same position as any other professional turntable, but there are other differences that distinguish it, such as the LED ring that runs around the circumference of the platter with varying intensity and color.

The deck is very heavy, which ensures excellent isolation from the surface on which it rests, eliminating any feedback problems.

The package, in addition to the turntable, is already complete with the 45 RPM adapter - Yes, it's true, there's no dust cover, but the folks at Decksaver have already thought about it, and let's be honest, how many covers have we thrown away without ever using them?

Nice Appearance

Aesthetically, it is the most beautiful professional turntable on the market. It is chamfered at the base, which streamlines the entire shape. All connectors are positioned laterally (not in the rear, unusual position, but very practical, especially in the dark of DJ consoles. On the left side, there is the torque control - Hi or Lo - and the lighting control.

Robust Colleague

The LED ring we talked about earlier can be turned off if you don't like it. As mentioned, Denon DJ has worked hard on isolation: the entire base is made of a rubberized material, another secret weapon in the fight against unwanted vibrations.

The top part of the deck is made of black, satin metal, and the construction of the whole machine emphasizes high quality, as does the adjustable S-shaped arm. Pitch control is excellent and precise but lacks a 0% LED in the 0% click.

The pitch can range between ±8%, ±16%, and ±50%. In conclusion, the VL12 is the perfect complement to the Prime series and to any analog mixer.

Conclusion

The Denon VL-12 Prime is a product recommended for DJs seeking a flagship model, with extremely isolating feet capable of eliminating all those interferences and vibrations that often compromise the sound quality of an analog carrier.

The design and aesthetics make the turntable a feast for the eyes and a pleasant addition to any home or studio. The VL12 is a very good deck, as beautiful as it is efficient. It is probably the only direct competitor of Technics, but at half the price. Sensational!

The Denon VL-12 Prime is available for purchase HERE in the store.