CD is a also physical format! Noise has nothing to do with that per se, but has everything to do with the manner of reading vinyl, whether at its simplest due to vinyl moving against diamond, or the addition of ingrained material from pressing mould release agents to dust, or surface wear, and other damage from lowering of the stylus to generally increasing with number of plays though I understand that periodic full wet cleaning can at least minimise ingrained material. Whilst when vinyl was my sole source I could ignore surface noise, that is no longer necessary.
you live close to the Black Rabbit? 
I’ve just spent an hour pondering the arm/cartridge match, looked at specs, reviews. The 110 seems to be very light, then it doesn’t help that different makers measure compliance differently so compliance/resonant frequency tables might not be accurate.
From the Project website the option seems to be an Ortofon Quintet Bronze, from those specs, I might not choose either the Denon or Goldring. But then I found a conundrum, reviews suggesting that the Denon is particulary adept at dealing with surface noise!
At which point, I bow out…
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You have some good albums there and what looks like a decent set up. Good luck with your journey. Don’t get despondent, just be a lot more picky about what you buy and where from. It can be frustrating and disappointing, but learn from it.
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As @Fatcat says, the arm might not suit the Denon cart.
Even though I don’t use one now, I’ve always done well with Audio Technica. They’ve always been quiet and tracked well in my systems, even on my first mid 1980’s Technics deck with a ‘P’ Mount. They’re always good value, bang for buck.
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Vinyl is a great way to preserve music into an uncertain future and a post-internet era
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CD is a physical format. Some CD’s I bought in the late 80’s, still play perfectly. They do not come pre damaged with all the old pressing faults that led me away from the format in 1984.
Today with improved mastering, and recording engineers who understand the format, CD’s sound pretty good, and have the advantage of having no surface noise and they do not wear out. A vinyl record degrades very slightly with every play.
When I read these threads, I see the same old problems are ever present.
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Yeah, yeah. The laser does not touch the CD like the needle is in contact with the vinyl. I know that you can hold the CD in your hand. My bad.
I have a Spin Clean and a load of SH vinyl - it’s good. Well worth it.
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So just took delivery of these 5 albums yesterday.
3 are perfect and sound amazing.
Unfortunately the London Grammar vinyl has this thump on one song that sounds like a bass drum, which I never hear before. Turns out there is a small bump on the record, which is making this sound.
Narah Jones album sounds incredible, best I’ve ever heard. However the last song on side A has this strange distortion that comes in a few times. Don’t know what’s causing it, as the record looks clean.
So is this just a normal practice? Get a few albums, check them, send back ones that have defects? 
Yes indeed welcome to the lottery. 
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I honestly don’t know but possible.
Cartridges have always been difficult to demo and compare but seems unlikely certain albums would be better or worse unless you’re simply hearing the mastering/pressing.
I think I was saying that my last cartridge change gave me a very detailed Linn which was exciting (purchase bias) but I may have preferred a more laid back Dynavector which is what I actually wanted.
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According to the AI on my phone the project arm is 8gr EM.
The DL110 needs 10 to 20 gr EM.
I have a Denon turntable/arm, the arm is about 18gr EM. So maybe 8gr arm is a bit low.
If it’s going to mistrack, it’s likely to happen towards the end of the record.
Thanks for the info Fatcat. I wonder if I could get some extra weight onto the arm or is that not recommended.
in fact I was thinking of adding a cuing lever to mine as it doesn’t have one.
Hi @DomTomLondon I’ve read through this topic and can only say that I’m in a similar situation like you: stepped into vinyl a couple of years back and have the same struggle as you have.
I know, this is not helpful, but you are not alone in this ‘lottery’ 
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I’m sure I can see a cueing lever in your picture. Is it the finger lift that is missing? Have you checked with your friend that it wasn’t left off. There used to be a thing about leaving them off or even cutting them off, alleging they caused unwanted vibrations…
Yes. Sorry that’s what I meant. The finger lift is what is missing. It definitely hasn’t been cut off. But unfortunately my friend did not have it.
No need to be sorry.
I can find a replacement fingerlift on line, about £4.99.
Thing is, whilst the DL110 is a good cartridge, as @Fatcat has shown above, it is not a good match with the Project tonearm. Whilst the fingerlift will add some mass, I’m not sure it will bring everything into the ideal place.
Search for Vinyl Engine cartridge resonance evaluator. You need the know the effective mass of your arm, the weight of the cartridge and mounting hardware and the cartridge compliance. The best match is a cartridge that falls in the green zone.
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