Thanks for a good review. I don't have any experience with Denon, but having seen many reviews of their receivers, it's clear, they're a company throwing some guts behind their faceplate. And all indications are, those guts are quality guts. Thanks for taking the time to post this. People know what they're exposed to, and they experience the world of music through their phone... we need to change that.
uglie dentät? ´FRönt... but surelie knöt töö bäd compaired to newer old ones on ebäyy?? 3560 3300 1700 decent steer klirr off 1500 mk2 bc öFF öLD däc..? have 980 great rounded comp 2 620 but slide? väle?.. över highs... rather analoy sound prefers rock knott synthpop comp to 1 bitters id sLäyy. but ´Feiz gäinst my chaepö 202a tech ^F^ (ps wobbly träy but knöt cheapö turbö öne xD (980 only with tt like slip-speed cöntröll vv very nice -:-
The 2 big differences (you did not mentioned) between 900NE and 600NE: 900NE has optical and coaxial output, 600NE has only optical. The 900NE has detachable power cord, and 600NE has fixed. Also, 900NE is bigger and heavier. Just my 2c.
LIKE number 2 which is a fine hullabaloo. :) I still buy CD's now and then and even bought a few recently and I have kept my original CD collection built over time that spans all the way back from 1988 or 1989.
I have had this model snce September 2023. It's really worth the money. As for the thumb stick, It is what was crucial while buying the unit. It can read FLAC files as you mention and what should be mentioned it CAN random play ALL files/songs from all albums at a time.
Fantastic review and loved your honest remarks at the end regarding the relative value to the DCD 600. I can top this even further: if you don’t want to play SACDs, there’s barely a noticeable sonic difference of the DCD 600ne to the 1600 model (priced at $1500). I owned both and compared them extensively in blind tests…, and despite hours of A/B listening to identical CDs, wasn’t able to tell them apart reliably, and frequently preferring the 600! Unless the 900 beats the 1600, I don’t see a sonic step up from the 600 to the 900 either. The sole difference as you go up from the 600 model is not sonic, but the build quality (drive is less flimsy and will provide more longevity when the plastic tray of the 600 gives out), co-ax out (not just Toslink), and the product dimensions: you can’t stack a Denon PMA 800, 900, 1600, or 1700 on top of the smaller 600 model. This sucks especially for those who own the PMA 900 which replicates the DCD900’s (very limited) USB function giving you even less I.e. zero reasons to own one rather than the cheaper and just as good sounding DCD 600. For the same sound, you have to add $100 just to get a 7cm deeper chassis. It’s beyond ridiculous.
I think I'm just going to go up a big step to the new DCD-1700NE and call it a day. Expensive, but I can't remember my last CD player purchase. They last near forever, so it's not like I'll be buying another in a few years.
Others to consider would be the Emotiva erc-4, Rotel rcd-1572, Yamaha cds-x000, or Cambridge Audio cxc (transport). I think Audiolab's transport sounds excellent with the Topping d70s or Denafrips aeries also. Nearly every Denon player I've had, was very good sounding with a "house" detailed warmth, much like Marantz equipment.
I have the DCD-800NE, which this one replaces. Based on your review, there’s simply not enough in the 900NE for me to justify an upgrade as the USB input is also available on that model. The only difference is the deeper chassis and the replaceable power cable, the one on the 800NE is fixed, just like on the 600NE. Since I got the 800NE at a nice discount during the pandemic, I’m going to keep it. BTW, the 1700NE replaces the 1600NE.
I have a DCD800NE too & for 3 years have used it. It has a better transport than a cheaper Denon model I have which has started to fail me. The 900 has AL32 PLUS processing that no one seems to have picked up on & new PCBs. I found the 800 took a lot of playing to burn in & settle down & the 900 is likely to be the same. So any comparison out of the box is rather futile as I think I had to rack up 500 hours before it came good. Still very good now especially with rock.
I just picked up the DCD 900NE with a discount of 20% as inflation is destroying my savings & I also own the 800NE. I would like to say that the 900 is quite a bit deeper in size than the 800 so if you are pushed for space maybe this will be a factor. Out of the box soundstaging with any interconnect I had to hand was larger than the 800 & detail was very much to the fore but in the Denon way not overbearing. Bass is substantial & full sounding also. The 800 is still good & I will be keeping mine aswell.
I believe the 800 has AL32 PLUS processing also. But you are absolutely correct that the soundstage is quite large with fuller bass (compared to the 600NE I also have) and I'm using the internal DAC and the SQ is magnificent.
CD players have become nothing but marketing. I have an Oppo 203 32 bit AKA DAC. And I’ve compared it to my Yamaha. 30-year-old. CDX 1030. Which I know will blow away that Denon. That Yamaha only has a one bit. Dac from 91. The Yamaha Weighs about 25 pounds. Which tells me the power supplies are the most important. Because that Yamaha blew away a 32 bit AKA dac. In that Oppo and according to Audioholics those Oppos were the best things since sliced bread. The Yamaha blew it away.
Just because you prefer the sound of your Yamaha, that doesn't mean modern players are all about marketing. You're being totally uninformed and closed-minded.
Thanks for a great review! Does being able to use the usb for DSD/ hi res files playback make it a better option then the 600ne. There seem to be many who rip cd’s or like to upscale there tunes into higher formats??
Great question. Honestly, due to hi res streaming, I no longer rip my CDs and never used the USB input for playback. I think for fans of ripping/usb, the 900NE makes sense, but if you're someone like me that just plays the discs, I would stick with the 600NE. Hope that helps!
@@ForeverAnalog Thanks so much for taking the time to reply to my question. I originally purchased a Sony 800m2 cd/sacd/dvd player in hope's of gettingt that extra bump in sound quality with sacd's but it was a pain to get there and I returned the unit.I thought a good compromise would be is to get a cd player with a usb that decodes dsd in case I wanted to venture in the rabbit hole once again ?
Hi, M Den, I think the Coax or Tos-link output is not good enough for high-res files. I have Sony Bluray player used as transport with HDMI output into HDMI-I2S converter and into the DAC with I2S input. This allows me to fully enjoy SACDs. I have never tried hi-res files on USB as I do not know how to rip SACD.
Hi, very interesting about the Denon dcd 900 NE. Black NOW € 349 !!!! Juli 2023 (Euros Brand New in The Netherlands (Europe). i have the Denon DCD 710 AE now. i want to upgrade my CD player. The DCD 600 NE has NO USB input. I don't use it. The 900 NE does has a usb input. But it has an Alpha 32 processing plus, High-Res audio, and an aluminium panel. Looks more premium. I will definitely buy the Denon dcd 900 NE. For Sure. BTW : Did you know Denon TOOK OVER Marantz a couple of years ago?. Glenn
My take on this is that if you want to use the cds dac then this one’s better than the 600 but if you are wanting to use an external dac because it’s better then either unit are good.
I have had a Denon DCD -2560 x 20+ yrs. It sounds great. I think the CDs sound better than my albums on the Philips 212 turntable with Stanton 681ee cartridge. The receiver is the Marantz 2250B. I was wondering if a new DAC will improve the sound of the CD player. So new Dac better than the 2560 4 dac chips, also the albums sound not as good so external phono stage vs Marantz 2250B? None of the equipment has been restored and I feel that to get the sound quality of the CD to the albums require a much more expensive set up turntable cartridge phono stage. Any thoughts about the brand of external dac if you feel it would be better improvement? Thanks Dave
I own the Schiit Modi and the Denafrips Ares II, both of which I like, but I spent a lot on the Ares II. I am behind on hearing Topping DACs but a lot of folks like them and they are often sub $200 on Amazon where you could easily return if you didn't like it. I found it took a couple of days to listen with the DAC to notice differences. For my system the main upgrade was in detail, hearing things in music that I hadn't heard before using the internal DAC of the CD player.
Wowsers, I had the same Philips phono when I was in college in 1977! I was advised to upgrade back in the late '80's & still use my 1987 Cambridge turntable, updated with a new belt & a Sumiko cartridge a few years ago. One line of inexpensive DACs I've heard good things about is the iFi brand & also Schitt. I'm using a Chord Mojo myself & kind of loving it (over $500USD currently). I would begin an upgrade journey if I were you. It will be rewarding for sure.
Thanks for the review! As a fellow dealer, We can definitely confirm that Denon DCD-900NE is a high-quality CD player known for its exceptional audio performance. It features a precision-engineered disc drive mechanism and advanced audio circuitry, delivering accurate and detailed sound reproduction. The player also supports various audio formats and has a USB port for convenient playback. Its sleek design adds a touch of elegance to any audio setup. And as a fellow dealer, We can definitely vouch for the quality of Denon products. If you have any other questions about Denon DCD-900NE please feel free to ask!
Denon Cd players are good for the price. Some other brands made it worse in terms of flaws and functionality. I use DCD-520AE, which is now out of production and my Vietnamese model most probably doesn`t use original Brown-Buhr DAC. So my next choice would be DCD-600NE with original Brown-Buhr chip.
In this age of digital losses CDs have no ROI. But there are selected releases which aren’t on streaming etc…I recently got the mark knopfler re issues of all his solo works, that’s not on streaming.. Btw I checked out that Tom petty alibum on streaming it sound great!
Tom’s recordings are always so great. I read an article with Rick Rubin saying Tom was the most particular artist he ever worked with when it came to capturing the right guitar tone!
@@nickolaymiltenovI agree. There was a story in a magazine about the revival of the vinyl and the true pleasure of owning the physical copy, be it a vinyl or a cd. I liked how they ended the story. What a streaming/download type guy says to his friend: “Come to my place! I will show you my downloads collection.” :) Not that I’m against streaming. But in the end the physical copy wins every time.
@@gennadijbelov3859 Купил 600, попался с заводским внешним дефектом. Пришлось вернуть. Звук обычный (не лучше моего старого Blu-Ray плеера) Внешний вид хорош, кроме лотка для дисков. Сейчас наверное куплю 900. Там говорят звучание лучше намного.
Flash drive......If the music is in individual files under band names. How do you navigate to each file to get it open. Or does the USB port only read single tracks
Hi, now i use onkyo cd 7030 cd player. Whats ur oppinion to get better sound? Should i change to marantz cd player, or buy DAC converter? And which type u recommended? Thanks
I've owned the Onkyo C7070 cd player for over a decade. I believe that 7000 series were the most under the reader underrated modestly priced cd players at that time The only problem I had was a disc jammed the draw as it slide over the very shallow recess on closing. A local electronics guy recovered it & we couldn't believe the build quality of the components inside Sounds very natural yet detailed with Focal Floorstanders & a Naim XLS2 amplifier. I don't think I would hear much improvement even using a high end cd player tbh 👍🇬🇧
Just bought this one from Crutchfield. I have it running through a newly rebuilt Technics SA400 receiver and JBL L82. Well built, sounds great and I’m happy but I agree with this review. Unfortunately the USB does not support I POD classic …GRRR, but I have another way to do so. No drawer control on the remote. I also own a CD C600 changer from Yamaha and a Marantz CD6007 in my Rotel/B&W system.
Wonder how a vintage, full featured classic design DENON? (1990) DCD 1400 compares. It's connected to vintage NAD Integrated amp more modest than the rest of your setup. Also directly to a new Headphone am-DAC. No. I could not afford their top players a step higher. I am happy with it still. It's belt was replaced approx. 1999. What to get if it has to be replaced?
Good question - I haven't had much experience with vintage Denon players but I bet they sound great - I would probably still connect to a modern external DAC, but that's just my sound preference. Thanks for watching!
I had the 1420 (a superb machine) and am a 1996 first hand owner of a dcd 3000. It has been repaired a few years ago because the cd loader didn't work anymore. It sounds great and weighs a tank :-). Actually i don't think you will hear any sound difference (also taking into account you are not 20 anymore).
what a weird question. It's a cd player. CD player should be able to play gapless. Gapless seams to be an issue since streaming became popular. Has never been an issue in the cd -era
@@millsdg ridicolous. If there is no gap, it should not add a gap. So the cambridge adds a gap while it ain't there . My 1420 of 1988 did not have the "gapless" issue and my dcd 3000 from 1996 doesn't have that "gapless" issue. I think it is issue of modern cd players as this issue didn't exist in the past
The Rotel C11 Tribute is a great sounding player with few flaws ( the remote and display could use improvement) but the unit functions well. Pairing this currently $400 player with a good DAC would would lift it into the high end realm for a reasonable price. The transport in the unit is very good, better than many dedicated transports. Adding something like the Schiit Modi. Multi bit DAC would give your whole system a digital input upgrade that you notice.
That’s too bad… That would’ve been perfect. That’s exactly what I’m looking for: A good quality single CD player with a USB/thumb port that also supports MP3 320, at around that price range (which is around $500, I believe)… The situation is that my car will only support MP3 320 on thumb drive… But i want to just walk into the house and play that same thumb drive on my component stereo… Also I’m not very tech savvy, so I can’t figure out how to just play the thumb drive on my Windows laptop, even though the music on the thumb drive was created on that same laptop… I plug the thumb drive in, and for the life of me I can’t get it to play, like it does in the car, which is completely simple… I Google for help on this but it always brings me to some discussion forum that describes all these complicated steps to go through, so essentially I get no answer… I would think it should be simple for the laptop that I used to put the music on the thumb drive would readily PLAY the music on the thumb drive! Call me crazy! 😂 Well anyway, thanks for your insight, and for responding at all! 😂
@@rickyrocketish1 apologies, but I misspoke - this CD player DOES have a USB input - I think there is a limit of songs though which I mention in the video. Apologies again, I looked at your comment on my phone app and thought it was a Sony receiver, lol!
@@ForeverAnalog But is it worth it to take a dcd 900? I listen to rock music, I want detail in the music, will it give it? before that I had an old player from the kenwood receiver. will there be a difference in sound? won't it sound flat?
I have it Denon don't like the RCA sound pure mode. ... forget it Digital only then you have the best sound and it's great This is a player that won't like bad mp3 with Jetter Only the best mp3 with good sound CD sound is also great .. CD Denon 900Ne &Denon Av h1600
I was comparing this with the Marantz. Marantz has 3 year warranty vs Denon 1 year. I have had a Denon DCM-380 in the past and reliably was not so good.
Aqui no Brasil se usam muito CDs players como : Sony, pioneer, Panasonic , Philips e gradiente... como players + populares... para os + entusiastas... usam aqui no Brasil os player da marantz , yamaha e onkio... acha se outros modelos ... mais novos ou antigos... + os + populares são esses mencionado acima... novos ou semi-novos... eu uso um da Panasonic e um JVC por exemplo... todos com 5 CDs ou bandeja como chamamos aqui no Brasil!!!
Is it worth 500 dollars. If you get a diskman and put the headphone output through your HiFi amp can you tell the difference in the sound. I mean 500 dollars worth of difference, on pop music?
@@fieldauditservices6870 Have you actaully tested it? Have you got someone else to plug it in while you are blindfolded and asked you to identify which CD player is playing a pop song.
Bruh best ? Esoteric, metronome ,msb , dcs, ps audio and tons of really high end cd players there , you have any clue how they sound man ! These are just like baby toys like sound man these denons. It won’t score even 1 in scale of 10. 😢
@@ForeverAnalog Forget that idiot comment. I have a decent DCD-3560 from 1991. It weights 17 kg! There are Esoteric and Wadia and Accuphase out there for $10.000 usd yeah, but not for us. A decent DAC can help. I am using a PMA-2500NE with my 3560 sometimes via digital sometimes via analog. Sounds surprisingly high-end-like! Your review was great, but you should compare 800ne to 900ne. 600ne is a step down from them. :)
@@ForeverAnalogif you can pick up a second hand (discontinued) Arcam FMJ139 it’s such a fabulous CD player (yes it’s primary a dvd player but plays SACD’s too) I regret selling mine as I originally bought it new at £1800 (don’t know the $ £ conversion. )
