Dave's Faves - Denon DCD-900NE CD Player

Denon DCD-900NE CD Player, $550

(4 1/4h, 17 1/8w, 14 15/16d, 11 lbs)

I’ve written at length that Marantz’s SACD30n is my favorite disc player on the market, all things considered. It plays CDs and SACDs. It has a state of the art MMM (Marantz Music Mastering) DAC built in- that doesn’t employ a DAC chip. The DAC is all Marantz’s secret sauce. You can even run your streamer into SACD30n and listen to its DAC, rather than what’s in your streamer. Further, SACD30n is made in Japan where, let’s face it, there is a lot more TLC done than in China or Malaysia. SACD30n runs $3k, it weighs 31 lbs and has a 5 year warranty.

Well, what if your price range is half a grand? Which disc player is your best option?

Denon’s new DCD-900NE is a cut above your average bear. It tracks well and has smooth sound. It’s my fave at anywhere near five bills. It has a solidly built remote as well. Most inexpensive players come with “stick” remotes now. Let’s take a look.

*Vibration Resistant Laser reader/transport

This is important because it means your player will track well. Eleven pounds isn’t exactly 20 or 31, as Denon’s DCD1700 and Marantz SACD30n are. But please notice most inexpensive CD players weigh about 6 pounds. A little extra beef in the mechanics pays off in better tracking and longevity. The hearty aluminum feet are a nice touch too.

*AL32 Processing

This is Denon’s upsampling audio processing circuitry. Sabre 9018k2M DAC.

*Dedicated Master Clock

This extra step of including a dedicated clock, vs having timing done within another chip, produces more precise details in your music.

*Circuit Boards and Mechanics

Please note how the four circuit boards, transformer and transport, are separated from each other. This isolation allows for better mechanical and electronic isolation. Most companies making affordable CD players cram all the components into a tiny PCB and call it a day.