CD popularity is on the upswing. In 2021, sales were up 21% to $584 million. Listening to music on physical media such as vinyl records, audio cassettes (yes, even audio cassettes), and CDs are favored by many music fans.
To lend its support to the audio CD format, Denon has introduced the DCD-900NE CD player at the 2022 High-End Munich Show.
What the DCD-900NE Offers
The DCD-900NE features a sturdy anti-vibration chassis and cabinet. The design also serves to visually complement other Denon Hi-Fi components such as the forthcoming PMA-900HNE integrated network streaming amplifier.
With this duo, you can not only enjoy your CD collection but stream music from popular services, as well as audio for gaming and TV viewing.
Tip: If streaming isn’t important, you can also pair the DCD-900NE with the forthcoming PMA-1700NE no-frills integrated amplifier.
The DCD-900NE includes Denon’s AL32 Processing Plus. This feature includes interpolation algorithms, up-sampling, and bit extension for more precise sound reproduction.
CD playback compatibility includes CD/CD-R/CD-RW discs. CDs with MP3 and WMA files are also playable. HDCD discs are playable, but access to the 4-bit extension is not provided. SACD playback capability is not included (according to the specs provided by Denon).
Tip: More details on CD, HDCD, and SACD tech.
In addition to CD playback, the DCD-900NE provides a front-panel USB port for the connection of a USB flash drive. USB playback supports both standard and Hi-res audio digital audio formats including MP3, WMA, AAC and WAV, FLAC HD, ALAC, AIFF (up to 192-kHz/24bit), and DSD (up to 5.6-MHz).
Analog RCA and Digital Optical/Coaxial audio outputs are also provided, as well as wired remote control connections for integration with other components or systems.
The DCD-900 includes a Pure Direct option. If you prefer listening to your CDs via the analog audio outputs, selecting pure direct turns off the player’s front panel display and makes the digital optical/coaxial audio outputs inactive. The idea is to eliminate any internal interference that may affect analog audio playback quality.
Tip: The DCD-900E does not have a headphone output.
The Denon DCD-900NE comes with a wireless remote in addition to onboard controls.
Pricing & Availability
The Denon DCD-900NE CD player will be available in Black or Silver with an MSRP of $549 (USD) sometime in July 2022.
ORT
May 19, 2022 at 9:38 am
Dammit! Damnable dammit! What to do? I feel like a Quasimodo version of Hamlet when gazing upon the latest offerings of Marantz and now Denon…
“O, that this too too solid flesh would melt
Thaw and resolve itself into a dew!
Or that the Everlasting had not fix’d
His canon ‘gainst self-slaughter! O God! God!”
Indeed.
Again, the designers of Denon/Marantz must surely be blessed from above. The DCD-900NE is loverly and some what affordable. It is Liza Doolittle made metal as though (how pretentious of me!) the soul of Liza were infused in Maria of Metropolis.
If so inclined to spread my pitiful pauper’s wealth, one could purchase both the Pro-Ject Automat A1 and this beautimous Denon DCD-900NE for slightly more than the heavenly haute that is the stunning Marantz CD 60 and in doing so, perhaps be equally sated?
Again, my thanks to the author for this preview of musical Valhalla. I remain the readership’s relentlessly pretentious proffer of prose. Some might say nothing more than alliteration from the illiterate.
ORT