Detail, clarity, bass extension, weight , build quality.

None.

This is a high end CD player for a moderate price. The asking price is $1000 but I got mine 2nd hand for $350. It is built like an army tank and weighs in at a hefty 12kg.

My equipment:
Edison 60 (integrated tube amp, 2x30W pure class A)
Snell Type E/III (8" woofer floorstander)
Denon DCD-1650AR (CD-player)
DIY interconnect
LTS speakercable

This player is so detailed and accurate. And it has great punch in the bass. There really isn't much to complain about! It may be a little sharp with the wrong equipment but you shouldn't have crap played with this one anyway so that's no biggie!

This is a nobrainer, buy it!

Detail, accurate tonality, musicality, pace. The best remote control I've ever used.

Potential to be a little shrill at high volume, need to be careful with amps/speakers. Lack of palpability compared to the best.

I took back the Sony because it seemed light bright and hard. The Denon was just right. Very detailed musical sound with a good sense of pace or timing. But if you use hot loudspeakers and play your music loud you might want to get a smoother more laid back cdp. This one is not laid back in comparison to anyting good, although it may seem so in comparison to a hyperdetailed bright etchy cdp of whatever cost or anything comparably priced from the other Japanese companies. I have listened to a lot of cd players. The Denon is to me the best under $1,500 or so and very satisfying in the long run, especially with warmish speakers and electronics. My meridian 508.24 in my main system gives me more of a sense of a performer's palpable presence, I think, and is smoother and easier to play loud, but they are not really far apart in other respects.

I was moved to add these comments because Im using the Denon right now while working at my desk, and I have to tell you the Denon has the best remote control I've ever used. I'm at a 20 degree angle to the player and it responds to the remote - I dont have to get up when the phone rings. When I had it in another room I noticed that it works when aimed right through furniture in between it and the player.

Ive used the Denon with Audible Illusions and Anthem preamps and Muse amps, as well as with a 15 year old Mission integrated. I think it would be suitable for a wide range of systems. Certainly appropriate with an inexpensive integrated and $300 stand mounts like the AE Aegis One's, but I wouldnt hesitate to use it with more expensive gear that leans toward the soft and warm.

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Sony xa20es

Built like a tank, extremely stable

Remote control is cheesy

This is undoubtedly one of the best "budget" audiophile CD players out there. Compared to higher end Mark Levinson and Krell component separates there is undoubtedly a difference, but to most untrained ears, it certainly isn't worth the extra few g's. For those interested in this player, I would wait for the DCD1650AZ as I have just pick one up from the Japanese market. All I can say is, if you've owned a 1650AR for a while and listen to the 1650AZ, the 4 extra bits will serve you justice. The result is simply higher resolution throughout the spectrum, smoother highs, tighter and more defined lows. For a little more than the DCD1650AR (around $950-1000) you can pick up a 1650AZ (well, that's if you're travelling or have a friend residing over there).

Similar Products Used:

Denon DCD1650AZ, Sony DVPS9000ES

I did a direct comparison between the 1650 and the bottom of the line Rotel with HDCD the RCD-951. With the PMD-100 filter the Rotel sounded as good as the Denon on non-HDCD discs and much better on HDCD discs (obviously). The amp was a Krell Kav 300i and Martin logan Aerius speakers (MIT 330 plus interconnects and 750 cables) The dealer was kind enough to leave me alone and only come back when I wanted to switch the interconnects. Consequently, I spent a lot of time listening. Everything from HDCD jazz and classical. to non-HDCD clasical and rock (hard core gothic stuff, very very low bass). I would have easily bought the $500 Rotel ($400 wtih 20% sale) over the $1000 Denon. If Denon added the Pacific Microsonics filter (HDCD decoder) it may make a great improvement. But until then get the Rotel.
Personally I waited and got the Rotel RCD-971, with dual 20 bit Burr Brown Dacs, Tordial transfomer (seperately wound for analog and digital) and the HDCD. It is Awesome ($699 retail, $560 on sale, actually a ad match since the first dealer didn't have em in yet, they are hard to find) The only other player I have heard that I like more is the Ultech UCD-100 (retail $895, but $795 most places) It uses the Burr Brown (dual of course) PCM1702 Dacs used in the Krell 300, Classe .3 and .5, Anthem CD1 etc.. The Ultech is as good as the Krell, its power source is nearly the same size as most amplifiers!

Dennis, you got it right. This is one of the best cd players out there regardless of price. Actually, built quality & sonics are truly outstandingfor a unit street pricing at $730.-And, to boot, Reference Audio are also
great people to deal with and very strongly recommended.

Going back to British cd players, I have heard many models from Rotel, Mission,
Meridian etc.. They can never compete with the likes of Sony, Denon, Accuphase
etc..Infact, most european cd players have this common design fault with them:
poor build & sonics ranging from below average to mediocre. For what they offer
their price are exagerated.

I have listend to the Theta Miles. It doesn't deserve the high praises it is
getting. Suffice to say that it has a very poor mechanism with a very poor
error correcting system. Hardly worth $1000.let alone $2500 !!

The fact still remains, Japanese is the way to go for source components.

They are THE KINGS in this field.

Build quality. Bass, bass, bass. Resolution. Price. Easy to listen too; not harsh for all the detail and resolution.

On some source material, the images float a little. No HDCD.

Recently swaped out my Adcom GCD-750 for the Denon DCD1650AR, and am very pleased that I did. Had the Adcom for 2.5 months, and the transport mechanism and display burned out (a little dishartening for a new $1,200 CD player). Dealer offered to replace with a new Adcom, but I elected to swap out for the Denon due to build quality and fact that Adcom broke so quickly without cause. Definately the right move (fome at least).

The Denon offers amazing resolution and bass (considerably better than the Adcom), and great detail without being harsh or edgy. Simply said, I find it to be very well balanced. While the Adcom may be a little more involving a nd have better presence on vocals, it also sounded a harsh sometimes; not so with the Denon.

Denon tracking CD's exceptionally well; not the case with the Adcom (which skipted on everything - not once has the Denon missed a beat in comparison - same CD's).

Build quality is phenomenal. Built like a tank, and will make a great transport in the future.

Before purchasing, I listened to Arcam Alpha 9, Rotel 991 & 971, Meridian, Theta Miles, and Rega Planet. I liked the Theta best, but its also $2500. I find the Denon comes pretty damn close, and at less than half the price, and the Denon's bass is the only thing that comes anywhere near the bass of the Theta (which I consider to be best of breed when it comes to bass performance).

For the money - the Denon 1650 is a winner. Doing better will cost considerably more, and the law of diminishing returns shows itself in a big way.

Associated equipement: conrad-johnson amp & pre-amp, Dunlavy speakers, REL sub, Cardas interconnect, and Tera speaker cable.

Excellent music making machine

none

I only get involved with equipment when I am going to buy and I only listen to classical music. After 15 years of faithful and reliable service, I decided that I should replace my Denon DCD1500 (remember that one -- the first to use dual DAC's?). A respected friend had replaced his old player with a Cal Audio Labs unit (dont remeber the model no but it eas about $1800 and not single bit)and said this was the only way to go. I have never heared a single bit player I liked but I did not spend much time listening to units costing above $2000. I had to drive to Austin to do a side-by-side comparison and it was well worth the trip. In no way did the CAL unit out perform the 1650AR. This is an awsome unit and has to be the best buy in audio equipment ever. CD's I had previously thought harsh and brittle are now smooth and beautiful. The violins now have the sheen you hear live, the bass is solid but not boomy. Voice is superb. All-in-all, this is the CD player for classical music. (My kids think it better than anything they have heard but we dont listen to the same kinds of music.)

System: All McIntosh electronics, Acoustat 3300 with sub-W.

Great details, clean treble and deep base

a little bright treble, but can be corrected by a suitable signalling cable/ pre/power amp combination

Thr model # of my player is DCD 2800AL; but it fact it is the DCD 1650AL as sold in US. Great sound, and price/performance ratio is very high ( 100% new, only cost ~ US $450 becuase of the dicontinuation of this product in HK).

I 've compare it with marantz CD player with similar price range and marantz is more sweet, but Denon is more accurate . Good for classical music!!!

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pioneer LD player ( The model I couldn't remember)

Ultra balanced presentation. Super imaging. Great soundstage. Solid construction. Simplicity of operation.

Starting to become hard to find. Slated for discontinued status.

After reading several reviews and listening to several CD players, including, Classe .3 and similarly priced players, I chose this unit based upon several sonic virtues. I was impressed with the soundstage that I heard at the dealer. The images were focused and trasparency and resolution were outstanding. The look and feel of the unit are not only "top drawer" but exceed expectations for a sub $1,000 player. I decided not to wait for the upcoming 24 bit unit from Denon, the 1650AZ. My CD collection has very few 24 bit discs and not a lot of 20 bit discs. I am running a fairly expensive interconnect due to the proximity of power cables and other types of cabling. This player will perform on a par with highly reviewed Cal and Arcam units. The sound of the upper frequencies is more natural without the harshness or tinniness (?) of other units. Bass is not overly emphasized but is presented with volume and refinement. I had to turn down the bass settings versus what I was using before the Denon. Cymbals, bells, drums, all begin with the contact of the drum stick and/or mallet. You can feel the impact of the contact before the sound of the instrument reaches you. And all of this at low to moderate volume levels. You want budgetary audiophile quality? Now you can buy it new and stay away from that used equipment!! Highly recommended for audition!!

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Clean, Nice Bottom and excellent detail.

No power off from the remote.

I bought the Denon 1650 after hearing it and hearing it and hearing it... You get the picture. Anyway, I knew this was the CD player for me but I just couldn't buy it until I heard two other players on my list. The first of two was the Rega Planet. Nice player but a little bright in the hi mid's and the Rotel 991 which was really a nice player. After listening to all three I went with the Denon for multiple reasons. The overall workmanship and feel. The simple but handsome no nonsense face plate and the 4 internal Burr-Brown DACs. Last but not least the sound was most pleasing with my Paradigm 100's. I have it connected with DH-Labs BL-1 connectors and power comes via the Parasound 1500A and the Marantz SR7000 as the pre/pro. As my system evolves I think the Denon will be the last to go because it's built and feels like it was meant to stay around for a while and with the coaxial out, i'm sure it will make an excellent transport.

Similar Products Used:

Denon and Sony CD players