In a word awsome. You have to hear hdcd to believe it. Like thc other reviewer said there is more information present. think of it like a staircase. The stairs are the same incline but there are more of them. If you could see a graph of the sounds waveform you would see a more detailed and complex waveform with mini waves making up the slopes of the large waves rather then the smoother slopes of 16 bit. Important to also mention that First impression Music and Reference Recordings use the phrase 24 bit super hdcd on some disks.Denon might just be following there lead in advertiseing. Think that is just marketing strategy. hdcd site has no metion of it.

Easily whips anything in its price range. Warm, full sound. HDCD is for REAL - believe it! Burr-Brown decoders really present the sound on a full, engaging stage

None.

Absolutely a phenomenal value! Check it out on eBay for the best price. Can you belive what I got it for? Believe it, baby! And, no tax! Warm, full sound. HDCD is for real. Also vastly improved the sound coming from my regular CD's. A note to audiophiles: The few MFSL Gold CD's (Wall, DSOTM, Todd Rundgren, Alan Parsons) sounded out of this world! Just buy this player and forget about it!

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Traded up from my DCM-270. Tested and rejected more expensive models with less features and weaker sound from the usual suspects...

HDCD, Sound Quaility, Quite CD Transfer

Can not turn the unit on or off with the remote

For a long time I fought the idea of a 5-disc CD
changer. My theory was that I have a DVD player and
it plays CD’s as well so why the hell would I need a
separate CD player. Also, who needs a 5-disc changer
anyway, don’t be so lazy.

Well, I was so wrong on both counts. The sound
quality of this CD player playing what it’s designed
to play, CD’s blows away the CD sound quality from the
DVD player. There is simply no comparison. And when
you play a CD that is HDCD compatible, it will blow
your mind. The difference is so clear in the
definition of the highs and especially the low
frequencies.

On the second count, I love the 5-disc changer. It
totally convenient, you can play hours of music
without getting up to chance the CD and there are
numerous play back mixes, which make listening to
5-disc an adventure.

Bottom line, this is a great unit for the price and if
you have a Denon receiver, setup is easy and the
receive remote will run the whole show without the
need to program the remote.

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Denon 4800
Boston VR 950
Boston VR 10
Boston PV 800
Boston VRS Pro Surrounds

*HDCD decoding DOES make an audible difference!
* Wonderful Analog-like qualities of the player/Burr-Brown DA converter
* Solid build and fit and finish

None whatsoever for $300 price point. A previous poster mentioned something about the carousel making noise. It makes a bit of noise, but only when changing discs momentarily. Big deal.

I was looking for a good sounding, cheap CD player for my secondary office system, and have discovered audio nirvana for just under $300. One listen to this great player on a revealing system, and you will think you are listening to a high end player costing 4 and 5 times as much money! I was pleasantly shocked to find that this Denon sounds so 'right' and so musical, in every way possible. And what a glorious feature HDCD decoding is! I was a skeptic until I popped in a few HDCD's by Joe Jackson, Bryan Ferry, and the latest from John Mellencamp, as well as 'Music For a Glass Bead Game' classical violin/cello duet HDCD. The sound and total presentation of the HDCD music was so stunningly powerful and detailed and perfectly weighted, to the point of bringing me to audiophilic eargasm! I just CANNOT BELIEVE how HDCD technology is largely ignored by audiophiles and audio publications! They must be deaf, or perhaps don't have revealing enough electronics and speakers. This CDP is by far, the best affordable unit money can buy, that will get you closest to a true audiophile presentation. A total steal!!

System consists of:

Magnepan MMG speakers w/M&K sub
Belles 150 amp
Audio Electronic Supply AE-3 tube preamp
Denon 370 HDCD player
Nordost cables

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NAD, Cambridge, Rega Planet, Rotel, HK, etc.

HDCD, apparently reasonable price

none encountered, sparse control panel

I am currently in the market for a new CD changer with HDCD. Initially I looked at the HK 8550 but was turned off by it's track record for repairs. I thought the Denon 3700 (HDCD/DVD) changer was the way to go - till I got a look at the price (1800$ CDN) and fear that by the time I build up my DVD library some other shinier format will emerge that will strike my fancy and I will not get the long term use of the DVD option (which is a substantial %age of the price I'm sure) The specs do look impressive.

I am now torn between the Denon 370 which I can get here in Canada for 445 taxes in, and the Rotel RCC 955 which is listed here at 899 CDN.

I would appreciate ant comments on the above-mentioned or any further recommendations for choices I have not yet encountered.

existing equipment
Yamaha 992 reciever
PSB 800i main speakers
PSB 300i CC speaker
Sounddynamics bi-polar sourrounds
Energy ES-8 Sub
Sony 805 dual cassette deck

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Onkyo, Rotel

All I can say is WOW. This cd player sounds great and I found out that I have a bunch of hdcd's that I never knew of. I picked mine up for $120 and it was one of the best purchases I ever made, if I had to pay twice that I would. This is a great product.

Sounds great

Bright front panel

You people buy it to listen to the tray/carosel??????

I'm listening to it right now and it sounds........... pretty freakin good. Warm and realistic.
I have not listened to any HDCD's yet, But plan on looking for some. I've only owned it a day but it really sounds great.
I guess if I have any of the mechanical problems I will come back and post them.

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Panasonic A120U

HDCD, HDCD, HDCD!!!! I am amazed at how much better HDCD recordings sound as opposed to my conventional CD's, as a whole! Imparts much detail and air, especially on HDCD's.

None. This is one great CDP for the money! Very high end sounding.

Denon did a nice job with this product, especially considering the price. I have mine in a fairly high end system, and am beyond satisfied with it. The sonic advantage of HDCD is VERY REAL, especially if you have a very good, revealing system that is able to resolve differences in source material and electronics. I have listened attentively to many HDCD's as well as conventional 'redbook' CD's for over 2 months on this CD player, and to me, there is a noticeable difference. HDCD is definitely for real, and an unquestionable improvement in digital recording and playback!! As just one example, I am particularly blown away by the additional presence, air, timbral warmth/accuracy, and detail on some recently HDCD remastered classic Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music tunes on Ferry's latest 'Slave to Love' HDCD!! I couldn't believe the difference!!! Ditto with some Mannheim Steamroller discs I replaced with the HDCD versions. And Dave Brubeck on HDCD sends chills down my spine! Why the audiophile press only touts the benefits of SACD and DVD-A, while ignoring HDCD, is beyond me. Must be politics as usual. Happy listening!

System:

McIntosh MC162 amplifier
Denon DCM-370 HDCD decoding player
Conrad Johnson Premier 17LS preamplifier
Magnepan MG12QR with HSU Research subwoofer
Nordost cabling all around

Similar Products Used:

Rega Planet, Rotel, Sony ES, CAL

Sound quality, HDCD decoding, great DAC, very quick and quiet transport. Front panel has a really high class look.

No dimmer, remote seems small however buttons are well placed, but these are minor weaknesses

I have to say that this is the best CD player that I have ever owned. I have for some time now been wanting to upgrade my CD changer as my Technics changer had worn out it welcome and was starting to skip more frequently than I'd like. However, as luck would have it, I would spend many years looking at changers but unable to buy one do to a lack of funds or to many other pieces of equipment that I just had to have (i.e: DVD). I had considered many differant brands, from Yamaha (I love you guys), NAD, H/K, and at one point I was dead set to buy an Onkyo 6 disc. I thought the idea of a 6 disc changer was really great as I always seemed to want just one more disc to make my random selections complete. But, as luck you have it, I recieved the one think that I never thought that I would get as a gift, a CD Recorder. After I got my burner, I started researching all the differant brands, that I had looked at before only to find that only the H/K and the Denon had the coaxial digital input that my burner needed. I went on line to read a lot of reviews on the two models that would work for my needs and was shocked to find dozens of negative reviews about the H/K changer, I always thought they seemed well made. However I got a saving grace in the fact that the Denon DCM-370 was getting rave reviews for people online, so I got one. I have to say, when I got it I wasn't sure because I have never owned anything from Denon but I knew that they are known for making pretty good stuff. So I hooked up my new changer, and put in a one of my current favorite CD's (FLY by the DIXIE CHICKS) which just happened to be an HDCD. I have to say that it is hard for me to hear a major differance but I definetly could hear that the CD sounded smoother than I'd ever heard it. Happy with what I had just heard, I decieded to try some non-HDCD titles, and again I was very happy as everything has a really warm sound that seems to envelop you. So in closing, if I had to do it all again I wouldn't change a thing as this is one fine sounding CD player.

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Sony single disc (from back in 1989), Technics 5 disc changer, Pioneer DVD player

superb sound that belies it's under $300 pricetag; gives more expensive players a run for the money; solid build

You tell me. I haven't found any.

I am pleasantly surprised, in fact, ecstatic for my purchase of this CD player. It images like hell, has a wide, deep soundstage that sounds very detailed, with no hint of harshness as found in many other CD players. I run a pair of Carver Platinums and Maggie MMG's, which hide nothing. I use the Denon's existing internal D/A converter via the analog RCA outputs, and the sound is just majestic. Also, as a testament to how natural and warm this piece of gear sounds, I run it with NO PREAMP at all. I use the variable out feature on the Denon to run it directly into a classic Onkyo M-508 dual mono amplifier, so my signal path is minimized. This makes up my home office secondary system, and I find myself listening to and enjoying it as much as my primary living room system which is all Levinson and Martin Logan stuff. Great job Denon!!

Secondary system:
* Onkyo M-508 amp
* Carver Platinum and Magnepan MMG speakers (I switch between the two freely)
* Denon DCM-370
* DH Labs interconnects and speaker wires
* My Chocolate Lab 'Ernie' that hangs with me while listening to tunes.

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Marantz, Rotel, Cambridge Audio, Cal Audio Labs, Sony ES