I actually auditioned the 560 model, which I understand has the same features as the 460 but a different chassis.I found the sound quality to be very good.I was ready to make the purchase. As noted in other reviews on this site, the platter is a piece of junk. The second day I used the changer, the platter started making an awfull screaching sound as it shuddered closed. This is inexcusable on a supposed, entry level- audiophile unit, even at a sale price of $700CDN.For sound quality & tracking I would give this changer a 4 or 5,but the snail's pace change from disc to disc, & the lousy platter earn it a 2.

I just picked up this player for $205 with shipping from Spidergear.com. It's refurbished, which means it has a small dent in the top, but otherwise, it works like a dream. This is one of Denon's 20-bit players with Alpha Processing, and believe me, it makes a difference. My old Sony single CD player is history. It sounds like total crap compared to this Denon. For $200, it's an absolute steal. The highs are great, though it's still a pretty warm player compared to a Marantz or something (I prefer the warmth over the bright sound).

I decided that it was time for me to purchase a nice stereo. Yeah, maybe I am only in college, but that doesnt mean I dont love great sound too. I spent many hours online reading reviews, searching for bargins, and becoming dissapointed at my loss of finding a great deal.
Then I found a great-great place. www.dealdeal.com. I love them. I might just name my first born, deal-deal. This is because there I found my new stereo. It is based on a Denon AVR-2000 receiver and DCM-460 CD-player. The receiver is pro-logic, but I bought the system for music, not movies. The receiver is not made anymore, but we all know the cd-player is.
When the receiver was being produced, it listed at $965 (US, of course). I bought it for $235. It was their "just below top-of-the-line" pro-logic only (no Dolby Digital ready) receiver. 85wx3, 35x2 in full surround mode. I love it.
I found the cd-player there for $189.00 plus shipping and handling. They still sell them for that price. They are factory refurbished. This cd player has given me virtually all new cds, since I am constantly hearing new sounds in my cds. I connected them with monster cable interconnects and they now sound even better together. I use NHT superOnes as my mains, and am now buying a subwoofer.

In closing, go to www.dealdeal.com if you are going to buy this -GREAT- cd player and save hundreds of dollars. 5 Stars.

I bought this player to replace my aging Onkyo CD changer and I have to say I am quite disappointed with this Denon. The good part is that this player sounds better than the old Onkyo - slight better detail. However the construction of the player is bad especially for its price ($425). When I first got it the drawer would not even open! It took me 15 min of looking and turning the player over and over before I realize the drawer is somewhat "stuck". Once I push it and pull it a little bit the drawer opens. The next thing I notice is the flimziness of the power switch - it rocks from side to side - not a good sign. Finally the clunkiness and slowness of the disc changing mechanism is disappointing. Overall for the same money you will be much better off with a SONY ES because of its better construction.

Whenever I have had the opportunity to purchase a new piece of audion gear, I have always tried to buy the best product for my money. This often involved looking to quality used gear. I would listen to products from a wide range of prices, and often I found that it was worth holding off on an investment until I could afford a better unit. Other times, I found products within my price range that rivalled or bettered those just outside of my range. Such was the case with the Denon 460 that I picked up about a month ago.
When my old Phillips CD changer died (this was bought when the Phillips 1 bit DAC was highly praised and realatively new) the second (!) time, I decided to scrap it. I decided that I would not spend more than $500 on a CD changer at this point in time, and that this would be my "convenience" player, and I could buy a single play "quality listening" CD/DVD player somewhere down the road.

I drove two hours to my favorite audio store - Progressive Audio in Columbus, Ohio - and decided to set about listening to several units. Knowing the product lines that they carried, I planned on auditioning units from Adcom, NAD, and Yamaha. After picking out a preamp/amp/speaker combo that resembled my home system (Carver CT-10 preamp, Adcom GFA 555II amp, Acoustic Research TSW 110's with a sub), and a finely recorded CD that I am very familiar with (Dean Peer's "Ucross"), I listened to the top of line changers from Adcom and Yamaha and a single play NAD (they didn't have a changer in stock). To be honest, I was almost convinced that I would prefer the NAD in my price range. The Adcom quickly outshown the other two. I was truly surprised at how much better it sounded than the others. The imaging was especially impressive. I quickly ruled out the Yamaha (was not smooth across the frequency spectrum at all - seemed to have pronounced highs and some mids were not smooth), and the NAD while still "good-sounding" (although very different than the Adcom), didn't really compare to the Adcom 750.

The sales rep suggested that I also audition a Denon 370 (newly replaced the 360), as their 460 demo was out doing an in-home demonstration. I was immediately impressed with its imaging (nearly as good as the Adcom) and it's smooth midrange response (as good as the Adcom). The 370 couldn't match the Adcom's impressive low frequency detail nor its "pristine but not harsh" high end, but it came REALLY close. Especially considering the substantial price difference. I was later able to audition a 460 and was even more impressed with the depth of the soundstage and the natural sounding mids. Even without having the opportunity to directly compare them, it obviously far surpassed the sonic quality of my old Phillips.

In this price range ($375), the Denon 460 is a top contender, IMHO. Therefore, 5 stars (in it's price range). 4 stars if price is not considered (the Adcom 750 was somewhat better, though not $400 better!). Note - I have not experienced any problems with the changer drawer, and the speed and smoothness of the drawer operation has been wholely adequate, in my experience. My only complaint is that if you are using the variable outs, whenever you turn the unit off and back on again, it comes in at -18db. Unless you turn it back up with the remote, you can be in for a rude surprize when you switch to your tuner or other source that is not attenuated! Still, it is nice to have a remote volume option (my preamp doesn't).

Pure undistorted sound. The Alpha Processor. The ability to change cd's while playing. Multiple outputs (for those folks that like to fiddle with things). Favorite track file (I use it to remove tracks I can't stand or in the case of a damaged cd that skips on a track, to remove that track)

The tray is a little "slow and clunky" (I have to agree with the other reviews here, however with sound this great who cares ?) The other weakness for some folks may be the size of the unit - it takes a lot of room. But if you want a 5 disc changer, you should expect to have a unit this size.

Let me just say that this paricular product has been around for a LONG time which has to say something about it. In an electronics world where models change every few months and the competition keeps upgrading their DAC's and other system components, this unit STILL shines above them all. For those of you that complain about the "clunky noisy tray", try a little vasoline on the tray runners. BINGO !! problem gone. Besides, it IS a 5 disc changer not a single. I challenge anyone to find a better 5 disc changer out there... I've owned this unit for close to 5 years now and if I had to make the choice I would buy it again. The Alpha processor in this unit is still better than most out there for audio sound. I recently purchased Denon's AVR 3300 which would allow me to use the didtal coax outs from the player in order to use the onboard decoder in the receiver (I did try it) . The Alpha processor is warmer and fuller in sound, and the seperation is better. I've also tried the variable output (thought it was a cool option when I first bought the unit). I have to say though, mabey I'm just lazy, but I don't need to fiddle with the level all the time, the fixed output is just fine for me. Ok, I'll stop rambling on here. Let me just say that if you are looking for a GREAT sounding cd player, you simply will not find a better value for the money than this unit. Go ahead, try to prove me wrong...

Similar Products Used:

Denon's DCM 340 (I don't believe it was called the 360, but hey, that was 5 years ago...)
I've also had the chance to try the California Audio's Mark II on my system (an $800.00 unit that my friend owns)

Correction to my previews review. I purchased this unit
in March 1995 for $399.00 (brand new of course). Time flies
when you're having so much fun.

"Poor soundstage, bright and forward, against a hazy, grungy
background". You crack me up Rob!

price, convenience of operation

thin, grainy, bright tonal balance; forward,

I CAN NOT believe the last reviewer, saying at one point that "most people think CD is CD"..... that right there demonstrates the type of person who thinks this player is good - that it would even be mentioned in the same paragraph as Theta or Linn ! P-L-E-A-S-E- get some q-tips and clean those ears; or maybe finish the job that all that loud ACDC had evidently already done to your ears!

Back to the player, at best, this player is an average mass-market peice of junk that sound thin, bright and pathetically forward. I guess it's better than the usual ONKYO, JVC and low end Radio Shack stuff; but really this thing is pitiful. Get the entry level REGA, ARCAM or Rotel player and hear for yourself - these are FAR superior and within a few $$ of this thing. But to even think for a moment that this compares to Theta. I bet you think Old Wilwaukee is almost as good as Bass, I mean beer is beer - why bother spending all that $$; it tastes the same, right??

Display, Simple Remote, Front Panel Layout

Flimsy Disc Loading Tray

First of all: This player is getting a bad rap!
Do not compare it with audiophile equipment, because it
is not an audiophile cd player. And I am pretty sure that
Denon did not advertise it as such. I have owned it for about three years now and it is the only disc changer among
the four cd players I have. I took it to my office last summer, since I did not want a cheesy shelf system at work
and the player was not being used very much at home. The only problem I have had with this machine relates to the disc tray. Nine out of ten times the tray closes immediately
after it has been opened. It is probably just a minor adjustment and I have been just to lazy to have it fixed.
As far as the sound quality: I don't know what the other guys have hooked up to this player, but it is not bright and annoying. Compressed sound? Lack of Clarity? Give me a break. I might be half blind, but my hearing is intact.
And neither of those descriptions apply here. For a cd changer of this age it has a warm and rich sound. Certainly
as good as anything I have heard in this price range. Speaking of price - I think that when this player first hit the market at around $400.00 is was overpriced. So, price is not one of it's strengths.

My el cheapo office setup:
Denon DRA 275R Receiver (average)
Denon DCM 460 CD player (unjustified bad rap)
Jamo Cornet 40 Bookshelf Speakers (don't laugh)
Audioquest Jade Interconncets (hey, it's in my office)
Audioquest Type 2 Speaker Cables (best buy for the money)

Use this CD player for what it is worth and you'll be very happy and stop comparing apples with oranges.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo, Adcom, Rotel, Cambridge Audio (all single disc)

I've owned my DCM 460 for about three months now and am very satisfied by the quality of the sound. What keeps this player from earning a five star rating is the sub-par tray. Opening and closing, it slides at a nail's pace and emits a slight vibrational stutter as if the push/pull mechanism is untrue. Once a CD is selected for play, the players slams and clicks loudly. This may just be with my player, but it's a subtantial problem for me, and I'll probably step up to a unit of higher build quality as soon as I can sell mine.