Looks good with my crappy NAD 705 receiver.

Reliability

Too many problems for a premium price.

CDs skip, volume pulses, etc.

Destined for the scrap heap.

It sounds pretty much like any budget player out there.

Poor detail levels, very poor bass, sounds lifeless and flat.

A friend of mine owns this player and we have listened to it on and off for about two years - about every second or third day - so I think I can comment fairly.
The 510 doesn't sound terrible, it's just that other machines do what it does so much better.
The first thing I noticed with this player is the complete lack of bass detail - on Moby's Natural Blues the bass rumbles heavily throughout the track, sort of a very low-pitched hum - this is ENTIRELY nonexistent through the 510.
Also, the sound lacks substance and tangibility - there's none of that "you are there" feeling - it's just all too diffused and thin. As a result the music never really sucks you in.
Detail levels are not very good either - especially microdynamics and ambient details are poor - making it difficult to "understand" the inner workings of the music.
I can't really say what it does very well - soundstaging seems OK and imaging is also pretty good (although this may be the speakers shining through) - but one struggles to shake the feeling that you aren't getting the most of the music.
I must add though that this player is into its last days - it will be upgraded soon to fit in with the rest of the set-up which is, in my opinion, very good.
System: Musical Fidelity Tempest Integrated Amp, NAD 510 (about to go), Inifity Reference 51i speakers (awesome bass response - great highs and mids - although the bass driver integration could possibly be a bit better) and Cable Talk cables.
All said, the player certainly isn't a pile of horsewaste, but it is bettered significantly by many other players in its class.

Similar Products Used:

NAD 524, HK FL8300, Rotel RCD 951