Overall an excellent value. Build quality is pretty good considering the price range this player falls into. Very smooth warmish sound. Has the Rotel sound you might say. Definately doesn't sound like your typical Japanese player. Good soundstage width, but definatly shares the fate of all other cheap cd-players in lacking depth. Remote seems like it'll break if I push the buttons too hard. Very stylish face. It's lack of buttons is very refreshing. All features can be accessed if you lose the remote. Transport mechanics are solid. Once again an excellent value.

To anyone looking for an inexpensive cd player I would definitely recommend this player as I have A-B'd it with many others even at extreme prices,and found the only other in it's class was the Rega,different, but it would depend on the system,and cables.BUY IT AND BE HAPPY!

I actually listen to this unit against the 975 without knowing which was which and pick the 950. It was just more pleasant sounding unit. The 975 sounded a tad brighter. No need to spend the extra $200.

This player is outstanding for the price. It has a very relaxed, smooth sound, and the imaging and soundstage are fantastic. It is very easy to listen to and does not demand the rest of your system to be overly expensive to enjoy. It does well on most kinds of music, and the highs are great. Overall, this is a better player than comparably priced NAD's or Marantz's and will give you hours of enjoyable music with no harshness, a great player.

I was always a little disapointed in CDs at first. My old LPs sounded more musical. The CDs were crystal clear but flat and without life. I got this Player on special for $375 and for the money is is great. I would have had to spend double to get some other brand as good.

I have been using the Rotel RCD950 for 3 wonderful years. It sounds so smooth without the lost of details in the music. I use it in conjunction with the B&K Pro 5 preamp, B&K ST202 power amp and the Energy C-4 speaker. Interconnects are the JPS Superconductors and Nordost Superflatline biwire. I am happy with this system set up, the Rotel makes it sounds smoother than my previous CD player. A great CD player for a reasonable price.

Excellent detail in classical recordings.

I bought the rotel 950 after comparing it with similar Marantz products (63SE). I made my decision after reading some very favorable reviews and also the dealer in Virginia Beach gave me an excellent deal at the time, $280. I have almost no complains with this player. I said almost because like the previous reviewer I have listened to a static noise every once in a while. I have recently upgraded my integrated amp from an Onkyo integra (10 years old) to a creek 4330R. I believed the reason for the noise was that the other components were so much older. Since I just got the creek 2 days ago I have not had a chance to test the CD player all that much. I will post a follow up if the static returns.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz

Smooth, pleasant sound with good bass and very decent detail and resolution

Not quite the clarity and resolution of some more $$ players

I recently picked this up used at a local dealer, thay are commonly available for $200-250 and are a real bargain. It has a nice build quality for the money, better than many more expensive competitors. The sound is nicely balanced with ggod detail, tight bass and most importantly a very smooth, listenable sound. It's only errors are of omission, a forgiveable sin. It was a bargain new and a steal at current used prices.

Similar Products Used:

Rotel RCD-965, 975, 971; Marantz CD-63SE, 67SE; Arcam Alpha 8; NAD 502, 512, C540

Excellent quality for the money. You'll have a hard time finding a better one in this price range (Rega Planet? Probably but for almost double the money). Susceptible to vibrations though so good isolation a must. Adding to the combo Audio Prism's Blacklight CD mat makes for even better sound.Also upgrade path open by the means of a very good digital output.
Highly recommended

fantastic smoothness and truely astounding quality of transport

anoying break when tracks programed in

the static problem some of you have encountered can be solved in 2 mins with a small scew driver!!!!! its caused by the motoer running slowly therfore the 44.1 sample rate breaks up simple alter the vairiable resistor to give it a bit more ooooppffhh the motor speed will pick up problem solved! dont over do it the cd will play but sound quailty will diminish (drasticly) thr player is beutiful sonds gread and even better with a ok/decent dac i use a CA dacmagic 2i one of the best cd player i have ever heard buy and be proud! for rotel is king! and dont get caught up with the gizmo's or electrics this should be about the music!!! remember?

Similar Products Used:

cambridge audio cd4 (bollocks) in comarison yammaha (despicable load of wank)