very detailed, dynamic

can be harsh, bright, flat and sterile

Initially, I was disappointed at the sound of this player. I had just listened to a Denon DCM-370 which was very warm and smooth, but immediacy and involvement were problems. Also, I was concerned about the mechanical functioning of the changer (from what I recall, many of the reviews for this player are from those who had owned it less than 6 months...I didn't even notice this, as it was pointed out to me by a friend who just happened to be looking through the reviews) since many had reported mechanical malfunctioning.

The Rotel was harsh, flat, sterile sounding and murky out of the box. This improved somewhat with burn-in but I still was somewhat bothered by these issues, even though I was impressed by the level of detail and pace (it made the Denon seem SLOW). I switched out my Kimber PBJ interconnects and hooked up a pair of Cardas 300B-Microtwins with a significant improvement, yet still was not completely happy...still harsh, particularly on the vocals. Then hooked up a pair of Cardas Crosslink speaker cables (previously using Audioquest Type 2+) which almost entirely smoothed things out. The player now sounds detailed, smooth, dynamic and very easy to listen to. I had considered doing the LCaudio upgrades, but have no background in electronics/soldering and did not want to risk damaging the player.

Anyhow, an excellent player, VERY cable dependent, and likely system dependent as well. I highly recommend Cardas cables with this player (though I haven't extensively compared different brands). Burn-in is important as well, maybe like 100 hours or so, but I can't emphasize enough how big a difference cabling was in my case.

I have also briefly listened to a Cambridge Audio D500SE but not enough to compare...will by chance have one on hand from a friend shortly and will update after listening.

Similar Products Used:

Denon DCM-370, Cambridge Audio D500SE

smoothness

laid-back, darksounding, almost no defined bass, thin to airy treble.

I have the 971 for about 5 days. At first the sound was very good, warm, smooth. But after 2 days things changed. The sound was to dark for me without almost any kind of defined bass and a very muted treble. During the testperiod I also had a Arcam Alpha 8SE player at home. Wow what a difference. The Arcam is much punchier and faster with a good warm defined bass a smooth but not to smooth treble. The whole picture is very clear. The 971 is also very slow at reading the information. I cannot believe why people find the 971 an interesting CD player. It sounden almost the same like my PC CD-rom drive.

Similar Products Used:

Arcam Alpha 8SE

Transient attack, powerful midbass, detailed, high resolution, large soundstage

can be too revealing on poor equipment and recordings

I have sonus faber concertino speakers, psb 180 watt sub,
HK DD/DTS receiver, and Toshiba DVD player. What was a good way to improve my music sound? Since I try to buy HDCD's whenever I buy CD's I really preferred to get an HDCD player. HDCD's sound better than regular CD's on my Toshiba and can be bought at BMG for $7 when they have a sale. DVD audio? I've bought DVD music disc, 24/96 disc, gold CD's etc and they are way overpriced at $25 and up. HDCD is the way to go.
Rotel 951 had a lively sound but wasn't as transparent as the 971. Got the 971 from someone selling it on the WEB used. Midbass has much more slam in my setup now. image size is bigger, speed of transients with HDCD is amazing.
Try Chris Issack, Nancy Griffith. I didn't think that a good CD player would make that much of a difference. But if you have a good speaker, it will.

Similar Products Used:

Rotel 951, Replaces my Toshiba DVD 2108 for CD playback

HDCD, sound quanlity, price

built

Compared with other CD players in same price range and class, 971 sounds up to the job for normal CD and works slightly better in detail and 3D...

For HDCD, 971 becomes superstar, it sounds much much better
The superiority is obvious.

although HDCD is not so popular, it is more extensive use than I expected ....

971 is very reasonably priced in HK(less than 400US)
may be got out from the manufactuer in China directly to HK.

BTW, the tray is not as poor as people said, it is pretty stable and not sensitivie at all ..but built quality of the bottom on the front panel is not so good, it seems the bottom is going to fall apart.

Similar Products Used:

7se, 63/67, 6000, 930

Sound

terrible build quality

After reading reviews on this site, I noticed not a lot of people have negative things to say. Well I'm here to change all that.

I bought this unit after extensive research and listening sessions. I had it about 6 months and was extremely happy with the sound from this unit. I did blind listening sessions against the Marantz DV-18 and found the Rotel to be far superior. Right around the seventh month of ownership my right channel would just fade out completely as a CD was playing. If you tapped the top of the unit above the digital read out the channel would come back. Then eventually fade out again. A very intermittent problem that was hard to repeat. This continued to happen and I sent the unit in for service. Note- it's only seven months old.

The service department was very helpful but couldn't duplicate the problem. They replaced the laser and such. The other problem I was having was a harsh grinding noise right after you pushed play. Sounded like mis-alligned plastic gears. As with the first problem it was intermitent and not easily repeatable.

I received the unit back from repair and put a CD in and the grinding noise happened right out of the box. Not a good sign. A few days later the right channel went out. I continued the tape technique for a while and eventaully lost patience and sent it back again for service. Again, the service department couldn't duplicate the problem. Although, I truely believe they didn't spend enough time with unit. I told them to leave it on continuous play for a couple of days and check it out. Trust me I'm not crazy.

So they decided to send me a remanufactured unit. I was not too happy about this option but simply want a CD player that functions. So I pulled the remanufactured unit out of the box and plugged it in. The power on light doesn't even work! Granted these lights and the digital display can be annoying, but perception is reality. I've been patiently dealing with a $700.00 CD player that's possessed. Of course, the documentation they sent me says they qaulity inspected the unit. Were their eyes closed? The power on light is directly above the power on button. Maybe because I'm an engineer I have absolutely not tolerance for this type of situation. Now, I've about spent $100.00 on shipping and insurance and need to send this back. Additionally, this unit doesn't even sound as good as my intial pruchase as I'm having trouble distinguishing it from the Marantz in blind sessions. Again perception is reality.

I called the service department and told them the power on light doesn't even work! We're talking about a 3 cent bulb here. Quality inspected by who? Did someone wave a magic wand over the unit to say it's OK? Give me a break.

I told them I'll listen to it for a while and in the mean time I'll be constructing a complaint letter to the top level in the orgainzation to give me a brand new unit no questions asked. It's a very simpe analogy, how would you react if you spent $700.00 on a CD player that doesn't perform to specification and in turn you had to pay two sets and now it will be three sets of shipping charges to get one that works correctly.

It's not acceptable.

After I get a new unit and test it out, I might be back to update my review. Depends on how it sounds and repective reliability issues.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz DV-18, Carver 5 disc changer

almost grain-free; open sounding; dynamic and spacious presentation; soundstaging; can read any CD-R

ugly remote; no option to switch display off; sensitive with defectively shaped CDs

I have been listening to my sytem extensively (everyday for almost two months) and have made comparisons. Hence, I feel competent to make a review. If I find anything change then I will update the review in the future. But I think my opinions have already been formed and are enough to help potential auditioners of this product.

Pitted against the Pioneer CD/LD Player my dad owned, it was a no-contest. The differences were so obvious - the Pioneer had a locked-up, muffled sound that was rolled off, while the Rotel hadily won with a more forward, dynamic and airy sound.

Pitted against the Philips CD/MP3/VCD player, the RCD-971 also handily won. The Philips was too tame and was much more boomy - sounded more like a mini-component product. The Rotel was much more open sounding. It was more of a live,-in-your-face presentation from the Rotel.

Even the RCD-951 cannot hold a candle against the RCD-971. The 951 was much more grainy and may have been a tad bright. The 971's were virtually grain free compared to the 951's. I bought the 951 first and have it for two weeks before I returned it and added cash to get the 971s. It cost me around $55 more for the 971 compared to the 951 (at least here in the Philippines). So it was a no-brainer for me to get the 971s.

I purchased the RCD-971 for P19,800 (roughly $500) at Sound Dimension, Park Square, Makati City, Philippines.

My system consists of:

Loudspeakers - Dynaudio Audience 40 (bookshelf, SRP $700)
CD Player - Rotel RCD-971 (HDCD capable, SRP $700)
Int. Amp - NAD C340 (50-watts, SRP $399)


My tastes in music are pop/rock music that have real musicians and not some programmed beats. I like U2, Police, and other similar bands. I also listen to Unplugged stuff.

Jick

PS: Feel free to email me if there are any queries or clarifications about this review or about any component in my system.

Similar Products Used:

Rotel RCD-951; Philips CD/MP3/VCD Player; Pioneer CD/LD Player

HDCD, Low fatique

odd disc handling

18 months ago I compared it with the ARCAM 7 (A/B listening) and preferred the ROTEL . I have loved it ever since.

Great buy! Great value for the money. Got to hear them before buying anything else.

Pre amp rotel rc 972
Power aamp rotel Rb 971
Qnect 2 interconnects
Speakers Kelly KT-2
Ixos bi-amp speaker cable

Similar Products Used:

None

Great sound! Well built. HDCD filtering.

No stand-by. No auto-shutdown. Kind of slow at reading tracks. Crappy remote.

Despite the aforementioned weaknesses I'm VERY pleased with this unit. The great sound it provides more than makes up for all its shortcomings (which are not that many). The sound is warm and sweet and stereo imaging is very broad. The HDCD filtering is also an advantage. The ergonomics of the unit are satisfactory, the casing is sturdy, though the tray is made of plastic (as usual). The tray ejects very quickly, which is good. Too bad the unit is kind of slow at reading tracks. I also wish it had auto-shutdown function for late-night listening. The transport is slightly noisy but this is barely noticeable. I wish the unit had a stand-by function since you have to press a button in the front pannel to turn it on/off and this cannot be made via the remote.

The bottom line is that the sound quality is great which is the most important thing.

Highly recommended!

One big strength of this player is price. It sounds like it should cost more. Also, I find the midrange to be sweet and the bass is decent.

I don't feel the same about the remote as others. I think it is fairly decent. And by the way, if you think the search is slow, hit the pause button then search=way faster. My only gripe is that sometimes when I press play, it makes this strange noise (have no clue why).

Great player. I at first was looking for a player around $500 USD so I tried the NAD and Marantz players, and the 951. I listened to the 971 and heard a great improvement over the 951 (as well as all the other players I listened to). The only players that came close, equaled or in some aspects beat the 971 were all priced higher. The planet was nice, but I like a more forward presentation, the 991 sounds similar to the 971, but you get a little more, the Arcam 8se was the closest sounding, but it cost roughly $300 more. Overally it is a great player for the price, don't expect it to beat out a $3000 player. Go listen to one yourself.

Oh, and don't forget if you pair it with garbage components, it will sound like garbage...if you are starting an entry-level system, this player really makes you want to upgrade everything else.

Similar Products Used:

Rega Planet, NAD (various, ie 523, 515), Marantz, Arcam (7, and 8se), Rotel 991 and 951, couple of others I've forgotten

Sound quality; short height

No IEC socket; No display off; not the sturdiest chassis; the SLOWEST "fast search" I've ever experienced; no balanced outputs

Primary System:
Theta Jade and DS Pro Basic IIIa
Mark Levinson No. 380
AudioPrism (now Red Rose Music) Debut II
ProAc Response One SC
Tara Labs The One Digital; Kimber KS-1030, KCAG, and 4TC
MIT Z-Center

Killer Secondary System:
Creek 4330R
McCormack Micro Integrated Drive
NHT SuperOne
Sennheiser HD-600
Kimber KCAG and 4VS
Vans Evers Reference 85 or Tara Labs ISM Powerscreen
Bright Star Audio Little Rock 1 in natural granite

The Rotel RCD-971 has garnered pretty uniform and consistent reviews. Everybody pretty much agrees about the RCD-971's strengths and weaknesses.

Yes, my digital cable costs more than the RCD-971. So now you know where I'm coming from. I wish I could give the RCD-971 a 3.3 or even a 3.5-star rating. Unfortunately, I have to round down to a measly three stars.

Okay, so you all want to know how this thing sounds. I only have a few criticisms. First of all, from the midrange through the treble, instruments have no image depth. They're like cardboard cutouts or Hollywood facades. If you're familiar with XLO's original Reference Type 1 interconnect, you'll know exactly what I mean.

Secondly, dynamics are only so-so. While the music isn't unduly slowed, it lacks jump. Sounds don't have the start-stop or get-up-and-go as they should.

Finally, there is a fine layer of grain overlaid on the mids. This lends a clinical, kinda dry texture to the music.

On the plus side, good detail is available. The images may not have any depth, but they are firmly focused and are not blurry. There is no side-to-side compression of the soundstage. In fact, the RCD-971 does soundstage width as good as the big boys. And because imaging is sharp and focused, the sense of space between the instruments is enhanced.

The Rotel RCD-971 will fill the bill for many users. For those of us with killer, megabucks front ends, the RCD-971 is perfect for the secondary system. For those who want decent CD sound, but don't want to shell out big bucks, the RCD-971 is your ticket. If you are waiting for SACD and DVD-A, but want to enjoy regular CDs in the mean time, the RCD-971 is for you. Or, if you or someone you know is just starting out in high-end audio, the RCD-971 is a phenomenal bargain. With sound this good, these types of people may wonder why anyone would want to spend more.

Indeed, pair the RCD-971 up with other killer bargains like the Creek 4330R, and you're set.

To get the most out of the RCD-971, start by putting it on a sturdy rack. And then place a Bright Star Little rock or Shakti Stone on top. The RCD-971's tray is a bit flimsy, so be careful, when you use CD mats. Me? I use the $2 CD Greenback, and this thing smooths the rough edges, restores a little bit of body, and increases transparency. Pay special attention to powerline conditioning. I use Tara Labs' ISM Powerscreen, which costs the same as the RCD-971 itself. However, I got excellent results plugging the RCD-971 into an API Power Pack II. Those who find the RCD-971 too lean will probably like the Power Pack II, which lends a little warmth to the mids. Do not compromise the RCD-971 by using lousy interconnects. Kimber's KCAG just gets out of the way. However, not everyone can afford KCAG. You can get good results with Kimber Silver Streak, AudioQuest Quartz, XLO Ultra, Tara Labs Air 3, Wireworld Equinox, Synergistic Alpha Sterling, et. al. And then you can play around with powercord tweaks, like the AudioPrism Wave Guide and Highwire power wrap.

No, the Rotel RCD-971 isn't as good as the higher-priced stuff. But c'mon, what can you reasonably expect for $700? The RCD-971 is much better than everything else at or below its price range. In order to beat the RCD-971 significantly, you'd have to go up to the $1500 Classe' CDP-.3, CAL something or other, or Linn Genki. Hey, save your money, get the Rotel instead, and upgrade the rest of your system.

The Rotel RCD-971 gets a 3.33-star rating and a strong recommendation from me. Enjoy.