Denon DN-D6000 DJ Double CD/MP3 Player Review

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(More customer reviews)I've owned my Denon DN-D6000 dual deck CD/MP3 player for about 6 months now, and I can do nothing but rave about it.
The build is top-quality and of only the sturdiest materials. The technology in these decks will not be surpassed for years to come. They feature digital coaxial connections to your mixer for richer, more robust sound as well as a special cable (not the typical round MIDI-like cable) that very securely connects the control unit to the player with a push-clip. The controls (push buttons) are firm yet precisely responsive and allow you to make quick adjustments to insure seamless mixing. The large jog wheel is a bit on the sensitive side... but I've honestly never heard anyone ever complain that their equipment was too darn good at doing EXACTLY what it was physically made to do (i.e., you can give the wheel too big of a nudge when making an adjustment and create yourself an instant train wreck.) These decks are slot loading -- no trays to worry about getting stuck, which makes for a much more dependable unit over time. From what I have read, these (Denon) decks are the only ones in the world that allow you to cue a song from the same CD (next track queuing... and the cross fade is user-adjustable). This deck also reads MP3 disks... a feature usually only available on competitor's highest trim players (Such as the Pioneer CDJ-1000 MKIII which costs HUNDREDS more than this deck and is only a single table top). Sampling and 4 effects are onboard and the firmware/software for the unit can be flashed/updated via CD-ROM. When playing an audio CD, you have 20 seconds of shock protection in case the CD player is jarred or moved (while dancing around in the DJ booth, for example). Shock protection varies with MP3 playback and is dependent upon whether the MP3 track is CBR or VBR. I'm thankfully unable to comment about service levels from the Denon Corporation and it's authorized agents because I haven't had the slightest problem.
I purchased mine for $679 plus $35 shipping -- so it's no wonder why I feel they are such an awesome value! (Actually, I would have probably gladly paid more!)
If you're considering buying a dual deck CD player look no further! The Denon name is synonymous with tag lines such as "Top Quality" and "Industry Standard" -- The DN-D6000 lives up to those and then some!

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Denon DNC615 Pro Rack Mount CD Player with Digital Output Review

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(More customer reviews)A review on Amazon of another CD player, the Teac CD-P1250, said that it was the only single-disc CD player on the market. Nope, there's two. Well, one and a half anyway.
The Denon DN-C615 isn't exactly consumer gear, but it isn't exactly pro gear, either. It's got rack ears and pitch adjustment, and it's set up for a wired remote and output cascading, but the outputs are unbalanced RCA plus SPDIF. It has auto cuing and audible manual cuing within a track, but doesn't allow you to save cue points. So I think "semi-pro" is a pretty good description.
It's aimed at DJs, community radio stations, and sound reinforcement applications, and it wouldn't be out of place in a small studio for applications like sampling. And, what matters to my family, it drops right in to a home stereo system, so long as your cabinet can manage the rack ears (which don't look like they're removable except with a hacksaw).
The sound (even before break-in) is typical Denon: clear and airy, with both good definition and satisfactory thump in the bass, free of noticeable spurious harmonics. The controls and displays are easy to use and understand and don't have any immediately obvious ergonomic problems or bugs. It plays CD-Rs fine, both audio CD-Rs and MP3 CDs, and it allegedly plays CD-RWs, but I probably won't find out because CD-RWs and my computers don't get along.
MP3 files sound as good on the DN-C615 as I've ever heard them. You don't need to burn a special MP3 CD: it'll take plain data CDs with MP3 files on them and even lets you navigate through folders. But if you do give it a disc that's been burned as an MP3 CD, it'll run the playlist in order, which is a big improvement over my DVD player which plays MP3 files in some strange order I have yet to figure out. And I have to admit, seeing the song titles change as it plays is positively decadent.
The price is a little higher than I'd have liked, and unless you want to build a wired remote or have your chair real close to the player, you'll need a special remote (another US$40). But I do like the player so far.

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The Denon DN-C615 is a professional CD player housed in a single 2RU rack-mount chassis. The successor to the popular DN-600F, it includes CD-RW playback, shock memory, instant start and CD text support. Auto Cue to music ensures there are no blank spots at the beginning of the track to be played. A user adjustable menu has also been added so the unit can be custom tailored to a particular application. Designed for use in a wide range of applications such as schools, restaurants, aerobic studios and backup systems, the DN-C615 provides solid performance when quality sound is required. For background music applications, the DN-C615 supports MP3 decoding for hours of music playback.

Full CD Playback The DN-C615 plays back CDs, as well as CD-R/RWs discs. Select from several playback modes--single, continuous, random, or various repeat modes (single track/all tracks/program & random repeat).
Other playback features include Instant Start, display of CD TEXT data, and an auto cue feature that avoids those blank spots before tracks.
MP3 Playback Access hours of music on a single disc with MP3 playback, complete with folder and title search.
Direct Track Select Buttons Direct track access is provided through the 11-key keypad.
Program Play Enter up to 99 tracks for programmed playback.
Pitch Control Adjust playback speed +/- 12% with the variable pitch control.
Coaxial RCA Digital Output (SPDIF) A digital SPDIF port is located on the back panel for connecting to digital systems along with sync and cascade connectors for use with multiple DN-C615 units.
Shock-Proof Memory Avoid skips with approximately 10 seconds of shock-proof memory.
Analog Outputs The DN-C615 features a front-panel headphone out and a rear-panel RCA out.
Remote Port The external remote control port, mounted on the rear panel, is compatible with the optional Denon RC-620 wired remote control unit.
What's in the Box Denon DNC615, User's Manual

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Yamaha CD-C600BL 5-Disc CD Changer (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)The only reasons I wanted and bought the Yamaha CD-C600BL 5-Disc CD Changer was for its 24-bit digital/analog conversion rate and the 5-disc capacity. I never had better than 16-bit D/A cd or dvd players; I read reviews here that convinced me to get a 24-bit D/A player. I have two new Denon AV receivers and older NAD stereo equipment, plus high-quality loudspeakers; so I was eligible to notice very superior sound.
I can't compare the Yamaha CD-C600BL 5-Disc CD Changer to any other 24-bit cd player because I haven't listened to others with my systems.
The package includes a stereo RCA phono cable, a remote w/batteries, and a bare-bones user manual that covers everything in direct and simple language. The connections include one left/right RCA phono plug output, one optical (Toslink) digital output, and a RS-232C terminal. However, the optical cable isn't included with the package (nor is a serial cable for the RS-232C connection).
I've connected the player via the ('analog') RCA cables and also using the optical Toslink cable. I notice no audible difference between the connections. Why should there be any difference, anyhow? The digital information on the cd has been converted to analog by the player so that the preamplifier and amplifier can process it, and then send it in analog form to the 'analog' speakers.
If the cd's digital signal is destined to be input to another digital processor or device, the optical digital cable would be the best way to make that connection (well, there's also a RS-232C terminal, but it's not as pure as the optical handshake).
In essence, connecting with the RCA plugs makes a perfect connection, just as perfect as the 'digital' optical cable makes.
The sound is obviously superior to 16-bit D/A players. Some meaningful sounds that weren't audible are now audible; previously audible sounds no longer have any masking.
There must be one of those laws that applies here, but I don't know of it: For each improvement in quality - more watts in a high-end amplifier, minimal harmonic distortion, full frequency response, precise loudspeakers, 24-bit digital-to-analog conversion rate - you can listen to the full sound at a lower volume. It saves your hearing in the long run.
Sure, the changer makes its mechanical noise when it rotates each disc into the laser reader. Vinyl record changers made more noise than that when the needle reached the label and jerked off the record (haha), when the tone arm swung out of the way and the next record plopped down - hey, if you couldn't hear anything mechanical, your heart would be in your throat hoping nothing is broken. As I write this, the Yamaha cd changer is only some two feet from my ears, and I happen to like the sound of its carousel.
Be careful, though, when the tray is open as you're adding or removing discs - the tray could close from your inadvertent pressure; it spins and closes fast; you could break a valuable fingernail on a guitar-playing finger.
Being an old hand with home audio gear, I can't say if there's anything difficult about the Yamaha's set-up and use. I'd say it's designed and made to be as plug-and-play as possible. For anyone who has passed the Audio 101 course, the Yamaha CD-C600BL 5-Disc CD Changer is super-intuitive. You know, buttons with arrows this way, arrows that way, and so on (or off). The product's name speaks for itself: Yamaha Natural Sound Compact Disc Changer.

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Yamaha CD-C600BL 5-Disc CD Changer

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Nakamichi SoundSpace 5 - Audio system - radio / 3xCD Review

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(More customer reviews)I loved this system when I first bought it four years ago. Sleek, cool, and stylish; I bought it more for the way it looked than for the way it sounded (and it sounds great). It still looks great, now if it only PLAYED as well as it looks.
After four years it's almost unusable. I've already had to have it repaired twice because of poor soldering inside, and just about any CD I put into it skips. It's gotten so bad that I need to burn a new CD just about any time I want to play something. The shuffle feature is terrible -- it plays the same songs over and over again, which is pretty bad considering that even cheap boomboxes "remember" which songs they've already played and remove them from the playlist. The remote has lots and lots of tiny, tiny buttons, impossible to use or read in dim lighting.
Yeah, it's possible that I got a lemon, but getting it repaired was also an incredibly difficult chore. None of the 800 numbers listed in the manual worked, none of the e-mail addresses I tried worked, and even when I got a valid address, it took four e-mail messages and three angry phone calls before I finally got the address of an authorized repair center. The guy there told me that if I needed new parts I may as well buy a new system; if the parts arrived at all, they would be very exepensive.
I know that only used versions of this are available, and maybe it would be worth buying if you can get one for less than three hundred and have immaculately dust-free, brand-new CDs. I paid almost eight hundred in 2003, and I wish I had the money back.

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Nakamichi's SoundSpace 5 is a 3-CD compact stereo designed for places where full-sized audio components just won't fit. The 3-piece system is small enough for the kitchen or bedroom and stylish enough for your library or office. Why settle for bad sound, cheap build quality, or ugly equipment? SoundSpace 5 was designed to deliver stereo reproduction to rival the concert-hall quality of full-sized Nakamichi components. Its 3 components, styled in contemporary brushed metal and acrylic, can be arranged in different ways: standing, tilted like easel frames, or even hung on the wall. Your choice of charcoal, blue, and green speaker grilles are included for coordination with any decor.The main unit houses a MusicBank 3-disc CD changer, an FM/AM tuner, and the system preamplifier and volume control. Operational buttons are arranged conveniently on the top panel, and a front window lets you witness the operation of the changer, which subtly illuminate in blue or amber (user selectable). The MusicBank changer needs no magazine and is as easy to load as a single-disc CD player. It permits fast, safe disc handling and never touches the disc's playing surface. This changer allows full control over playback functions, including all-disc memory play, random play, all repeat, and memory-repeat play.The speakers are unique in housing their own power amplifiers. Each uses a 3.9-inch midrange/bass driver and a 1-inch semi-dome tweeter. The power amplifiers are optimized for the speakers they drive, ensuring proper stereo "imaging" and wide dynamic range.Nakamichi's FM/AM tuner offers one-touch preset settings for 20 FM and 10 AM stations as well as convenient preset scan or seek tuning. A high-performance quartz-synthesis tuner provides stable, high-quality reception.SoundSpace 5 includes an optical digital output for feeding accurate, digital CD signals to a minidisc or a CD recorder. There are stereo analog RCA inputs and outputs for a cassette deck, as well as auxiliary inputs for a video source. The RCA-type subwoofer output permits connection of any optional subwoofer with a built-in low-pass filter. Plugging in headphones automatically mutes the speakers.For your convenience, the system comes with two separate remote controls. The primary remote engages all functions, including disc eject, while the secondary remote controls major functions and allows blind key operation.What's in the Box Main unit, 2 speakers, 3 sets of speaker grilles (charcoal, blue, and green), 2 remote controls, remote batteries, a 220-240V AC power adapter, a user's manual, and warranty information.

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