Denon DCD-2000AE CD-player

In the Denon model range there are players for various purposes and prices. DCD-SA1 was repeatedly recognized as the best for the music system. However, there is a more affordable alternative - DCD-2000AE. Outwardly, it almost does not differ from the flagship - it is equipped with the same elegant remote control with small but comfortable buttons. And the base concept is the same - the player is designed exclusively for stereo playback of CDs and SA-CDs, so it does not have any multichannel outputs or video path.

Let me tell briefly about the differences from the older model. The body of DCD-2000AE is devoid of double vibration isolation, however, the chassis, front panel and cover are made with a fair margin of safety. Brand mechanism S.V.H. (Suppress Vibration Hybrid) has a slightly simplified servo system. The digital path does not provide for the conversion of a single-bit DSD stream to PCM 24 bits/192 kHz due to the lack of a 32-bit SHARC processor. At the output the signal is converted by a Burr-Brown DSD-1790 precision DAC, and a new high-precision Master-Clock generator is responsible for minimizing jitter.

Denon DCD-2000AE did not disappoint expectations. The player sounds in the best corporate traditions. Only for the sound stage it can be put on a par with reference players. The space has an incredible scale, depth, but does not seem empty - the stereo image differs by perfectly focused sources. The tonal balance is neutral, the micro-dynamic qualities are very convincing: any nuances, including details that seemed to be lost against the background of powerful dynamic contrast, are clearly and realistically reproduced. I will also refer high harmonic intelligibility to the positive qualities, but with reservations. Bass, for example, is transmitted informatively, but not always with the softness inherent to some instruments. In the middle range the voices are slightly lacking in subtle emotional shades. The upper band is reproduced with exemplary transparency, good details, but it has some kind of sugary tint even when transmitting sharp metallic discants. Everything said so far applies to CD. If you load into the device SA-CD, then you instantly forget about all the claims. Denon DCD-2000AE produces the purest, natural sibilants, has a surprisingly realistic dynamics in the low and medium ranges.