Denon PMA-2500NE & DCD1600NE review

Symphy944

Then, maybe even the dcd-800 will sound identical to the 1600 or 2500 when connected digitally? Since the PMA-2500 has the same DAC as the DCD-2500...

gibbsy

There's more to the Denon SACDs' abilities to read and deliver the signal to an external DAC. The higher build quality of both 1600 and 2500 has a very big part to play in how the signal is produced. That's down to the internals and their placement in the units. The 2500 weights in at almost 10kg more than the 800 and the 1600 is twice the weight of the 800. Both 1600 and 2500 have been engineered to eliminate vibration and electronic interference and that engineering is not present in the 800. That where the difference lies and that is really what you are paying for.

In this review there are bench tests of the 2500.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Denon DCD-2500NE SACD Player Review & Test                                                                                                        Buy one now… while you still can!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                www.avhub.com.au

Numpty112233

I had missed that review
Not bad...
"The performance of the Denon DCD-2500NE as measured by Newport Test Labs was outstandingly good in every respect, and unbelievably good with it time domain responses exceptionally good. It receives my highest unconditional recommendation. # Steve Holding"

Numpty112233

Without auditioning in your own system in your own room who knows?
A quick look at photo's of the internals show that the 800 has much less gubbins (technical term) going on. It is 1/2 the price of the 1600 but only has 1/2 the bits. I am very much impressed with the AL32 wizardry so I suspect the 800 would be a very decent player for its price even when connected via analogue.
I did briefly consider the 800 (as well as the 2500) before plumping for the middle option, for which I have already blamed Gibbsy for banging on about SACD...
For the sake of curiosity at some point I am tempted to connect digitally an old Arcam or Cyrus CD player I have to see how they compare as transports

SickSquirrel

After the 90's I sort of fell out of love with Japanese Hifi.  Since buying the DCD-2500NE I'm now back in love, and need to see what else is out there!

Time to study the Japanese audiophiles and see what they are doing...

Some interesting interviews, you will need google translate:-

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                開発者インタビュー　Advanced AL32 Processing Plus とは何か | Denon 公式ブログ                                                                                                        最新のCDプレーヤー DCD-1600NE にも搭載されているデノン独自のアナログ波形再現技術「Advanced AL32 Processing Plus」とは何か。開発者に聞いてみました                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                www.denon.jp                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                DCD -1600NE開発者インタビュー | Denon 公式ブログ                                                                                                        クラスを超えたサウンドで話題を呼んでいる昨年発売のスーパーオーディオCDプレーヤーDCD -1600NE。その設計コンセプトや開発の経緯、そしてカタログでは語り尽くせない魅力などについて、開発者にインタビューしました。                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                www.denon.jp                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                DCD-2500NE開発者インタビュー | Denon 公式ブログ                                                                                                        2016年1月に発表されたHi-Fiオーディオシステム「2500NE」。この新たなスタンダードモデルについて各開発者が語ります。今回はディスク再生能力を極限まで引き上げたSACD/CDプレーヤー、DCD-2500NEについて。                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                www.denon.jp

gibbsy

It would be an interesting comparison which you could undertake with the PMA, unfortunately, unlike it's Marantz stable mates the 2500, or 1600 have digital inputs. The only back to back I've been able to do is with the Lehmann headphone amp and Oppo headphones. The Denon is a clear winner over the sa8005 and it's actually by some margin which really shocked me.

All comparisons of the Denon 800 and the Marantz cd6006 have always given it to the Marantz.

@SickSquirrel asked earlier about the potential break in period and earlier this evening I was listening to Laura Marling's I speak because I can, as the wife was watching Holby. The light switch that comes on in your head when you hear something different happened. It was quite noticeable even with my Shure 1540 closed backs, even better listening now with the Oppos. I heard things on that album that I hadn't been able to pick up with the Marantz considering it's not the best dynamically with an average reading of 08. So close to 50 hours I would say.

DIBSTER

As an aside, what is the reasoning behind those little plastic flaps over the Optical input?

I was having a switch round over the weekend and when reconnecting everything back up I heavy handedly managed to displace one of those fiddly flaps on my PM1600 when fitting the cable the wrong way round . I managed to flip it out but not sure if they can be refitted? The input is still working, I have my TV connected through it and there is no issue other than the optical cable being ever so slightly loose.  Is that plastic thingy simply about making a tight fit?

gibbsy

For what I can make out those little flaps are there to stop dust when there is nothing plugged in. Inserting the optical the right way around the flap is pushed upwards. I've never broken one. So along comes a cack handed Dibster and history is made.

I don't think any damage will be done and they never seem to fit snuggly so don't reach for a hammer.

DIBSTER

It's a rare skill.

SickSquirrel

Is anyone using attenuators on there DCD's?

I am finding the signal a little hot for my Naim amp...