I have owned a 840c for 5 years now and it is the first CD player I prefered it to my turntable. I have tubes as well so that seems to be a theme but I have been playing it through a Rotel 1062 and it sounds great enough that to have me very impressed with that little integrated.
To me the 840c is detailed and smooth. Before this my CD's players were either warm with less detail or more detailed but harder sounding.
Speakers are Dali Mentor 6's or Monitor Audio 20se through my VAC Avatar. Neither of them are forgiving speakers and it is brighter through the 20se but EVERYTHING is brighter through them. But the 20se is also very revealing and the CD player doesn't get in the way at all.
I will say this. It does sound better through the balanced output. Somewhere along the line I picked up a Kimber Hero cable with XLR st the cd end and RCA at the amp end. Very very good match and definitely brought the sound up a notch or two. Hero is a bit warm but the highs come through beautifully. The player also sounds different depending on the cable. I used the VDH d102 III for a long while, especially when I had warmer speakers.
I also have a OPPO bd83se and that player is a bit more dynamic but not has smooth and more "electronic" sounding. Still I the oppo sounds great with SACD's. And movies of course
My two cents for what it worth.
To me the 840c is detailed and smooth. Before this my CD's players were either warm with less detail or more detailed but harder sounding.
Speakers are Dali Mentor 6's or Monitor Audio 20se through my VAC Avatar. Neither of them are forgiving speakers and it is brighter through the 20se but EVERYTHING is brighter through them. But the 20se is also very revealing and the CD player doesn't get in the way at all.
I will say this. It does sound better through the balanced output. Somewhere along the line I picked up a Kimber Hero cable with XLR st the cd end and RCA at the amp end. Very very good match and definitely brought the sound up a notch or two. Hero is a bit warm but the highs come through beautifully. The player also sounds different depending on the cable. I used the VDH d102 III for a long while, especially when I had warmer speakers.
I also have a OPPO bd83se and that player is a bit more dynamic but not has smooth and more "electronic" sounding. Still I the oppo sounds great with SACD's. And movies of course
My two cents for what it worth.