Flip a coin! They will sound identical. Both are excellent build quality!
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Those 2 players don’t even remotely sound similar. I’ve used/heard both and the Denon is a little darker. Bass is more pronounced. The Yamaha is more crisp with more upper end sparkle. While both are good players, it ultimately comes down to which type of sound you’re looking for. I'm not familiar with your speakers, so can't really comment, but the above might help you out.
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"Both the Denon and Yamaha have very low jitter and harmonic distortion/noise floor. So why would they be expected to sound different? " Because they use different DACs? Because they use different power supplies? Because they're designed differently and use different parts? You can't base how a component sounds off of a piece of paper that states how a component measures. It doesn't work that way. I've used both of these CD players and prefer the Yamaha in my particular system. (I upgraded to a CDS-2100 from the CDS-1000, though the sound and presentation is similar between the two). YMMV. If you go through a dealer that carries both, you can always exchange the unit if you're unhappy. I will say this, Yamahas in general take forever to break in and settle down. The Denon didn't take nearly as long to acclimate. The Denon's controls, response and load time is superior to the Yamaha (which can be rather clunky to load and use). Again, both are fine players, so it's up to you to decide which route to go.
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+1 @coralkong @pmm . I will always give considerably more merit and appreciation to those offering opinions who’ve actually heard and interacted directly with an audio product. There’s simply no substitute to the act of listening to a component reproducing music and judging what you hear. This is far more worthwhile than someone offering flippant comments about something that they lack any direct experience with. Preconceived and uninformed opinion has little or no value. Charles |
+2 @coralkong DAC and power supply much more important determinants of sound than anything @jasonbourne52 cites.
I’ve heard both SACD players, and I’ve heard the OP speakers. However, I haven’t heard them all together, nor have I been in the OP listening room. Although I disagree with everything else in @jasonbourne52 post, he is ultimately correct in that both SACD players will sound good. I agree with poster who said the Denon will sound a bit darker than the brighter Yamaha will sound. Personally I would prefer that, but ymmv. The speakers aren’t particularly treble happy, so even the brighter Yamaha won’t lacerate your ears. |
Ultimately he isn’t correct. He said both will sound “identical” (Not that both sound good). According to those here providing listening impressions, they clearly are not identical sounding. Distinct sonic differences are noted. Charles
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I have the Denon, and like the OP, Sonus Faber speakers (Olympica III, used with a McIntosh power amp). I considered the Yamaha, but didn't buy it because of reliability concerns. The Denon took several months to break in, and originally, I was not impressed. But now I think the Denon is a good match for the amp and speakers -- it's detailed, crisp and dynamic. By contrast, I tried a tubed CD player with the same setup, and it didn't work well -- the sound was tubby and slow. |
I stand corrected, but the practical point here is that both players are good, and I can’t account for how the differences between them will fit with the totality of the OPs system/room, let alone the OPs taste in music. From my viewpoint either machine will be satisfying, but I lean towards the Denon |
👍I understand your point completely. My point is, you and others have actually heard the SA CD players and render an opinion. Quite different from someone who has not and says they will sound identical. Where’s the credibility in that type of advice to “flip a coin “? Charles |
OP, I also listen to some classic rock on my Denon/Sonus Faber system, and agree that it's a good fit. And $899 for the Denon is a very good deal -- less than I paid about 2 years ago, and notable in this inflationary economy. Give the Denon sufficient time to break in, and I doubt you'll be disappointed. |
@bigmac1963 , I looked earlier and the Denon site is sold out of them at the moment. You might be able to find an online dealer who will price-match it, though. (Crutchfield, perhaps? I know they carry both Yamaha and Denon products.) Good luck on your quest, and happy listening.
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