Denon DCD520

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Fretless
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Denon DCD520

Unread post by Fretless »

There was a clearout in the neighbourhood and I managed to get a free CD player, late 80's Denon DCD520.

Don't know much about it but I suspect it was a lower-end model. Build is good and solid and I think it has dual DAC chips running, one for each audio channel. Sound is crisp and clear, better than the Sony M33 - so it's going into my office system for now. :grin:

Image

When I've had a chance to listen to it properly I'll post a couple of comments.

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

AshM750.
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Re: Denon DCD520

Unread post by AshM750. »

Nice one! Its always nice to get some freebees ;)

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Re: Denon DCD520

Unread post by _D_S_J_R_ »

Denon have quietly gone about making really good CD players at the middle to bottom end of the market. if they ever did compete with Sony at the top end, I apologise for not knowing anything about them. My DCD 1520 (similar era?) is fine, if not as 'expressive' as a Top End model and my standby DCD 1015 is delightful in a basic kind of way - clean and simple sounding and never sounds as if it's trying too hard.
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way...The time has gone, The song is over, Thought I'd something more to say...

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Re: Denon DCD520

Unread post by Fretless »

_D_S_J_R_ wrote:my standby DCD 1015 is delightful in a basic kind of way - clean and simple sounding and never sounds as if it's trying too hard.
The 520 seems to have that quality, I'm pleasantly surprised. :guiness;

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Re: Denon DCD520

Unread post by Fretless »

AshM750. wrote:Nice one! Its always nice to get some freebees ;)
cheers Ash, good to see you're still hanging around! :guiness; :grin:

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Re: Denon DCD520

Unread post by AshM750. »

I like to keep track on here and it's good to see you getting more gear. My dad had a limited edition Denon cd player, I can't remember which one but I think it was a mid range model and it was pretty good aswell.

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Re: Denon DCD520

Unread post by Fretless »

I have now had a chance to, at least, have a good look at the DCD 520. On the surface it appears and feels to be a quality product; quite heavy, smooth tray action, responsive to controls and no obvious scuffs or damage - despite it's 25+ years of age. It quite reminds me of my very first CD player - a Trio DP-1100 Mk2, which was incredibly heavy and was one of the initial wave of High-End players that came out in the mid 80's (a classic - anyone still have one of those lying around?).

Soundwise the Denon displays all the trademarks of an 'audiophile' model with a smooth, clear and detailed top, refined mids and deep, punchy (not boomy) bass. Partnered with the Sansui Au217 amp and Doc-Mod Mission 760's in my workdesk system it provides a sound that is definitely good enough to distract me from concentrating on work-related matters.

Putting it through the MF XCanV3 / Grado SR80 headphone setup also reveals it to be dynamic but not harsh, holding the brightness of the Grado's to an enjoyable level.
Realised for the first time that the vintage Sansui amp appears to have a passive pre-amp section as it was passing the signal (via tape-monitor output) to the headphone amp whilst turned off. Nice to know.

Might try putting the Denon onto the NVA amps this evening and hear what that reveals. It looks like I have unintentionally joined the legion of vintage Hifi enthusiasts/collectors. Well, everybody needs a hobby. :geek:

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Re: Denon DCD520

Unread post by Ronin »

Thanks for the insight on the Denon Fretless.

I'm actualy in the market for a "cheap" CD player as my Eclipse has given up the Ghost :( .My brother-in-law gave me a Nad 502 (which sounds better than the Eclipse) but that's playing up as-well (failing to read discs) :roll: .

It will be interesting to know how it will sound in the company of NVA.

Ronin

PS looked-up your Fretless bass- absolutely stunning :handgestures-thumbupleft: and I agree with you about Mick karn,he definitely had a unique way of playing/sounding,shame he was taken so young, but at least his music will live on.Have you heard any of his solo offerings or his collaboration with Peter Murphy (Dalis car).

PPs replied here because I lost the thread that you started :doh:

Ronin

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Re: Denon DCD520

Unread post by Fretless »

You might try cleaning the lens of the NAD (very, very carefully), I did this on my NAD CD524 a bit too enthusiastically and it had to be recalibrated. Or try just blowing off any accumulated dust or hairs -sometimes does the trick.

Basses are fun (ask Slinger!) and I do remember hearing the Dali's Car album, but not that I have any opinions about it. There are a couple of brilliant players out there: Michael Manring (his youtube videos with the Hyperbass) and Alain Caron. At the moment I'm listening to a lot of ECM stuff with Eberhard Weber, but he uses a modified stand-up bass mostly.

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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