Denon 2910 / sacd questions

erniejade
erniejade Posts: 6,321
edited February 2011 in Electronics
I received a denon 2910. While it does sound good and is a great player, and better then my old sony when i compared the 2 units, I wondered if it would hold up against my Jolida cd player. Now I know some people might think it is not a "fair" test but, new on new cost, they were actually close! so in my eyes it is a fair test.


While the Denon does do sacd and the jolida does not, in 2 ch. cd mode on the Denon, using Steely Dan Gaucho cd as the test disk, The Jolida just seems to come out on top every time. It has more and tighter bass, the mids are more pronounced, and just overall, i can pick it every time and so could my friends.

If I add a tube buffer, would that help give me more of the sound of the jolida or do i need to start looking for a sacd tube unit? I have seen a couple but they seem like they are 2 ch. only.



On a side note, HDCD's I have a few cd's that I always thought sounded good but, till I got the Denon, and it actualy comes up saying HDCD, I had no idea some of my cd's were HDCD. No where on the package or disk itself has it labeled as such.
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Post edited by erniejade on

Comments

  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited February 2011
    Do you have a tube pre? Some mild mods on the 2910 will make it much better. Search over at diyaudio.com for some ideas. I think it would be hard to find an affordable tubed SACD player.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited February 2011
    On my up stairs rig, no. I'm using a integra pre. Thats why I was thinking trying a tube buffer. On my down stairs rig, I am using a carver c-19 tube hybrid pre.

    Thanks for the link. I will take a look over there.



    It's my own fault. I should not have taken the jolida up and tried it on the other system. Hearing them side by side I could hear a big difference. I will say again though, it did sound better then my old sony unit it replaced but, against the jolida...

    Now before any is saying I am bashing the Denon, I am not. It is a darn good unit.
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  • kawizx9r
    kawizx9r Posts: 5,150
    edited February 2011
    Never came off as if you were bashing Denon. It's simple, you prefer the Jolida over the Denon in your rig.

    Question is, what other players have you owned and would you say that the Denon is better or worse (from what you remember) than those previously owned.

    Posted it on the deals of the day, but there's a mint-looking 2910 in my city for a benjamin. I'm sure it can be talked down since it's been posted up several times.
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited February 2011
    The Sony it replaced is a CDP-CA8ES. The Denon on regular cd's is more smoother in the highs, bass was night and day, and the mids were not.. well, digital sounding. Way more musical then the sony.

    I had Kyocera 610 for a long time in the late 80's - early 90's LOL and replaced it with a pioneer elite pd65. I actually used that for quite some time till it died. It was a solid player till it died and i replaced it with the sony. The Sony i never cared for and kind of kept on the shelf as a spare and the Jolida replaced the sony a few years ago. The Denon sounds closer if not better then the pioneer did.


    For a solid multi player, especially for the money, there is nothing wrong with the denon just against the jolida, ( with EI Gold pins)there is a difference.

    I have not tried a dvd on it but, the reviews on the denon have been fantastic on dvd.
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  • punk-roc
    punk-roc Posts: 1,150
    edited February 2011
    I really like my Denon 2910.. I've meant to buy a new CDP, but its sound pretty darn good and being able to play DVD-A, SACD, and redbook is just too useful.. it wouldn't leave my system even if I bought a new CDP since I'd still need it for the random SACD/DVD-A's i have..

    So I just went PC-based for most of my listening and utilize the 2910 for DVD-A/SACD =)

    Jason
    2-Channel - So far...
    Pre: Dodd ELP
    DAC: W4S-Dac2
    Source(s): Computer and Denon 2910
    Amp: Parasound HCA-1200II
    Speakers: LSi9s - Vr3 Fortress Mod
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,025
    edited February 2011
    I knew someone that ran a Denon with a tube buffer for SACD playback only. Did a decent job. For Redbook, the buffer didn't help.
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited February 2011
    Thanks F1, for redbook i will still with the jolida and I will give a buffer a try.
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