Denon vs. Rotel CD player

[nelsress]

I'm setting up a second system with the 300B SET scratch amp I just finished and was wondering which of these two CD players is the better one. I've got a Denon DCD 1290 that I'm using and a friend of mine is selling a nice Rotel RCD 965BX for $100. Anybody ever had both or compared both side by side or even from memory? Thanks for any assistance/opinions any of you can provide, I appreciate it.

 

[LordOfTRings]

Get the Rotel. Rotel are better sounding CD payers over the Denon ones, generally.
And they are also more reliable.
And between the two models mentioned above; again, Rotel.

I had several Denon and few Rotel CD players over the years since 1986, and that is my experience.

 

[nelsress]

Thank you LordOfTRings, I appreciate your input, I was leaning that way based on what I thought I heard but they weren't side by side nor with they played on similar systems so I wasn't sure what was sounding better!

 

[1tumbleweed]

+1 for the Rotel. A nice, well built machine. I worked at a store that bought and sold used equipment for a while, and several Rotels came through, and even a 965 specifically IIRC. Denons were troublesome and nothing special sonically.

As always, just my opinion, YMMV.

 

[nelsress]

Thanks 1tumbleweed, I appreciate both yours and LordOfTRings opinions, they're exactly what I needed, the opinions of two AK'ers with experience with both units. Perfectly helpful, chalk another one up for AK!!