Price Paid:  $950.00 from in Japan

Summary:
I don't have this exact product; however, I own the Denon DCD1650AZ, which uses the same exact 24-bit AL processing chips as does the DCD-S10III. The only difference is the 1650AZ lacks the HDCD capability and you can use the DACS in the DCD-S10III as a separate unit. You can still use both units as a transport, however, Denon went one step further to allow you to use the DACS inside the S10III separately.

According to the dealer, sonically both machines play standard 16-bit discs with the same precision. From that note, the sonic improvements of the 1650AZ over the 1650AR is substanstial, given my hardware and my personal opinion (we all don't hear the same things, of course). The 1650AR is an excellent piece in it's day, but I've always felt that there was something missing. I listenened to the 1650AR for about 3 months straight. Once I got the 1650AZ, I was dying to hear the difference. At the initial listening test, I was thinking "it couldn't be such a huge difference" and to some there may not be, but I immediately noticed a more open soundstage, with more definition in the lower and high frequencies. The "storms" in Enya's Watermark track was much crisper and the "thunders" much deeper in bass.

To those new to listening with high end equipment, a small difference sound quality in the high end world is more substantial than most would think.

Finally, if you're in the market for a "budget" high-end CD player, the Denon is a bargain. I would recommend the 1650AZ over the DCD-S10III, because the price difference (in Japan) was $550.00. You're basically paying for the HDCD capability and the use of the deck as an external DAC. If anything the HDCD is of use, but using it as a DAC? The DACS are excellent, don't get me wrong, but I think it would serve better as a transport and coupling it with a higher end DAC from Krell, ML, etc.

Strengths:
Very open, excellent imaging, sweet sound. Unit's construction is top notch.

Weaknesses:
No balanced outputs; needs a more solid remote.

Similar Products Used:
Denon DCD1650AZ