Price Paid:  $2000.00 from hi-end store

Summary:
This is a truly wonderful CD player and I can't see it being beaten by anything other than machines costing ridiculous sums of money, perhaps not even then. Renaissance CDP has a huge soundstage…the soundstage is the best I've heard, a top level accurate but in same time ear satisfying sound. In my opinion it is natural said in one word! It is simply outstanding. Its ability to uncover the detail in my CDs, without sounding clinical or harsh, is amazing. It mates very well with the rest of my system -- my Dynaudio 1.8’s and Krell amp. . Sounded better overall than either of the Rega systems, to my ear. Just more detail without sounding harsh. That's a big win for my system! This is absolutely one of the best CD-players available!

Strengths:
Soundstage, detail, imaging

Weaknesses:
could be higher quality connectors

Similar Products Used:
Rega Planet, Rega Jupiter , Arcam Diva, Arcam FMJ…and many more

Price Paid:  $170.00 from Second hand at eBay

Summary:
I bought it used for very little money (170€). it was sold as defective. It needed new cinch connectors for the analogue output. I never thought that somebody would use such cheap PCB-mounted connecors for such a device... Also the display is broken (somebody knows a source for a new one???), but who needs a display for ejoying music? d;-))) Other equipment: Audioanalyse PA90 (integrated amplifier) Dynaudio Focus good interconnections...

Strengths:
Wonderful sound! Very fast and detailed sound, shows up a lot of new details on my favourite (and other) CDs!

Weaknesses:
Low quality display and enclosure. Cheap connectors.

Similar Products Used:
Various NAD, Rotel, Marantz... ...but nothing competetive!

Price Paid:  $1000.00 from friend

Summary:
great cd player. clean powerful sound,.cannot find munch information about DPD..

Strengths:
heaver construction makes it very stable..sound better than most $2k cd player

Weaknesses:
audio noise at high volume...

Similar Products Used:
sony ca9ES,

Price Paid:  $2000.00 from peacock Germany (distributors)

Summary:
Take care with partnering, if dpa fits it can be the fastest overwhelming sounding CD Player on the market even the enlightenment is now 6 Years on the market.......

Strengths:
Clear detailed sound, very very fast, actually a soundwave can shock you when it reaches your ears.
Heard through small accoustic Energy AE 1 with metall cones und the dpa own black slink NF cables - frightning !

Weaknesses:
Not very emotional, very bad with bad discs, the emphasis/distortion in the highest frquencies can be heard, this was stated in some tests in england too, so take care with the partnering components especially the speakers ! Build quality not up to the price.

Similar Products Used:
dpa transport and enlightenment dac

Price Paid:  $1500.00

Summary:
Surprisingly good CD player. Bought this as a demo unit after listening to many other high end players. Very smooth sounding, with great highs and good bass. This player resolved details as well as the Classe I demoed against it, but the Renaissance had better soundstage and imaging. I also heard this paired with the DBA Enlighment DAC, which was nothing short of amazing sounding. DPA has a timing cable that goes between the CD player and DAC the eliminates any jitter. It doesn't remove jitter after the fact - by using the same clock for both devices no jitter is ever introduced. Not sure why this player or DAC never really caught on in the US. Great sound for the price. With the outboard DAC it competes with players in the $3-5K range.