Smooothzzs

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5, 12.00 votes

Price Paid:  $900.00

Summary:
After breaking-in soundstage really opens up. Vocals centered with very good low bass definition. Highs are real with cymbals but not sharp nor fatiguing. Smooth overall presentation and check it out with HDCD-encoded discs playback....Really beat out players 2-3 times the price. If you want music, this is music conveyed in your home right in front of your seat

Strengths:
Imaging and depth of instruments and vocals, low-mids. Quality components used.

Weaknesses:
Undetachable power cord which is intentionally modded to fit in AFA Zeus

Similar Products Used:
RCD-991AE

JasonT

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $300.00 from audiogon

Summary:
I saw this hdcd player on audiogon for $300 and figured what the heck I'll give it a try. Ive been using a sony 777ES sacd player and was pleased with it until I heard this Rotel. Not only is the rotel cleaner and much more spacious and transparent But I listened to my Harry connick cd in both sacd and the normal cd at the same time and the Rotel put the sony to shame. I am so impressed with this player that I told my brother it would kick the @*#@ out of his Cary hdcd player. Ok so it didnt beat it but it was so close I cant see paying the extra $1500 or more for the Cary.It was also about even with my Adcom gcd0750 (which Im selling)

Strengths:
Everything about this player was strong. Killer build quality great hdcd decoder and very VERY transparent and open

Weaknesses:
Not a detachable power cord But Im planning on fixing that.

Similar Products Used:
sony 777ES sacd player. Parasound cdc-1000 adcom gcd-750

Price Paid:  $700.00 from century stereo

Summary:
I've been using this player for quite some time now using the analog outs. Sounds pretty flat. I've heard a couple of CD players that embellish the sound significantly... The RCD-971 doesn't do that. It gives you a pretty flat..some would say very blah sound. Which is exactly what I was looking for. I wanted something that didn't change the audio much and just let me hear the intricacy of the original audio program. The Rotel does that. The RCD-971 doesn't sound warm or bright or any of those other nonsense adjectives people use to describe audio equipment... It just doesn't sound like much of anything at all. Flat response. Transparent. If you want something that's warm or WHATEVER adjective you're looking for, try something with tubes where you can tweak the sound by changing the tubes out...

Strengths:
- HDCD - Build quality - Nice transport..smooth tray, forgiving - Relatively easy to modify output circuitry

Weaknesses:
- Can't power it off with the remote - Detachable power cord might be nice

Similar Products Used:
- Ah! Tjoeb 99 - Jolida JD-100 - Rotel RCD-991

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I just took delivery of Rotel's top of the line CD Player, not mentioning the exact model but it ends with a 70! This is an update to my previous report; When compared the the new comparable model the 971 sounds more vital and simply snaps the music, especially vocals, into focus in a way that the smooth '70 model just doesn't seem to manage! Please note that with my 971 I have updated it by adding an IEC inlet (see previous) using a home made Belden 83802 power cord. Not for "background" listenning! but If you want civilized go get a Bose wave CD player!

Strengths:
Vital, brilliant imaging for the price and way above!

Weaknesses:
Needs an upgraded power cord

Similar Products Used:
Arcam CD67SE, Rotel XX70, AMC CD8b, Pioneer stable platter many years ago...and others

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
First of all, I just want to say that digital playback has always sounded bright and aggressive to my ears, no matter what the players cost or alleged comparison to a good analog front end. However, based on the price/performance scale, this player is tough to beat. like any decent front end, the ancillary electronics, cables and speakers should be carefully matched for optimum performance. During my period of ownership, I've had the pleasure of listening to products from Arcam, rega, Sony, and Denon, all within my own system at home. Every once in a while, a product will show up that beats everything even close to its price range, and even many selling for 2 - 3 times as much. This player qualifies as one of those rare sonic finds. After a reasonable burn in period, the detail and resolution come through without sounding shrill or harsh ( unless the recording itself is flawed). Soudstaging and imaging are right up there, but not up to the best players i have heard ( sim audio). Bass, although somewhat lacking when compared to the best, is excellent and it boogies right along with the rest of the music. Most of what this product offers can be heard in much more expensive gear, but how much more does one want to spend to achieve that last level of detail, or that ultra pin-point imaging, or that fist through the wall bass that we all crave? the laws of diminishing returns set in for me rather quickly, especially when dealing with such a great player at such a modest price point. Jazz, R & R, and classical all seem to shine with this player, and like the slightly laid back presentation that seems to meld with my liking for reproduced sound. Very cable dependent and must be matched with decent components to get the best out of this baby. Rotel Rcd 971 thorens td 160 / shure v15 1v cyrus 111i with PXR power supply dynalab FM tuner Dynaudio audience 70 speakers Kimber cable and tara lab interconnects.

Strengths:
You would have to spend a lot more money to get slightly better sound.

Weaknesses:
could use more bass resolution

Similar Products Used:
see above