Price Paid:  $9.00

Summary:
I got this player for 9 bucks!! Im very suprised by the sound. Midrange is VERY nice. And the design is oldschool. I like a lot! It sounds better than my Sony X202 ES, but not as good as my Rega Planar 1 cd player (try googling it!)

As always, Rotel makes the best products for the price ;)
I also have 2 Rotel RB-890 amplifiers. I got them both for 100 bucks! I like Rotel a lot..

Strengths:
Cheap player, oldschool design, heavy (I suggest this is equal quality)

Weaknesses:
Can´t really find some. Not at that price!!!

Similar Products Used:
Sony X202 ES, Rega Planet 1, Nad C521BEE etc.

Fewtch

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $105.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
Recently picked up the RCD-855 and I must say that I'm extremely pleasantly surprised. A player with this old a DAC I was expecting to not stand up to even a stock Toshiba SD-3980 DVD player, but this leaves the latter in the dust. I can't tear myself away from the music! Sweet black background and superb tonality and refinement, this player truly deserves to be called a classic. Such effortless musicality. The few things that are lacking (a little less resolution than modern DACs, slight bass lightness and just average soundstaging) don't take away from the wonderful sonic characteristics of the Rotel. Also, it's built like a tank and is likely to last yet another 15 years. Great stuff.

Strengths:
Musicality, smooth treble

Weaknesses:
A bit light on bass, soundstaging could be better, ultimate resolution lacking

Similar Products Used:
Toshiba SD-3980 DVD player (stock), various vintage portable CD players.

Price Paid:  $80.00 from 2nd hand

Summary:
The coming of the rcd-951 marked the end of an era. of cd sound in general, and of Rotel's in particular. Untill this model, apart from the rcd-850, all of Rotel's players consisted on a Philips main board: cdm 4/9, SAA filters, foil caps, op-amps, and in addition, Rotel put their own high grade transformers BlackGate output caps, high quality diodes and wiring. That resulted in a most involving sound with exellent and realistic midband, fantastic pace and overall musicality. As the years went by Rotel kept the same board configuration while trying to keep up with the advance of technologey, mainly in the DACs domain. Some models came out better and some did not. A good example is the rcd-965bx, in its time its overall sound was considered fantastic, but the bitstream chip with its cheap sorroundings produced high jitter and over-creamy sound, especially in the bass reagon. This review is on the rcd-855, wich I came across by accident when left behind in an audio shop, as one did not want to pay for its fixing. After fixing the v.regulator of DAC, the player started to sing. Ofcause it did'nt have todays openess (usually making players sound with more depth and ambiance along with more digititis and metalis sound). It was less lively and outgoing, but it was one of the most deep digging in the musical sense that I've ever heard. It was so much fun to listen to it, and so enjoyable, voices and backings were captivating in their realism, and technique of singing was so revealed. Bass notes were so tight and articulate leading to a great sense of pace and attack, highs were not rolled off but neither hard thou lacking some ambiance. Staging is fair and tidy. You may think I'm reviewing a high-end machine here, well ofcause not, this player has many shortcomings as well and sounds old fashioned and unsophiticated when compared to todays mid priced. but for the amount you pay to get one, and when comparred to some mid-fi ones of todate its an amazing music maker.

Strengths:
SO MUSICAL,without coloration,,lively, pace, vocal presentation.

Weaknesses:
limmited soundstage, not as quiet in the background, less dynamic than todays.

Similar Products Used:
this'n'that

Price Paid:  $400.00 from Singapore

Summary:
This is a great player.I have had it for 10 years.It was noted for its bass slam which was still very good compared to players in the late 90's. It uses the very well regarded TDA 1541 DAC . It did have limitations in the high frequency end compared to newer players. I took out the DAC signal to a passive filter and a 6SL7 tube amp and bypassed the players analog circuit. This mod has transformed the player into a fantastic machine. Deep tight bass and beautiful HF.Not as sharp as a Marantz CD63 but far more musical than that. Mid range is really great. Those who have this machine must upgrade it. Even a passive filter with OPA2134 chips sounds great. I will be trying out the AD 825 with this machine. It will be worth all the trouble.Good to know that this machine still compares very well with modern machines.

Strengths:
Bass slam , rugged, easy to modify.

Weaknesses:
Plastic gear on the tray is poor and can break up. Note that the Philips CD850MkII uses the same type of transport and the gear on the Philips is of better quality. I guess one can replace it with that one.

Similar Products Used:
Marantz CD-67SE MkII, Philips CD850 MkII,Marantz CD-63 SE

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I paid $339 new in 1991. The player has given me over 11 years of service and is still sounding as good as when I got it. There was one small problem with the CD tray bouncing back when it opened which would cause it to close unless you manually caught it on opening. I took the top off and removed a couple of rubber o-ring bumpers on the tray stops, and the problem was solved. I have never heard anything else at this price point that sounds better, but I have heard some slightly more expensive units that sounded less musical. I have played this unit for thousands of hours, so I know the laser has a very long life. I have seen several on eBay sell for less than $100, and at that price this unit is a steal for a backup or entry-level CD player.

Strengths:
As good as it gets at the price of $400 when new, or used at around $100 or less.

Weaknesses:
There is no index icon on the digital display. You may have tray bounce problems and need to remove the rubber o-ring tray stops.

Similar Products Used:
Technics SL-P230. This is a cheaper unit that is very good at it's original selling price, but not quite in the RCD 855 league.