Denon DCD-2500NE Silver Super Audio CD Player

The DCD-2500NE from Denon focuses on two main requirements, firstly ultra high precision in reading discs and secondly supplying high quality audio signals to the amp. To achieve this, the signal paths are as short as possible and the whole circuitry is minimized. 2500NE has been developed by both veteran engineers and talented young engineers who have inherited the Denon technologies and expertise that have been cultivated over many decades.

The engineers redesigned the disc drive mechanism brackets and the chassis to eliminate vibration, the great enemy of disc players, and achieve ultra-vibration-resistant performance. The information on the disc is now read with impeccable accuracy and a clean, high-grade signal is supplied to the DCD-2500NE’s Advanced AL32 Processing Plus circuitry. Besides CD and Super Audio CD playback, the DCD features playback of audio recordings up to PCM192/24 or DSD5.6 recorded on a DVD R/RW for full flexibility and extended access to high resolution audio.

Advanced S.V.H Mechanism

The DCD-2500NE’s disc drive design contains reference class advanced S.V.H. (Suppress Vibration Hybrid) mechanism. The circuitry that controls the pick up and decodes the signals read from the disc has been newly developed. Signal paths have been shortened to an absolute minimum and circuits have been miniaturized to ensure that excess current or noise will not occur. The various parts of the mechanism have been made with different materials such as a combination of stainless and copper plating for the top panel to strengthen rigidity, die cast aluminium for the disc tray, and 2mm thick steel for the mechanism brackets.

Improvements in high-mass, vibration-resistant properties and the dispersal of resonation points contribute to a high level of vibration resistance. In addition, the mechanism’s low centre of gravity suppresses any vibration occurring inside the mechanism due to disc rotation, and the mechanism structure also effectively suppresses external vibration. By eliminating unwanted vibration, servo-related operations are minimized, and by also minimizing unnecessary controls and current consumption, digital signals can be read from the disc with optimum accuracy under stable conditions.

DAC Master Clock Design

To accurately synchronize digital circuits, the DCD-2500NE’s DAC Master Clock Design treats the DAC as the master when clock signals are supplied. Positioning the master clock immediately adjacent to the D/A converter (DAC) suppresses jitter and ensures optimum precision in D/A conversion. In addition, the quality of the clock, which becomes the reference for semiconductor operation, is extremely important for ensuring that the digital audio circuitry performs at its maximum potential.

The DCD-2500NE thus employs a clock oscillator to dramatically reduce phase noise that is the displacement of frequencies. The clock power circuit has also been vastly improved to bring out the full potential of the high-quality clock’s performance. A conductive polymer capacitor with particularly outstanding high-frequency impedance characteristics for Denon’s renowned sound quality has been placed at the base of the clock’s power source, and an ultra-compact film capacitor that is different from layered ceramic capacitors has been placed close to the clock, to achieve an improved S/N ratio and a transparent sound with superior spatial expression.

The DCD-2500NE is equipped with two clock oscillators, one for each sampling frequency (44.1 kHz and 48 kHz), that can be switched between the frequencies to thoroughly suppress jitter.

Advanced AL32 Processing Plus

The DCD-2500NE is equipped with Advanced AL32 Processing Plus, the latest version of Denon’s analogue waveform reproduction technology which utilizes unique data interpolation algorithms and also supports high-resolution sound sources. These algorithms interpolate points that should exist before and after the points in large quantities of data to achieve a smooth waveform that is close to that of the original signal. By carefully restoring data that was lost during digital recording, the resulting playback sound is highly detailed, free of interference, accurately localized, richly expressive in the lower range, and beautifully faithful to the original sound.

BMC Feet

The feet that support the hefty drive mechanism, power transformers, and the heavy weight of the chassis are made of high-density, highly rigid Bulk Moulding Compound (BMC). Rigidity has been strengthened with the addition of fibre glass to the BMC material. High-density felt of a variety and thickness selected from a wide range of materials that were tested has been mounted at the bottom of the feet. The overall foot design provides further protection from vibration, and careful sound quality tuning has also been implemented.