We know it's gotta hurt the likes of
Denon to pump those compressed audio files out their quality wares. Still, it brings a tear of joy to the eye to see these pioneers of digital audio embrace convergence so thoroughly. Introducing the Denon D-F103 shelf-system with 40GB disk, CD, USB, and Ethernet jack. As you might have already surmised, you can plug-in and play music directly off your USB-equipped DAP, rip your CDs in PCM(WAV) or WMA files straight to disk, and even stream MP3/WAV/WMA audio from any DLNA or Windows Media Connect server on your home network. She'll also play
vTuner Internet Radio and backup your PC music over USB to boot. And don't worry about ripping to untitled tracks when disconnected; that disk comes pre-installed with about 350,000 Gracenote CDDB titles. Expected to drop in Japan in late August for ¥161,700 or $1,389 in that cool, cool green. Come 'ere Denon, it's noogie time.
[Via
Impress]
posted Jun 30th 2006 8:05AM
I like that Denon is taking this step, I would just like to see smaller units. Kind of like the Bose Wave radio, with a 4'x4' media center screen on it.
Talked to people at Bose and they insist they'll never make something like that....which is a shame, because I bet those would fly off the shelves at Xmas.
At last. I've been waiting for a hardwired ethernet audio box like this. I don't want a wireless one. The only other thing it MUST have here in the UK is a DAB tuner. Fingers crossed
Yes, it hurts to put anything not lossless through quality audio equipment. It hurts a lot. Too bad nobody is going to buy this thing - $1400 is almost enough to get a Sonos setup (with the non-amplified boxes) for audio AND a Mac Mini for a HTPC. Granted, this setup lacks speakers - but it has a lot more functionality and bringing your own speakers to the table is probably a better idea.
Speakers are not Denon's strongest suit; I'd recommend going elsewhere for them anyhow.
The Denon S-301 comes pretty close to this idea, too, with an emphasis on home theater and a dedicated iPod port.
Denon's "quality wares"? That's mass-market stuff all the way.
Denon systems are sold a premium, right? I wonder why I'd pay premium price for a 40GB HD that will play crap MP3s instead of a 500GB HD that would play quality flac files. For the Denon brand, this seems like a waste. I could be wrong, though.
It really is heartening to see one of the better audio OEMs get behind the newer ways of doing things. Compare a Denon product over its lifetime to similiar Sony or Bose product, and the Denon makes up for it's price.
The way I see it, the Mac mini is where it's at. It can do toslink out, it has a simple remote, and can be expanded with standardized external hard drives that look nice (look like the mini). I don't have one so I won't say anything more other than that I wasn't raised (I'm 21) with receivers being part of my music experience and it looks like Denon is not nearly as good at digital audio as Mac or iPod products. Why spend $1400 on a brand I don't know how to evaluate? I know what an Apple product is worth.