Mark Gusew samples an reasonably priced new audio streamer from a well-known Japanese hi-fi title…
Denon
DNP-2000NE Community Participant
AUD $2999 RRP
Denon has launched a brand new community audio participant that boasts many helpful options and capabilities. Competitively priced in Australia at $2,999, the DNP-2000NE guarantees loads. Naturally, it is a conventional full-width element that appears nice in a hi-fi rack. Its gentle blue show is informative and enormous sufficient to be seen a long way away, regardless of this being a slimline design that is not too tall. It is a totally trendy hi-fi streamer aimed toward a rising marketplace for this product sort.
As you’d count on from Denon, it comes comprehensively outfitted with all of the bells and whistles you’d count on these days. The fascia sports activities a quantity knob for the headphone jack in addition to a powered USB A port which may play out information from a USB stick or a transportable exhausting drive. Across the again are optical and coaxial digital outputs, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi antennas, an HDMI ARC enter, an RJ45 Community connection, and two optical, one coaxial and one USB digital inputs. Bluetooth is on the market, however solely makes use of the essential SBC codec; Airplay 2 can also be supported.
The DNP-2000NE’s connectivity permits it to kind the spine of a contemporary dwelling AV system, with TV sound by way of the Audio Return Channel (ARC), and digital inputs for maybe a CD participant in order that the high-quality inner DAC can be utilized. There are each fastened and variable units of RCA outputs, so you possibly can join the unit on to an influence amplifier or energetic audio system must you so want. About the one factor lacking is a phono and line enter, which many can have lined in different methods.
Naturally, all this may be managed from the buttons on the DNP-2000NE’s fascia, the equipped distant management, or the HEOS app. The latter is on the market for each Apple and Android gadgets and caters to multiroom management with many different HEOS-enabled gadgets. The software program is suitable with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Apple Siri voice-activated management, and can also be Roon examined. Supported information embrace MP3, WMA and AAC, plus WAV, FLAC and ALAC information as much as 24-bit, 192kHz decision or DSD as much as 5.6MHz. Through the USB interface, PCM and MQA as much as 32/384 and DSD 11.2MHz is feasible. All of which must be sufficient for most individuals.
Internally, there are two separate massive EI transformers delivering present to the ability provides, fitted with massive filter capacitors and with separate energy to the analogue output circuitry. Denon proudly stamps ‘ULTRA AL32 Processing’ on the entrance face of the unit, which is the corporate’s personal upsampling protocol. 4 separate ESS 32/384-capable ES9018K2M 2-channel DAC chips do the precise digital-to-analogue conversion. The unit feels stable at 9.7kg, and its brushed aluminium fascia appears stylish; a alternative of black or silver finishes is obtainable. Even at present, the unit’s ‘Made in Japan’ moniker stays an indicator of high quality and a focus to element.
Getting a DNP-2000NE going straight out of the field is simple sufficient. If you’re utilizing wired Ethernet, simply join the cable, and also you’re good to go. If Wi-Fi is your alternative, a few additional steps are required to get related. You have to to obtain the HEOS app to your machine. As soon as the unit is related to your private home community, the app will mechanically discover the participant, together with another HEOS suitable gadgets that you could be personal. The app lets you arrange zones throughout the dwelling, stream music and entry streaming platforms.
The equipped distant management works nicely and makes the method of listening to music pleasingly simple. I loved with the ability to pause or skip a observe by way of the distant quite than utilizing the app for such repetitive and menial duties. Certainly, the HEOS app is not the most effective that I’ve tried, a minimum of for the second. On the time of writing, it doesn’t help Tidal Join, can not deal with Qobuz, and is simply ‘Roon Examined’, so it at the moment works by Airplay. You possibly can entry Tidal by way of the HEOS app, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a contact clunky and gradual to reply by the requirements of different rival software program options. Spotify Join works nicely, as does Apple Airplay 2, nevertheless it has restricted decision. I ended up streaming Qobuz tracks by Roon, which was high quality. Not less than the app is steady, and I perceive that many software program engineers are at the moment working to enhance it.
THE LISTENING
The Denon DNP-2000NE is a fine-sounding streamer with a easy but partaking character that’s sure to win associates. Certain, its efficiency is in the end depending on the supply materials. Nonetheless, the Denon permits lossy music from Spotify to sound pleasing whereas additionally being able to focus on the deserves of high-resolution streaming from Tidal and different such sources.
For instance, the best way that Assist Me Lose My Thoughts by London Grammar sounds, places the Denon strongly into reasonably priced audiophile territory, with the haunting voice of Hannah Reid locked within the centre, nicely resolved and expressive. The sound has a pleasant stability, with no explicit space unduly highlighted. Bass notes are tight and well-extended, and there’s a satisfying rhythmic movement to the observe. It is not thunderous or overpowering however is stable and types the spine of the sound.
Tonally, the Denon’s midband is ever so barely well-lit however nonetheless easy sufficient, and it retains a good quantity of texture and timbre. Each female and male voices are well-catered for with out sounding hole or unnatural. Concerto for Two Mandolins by The Romeros continues the theme, exhibiting the DNP-2000NE innately easy and detailed character. This extends as much as the treble area, which is well-controlled and well mannered; it by no means reveals any sense of digital glare or harshness. Acoustic devices like strings, mandolins and guitars are simple to hearken to for prolonged durations.
That is all very encouraging, as there may be typically little or no to fault in regards to the Denon’s sound high quality. Solely its final lack of resolving energy and dynamic expression separates it from dearer parts. It is not that there are any evident difficulties that allow it down; it is simply that there is a lack of finely drawn decision, transparency and element. All the identical, contemplating its value level, the Denon does very nicely.
The DNP-2000NE’s slight politeness takes the sting of energetic, thrusting guitar rock. Listening to the grungy Synthetic Crimson by Mad Season leaves you craving for just a little extra rhythmic snap and assault, particularly in case you’re used to dearer streamers. This is not the chest-poundingly highly effective and dynamic sound that you just get from a high-end community participant, for instance. But nonetheless, the Denon stays pleasing to hearken to – aided little doubt by its high quality time-domain efficiency. Rhythm is delivered with accuracy and precision, making tracks like Nonetheless Obtained The Blues by Gary Moore satisfying and musically cohesive.
Through the wired Ethernet connection, Stomach Aspect Up by Matt Corby by way of Tidal produces a broad soundstage with a width that extends manner past the loudspeakers. The front-to-back depth perspective is sweet, too, with vocals locked tightly entrance and centre and all of the devices set round them. Nonetheless, transfer to Wi-Fi, and issues shrink barely, with a much less expansive sound. This is not only a function of the DNP-2000NE, as all streamers I’ve tried sound noticeably higher when instantly wired.
As with many community music gamers, if you examine a streamed supply with bodily media, the latter comes out barely forward. Placing the Tidal streamed model of Three Minutes by Johnny Warman in opposition to a CD rip copied to a USB exhausting drive was an attention-grabbing experiment. In a nutshell, I most popular the latter because of its superior picture focus, higher transient velocity and extra pleasing tonal stability in comparison with the Tidal model. It wasn’t an enormous distinction, nevertheless it was each noticeable and repeatable. I additionally appreciated the sound high quality coming from the 6.35mm headphone socket on the entrance panel. I attempted a number of pairs of cans, and all sounded nice, with loads of element, a beneficiant soundstage, plus numerous drive and dynamics.
THE VERDICT
Within the new DNP-2000NE, Denon has produced a well-rounded and competent community participant representing good worth for cash. Its function set ought to fulfill nearly everybody; it has very pleasing construct high quality on the value, and most significantly, it’s a sturdy sonic performer. It by no means sounds lower than easy and insightful and is pleasing to hearken to over all kinds of musical genres. The HEOS app wants just a little extra sharpening, however that should not put you off, as this form of software program growth occurs rapidly. The essential factor is that hi-fi consumers have simply obtained one other extremely succesful streamer choice so as to add to their shortlists – so do audition it in case you can.
