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Does anyone have info on a Denon dcd-3520

Hello,
I have this cd player in my system and would like to get information or opinions on this player. I have found very little info on this player.
I have been told a couple times that it was the weakest link in my system excluding wires and ICs. Others have said that it was he only part they would keep.
Cheers
andy
brownsanandy
lexidan's avatar
lexidan
2 posts
 
Well all i can say is that this Denon was the flagship cd-player of its day,back in the 80s.
Still today this player can measure up to a few hundred dollar machine.Plus the transport unit is rock solid and rivals todays units,even after almost three decades later!
loomisjohnson
1,948 posts
 
I'm currently using the 3520 as a transport in my main listening system (with an mf v-dac) and i couldn't be happier. smooth, built like a tank, reads everything i throw at it, and (unlike modern denon gear) bulletproof. as a standalone player, it may not achieve the clarity of good modern players, but it's actually quite credible--as hyperactive a trader as i am, i'm unlikely to ever part with it. email me for more.
willland's avatar
willland
846 posts
 
I have owned my DCD-3520 for about a year now and could not be happier. I almost snagged one about six months before that for $40.00 locally and was bummed when the seller sold it right before I was about to start my car to go get it. Either way I picked up mine for $200.00 and with build quality alone is worth(IMO)five times that much. It is the proverbial "tank" with a rock solid transport mechanism. You would have to spend upwards of $2500.00 to come even close to a player that tips the scale at over 40 pounds and has such a solid transport.

As mentioned in an earlier response, this thing is hard to let go of even if someone offered three times what I paid. It does possess something magical.

Bill
sonycdpxa50es
6 posts
 
FOR 40$ THE DCD-3520 WOW 
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

The DCD-3520 used PCM64P dacs and a KSS-151A laser. both of these highly rated today and rare and expensive to buy.

For Redbook replay you would be hard pressed to find a better d/a converter than the R2R Lader Multibit PCM63K.

R2R multibit is the only way to convert PCM Redbook "bit perfect".

All these newer DSD types, bitstream,1bit, ESS Sabre ect are not as good for Redbook as R2R is.

 This is why you find all the big heavy hitters MSB, Trinity, ect, going back to R2R for PCM Redbook conversion

To make the Denon DCD3520 into a absolute giant killer for Redbook, you’ll need to get someone good with mods, to bring the I/V stage and output buffers up to date. This could cost a couple of hundred bucks.


Cheers George

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