written by daviesaj on 16/04/2007
Good Points
Musical and well balanced sound quality gets feet tapping. Detail without rough edges. Push button track changes are easier to use than the rotary type found on some other brands. Well built and cosmetically pleasing. A relaxing and satisfying listen.
Bad Points
Highish cost of dedicated iPod dock.
General Comments
A side by side comparison with Onkyo's CR 515, Pure's DX60 and Yamaha's M170 confirmed the Denon's superiority - the Onkyo had more slam and tighter bass but was relatively hard edged with a recessed mid range. In contrast - the soundstage of the Denon D-M35DAB was more natural with vocals clearly in front of and separated from the backing instruments. The Pure and Yamaha were way off the mark in terms of sound quality - and the Pure felt particularly flimsy. So to sum up - Denon a definite first place - followed by the Onkyo - with the Pure and Yamaha very distant runner ups.
Tip!! Take the so called professional rave reviews with a pinch of salt - treat the 5 star ratings and superlatives so often peppering Hi-Fi mags with caution and listen for yourself - trust your ears only! Based on magazine hype I expected to be hugely impressed by the Onkyo and although it was way ahead of the Yamaha and Pure - it couldn't match the musicality of the Denon.