One would thus think that having the SACD option (as well as DVD-V/DVD-A) on a digital source component would enhance its value and appeal to consumers. Before getting back to some other high-rez digital formats, I'd like to reference a regular CD that just arrived on my doorstep. On a recording of "Cool" by pianist Bill Charlap's Trio [Somewhere on Blue Note], the manner in which the Level-1 translated drummer Kenny Washington's drum set was impressive. This is a close-miked acoustic recording with big instrumental details and wide dynamic swings; and it is mastered very hot, precisely the kind of major label jazz recording that would be hard to lay with on a bright, overly analytical digital playback source. But in listening to Washington's open and closing effects with his hi-hats and the varied textures of his ride and crash cymbals, there was a nice sense of ease and refinement to the resolution. Fundamentals were warmly articulated and nicely differentiated from their complex overtone series, yet still maintained an organic, natural feeling - sparkling and smoothly detailed but not bright or edgy and fatiguing. Likewise, the snare drum accents and rim shots came out snappy and crisply detailed, with believable transients, but again, no undue sharpness.


The percussive snap of the hammers on the piano strings, the inner details in terms of overtones and the dynamic nuances of Charlap's touch were also convincingly portrayed. Likewise the weight and presence of Peter Washington's bass, and those harmonic details in the transients that define the leading edge of his attack, and which speak convincingly to a listener who has heard this musician live; as if to say, "Ah, that's Peter Washington."


In A/B comparisons between the Njoe Tjoeb 4000, CL-20 and Denon, the output of the NJ4000 was a bit hotter than that of the Level-1 so with the unit's remote volume control, I rolled it back from 20 to 16, decreasing the output voltage a tad to level the playing field. To these ears, the Denon's presentation was more subjectively neutral although there remained something very compelling about the midrange layering of the Njoe Tjoeb (which no doubt has something to do with the presence of tubes in the output stage). The overall voicing of both units (and the CL-20) is on the warm side, but I'd characterize the Denon's presentation as drier compared to the liquidity of the Njoe Tjoeb 4000. Both excel in their depiction of soundstage depth but the Njoe Tjoeb is more forward and dynamically vibrant, the Denon smoother and more laid-back. Seeing as how the CL-20 features much older technology, I didn't reference it as often on CDs. Still, its overall signature proved fairly close to that of the Level-1 mod, which speaks volumes as to how refined and enduring CAL's circuit design still is - and how evolved the price-performance parameters are on this tweaked-out Denon for some $600 less five years down the line. The smoothness and clarity of both units was similar though the Denon's resolution seemed more pristine and refined. But I'll tell you what: I was surprised how well the CL-20 stood up to the Denon and Njoe Tjoeb in terms of spatial relationships and dimensionality. In some ways, on this CD and others, the CL-20 was more spacious and less point-sourcy than either of my other digital contenders; though I did experience the Denon as tighter and more detailed throughout the frequency range.

As for bass response, I augmented my repeated auditions of the Charlap Trio by tossing on one of my all-time favorite demo discs, A Closer View by guitarist Ralph Towner and bassist Gary Peacock on ECM, an acoustical experience I have often likened to a Monet landscape and a perfect choice for the kind of aural hairsplitting we're currently engaged in. While I may have been more subjectively drawn to the lushness and sparkle of Towner's guitar on the Njoe Tjoeb, there was a little less spread and a comparably tighter focus to the bass on the Denon, making for a firmer, more forceful quality to the leading edge of Peacock's transients. Then again, I really enjoyed how the Njoe Tjoeb filled out the woody midrange character in the belly of the bass.



Well gee Chip, don't you think that's enough dissembling for one session?
Sorry, but I am not here to draw absolute conclusions or declare a winner. I could easily live with either unit in my system - and have for the past several months. I'm just trying to convey a balanced series of musical impressions as to how I experienced the Denon's sound against my current reference so you can draw your own conclusions and determine whether or not this source component might work for you. If you're looking for a one-size fits all digital source, then I think you can already tell that I really liked the Underwood mod. If, however, you were only looking for a CD player, you need to ascertain how the Level-1 Denon stacks up against my references and others you might explore at roughly the same price points. To that end, let's reference one last CD, this time of a vocal performance, which might just tip the scales in favor of the Denon. Just as we were preparing to go online, I received a wonderful retrospective of the great mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne in the post. Even for someone who just dabbles in opera, Just For The Record: The Golden Years [Decca] is a must-own collection, showcasing as it does one of the most versatile and compelling voices of the last 50 years. Horne's range, power and articulation are wondrous, and there is a depth and luster to her voice
-- particularly in her lower register -- that is overwhelming. Did I say power? Good God, even on a recording you can feel her projecting like a bolt of lightning. I found a selection of scenes from Verdi's Il Travattore with Luciano Pavarotti to be particularly revealing.


By contrast, that supple hint of tubey ripeness I found so appealing in the Njoe Tjoeb's portrayal of Jazz combos -- a touch of color that adds an engaging human quality to music with lots of rhythm and pacing -- the Denon's more airy, open midrange better suited my appreciation of Horne's opulently nuanced instrument. Not that the Njoe Tjoeb was particularly veiled, colored or constricting; it's just that the Denon allowed the voice to open up and breathe in a purer, more unimpeded manner. Its more steely depiction of images and acoustic space better suited the quality of the music. I also felt as though Horne's dynamic swings and little ornaments were more lifelike and natural.
Finally, in referencing discs from my DVD stash, let's just say that the Denon read, tracked and reproduced what few DVD-A discs I had without any real muss or fuss or incident. Yeah, sure, I have some 24/192 materials to choose from on some early demo discs, but that music is so analytical, it's almost medicinal - as if it were recorded in the leading operating rooms of downtown Tokyo. In short, it sucks. And none of the DVD-A discs I have really represent state of the art sonics as convincingly as the SACD stash I can draw upon - mainly hot-rodded versions of rock albums, the Buena Vista Social Club and a Telarc 1812 Overture I avoid like green meat. You want canon shots? Go for it, pilgrim - on your own system if that's how you get you jollies.


Driving a power amp into a DC-induced aneurism or hitting the end stops of some very expensive woofers on a pair of lovely Dynaudio loaners is not my idea of an exciting evening at home. But then, I'm funny that way. Besides, DVD-A seems better suited to show off the aural hooters of a 5.1 system than a humble two-channel rig like my own. So-called DAD or DVD-V audio discs, with their 24/96 two-channel resolution, serve our purposes just as well. To wit, as my trusted standby, Jonathan Faralli's Percussion XX [Arts Audio], which features that Elliot Carter Timpani Sonata with its armor-piercing transients that some of you heard me audition in room after room at Home Entertainment 2003 in San Francisco last summer. So does for that matter a splendid 7-DVD collection of Richard Wagner's Der Ring Des Nibelungen [Deutsche Grammophone] with James Levine and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus, which I purchased specifically as an audio (and video) reference for just such an exigency.

Besides, while my CAL CL-20 DVD/CD player does a dandy job with DVD-V discs, it doesn't read DVD-A discs (nor CD-R discs for that matter, just to further date its technological pedigree). The Faralli DVD-V is a true 24/96 master, recorded live to optical disc. The sonic qualities of its acoustic are overwhelming, ranging from the very lowest to the very highest frequency extremes, with an exceptionally detailed, expansive, ambient soundstage. On more large-scale dynamic gestures, the aural presentation of the CAL and the Denon were pretty close: Both imaged well, with a very deep, natural depiction of the soundstage and its complex web of spatial cues, plus plenty of slam. But once again, the high-frequency veracity of the more modern digital and analog circuitry in the Denon won me over. Faralli's performance of Salvatore Sciarrino's "Appendice alla perfizione" is performed on an array of bells with a generous stereo spread from right to left. It begins pianissimo as the percussionist strikes the metal then chokes it with his free hand, gradually allowing the instrument to ring and resonate in subtle increments, leading to more complex melodic flourishes. The Denon allowed me to hear deeper into the soundstage - there was, as I am wont to say, more there there. Fundamentals had more detail and individual distinction; more information was available to flesh out the complex overtones series of each bell; and I was able to follow reverb trails and decay patterns much much deeper into silence. The older CAL is still a first-rate performer but it seemed a little veiled compared to the Denon.


As for my own half-hearted forays into the world of "home theater"? It ain't that the heart is unwilling or even that the flesh is weak. I just don't have the room for both a 2-channel and a 5.1 system. Nor do I have the money for any of the truly righteous modern monitors I might covet: Something like a 30" Loewe Planus HDTV or some sexy 42" flat screen plasma display. And even if I did, I'd have no room for them in my reference room. My ancient 20" NEC is situated in a corner to the right of my primary listening position, on the wall opposite my loudspeakers and power amp stand. So when I listen & watch a DVD-V movie or musical program or I am fotzing around with those infuriating set-up options on the DVD-V and DVD-A menus, I am situated in a nice aural sweet spot with the loudspeakers behind me and the monitor to my left. So there you have it. Pretty funky, huh?


And on top of that, while more experienced videophiles than me have commented about the terrific resolution of my 20" NEC Monitor, it is over 15 years old (though having the TV daisy-chained into my Equi=Tech Q650 Balanced Power System significantly enhances the clarity and depth of field of that old television). Having said all of that, while the audio verity of Wagner's "Das Rheingold" was very good on both the CAL and the Denon, even given the limitations of my system, it was readily apparent that the video image was brighter, crisper and more resolved with the Denon.

Conclusions
There are subjective musical qualities to the older California Audio Labs CL-20 and the more up-to-the-minute Ah! Njoe Tjoeb 4000 that I cherish as much if not more than those of the Level-1 mod. There is still something very spacious and dimensional about the presentation of the CAL. Because its depiction of the music is less point source, it enables loudspeakers to pull a disappearing act while the richness and midrange layering of the Njoe Tjoeb remains very involving and alluring.



However, the smoothness and clarity, rhythm and pacing, bass extension and focus, detail and relaxation of the Level-1 mod were very good indeed. Its overall level of resolution is more than competitive with either of my in-house reference points, and in head-to-head face-offs seemed to have more speed and sparkle than the CL-20 and a smoother, more neutral presentation than the Njoe Tjoeb. Of course, I am a big fan of the Njoe Tjoeb's midrange signature, its humanity. It is a little more forgiving than the Denon, with more of a 'personality' than some listeners might want, but I remain quite taken by its subjective musicality. Not that it is such a colored sound - but the Level-1 Mod is more revealing, like a more refined, resolved, pristine modern version of the CL-20. In terms of an absolute quotient on midrange layering, low level details and room cues, front to back depth and presence, the Denon doesn't offer the surreal sense of venue, harmonic detail, wealth of information and overall resolution that more expensive disc players do.


Having said all that, I was impressed by the Denon's linearity and lack of coloration. It has a nice sense of ease and musical veracity, a non-fatiguing top end, a solid, honest foundation of bass and a clear open midrange that offers believable resolution on all of the standard and high-rez disc formats in both stereo and 5.1 surround sound modes, for eighteen hundred bucks. I wish I could report back to you on A/B comparisons with the stock Denon, but that is not how this aural encounter was structured. Nevertheless, taken purely on its own merits and as an aspirant in the under-$2000 digital derby, this versatile source component offers consumers an authentic entree into the realms of HighEnd audio-video resolution without breaking the bank. It is thus well worth serious consideration and a careful audition. This is an eminently musical, unobtrusive, dependable source component. I enjoyed using it in my reference system and I'd happily recommend it to those tweaks and freaks on the prowl for a relatively cost-effective way of justifying their initial forays into the brave new world of DVD/SACD audio and video software. Or as Professor Henry Higgins was once heard to sigh, "I've grown accustomed to her face." I shall indeed miss the Level-1 modified Denon DVD-2900 now that its time is nigh and she's ready to go bye-bye...


Manufacturer's website
Modifier's website
Retailer's website