Mini Hi-fi Systems (Denon M38, Onkyo CR545)

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Mini Hi-fi Systems (Denon M38, Onkyo CR545)

22 posts & 12 voices | Started 8 months ago by Rich | Latest reply from CaptainFlashheart

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Rich - Member

I know a few people on here have the Denon M38 and Onkyo CR 545, but while browsing for a mini system I came across an Onkyo DR 645, which seems to do everything the 545 does apart from DAB radio, but with the added extras of having an upscaling DVD player and the ability to play DivX files from USB, which would be handy. It is also around the same prica as these 2 systems.

DR 645 link.

Am I missing a trick? Would this AV system be as good a music player as the CR 545 and the Denon M38?

Cheers for any advice.

Posted 8 months ago #
Rich - Member

.

Posted 8 months ago #
1freezingpenguin - Member

imo i'd personally want the DAB radio if I was getting a new system.

Posted 8 months ago #
iainc - Member

looked into this in detail last yr and bought one of these :

here

and an Onkyo dock and some Wharfedale speakers - I think it was online at creativeaudio.. The DAB radio is good

Posted 8 months ago #
TurnerGuy - Member

Or if you have freeview, freesat or cable you can listen to the radio from that, as long as the station you want is on there.

Will be at least as good but most likely better than DAB.

Posted 8 months ago #
nbt - Member

I've been thinking along the same lines. I'm cross with myself as last year superfi were selling off a similar model (NAD C717) for only £150. As TurnerGuy suggests, I'd planned to run the freeview through it for digital radio

Posted 8 months ago #
Rich - Member

So, as long as I'm happy not to have the DAB radio, will the sound quality be the same as the audio systems?

Good idea about the freeview radio btw.

Posted 8 months ago #
TurnerGuy - Member

There was a london shop years ago that used one of these denon lifestyle systems to drive some LS3/5as (expensive speakers and known as a difficult load) very successfully. With an audiopro subwoofer added he would demo it against an expensive Quad system (using electrostatics) and it stood up very well indeed, such that he sold loads of them.

So if you choose right you may well keep this system for a long time.

I would therefore go for a system that just has the basics and leave the ipod compatibility and dvd/divx playing capability to external components that you can change when they become out of date.

And try to get some speakers that are better than the standard ones supplied.

Just make sure there are aux/line level inputs for you to plug in your freeview box/dvd player and ipod dock (if you need it).

Posted 8 months ago #
TurnerGuy - Member

As for sound quality - it is difficult to tell without listening but being that there is normally a budget that has to be spread around the whole system, the more bells and whistles the less that will have been spent on each bit.

So I am guessing not, but could be wrong.

Also be careful when auditioning these systems in a shop as they generally will be played at higher sound levels than you will listen to them at home.

Try to ensure you get a 'cooling off' period in case it sounds very different when you get it home, which is a common case as room size/furnishing/floor construction/covering can make a huge difference.

Posted 8 months ago #
DaveyBoyWonder - Member

I'm after something similar but want the DAB radio (going in the kitchen - TV and Freeview etc is in the lounge) and am leading towards the DM38 or 37. Both of which I've been told are excellent and I believe have the option of speakers (which are meant to be half decent units).

Posted 8 months ago #
nbt - Member

DM 38 doesn't do DV does it?

Posted 8 months ago #
konabunny - Member

awright mate, you won't believe it, we've just had an order cancelled and these top end speakers can't go back to the shop...

Posted 8 months ago #
Rich - Member

The Denon 38 is reported to have a hum/buzz when at low volume, this has put me off a bit.

Konabunny ??

Posted 8 months ago #
jackthedog - Member

konabunny - Member
awright mate, you won't believe it, we've just had an order cancelled and these top end speakers can't go back to the shop...

My mate actually got done by that one a few years back.

Posted 8 months ago #
TheGingerOne - Member

The Denon 38 is reported to have a hum/buzz when at low volume, this has put me off a bit

Mine doesn't if that helps.

Posted 8 months ago #
Rich - Member

Yeah I should really say that SOME reviews say theirs has it, others say theirs developed over time, especially when using the headphone socket. How many percentage wise I have no idea but I read it enough to make me take notice.

Posted 8 months ago #
TurnerGuy - Member

For DAB I use an old Pure BUG, which lets me record shows on SD card, but you could also timeshift shows with a freeview PVR - like an old Topfield from ebay.

The only Pure radio that does this now if the Evoke I think, but this is a portable radio and not a 'component' form factor.

Posted 8 months ago #
JPcapel - Member

This months What Hifi has a mini/solo unit shoot out. Includes the Denon M38 amongst others.
I am on my 2nd Denon unit (having previously had the M37).
There is no hum to which you mention.
Sound quality is very very good for what it is, in terms of price.
I have a bose sound dock II and the Denon sounds like proper hifi, compared with the Bose ipod docking speaker.
I have bought decent speakers to accompany my Denon and suspect this makes a reasonable difference in bringing the unit up to sounding at its best.
I have listened to the Arcam solo - which sounds nice, but Arcam has a unique sound, I'd say which is overly light on the bass and it was loads more dosh than the Denon.
The Marantz unit is very nice, but again more money and only say 10% better sounding. For the money the Denon is hard to beat.
What hifi have kept it as their most recommended solo unit for a few years now.
Hope this helps with your deliberations.

Posted 8 months ago #
TurnerGuy - Member

Denon sounds like proper hifi, compared with the Bose

do Bose make anything that sounds like proper hifi?

Posted 8 months ago #
DaveyBoyWonder - Member

Might have to pick up a copy of What HiFi on the way home...

Posted 8 months ago #
stumpy01 - Member

konabunny - Member
awright mate, you won't believe it, we've just had an order cancelled and these top end speakers can't go back to the shop...

HA HA!! I had some bloke try that with me. Unfortunately for him, at the time I was a) a hi-fi geek, b) a skint student.
So after asking him loads of questions for ages about bi-amping, bi-wiring, crossovers, shielding for surround applications etc. I told him to get bent.

2 days later a mate of mine who knew I was into hi-fi rang me up & told me about the great deal he'd got on a pair of top-end speakers from some bloke who had a few pairs to shift after a mistake with a delivery note quantity.......oh dear.

Anyhoo......back to the OT, have you looked at the NAD equivalent of this? Can be had for about £350, although I don't think it does the whole DVD thing. I am very tempted to get it.

Posted 8 months ago #
CaptainFlashheart - Member

The Marantz unit is very nice, but again more money and only say 10% better sounding

Do you mean this one?

Marantz mcr603

If so, I have one (in silver) and am very, very impressed. It is a little more expensive, that's true, but sound quality is excellent and the range of ways to listen is awesome (Interweb, MP3 connection, USB stick, beamed through a router from hard drive and then CD, DAB and FM)

If budget wasn't as much of an issue, I'd seriously recommend this for you.

Posted 8 months ago #

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