Richer Sounds - Middlesbrough Avis 1 544

This is the second Denon DCD600NE I have purchased from Richer Sounds (my house is rather over-filled with various HiFis). Essentially, if you want an excellent no-thrills standard width box CD player and you like its physical appearance then buy this. Differences between different CD players (via their RCA phono outputs) are mostly subtle as best, as regards sound the simple truth is that it is amplifiers, speakers and the listening room make the greatest differences by far. Anyway, the long and the short of it here for me is this: I have a Naim CD5si in my main system which I love, it’s solidly built and has a very pleasurable to use manual CD drawer. When it went wrong early last year after six years of intensive use it cost me £400 to get repaired. It cost me £1100 new. I made A-B comparisons between the CD5si and the DCD600NE in my main system (Rega Elex R amplifier, B&W 705S2 speakers, Little Dot II headphone amplifier and Beyerdynamic Amiron and various DT series headphones) on all types of music and can discern no difference in sound via speakers or headphones: timbre, dynamics, soundstage - everything is equal. The DCD600NE cost me approximately a quarter of the price of the CD5si. I still love using my Naim CD player but my main system now has a second CD player added to it. It isn’t quite as pleasurable to use as the Naim, but it’s just as good to listen to which has got to be 99% of the point of spending money on HiFi equipment. And, if the Naim goes wrong again I’m not sure I’d feel it’s tactile benefits will be worth spending another £400 on preserving.

A few points that may be relevant:

No USB on either of my CD players, not something I use. The Denon DCD900NE provides this as does the Marantz 6007.

The display on Denon’s CD players is small and not bright. The Naim’s is clearer.

I chose a Denon CD instead of the Marantz CD6007 because I did not need the Marantz’s extra features and do not care for their styling.

The Denon DCD600NE is silent in operation, supports gapless playback (what CD player that doesn’t would be worth buying?) and you can’t open the disc tray with the remote control (what’s the point of that, until someone invents CDs that can fly?).

I have previously owned, amongst other CD players, a Rega Apollo R. That CD player did sound slightly but noticeable different than the Naim, I’d describe it as being just as lively but just a tad more relaxed. Indeed, I’d say that was in virtually all respects the best CD player I ever owned, but it had just one drawback however: it was completely unreliable. After a year of frustration, Rega gave me a full refund. I also once owned a Cyrus CDT (all transports sound identical to my ear), once again unreliable resulting in another full refund.

As regards Richer Sounds (my purchase this time was made by phone to their Middlesbrough store), all I have to say is that their customer service is the absolute gold standard, utterly exemplary. Near to where I live there is a very up-market HiFi shop, stocking equipment that you could spend tens of thousands of pounds on, with customer service on a par with Fawlty Towers (it’s not where I bought my Naim). Essentially, they treat many customers like idiots, unless they are actual idiots in which case they fawn all over you (especially if you pull up outside in a top of the range Audi). They really don’t like it when they set up an A-B comparison for you and you point out to them that they need to connect the speakers in phase for listening to the cheaper piece of equipment just like they had for the dearer piece. At Richer Sounds the staff are friendly, helpful and respectful of all comers; indeed, they treat you like a human being. And they generally seem pretty happy doing their jobs too! The lot at up-market HiFi are miserable as sin.

Final words: spend what you want on your HiFi. Spending more generally gets you better equipment but there is a law of diminishing returns at work. Speakers and amplifiers generally sound more different from one another than sources do, but room acoustics can spoil a great set up while good room acoustics can make a lesser system shine. All CD players may not sound the same (unless you’re using them as transports), but for the most part the differences in sound, when there are any, are generally subtle in any case. Don’t read reviews (this one excepted) but listen with your ears. And, if you can find what you want at Richer Sounds then that’s the place to go: great prices, great service and staff who seem to be valued by their company and seem to value their customers equally. And that’s enough fulsome praise from me!

The service I received from David was knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. He took the time to understand what I was looking for, selected several appropriate products and explained a few technical terms then helped me choose one, and I am delighted with it.
He made sure I had the best discount possible and arranged for delivery free of charge the next day when my choice of speakers was not available immediately.

I went into Richer in Middlesbrough knowing that I wanted a soundbar to improve my television watching experience. I didn't know which one but I did have certain criteria. Paul listened and came up with a couple of suggestions which I'd never have thought of. I opted for a JBL 800. Currently I'm listening to music from my echo dot, connected by Bluetooth. The sound is brilliant.

Great customer service - very helpful.

Good customer service & advice and got exactly what I needed.

I went into Middlesbrough shop told the salesman what i was looking for he delt with my request gave me good information and the order was completed without problem.
I asked some questions about some other equipment I was interested in and received good recommendations.
The transaction was completed and the goods were delivered 2 days later.
Excellent service i highly recommend.

Needed a new receiver for home cinema system as old one broke. Saw an Onkyo one I was interested in. So gave the Middlesbrough branch a call as thats was the nearest branch to me. The lad I spoke to was very polite, listened to what I needed and seemed very knowledgeable. Was even offered receivers they had in stock in store as the one I wanted wasn't getting re-stocked until the week after. But anyways, ordered one to be delivered in store. When it came i went to the store, it took 5 minutes to check my details, I get a 6 year warranty as I bought it from them, and the lad even carried the receiver out to my car and put it in my boot!! Would highly recommend this business, and will definitely be using them again!!

Prompt and efficeint. Accommodating outside normal opening hours

Excellent service from David, His knowledge guided us down the right path. We are not new customers and the above is why we keep going back.

I knew exactly what TV i wanted to purchase but was unsure if i could in corporate the TV with my existing media system ie amplifier. Stuart talked me through everything and even after installation there was a sound issue. Stuart again went the extra mile came out and recalibrated my whole system with the addition of a new cable. In the future i may well need to update my system and Richer Sounds will be my first port of call.

This shop is ideal with free parking at the front, expert knowledge, good understanding of products and aware of current deals and discounts such as Blue Light Card, will return for more products in time.

Your sales man David, was most helpful and knowledgeable about our purchase.
Subsequent to our purchase I had some queries which were readily answered in a very polite and understanding manner. Thank you.

Being new to modern Hi Fi I wasn’t sure what cables and connections I needed, no problem David at Richer Sounds Middlesbrough sorted me out and made them up even gave me a discount. Will definitely be using them again.

Im so happy I chose richer sounds. After problems installing WiFi on my new TV Stuart came today with another TV and spent hours figuring out what the problem was...and solved it! service impeccable, so professional and caring...above and beyond what ive experienced elsewhere. All those 5 star reviews do not lie!! Well done 👏

Went into store on a Sunday ordered the TV I wanted . Helpful friendly staff . TV came a few days later . There was a problem with the TV contacted them on phone and they sorted the problem straight away. Got another TV with in a few days and the other TV was removed with the packaging. Very happy with my TV and my 6 years guarantee

Courteous and professional staff, thank you

Excellent service in your Middlesbrough shop. So helpful.

The team at Middlesbrough were patient and helpful when I was looking to purchase a TV and sound bar for a media wall. Once I had selected equipment, they put me in touch with a local installer who was able to explain what was required for the audio visual items.

I was not aware that Richer Sounds could have put me in touch with installers. Knowing this would have been helpful in reducing time to purchase.

Staff were excellent knowledge second to none, the Denon CD / Receiver is just what I wanted and very happy with purchase.