When I set out to buy a CD player, I wanted to get the best sound possible for the lowest price. After shopping the major electronics stores, and wanting a better sound, a friend referred me to a high-end audio dealer that he had been using.

I told the dealer what my budget was for my whole system, about $1500. By audiophile standards, my budget was extremely low. The dealer showed me the Rotel CD player, and I was impressed at how sleek it looked. It did not have any of the bells and whistles that the Sony, Pioneers, and Yamahas had. It played a single disk, had basic features, and a small remote control.

When I listened to the Rotel, it far outperformed one of the major branded CD players that I had first considered. The highs are smooth and the midrange is detailed, but not lacking in warmth.

The RCD-930AX is a sturdy piece of equipment. It weighs 9.2 pounds and is sure to hold up to any abuse that it would encounter, (with a sound like this, I'd be careful with this baby though!). The weight contributes to the CD player not skipping. It is not vulnerable to vibrations. I often play loud drums that shake the room along with music and the CD player does not skip.

Here are the specs on the RCD-930AX:

-Frequency Response: 20-20,000 Hz +- 0.8 db
-Total Harmonic Distortion: less than 0.01% @ 1 kHz
-Channel Seperation: greater than 90 dB @ 1 kHz
-Signal to Noise Ratio: greater than 90 dB
-Digital to Analog Converter: 1 Bit Pulse Modulated
-Power Consumption: 30 watts
-Weight: 9.2 lbs/4.2kg

The Rotel RCD-930AX cost me about $300. Taking the sound, price and durability into account, this is great value. The sound may make you think dollar signs, but the price surely will not. It would have been nice if the CD player could be turned on using the remote control. I have owned this CD player for about 2 years now and it has given me many hours of listening pleasure.

Note: This review was for the Rotel RCD-930AX. The RCD-930 features a digital output for connection to an outboard D/A converter.

Recommended: Yes