Digital Trends

Denon S-301

December 26th, 2005 | by Rebecca Day

Conclusion

At $1,599, the S-301 is very expensive for a compact music system. Yes, it sounds terrific and yes, it does what it promises to do very well. It's a great solution for anyone who wants convincing surround sound without the hassle of rear speakers. At that price, though, I'd like to see HD Radio and satellite radio compatibility along with the SD card slot. The iPod bling is a big plus but maybe not worth what it cost Denon to license. The S-101, a lower-power, non-iPod-ready version, lists for $999. But without the power features of the S-301 it's just not the same.

Looks like the main difference between the S-301 and the S-101 include:

1. More power in the 301, 170 watts versus 50 watts
2. The 301 plays DVD-Audio and SACD where it doesn't look like the 101 does
3. USB input for portable players and Flash memory devices on the 301, not the 101
4. HDMI output with selectable scaling (480p/720p/1080i) decoders on the 301
5. Dual Discrete Video Circuitry (DDVC) on the 301
6. DVD section features DCDi from Faroudja FLI-2310 decoding engine on the 301

Pros:

-          Exceptional sounding

-          Supports Apple's iPod

-          Innovative design

-          Plenty of input and outputs

Cons:

-          Complex manual

-          Expensive

-          Sometimes locks up after disconnecting the Apple iPod