Ratings: 4/5
Price: US$ 380
Website: www.richersounds.com
Denon DNP-720AE
The Denon’s DNP-720AE audio streamer is designed to install
perfectly with hi-fi and AV system. It has AM and FM radio turner, but lack of
DAB. However, it supports many internet radio stations, as well as Apple
AirPlay, Napster, and Last.fm.
Using AirPlay of Apple to transmit music directly from iOS
device via Remote App of Denon is really favorable; you can also transmit from
iTune on a computer. The iPod interface is easier for using than the standard
remote control goes with streamer; the ability to use touchscreen display
wherever will be more convenient than stare at the streamer’s mono OLED
display.
However, if you don’t have iOS device, you still are OK,
because Denon’s remote is better than many we’ve run into, with a keyboard is
labeled clearly. The screen surface is much more simple than most. Menu Network
allows you to configure the network devices and streamer’s online presence, for
example the log-in details of Last.fm and Napster account. The menus, which
permit you to navigate shared media, internet radio, and online services, are
clear as well and easy to access by the shortcut buttons on remote.
The Last.fm support helps you to transmit the playlist which
linked together based on your favorite or selected artists. In general it works
well, although we got incomprehensible errors twice that mean this service is
not served in our country. We were surprised to recognize that when using the
Denon Remote app to execute keyword searches for internet radio stations, we
cannot enter text from the keyboard on iPod screen but it can be referred to
the alphanumeric pad on the standard remote control – here is a trick that
Denon missed.
The streamer sounds clear, balanced, and strong with all the
quality you expected from Denon. It has a pair of phono connectors for the
audio output, which will fit perfectly with your AV amplification or hi-fi, or
speaker system; but will require an adaptor if you want to use a set of
speakers with a 3.5mm connection. There is also an optical S/PDIF output for
digital audio, a wired Ethernet port, and both AM and FM antenna sockets. At
the front, as well as enough controls to allow you to use the streamer even if
the remote is disappear, is a USB port that you can use to connect an external
drive containing audio files in range of formats.
This is a great audio streamer for hi-fi system, but we will
appreciate support for a wider range of streaming audio services. Logitech’s
Squeezebox Touch costs less and has a wider range of features.
Conclusion
Verdict: This smart hi-fi style media streamer
device looks great, although some competitors outdo it for the features.
The streamer audio device: 1 stereo phono
output, 1 optical S/PDIF output, WMA support, WMA-DRM, AAC, Wav, MP3, FLAC,
FLAC 96/24, WMA lossless audio, RTB guarantee in 2 years.
