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Denon S-52 Review from Totok Purwanta's Network
Denon S-52 review from Totok Purwanta's Network said this: Denon All In One Table Top is a fully featured tabletop radio with AM/FM/HD radio, iPod dock, USB port, XM satellite radio compatibility, network/Internet audio playback (including Rhapsody), and CD player; clock with dual alarms. Denon has answered the call with the S-52, which also offers a slew of unconventional features. In addition to all the usual components you would expect from a tabletop radio–AM/FM tuner, CD player, and an iPod dock–the S-52 adds HD Radio, XM satellite compatibility, and the ability to stream digital audio files, Internet radio, and Rhapsody’s premium subscription service via your wired or wireless home network. It’s among the most full-featured tabletop audio product we’ve seen to date, but there’s one big problem: the sound quality of the built-in stereo speakers isn’t great. Given the product’s whopping $700 price tag, it’s a major black mark on an otherwise impressive all-in-one unit. Features As mentioned previously, the Denon S-52 is chock-full of features that deliver an almost comprehensive list of audio options: AM/FM and HD Radio; CD player; XM satellite radio (with the purchase of an add-on XM Mini-Tuner and valid subscription); an iPod dock; USB port (for playing back MP3 and WMA audio files); and a wired and Wi-Fi network connection for streaming digital audio files on a networked PC, from an Internet radio station, or accessing Rhapsody’s premium online service. The S-52 supports all iPods with a dock connection and comes with iPod dock adapters to fit the various sizes. What’s even better is that unlike most iPod compatible tabletops we’ve seen in the past, the S-52 will actually let you navigate and control your music with the remote control using the unit’s display. (Of course, you still have to be close enough to see the tiny front-panel display, so it’s kind of a wash.) However, if you have hundreds of artists on your iPod, be prepared to spend some time scrolling as there isn’t a way to skip ahead in your library, (the equivalent of spinning the click wheel faster on your iPod). Unfortunately, there is no video out on the rear of the device, so playing any videos from your iPod isn’t an option. The S-52 will also charge your iPod whenever it is docked in the device. As far as digital audio is concerned, the S-52’s compatibility is fairly good: it’ll play MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, and FLAC over the network, from a USB drive, or burned to a CD. WMA- and MP3-based Internet radio stations are supported and managed via the RadioDenon.com Web site. The S-52 also supports the premium Rhapsody online music service. The S-52 is compatible with XM satellite radio receivers. Simply plug in your Mini-Tuner and Home Dock into the rear of the S-52 and–once you establish your XM subscription–you’re all set. In addition to standard AM/FM, the S-52 also supports tuning in all-digital HD stations–though, to date, we’ve found the sound quality and selections on HD Radio in our area to not be worthy of the hype. The S-52 has two alarm clocks, each separately customizable. You can set them to go off using almost any source the S-52 can play (excluding USB). In addition, you can also set the volume at which each alarm goes off. The unit includes detachable Wi-Fi, AM, and FM antennas. As we’d expect with a networked entertainment device, the firmware is upgradeable.
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