Denon CEOL RCD-N12: A Comprehensive Review of this Versatile, High-Performance Sound System

2024-01-05 08:12:22

Thirty years ago, almost every home I visited, especially the kitchen, had a mini-stereo, supplemented by a Bluetooth speaker of the day, and they were almost always champagne-colored.
In recent years, Denon and others have tried to revitalize old mini systems by combining them with the message that you don’t need a Bluetooth speaker when you can get a real system that does the same thing and can even be used as a soundbar.
The latest addition is called the CEOL RCD-N12, or CEOL 12 among friends. The system is simple, square and very discreet in its design, even in the white finish of the system we borrowed. There are connectivity options galore, as well as Denon’s own wireless HEOS system, there’s radio, Airplay 2, Spotify, Bluetooth, optical input and, importantly, a built-in CD player and media device connectivity and radio. A remote is included that is very lightweight and very plasticky, but I actually prefer using the touch controls on the top of the body.

For those who want to use it as a soundbar replacement, HDMI connectivity makes things a little easier, and for Hi-Fi users, there’s more good news. There’s a built-in turntable preamp for MM pickups, a preamp output for stereo amps and even subwoofers, and even crazier, it’s approved and certified by Roon. I was very surprised by this. Roon is a fancy but very good audiophile playback software that combines your streaming devices, local media servers, and everything else you own into a coherent sound library through a unified user interface. Usually, it appears almost exclusively in hardcore Hi-Fi products.
In other countries it’s sold in packages with Denon’s own speakers, but Denon’s local PR loaned us a set of B&W 607 S3s – which I’m skeptical regarding, even if the white matches well, only a sensitivity of 84 would give Weak amplifiers cause problems, especially when the impedance drops to 3 ohms. This isn’t typically what I’d call 65 watts of optimal power – rated at 4 ohms, but it actually works quite well. It came with a speaker cable which at first I thought was the wire for the radio antenna, but instead a set of speaker cables from local hi-fi manufacturer Skinbjerg Audio was installed.
The results of it? Actually, I was pleasantly surprised. While I would argue that the money would be better spent on a better, more powerful set of powered speakers, the Denon CEOL RDC-N12 offers a level of flexibility that’s hard to ignore, looks great, and can be operated by everyone in the home .

The system is simple to use, the display is easy to read, but more importantly, the sound isn’t bad at all. The bass has a nice punch, and despite having relatively few watts to work with, it doesn’t sound stressed even if you crank up the volume. While a bit bright, tonal coherence is reasonable, but this is made up for by surprisingly detailed and airy treble. It’s a sound that most people will enjoy, and there’s also the ability to connect a NAS device or even a headphone output if you’re into that kind of thing.
It’s neat, compact and functional, but at £650 that’s to be expected. I think the price might be a little on the high side, but on the other hand, it’s also a very flexible all-in-one system.

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