Denon bookshelf stereo with hard drive, iPod support
updated 02:55 pm EDT, Wed September 6, 2006
Denon D-F103 Stereo
Most home stereos aware of digital audio files are limited to reading those files from a single source, be it an iPod dock or an MP3 CD. Introduced at the IFA expo in Berlin, Denon's new D-F103 bookshelf system can accept music files from various sources inside and outside the main unit. Similar in behavior to the Panasonic D-dock, the D-F103 can transfer as many as 10,000 songs to a built-in hard drive by ripping CDs; track information is automatically filled in by a CDDB database also incorporated into the system. An Ethernet connection lets the stereo update its catalog of titles via the Internet as well as stream audio from a nearby PC or Internet radio station. Lastly, Denon's system has connections for external devices such the iPod and USB mass storage. Track data from all supported digital sources (including the iPod) can be displayed on the stereo's main screen. Denon is scheduled to ship the D-F103 to European customers by the end of September for the equivalent of $1695 US; no North American release details have yet been announced.
