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Denon S-81 CD/AM/FM/XM Ready micro system with iPod® docking port

Item # 033S81

The stylish S-81 shelf system from Denon makes a great compact audio entertainment center for your office or den...

The stylish S-81 shelf system from Denon makes a great compact audio entertainment center for your office or den...

Item # 033S81

Shop all Denon Home Stereo Systems

About the Denon S-81

Ralph Graves
The stylish S-81 shelf system from Denon makes a great compact audio entertainment center for your office or den — especially if you've got an iPod. In addition to its built-in CD player and AM/FM tuner, the S-81 comes with a docking port for your iPod, as well as a front-panel input for other makes of portable MP3 players. And the receiver's XM Ready, so you can also enjoy satellite radio.

The stylish S-81 shelf system from Denon makes a great compact audio entertainment center for your office or den — especially if you've got an iPod. In addition to its built-in CD player and AM/FM tuner, the S-81 comes with a docking port for your iPod, as well as a front-panel input for other makes of portable MP3 players. And the receiver's XM Ready, so you can also enjoy satellite radio.

iPod functionality
Connect your iPod to the S-81 with the provided docking cable. Song titles and other information from your iPod will appear on the receiver's front panel. You can even use included remote to control the connected player. And since the S-81 automatically charges your iPod while docked, you don't have to worry about its battery running low.

The system is also compatible with Denon's ASD-1R control dock, available separately. The ASD-1R's video output lets you display your iPod's menus on a TV screen for easier navigation. You can also display videos and slideshows from your iPod onscreen, while playing its music through the S-81's speakers.

Add XM satellite radio
The S-81 is XM Ready, so it's easy to add satellite radio to the mix. Simply plug in an optional XM Mini-Tuner package and activate your XM subscription. Once subscribed, you'll be able to tune in over 170 satellite radio channels.

Big sound from a small system
You'll get full, rich sound with surprising clarity from the system's compact speakers — thanks in part to a receiver that can deliver up to 100 watts of power. The speakers come with both desktop stands and wall brackets, so you can place them just about anywhere. And they're video-shielded, so you can even have them next to your computer monitor.

CDs and radio
The CD player handles MP3 and WMA discs, as well as regular audio CDs. A built-in AM/FM tuner with 60 presets rounds out your entertainment choices. The tuner's also RDS-capable, so it can display call letters and other text your favorite radio station may be broadcasting.

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Product highlights:

    Receiver:
    • 50 watts x 2
    • front-loading CD player
    • plays CDs and MP3 & WMA CD-Rs and CD-RWs
    • compatible with docking iPods, including video iPods, iPod photos, iPod nanos, and iPod minis
    • XM Satellite Radio Ready (requires XM subscription and optional XM Mini-Tuner package)
    • tuner with 60 AM/FM presets
    • front-panel headphone jack
    • front-panel auxiliary input
    • 14-15/16"W x 3-15/16"H x 9-11/16"D
    Speakers:
    • 2-way, bass-reflex design
    • 4" woofers and 1" tweeters
    • frequency range: 80-30,000 Hz
    • 5-7/8"W x 10-7/16"H x 7-5/16"D
    • video-shielded
    • desktop stands and optional wall brackets included
    General:
    • compatible with ADS-R1 iPod dock
    • speaker wire and docking cable included
    • remote control
    • warranty: 1 year
    • MFR # S81

    What's in the box:

    • RCD-S81 Integrated CD/Stereo receiver
    • Two SC-S81 speakers with removable tabletop stands
    • RC-1035 Wireless remote control with 2 "AA" batteries
    • 2 Metal speaker brackets with 4 mounting screws
    • 40" iPod cable
    • Two 16' lengths of speaker wire with proprietary connectors on both ends
    • Am loop and FM wire antennas
    • One allen-wrench
    • Operating Instructions
    • Limted Warranty sheet
    • Denon Service Network sheet
    • XM mini-tuner brochure
    • iPod connection sheet

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    More details on the Denon S-81

    Research Team

    Product Research

    CD/Receiver Features
    Speaker Features
    Inputs and Outputs Notes

    CD/Receiver Features

    System Components: The Denon S-81 DVD Personal Audio System consists of the two main components.

    • RCD-S81: Integrated CD/Stereo Receiver
    • SC-S81: Pair of stereo book shelf speakers

    iPod Input: The S-81 features a front panel iPod input, allowing you to play music files from your iPod on your Personal Audio System. You can control the iPod using the unit's front panel controls or the supplied remote control. You can also charge your iPod when it's connected to the S-81. The iPod front panel input allows you to view the iPod's menu and track information on the S-81's display. The S-81 also features an iPod Dock Control input on the rear panel for use with an optional iPod dock or Denon's exclusive ASD-1R dock. There is a switch on the rear panel that allows you to select between using the iPod front panel connection or the Dock Control rear panel connection.

    Portable Aux Input: If you don't own an iPod, you can use the front panel portable auxiliary input to play music from your portable audio player. An optional stereo mini cable is required to connect your portable unit to the Integrated CD/Receiver.

    XM Ready: The S-81 Personal Audio System is an XM Ready receiver. You can receive XM satellite Radio by connecting to the optional XM Mini-Tuner system (item 700XMTUNPK, sold separately) and subscribing to the XM service. The XM port is located on the rear panel of the unit. The S-81 offers direct track accessing of XM channels from its wireless IR remote control.

    Disc Capabilities: This unit can playback Audio CD, CD-R and CD-RW. It can also playback MP3 and WMA files stored on CD-R and CD-RW.

    MP3/WMA Playback: The S-81 can play MP3 and WMA files recorded onto CD-R and CD-RW discs in ISO 9660 format. MP3 files should be recorded between 32 and 320 kbps (128 kbps recommended), and WMA files at 64 to 160 kbps. Folder and file names of up to 63 characters can be displayed. The maximum number of files and folders playable is 512.

    Tone Control: The integrated CD/Receiver allows you to adjust the following Tone controls.

    • SDB: adjusts the low bass sound; you can select between either on or off
    • S.Direct: music is played with the Tone control flat; you can select between either on or off
    • Bass: allows you to adjust the Bass from -10dB to +10dB in 2dB increments
    • Treble: allows you to adjust the Treble from -10db to +10dB in 2dB increments
    • Balance: allows you to adjust between sound between the left and right speaker from R10 to 0 to L10 in steps of one.

    Tuner: The S-81 features a built-in AM/FM tuner with Auto tuning. You can store up to 60 FM and AM broadcast stations. Preset stations can be given names of up to 8 characters.

    RDS (Radio Data System): The S-81's tuner also features RDS. RDS (works only on the FM band) is a broadcasting service which allows stations to send additional information along with the regular radio program signal. The tuner has the following RDS functions where RDS stations are available.

    • PTY (Program Type): This feature identifies the type of RDS program such as Sports, Talk, Jazz, Top 40, etc.
    • Traffic Program (TP): This feature identifies programs that carry traffic announcements.
    • Radio Text (RT): This feature allows the RDS station to send text messages at appear on the display.

    Built-In Clock: The S-81's clock display the time in the 12-hour mode. The unit offers the following types of timers.

    • Everyday Timer: use the to play at the set time every day
    • Once Timer: use this to play once only at the set time
    • Sleep Timer: use this to turn off the power after up to 90 minutes with set intervals of 10 minutes

    Note: If there is a power outage all Timer settings will be cleared and the Clock setting will be cancelled.

    Speaker Settings: The S-81 uses the following speaker settings.

    • Speaker Optimize: You can select between either "on" or "off". Use "on" if you are using the speakers that come with the system. Select "off" if you are using speakers other than those that came with the system.
    • Speaker Location: You can select between either ON Wall or On Shelf. Set to On Wall when the speakers are installed on a wall or when there is a wall directly behind them. Set o On Shelf when using the included speaker stand.
    • Room Damping: Set this feature according to the level of the reverberations in the room. You can select from Low, Mid or High.

    CD Playback Features: The S-81 offers the following playback features for your Audio CDs.

    • Play, Pause & Stop
    • Fast-Forwarding and Fast-Reversing
    • Skip (moves to the beginning of tracks)
    • Direct Play/Access (using the remote's 0-9/10+10 number pad)
    • Program Play (program up to 25 tracks)
    • Random Playback (once or repeat)
    • Repeat Play (single track, all tracks, program tracks)

    MP3/WMA Playback Features: The S-81 offers the following playback feature for MP3 and WMA music files.

    • Folder Mode: Only the selected folder is played in Folder mode. The unit automatically assigns multiple folders numbers when reading the disc. The folders switch according to the numbers they have been assigned.
    • Disc Mode: All the files in all the folders from the selected folder or file on a disc are played. The order in which the files are played depends on the folder structure attributed when the disc was created and other data recorded on the disc when the files were recorded.
    • Repeat and Random Modes: Repeat and Random functions can be used during both Folder and Disc modes.

    Display Dimmer: You can manually select from the remote control one of three brightness settings, or turn the display off.

    Remote Control: The system is controlled by the supplied RC-1035 wireless remote control. The remote can control the iPod and XM functions of the unit.

    Receiver Dimensions: Width = 14.9375", Height = 3.887", Depth = 11.05" (with speaker plugs attached)

    Speaker Features

    Satellite Speakers: The Denon S-81 features Two 2-way bass reflex, antimagnetic design, bookshelf type speakers. Each speaker houses a 4-inch cone bass-mid and a 1-inch high range tweeter. The speakers can handle continuous power of 60 watts at 4 ohm and have the capability of 120 watt peak power.

    Speaker Connectors: The speakers use a proprietary plug to plug into the back of each speaker. The proprietary plugs can be removed, revealing tinned bare wire, if you want to use a different pair of speakers with your system. The speakers come supplied with an allen-wrench tool to remove the connectors.

    Mounting: The Speakers are supplied with two mounting methods.

    • Tabletop Stand: The speakers come attached to the tabletop speaker stands which can be removed. The stands allow you to set the speakers up vertically or horizontally. The speakers come vertically mounted on the stands; you must remove the stands and then reattach the speakers to the stand for a horizontal application.
    • Wall Brackets: The speakers feature a detachable wall-plate that comes loose in the box. You must remove the speaker stands and install the brackets with the supplied 4 mounting screws to the two threaded inserts in back of each speaker. The brackets have two keyhole slots used to attach the speakers to the wall. You can wall-mount the speakers either horizontally or vertically. The threaded insert holes are 5mm if you choose to mount the speaker using a different bracket.

    Speaker Dimensions:

    With Stand: Height = 10.435", Width = 5.871", Depth = 7.28"

    Without Stand: Height = 9.058", Width = 5.872" Depth = 7.148"

    Inputs and Outputs Notes

    Headphone Jack: There is a 3.5mm stereo mini headphone jack on the front of this unit. When headphones are plugged in, there is no output from the speakers.

    iPod Input: Using the supplied iPod cable, you can connect your iPod for control and playback through the S-81 system. This input is located on the front panel.

    Auxiliary Inputs: There are three auxiliary inputs for connecting external source units:

    • Auxiliary 1 and 2: The receiver features two pair of audio RCA connections on the rear panel to hook up external audio devices to the S-81.
    • Portable: This front-panel 3.5mm mini jack allows you to connect a portable audio player.

    Dock Control: Dock port used for optional iPod docking stations.

    Digital Output: The receiver uses one digital optical output to transfer audio to a CD-Recorder.

    Mono Out: Use this mono RCA output to send signal to your powered subwoofer.

    Speaker Connectors: The receiver uses a proprietary 3-pin plug for both the left and right speaker.

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