Denon's CEOL N11 DAB is a Swiss Army knife of a music system

By Becky Roberts
last updated

A versatile, just-add-speakers system with everything from CD playback to network streaming

Denon's CEOL N11 DAB is a Swiss Army knife of a music system
(Image credit: Denon)

The Denon CEOL N11 DAB is all-encompassing, offering a wealth of options for consumers who are after a compact, just-add-speakers, do-it-all music system. 

While there are so many ways to play music these days – with a CD or vinyl, over the radio, from a USB stick, streaming from a music service, the list goes on… – Denon’s latest CEOL system isn’t biased towards one form of playback.

(Image credit: Denon)

There’s network streaming from a NAS (Network Attached Storage) drive or music service like Spotify, Amazon Music HD and Tidal (over wi-fi or Ethernet), which comes courtesy of Denon’s HEOS multi-room wireless streaming platform. 

Then there’s AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth, a built-in CD player and DAB+/DAB digital radio stations – not to mention physical connectivity, such as RCA and optical inputs, for connecting additional audio sources (including an Amazon Alexa or Assistant device for voice control) or a TV.

Those connecting a television can benefit from the CEOL’s input-sensing feature, meaning it automatically powers-up when the TV is switched on. Its Infrared Learning Function allows owners to control it with a TV remote, too.

(Image credit: Denon)

The CEOL N11 DAB’s digital EQ processing has been tuned to optimize the aesthetically matching SC-N10 speakers, which promise to do the CEOL justice through its 12cm woofers and 3cm soft dome tweeters.

Available in black, grey or white from August, the CEOL N11 DAB costs £529 (€529 / about AU$949), with the optional SC-N10 speakers costing an additional £99 (€99 / AU$210).

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Becky Roberts
Becky Roberts

Becky is the managing editor of What Hi-Fi? and, since her recent move to Melbourne, also the editor of Australian Hi-Fi magazine. During her 10 years in the hi-fi industry, she has been fortunate enough to travel the world to report on the biggest and most exciting brands in hi-fi and consumer tech (and has had the jetlag and hangovers to remember them by). In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.

5 Comments Comment from the forums
  • manicm
    I have the N10, so the only difference is the addition of DAB and Siri control.
    Reply
  • Neiljbp
    Any way to add a turntable to this or not...It was not mentioned but you never know I guess.
    Reply
  • Terry Webb
    Neiljbp said:
    Any way to add a turntable to this or not...It was not mentioned but you never know I guess.
    I was curious to know that too so I visited the Denon UK website where you can see a picture of the back of the N11 and there is no facility for connecting the grounding wire to the back of it. Shame that but no dealbreaker.
    Reply
  • serlek1
    One can only hope they have sorted out the poor integration of Heos. I have lots of issues with the Ceol . See my reviews on Amazon
    Reply
  • Wop78
    I only bought the CEOL N10 in April...curious to know what is the difference between the N10 and N11 aside from the DAB radio....
    Reply