Good morning all.
An avid reader of ASR (and limit addicted, I admit), I have just taken the plunge by registering and supporting (with a modest donation) Amir whom I would like to thank for his work.
To sum up, I'm currently hesitating between the Denon AVC-X3700H and the Denon PMA-1600NE HI-FI amp.
Here are the reasons.
My current configuration is as follows: LG OLED 65C8PLA, NODE 2I, CAMBRIDGE CXA81, JM LAB 706 OPALE (bought in 1985 and which are still excellent…)
I am targeting in the near future, thanks to the wise advice of all, a configuration with GENELEC 8351B (or 8361A) + sub SAM (I plan a direct link toslink + toslink> toslink> AES).
Why a DENON amp you would say?
For the past year, I have not been able to eliminate the problems of micro cuts encountered via Toslink between my CAMBRIDGE amplifier and my LG OLED (as well as with my NODE2I, but more occasionally). Changing and updating the optical card of my CAMBRIDGE did not solve the problem (as well as changing the sound card of my LG)
A test was done with a DENON AVR S650H amplifier (still via a Toslink link), and the problem was eliminated.
I therefore agreed with my seller to return my CAMBRIDGE for a credit.
My first idea was to go back to a HI-FI type amp like the DENON PMA-1600NE (Price 1590 €). But reading the very positive data available with the AVC-X3700H (Price 1147 €), I said to myself that this might be a better option (Toslink and HDMI connections, power, DAC)
Especially since its recent release would allow me, if necessary, to resell it better when I switch to Genelecs.
The AVC would only work in Stereo version, so I'm not worried about temperature issues.
Would you possibly have another option than these DENON amps in this price range to solve my micro-cuts problems (my salesman offers a large number of consumer brands like MARANTZ, NAD, NAIM, ROKSAN, ROTEL, TECHNICS, YAMAHA but of course, no professional brand like GENELEC)
Your help is welcome and I thank you in advance.
Thanks again to Amir.
What is a "micro cuts" problem? I have never hear such a thing and find it hard to believe it has to do with an amplifier that is supposed to just amplifier the input signal without altering it in anyway other than increasing the magnitude of it.
Based on specs, there is no reason to expect the PMA amp would "sound better" so if that is the goal then I would say safe the money. If it is because it can solve the micro cuts issue then again I don't know what it is and would therefore have no opinion.