Denon PMA-3000NE

[Deleted member 77012]

Seems there’s another big one in the pipeline. Amazing how Denon keeps pushing its portfolio of those heavies.

PMA-3000NE - 2 Ch. 160W Integrated Amplifier with MM/MC phono stage | Denon - US

2 Ch. 160W Integrated Amplifier with MM/MC phono stage

www.denon.com

 

[TonyJZX]

【アバック横浜】DENON PMA-3000NEです！いろいろな機材の「良いとこ取り」をした次期フラッグシッププリパワーアンプになります。

アバック横浜　渡邉です。下取りアップ、継続中でございます。通常は下取り上限から20％UP、元々弊社で購入した機材であれば下取り上限から最大30％UPも開催しております。

corp.avac.co.jp

looks very nice of course

doesnt seem to be a lot of innovation to me but the audience for this wants what he wants

 

[JSmith]

Why no VU's or peak power meters though?

JSmith

 

[Deleted member 77012]

Compared to its smaller sibling, the Denon PMA-2500NE, there seems to be a lot more copper used inside the new one.

 

[TonyJZX]

no xlr is also a choice

also no BT and network is a choice?

 

[VintageFlanker]

Seems there’s another big one in the pipeline. Amazing how Denon keeps pushing its portfolio of those heavies.

PMA-3000NE - 2 Ch. 160W Integrated Amplifier with MM/MC phono stage | Denon - US

2 Ch. 160W Integrated Amplifier with MM/MC phono stage

www.denon.com

Owned both the PMA-2500NE and PMA-A110 (which seems highly similar, BTW). These are very good AB amps, with excellent aesthetics and build quality. Not the last word in power, but they really double Wattage down to 2, then 1Ω.

no xlr is also a choice

also no BT and network is a choice?

It is. The network connectivity will be for DNP-3000NE.

 

[VintageFlanker]

More pics there :

As always, stunning product photography from Denon & Marantz.

 

[Tovarich007]

Quite beautiful construction. Relatively classic design anyway, which this isn't a flaw but a choice among others.
Marantz (one of Denon's sisters companies -they're member of the same groupe including also Rotel) is going for class D and partnership with Purifi for its flagship and very expensive amplifier A10 but Denon remains faithful to class AB and its proprietary output single FET transistors.

What about the DNP-3000NE ? Is it a new model ? released yet ? I don't know it, but only a recent Denon turntable named DP 3000NE ( not DNP)

 

[Deleted member 77012]

DNP-3000NE

Based on Denon’s naming conventions, a DNP-3000NE would be a »bigger« variant of their Hi-Res audio streamer DNP-2000NE. I would be quite surprised to see Denon making such a step.

 

[TonyJZX]

i think these units are aimed at a audience from the last century

for me i'm not interested in phono or dacs

plain line stage for me and xlr for some

also to me $3.5k 25kg boxes with huge toroids is kind of old hat

 

[Tovarich007]

Sure, but good "old hats" anyway.

I agree we can have more, and maybe better for less. At least measurements wise, because I'm not sure there would be a real audible difference between a state of the art DAC+ a very good class D and this kind of "old hat".

 

[Tovarich007]

Based on Denon’s naming conventions, a DNP-3000NE would be a »bigger« variant of their Hi-Res audio streamer DNP-2000NE. I would be quite surprised to see Denon making such a step.

On the contrary, I would be surprised if Denon will NOT make this step. it's all a question of marketing and series building. if Denon has decided to create a 3000 series of components, we'll soon see coming on the market a DNP 3000 and probably a 3000 CD/DAC player, or a multiple sources component to match the new amp.

Wait and see, or not see.

 

[jon_s]

On the contrary, I would be surprised if Denon will NOT make this step. it's all a question of marketing and series building. if Denon has decided to create a 3000 series of components, we'll soon see coming on the market a DNP 3000 and probably a 3000 CD/DAC player, or a multiple sources component to match the new amp.

Wait and see, or not see.

It seems like this already borrows from the updated DAC of the DNP-2000ne, vs. the older Burr-Brown implementation of the PMA-A110. I have way too much "vintage" Denon gear (to the extent that I have spares), but I really want one of these for family use, especially since it has the new DAC built-in.

 

[IanForumUser]

I've been looking closely at the manufacturer and press images and videos of this model since it was announced, and I've noticed that some of the components used are from brands considered to be of "fourth tier" quality on forums frequented by DIYers and repairers etc. I get that this is not a product type typically popular on ASR, and of course it won't measure SOTA (though given the 2500ne/A110 provenance I'd expect both the DAC and amp to be very good). But the real reason I haven't ordered one already, even given the five-year warranty, is a degree of anxiety over component quality and reliability. Would welcome opinions from those with more knowledge and experience. Is the quid pro quo for modern "Made in Japan" Denon that it can't all be Elna and Nichicon and the like? And is that compromise better or worse than, say, Yamaha assembling their premium-priced gear in Malaysia but using higher quality parts throughout?

 

[jon_s]

@IanForumUser I would expect there to be a Japanese market version with higher parts quality, as usual with Denon. That said, this amp design dates back to the 1990s and all varieties have been solid. The DAC should be nice based on the latest network player reviews.

 

[IanForumUser]

Yes, listening as I type through a perfectly functioning late-90s European market PMA-1500R (as it happens, because my ASR confirmed SOTA Hypex-based power amp failed!). I don't doubt the quality of the workmanship of the folks at the Shirakawa plant, nor the Denon design fundamentals. Maybe I'll just take the plunge and shell out for a full service and top grade recap etc once it's out of warranty.

 

[jon_s]

So, this is an interesting turn, they've priced the 3000 above the other Japanese market offerings including the SX11 (and A110), while eliminating the SX1.

Looking at the parts, I'm assuming you're wondering about Su'scon vs. Nichicon power supply caps in the A110. But the A110 is still available, probably for better pricing now and/or refurbished, and also retains the Denon Burr-Brown DACs; I just hate that it only comes in Millenial Gray vs. actual black, silver, or champagne. I might keep waiting to see if a version with S in the name shows up. Or, better, if they replace the SX1; seems like they need at least one fully-balanced option.

 

[IanForumUser]

I'd love a fully balanced S model - with or without a DAC and phono stage - but I don't think Denon has ever sold those in Europe (I don't want one enough to go the "grey import" route and run a step down transformer either!). The 3000ne seems to include a good number of design improvements over the 2500ne and A110 in the amp circuit, and the DAC in the 3000ne uses ESS chips and implements some elements from the DCD-A110 that didn't make it into the PMA-A110. I won't hear a difference but I'd expect it to measure better too (especially on S/N compared to the 2500). I'm just put off by what looks to be a compromise on parts quality and what that could mean for reliability beyond warranty period (just searched ASR for Su'scon and the comments seem entirely negative!).

 

[Zwepp]

Compared to its smaller sibling, the Denon PMA-2500NE, there seems to be a lot more copper used inside the new one.

View attachment 390344

All that copper will make your recordings with trumpets sound way better ;-)

 

[jon_s]

I'd love a fully balanced S model - with or without a DAC and phono stage - but I don't think Denon has ever sold those in Europe (I don't want one enough to go the "grey import" route and run a step down transformer either!). The 3000ne seems to include a good number of design improvements over the 2500ne and A110 in the amp circuit, and the DAC in the 3000ne uses ESS chips and implements some elements from the DCD-A110 that didn't make it into the PMA-A110. I won't hear a difference but I'd expect it to measure better too (especially on S/N compared to the 2500). I'm just put off by what looks to be a compromise on parts quality and what that could mean for reliability beyond warranty period (just searched ASR for Su'scon and the comments seem entirely negative!).

FWIW, I have a PMA-S1 and DCD-S1 with a 100VAC transformer and... it is actually not that much of a hassle. I hide the transformer in a cabinet and use it as a switch to turn the system on.

And, yeah, I was annoyed that only the DCD-A110 got the full DAC upgrades. I was going to buy a PMA-A110 and ended up buying another DAP-5500 and POA-6600as instead, since I absolutely love the sound of those old DACs running 48 kHz streaming audio, keeping me stuck in the past.

Re: Su'scon, I don't know if I have an opinion yet without knowing how they spec'd them. Probably just fine, with folks not trusting the name due to some historic bad batches.