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Denon PMA-600NE Integrated Amplifier Review

Rate this amplifier:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 148 40.2%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 189 51.4%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 25 6.8%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 6 1.6%

  • Total voters
    368
The test is set for 5W into 8 ohm with the volume on the amp set to 29 dB. You can see on the readout that he is close but gain is slightly low, about 27x voltage gain. 5 W is about 6.3 volts at 8 ohm.
AFAIK Amir is testing at 5W/4ohm/1kHz (4.47Vrms).
 
Okay, understood. Bluetooth, to me, is no hi-fi, it degrades sound audibly.

I wanted to show a no-compromise integrated amp. For those missing the digital section, there is a newer 866 type.


Obviously we are interested in different kind of audio equipment.
Not LDAC.
 
Bear in mind, we do not know the input level Amir drove the amplifier in that test. The 600 may be just like the 500 with an active buffer in 'no' direct mode and, depending on the input level he drove it, he may have caused the poor showing by mistakenly overdriving the input. It is rated for ~100mV with a 46dB (200x) power stage behind it...
Yeah, those integrated amps were easy to overload (input) without the user to know.
 
AFAIK Amir is testing at 5W/4ohm/1kHz (4.47Vrms).
So then 160 mV at the inputs. Any amp which can’t take 160 mV at the inputs is not good enough in 2023. However, that doesn’t seem to be the problem as one of the channels holds up with ‘direct’ mode on or off.
 
So now is it an agreement that poor performance and measurement can be described as 'starting HIFI'... I guess anything can be put under this 'starting' label. You know, it is not good but it does not break.
...poor performance and measurement I wouldn't say that. Okay performance, considering the price.:) If we're talking about this one for £180.00 that Hammereklavier mentioned in #196:

Denon PMA-520
Screenshot_2023-11-15_145652.jpg


Ok that's not the model that Amir tested but they seem to be pretty similar. You have to start somewhere, why not with the Denon PMA-520?;):)

Start amp used,Yamaha AX-396 for example, mentioned by PMA in #102.Yamaha AX-396 has Phono inputs, also Rec Out if you want to plug in a subwoofer and control the volume in that case with an external DAC that gives that option.
PMA's test:


I quickly checked the latest sale on a fully functioning one in Sweden, sold for $35. So little money that anyone can try it, even if you can't repair it if it breaks.
$35 you don't need to cry blood over if it stopped working, but why would it now? A well built amp can function without problems for many years.:D
 

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While I no longer own Denon gear, this is disappointing. They used to deliver on great gear. I used to own their 1290 CD player, which was a widely applauded (and measured) device. I also know it was a big step forward from the first gen Sony CD player i got before that. I know the ownership and everything is very different, as it is with many of these brands... but still,
I was wondering if someone with more knowledge than I could answer the following…before we throw out all those cd players (thinking green here and $$green) If one optical out an older cd player to a good DAC is there an improvement…

thank you
 
I was wondering if someone with more knowledge than I could answer the following…before we throw out all those cd players (thinking green here and $$green) If one optical out an older cd player to a good DAC is there an improvement…

thank you
Measurable improvement or audible improvement?

Measurable, certainly. Audible? Very unlikely.
 
Perhaps the worst kind of snake oil salesman, hes likable and never says a bad thing about anything…
It's OK apart from the price! $399 is way too much for what's clearly Denon's lowliest budget amplifier with a crappy DAC thrown in. See above, if you've already got a DAC you can buy the same amplifier for £180.
 
Measurable improvement or audible improvement?

Measurable, certainly. Audible? Very unlikely.
So you don’t measurably move up to the DAC specs?..
An advantage in that case is a DAC with volume control. I sometimes run that setup. Flea market buy Blu-ray, Sony BDP-S570 together with DAC Topping E30. Works yummy well.:D
 
So you don’t measurably move up to the DAC specs?..
Not sure what you mean. The crappiest DAC will have a perfectly flat frequency response in the audible spectrum and at least 80dB dynamic range...

These new-flangled things are amazing, with any noise and distortion down at 120dB or whatever. But in terms of audibility, we're going from transparent to transparent.
 
Not sure what you mean. The crappiest DAC will have a perfectly flat frequency response in the audible spectrum and at least 80dB dynamic range...

These new-flangled things are amazing, with any noise and distortion down at 120dB or whatever. But in terms of audibility, we're going from transparent to transparent.
hmmm….so why the DAC wars that we see here, or so much emphasis on sinad
 
I have a PMA 500 or 520 or something. Got it second hand for €50. It is an amplifier and that's all you can really say about it. I believe it, or a similar model, managed to get 2 out of 5 stars in What HiFi. That is quite the achievement.
 
hmmm….so why the DAC wars that we see here, or so much emphasis on sinad
Good question. Probably mostly because it is a theoretical SINAD competition. Probably also because it is physically easier for Amir to test small DACs than, for example, large speakers. Which by the way would have been much more fun to read tests about. But I understand Amir, carrying around heavy speakers can wear on your back.:oops:
In addition, the problems, the challenge of sending physically large and heavy things in packages back and forth.o_O:rolleyes:
 
hmmm….so why the DAC wars that we see here, or so much emphasis on sinad
It's interesting to look at the technical performance - a lot of us round here are technical types and enjoy that sort of thing. And, OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL, you'll choose the product with the best measurements.

Just remember that most audio electronics are transparent - i.e., don't sound of anything. So these measurements aren't always the best way of choosing what to buy.
 
It's interesting to look at the technical performance - a lot of us round here are technical types and enjoy that sort of thing. And, OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL, you'll choose the product with the best measurements.

Just remember that most audio electronics are transparent - i.e., don't sound of anything. So these measurements aren't always the best way of choosing what to buy.
What I appreciate about Amir's DAC tests is that I get to see affordable DACs plus I see DACs with the functions I'm looking for.:)

Another plus is that Amir also, sometimes, tests very expensive DACs that turn out not to add anything special. That way you don't have to buy them, if you're not a brand fanatic, that is. :rolleyes:
Edit:
For example this one, costs US $14,000.

 
Bluetooth is OK for phone calls in the car...

It has no place on proper HiFi.
Airpods Pro 2 is Bluetooth 5.3 and streams AAC 256 - 320 kbps.

The first link in my signature "lossy vs. lossless tests" has an iTunes test which compares lossless and AAC 256 kbps.

Bluetooth is not what it used to be. Thank God!
 
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