Denon PMA-600NE Integrated Amplifier Review

[JSmith]

Spent a few weeks doing these tests...

Could you elaborate further on your test conditions and setup?

tuned differently

Amps are not musical instruments.


JSmith

 

[Mantra]

Its a library thing in my case, Spotify caters more for my flavours and the sound quality from Spotify the the 'very high' setting running through FXSound app is rich and dynamic and far better than Apple Music at the moment as Apple are still withholding the option to customize their EQ leaving presets only which imo always leave alot to be desired. My current set up imo is very well rounded and easy to live with and if I am honest does give me a bit of a wow factor everytime I switch it on, not bad at all for an upper entry level effort in Class A/B.

does reallu FXSound improve so much audio quality?
and it doesn't work in wasapi exlusive mode
thanks

 

[Golf]

It's interesting how very different people use very different methods to choose an amplifier.

Yes, but not very surprising. After all, people have different ways towards their happiness.

 

[DanielT]

So, I was really into that Denon PMA-600NE, thinking it was gonna give me the best bang for my buck. But then, I was like, hold up, let's do some A/B tests to really figure out what's gonna rock my 2.1 system. Spent a few weeks doing these tests...

Checked out these amps: Yamaha A-S501, Rotel A11 Tribute, Denon PMA-600NE, Marantz PM6007. And for speakers, I had the ELAC Debut Reference DBR62, Revel M16, Klipsch RP-600M lined up. Subs : Klipsch R-100SW, SVS-SB 1000.

After all that, I settled on the Marantz 6007, Revel M16 speakers, and SVS-SB 1000 sub.

The Denon was booming too much with the M16s, but sounded alright with the DBR62s.

Rotel just couldn't drive the M16s like I wanted, and the Yamaha wasn't delivering that crispy sound I was after.

Guess it all comes down to personal taste, but figured I'd share in case it helps someone else out.

Now I'm thinking about digital room correction, gotta fine-tune this setup. Maybe miniDSP... View attachment 356023

Yep, I had a similar situation. Within a 6 month period I tested out the Rotel A11 Tribute, Denon PMA800 and PMA600 Onkyo 9010 and the Marantz PM6007. I only used one set of speakers namely the Monitor Audio Bronze 200 floorstanders. To keep it short, PMA800 nice but not quite my taste, dry sounding. PMA600 smoother than the PMA800 but a lot of bass although quite well handled. Rotel A11 Trib nicely balanced, quite rich but lacking power, no where near the grunt of either of the two Denons. Onkyo 9010, not bad at all considering the price, big soundstage but a little hard in the upper bass. The Marantz PM6007, balanced sound with good amount of dynamics and detail and enough power to drive my speakers easily. All pretty decent amps to be fair but I settled on the Marantz PM6007 too and then spent around it to squeeze everything out of the amp. Upgraded the speaker cable to Audioquest Rocket 11 with plugs and Chord Clearway X for the Topping E50 and the Creative Audigy FX2 sound card in the PC which is a superb soundcard for any Windows machine and comes with decent software. MCRU Belden/Furutech power cord for the amp and PC as well as iFi power supply for the dac. Completely settled on the sound. I use Spotify a lot and run it through the FXSound app for the extra EQing and the system sounds sublime. Plenty will say cables don’t matter but truth is, they do!

It was sad that you would run into such bad amplifiers that color the sound. I thought they didn't make such bad amps these days?
Unless you tested very low powered amps, so they were driven into clipping but other than that I'm surprised.

If you had read through some amp tests here at ASR, it wouldn't have been a problem.

 

[petebone]

I'm feeling pretty good about my Yamaha RX-596 + SMSL SU-1 combo after reading this review.

I just picked up an RX-596 for cheap and man does this thing sound good.

 

[Dalprad]

I just picked up an RX-596 for cheap and man does this thing sound good.

I just bought a Yamaha A-S801 and I can't say it's any better except for the digital inputs and the more functional remote. You can be confident you got a great amp. How's the input selector? Mine is buggy like many are from that era.

 

[Mantra]

It was sad that you would run into such bad amplifiers that color the sound. I thought they didn't make such bad amps these days?
Unless you tested very low powered amps, so they were driven into clipping but other than that I'm surprised.

If you had read through some amp tests here at ASR, it wouldn't have been a problem.

hi
i have tested both and they are no bad amps at all , comparing to the others brands /prices
ok , i have other vintage amps and they are another "music" , and i see you have some beauty vintage gears , they are build with love and to be rock solid , gems
about the new products , well , compared to some vintage amps integral or tube ,they are made in a different "way" not for really music lovers ♫♫♪

 

[petebone]

I just bought a Yamaha A-S801 and I can't say it's any better except for the digital inputs and the more functional remote. You can be confident you got a great amp. How's the input selector? Mine is buggy like many are from that era.

Input selector is fine but this morning, I was playing a CD and when I turned the volume down, the music became muffled. It came back to normal in a few seconds but I’m now worried that something is up.

 

[Dalprad]

Input selector is fine but this morning, I was playing a CD and when I turned the volume down, the music became muffled. It came back to normal in a few seconds but I’m now worried that something is up.

Was the CD direct engaged at the time off the issue? I have found that using CD direct bypass a lot of the circuitry that causes problems.

 

[petebone]

Was the CD direct engaged at the time off the issue? I have found that using CD direct bypass a lot of the circuitry that causes problems.

I had it on and then I turned it off. Yeah, I am wondering if that was/is the issue.

 

[ricardomontalbahn77]

Hi, I am asking this quesiton just for clarification as I don't have the ability to take measurements or maybe I need to learn how. Regarding the messages discussing the differences between the Marantz, Denon, Yamaha , Rotel amps etc. is the conclusion that, based on measurements, all new amplifiers sound the same or have a "baseline" quality of sound? I have tried 100s of amps and stereo receivers mostly vintage (they all sounded different to me to some degree-i understand there are many factors at play) and looking for a new one. I currently have a Marantz PM6006 but looking for something that is more powerful to power my MA Silver 100g (on the fence about this because I love the way the 6006 sounds). Does this mean a receiver like the Sony DH190 or Yamaha RS202, would be the same with regards to sound quality as the most expensive amplifiers with the same power rating? I see many reviews on here with distortion measurements etc. and I would assume that would differentiate the different amplifiers?

What should I be looking for in a good amp? Thanks very much for your insights!

 

[Joe Smith]

Hi, I am asking this quesiton just for clarification as I don't have the ability to take measurements or maybe I need to learn how. Regarding the messages discussing the differences between the Marantz, Denon, Yamaha , Rotel amps etc. is the conclusion that, based on measurements, all new amplifiers sound the same or have a "baseline" quality of sound? I have tried 100s of amps and stereo receivers mostly vintage (they all sounded different to me to some degree-i understand there are many factors at play) and looking for a new one. I currently have a Marantz PM6006 but looking for something that is more powerful to power my MA Silver 100g (on the fence about this because I love the way the 6006 sounds). Does this mean a receiver like the Sony DH190 or Yamaha RS202, would be the same with regards to sound quality as the most expensive amplifiers with the same power rating? I see many reviews on here with distortion measurements etc. and I would assume that would differentiate the different amplifiers?

What should I be looking for in a good amp? Thanks very much for your insights!

The most important thing IMO is a good match between the power of the amplifier and your speakers and your listening level. Assuming an amp is healthy and not experiencing problems due to aging components, getting a good power handling match to the needs of your speakers is the thing to focus on... If you are not playing so loudly that you are close to driving your 6006 into clipping, it seems to me that you won't hear much difference at all by switching amps. Do others concur?

 

[Joe Smith]

This is a helpful thread to review...

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...w-amplifiers-affect-how-speakers-sound.58752/

 

[ricardomontalbahn77]

This is a helpful thread to review...

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...w-amplifiers-affect-how-speakers-sound.58752/

Thanks VERY Much for your help! The recommended amp power for my speakers is minimum 40 watts so I was a bit worried but i never turn the volume to the point where the amp appears to be straining. At maximum 11 o'clock on the volume dial.

 

[pinger]

The most important thing IMO is a good match between the power of the amplifier and your speakers and your listening level. Assuming an amp is healthy and not experiencing problems due to aging components, getting a good power handling match to the needs of your speakers is the thing to focus on... If you are not playing so loudly that you are close to driving your 6006 into clipping, it seems to me that you won't hear much difference at all by switching amps. Do others concur?

There is no difference. They should be purchased based on price, features, build quality, ergonomics ,warranties and aesthetics

 

[ricardomontalbahn77]

There is no difference. They should be purchased based on price, features, build quality, ergonomics ,warranties and aesthetics

Even Class D Class A/B , Class A? There is no difference as long as the wattage is the same? Or regardless of the wattage?

 

[ricardomontalbahn77]

Even Class D Class A/B , Class A? There is no difference as long as the wattage is the same? Or regardless of the wattage?

Maybe I'm misunderstanding but If they are.all.the same then why are.tney being reviewed on here with measurements? Thanks

 

[mackman]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding but If they are.all.the same then why are.tney being reviewed on here with measurements? Thanks

All amplifiers are equal but some amplifiers are more equal than others.

Some folks like knowing that gear is measurably if not audibly better, and that may cause psychological biases that cause you to perceive them sounding better, which may be a pleasurable and desirable thing to have happen. Like most things where prices span orders of magnitude there are diminishing technical returns but we are emotional creatures not precision measuring creatures.

 

[popej]

Or regardless of the wattage?

No difference, when no clipping. More wattage means louder without clipping. IMO situation, where you really need high wattage are very rare.

 

[Haider]

I used to jam with a band, I used to borrow a solid state amp and a guitar, the tube amps are considered better because the distorted sound they make just sounds better than the correct sound. It's the same with record players they give that little bit of white noise and hiss when you start playing a record or every so often. It adds to the ambience. It's like a nice marbled ribeye steak, the marbling is fat, it not good for you but it tastes exquisite...