Denon PMA-600NE Integrated Amplifier Review

[amirm]

There is another thread about the smell of this amp. Did Amir conduct a smell evaluation?

It is an optional module for audio precision and costs too much for me to afford.

 

[pma]

Those commercial integrated amplifiers have almost always been that bad that it is not even worth commenting.

 

[respice finem]

Looks to me like "no one's gonna notice" approach. Sad.

 

[totti1965]

Conclusions
We always wish to find a hidden gem in audio products we test. The PMA-600NE could have been it but it is not. It has very good set of functionality but none of the measurements rise up to above average and some even miss that mark. For the cost, I think you are getting what you paid for but no more.

I can't get excited over this level of performance so can't recommend Denon PMA-600NE. You may think otherwise so vote above.

It's so sad that no one can produce a device that manages to achieve the functionality of such a "classic" integrated amplifier with the laboratory values of the cute little "China desktop devices". The functionality of the Denon plus streamer and parametric equalizer functionality with the laboratory values of a WiiM pro plus / SMSL D-6s / Fosi V3 / Cambridge Audio Duo and at least 4 or 5 high-level inputs. That would be something!
I would gladly spend EUR 1,000,-- for such a "NAD 3020e" of the 3rd millennium.

 

[amirm]

It is depressing indeed and that is how I felt through the review, test after test. Hopefully in the future measurements will play a more important role in the company as I am sure a lot of these results could be improved with little to no cost.

 

[Blumlein 88]

It is depressing indeed and that is how I felt through the review, test after test. Hopefully in the future measurements will play a more important role in the company as I am sure a lot of these results could be improved with little to no cost.

That is the shame. They could be improved with little or no cost. Just some care in design. I'd even guess there are plenty working for them who would relish the chance to show that care in design, but either aren't encouraged or are not allowed to do so. If you take a device like this and significant parts of it will be made for possibly a decade can you not make it better for not much effort? The HDAM's from Marantz have been okay, but nothing more for almost 20 years. Imagine if they'd just bothered to make them pretty good. Then again, I guess they made just as much money in their minds without the bother.

 

[k3nn3th]

I almost bought one at the time, but I didn't.

 

[respice finem]

It is depressing indeed and that is how I felt through the review, test after test. Hopefully in the future measurements will play a more important role in the company as I am sure a lot of these results could be improved with little to no cost.

I'm sure they know very well what they are doing - which is maximizing profit.

 

[Berkut]

Wish we had a comparison within a product range : is a PMA 1x00, -900 or 800x series better than a 700 at some given power ? Not that this is easy to do, but most valuable when you want to find the "sweet spot" and/or invest for quite some time.... PLUS at some point I was considering a second-hand PMA-1x00 (has direct power-amp inputs) to cascade my Denon AVR into it for L/R channel (would have looked a cool stack), but with the option to retain direct in for 2-channel CD listening with the PMA. Alas, I could not figure out if it even made sense unless I could compare the Denon AVR 3700H SINAD with the PMA's.

For the time being, I cascade into a yamaha WXA-50. The CD direct Amp SINAD for the AVR is 88dB while the WXA-50 RCA in to Speaker is 90 dB, so when listening to a CD, I know 2 things :
1) I don't have a bottleneck : whatever goes in is not spoiled by the WXA-50 and it's probably better since I bypass the AVR Amp - and more importantly
2) I have a balanced system "good enough" for movie listening and while not top notch for music listening, still below the room noise floor at busy times (I live in a flat in a city, not a barn on a desolate plain, no point going better than -90ish ).

And for streaming, I enjoy MusicCast Multiroom direct from the WXA and the yamy-likes, good enough since it is not dedicated listening.

 

[restorer-john]

Those commercial integrated amplifiers have almost always been that bad that it is not even worth commenting.

Some, maybe, but certainly not all. And please compare apples with apples.

It is full remote control integrated amplifier, motorized Alps vol, full remote source selection, built in phono stage, bluetooth, multiple (9) inputs, onboard D/A conversion etc.

And it only costs US$349-$499, looks good and has a proper warranty and service centres.

It's performance for the price is fine. Do I want one? No, but it's hardly much more than entry level to be fair.

 

[restorer-john]

Since there are pre-outs we can measure the performance of the internal DACs. I chose to use Source Direct to give it a chance to produce its best performance:

There are no pre-outs shown in your rear panel picture. That's just a loop out (rec-out) for a recorder of whatever source is selected. Source direct will have zero effect on a tape/recorder out.

Not that it really matters, the performance is pretty average anyway- another case of a token/box ticking D/A converter.

 

[TonyJZX]

a lot of the features seem to be slapped in as a tickbox

like it supports BT but its just shithouse sbc

its using a 10yr old dac

you dont even have to test that phono or headphone to guess its about the same as what they wack into a $599 denon avr

ironically this thing is for sale now:

Denon AVR-S660H 5.2 Channel 8K AV Receiver $599

say $400 usd? i reckon these are at best... identical in most metrics or the AVR is marginally worse... but the avr has stuff you may actually find useful

 

[Bleib]

The AVRs ( I have own 3 Denons and has been a member of LTS ) wasnt particularly better than this unit - but they had more power for the money .
Still not stellar amplifiers , an Aiyima a07 or Fosi V3 is better sounding ( and has lower noise )

LTS would disqualify both for not having straight frequency response. And they'd be right.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

I had it some time ago.
You could hear the difference when using something like Topping E30 + Denon (in source direct and analog mode) vs just Denon using internal dac.

Overall it was ok for the price and functionality. I just couldn't stand volume control with the remote.
It was always too little or too much, I'm just used to precise volume control using something digital.

 

[amirm]

There are no pre-outs shown in your rear panel picture. That's just a loop out (rec-out) for a recorder of whatever source is selected. Source direct will have zero effect on a tape/recorder out.

You are right on the output. But source direct definitely made a difference.

 

[Sokel]

I'm sure they could do a lot better if they wanted to but I suspect they have an enormous stock of components in their inventory they have to get rig off first,and the same goes for their repair centers,after all these years with the same circuits it's much easier for them.

I'm not sure we can criticize it like broken though since it meets it's specs.
Some people 10-20 years ago probably decided that is good enough and as long as noise is in check it should be.
Channel imbalance though is unacceptable.

Thanks Amir!

 

[martijn86]

I guess this could be relegated to casual listening/background duty with a pair of sensibly-priced bookshelf speakers. For that task, not too awfully bad.

I like your optimistic take and I would agree. For the money, you can't expect a great DAC and a great amplifier with dealer mark-up and everything. However, the power supply noise did not have to be there. That's a design flaw that I would expect on an $80 no brand amplifier. Especially the fact that the second harmonic 120Hz peak is even higher and more audible.

If the PS noise and its harmonics can clear -96dB, yes, a product like this is fine for the price as a casual living room amplifier.

 

[restorer-john]

But source direct definitely made a difference.

Did you have the volume control turned up (driving the amp stage)? Even with no speakers connected, it could affect the outcome, although it shouldn't (if it was correctly designed).

 

[restorer-john]

Channel imbalance though is unacceptable.

Gotta agree with that. No excuse for poor channel balance. If it was measured at full volume, the result is even worse.

 

[pagan84]

I tested a PMA600 against 6000A somewhere in 2020 and with b&w 606 the PMA600 couldn't keep the bass in check.
I know it is £380 Vs £599 but with PMA600 you should aim at really small bookshelf speakers (607 maybe?) .