Denon PMA520AE Integrated Amplifier - Black

Product Information

The current Marantz mainstream amps and players will continue, but will be joined next month by the SA11-S3 and PM-11S3 SACD player and amp, which we first spotted at last months' High End 2012 show in Munich. While it has plenty of verve, its unyielding character might not hold up against rivals at such a competitive price point.

It has strong dynamics that help bring the music alive though at times loud busy passages can sound a little cong ested and 'shouty'. It creates a reasonably good sound stage too.This combo sounds messy, leaving you struggling to make sense of the various strands in a piece of music. The SA-11S3 player uses new 384kHz/24-bit digital-to-analogue conversion, a new dedicated SACD/CD mechanism, the SACDM-2, and Marantz HDAM-SA2 and HDAM amplifier modules in the analogue circuits. There's even a dedicated headphone amp, again driven using the HDAM-SA2 technology. Queue up a playlist of Major Lazer, Nine Inch Nails and even Rhianna, and the Denon happily zips through with speed and alacrity – if it suits your music style, the amp is a thoroughly energetic and entertaining listen.

This amp does have a penchant for a forward-sounding midrange/treble, but there’s no excess brightness to that top end, which has space to breathe. Play Quincy Jones’s Blues in the Night and the brass section soars with energy. And when the NA-11S1 finally does arrive, it'll be possible to drive a complete '11' system using the Marantz Control app on iPod/iPad/iPhone and the standard RC-5 remote control protocol.It certainly conveys music across the whole spectrum, when first switched on it sounded a little 'spitty' on cymbals and a little grainy overall, after a few hours listening it sounds smoother now - maybe it has warmed up or maybe I've adjusted to it. We paired the Denon PMA-520AE Integrated Amplifier with a pair of Q Acoustics 3020 and it was perfect. Both the speakers and the amplifier. Then we paired the same amplifier with a pair of Denon-branded but Mission-designed SC-MK5 bookshelf speakers and again, it was perfect. Goes to show that this Denon Amplifiers works very well with any compatible speakers. And the sound quality? It’s good. May not be the best, but it’s really good. And for its price, it is something hard to beat. For the audiophile beginner on a budget, this entry-level integrated amplifier from Denon is definitely for you. Initial sonic impressions are also OK. Listen to In the Ghetto, and Elvis' voice is strongly projected and solidly delivered. There's decent detail, particularly in the midrange, and no shortage of speed when the music demands. But those wanting warmth and smoothness won't find it here.

Play the record of 18 With A Bullet by Lewis Taylor and Carleen Anderson, and the Denon charges through the mellow do-wop tune with undue impatience and zeal. The PMA-500AE amplifier covers all the bases, too, with its complement of moving magnet phono stage, and tone, loudness and speaker switching controls. Little to complain about so far, then. There is, however, a hardness to the sound that the amp refuses to part with. Leave it running in and you’ll find that hard edge starting to thaw – but only up to a point.Bought this for a neighbour who has asked me to help set up an affordable strereo. Presently testing it in my system in place of an Exposure 21/18S combination.