Denon PMA-2000 IV R 2-Channel Amplifier

Product Rating
4.71 of 5
31 reviews

Price Range
$0 - $0

Product Description

Summary

After using this for the last three months, for several hours each day, I am continually impressed by this amplifier. There are so many good qualities from build to performance. I recently tried out the Phono-stage, and it performed very well, offering a rich and detailed sound. I am not a vinyl type, but I have to admit, that listening to some of my better records, the amp's phono stage did a wonderful job of breathing a sense of realism, immediacy, and dynamics into these recordings--much better than my denon or yamaha stereo receivers ever did.

Power is always available to drive my speakers, and even with their 6 ohm nominal load, it has never run warm. The subtle dynamics of jazz, acoustic, and classical music is so detailed and engaging that I rarely turn the unit off. I have also tried out some techno and am amazed by the power it pumps into my speakers, to keep the bass pounding with no distortion.

The appearance of this unit is impecable, and all of the usefull features are accessable from remote. I moved my equipment today, to clean the rack and gear, and was reminded that this amp, in addition to being very large, is extrodinarily heavy. open up the cover--you will be shocked by the high-quality of internal components.

I have discovered a few quirks that I wish were different: I cannot use my spade terminations on these biding posts, although they fit, my spades are not well enough insullated, and therefore produce shorting at loud volumes, because the hefty binding posts hold the spade tight against the back panel. Probably more a fault of the spades than this unit, but the first time I have had this problem. At least I know the protection circuit works as it should.

I love using this amp, and my joy has not deminished with time, as it has so frequently with other units I have used. I never feel as if I needed a little more out of this amp. I will not be upgrading anytime soon. At the street price of $800-$900 you can't come close to this without going to significantly more expensive separates--even to equal this beast you would have to drop at least 50% more on decent separates.

Strength

Clean, Detailed power, offering quick response, and excellent speaker control, even at low impedence loads

Weakness

some minor bleed through of sources to other inputs when volume is at extreme levels, e.g. if source selected is tape, and you are playing a cd at the same time, but the tape is stopped, you can hear a very faint echo of the cd if volume is turned above 3:00--why you would ever do this, or why I tried, I do not know.

Summary

this is the mkII version (japan), which was superseded by the mkIII, which has a remote, although the specs seem to be the same otherwise.

this amp is quite deailed. instruments that are at low levels in the mix maintain their imaging. also, at low volumes or high volumes the overall imaging remains consistent.

this amp is quite powerful (160 W into 4 ohm). the amp powers piega p2 speakers (which are excellent), which are 4 ohms, and the amp never strains, and never compresses the sound.

also, the sound is extremely clean and neutral sounding.

finally, the build quality of the amp is very solid.

the previous reviewer mentioned that the amp was bass heavy, but I have not experienced that at all. actually, through the piega p2 the base is in perfect balance with the music overall, and furthermore, the imaging of the bass instrument is splendid. maybe the previous reviewer had some type of match-up problem in the system or some other problem unrelated to this amp itself.

if you like a neutral sound with superior detail and imaging, i recommend this amp.

Strength

detailed, powerful, clean

Weakness

Summary

I don't know whether DENON's PMC2000 sings very beautifully with certain loudspeakers. According to my experiences, it's not a good partner of SF Concertinos. Bass was satisfactory in terms of volume and strength (not so rigid, though), but mid/highs were sitting far away from the stages where the macho bass was dancing like "Gozilla". Maybe suitable for some contemporary musics like "Le sacre du printemps". However, for Mozart's and Mendelssohn's musics....??.... After three-month-patience with DENON's, I purchased a Musical Fidelity A3 to replace it.

Strength

High value rate. Champaigne-gold finish looks gorgeous. Bass is rich in volume

Weakness

Out-of-date design. Bass is poor in quality. Mid/highs are behind the MACHO bass.

Summary

Well, before I start waxing lyrical, let me say that I was pretty disgusted with the sound during the initial play in period and had it not been for the cautionary remarks on this aspect by a few of the reviewers, the amp would be back in the store.Now for the crunch: this is the latest version, the PMA 2000III.
As you see there is no 'R' in the model number because there's no remote! The remote version costs an extra 80$ and somehow none of the stores seem to be carrying it.However it does have pre-amp out as well as two switched and one unswitched outlets.It is solidly built, weighing 22KGs.Get a friend to help you unpack to avoid any back injuries!
Out of the box and into the audio system comprising of Denon 1650 AZ cd player, using Van den hull halogen free hybrid III interconnects and Van den hull snowtrack speaker cables.The speakers: cadence Amaya hybrid ESL's.
As I said before, there's not much to say about the first 48 (at least!!!) hours during burn in.I was severely dissappointed, having been used to the warm, sweet sound of tubes- but wait...
Day three and 76 hours of continuous play at low volumes later...
UNBELIEVABLE.
tHIS IS ONE HECK OF AN AMP!
The bass is extremely well defined and any sense of harshness in the upper regions has dissappeard. I have to disagree with the reviewer who said that it isnt warm or sweet, just clean. Well, clean it definitely is but it's gaining in warmth and sweetness with every passing day.Mind you, I've been listening to tubes for the past 4 years.Maybe he ought to try partnering it with good esl's.
And it can pump out the music loud without any strain as well.
Into track 7 of Steve swallow's "always pack your uniform on top" the joint was definitely jumping and the volume knob was around 11:30.
One thing though, the speakers did require some repositioning. With the tubes they were pretty much toed in, now they are firing straight ahead and the soundstage is as three dimensional as it can get.
If I close my eyes, its a s if I'm listening to the tubes again, only with more power and clarity.I mean there is definitely some tradeoff here qua warmth and sweetness.Lets be reasonable about this, this is a solid stae amp we're talking about.
But what an Amp. If you dont want to spend atleast 2000$ on another brand for a similar (maybe!) sound, then buy This.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Oh! and why did I need a new amp? The tube amp's in for repairs, Im sure I'll be listening to it once it's back, but the Denon's staying!

Strength

Deatailed, solidly built.

Weakness

let me know if you find any

Summary

The local Denon dealer did not have this amp in stock, nor had he even heard of it. After reading about it in Stereophile, I called him and had him order one for me. He agreed to sell it at a 10% discount, as I've seen this amp advertised mail order for much less than retail.
For a consumer audio amp. this thing is built like a truck. It weighs around 40 pounds so you want to be carefull picking it up. I've been very happy with the sound through my Hales Revolation 3s with this amp. The Hales are a 4 0hm load, and the Denon has no problem with them at all. I'm no expert on phono sections, but this one seems quite good enough, though I confess I don't play that many LPs these days. I did notice some improvement during break in, but I would not call it dramatic the way several others here have reported.
All in all, this thing is a solid value, well made, and built to last. I have yet to hear it sound strained, and I like to listen pretty loud!

Strength

Very smooth sound, phono section, tone controls, tape copy function, remote control, and runs very cool!

Weakness

No balance control