First Look - Denon PMA-A110 and DCD-A110

Denon is 110 years old and that should be celebrated! And of course, that is what the Japanese company does... and in style: it launched the 110 Anniversary series.
In this video we take a look at the PMA-A110 and DCD-A110. In other words: the amplifier and the (sa)cd player.
We have previously put a sample video online in which you can hear how these components perform. Check our sample-playlist for this video. Looking for the lossless samples? You can find them on www.alpha-audio.net.

[@82ivaylo]

Exceptional build quality and sound for it"s price. I have the PMA/DCD 2020AE connected to DALI Helicon 300mk2 and still love the combo.

[@antonioinacioconceicaoreis9004]

Dali and Denon not bright??

[@82ivaylo]

Not bright. Warm 3D sound.

[@danieloherrick6332]

Thanks for the detailed review. I watched it when you 1st posted it. Don't understand why there are not more reviews of this Denon set and the Marantz Model 30 set on KZbin.

[@Skyshakerrrr]

Daniel me neither why is it? They are very good specially the denon pma110th combo.

[@JDG1971]

Nice equipment from Denon. Still as we are used to. OOHH YEAH 👌👍😉

[@RonSnoeks]

Waar in nederland kun je deze modellen voor 3000 euru elk kopen?

[@andreasmoller9798]

I had a demo of denon pma2500ne a wounderful amp with a lot of power, was a hard choise between that and Hegel h190

[@TheAlphaAudio]

In can Imagine. You didn't need the streamer.

[@ThilosVids]

Since you say it has amp has the same DAC configuration as the CD-player, I wonder if I could get the same quality audio result if I connect any random CD player with a digital TOS-link output to this amp?

[@andyiacovou]

Yes, I theory that is correct

[@anmic3590]

Hi! I have a Pioneer Pd-73, from the 90s Urushi series. It sounds beautiful, great machine, but no sacd. And I never got the chance to compare it with newer cd players. Any idea if the dcd-110 is way much better than the Pioneer, one of the best of its time? Thank you!

[@TheAlphaAudio]

I dont know the Pioneer. So I cannot comment on that. Newer dacs are way better than old ones... So it is worth trying.

[@anmic3590]

@@TheAlphaAudio Thank you so much! I might give it a try since most of the people are saying that it can be the final cd player. At least this way I will get a chance to see how the 90s elite players are holding against the new ones. I will run it with my preamp/power combo from the 90s as well. Pioneer c73/m73. At probably later I will see if it’s worthy to change those too with the pma-110. Thank you!

[@anmic3590]

@@TheAlphaAudio Hi! The dcd-110 has arrived. I never thought that the difference can be this huge. The sound from the Pioneer is very good and it’s a keeper for what it represents as a machine that lasted for so long and still does. But the Denon sound is excellent! And being made in Japan with some of their best components, I do hope that it will last as well. Thank you again and maybe in the future I will pair it with the pma-110. 🙏

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@anmic3590That's great news!

[@dougg1075]

I want a ring volume light

[@rega1039]

Hi sir ask please what kind of class amplifier is this? Do i need a steamer for this? Thank you and more power.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

It's class AB. Streamer is not integrated.

[@rega1039]

TheAlphaAudio, thank you

[@Dignit52]

What! No matching Streamer? I hope one will come out soon to complete the set. like the DNP2500NE in japan.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Agree!

[@sp4msolo724]

It's out now. ​@@TheAlphaAudio

[@dafh5280]

No inputs... So, you could not connect say a Arcam ST60 for streaming purposes?

[@TheAlphaAudio]

?

[@dafh5280]

@@TheAlphaAudio You could attacha Arcam ST60 streamer to the amp?

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@dafh5280 of course.

[@danieloherrick6332]

Any thoughts on using PMA-A110 with Dynaudio Evoke 30s?

[@connorduke4619]

On paper, that should be a very good match.

[@gertjankamping8080]

Welke speakers raad je aan bij de PMA-A110, ik krijg deze versterker komend weekend namelijk.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Elke speaker die goed bij je smaak en akoestiek past. De PMA-A110 stuurt vrijwel elke speaker prima aan.

[@gerardfletcher1203]

thank u like ur intelligent reviews. this 5k in austrlalia. i want i want. maybe a present to my self lol

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Thanks!

[@Toki1908]

Does the DCD utilize upsampling when playing SACDs? or is it only when playing regular CDs?

[@TheAlphaAudio]

It processes everything via AL32 processing.

[@Toki1908]

@@TheAlphaAudio Thanks Alpha!

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@Toki1908 welcome man!

[@georgieboy2432]

Thanks for the talk, but I know nothing more than I did before, like how does it sound.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@georgieboy2432 that's why we have full reviews on our website.

[@javierdelfierro4180]

Perhaps this is a basic question. Does the Denon DCD-A110 play multichannel SACD's?

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Not that i am aware of.

[@Skyshakerrrr]

Yes it does.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@Skyshakerrrr output is stereo...

[@Skyshakerrrr]

Alpha audio maybe I got it confuse I could almost swear when go to layer button on cd player its says cd, stereo,multi.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@Skyshakerrrr it does read sacd. Also multi channel. But output is stereo.

[@myplaguesify]

how does this compare to hegel or naim?

[@TheAlphaAudio]

It can compete. No problem. It will be a matter of taste.

[@myplaguesify]

@@TheAlphaAudio thanks man,will introduce your channel to my collegues..subscribed

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Thanks!

[@82ivaylo]

Hegel is overrated and overpriced Chinese audio gear. How does Corona beer compare to Heineken? As beer fan, my answer is Heineken is better and it's cheaper than Corona. NAIM and Hegel are well promoted brands, they are paying a lot of money for reviews, advertisements etc.... Especially, NAIM is one of the big sponsors for What HIFI magazine.

[@andreasmoller9798]

@@82ivaylo i kind of disagree as i own the Hegel H190. Its very good sounding, so is the denon pma2500ne that cost about the same where i live

[@robboboshik]

@TheAlphaAudio A little inflated price even against the last 100Th series. But they seem to have understood it well. In a time of limitations and cuts, I praise :)

[@fernandocosta5567]

Hi, good review. Did this amp competes sonically with supernait 3 ?

[@RodneyAllanPoe]

Has Denon not heard about balanced circuits and connectors in 110 years?

[@RodneyAllanPoe]

@Адвокат Дьявола I have heard that, but for $500 what else is there around, say for a CD player?

[@RodneyAllanPoe]

@Адвокат Дьявола Hahaha! Accuphase is an amazing brand. I have a Musical Fidelity player/DAC made in Taiwan. 🤔

[@fabrized]

Denon makes an amplifier that is full balanced differential construction from input to output, it's pma-sx1 but is only sold in Japan. No point in having balanced connectors if inside it's got unbalanced circuits. Different from other brands, Denon pursue a puristic no-nonsense design philosophy, their products are essential and you truly get all you pay for in sound performance.

[@sheerenergy8602]

@@fabrized "No point in having balanced connectors if inside it's got unbalanced circuits." WRONG! There is a point - I have a DAC fully balanced and it sounds better on XLR than RCA outputs. My amp isn't balanced but have XLR inputs. And i'm using it this way. If I couldn't use DACs XLRs, my sound would be degradated on RCA. It's a matter of functionality and flexibility.

[@fabrized]

@@sheerenergy8602 In this particular case of use, you are right. But what have to be understood in this Denon design, is its puristic approach, where every bit of space (and budget) has been optimized to achieve maximum sound quality at the targeted price ranged. You also don't have sub/pre-out, you don't have double speaker binding posts, bt/wifi or other commodities common today. In my humble opinion, this goal has been achieved and surpassed.

[@reee_4067]

My last Denon product was the Envaya BT 250, great sounding speaker for its price and size, however battery sucks.

[@SenakaSandagomiWeerawardena]

Great

[@gavincheng0394]

A expensive amp without balance xlr input. dont make sense to me.

[@juliangst]

I think they want you to use the digital inputs and therefore don't pay that much attention to xlr inputs. But there also is the japan only SX11 and SX1 which are a lot more expensive, completly analog and have XLR inputs

[@DueM]

it doesn't actually matter if the cables aren't too long, a good single ended implementation is indistinguishable from xlr in real world usage.

[@Assimilator702]

These aren’t Pro Audio units where long cable runs will warrant XLR connections. Single ended is perfectly fine for ho,e audio usage.

[@rca6576]

I would have bought this on the spot if there was a capability to stream.

[@MrGfunk215]

You can get a far superior quality amp with much better numbers for 1/2 rhe price

[@cpg8000]

Any suggestions?

[@andreasmoller9798]

Watts is not eveything

[@EhrenseiDeutschland]

Nicht besonderes.

[@rokodrago]

Hello hope all is good with you I sold my Denafrips T-II in order to upgrade to a Lampizator Baltic 3, nevertheless I have been watching this Integrated with great interest, i listen to all kind of music but mostly my beloved Pop - Rock - Alternative from the 80s and 90s is what I most enjoy and Im always looking forward to squeeze the best SQ from this music and that was the main reason that with great effort, patience and lots of money expended that i have been building a "Very good Audio System" that my money have been able to BUY during the last 20 years, and you know how frustrating is when the sound you are reaching for that BELOVED music of yours, it only gets good with fine recordings or not as musical as you may want….Unfortunately I dont have a way to try them here in Mexico ( Yucatan Peninsula ) or the funds to buy many at the same time so it has been the "HOPING AND WHISING IT IS THE RIGHT GEAR FOR ME ONCE I HAVE IT " cause you know that if that doesn't fill your expectations, you will need to sell them in order to get the next one that promisees the Beloved sound you are reaching for, that means all my purchases during this time have been made by recommendations and lots and lots of reading and watching reviews. I like playing loud and so my beloved Pop - Rock - Music should not only sound addictive but with emotion and soul. Could you -from all your expertise, gear you own and what have heard, including the Kinki M7 & Denafrips DACs -, suggest me if ditching the path of Kinki M7 + Denafrips Preamp + Lampizator BALTIC 3 and going simple with the Denon would fill the bill ? Im on the fence right here, cause i was just about to let 3,500 usd go on the B3 deposit for a 7,000 usd complete purchase as Im planning to use the B3 with the option of volume control and get rid of the Athena preamp….my speakers are kind of inefficient ( 86 db ) All the best ! Miguel My system is: - Denafrips ATHENA Preamp - Denafrips Terminator DAC-II NOW SOLD Now Im using my OPPO 205 in meantime while I get to purchase Lampizator Baltic 3 - KINKI EX-M7 Amp - PMC Twenty5 26 - Speakers ( 86 db ) pmc-speakers.com/products/archive/archive/twenty526

[@connorduke4619]

Since no one answered so far I will make an attempt. 1. In general an external Dac will beat an integrated Dac and is a good idea. However since the Denon amp already gives a full sound, a tube based Dac like Lampizator Baltic 3 is less necessary than for a more analytical amp. There is some risk of too much warmth in such a system. A Teac UD-701N using proprietary Dac chips gets good reviewers from users and is an alternatve high quality dac at a competitive price, without the hassle of tubes. 2. The Athena on its own is a great preamp, but preamp - power amp sonic matching between different brands is notoriously difficulty. And the Denafrips power amps lack dynamics. The Kinki M7 is not bad but a bit forward on the upper mids, the Denon A110 should be more laidback in this regard. Overall I am quite certain A110 overall beats Athena + M7. So in short, I would go for the Denon A110, but with an external Dac. But double check whether you want to pair it with a tube dac. ESS Dacs tend to be too sharp, so that leaves R2R or AKM/Teac dacs. R2R tends to have a deeper soundstage, AKM/Teac is likely to have, on average, better bass control.