By: Viktor
19th Feb 2024
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"Excellent Value"
If one is one a tight budget and wants a really good amp which is neither really old nor new then this one is a no brainer. I recently acquired one for 50 Euros in near mint condition(but with a defect phono stage).
Looks Design is clean & visually appealing - the knobs/switches feel good, the volume pretty adequate. Speaker terminals are ok. I like it better than the older xx20 line. Sound wise I can't compare it to the 520 I once had but I would vaguely argue that this one sounds a bit more detailed.
Innards Tidy & powerful(toroidal transformer and 2 x 10000µF filter caps - a hair less than the older Denon's which rode on 2 x 6800µF per channel[totalling 4 caps]).
Sonic Impression Accurate, fresh, crystalline, snappy and detailed. Only downside is it lacks some final oomph in the bass(unlike my Akai AM-49) and can be tiring if it's paired with equipment that's also bright in sound. If you're in the DAC game maybe pick a softer, fuller/fatter sounding one so that source & amp can work their magic. I have a Topping NX4DSD and it's way too bright/sterile for the Denon. P.S. this Denon sounds way better than the PMA-350SE that I also had - the 560 blows it away in the mids and sounds less cold.
2 people liked this review.
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