Denon PMA 1600 NE Stereo Amplifier with DAC mode for high resolution audio

The PMA-1600NE features Advanced UHC (Ultra High Current)-MOS technology that utilizes a minimum number of high-current amplifier elements to help balance advanced speaker drive capabilities and enhanced sound quality. The power supply performance of Advanced UHC-MOS is designed to be superior to that of bipolar transistors and incorporates the sound quality advantages of MOS-FETs. The Advanced UHC-MOS uses a single push-pull configuration to help eliminate deviations in the amplification stage and balance high power with delicate musical details. The circuit is designed to reproduce the full sonic range.

For digital inputs, the PMA-1600NE employs Advanced AL32 Processing Plus, Denon’s analog waveform reproduction technology, which utilizes data interpolation algorithms and supports high-resolution 384 kHz/32-bit PCM signal inputs. These algorithms are designed to interpolate points that should exist before and after the points in large quantities of data to help achieve a smooth waveform that is close to that of the original signal. By restoring data that was lost during digital recording, the resulting playback sound is more detailed, virtually free of interference, accurately localized, expressive in the lower range, and faithful to the original sound.

The PMA-1600NE provides USB-DAC functions that support high resolution audio (up to 11.2 MHz DSD and 384 kHz/32-bit PCM) input signals. DSD transmission methods support ASIO native playback and DSD Audio over PCM Frames (DoP). Since asynchronous transfer is controlled by the amplifier’s master clock rather than the clock of a computer, the transfer is virtually free of jitter.

The chassis of the PMA-1600NE features six independent blocks that house the phono equalizer and input circuitry, volume control circuitry, USB-DAC circuitry, amplification circuitry, power section, and the control section. It is constructed with 1mm thick steel plates engineered to protect the signal circuits from external vibration and virtually eliminate the adverse effects of mutual interference among the circuits. The power section has been positioned in the center of the amplifier; with heat sinks on both sides, this balanced construction is well-suited to prevent unwanted vibration from affecting sound quality. In addition, the feet supporting the weight of the power transformer, heat sinks, and chassis are made of ABS resin with rigid rib construction.

The PMA-1600NE includes a remote control unit that can also operate select Denon CD players and network audio players. The low-noise FL display on the front panel provides source and sample rate indication.

The PMA-1600NE is equipped with a digital isolator to help eliminate adverse influences on sound quality caused by high frequency noise from a USB-connected computer or from the onboard digital inputs. Since data is transferred magnetically via coils embedded in an IC chip, the input and output sides are electrically isolated. By isolating the signal line between digital audio circuitry and the D/A converter, adverse influences of high-frequency noise on analog audio circuitry after the D/A converter are virtually eliminated. The PMA-1600NE also adopted a dedicated secondary winding in the power transformer for the digital circuitry to shut out noise from the power source. During analog audio playback, Analog Mode can be used to turn off power to the dedicated digital power source and completely stop operation of the digital input circuitry to avoid any high frequency influence to the analog section. Analog Mode also turns off the fluorescent display, allowing the amplifier to operate as a purely analog amp; during Analog Mode, the USB-B, digital coaxial, and optical digital inputs are also disabled.

The PMA-1600NE includes a phono equalizer that supports input from both MM and MC cartridges. This phono equalizer is designed for high gain, and as loops in the circuit board pattern can cause adverse effects on sound quality, the “simple & straight” design represents an improvement. On the amplifier, the MM/MC toggle switch is a relay type, which shortens the pattern on the circuit board and makes signal loops smaller, allowing delicate analogue signals to be amplified with greater purity.