Denon PMA-900HNE Integrated HiFi Amplifier, Network Streaming with Phono Equalizer, Analog Mode, Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, HEOS, Roon Tested - Black

If you are looking to cut through todays hectic audio options and vast choice then the 900hne could be on your rack if you want little fuss, excellent build quality with high quality internal parts and configuration, good looks that speak volumes in hifi maturity and a sound quality that is smooth, non fatiguing, immersive, clear and full. There is nothing lacking here from Denon and the 900, the amplifier transpires enough detail, precision, warmth and openness with a sure footing, one that tells you that it knows what to do with the music so just sit back and listen. HEOS is easy to use and offers enough of a service for most people. AirPlay also sound better than expected, Denon have given us an easy going digital section and sound that to be honest is more comfortable to live with than the more upfront and so called ‘detailed’ offerings on the market today.Which in my experience can sound thin, tainted by digital glare and tinny, we don’t get that with the 900. What comes out of this amp also depends on what you put into it, I found for such a smooth performance from the 900hne it can reveal poor recording which is down to the artists or their sound engineer at least.The Digital inputs are a plenty! 3 optical inputs is very generous with optical 1 (TV) encompassing a trigger system from the TV so turn on the TV and it will wake the amplifier. This feature can also be turned off as can the WiFi and Bluetooth if you do t wish to use them which for the purists out there is another bonus. I didn’t find any interference from the digital section when using analogue but still for those with old school equipment that may have allowed that interference and the memory haunts them at least Denon have given the option to neutralise the aforementioned features. Denon also allows you to turn off wake from the TV if so desired, practical to say the least. There is no motorised volume knob with the 900 like the other models in the PMA series, why it was not included is unclear but imo its one less moving part to be concerned over in regards to any potential failure and system noise so for me its not missed and prefer Denon’s choice to not include such a mechanism. The tone sound adjustment has a good feel and sound. The treble and bass add a nice degree of tonal change in regard to actual sound quality which is where I find many amps to be a little cumbersome and just blanket the sound with either frequency, good job here Denon. I still use the direct source more than the tone control but the quality is there if I change my mind. I haven’t used the phono stage as I do not use vinyl but others have reviewed this amp and find the phono stage to be good. I predominantly stream my music and so in all honesty the 900 is a no brainer and having HEO/Airplay 2 built in brings everything I need into one system and with a performance that brings not complaint from the Audiophile in me which also understands the more niche product out there. The internal dac does a splendid job with whatever digital platform I may use and takes a lot of trouble out of the day by just having it all there in one go.If I were to improve on what Denon have implemented here in regards to digital technology the I would maybe squeeze an R2R dac in there to replace the Delta Sigma dac structure which in my imagination would produce an even more musical amplifier than the 900 already is. With Fiio recently releasing their K11 R2R I can certainly see the possibility of an amplifier in the future where that technology could be implemented in something like the Denon 900hne. I have the Fiio R2R dac here and when matched with the Denon PMA900HNE as an Aux source it they both work very well together to say the least.Speaker matching the Denon is going to be easy. I can recommend the Wharfedale 12.2, Cambridge Audio SX-60, Elac Debut 3 amongst others. I would stay above 85db sensitivity on speaker choice which all of aforementioned speakers do. Floorstanders will shine with This amp and if had the budget needed to make a speaker choice I wouldn’t hesitate with the Wharfedale 12 range. I’m using the 900 with the Wharfedale 12.2 and the Wharfedale SW150 subwoofer presently and this match has excellent soundstage detail with clarity and power, no complaints, great system synergy here!So, a solid choice of amplifier and will probably last for years as most Denon gear has and continues to do so. Good job Denon!

Excellent sound, prodigious power and fairly simple to use. Downgraded my existing Marantz MCR510 and Spektor 1s to supplying my PC audio and replaced with the Denon amd Zensor 3 speakers, along with an existing spare Wharfedale SW150 sub. It sounds majestic,with a crystal clear soundwith some very nice transient headroom and the musoc punches along far better than I have known for a very long time. I now will be busy learning about the ins and outs of HEOS. At this moment, I would recommend either HiFi Cast or Bubble UPNP over HEOS if you are streaming from a large NAS library. In this application, HEOS seems to be left very far behind. All in all, very impressed at this point.Further thought. Remember that this already has a 2 uear warranty with Denon, so if you pay for the 3 year warranty like I did, you will be getting only an effective 12 month extension.

excellent item, turned up well packaged and easy to install and use

Whilst the sound is good on this product, the main reason I purchased it was for its Alexa integration and the ability to have two zones. WIth built in HEOS, I thought this would be easy to activate alongside my Amazon Echo Hub, but I was wrong. Despite having done hours of research, the Denon amp is not fit for purpose when it comes to working well with Alexa. Whilst radio would play from my Echo Hub on my Preferred Speaker (the Denon), Spotify just would not work with voice. Spotify did play if I manually selected it but when I tried to get it to play from the Echo Hub it simply said that the Device was Offline. I have now returned this amp as it just cannot be used as easily as I thought it could be - not to mention it's not really dual zone as only one item shows up on Alexa.

This Denon 900 product meets all its manufacturer claims, but I wanted to place on record my experience with the supplier - Spatial / Craig HiFi of Welham Green. Their after sales service was excellent in all respects - from the care they took on first contact to listen carefully to the issue, to their willingness to deal with a possible problem right away, and then to take the trouble to check once more that the issue was resolved. Their reception and technical staff are of the highest order and I couldn't recommend the company and its team more highly.

Working with ls50 metaThe Amp is very strong and have no problem with kef low dB and impedance,The remote feel cheep 🙂

This amp is okay, great sound for any modern connections, but honestly when you are searchibg best amps for vinyl and the little brother to this pops olup often you expect this to be great, but for (rock) vinyl its really not.. i have a vintage jvc ax-3 that absolutely knocks the spots off this for vinyl, i found myself buying lots of diffrent cartridges and just nothing helped, some of the vinyl just sounded way to thin. Heos is pretty cool, but yeh, id take my vintage jvc over this any day.

Wow even straight out the box connected to my b&w 606s2 just really solid all round performance can only imagine how good this will be after running in.Bags of powerWith Bluetooth airplay and the HEOS app this really is a case of just add speakers very happy