Latest Update with REW measurements sound sample is here: th-cam.com/video/2rhVuyFJNs8/w-d-xo.html Set Up And Features: th-cam.com/video/9Z3biQ13Fcc/w-d-xo.html Thank you.
Hi @Tharbamar. I have been following your channel and got inspired from you regarding a new amplifier. I am considering the Denon PMA2500NE. How would you compare this to your denon PAM-SX11?
if only he'd add [ASMR] in the title of his clips and do a better job at keeping the volume of the inserts lower (avoiding big bumps that will jump off your seat...) he'd have hundreds of thousands more subs.
Could this amp be that hidden gem I've been searching for? I like your reviews because I sense absolute honesty in your assessments and you have a comfortable low-key way of expressing yourself. If everything you say is true, in particular the way your B&Ws responded after the amp burned in and seated itself, then Hegel just might have a worthy compeitor. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@@HowIsThat69 it's very difficult to know where to look. Immersion into good live music well recorded is rare. Good electronic is rare too. The world of music is infinite, I just have not the patience to look too much. When I look randomly I get 99% shit.
You have just introduced me to my dream integrated amplifier. I've been a fan of Denon since their AVR-3300. I love the simplicity of the SX11 - very little getting in between the source and the speakers. I think owning this amp and the KEF Reference 5's would make me a very happy fellow. It's nice to dream. Thank you for sharing this beauty with us.
Totally sweet. I love integrated amps. Conservative in the fact the you don't have 2 separate units for pre and power amps. integrated keeps both pre and power stages directly coupled vs having to have cables, etc. No possible impedance mismatches or losses between pre and power. I'll get one. So glad I found this channel.
To Tharbamar a million thanks for the review I am finally loving my music because of this amp although I have to admit cable matching was a pain in the ass to figure out the right combination (but it was worth it)...If anybody is curious I bought this amplifier and oh my God I love it, also if you're stopping yourself from getting it because you do not see a pre out directly to it for your subwoofers or you don't know how to connect the subwoofer to this particular model, the recorder out works the same way it took me a while to figure it out but it works the same way. Like Tharbamar said, happy listening my friends.. happy listening in deed.
Congratulations my friend with the new Denon. Nice setup. B&W speaker’s have always been part of my collection of speakers. I usually have 3-4 pairs of speakers that I rotate depending on my mood. Always in that rotation are a pair of B&Ws and Magnepans. I used to have a Parasound Halo Integrated amp which sounded decent at louder volumes. But it had difficulty being musical at low volumes. I ended up moving up to a Mark Levinson power amp and custom tube pre-amp. Interestingly the ML amp is rated at only 100wpc @ 8ohms but weighs 95 lbs. Note - It is rated 400 wpc @ 2ohms. In my experience, many systems sound great only when played loud. I find it very difficult to build a system that sounds great at normal volumes. With my current setup, I can finally listen to my music at modest levels but still sound dynamic, lively, and musical.
Looks amazingly well made. I’ve been listening to my Denon PMA a100 I just got, ten yrs old but looks new. Only using the phono at the moment. Similar, but what you have is the newest and just plain awesome. Nice to see.
Right now, an Spaniard is selling a pma sa1 for 2600euros, if I were you, I would buy it now. For that price that is almost a gift! You are a Denon lover. One thing That I like of you is that you are a real audiophile that really talks about the equipment he owns, not someone that is undercover salesman. (I forgot to mention, that Denon is for sale on e-Bay)😩
He kept showing the volume know and it reminds me of "Lord of the Rings" one amp to rule them all. Lets hope Gollum doesn't sneak in and steal his preacious.....
Hi! You remember me? I'm Japanese. I was using LS50 black edition when you were using it. We talked about the price of the LS50 black edition in Japan.by the way, After that, I actually changed the amplifier to SX11. The combination of sx11 & LS50 is marvelous.You should buy another LS50. Lol
You can buy whisper fans for $50 CDN to cool that amp without having to replace the rack. On the lowest speed they cannot be heard even without music playing. Under 1.5" high and direct airflow out the back.
The Denon PMA SX11 requires a speaker that’s demanding on power, like the Totem signature one, Forest , Hawk, or the element Fire. High current, hot running amplifiers especially with amp ratings running in the sixties and higher need to breath. This will take your Denon to the next level.
I am a denon fan. My first denon was a pma 390. Had the pma 2000. Now i still use denon pma 390re on my room.set up. The make very good amplifiers regardless of the price range
This amp looks like a really great piece of equipment, I don't understand why it is not sold in the US. Glad he found the amp he wants, I was looking forward to him trying that Yamaha though. I will be sad to see the B&W speakers go away. I am saving my money for a Yamaha 2100.
@Retro Tech Revisited oh, I did not realize they had updated these, does't look like much has changed, I was hoping for a power bump to a nice even 100w/ch.
This video may be old but it doesn't matter. It holds the title of having the BEST OPENING SHOT of any audio-related post on TH-cam. It remains in my "Watch Later" list as one of my all time faves.
Thanks for the review! Planning to upgrade to this from PMA-2500NE and DCD-800NE, and add DCD-2500NE in the mix, and upgrade from Dynaudio Special 40 to Contour 20i or possibly Confidence 20.
I would go for sx-11 as well as the higher end models don't have a headphone output, which is a deal breaker for me. In my experience Denon equipment takes a long time to break in. Although there some people like Andrew Robinson who think that break in is BS. Hence i unsubscribed from his channel. Break in is real and im glad you stuck with this amp.
If anyone doesn’t believe in breaking in, I do not trust their opinions on equipments like Amplifiers or Speakers in general because they’re not sensitive enough for noticing small changes.
@@Tharbamar I wish you Tharbamar if you ever have the chance to find the Tannoy d700s and have an test of them for me the best floorstanders ever from 1994 until today from any speakers at any price
@@Tharbamar thanks very much for your reply and is difficult to find them the only place to find them is some where in Asia like Filipins Thailand they stop the production at 2003 the only speakers that brought me on my knees I would shell my house to listen to them homeless some where in the country side with a big Buttery
THIS AMPLIFIER IS HEAVILY BIASED..............More so class Ab .......you can hear this even on youtube. VERY GOOD CHOICE YOU MADE ! Wish you many happy years of listening . More biased into class A than the usual class AB mode and beautiful musical balance ....most of the music is amplified in class A.
this amp is a work of art- I am happy for you. Btw, I have the pma1600ne and it took about 4 months before the sound started to open up. It also is warm, but ever so slightly so. The built is dac also is slightly warm-this might not be to every ones taste, but it suits me fine.
Congratulations on your new toy! This sounds like it may be just what I've been looking for, a rich delicate class A sound with lots of high current. An ideal pairing with my Magnepan .7i.
Another honest review it seems you are settled for now after your long quest.Bro I am happy for you. I think you can give LS 50 a second attempt with this amp during this period. Plz let us know your comments
Hello Tharbamar, I congratulate you for the SX-11, when i was a teenager i had the chance to see live Technics SE-A3000 with those great golden VU-meters, and sound to match that appearance, i must confess to you, those VU-meters + it's sound left a deep mark on me, and untill this day, nothing made again such an impression on me, speaking about appearance, untill seeing your SX-11 in dark with "Golden giant knob", i like it a lot, i imagine sitting in the evening and turning up the "gold" to hear some golden voice/instruments/s, so Technics then and now Denon managed to make such an "original look appearance of greatness", and i bet the Denon sound is just as great if not greater that Technics's sound. These two pieces of kit are for me " The right stuff" of audio, he he.... just like name of that song from New Kids on the block. I have the feeling i will get the chance to be charmed the third time in future when i will have contact with some beautifull tube gear. I have Denon PMA 2500NE and Sony TA-A1ES with JBL 4312SE = supersound. I use each integrated after my mood. Some interesting features about Sony and Denon: Sony eliminated the emitter resistors for the Mosfets, as i understood the mosfets directly drive the speakers. Sony and Denon use a single pair of output transistors per channel, this means one MOS drives upper sinewave the other MOS drives lower sinewave, so i think it can be said that per channel both amps speak with "a single voice" per each half of sinewave. See here a much more detailed explanation, these amps from Sony and Denon are very purist in conception: andreweverard.com/2014/02/19/review-sony-ta-a1es-amplifier/ Most all other amps Accuphase, Macintosh, Luxman, Yamaha, Levinson you name it most of them have multiple parallel transistors per each half sinewave, so i consider Sony and Denon a greater achievement and purer then all those big names. Some interesting info about 4312SE: it quite probably has the best and lowest distortion 12 inch woofer on the market, it's midrange driver has no crossver in the most sensitive ear audible band 2khz-5khz, and it's tweeter comes in at just 5khz which probably means allmost no stress for that tweeter. All drivers are very close together on baffle, i think it's a very clever layout , this way the ear gets the 3 way relaxed sound field with very low distortion, and close to a coaxial arangement without coaxial drawbacks. These reasons and JBL's legacy were the reasons i choose 4312SE. I reccomend 4312SE or the 4429 to you, your B&W are really limiting that Denon, it is a pity. The 4429 uses Aquaplas on the compression driver, to give a more natural closer to paper tone. I also believe the best sounding speakers must have paper cones, and a very good diamond/magnesium/beryllium tweeter/ compression driver. The polymer/metal cones used by big brands like bowers, focal, revel, will "never sound natural", just my opinion. Here are two interesting articles if you wish to read, about materials in speakers: MDI and material of speaker cones: www.mother-of-tone.com/speaker.htm www.6moons.com/industryfeatures/phy/phy.html If i am not boring you, i will continue to make comments on your videos, i think they are great.
I am very sad Denon selling their SX range only in Japan. I want to upgrade my PMA-2020AE and DCD-2020AE to the SX11 class. I also prefer Denon sound over Yamaha, Marantz and many more...
Just get the denon 110th anniversary integrated amp and cd transport it uses the same components as sx model line. I think you will be satisfy with it. ✌
Thanks @Tharbamar for this review. I started looking into buying this unit but happened to find an SX1 Limited being sold in USA. Ended up going for it.
You can't go wrong with Denon , particularly that model being fully made in Japan. The Japanese are the best electronic innovators in the world. Denon and Onkyo used to be the same company. Denki Onkyo. They split, Denon went their own way and kept most of their manufacturing in Japan. That's a very nice sound your Denon is putting out. DON'T SELL IT! 🛑
Tharbamar - The heat issue can be slightly ameliorated by drilling a few holes in the middle of the shelf the amp stands on. Then do the same for the shelf above. Mostly you will not see the holes, but even so make a pattern, say like a '5' in dominoes. Do nice clean holes and smooth them out with a round file. All this will assist with airflow.
Congratulations you found your amplifier.Another possible solution with your heat issues you can use a heat fan suction at the back top of pma AC infinity makes them and there really quite and USB power. Thanks for the video and always looking forward for the next one.
I have the PMA1600ne, it also runs a little hot so it appears these Japanese built Denon's do need good ventilation. It also sounds rather good. It sounded like a constipated pig for the first 24Hrs and has now improved greatly, the analog mode is very noticable. This SX11 takes it to another level and has superb build quality.
@@cameronkrause4712 Wonder just how many people have tried one and thought it sounded bad and sent it straight back, they are missing out big time. These Denon's need at least 48 Hours on time then they sound wonderful.
Very happy for you! That is a nice Denon ! Glad you found what you was looking for now this makes you wanna keep upgrading everything but hey you started where i would have 😆
@@Tharbamar If you get bored check out my JBL studio 580 review 😆 i'm still pretty new at it I work so much not much time thanks for the insight on that Beast !!
Congratulation! It is so obvious that you are a big fan of Denon products (me too) and you are enjoying listening to your "new baby". Unfortanately my Denon PMA1600NE is very frugal and a bit dry (maybe it needs more time to soar) to produce something enjoyable unlike my old scholl Sansui AU 717 which still suprises me and I can't stop listening to it (over 40 years old stuff, all original parts, only needs 10-15 min to warm-up). Even my new Marantz PM 8005 pleases me, but not my Denon. Anyway, I want to hear your opinion about other Denon amplifiers (if possible), i.e. PMA 1600NE particularly comparing to your "new baby". I guess dryness and frugality comes from the digital portion of it. There is a DAC in it, which causes sound to be unappealing. I read somewhere that it is the main disadvantage of digital amplifiers over pure analogue ones. So, It has been requested a comparison below as well. In additioin, if you do not mind please share your experience of purchasing your amplifier from Japan, i.e. which on-line store you used and shipping /customs clearance cost comparing to the purchased value, if you do not mind. Just for personal use. One more thing, FYI, try PMC spepakers, twenty5 22 series (top of bookshelf line, now new twenty5 22i line is introduced, I believe even better), which really help my old school Sansui to soar. It is a perfect match. Before sticking to PMC speakers, I went through the same price range /class speakers from B&W, Focal, Dynaudio. I don't regret about my PMC speakers even a bit. Not just perfect, Hi-Res sound, but very much musical sound.Thanks
Actually I'm a big Accuphase fan but I buy Denon for better price to performance, my ideal amp would be E480 but I would be spending a lot more for similar performance with no phono stage because phono stage was optional. For your 1600NE I would suggest KEF Q350 for very good synergy and sound quality. I will see if I can audition PMC speakers thanks
@@Tharbamar Sure, Accuphase is a good brand to have it, although a pricy one like Luxman, Esoteric. I am also inclined towards Japanese amplifier brands. I bought PMA 1600NE especially for the phono stage, since it has a separation between MM and MC. For sure it is much better than Marantz PM8005, which performs very poorly. (unfortunately my Sansui phono stage, one channel is damaged). I ordered a separate phono stage amplifier. I hope that it will satisfy me. Again, I would like to have one of a fully fledged and well-seasoned Japanese amplifiers in the future. Only thing I am not sure that I should buy it from here in North America or directly from Japan, like in your case, a matter of availibility. Thank you for the KEF speakers, I will keep in mind. I heard o lot of good words about KEF speakers. When I bough PMC ones, KEF speakers did not come around to my consideration. But so far, I am very happy with PMC speakers. Thank you for you videos and thoughts.
I'd watch this video so many times lol...and I finally decided to buy this amp it should be here by the end of the month, question you reviewed those ifi super nova cables do you think they would work as power cable for this amp for this amp?..... It's taken me months to decide on an amp (and even longer to save for it lol I'm a poor man but I just love this hobby) and I finally did thanks to you, you're really great.
Thanks for the advice. Say if you ever did manage to change the connection inside the amp so you don't have to use the power converter (Which I'm buying as wel lol) that would make for a awesome video. Thanks again and hope you keep having a happy listening.
@@deathspatience3613 Yes you can talk to electrician to change it to 120V but I end up using with converter because I like it that way for isolation and better more stable current, thanks
Great choice! I've always liked Denon. I also wish they would sell Denon higher end products here. I think it tops out only at the PMA-1600NE here. Did you consider the the 2500NE? I suppose the 2500 is little too close to your 2000R in design though. I would consider an SX11 as well, but that weight. That is heavy. Now you just need the matching Denon CD/SACD player. :). Thanks for videos. It's been fun to watch your journey.
Excellent review. Great to see you lift open the amp & see the back as well. Perhaps with speakers I would be looking at Harbeth, PMC, ProAc , B&W 800 series or even Wharfdale Linton Heritage with those super stands . I would look into immaculate second hand as well. I recommend thick curtains for room treatmeat & a good seatee as well. My hobby was collecting 2nd hand hifi systems as there is more bang for your buck but if I wished to de clutter & keep it simple then the Denon Sx11 amp I would love to own. I own a pma 1510 so I have an idea of your amps potential & besides even watching the review using my Canton tv speaker it sounded v good from your mics. Well done.
It would be interesting to compare the Hegel h390. Very close in price to the Denon. Huge power and transformer. Also considered to be the last integrated you'll ever need.
You have probably seen Denon is bringing PMA A110 to western countries and it has SX11 topology with some improvements. Would be nice to get a review from you.
It’s not even in the same class, A110 is just a different version of PMA-2500NE. SX11 is heavily class A bias design with same MOSFET as SX1, which A110 doesn’t have, SX series is top of the line not other way around. Thanks
Wish I knew about this I purchased the flagship Sony integrated amplifier and I was so disappointed I returned it but it kind of shocked me I just didn't think it had that Sonic full sound like he is talking about.
internal construction is similar to the construction of Sansui AU Alpha 907 amplifiers. Of course it is not a 1: 1 copy but from what I know, before the collapse of Sansui many engineers went to Denon and Sony
Thanks for your informative review regarding this beautiful Denon! I've also watched your other Denon Integrated Amp. reviews such as PMA 2000, etc. I'm about to purchase PMA 110 anniversary (and also consider technics su-g700). Have you tried or compared them with sx11 yet? please let me know. Thanks again and have a good day!
Thinking about giving this Beast a try but I need to have a understanding about the step-down Transformer needed here in the USA. Time to get educated!
You don’t really need step down transformer, since this amp is capable of working in 50hz or 60hz region and rated for up to 125v, if you need one I have a link in video description. Thanks
@@Tharbamar what speakers are you currently using? Steve Huff swears by his luxman 590 AXII and Klipsch Cornwall 3. I was about ready to go with that combination or Raven osprey with matching Celeste speakers. Now I'm reconsidering. Been going through this process for about 3 years! Just cannot make myself pull the trigger. Wish I had a Hi-Fi Listening Room nearby. I am very interested in tubes but I like high-volume rock and roll. But I also enjoy late-night low-volume Jazz sessions. I am currently using Cerwin Vega e712 and just recently added aperion super tweeters. Enjoying extended high frequency of the folded ribbon tweeters with their volume and crossover adjustments.
Tharbamar nice revealing system !. Why do you want to change the bookshelf b&w speakers, want to go upper class (mini monitors) or floorstanding speakers. Happy listening
"Significantly better sound quality over Yamaha A-S3000 and Luxman L-507 uX"? Wow! That did surprised me! So, it had to be purchased directly in Japan and exported? Then stepped down. That's dedication. I'm curious? Where were you able to audition a Japanese exclusive product and conclude it was "Significantly better"?
You don’t know how much Denon’s two channel products is respected in Japan than in the west. Only people who’s grown up in Japan will understand, most people don’t have experience with higher end Denon amps outside Japan in last 30 years. They are in similar price range with SX11 in Japan but people in the west have to pay significantly higher than in Japan for same products from Luxman and Yamaha. If you think L507 or AS3000 is better than SX11 because they sell higher price range in your home country does not mean you’re getting better amps. They have to sell it higher because lesser quality amps are selling for similar price. Denon SX series is 100% Made in Japan but not two of those, L507 is assembled in Japan with many Chinese parts(FTC should take note here for MIJ tags). Yamaha AS series is not even assembled in Japan. SX11 is made in famous Shirakawa factory and thoroughly inspected and sound checked, even extreme heat stress test is performed on every SX Series amps and signed by engineer before they’re released. Every SX series parts and QC can trace it backwards if needed. Not many other brands can do that. I will not be answering voltage questions because I like it the way it is, let there be for the people who really appreciate it. When western markets becomes very competitive with western names in Chinese made products they’re always paying for just the name but there are some good products there but my point is marketing that got them all and we just say Wow! in Asian accents. Thanks for the comment.
@@Tharbamar I'm not questioning your decision. A little surprised? But, I do get it! Denon is a major contender. They're kinda quiet here in the West. Also, thanks for the education! Yamaha, nor Luxman not total Japanese products just blew my top! I totally understand your decision on getting what you pay for. The beautiful A-S3000 is worth less 1/2 it's retail price I gather? So, in the end sound matters, but true cost to that end still matters more! I'm now curious for that Denon too! Your opinion is highly respected. Your selection and choices mirrors my own often. The Elysium speakers, and the ones before are an easy choice for me as well! Interesting vids! Thx.
Pma a110 uses basically the same caliber of parts use on sx11 line. I believe its the equivalent if the not the closest thing to it sound wise 💯 👌. Very good price for that type of performance.
Hello Tharbamar, what about a review of the SX1s... PMA SX1 limited and DCD SX1 limited? Should be nice see you talking about this devices that are in top of line for Denon Japan.
Wish I'd seen this a year ago, but anyway, I'd like to ask about a Denon amp at the other end of the scale, the pma 800ne. I had so many mixed feelings when I first got this. First of all, I thought the build quality and attention to detail was pretty amazing for the price: all metel front plate, weighty feeling motorized volume knob (though I'm sure not metal, but metalic feeling plastic) and source direct and analogue only modes are a really nice touch. Anyway, first off I got the black model, which was returnable, the silver being hard to get of in the UK, so I wanted to try it out knowing that I could return it and get the silver if I liked it. First impressions were that the sound was flat and sleepy, but as the evening drew on the sound was opening up and improving. When I went to bed I left the amp on all night (overriding the auto shut off feature) and the next evening things had improved again: the sound was now richer, more detailed and dynamics were much more apparent. Most importantly there was a charm and warmth to the sound that my little Marantz mcr-603 has, but maybe not quite up to the same level of how that sound hangs together so well on the Marantz. Dynamics, detail and separation of instruments however were unquestionably better. By the third evening, the sound had taken another step up to my ears, and now the organasition and coherence of the sound was resembling that of my Marantz along with the added sonic benefits mentioned above. Excited, I packed up the black 800ne ready to return and order the harder to find silver version. I now have the silver version, and am going through the same break-in/ burn-in process that I underwent with the black. I don't care if many audiophiles deny equipment burn-in with solid state components - to my ears it's real, and that at the end of the day is what counts. Anyway, the process seems to be taking longer with the silver version. The flatness and sleepyness of the sound seem to be stubbornly more persistent and I'm waiting for that charm and inviting sound sound of the Marantz, but one thing I can't do is play the amp for many hours at a time even at reasonably low volume levels. Anyway, long story short I'm really impressed with Denon as a company and I think, even at the budget end, they produce quality components which fly under a lot of people's radar.
@@Tharbamar Thanks a lot Tharbamar. Just one more question for you. How would you characterize the sound of Marantz vs Denon at the lower end? For example Marantz pm6007 vs Denon pma 800ne?
It's always tough with these types of comparisons because I think ultimately the speaker used will determine what sounds better, i.e. high sensitivity speaker will sound better with the Pass, lower sensitivity better with the Denon.
@@JingoLoBa57 I don't claim to be an expert but the way I understand it, pure Class A amps are very robust and usually have a high damping factor, which should give good bass control... but there are limits on how well they can do it when the speaker demands more wattage. For example, I have a speaker that is said to prefer A/B designs over A since it really comes alive once you can deliver 100+ watts at 6 ohms. This speaker is relatively low sensitivity at 85dB. Few reasonably priced pure class A designs can deliver that kind of wattage and will struggle to drive this speaker with authority... it will sound wonderful at low volumes but likely fall apart at louder volumes. Now, if my speaker was 90+ dB efficient like my previous pair was, it would likely respond much better to low wattage class A power, especially since those speakers required most of their wattage at roughly 3 ohms, which a good Class A amp could deliver 100 watts of. Basically, as long as you can deliver the required power to a speaker for the volume you're looking to achieve, then class A is always preferred in my estimation (love the sweet treble). But when you can't you're better off with a higher wattage class A/B design.
Great review, thank you, please explain difference with Yamaha sa3000, I am interested in also after your review of it, price of Yamaha should be 30 percent lower , I use only for liquid music,I have monitor audio silver 200, and ampli streamer Yamaha R-N803D thanks for your advice
it is amazing how much shielding that they used. This is such a good amp. I am jealous! I wonder how many watts it runs into class a before switching to a/b.
If you have a chance fly to Italy go listen an Angstrom Audio Lab but be aware that you will probably want to sell the Denon and spend more money. Nothing compare to an Angstrom, not even an Audionote. While in Italy have you will listen to decent speakers as well I am sure.
Love the design... The glowing volume control knob is wow. How do you think this compares to the new denon pma a110? A few years ago I owned a denon pma s10ii... This seems to be of that lineage... Legendary lineage... Hard to distinguish this against the new series... I now own an marantz PM11S3... I miss the denon
Sweet sounding and beautiful amp but I was wondering about the room and if the left side is open (no wall) and if you could rotate the system so that the sound stage is more even having the open area behind you
Yes I tried that and also I have four more extra rooms to use as my music listening space but I prefer this den area because big room was too bright and three other rooms were too heavy on bass response.
Hi Tharbamar, I just noticed on your website SX11 has an average headphone amp. I have PMA NE2500 which powers with lots of muscles: Audioquest Carbon Nighthawk and NightOwl, Panasonic RP-10, JVC HA-SW01, Sony MDR1-AM2, Creative Aurvana SE. So i am a bit amazed. I think the headphone amp in the SX11 may need more burn in? Something strange i noticed: only with the Audioquest 6,3mm silverplated jack i get this full nice sound from. 2500NE. Normally all 6,3 mm jacks should sound similar, but i have a hunch the AQ jack touches better the Denon 6,3 socket inside, so better contact. I also unplug the AQ jack harder than other 6,3 jacks. Regards, Paul,
Thanks for your great reviews. Do you still recommend the SX11? Do you think it could pair well with British speakers such as Wharfedale, ProAc, ATC? Also, are you able to suggest a reliable supplier in Japan? Thanks again.
I’m still in love with these, mostly I use British speakers because they work well together, probably eBay may be the best place for your purchase, thanks
Congratulations, which amplifier do you feel is most similar to Sx11 but sold in Europe? I already own Pma-2500ne and I love it but want an higher end model. Accuphase e480 maybe?
Accuphase E-480 is a great choice if you don’t mind paying the difference, I was also looking at E-480 or E-380 and I couldn’t justify the different in price. Thanks
@@Tharbamar Thank you. I would buy blindly Sx11 if only it was distributed here, instead I have to spend twice as much for comparable performance. But I feel no other valuable option at this time. I'm not even certain that E480 has as much current and driving capabilities as Sx11, I hope so.
@@hclandscapes pma1600ne in my opinion is a very good amp with a mediocre dac and an irritatingly imprecise volume knob. Better as a power amp than as an integrated. Both 2500 and 1600 fare better with analog inputs anyway.
I have 6000 hours on my Yamaha AS2100 and CDS21000. I too need to upgrade my speaker. I will be most interested in what speaker you choose. I mostly listen to SACD's. I don't have much luck with Analog as my vintage TT have hum and other issues I am tired to deal with.
I've watched your video several times I enjoy every minute you talk about gear I love and admire. I liked to exchange some thoughts with you. I have several Sony amplifiers and I've noticed how much buzz makes the power transformer in every one of them. From one side, the totally silent ones,( I talk about the buzzing from the hardware, mainly power transformer, not through loudspeakers hum), TA-N80ES, TA-N90ES, then, the TA-NR1 making the slightest noise and finally the noisier TA-F808ES. I would like to make you this question: of all Denon amps you have used, could you describe their behaviour in that respect please? and, do you think that If I checked the assembly of the transformer, at least the ta-f808es, could fix that noise? I think this noise aims vibrations and vibrations can affect tone of sound even the slightest but meaningful ways. I thank you in advance for your skilfully response.
I had Denon, Luxman, Accuphase amplifiers none of them made any noise but I have my own power transformer for the house. Even with that my Sony HAP-Z1ES music server made a little bit of power supply noise.
Ok, I gotcha’ now. So you had to buy yours on ebay (hence the link) in order to get it. This thing is beautiful! I’m assuming Japan offers it in 110/120V for the U.S. Thank you for the reply!
I like that amp a lot but it's not cheap and I would have to import from Japan with that weight not Gonna be cheap also, you really need different speakers to hang the power bc small speakers doesn't give the sound that amp gives maybe some tower speakers.
Very nice review :) but I wonder if this beast has enough Bass? On whathifi they reviewed pma s1, and this beast should have same sound signature. And afaik Denon is very audiophile but never bassbeast?
Latest Update with REW measurements sound sample is here: th-cam.com/video/2rhVuyFJNs8/w-d-xo.html
Set Up And Features: th-cam.com/video/9Z3biQ13Fcc/w-d-xo.html
Thank you.
Hi @Tharbamar. I have been following your channel and got inspired from you regarding a new amplifier. I am considering the Denon PMA2500NE. How would you compare this to your denon PAM-SX11?
It'll be difficult to argue with this guy. His voice will calm you down. 😁
if only he'd add [ASMR] in the title of his clips and do a better job at keeping the volume of the inserts lower (avoiding big bumps that will jump off your seat...) he'd have hundreds of thousands more subs.
Could this amp be that hidden gem I've been searching for? I like your reviews because I sense absolute honesty in your assessments and you have a comfortable low-key way of expressing yourself. If everything you say is true, in particular the way your B&Ws responded after the amp burned in and seated itself, then Hegel just might have a worthy compeitor.
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This will be my first CD purchase in 20 years. Amazing. Good music is so rare.
Alexandre Lollini you couldten be more wrong. So much talent and potential out there. You gotta start looking somewhere Else
@@HowIsThat69 it's very difficult to know where to look. Immersion into good live music well recorded is rare. Good electronic is rare too. The world of music is infinite, I just have not the patience to look too much. When I look randomly I get 99% shit.
You have just introduced me to my dream integrated amplifier. I've been a fan of Denon since their AVR-3300.
I love the simplicity of the SX11 - very little getting in between the source and the speakers.
I think owning this amp and the KEF Reference 5's would make me a very happy fellow. It's nice to dream.
Thank you for sharing this beauty with us.
That 20 year old AVR 3300 unit is remarkably musical even today! I wish I hadn't sold mine.
Totally sweet. I love integrated amps. Conservative in the fact the you don't have 2 separate units for pre and power amps. integrated keeps both pre and power stages directly coupled vs having to have cables, etc. No possible impedance mismatches or losses between pre and power. I'll get one. So glad I found this channel.
Happy for you that you've found your end game amp.
Thanks
To Tharbamar a million thanks for the review I am finally loving my music because of this amp although I have to admit cable matching was a pain in the ass to figure out the right combination (but it was worth it)...If anybody is curious I bought this amplifier and oh my God I love it, also if you're stopping yourself from getting it because you do not see a pre out directly to it for your subwoofers or you don't know how to connect the subwoofer to this particular model, the recorder out works the same way it took me a while to figure it out but it works the same way. Like Tharbamar said, happy listening my friends.. happy listening in deed.
Congratulations my friend with the new Denon. Nice setup. B&W speaker’s have always been part of my collection of speakers. I usually have 3-4 pairs of speakers that I rotate depending on my mood. Always in that rotation are a pair of B&Ws and Magnepans.
I used to have a Parasound Halo Integrated amp which sounded decent at louder volumes. But it had difficulty being musical at low volumes. I ended up moving up to a Mark Levinson power amp and custom tube pre-amp. Interestingly the ML amp is rated at only 100wpc @ 8ohms but weighs 95 lbs. Note - It is rated 400 wpc @ 2ohms.
In my experience, many systems sound great only when played loud. I find it very difficult to build a system that sounds great at normal volumes. With my current setup, I can finally listen to my music at modest levels but still sound dynamic, lively, and musical.
I agree, current is more important than watts.
Looks amazingly well made. I’ve been listening to my Denon PMA a100 I just got, ten yrs old but looks new. Only using the phono at the moment. Similar, but what you have is the newest and just plain awesome. Nice to see.
Right now, an Spaniard is selling a pma sa1 for 2600euros, if I were you, I would buy it now. For that price that is almost a gift!
You are a Denon lover.
One thing That I like of you is that you are a real audiophile that really talks about the equipment he owns, not someone that is undercover salesman.
(I forgot to mention, that Denon is for sale on e-Bay)😩
He kept showing the volume know and it reminds me of "Lord of the Rings" one amp to rule them all.
Lets hope Gollum doesn't sneak in and steal his preacious.....
😁
LOL!!
Hi! You remember me?
I'm Japanese. I was using LS50 black edition when you were using it. We talked about the price of the LS50 black edition in Japan.by the way, After that, I actually changed the amplifier to SX11.
The combination of sx11 & LS50 is marvelous.You should buy another LS50.
Lol
Oh I remembered you, I might be trying another one, thanks
You can buy whisper fans for $50 CDN to cool that amp without having to replace the rack. On the lowest speed they cannot be heard even without music playing. Under 1.5" high and direct airflow out the back.
The Denon PMA SX11 requires a speaker that’s demanding on power, like the Totem signature one, Forest , Hawk, or the element Fire.
High current, hot running amplifiers especially with amp ratings running in the sixties and higher need to breath.
This will take your Denon to the next level.
angelo t Thanks for suggestions, I will try them if I can.
I am a denon fan. My first denon was a pma 390. Had the pma 2000. Now i still use denon pma 390re on my room.set up. The make very good amplifiers regardless of the price range
With a musical amp like that you can get something that is more bright/revealing... I think you should go up the line to the 805D3.
I might be trying 805 and some others in the future, thanks
The 805 D3’s top end is so smooth ... impressive.
Floor standing take the leap.
@@hushpuppykl I like 805 D3 Maserati, I wonder if I can get a sponsor from B&W 😀
Tharbamar ... write to them! You do good reviews. It’s down to earth. You keep it real.
This amp looks like a really great piece of equipment, I don't understand why it is not sold in the US. Glad he found the amp he wants, I was looking forward to him trying that Yamaha though. I will be sad to see the B&W speakers go away. I am saving my money for a Yamaha 2100.
@Retro Tech Revisited oh, I did not realize they had updated these, does't look like much has changed, I was hoping for a power bump to a nice even 100w/ch.
This video may be old but it doesn't matter. It holds the title of having the BEST OPENING SHOT of any audio-related post on TH-cam.
It remains in my "Watch Later" list as one of my all time faves.
one of my top five dream amps! congrats my friend!! happy listening!!!
Thank you!
Thanks for the review! Planning to upgrade to this from PMA-2500NE and DCD-800NE, and add DCD-2500NE in the mix, and upgrade from Dynaudio Special 40 to Contour 20i or possibly Confidence 20.
i live in Japan . I have this amp paired with the Buchardt S400 , they sound amazing. I cant stop listening to my vinyl
Great choice!
I would go for sx-11 as well as the higher end models don't have a headphone output, which is a deal breaker for me. In my experience Denon equipment takes a long time to break in. Although there some people like Andrew Robinson who think that break in is BS. Hence i unsubscribed from his channel. Break in is real and im glad you stuck with this amp.
If anyone doesn’t believe in breaking in, I do not trust their opinions on equipments like Amplifiers or Speakers in general because they’re not sensitive enough for noticing small changes.
beautiful piece of gear and I can feel your happiness man!! Congrats!
Thank you!
@@Tharbamar I totally agree, congrats
@@Tharbamar I wish you Tharbamar if you ever have the chance to find the Tannoy d700s and have an test of them for me the best floorstanders ever from 1994 until today from any speakers at any price
@@parisstromatias637 I will do, thanks
@@Tharbamar thanks very much for your reply and is difficult to find them the only place to find them is some where in Asia like Filipins Thailand they stop the production at 2003 the only speakers that brought me on my knees I would shell my house to listen to them homeless some where in the country side with a big Buttery
THIS AMPLIFIER IS HEAVILY BIASED..............More so class Ab .......you can hear this even on youtube.
VERY GOOD CHOICE YOU MADE ! Wish you many happy years of listening .
More biased into class A than the usual class AB mode and beautiful musical balance ....most of the music is amplified in class A.
this amp is a work of art- I am happy for you. Btw, I have the pma1600ne and it took about 4 months before the sound started to open up. It also is warm, but ever so slightly so. The built is dac also is slightly warm-this might not be to every ones taste, but it suits me fine.
Thanks, they are great amps.
@@Tharbamar is the pma1600ne a good match with cm5s2? Thanks
@@tess6499 It should but you may need to play around with treble control, Marantz would be a little nicer, thanks
I can't wait Denon to release this Model in Middle East market
eBay
Congratulations on your new toy! This sounds like it may be just what I've been looking for, a rich delicate class A sound with lots of high current. An ideal pairing with my Magnepan .7i.
Another honest review it seems you are settled for now after your long quest.Bro I am happy for you.
I think you can give LS 50 a second attempt with this amp during this period.
Plz let us know your comments
Parvez Ahmed Yes, I’m very interested as well but I have something brewing for future upgrade because I want more bass response, thanks
Fascinating. I only found out this existed. In Europe we Can’t get this. I own the Denon pma-a110 would love to see a comparison
Hello Tharbamar,
I congratulate you for the SX-11, when i was a teenager i had the chance to see live Technics SE-A3000 with those great golden VU-meters, and sound to match that appearance, i must confess to you, those VU-meters + it's sound left a deep mark on me, and untill this day, nothing made again such an impression on me, speaking about appearance, untill seeing your SX-11 in dark with "Golden giant knob", i like it a lot, i imagine sitting in the evening and turning up the "gold" to hear some golden voice/instruments/s, so Technics then and now Denon managed to make such an "original look appearance of greatness", and i bet the Denon sound is just as great if not greater that Technics's sound. These two pieces of kit are for me " The right stuff" of audio, he he.... just like name of that song from New Kids on the block. I have the feeling i will get the chance to be charmed the third time in future when i will have contact with some beautifull tube gear.
I have Denon PMA 2500NE and Sony TA-A1ES with JBL 4312SE = supersound. I use each integrated after my mood.
Some interesting features about Sony and Denon:
Sony eliminated the emitter resistors for the Mosfets, as i understood the mosfets directly drive the speakers.
Sony and Denon use a single pair of output transistors per channel, this means one MOS drives upper sinewave the other MOS drives lower sinewave, so i think it can be said that per channel both amps speak with "a single voice" per each half of sinewave.
See here a much more detailed explanation, these amps from Sony and Denon are very purist in conception:
andreweverard.com/2014/02/19/review-sony-ta-a1es-amplifier/
Most all other amps Accuphase, Macintosh, Luxman, Yamaha, Levinson you name it most of them have multiple parallel transistors per each half sinewave, so i consider Sony and Denon a greater achievement and purer then all those big names.
Some interesting info about 4312SE: it quite probably has the best and lowest distortion 12 inch woofer on the market, it's midrange driver has no crossver in the most sensitive ear audible band 2khz-5khz, and it's tweeter comes in at just 5khz which probably means allmost no stress for that tweeter. All drivers are very close together on baffle, i think it's a very clever layout , this way the ear gets the 3 way relaxed sound field with very low distortion, and close to a coaxial arangement without coaxial drawbacks. These reasons and JBL's legacy were the reasons i choose 4312SE.
I reccomend 4312SE or the 4429 to you, your B&W are really limiting that Denon, it is a pity. The 4429 uses Aquaplas on the compression driver, to give a more natural closer to paper tone.
I also believe the best sounding speakers must have paper cones, and a very good diamond/magnesium/beryllium tweeter/ compression driver. The polymer/metal cones used by big brands like bowers, focal, revel, will "never sound natural", just my opinion.
Here are two interesting articles if you wish to read, about materials in speakers:
MDI and material of speaker cones:
www.mother-of-tone.com/speaker.htm
www.6moons.com/industryfeatures/phy/phy.html
If i am not boring you, i will continue to make comments on your videos, i think they are great.
I am very sad Denon selling their SX range only in Japan. I want to upgrade my PMA-2020AE and DCD-2020AE to the SX11 class. I also prefer Denon sound over Yamaha, Marantz and many more...
Dam i would love to have that 2020!
@mystique You will be very happy with SX11 for sure.
hows the sound pma 2020ae?is it bright?
Just get the denon 110th anniversary integrated amp and cd transport it uses the same components as sx model line. I think you will be satisfy with it. ✌
Thanks @Tharbamar for this review. I started looking into buying this unit but happened to find an SX1 Limited being sold in USA. Ended up going for it.
You can't go wrong with Denon , particularly that model being fully made in Japan. The Japanese are the best electronic innovators in the world.
Denon and Onkyo used to be the same company. Denki Onkyo. They split, Denon went their own way and kept most of their manufacturing in Japan.
That's a very nice sound your Denon is putting out.
DON'T SELL IT! 🛑
I'm seriously thinking about getting one.
Tharbamar - The heat issue can be slightly ameliorated by drilling a few holes in the middle of the shelf the amp stands on. Then do the same for the shelf above. Mostly you will not see the holes, but even so make a pattern, say like a '5' in dominoes. Do nice clean holes and smooth them out with a round file. All this will assist with airflow.
Great advice I will look into this, thank you.
i don't find it a very good idea cause that will have a negative effect on the shelf's rigidness
Thanks. Happy for you. I’ve enjoyed the journey. So much for the rack.. lol
The step down transformer makes it sound so good. Better than most that does not have it.
And HOW exactly would the step down transformer make it actually sound better?
Congrats, The synergy are right with this setup. Very Important, you are enjoying.
It really is, thanks
Congratulations you found your amplifier.Another possible solution with your heat issues you can use a heat fan suction at the back top of pma
AC infinity makes them and there really quite and USB power.
Thanks for the video and always looking forward for the next one.
Yes I will do that, thanks
Sounds like a amp i would love to own some day....nice review my man.
You should be using something like the Dali Epicom 2.... that would be the ultimate
I have the PMA1600ne, it also runs a little hot so it appears these Japanese built Denon's do need good ventilation. It also sounds rather good. It sounded like a constipated pig for the first 24Hrs and has now improved greatly, the analog mode is very noticable. This SX11 takes it to another level and has superb build quality.
I have the PMA-2020AE and it also runs hot.
It's interesting that you say your 1600 sounded constipated at first. So did mine! but not anymore! And after a year and a half it sounds wonderful.
@@cameronkrause4712 Wonder just how many people have tried one and thought it sounded bad and sent it straight back, they are missing out big time. These Denon's need at least 48 Hours on time then they sound wonderful.
Very happy for you! That is a nice Denon ! Glad you found what you was looking for now this makes you wanna keep upgrading everything but hey you started where i would have 😆
Thanks 👍
@@Tharbamar If you get bored check out my JBL studio 580 review 😆 i'm still pretty new at it I work so much not much time thanks for the insight on that Beast !!
I will do that for sure, thanks
Congratulation! It is so obvious that you are a big fan of Denon products (me too) and you are enjoying listening to your "new baby". Unfortanately my Denon PMA1600NE is very frugal and a bit dry (maybe it needs more time to soar) to produce something enjoyable unlike my old scholl Sansui AU 717 which still suprises me and I can't stop listening to it (over 40 years old stuff, all original parts, only needs 10-15 min to warm-up). Even my new Marantz PM 8005 pleases me, but not my Denon. Anyway, I want to hear your opinion about other Denon amplifiers (if possible), i.e. PMA 1600NE particularly comparing to your "new baby". I guess dryness and frugality comes from the digital portion of it. There is a DAC in it, which causes sound to be unappealing. I read somewhere that it is the main disadvantage of digital amplifiers over pure analogue ones. So, It has been requested a comparison below as well.
In additioin, if you do not mind please share your experience of purchasing your amplifier from Japan, i.e. which on-line store you used and shipping /customs clearance cost comparing to the purchased value, if you do not mind. Just for personal use.
One more thing, FYI, try PMC spepakers, twenty5 22 series (top of bookshelf line, now new twenty5 22i line is introduced, I believe even better), which really help my old school Sansui to soar. It is a perfect match. Before sticking to PMC speakers, I went through the same price range /class speakers from B&W, Focal, Dynaudio. I don't regret about my PMC speakers even a bit. Not just perfect, Hi-Res sound, but very much musical sound.Thanks
Actually I'm a big Accuphase fan but I buy Denon for better price to performance, my ideal amp would be E480 but I would be spending a lot more for similar performance with no phono stage because phono stage was optional.
For your 1600NE I would suggest KEF Q350 for very good synergy and sound quality. I will see if I can audition PMC speakers thanks
@@Tharbamar Sure, Accuphase is a good brand to have it, although a pricy one like Luxman, Esoteric. I am also inclined towards Japanese amplifier brands. I bought PMA 1600NE especially for the phono stage, since it has a separation between MM and MC. For sure it is much better than Marantz PM8005, which performs very poorly. (unfortunately my Sansui phono stage, one channel is damaged). I ordered a separate phono stage amplifier. I hope that it will satisfy me. Again, I would like to have one of a fully fledged and well-seasoned Japanese amplifiers in the future. Only thing I am not sure that I should buy it from here in North America or directly from Japan, like in your case, a matter of availibility. Thank you for the KEF speakers, I will keep in mind. I heard o lot of good words about KEF speakers. When I bough PMC ones, KEF speakers did not come around to my consideration. But so far, I am very happy with PMC speakers. Thank you for you videos and thoughts.
@@Tharbamar will the pma-1600ne be good with kef ls50?
I'd watch this video so many times lol...and I finally decided to buy this amp it should be here by the end of the month, question you reviewed those ifi super nova cables do you think they would work as power cable for this amp for this amp?..... It's taken me months to decide on an amp (and even longer to save for it lol I'm a poor man but I just love this hobby) and I finally did thanks to you, you're really great.
Nova is great I liked them a lot, it would be nice upgrade, thanks for sharing it is a great amplifier, you’ve made a great decision.
Thanks for the advice. Say if you ever did manage to change the connection inside the amp so you don't have to use the power converter (Which I'm buying as wel lol) that would make for a awesome video. Thanks again and hope you keep having a happy listening.
@@deathspatience3613 Yes you can talk to electrician to change it to 120V but I end up using with converter because I like it that way for isolation and better more stable current, thanks
Great choice! I've always liked Denon. I also wish they would sell Denon higher end products here. I think it tops out only at the PMA-1600NE here. Did you consider the the 2500NE? I suppose the 2500 is little too close to your 2000R in design though. I would consider an SX11 as well, but that weight. That is heavy. Now you just need the matching Denon CD/SACD player. :). Thanks for videos. It's been fun to watch your journey.
Sounds like a winner! Very nice!
Naaaah ... won’t send my amp to you. Because I may have regrets after you compare it. 😂🤣
Great review. Keep up the good work and stay safe!
And what is your amp?
Mike Cees ... I got the Audia Flight FLS10. 😬
you should consider trying out focal sopra no1! i'm not a fan of focal speakers but this line sounds wonderful with almost any electronics!!
Excellent review. Great to see you lift open the amp & see the back as well. Perhaps with speakers I would be looking at Harbeth, PMC, ProAc , B&W 800 series or even Wharfdale Linton Heritage with those super stands . I would look into immaculate second hand as well. I recommend thick curtains for room treatmeat & a good seatee as well. My hobby was collecting 2nd hand hifi systems as there is more bang for your buck but if I wished to de clutter & keep it simple then the Denon Sx11 amp I would love to own. I own a pma 1510 so I have an idea of your amps potential & besides even watching the review using my Canton tv speaker it sounded v good from your mics. Well done.
Thanks for advice.
Nice...Grats!...That amp has found a loving home! :)
It sure is!
BIG Fan ... this Denon rules , we have to know the next speakers ..Wilson ? 😊
It would be interesting to compare the Hegel h390. Very close in price to the Denon. Huge power and transformer. Also considered to be the last integrated you'll ever need.
If I can get a sample I would do, thanks
Hegel is overpriced and chinese, cheap build quality.
I bet the hegel doesn't take 350 hours to sound good!🙄
Big Jay Well they need 500+hours to sound good according to my dealer, when I I tried H590.
@@Tharbamar
Learn something every day!🙄😉😬🤗😇
Great video!! Why doesn't Denon offer this in the US?? I'm sure it would do very well. I would love to audition it myself.
That would be cool!
You have probably seen Denon is bringing PMA A110 to western countries and it has SX11 topology with some improvements. Would be nice to get a review from you.
It’s not even in the same class, A110 is just a different version of PMA-2500NE.
SX11 is heavily class A bias design with same MOSFET as SX1, which A110 doesn’t have, SX series is top of the line not other way around. Thanks
@@Tharbamar I see. Well, maybe it's still worth a listen.
Wish I knew about this I purchased the flagship Sony integrated amplifier and I was so disappointed I returned it but it kind of shocked me I just didn't think it had that Sonic full sound like he is talking about.
internal construction is similar to the construction of Sansui AU Alpha 907 amplifiers. Of course it is not a 1: 1 copy but from what I know, before the collapse of Sansui many engineers went to Denon and Sony
Great video. Can you review some of Denon's lower priced amplifiers like the PMA-600ne, PMA-600NE, and PMA-1600ne?
I will try!
@@Tharbamar thanks!
Thanks for your informative review regarding this beautiful Denon! I've also watched your other Denon Integrated Amp. reviews such as PMA 2000, etc. I'm about to purchase PMA 110 anniversary (and also consider technics su-g700). Have you tried or compared them with sx11 yet? please let me know. Thanks again and have a good day!
Thinking about giving this Beast a try but I need to have a understanding about the step-down Transformer needed here in the USA. Time to get educated!
You don’t really need step down transformer, since this amp is capable of working in 50hz or 60hz region and rated for up to 125v, if you need one I have a link in video description. Thanks
@@Tharbamar what speakers are you currently using? Steve Huff swears by his luxman 590 AXII and Klipsch Cornwall 3. I was about ready to go with that combination or Raven osprey with matching Celeste speakers. Now I'm reconsidering. Been going through this process for about 3 years! Just cannot make myself pull the trigger. Wish I had a Hi-Fi Listening Room nearby. I am very interested in tubes but I like high-volume rock and roll. But I also enjoy late-night low-volume Jazz sessions. I am currently using Cerwin Vega e712 and just recently added aperion super tweeters. Enjoying extended high frequency of the folded ribbon tweeters with their volume and crossover adjustments.
I’m using KEF R11 with them, I have my review video of them in this channel, even if you google it will show up, thanks
Brother a quick question. How is the denon PMA 2500ne compared to this and the older PMA 2000 series..
would like to know as well!
Nice review. How does this amp compare to similar offerings from Hegel, Musical Fidelity or Naim?
Best amplifier what Denon made. But that yellow LEDs around the knob lights too brightly, probably you can't dim or disconnect that.
It can dim from remote control or turn it off, it’s orange not yellow.
Tharbamar nice revealing system !. Why do you want to change the bookshelf b&w speakers, want to go upper class (mini monitors) or floorstanding speakers. Happy listening
Yes I'm planning to try better bookshelf speakers, thanks
Congratulations ! 🙌
Thank you!!
Beautifull amp for sure but Ive put my eye on the Denon 110th anniversary,could you share your thougths about that amp
110 is very good amp for the money with great build quality and sound.
glad u found something u like tharbamar!
Thank you.
Beautiful amp, congratulations.
Thank you!
i liked the sound quality.
"Significantly better sound quality over Yamaha A-S3000 and Luxman L-507 uX"? Wow! That did surprised me!
So, it had to be purchased directly in Japan and exported? Then stepped down. That's dedication.
I'm curious? Where were you able to audition a Japanese exclusive product and conclude it was "Significantly better"?
You don’t know how much Denon’s two channel products is respected in Japan than in the west. Only people who’s grown up in Japan will understand, most people don’t have experience with higher end Denon amps outside Japan in last 30 years.
They are in similar price range with SX11 in Japan but people in the west have to pay significantly higher than in Japan for same products from Luxman and Yamaha. If you think L507 or AS3000 is better than SX11 because they sell higher price range in your home country does not mean you’re getting better amps. They have to sell it higher because lesser quality amps are selling for similar price.
Denon SX series is 100% Made in Japan but not two of those, L507 is assembled in Japan with many Chinese parts(FTC should take note here for MIJ tags). Yamaha AS series is not even assembled in Japan. SX11 is made in famous Shirakawa factory and thoroughly inspected and sound checked, even extreme heat stress test is performed on every SX Series amps and signed by engineer before they’re released. Every SX series parts and QC can trace it backwards if needed. Not many other brands can do that.
I will not be answering voltage questions because I like it the way it is, let there be for the people who really appreciate it.
When western markets becomes very competitive with western names in Chinese made products they’re always paying for just the name but there are some good products there but my point is marketing that got them all and we just say Wow! in Asian accents. Thanks for the comment.
@@Tharbamar I'm not questioning your decision. A little surprised? But, I do get it! Denon is a major contender. They're kinda quiet here in the West. Also, thanks for the education! Yamaha, nor Luxman not total Japanese products just blew my top! I totally understand your decision on getting what you pay for.
The beautiful A-S3000 is worth less 1/2 it's retail price I gather? So, in the end sound matters, but true cost to that end still matters more!
I'm now curious for that Denon too! Your opinion is highly respected. Your selection and choices mirrors my own often. The Elysium speakers, and the ones before are an easy choice for me as well!
Interesting vids! Thx.
Great review. Too bad it’s only available in Japan. Ha ha, I had to laugh when you mentioned that it’s so good that you just can’t stop LostWinds
It's quite pricey and not readily available, (in UK anyway) interesting to hear you views on Denon PMA-A110 which is more available.
Pma a110 uses basically the same caliber of parts use on sx11 line.
I believe its the equivalent if the not the closest thing to it sound wise 💯 👌. Very good price for that type of performance.
Hello Tharbamar, what about a review of the SX1s... PMA SX1 limited and DCD SX1 limited? Should be nice see you talking about this devices that are in top of line for Denon Japan.
May be one day, thanks
Wish I'd seen this a year ago, but anyway, I'd like to ask about a Denon amp at the other end of the scale, the pma 800ne. I had so many mixed feelings when I first got this. First of all, I thought the build quality and attention to detail was pretty amazing for the price: all metel front plate, weighty feeling motorized volume knob (though I'm sure not metal, but metalic feeling plastic) and source direct and analogue only modes are a really nice touch. Anyway, first off I got the black model, which was returnable, the silver being hard to get of in the UK, so I wanted to try it out knowing that I could return it and get the silver if I liked it.
First impressions were that the sound was flat and sleepy, but as the evening drew on the sound was opening up and improving. When I went to bed I left the amp on all night (overriding the auto shut off feature) and the next evening things had improved again: the sound was now richer, more detailed and dynamics were much more apparent. Most importantly there was a charm and warmth to the sound that my little Marantz mcr-603 has, but maybe not quite up to the same level of how that sound hangs together so well on the Marantz. Dynamics, detail and separation of instruments however were unquestionably better. By the third evening, the sound had taken another step up to my ears, and now the organasition and coherence of the sound was resembling that of my Marantz along with the added sonic benefits mentioned above. Excited, I packed up the black 800ne ready to return and order the harder to find silver version.
I now have the silver version, and am going through the same break-in/ burn-in process that I underwent with the black. I don't care if many audiophiles deny equipment burn-in with solid state components - to my ears it's real, and that at the end of the day is what counts. Anyway, the process seems to be taking longer with the silver version. The flatness and sleepyness of the sound seem to be stubbornly more persistent and I'm waiting for that charm and inviting sound sound of the Marantz, but one thing I can't do is play the amp for many hours at a time even at reasonably low volume levels.
Anyway, long story short I'm really impressed with Denon as a company and I think, even at the budget end, they produce quality components which fly under a lot of people's radar.
You will need 300-500 hours to settle them, thanks for sharing.
@@Tharbamar Thanks a lot Tharbamar. Just one more question for you. How would you characterize the sound of Marantz vs Denon at the lower end? For example Marantz pm6007 vs Denon pma 800ne?
Interesting to compare with PassLabs XA25
It's always tough with these types of comparisons because I think ultimately the speaker used will determine what sounds better, i.e. high sensitivity speaker will sound better with the Pass, lower sensitivity better with the Denon.
Amir Jubran can you explain how your idea here works?
@@JingoLoBa57 I don't claim to be an expert but the way I understand it, pure Class A amps are very robust and usually have a high damping factor, which should give good bass control... but there are limits on how well they can do it when the speaker demands more wattage. For example, I have a speaker that is said to prefer A/B designs over A since it really comes alive once you can deliver 100+ watts at 6 ohms. This speaker is relatively low sensitivity at 85dB. Few reasonably priced pure class A designs can deliver that kind of wattage and will struggle to drive this speaker with authority... it will sound wonderful at low volumes but likely fall apart at louder volumes.
Now, if my speaker was 90+ dB efficient like my previous pair was, it would likely respond much better to low wattage class A power, especially since those speakers required most of their wattage at roughly 3 ohms, which a good Class A amp could deliver 100 watts of.
Basically, as long as you can deliver the required power to a speaker for the volume you're looking to achieve, then class A is always preferred in my estimation (love the sweet treble). But when you can't you're better off with a higher wattage class A/B design.
Great review, thank you, please explain difference with Yamaha sa3000, I am interested in also after your review of it, price of Yamaha should be 30 percent lower , I use only for liquid music,I have monitor audio silver 200, and ampli streamer Yamaha R-N803D thanks for your advice
sounds amazing
it is amazing how much shielding that they used. This is such a good amp. I am jealous! I wonder how many watts it runs into class a before switching to a/b.
If you have a chance fly to Italy go listen an Angstrom Audio Lab but be aware that you will probably want to sell the Denon and spend more money. Nothing compare to an Angstrom, not even an Audionote.
While in Italy have you will listen to decent speakers as well I am sure.
I like your SX11...only thing better is the SX1 Limited 😉...
Love the design... The glowing volume control knob is wow.
How do you think this compares to the new denon pma a110?
A few years ago I owned a denon pma s10ii... This seems to be of that lineage... Legendary lineage... Hard to distinguish this against the new series...
I now own an marantz PM11S3... I miss the denon
SX11 is in different class, which is second from the top offering, A110 is just PMA-2500NE with better parts. Thanks
Shit, I wanna get one! I'm convinced!!
You should trying pairing with Goldenear BRX (Bookshelf Reference X)
Sweet sounding and beautiful amp but I was wondering about the room and if the left side is open (no wall) and if you could rotate the system so that the sound stage is more even having the open area behind you
Yes I tried that and also I have four more extra rooms to use as my music listening space but I prefer this den area because big room was too bright and three other rooms were too heavy on bass response.
Superb review 👍🏼
Thank you 🙂
Hi Tharbamar,
I just noticed on your website SX11 has an average headphone amp.
I have PMA NE2500 which powers with lots of muscles: Audioquest Carbon Nighthawk and NightOwl, Panasonic RP-10, JVC HA-SW01, Sony MDR1-AM2, Creative Aurvana SE.
So i am a bit amazed. I think the headphone amp in the SX11 may need more burn in?
Something strange i noticed: only with the Audioquest 6,3mm silverplated jack i get this full nice sound from. 2500NE. Normally all 6,3 mm jacks should sound similar, but i have a hunch the AQ jack touches better the Denon 6,3 socket inside, so better contact. I also unplug the AQ jack harder than other 6,3 jacks.
Regards,
Paul,
Great review. If you have the choice of the Yamaha A-S3000 and this Denon PMA-SX11 for similar price, which one would you recommend?
I tried A-S3000 as well but I preferred PMA-SX11 sound which is heavily bias on Class A side and build in famous Shirakawa Factory in Japan, Thanks
@@Tharbamar Great! What about the PMA-SX1? Does it have more Class A power?
Thanks for your great reviews. Do you still recommend the SX11? Do you think it could pair well with British speakers such as Wharfedale, ProAc, ATC? Also, are you able to suggest a reliable supplier in Japan? Thanks again.
I’m still in love with these, mostly I use British speakers because they work well together, probably eBay may be the best place for your purchase, thanks
@@Tharbamar thank you for your reply, which is helpful and appreciated.
That knob its dope 👌 🙌 👏 🔥 😍.
Congratulations, which amplifier do you feel is most similar to Sx11 but sold in Europe? I already own Pma-2500ne and I love it but want an higher end model. Accuphase e480 maybe?
Accuphase E-480 is a great choice if you don’t mind paying the difference, I was also looking at E-480 or E-380 and I couldn’t justify the different in price. Thanks
@@Tharbamar Thank you. I would buy blindly Sx11 if only it was distributed here, instead I have to spend twice as much for comparable performance. But I feel no other valuable option at this time. I'm not even certain that E480 has as much current and driving capabilities as Sx11, I hope so.
How does the pma 2500ne compare with the 1600ne?
@@hclandscapes pma1600ne in my opinion is a very good amp with a mediocre dac and an irritatingly imprecise volume knob. Better as a power amp than as an integrated. Both 2500 and 1600 fare better with analog inputs anyway.
I have 6000 hours on my Yamaha AS2100 and CDS21000. I too need to upgrade my speaker. I will be most interested in what speaker you choose. I mostly listen to SACD's. I don't have much luck with Analog as my vintage TT have hum and other issues I am tired to deal with.
Yamaha some sounds bright!
I've watched your video several times I enjoy every minute you talk about gear I love and admire. I liked to exchange some thoughts with you. I have several Sony amplifiers and I've noticed how much buzz makes the power transformer in every one of them. From one side, the totally silent ones,( I talk about the buzzing from the hardware, mainly power transformer, not through loudspeakers hum), TA-N80ES, TA-N90ES, then, the TA-NR1 making the slightest noise and finally the noisier TA-F808ES. I would like to make you this question: of all Denon amps you have used, could you describe their behaviour in that respect please? and, do you think that If I checked the assembly of the transformer, at least the ta-f808es, could fix that noise? I think this noise aims vibrations and vibrations can affect tone of sound even the slightest but meaningful ways. I thank you in advance for your skilfully response.
I had Denon, Luxman, Accuphase amplifiers none of them made any noise but I have my own power transformer for the house.
Even with that my Sony HAP-Z1ES music server made a little bit of power supply noise.
@@Tharbamar thank you very much! We both are going to move to another home, bigger🤣😉
It is strange that the ac current input has no ground. Grtz Phil
Because it’s self grounded and mechanical ground as well.
BEAUTIFUL
Thank you! 😊
It’s a fantastic looking amp. I wonder why they discontinued it. Is it the only Denon with the illuminated volume ring?
They are not discontinued and never introduced outside of Japan.
Ok, I gotcha’ now. So you had to buy yours on ebay (hence the link) in order to get it.
This thing is beautiful! I’m assuming Japan offers it in 110/120V for the U.S.
Thank you for the reply!
@@Shaken_AND_Stirred I did not buy it from eBay, please see my review and unboxing video I explained all that, thanks
@@Tharbamar
Thank you again, Sir! I will watch that one.
Just want to know if you are using a step-down transformer. And if you are. What brand you recommend. Great looking amplifier
What is the price point? I wonder how it compares to the Yamaha AS2100, which produces very little heat.
Hi, beautiful Integrated Amp. Is this Denon 240 Volt?
No, you have to get a voltage regulator.
I like that amp a lot but it's not cheap and I would have to import from Japan with that weight not Gonna be cheap also, you really need different speakers to hang the power bc small speakers doesn't give the sound that amp gives maybe some tower speakers.
Very nice review :) but I wonder if this beast has enough Bass? On whathifi they reviewed pma s1, and this beast should have same sound signature. And afaik Denon is very audiophile but never bassbeast?