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Denon Afficionados?

I have been a fan of older Denon equipment for quite some time. I have owned my DRA-825R since '91 and recently picked up a DRA-835R that needed some minor repair. These are very similar to your DRA-1025RA. These receivers utilize Denon's "Optical Class A" amplifiers. The was a DRA-1025R followed by the DRA-1025RA followed by the DRA-1035R. The R and the RA appear to be functionally and physically identical. However, their main amp boards are very different. Spec wise, the R is rated at 125W/ch while the RA is rated 130W/ch. Other than that the specs are identical.

The DRA-1035R is different in function and internals. It utilizes Denon's "NEW Optical Class A" amp (what ever that means). The layout of the main amp is much more symmetrical for left and right channels and I believe that the power supply is a little more beefy.

As the 825R and 835R are very similar to the 1025R and 1035R respectively, I'll use my receivers for comparisons. I am very impressed with the build quality of the 835R over my 825R. The 825R suffered from several bad solder connections. I went over all the boards and this is no longer a problem. I can't speak for the RA version.

The jury is still out on sound quality as I just repaired and tweaked up the 835R. I plan to tweak the 825R and do a side-by-side comparison in the future.

Stan
 
legal eagle said:
I don't like Dennon. Don't know why, just don't like it. Don't think there's anything special about it (and now the Dennon fans are gonna eat me alive...I know that), and in my book the Dennon gear is somewhere in the Sharp and Sanyo region.

Their gear looks slightly better, I'll give you that.
Click to expand...

Denon made some amazing components.

I bought a pair of the POA 4400 monoblocks,for use in my system last year.Initially I had them connected to my active crossover via the balanced inputs(the crossover has both single-ended and balanced connections,as does the POA 4400).
I'm sorry to say,that compared to the amp it replaced(both amps reproducing only below 800Hz)the 'magic' was missing with the Denon.I later discovered that the balanced option for both the output of the active crossover and the input on the Denons,sounded less good than the single-ended outputs and inputs.
Eventually I switched-back to the amp I'd previously been using,and the 'magic' came back.I had high hopes for the Denon monoblocks.They weren't bad sounding,it's just that I had something better here already.
 
All three of the home theater AVRs I've purchased have been Denon: 3600, 5800, 4308CI. Have been very pleased with all of them. Even when used in 2 channel systems.
 
legal eagle,

Yes, I am going to have to eat you alive. Just kidding. Everyone has their own taste.

I am a HUGE fan of Denon cd player, turntable and amplifiers.

What do you like so that maybe we can start grilling your taste?

wsjoe
 
Maybe one of these three could convince somebody :-)

LIX
 

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i was not, i had doubts. but then i haven't heard this one yet. and then i became a believer :yes:

DENON PMA-850
http://audio-database.com/DENON-COLUMBIA/amp/pma-850-e.html

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legal eagle said:
I don't like Dennon. Don't know why, just don't like it. Don't think there's anything special about it (and now the Dennon fans are gonna eat me alive...I know that), and in my book the Dennon gear is somewhere in the Sharp and Sanyo region.

Their gear looks slightly better, I'll give you that.
Click to expand...
You're either a Troll looking to stir things up or incredibly ignorant about Denon gear.
 
Best $50.00 I ever spent was on my PMA-500V. The only problem I have with it, is it makes me want to find a big Denon POA.
 

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I've had a number of Denon's, I never met one I didn't like. I very much like their integrated amps. I probably shouldn't tell you this, but the late model run BPC Denon PMA-737 integrated amp actually has 4 capacitors under the hood instead of the advertised 2. All the earlier silver ones I've seen have only 2. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH..... I've let the cat out of the bag!!!!!!
 
Denon is my favorite... using a PRA-1000 as I type.
Here's a couple pics of some of my Denon favs...
 

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legal eagle said:
I don't like Dennon. Don't know why, just don't like it. Don't think there's anything special about it (and now the Dennon fans are gonna eat me alive...I know that), and in my book the Dennon gear is somewhere in the Sharp and Sanyo region.

Their gear looks slightly better, I'll give you that.
Click to expand...


Different tastes for different folk. But to compare Denon's finer offerings to Sanyo and Sharp in quality is a stretch.

Denon, like Sony and Yamaha and onkyo and Pioneer (and so on) all made some mediocre gear- there's a market demand for mid-find mediocracy and seems to be a bread and butter market for this stuff.

But like Sony did with some of the Es stuff and Espirit, or Kenwood with Supreme, or Pioneer with Spec or Elite, or Onkyo with Integra, Denon was fully capable of building impressive pieces.

Pop the top off some of the POA amps or upper-end DCD CDPs and there is not much comparo to the cheap brands you mention.
 
I've only owned 2 pieces of Denon. Both of them were ordered directly through Denon on salesman accommodation.

Both are armless turntables

DP-1500 (walnut base)
DP-3500 (ash base)

I've had other turntables in the 35 years I've owned these but both of these Denon armless platters are still my primary reference tables. All I ask of them is to spin at a consistent rate and be quiet

dp-3500.JPG
 
These are my Denon toys:

DCD-3560
DCD-3300
DCD-2560
DCD-1560
DCD-1520
DCD-1500II
DCD-1420
DCD-1100
DCM-440

POA-3000Z power amp

DAP-5500 preamp

AVR-2805
 
legal eagle said:
I don't like Dennon. Don't know why, just don't like it. Don't think there's anything special about it (and now the Dennon fans are gonna eat me alive...I know that), and in my book the Dennon gear is somewhere in the Sharp and Sanyo region.

Their gear looks slightly better, I'll give you that.
Click to expand...
Well if you are going to bash Denon you should at least learn how to spell it properly. :thumbsdn: Posts like this always crack me up. You're certainly welcome to your own opinions but why post something negative without backing it up? Have you ever owned any Denon gear? I've owned lots of Denon gear but not any Dennon stuff. :D To use Denon and Sanyo in the same sentence is an insult to the rest of us owners so take your comments elsewhere. :yes:

I currently have:
Denon AVR 3808CI
Denon POA 2800 200 wpc amp
Denon DAP 2500 pre-amp
Denon DVD 2900 used for SACD/CD/DVD-A playback
Denon DVD 555 used for CD and MP3 playback in my garage

I've also owned:
Denon DP 60L
Denon AVR 3805

All of the Denon gear I've owned is top quality stuff.
 
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here's a couple of old nudies of my PMA-2000R which i still use and enjoy today..
It's been modded out with blackgates, films, some AN tant resistors and WBT speaker lugs, and upgraded rectification; but it can certainly hang!!

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Tal
 
I remember seeing these on the shelf with Sharp and Sanyo gear back in the day.:lmao:
 

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