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Looking for Some Opinions about my System

dave1701

dave1701

Active Member
This place, and happily so, generally has no lack of opinions. I figured I'd cast a few questions out here and see if I can get some help. I am thinking about upgrading my amplifier. My main amp is currently a Denon PMA-860. I recently purchased a TEAC AI-5001DA a few weeks ago, but I am going to return it as it seems to have a couple technical problems, and I don't think it is worth the money anyway. I loved the aesthetics, but I wanted more substance.

So what do you guys think I should do? Should I keep running the Denon? I like the way it sounds, but I'm always looking to upgrade. One of my reasons for upgrading was that a new amp would have a DAC in it for optical sound input. My current DAC is not hi-fi by any means, so I want to get that out of the loop. So one option is to keep the Denon and buy a stand alone DAC. What are your opinions of the Denon. I like the build quality and the smoothness and design of the knobs and switches. It is a quality unit, but I don't have a lot of experience with different vintage amps. It definitely blows away the Onkyo TX-903 and the JVC amp that I had before it.

Or I could try and find a new amp. I wanted something that is silver, has meters, digital input, has enough power to drive my speakers, and is under $500. The TEAC was the only one that I could find that satisfied those criteria. If any of you guys know another one, please let me know.

I don't really think I should get another vintage amp, because my Denon works fine, and I doubt it would sound that much better than it. I may be mistaken. $500 on vintage stuff goes a hell of a lot longer. But I would still need to get a DAC anyway, so it doesn't really solve anything.

Any thoughts are welcome. Thanks!
 
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Keep the Denon PMA 860. They don't make them like that anymore. :thumbsup:

Your not going to find a GIANT toroidal transformer like that in any cheaper gear these days.

Plus, it has doubled up smoothing caps and isolated heat sinks. :beerchug:

229703-denon_integrated_amp_pma860_class_a.jpg
 
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dave1701 said:
I wanted something that is silver, has meters, digital input, has enough power to drive my speakers, and is under $500.
Click to expand...

With this in mind, you might have a look at that new Yamaha line.

x022AS701S-f.jpg


http://m.usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/hi-fi-components/amplifiers/a-s501.html

Ok, so no meters on this one, but still worth a look for all the great reviews it's been getting.

If I ever found myself in the market for brand new equipment, I'd consider one of these new Yamahas.
 
Yeah I'd probably keep the Denon as well...

Then I'd blow some of that extra cash on the new Schiit Modi Multibit DAC,LOL

Then use the remaining $$ as the nestegg for a future amp that's more inline with your aesthetic desires.
That way you can take your sweet 'ol time looking for the Denon's replacement,all while enjoying sweet musical bliss.

JM2¢ ~ FWIW

Bret P.
 
Keep the Denon that is a solid amp, but only if the sound is pleasing to you. I bought a Yamaha A500 amplifier to upgrade from my Sansui A80, well it turns out the Yamaha had nothing on the Sansui other than build quality. So I sold the Yammie and am still using my A80 a year later it's a nice easy to listen to amp I intend to keep in my main system for the duration. If you have funds to experiment with different equipment I would go for it, but don't prematurely sell something you are currently using until you know you like the new one better.
 
Add me to the "keep the Denon" crowd. It's a quality integrated amp that is nearly impossible to beat for $500 new. Like phono stages a separate DAC is typically better than most that are built-in to an integrated or pre amp. You can get a nice DAC for $500 (too many to list) but I'd make sure it's USB and DSD capable, if nothing else for future proofing. You have a nice place to start with your Denon and any tweaks can be addressed at the front end.
 
Keep DAC and amp separate. The only rational reason to buy an amp with built-in DAC is if you really don't have space for two devices. Amps age slowly. DACs age overnight. Having one you cant upgrade without changing the whole amp is absurd.
The Denon you have will probably serve you well for many more years, with little or no effort. I'd be surprised if it needed recapping at this point, but it might benefit from cleaning/new relays - they usually do after 20 years.
 
Thanks for the replies. I see a pattern to them, and I will follow it. I didn't realize that the late 80s/early 90s Denon was still well-liked here. I have no doubt that the Denon will continue to run for a long time. I have gone through and cleaned the connectors, switches, pots, and relays. The caps are original, but they look good, and the thing sounds good, so I think they're probably still all right. It effortlessly drives my 4 ohm Infinitys to hearing-damage volume levels. I like it a lot myself, but I just wasn't sure how much better new amps might sound. I got my answer.

I think I will take xero-D-hero's advice and buy a Schiit Modi Multibit DAC. It looks like it delivers a heck of a lot for its price. Thanks for bringing that up, I had never heard of it.

One thing I'm curious about is if anyone knows the brand of capacitors that were put into the Denon PMA-860 that I have. I thought it was odd that I could not find any indication of branding printed onto the large smoothing caps. I don't think Denon would use cheapo caps, but it seems odd that nothing is written on them other than their rating.
 
The ones I see in pics look like Nippon Chemi-Con to me. See if you can see its shape on your caps. Sometimes there's only shape without writing inside, those are Chemi-Cons too, especially if the caps are made for a particular brand. Here's an example of a Chemi-Con made for Marantz, logo with no writing under the letter "m":

img_1153.jpg
 
rlisin said:
The ones I see in pics look like Nippon Chemi-Con to me. See if you can see its shape on your caps. Sometimes there's only shape without writing inside, those are Chemi-Cons too, especially if the caps are made for a particular brand. Here's an example of a Chemi-Con made for Marantz, logo with no writing under the letter "m":

img_1153.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks! That's great info that I couldn't find anywhere else online.

Mine have the same logo without the words in it. I didn't know that they used the logo without the actual words in it. I guess it would make sense if they did the small symbol on caps that were branded by the manufacturer of the amp, but the ones in my Denon are not branded as such on the can itself. It's a bit odd with the lack of more obvious brand name on it, but as long as they are made by Nippon Chemi-Con, they're good with me.

There you have it, the Denon PMA-860 from the early 90s has Nippon Chemi-Con capacitors. If anyone is searching for it online like I was, hopefully now they know. Gotta throw the weird capacitor aficionados a bone every now and then.
 
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