Denon PMA-1700NE Integrated Network Amplifier

Denon PMA-1700NE Integrated Amplifier

The Denon PMA-1700NE is a premium stereo integrated amplifier rated at 70 watts per channel into 8 ohms, built around Denon’s Advanced UHC-MOS single push-pull power stage. It combines a full analogue amplifier — including a switchable MM/MC phono stage and an external preamp input — with a high-resolution digital section: a PCM1795 DAC with Advanced AL32 Processing Plus, USB-B input for PCM up to 384 kHz/32-bit and DSD up to 11.2 MHz, and optical and coaxial inputs for other digital sources.

Key features

• 70 W + 70 W into 8 ohms (20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.07% THD)
• 140 W + 140 W into 4 ohms
• Advanced UHC-MOS single push-pull power amplifier
• Advanced AL32 Processing Plus with PCM1795 DAC
• USB-B: PCM 384 kHz/32-bit and DSD 11.2 MHz
• Phono stage for MM and MC cartridges
• Analogue Amp Mode and Source Direct

UHC-MOS power stage

Denon’s Ultra High Current MOS design uses a small number of high-current FET devices in a single push-pull configuration, chosen to combine the drive capability of bipolar designs with the tonal character of MOSFETs — particularly the ability to control difficult speaker loads without hardening the sound. Supporting details include an extruded aluminium heatsink, a vibration-resistant chassis and a dual-transformer layout that separates analogue and digital supplies. Signal-to-noise ratio on the CD input is 107 dB.

Digital section and AL32

Advanced AL32 Processing Plus upsamples incoming digital audio and interpolates the waveform toward the original analogue signal, feeding the 32-bit PCM1795 converter. The asynchronous USB-B input accepts PCM to 384 kHz/32-bit and DSD to 11.2 MHz from a computer, with a DAC master-clock design that suppresses jitter. Two optical and one coaxial input (to 192 kHz/24-bit) serve streamers, CD transports and televisions. Analogue Amp Mode switches off the digital circuitry entirely for pure analogue listening.

Analogue sources and phono

Four analogue inputs include a phono stage switchable between moving-magnet (2.5 mV / 47 kohms) and moving-coil (200 uV / 100 ohms) cartridges, with signal-to-noise ratios of 89 dB (MM) and 74 dB (MC). An EXT.PRE input lets the PMA-1700NE serve as the power amplifier behind an AV processor for the front channels of a cinema system, and bass, treble and balance controls can be bypassed with Source Direct.

Build and connections

Gold-plated speaker terminals, a headphone output that mutes the speakers, a recorder output and the RC-1249 system remote are provided. The amplifier measures 434 x 135 x 410 mm, weighs 17.6 kg and draws a maximum of 295 W. Note that despite the word network appearing in some listings, the PMA-1700NE has no network streaming or HEOS — it is a purely analogue-and-USB/optical/coaxial design.

Specifications

Denon’s full manufacturer specification for the PMA-1700NE is listed in the Additional Information tab.