Denon, a name that has always aligned itself with creativity and innovation is celebrating its 110th anniversary. From its humble beginnings in Japan in the early 20th Century, the company quickly found itself marching towards becoming one of the biggest innovators in creating the way we listen to music today.

The company was originally established in 1910 as part of Nippon Chikuonki Shokai (Japan Recorders Corporation), a manufacturer of single-sided disc records and gramophones. They later changed their name to Denon in 1930.

From their very inception, Denon have contributed to countless advancements in the field of Hi-Fi.

In celebration of their 110 years on this planet they have released the A-110 Anniversary Series. The PMA-A110 Amplifier, the DCD-A110 CD Player, the DL-A110 Stylus and the AVC-A110 Audio Visual Amplifier.

How do they fair?

Well, if you’re not tempted by their sleek design and gargantuan stature, then you’ll be pleased to know that there is some substance behind the style!

Here at Portsmouth, we’ve been lucky enough to be nominated as the the flagship store to hold the demonstration PMA-A110 Amplifier and DCD-A110 Super Audio CD Player models, and I had the privilege of opening them for the first time. So here are my initial feelings and thoughts on the matter.

It was clear to me from the get go that Denon wanted to to celebrate their triple digital anniversary in a BIG way. The weight and size of the boxes was the first indicator as well as the first glimpse of the stylish Silver Graphite which will no doubt become synonymous with these iconic monoliths of sound - Even the remote control is a thing of engineering beauty, with the most satisfying buttons in the industry! This handheld wonder features a stainless steel construction which feels solid and hardy.

You can feel the quality that radiates from these units. Proudly made in Denon's home factory, Shirakawa Audio Works in Shirakawa, Japan.

PMA-A110 Stereo Amplifier

The Denon PMA- A110 anniversary amplifier is a culmination of 110 years of audio heritage and a pinnacle of the engineering that featured in all the PMA series that preceded it.

Powered by Denon’s patented Advanced Ultra High Current (UHC) single-push-pull circuit power amplifier, the PMA-A110 integrated amplifier delivers 160 Watts of power-per-channel. The A110 amplifier features a two stage amplification system- a variable stage preamp and a separate power amplifier. The A110 features two transformers facing opposite directions to cancel out any mutual magnetic interference.

Designed to please the most discerning audiophile, this amp is an obvious choice for listeners who want to build the 2-channel Hi-Fi system of their dreams.

There are a whole host of functions to play with when it comes to audio quality. You can truly feel Denon’s love of musicality in the features. The unit features two modes that disable any digital component in the signal chain to give you a true analogue experience. Unlike a lot of contemporary amplifiers you’ll find a stereo balance and EQ controls, so you can have the flexibility to achieve the sound that suits you and your space. But perhaps you want to reference the music just how the engineers intended? Well, with the tap of a button you can easily switch to “Source Direct” to completely bypass any adjustment controls. At the end of the day that is what the PMA-A110 truly achieves - An amplifier that perfectly blends traditional analogue technology with the precision and detail you’ve come to expect from modern digital Hi-Fi.

This is apparent in the specifications: a total harmonic distortion of 0.01%, and the impressive four PCM1795 DAC configuration.

While this amplifier is a feat of engineering, it doesn’t appear to have smart features that we’ve become familiar with in other consumer amplifiers. Obviously Denon felt it necessary to focus more on the quality of the audio rather than adding any extras such as music streaming capability. It is a no-nonsense approach to using modern manufacturing to make it sound the best it can. And boy does that come across when putting it through its paces!

How about the DCD-A110 CD Player?

The DCD-A110 Super Audio CD Player is the perfect pairing for the PMA- A110. It features the same stunning finish as well as one of the smoothest CD tray’s I think I’ve ever seen! Much like it’s amplifier counterpart, it features a quad PMC1795 DAC configuration that acts as the dedicated processors for the player, so the quality marries perfectly with the amp to allow the two to perform in beautiful harmony.

In the modern age of Hi-Fi you can’t move an inch without running into players with integrated streamers or Bluetooth functionality. But the DCD-A110 stands out as a unit that gives CDs the attention they deserve. Some might argue that it would have been nice if Denon had included some of these additional features or even a digital input to make further use of the power inside the four DACs, however, I think it’s important to stress you’re not paying for bells and whistles. This is a unit that does exactly what it says on the tin - A exquisite CD player at the up-most top of its game.

With features similar to that of the PMA-A110 including a Pure Direct feature to turn off the digital display and the digital audio outputs to remove any interference that could impact your experience, this is a formidable system.

In conclusion, the only downside of the anniversary series I can see is the accessibility. With its premium price tag it won’t be a viable option for everyone, but if you’re in the market for some serious Hi-Fi then look no further.

Jake, Nick and Joe - Audio T Portsmouth

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Denon can be found at the following Audio-T stores