Denon PMA-50

Integrated stereo digital amplifier. This is how Denon defines its little PMA-50 , a compact amplifier in which digital goes beyond the use of class D amplification . And it is that in addition to the usual functions of this type of equipment, the PMA-50 is designed to work together with a PC or Mac computer acting as a sound card thanks to its USB port and its integrated D / A converter . This makes it a very interesting option for all users who want or need an extra quality when playing audio from the computer, since despite its small size thePMA-50 can handle any bookshelf-style hi-fi loudspeaker with ease thanks to its true power of 25 watts per channel . In addition to the USB port we will find optical and coaxial digital audio inputs and an analog audio input with the typical RCA terminals to connect any audio player. The headphone output jack of 6.3 mm has a circuit specific amplification and impedance selector three positions to exploit to the maximum atrial any model. Bluetooth and NFC ports complete the list of features of the PMA-50, which is for sale with an approximate price of 500 euros .

Design

The PMA-50 is a device with a compact and simple design, but modern and elegant at the same time. Measuring 8 inches wide by 9 inches high and 23.8 inches deep , it can be easily placed on a desk next to a computer without clashing at all. In fact, those 20 centimeters wide are practically the same as the Mac Mini occupies , a declaration of intent by Denon and a fairly eloquent piece of information about the purpose of the team. The front panel has very few buttons, just a rotary knob for volume, an input select button, another for the Bluetooth connection, and the inevitable power button. A small LCD display to the left of the volume knob will provide us with basic information about the selected input or the volume and the headphone output on the right of the panel complete the set.

With a nice black finish combined with the silver on the top panel, the PMA-50 can be installed both horizontally and vertically. The vertical option seems more typical of "computer" equipment, and in any case it will help us save space on the table. A built-in sensor detects the position where we install the amplifier and changes the orientation of the screen, a welcome feature that shows the attention to detail that Denon has put into this PMA-50 .

Technical characteristics

The Denon PMA-50 is equipped with a lightweight and efficient Class D amplifier capable of delivering 25 + 25 watts true power at 8 ohms . Those who are used to the powers that are handled in the shop windows might find this figure somewhat short, but it is more than enough to move a two-way nearfield speaker or monitor with a 5 or 6.5-inch woofer, especially if our listening position is right. Apart from the volume control, the remote control that comes as standard allows us to modify the level of bass and treble, the balance between both sides of the stereo and the gain of the headphone output. We can also enable or disable the Bluetooth port, and select the Source Direct option to obtain a sound as faithful as possible to that received by the equipment.

Headphone out

One of the coolest features of the PMA-50 is its headphone output . This connection has a specific amplification phase and an impedance selector with three positions (low, medium and high) to ensure that it works perfectly with any type of headphones. This function is ideal if we want to use the amplifier with a reference or high quality headphones. This type of equipment usually works at a very high impedance and requires external amplification to deliver an acceptable volume of work. Thanks to this impedance selector, we will save a team and also money, of course.

Integrated D / A converter

Thanks to its USB port and built-in digital-to-analog converter, our Denon PMA-5 0 can act as a high-quality sound card for our computer. It is compatible with PC and Mac computers , and plays PCM files with a maximum quality of 24-bit / 192 kHz . This means that the sound that our computer produces will reach the PMA-50in digital format, and it will be this one that takes care of converting that digital information to an analog signal to send it to our speakers. In addition, the support for high-resolution files means that we can take full advantage of the high-quality audio formats that are available through platforms such as iTunes or Deezer , for example. Those who have ever suffered the typical background noise caused by the USB port on some computers will like to know that any possible hum or parasites that could enter the USB it will be attenuated by a noise isolation block located before the digital amplifier and D / A converter, so there is no need to worry about this potential issue.

Bluetooth and NFC

Like many current amplifiers and receivers, the Denon PMA-50 is equipped with a Bluetooth wireless port so that we can play our favorite music from any compatible device without having to connect any cables. Thanks to this we can listen to songs from a mobile phone, a tablet or a computer, for example. If our smartphone has an NFC port, the task of linking it with the PMA-50 will be as easy as making both teams touch, since our protagonist also has the port for near field communication. Finally, compatibility with the aptX codec will allow us to enjoy a higher audio quality than usual in the Bluetooth format.standard. Of course, for this improvement to work, the Bluetooth player must also be compatible with the aptX codec .

Data sheet

Denon PMA-50

Design 

characteristics 

Connectivity 

+ info

Price: 500