rbman

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I feel compelled to write a review of this now discontinued model--the PMA 2000IVR, after purchasing USED from the original owner who has had it for less than a year. I've been an audiophile for more than 20 yrs., beginning in my teen years in the 80's. Though I've owned Denon amps in the 80's and early 90's, I've moved on to "higher-end" gear over the years. Shuffled from solid state top model Naim and YBAs, then to Conrad Johnson vacuum tube amp/pre-amps that cost an arm and a leg to acquire. Two years ago, sold all my gear to relocate and focus on my 2 newborn kids.

I decided to look to for inexpensive gear this year after letting my vinyl and cd colllection gather dust. I landed this amp and was surprised by what I've heard and continue to hear. I picked up a B&W CM floorstander to pair it with and the qualites of this amp continues to impress me. First, it's has a very good top to bottom balance, with the only flaw is a slighly loose bass end but not too loose to cause trouble. The bass extension is impressive and tuneful, not a monotonous thud. Imaging and detail retrieval is excellent, even at low volume levels. Rhythm and timing is very decent, thought not in the Naim fashion, but is still very good. Very good transparency and soundstaging. I hear sound coming from the far end of the speakers, way out in fact, the illusion is it's in surround mode. I have not tried the bulit-in phono amps to assess its vinyl play, but for CD sources in source direct mode, I'm very impressed.

This amp could be the most underrated amp of the decade. The hi-fi media in North America has overlooked this solidly built and formidable sounding amp. Because of the lack of media reputation, this amp can be had for very cheap prices USED these days. The best $600 bucks you will ever purchase for a USED amp. Guaranteed.

Power is not an issue even with a lowish 80 watts, the power supply is steep and will drive speakers to their potential. Incidentally, a European version, the PMA2000AE has garnered wide praise in Asia and UK press (check h-fi + review, Issue 50). Not sure how different these 2 models are, but the innards indicate, it is similar.

Get one if you can. Partner with a synergistic speakers and listen without prejudice. This amp has the great balance of solid state and tube sound.

Excellent amplifier, too bad, Denon North America, bungled the marketing of what could have been a hi-fi blockbuster!

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winbat

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE PMA-2000IVR. I HAVE BEEN ON A QUEST FOR THE GREATEST BALANCE BETWEEN TUBE WARMTH AND SOLID STATE ACCURACY. I HAD SETTLED ON TUBE UNITS UNTIL BY CHANCE I CAME ACCROSS A PMA-750 80 WATT INTEGRATED. AFTER NOTICING IT A CUT ABOVE OTHERS, I WENT TO THE DENON WEB SITE AND FOUND THEIR INSIDE PICTURES OF THE DENON PMA-2000IVR. HAVING BEEN A TECHIE ALL MY LIFE, I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED QUALITY AND THE ELNA SILMIC II CAPACITORS LOADED ALL OVER THE PLACE, NOT TO MENTION THE HUGE SEPARATE POWER TRANSFORMER AND FILTERING CAPACITORS. I SET OUT TO FIND ONE, YES, ONLY ONE WAS FOR SALE WORLDWIDE! IN A NEIGHBORING COUNTRY...WELL I QUICKLY SNAPPED IT UP. I WAS IMPRESSED RIGHT OFF THE BOX TO FIND THE UNIT IS HEAVIER AND BIGGER THAN IT LOOKS. IT IS ALL BUSINESS AND NOT PORTABLE, AT 52 LBS, IT COMMANDS RESPECT. THE TIME I GOT TO AUDITION IT, WAS ALSO TIME FOR RESTING, BUT LITTLE REST DID I GET SINCE THERE WERE DETAILS COMING AT ME FROM THE MUSIC I JUST NEVER HEARD BEFORE. THIS KEPT WAKING ME FROM A LIGHT SLEEP AND I WAS WONDERING IF SOMEONE HAD SNUCK INTO THE HOUSE. BUT NO, IT WAS THE DENON UNCOVERING DETAIL AND CONVEYING THE REALITY OF IT WHEN RECORDED...I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT AND IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO GET USED TO THIS NEW DIMMENSION. THEN THE OTHER THING HIT ME TODAY. THE DETAIL AND ACCURACY UNCOVERED IN THE SOUNDSTAGE JUST LEAVES ME BAFFLED. IT IS LIKE GOING FROM REGULAR 480 PIXEL TV TO 1080 HDTV IN TERMS OF SOUND--NO EXAGERATION. I CAN SPOT INSTRUMENTS LEFT TO RIGHT AND FRONT TO BACK. SO MUCH FOR THE TUBES BEING ABLE TO ONLY CLAIM THIS QUALITY. THEY ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN ON THE SHELF SINCE THE DENON, THERE ARE NO TRADES OFFS TO GO BACK THERE OTHER THAN TO WARM UP THE ROOM A BIT. THIS THING IS INCREDIBLE AND I DOUBT EVEN DENON KNOWS WHAT THEY CREATED...AND BTW, IT IS BEING DISCOVERED BECAUSE THEY DO NOT LAST ONCE FOR SALE AND FOLKS DO NOT LET THEM GO. I KNOW THEY MUST BE BROKEN IN SINCE I HAVE USED THESE CAPACITORS IN OTHER UNITS AND BURN IN IS REQUIRED. BUT BY NOW, MOST OF THEM ARE ANYWAYS. IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT WHAT YOU HEAR AND ANAL IS SOME WAY ABOUT AUDIO, THEN YOU HAVE TO TRY ONE, TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, YOU WILL BE AMAZED. BTW, I AM NOT SELLING ONE OR INTEND TO ANY TIME SOON. HAHAHA, JUST LOVE IT!!!! GOOD JOB COLUMBIA/DENON....DID I MENTION, MADE IN JAPAN (NOT CHINA)?

VynylTap

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1200.00 from Local Dealer

Summary:
Denon PMA-2000IVR

Mindblowingly good amp for the money.... even at retail. Perhaps the sleeper of the decade.

The sheer clean power this puppy puts out is astounding and if you're a vinyl junkie like me, the built in phono stage is, hands down, the best I've heard in any integrated I've owned.

Some quick background and related equipment:

I've owned tens of thousands of dollars worth of audio equipment over the years - everything from Musical Fidelity, to Portal, to Rogue, etc. - the current "mid-fi" system I currently run is, by far, the most enjoyable of the lot and the PMA-2000IVR is at the center of that system:

- KAB SL-1200MK2 Turntable with Fluid Damper, Cardas Tonearm Rewire and J.A. Michel Clamp
- Audio-Technica AT-150MLX Moving Magnet Cartridge
- NHT Classic Two Monitors
- Outlaw / HSU LFM-2 Sub (via PMA-2000IVR Bi-Wiring Outputs)
- AudioQuest Cables (Sidewinder Interconnects / Type-4 Speaker)

This amp does a wonderful job of properly sound-staging instruments given its price - perhaps not the pinnacle of 3D placement with regards to depth, but does a great job of maintaing the soundstage it presents at all times. Hits well beyond its price-range in this regard and is a testimony to it's true dual-mono design.

Bass is deep and taught - best described as punchy, very well suited for jazz and rock. Highs are clear, precise, and have the desired "sparkle" and sustain without the slightest hint of brightness when coupled with the NHT's. Midrange is liquid and smooth - just a very nice "even" presentation across the board.

For $1,200 I just don't think you could ask for anything more from an integrated. I already mentioned the phono-stage, but it warrants a second mention. By far, the best integrated phono-stage I've come across and it bests any sub-$500 stage I've heard and outperforms many stages I've heard that cost more than this $1,200 package.

Strengths:
TONS of true dual-mono power - well beyond its rating. Has no problem driving hard to drive low-efficiency speakers. Outstanding Phono-stage. Excellent Sound-staging for the money.

Weaknesses:
None at this price range. Some have mentioned the sheer weight of this unit as a weakness - while it's something to be aware of with regards to placement, I would count it as a strength and a testimony to how well built this amp is.

Similar Products Used:
Musical Fidelity, Portal, Cambridge Audio, Creek.

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aram gegaregian

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Price Paid:  $475.00 from Audiogon.com

Summary:
Sadly having to part with my separates in order to make some financial recoveries and to make space, I sold off my preamp and 200 watt monos to make room for a simple integrated amp. Having done my research and reading the many positive reviews on the Denon PMA 2000IVR, I found a used but in prestine condition 2000IVR on Audiogon. To be honest, I did not expect the greatest results on this unit for I was worried that this integrated would not provide sufficient power for my 6ohm NHT 2.5i's that my monoblocks were so good at providing. Boy, did I underestimate this integrated! Power, dynamics, neutrality and dead quiet were words that popped in my head. I listen to everything from Chopin to Coltrane, to Metallica and this integrated really brings out the music and brings it out very well. No listening fatigue at all. I decided to tweak this machine a bit more by replacing the single 10amp and two 5amp fuses with PS Audio Criticle Links. I also converted my home brew speaker cables from bi-wire to bi-amp configuration. Took my listening experience to a mind blowing level. Speaking of levels, I cannot push the volume knob past 10 o-clock without ticking off the neighbors. A fantastic piece of gear that will be a keeper!

Strengths:
Excellent build quality. True dual mono design. As mentioned above, power, dynamics, neutral, dead quiet and did I mention slam? Not many manufactures can claim to double their power in relation to impedences.

Weaknesses:
Ok, if I have to come up with something I will say that the volume controls on that nifty little remote is very sensitive.

Similar Products Used:
Parasound P3 and Sherbourn M-1/300 pre/power combo, Hafler 915 and 9300 pre/power combo, Rotel RA and RB 1070 pre/power combo

mightymouse

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1200.00 from Onecall

Summary:
I looked at many integrated amplifiers in this price range before I finally settled on this Denon integrated amplifier. The current model is the PMA-2000IVR. At the time, I looked at Yamaha, Cambridge Audio, Rotel, NAD, Marantz, etc. None of the other integrated amplifiers even came close to offering the finesse, power, the bass control, and the clarity of this Denon. This Denon weighs in at 52lbs, which is almost DOUBLE the weight of the other integrated amps. Traditional class A/B power amps need solid power supplies to make them sing, and beefy power supplies weigh a ton. Plus you also need quality heat sinks to dissipate the heat. All these add substantial weight to the amp. You simply cannot skimp on these aspects of amplifier design. The weight of this Denon at 52lbs reassures me that this is a VERY solidly built amp.

This Denon is rated at 80 wpc into 8 ohms, and 160 wpc into 4 ohms. Don't be fooled by the low power rating. Denon must be really understating the power rating for this integrated amp. Because right now I am using it to drive a pair of Polk LSi9 speakers with average impedance of 4 ohms which can dip into 2 ohms in bass heavy passages, this Denon able to drive my Polks without even breaking a sweat. The amp hardly even warms up after extended periods of music playback. I cannot say the same thing about the other integrated amps driving 4 ohm loads. With this Denon, I usually listen with the volume control at the 9 o'clock position, and that is PLENTY loud. Anything past the 11 o'clock will get me evicted from my apartment.

Now to the sound. How does it sound. I just love the sound. This Denon plays back everything with a sense of ease, finesse, bass control, richness, and warmth, that just puts a smile on my face every time I hear it. Sure you can spend thousands of dollars more to get separates that will probably sound better than this Denon, but the question is, is it worth the extra cost? For my needs, this Denon exceeds my expectations.

Strengths:
Quality construction, hefty weight, the whole unit just oozes quality. And the sound is rich, warm, controlled. You simply cannot find anything better at this price point.

Weaknesses:
It is HEAVY, so be prepared to sweat a little when you move this amp around.

Similar Products Used:
At the time of purchase, I tested integrated amps from Yamaha, Cambridge Audio, Rotel, NAD, Marantz, etc.