Denon reveals PMA-900HNE HEOS streaming amplifier and matching CD player

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New 'best of both' pairing blends CDs with streaming

Denon reveals PMA-900HNE HEOS streaming amplifier and matching CD player
(Image credit: Denon)

Denon has kicked off High-End Munich 2022 by announcing two new additions to its 900 Series. The PMA-900HNE is the firm's first integrated stereo amplifier with HEOS streaming built-in, while the DCD-900NE is a matching CD player with USB playback.

The PMA-900HNE checks just about every streaming box you can think of, from wi-fi network connectivity and Bluetooth, to Apple AirPlay 2 and multi-room capability via 'HEOS Built-in' (HEOS lets you stream music from Tidal, Spotify, et al, as well as other networked devices).

At 85W per channel, the PMA-900HNE should have enough oomph to drive most loudspeakers. Its high-resolution audio capabilities stretch to 24-bit/192 kHz, while the specially designed, "oversized power supply" (jam-packed with capacitors) aims to maximise sound quality.

"The [PMA-900HNE] is the perfect starting building block for the new generation of music enthusiasts, giving access to digital music and streaming with the superb Denon sound at an affordable price," says Trip Randall, Denon's brand president.

Feeling flush? You might want to pair Denon's new streaming amp with the matching CD player.

Denon DCD-900NE CD player sits atop Denon PMA-900HNE integrated amplifier

(Image credit: Denon)

The DCD-900NE, which takes the baton from the DCD-800NE, boasts the "most advanced" version of Denon's proprietary AL32 Processing Plus digital processing tech, which analyses the waveforms of digital files and uses algorithms to smooth out the analogue wave pattern. In short, it should help to bring out the delicate nuances in whatever you are listening to.

Like the 800 Series, the DCD-900NE sports an integrated USB port that supports high-resolution audio playback up to PCM 24-bit/192kHz and DSD 5.6MHz, so you will be able to use those impressive internal components with non-CD tracks. 

The PMA-900HNE amplifier will be available from July for £899 ($849, AU$1499), while the DCD-900NE CD player will go on sale in June for £499 ($449, AU$999), alongside Denon's newly unveiled high-current amp, the PMA-1700NE.

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Tom Bailey

Tom is a journalist, copywriter and content designer based in the UK. He has written articles for T3, ShortList, The Sun, The Mail on Sunday, The Daily Telegraph, Elle Deco, The Sunday Times, Men's Health, Mr Porter, Oracle and many more (including What Hi-Fi?). His specialities include mobile technology, electric vehicles and video streaming.

6 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Ethics Gradient
    A new CD player? Heavens.
    Reply
  • Combat
    12th Monkey said:
    A new CD player? Heavens.

    Lol. I couldn't agree more. What it tells me is that the cost of developing a CD player is peanuts so they do it because selling even a few hundred or thousand units globally will still be profitable.

    What surprises me more is the fact that their all singing all dancing steaming amplifier doesn't have HDMI Arc. You've alienated a whole load of people (like me who will have to fall back to the Bluesound Powernode) who want something to feed TV and music to a pair of speakers that sit either side of the TV (I saw a recent survey that found that two thirds of audio enthusiasts have a TV in between their main speakers).
    Reply
  • WayneKerr
    Good to see that Denon and Marantz are both still investing in physical media playback (y)
    Reply
  • Luis Santos
    Indeed it's nice to see a new physical media player.

    But why in the hell it doesn't also play SACD? And it already has a DSD DAC.
    Reply
  • Tamada
    Combat said:
    What surprises me more is the fact that their all singing all dancing steaming amplifier doesn't have HDMI Arc. You've alienated a whole load of people (like me who will have to fall back to the Bluesound Powernode) who want something to feed TV and music to a pair of speakers that sit either side of the TV (I saw a recent survey that found that two thirds of audio enthusiasts have a TV in between their main speakers).
    A thousand times yes ! You'd be surprised at how many audio enthusiasts do not care at all about 5.1, 7.1.2 or crazier setups. Something like the Marantz NR1200 (stereo with HDMI eArc + HDMI inputs, to be the interface for some more devices like consoles or decoders) is really the way to go. Any new high end stereo hi-fi amplifier that does not go this way now, is missing the point, for me.
    Reply
  • Ethics Gradient
    I keep thinking, when approaching the magazine rack in Sainsbury's, that it'll be something other than vinyl, streaming or a TV on the front. A CD player group test would be a moment of giddy excitement - but I'm not holding my breath. Or opening my wallet, usually.
    Reply