The Denon PMA-150H network amplifier embodies the company’s new approach to creating audio equipment – small dimensions, attractive design, simple control and maximum modern functions. Denon PMA-150H is made in a metal case with a black front panel covered with black glass.
The front panel of the Denon PMA-150H looks simple and only has a volume control, a power button, a USB port and a headphone output. Most of its surface is occupied by a magnificent Clear View OLED display. It displays information about the track being played, and the indication is large enough to be clearly visible even from a long distance. The Denon PMA-150H is controlled using a remote control, which is quite ordinary in appearance, but easy to use thanks to large buttons. Alternatively, you can use the very successful Denon Hi-Fi Remote mobile app – for both iOS and Android. This app allows you to control input switching, adjust volume, tone and stereo balance, as well as select tracks on available network devices, launch playlists, use Spotify or Internet radio. The receiver also has a regular FM radio. For streaming music playback and integration into the multiroom system, the Denon PMA-150H is equipped with proprietary HEOS technology. It allows you to play music tracks from various services, as well as available network devices.
The Denon PMA-150H amplifier supports modern network functionality and can play music files from available network devices in all popular formats, including PCM HD 24 bit / 192 kHz (FLAC, WAV, AIFF) and DSD 5.6 MHz. Connection to the network is possible both via cable and Wi-Fi, in addition, the receiver supports AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth (with NFC) technologies. To process digital signals, the Denon DRA-100 uses the proprietary DSP AL32, which converts the original audio data to 32 bits. The device also uses an improved master oscillator, which has significantly reduced the jitter level. Music files can also be played from portable media that are connected to the USB port on the front panel. You can also connect an iPod / iPhone to this port.
The USB-DAC function supports input up to DSD 11.2 MHz and PCM 384 kHz / 32 bits. The DSD transmission system supports native playback via the ASIO driver and DoP (DSD over PCM Frames). In addition, it does not use clock pulses that contain a lot of jitter on the PC side, and also supports asynchronous mode, in which control is performed using master clock pulses generated by the PMA-150H ultra-low phase noise clock generator.
Denon PMA-150H also has two optical and one coaxial digital inputs, two analog line inputs, speaker outputs, and a subwoofer output. For the headphone output, you can set one of three gain options for optimal matching with models with different impedances.
The receiver uses a combined audio circuit based on patented DDFA technology. Its output amplification stages are built on discrete elements, which achieves a higher signal-to-noise ratio and lower distortion than traditional D-class amplifiers. Denon PMA-150H develops power up to 70 W per channel, and is capable of working effectively not only with shelf speakers, but also with small floor-standing speakers.
In appearance, this is a typical “designer” component in a very stylish design. By all functional features, it is a stereo receiver, and a modern one at that, with popular wireless and streaming functions. But Denon claims that first and foremost it is… an integrated amplifier with audiophile sound quality. Let’s check? If you go to the Hi-Fi components section on the official Denon website, you will probably also find the Denon DRA-100 network receiver, which has been produced since 2015, in the Design line . The new product is completely indistinguishable from it in appearance, and this is the very case when no changes were wanted, otherwise the unity of style and form would be violated.
So, in the next integrated mini-format amplifier, we see the same metal sidewalls and rather powerful “plates” that form the base and cover of the device. And also the familiar mirror-black front panel, on which everything is exactly like in the “hundred” – both the OLED display and a set of sensor buttons arranged in a cross, jacks for connecting USB flash drives and headphones. Only one icon has disappeared from here – the NFC “near” communication logo. There are
no cardinal differences on the back of the Denon PMA-150H either. A USB Type B input has been added so that you can send a signal to the built-in DAC directly from a PC or laptop, and Preout has been removed. Such a change in switching, in general, was expected – the first was exactly what the receiver really lacked, and the second was hardly used by anyone at all, because usually advanced setups are not built on the basis of “designer” components (if you are still worried about what you can connect the sub to, then a separate mono output is provided for it).
The letter H in the name of the new model indicates the presence of an advanced HEOS streaming platform with dual-band WiFi, multiroom support and the ability to connect voice control via smart speakers. Just one such feature instead of the standard network solution from Denon DRA-100 already fully covers the difference in price, because in fact we get an amplifier with the functionality of a streamer-player.
That is why in the general model hierarchy of Denon the model is positioned quite high, between the full-size integrated amplifiers PMA-800NE and PMA-1600NE (and much closer to the latter). Yes, to the “one hundred and fifty” you can connect only four digital sources (the fifth via Bluetooth) and only two analog – to some extent this is the price for the design and miniature size. But in general for lifestyle audio equipment this is already quite a lot. The same vinyl turntable can, for example, be connected via an external corrector. Or even directly, if you choose a player with a built-in phonostage to pair with the amplifier. In this capacity, I believe, the Denon DP-400 is ideal , which sounds great precisely via the linear output.
And now take a closer look at the back of the integrated amplifier. In the same places (compared to the DRA-100) only the terminals for connecting the speakers remained. The castling of all the others indicates at least that the amplifier is designed differently inside. Denon engineers decided to take such a serious step in order for the PMA-150H to maximally correspond to the new priority – sound quality. So before us is the first audiophile device in the compact Design series, and even with class D power amplifiers. Isn’t that a bold statement?
Let’s move on to technical details. Although the power characteristics have not changed in relation to the DRA-100, the amplifiers here are still different and they belong to the second generation DDFA. Literally translated, the abbreviation means “direct digital feedback amplifier”. They were developed by the British company CSR (the same one that once promoted the aptX codec), and Denon became the first Japanese Hi-Fi manufacturer to support this technology.
It has two distinctive features. First, all intermediate conversions from analog to digital and back are excluded from the path. Second, the PWM modulator for eliminating errors in the output signal is covered by the OS. In the first generation models, the DDFA path was built on the CSRA6601 (ADC / DSP / DAC / modulation) and CSRA6600 (feedback signal processing) chips. In the new model, everything is entrusted to a more advanced single-crystal Qualcomm chip, from which, according to the developers, it is no longer so difficult to get really cool sound. The DDFA feedback circuit in it has become truly “direct” – the signal for control is taken from the output to the acoustics and fed directly to the DSP.
At the same time, the power architecture has changed radically. There are exactly twice as many output “keys” that cut pulses, that is, the final stages are built using a bridge circuit. And the power supply itself has been completely revised – if the previous one produced a maximum of 2×7 amperes, then the new one, at the same voltage (32 V), is capable of providing an output current of up to 26 A. At the same time, the “ringing” typical of impulse power supplies has been significantly reduced in its spectrum. This is important because the path also has a separate headphone amplifier that needs clean and stable power.
In general, everything is convincing on paper. If anything upsets, it is only the discrepancy in the parameters of the network and amplification sections. The first provides support for digital playback up to DSD 5.6 MHz and PCM 32 bit / 192 kHz, and the second allows you to work with DSD 11.2 MHz and PCM 32 bit / 384 kHz data. But nothing prevents you from listening to super high-res audio via USB from your computer.
With the HECO Trezor mini-monitors, we get almost analog sound from the mentioned source – refined, detailed, without any noticeable digital “admixture” at all. Perhaps the textile tweeters soften the amplifier’s signature and its true digital essence a little. But even with such a sound, as they say, you can live happily ever after.
Main Features of Denon PMA-150H
Class D power amplifier with DDFA™, newly adopted BTL configuration
PCM 384 kHz / 32-bit input compatible with “Advanced AL32 Processing Plus”
High-quality headphone amplifier with gain switching function
USB-DAC compatible with DSD 11.2 MHz, PCM 384 kHz / 32-bit
PCM 192 kHz / 24-bit digital input compatible
Supports Amazon Alexa voice control
Supports music streaming service (Amazon Music, AWA, Spotify, SoundCloud)
Internet radio compatible (TuneIn)
AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth compatible
FM / AM tuner “Wide FM”
Subwoofer pre-out
Includes wireless remote control for DCD-100 operation
Source direct function
Tone control function (high frequency ±8 dB, low frequency ±8 dB)
Function Left / Right Balance
Volume Upper Limit Adjustment
3-Step Dimmer
Sleep Timer Function (10-90 Minutes)
Auto Standby Function (10 to 99 Minutes)
Detachable Power Cord
Denon PMA-150H Specifications
Number of Channels 2
Playback MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC 24-bit / 192 kHz, WAV 24-bit / 192 kHz, AIFF 24-bit / 192 kHz, ALAC 24-bit / 96 kHz, DSD 2.8 / 5.6 MHz (Network, USB)
Compatibility (USB) iPod Classic, iPod nano 3G / 4G / 5G / 6G / 7G, iPod touch 2G / 3G / 4G / 4GS / 5G, iPhone 3G / 3GS / 4 / 4S / 5 / 5S / 5C
USB Storage Device Support FAT16, FAT32
Connection Ethernet, Wi-Fi (WMM, WPS), AirPlay 2, Bluetooth (NFC)
FM radio
Power 35 W per channel (8 Ohm, 1 kHz, THD 0.01%), 70 W per channel (dynamic, 4 Ohm, 1 kHz, THD 0.01%)
Inputs 2 analog, 2 optical, coaxial, USB
Outputs to subwoofer, to headphones
Additionally Ethernet
Improved AL32 processor yes
Separate master oscillator for frequencies of 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz yes
Bluetooth A2DP / AVRCP, NFC
Outputs to speakers 2 pairs of twisted terminals
Impedance range of speakers 4 – 16 Ohm
Power consumption 60 W, Standby 0.3 W
Dimensions (W x H x D) 280 x 104 x 337 mm
Weight 4.8 kg
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