Denon PMA-800NE / DCD-800NE Hi-Fi Bundle (Silver)

The Denon PMA-800NE / DCD-800NE bundle pairs Denon’s 800NE-series integrated amplifier with its matching CD player, forming a complete two-channel hi-fi system designed to work seamlessly together. Both components sit in the middle of Denon’s hi-fi range, above the entry-level 600NE series and below the flagship PMA-A110 and DCD-A110 anniversary editions, and share a unified remote control for single-handset operation.

PMA-800NE Integrated Amplifier

The PMA-800NE delivers 50 W per channel into 8 Ω (20 Hz – 20 kHz, 0.07% THD) and 85 W per channel into 4 Ω, using Denon’s Advanced High Current (AHC) single push-pull circuit topology with a discrete power amplifier stage. A high-current dynamic power supply supports demanding speaker loads, while the signal-to-noise ratio reaches 105 dB on line-level inputs.

Analogue connectivity includes four RCA line inputs and a switchable MM/MC phono equaliser (2.5 mV / 47 kΩ for MM; 200 μV / 100 Ω for MC), so both moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges can be connected without an external phono stage. Three optical and one coaxial digital input accept PCM signals up to 192 kHz / 24-bit via an onboard DAC, adding digital source flexibility. A Source Direct mode bypasses the tone controls for uncoloured playback, while the headphone output caters for private listening.

DCD-800NE CD Player

The DCD-800NE uses Denon’s Advanced AL32 Processing Plus, a proprietary digital filter that interpolates the original 16-bit / 44.1 kHz CD data to produce a smoother analogue waveform. Digital-to-analogue conversion is handled by a Burr Brown PCM1795 DAC operating in a DAC Master Clock configuration, where the DAC’s own clock acts as the timing reference to minimise jitter from the transport mechanism.

Beyond CD, CD-R, and CD-RW playback, the front-panel USB Type A port (USB 2.0 High Speed) accepts hi-res files from a USB storage device in formats up to DSD 5.6 MHz and PCM 192 kHz / 32-bit, as well as compressed WMA, MP3, and AAC. One optical and one coaxial digital output are provided for connecting to an external DAC or digital recorder. In DSD playback mode, the player achieves a signal-to-noise ratio of 115 dB, a dynamic range of 108 dB, and total harmonic distortion of just 0.0015%.

Build and Design

Both components feature aluminium front panels, gold-plated RCA connectors, and solid heatsinks. The matching 434 mm-wide chassis stack neatly on a hi-fi rack, and a shared RC-1223 remote control operates both units from a single handset. A display dimmer and off function on the DCD-800NE reduces visual distraction during listening.