Denon PMA-1010D (1987–1990)

Name: Denon PMA-1010D
Brand: Denon

The Denon PMA-1010D is a pure Class A pre-main integrated amplifier with a built-in D/A converter, introduced in 1987 at ¥178,000. It was Denon's big showpiece of the late 1980s. It's heavy and densely packed, and it sits between the analog and digital eras. The "D" in the model name marks the onboard digital section, which was rare in integrated amps of the period.

The amplifier runs in Class A up to 1W output (8Ω). That was a deliberate choice to favor the quality of low-level playback. Class A makes heat, so Denon doubled the heat sink fins and bonded the block with a copper plate for heat conduction and vibration damping. The power supply uses a large transformer, fast-recovery diodes, and a 48,000 µF audio-grade electrolytic capacitor bank, stabilized by a balanced floating power supply system. A large heat sink physically separates the power supply from the main signal path.

The built-in D/A converter is the notable feature here. Denon called it a "4 DA push-pull super linear converter." That means two matched D/A converters per channel, each running Class A push-pull. The digital section has a four-times oversampling digital filter, a sample-and-hold circuit, and an LC-OFC 7th-order C.A.L.P. linear-phase low-pass filter. Coaxial and optical digital inputs are both provided. The digital input selector uses high-speed C-MOS logic and automatically identifies CD, DAT, and DBS sources. An opto-isolated coupling method keeps interference out between the digital and analog sections. The phono stage is a DC equalizer amplifier with parallel low-noise FETs and a dedicated subsonic filter.

Specifications are thin in the surviving record beyond the headline figures. Known specs:

- Output: 140W/ch (8Ω), 170W (4Ω), 320W (J)

- THD: 0.003%

- Output bandwidth: 5Hz–100kHz

- Dimensions: 474 × 174 × 396 mm (W×H×D)

- Weight: 22 kg

The drive2.ru source notes a visual and internal kinship with the later Denon PMA-1520 and calls the 1010D its "older brother." It also notes significant internal differences that keep them from being direct relatives. The front panels look quite different, and the 1010D is packed more densely than the 1520. Both share a distinctive double-sided heat sink design. The 1010D belongs to Denon's family of multibit-DAC-equipped models, alongside the PMA-580D, PMA-780D, PMA-880D, and PMA-890D.

A used unit sold on Yahoo Auctions Japan for ¥100,090 in March 2026, and a Russian listing appeared on Meshok.net at 60,000 rubles. Replacement speaker terminals are available from specialist parts suppliers. Owner reviews and long-term reliability data are essentially undocumented.