Denon PMA-2000II (1998)

Name: Denon PMA-2000II
Brand: Denon

The Denon PMA-2000II is a stereo integrated amplifier released in 1998. It refines the original PMA-2000 from 1996. The series ran five generations - PMA-2000, PMA-2000II, PMA-2000 III, PMA-2000 IV, and the anniversary PMA-2000RE. It started in the mid-1990s as the heir to Denon's flagship S-series and sat between the mass-market models and the top-tier S-series, with a lot of engineering at a relatively accessible price.

The big feature is the UHC-MOS (Ultra High Current MOS) output stage, rated at a peak current of 120A. That is roughly three to ten times the current supply capability of a conventional amplifier. Denon mounted these devices in a single push-pull configuration to eliminate variations in amplification operation. The power supply uses high-current ultra-fast rectifier diodes, a twin transformer parallel connection with Leakage Canceling (L.C.) mounting to cancel magnetic interference, and a combination of high-capacity electrolytic and plain foil capacitors. Compared to the original PMA-2000, the core thickness went up by about 20% and the winding cross-sectional area by about 40%, which reduces operating resistance.

The chassis gets the same attention. A "Precision Mechanical Ground" structure attaches the damped radiator directly to the bottom near high-damping feet, which suppresses vibration from the transformer and other sources. The transformer itself floats on a combination of special rubber, resin, and steel plate. The base is 20% thicker than the PMA-2000's, with a black alumite treatment for better heat dissipation. The internal layout is twin-mono, with the left and right power amplifier blocks separated, plus a six-block structure that isolates circuits by signal level. A Precision Signal Ground circuit suppresses noise from the constant current circuit. The phono equalizer has a discrete first stage with a low-noise FET and works with both MM and MC cartridges. Selected parts include OFC internal wiring, inert-gas-filled relays, and a large brass-machined bi-wiring speaker terminal with an AC inlet power cord.

Rated output is 80W + 80W into 8 ohms (20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.07% THD) and 160W + 160W into 4 ohms (1 kHz, 0.7% THD). Total harmonic distortion is 0.01% at rated output -3 dB. Line input sensitivity is 140 mV/70k ohms (Source Direct off) or 140 mV/30k ohms (Source Direct on). Phono MM is 2.5 mV/47k ohms and phono MC is 0.2 mV/100 ohms. Signal-to-noise ratio is 110 dB for line, 91 dB for phono MM, and 76 dB for phono MC. RIAA deviation is ±0.5 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Tone controls give ±8 dB at 100 Hz (bass) and ±8 dB at 10 kHz (treble). The unit measures 434 × 180 × 478 mm and weighs 22 kg. Original price was ¥100,000. It draws 250W and has two switched and one unswitched power outlets.

Specific owner reviews of the II are scarce, though the model appears on the used market regularly. One Japanese auction in June 2026 closed at ¥50,538 with the unit described as having scratches and dirt; another listing noted a unit found non-working on power-on check. The series as a whole has experienced a collector resurgence, though common problems documented for the first-generation PMA-2000 — power supply failures, UHC-MOS thermal drift, and the requirement for a 100V step-down transformer outside Japan — should not be assumed to apply to the II without confirmation. The record on this model is genuine but thin: the engineering is well documented, while long-term reliability and reception specifics remain largely unrecorded. What is clear is that the PMA-2000II represents Denon at its most ambitious in the integrated amplifier category, packing flagship-derived technology into a 100,000 yen package.