Denon PMA-201SA (2001)

Name: Denon PMA-201SA
Brand: Denon

The PMA-201SA is a compact integrated amplifier from Denon's "PRESTA" series, released in September 2001 at ¥53,000. It is small, just 250mm wide and 90mm tall, and it was clearly aimed at a system-oriented buyer rather than the separates crowd. The PRESTA line was Denon's attempt at a coordinated mini-system approach. The PMA-201SA was its pre-main amplifier, with a dedicated system remote (RC-906) and a system connector terminal that let it talk to other 201SA-series components.

Despite the size, Denon packed serious circuitry into this one. The output stage uses an HC (High Current) single push-pull circuit, a concept inherited from Denon's larger UHC designs. The power supply pairs high-speed rectifier diodes with a large block capacitor. A toroidal transformer supplies 50W + 50W into 8Ω at 0.1% THD, or 100W + 100W into 4Ω on the JEITA scale. Denon's S.L.D.C. (Signal Level Divided Construction) keeps the small-signal, large-signal, and microcomputer circuits physically separated to suppress interference.

The preamp section is useful for a unit this size. There's an MM phono stage (2.5mV/47kΩ, 83dB S/N) with RIAA accuracy of ±0.5dB from 20Hz to 20kHz. There's a source direct mode that bypasses tone and balance controls, and a Rec Out selector for dubbing one source while listening to another. A pre-out terminal lets you add a bigger power amp later. The line inputs are rated at 150mV/15kΩ with a 104dB signal-to-noise ratio. Frequency response extends from 5Hz to 100kHz (+0/-3dB). The display has a four-level dimmer, and the speaker terminals accept banana plugs.

One quirk of the era: Denon marketed iPod integration for this model. The control dock ASD-1R (sold separately) could be connected via the system connector, and the included remote could handle basic iPod functions. That dates the design to roughly the first-generation iPod years, even though the amp itself launched in 2001.

The record on this model is thin beyond the basics. No period reviews surfaced in research, and no owner discussions were found. A single used listing in London asked £45. Power consumption is rated at 135W, standby at 1W or less, and the unit weighs 6.1kg. Dimensions are 250 × 90 × 371mm (W×H×D) including feet, knobs, and terminals.