PMA-900HNE Integrated Network HiFi Amplifier, Power Amplifier with Phono Equalizer, Analog Mode, Music Streaming via Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth and HEOS Built-In, Roon Tested - Black

If you are looking to cut through todays hectic audio options and vast choice then the 900hne should be on your shortlist if you want little fuss, excellent build quality with high quality internal parts and configuration, good looks that speak volumes in hifi maturity and a sound quality that is smooth, non fatiguing, immersive, clear and full. There is nothing lacking here from Denon and the 900, the amplifier transpires enough detail, precision, warmth and openness with a sure footing, one that tells you that it knows what to do with the music so just sit back and listen. HEOS is easy to use and offers plenty of online services. AirPlay also sounds better than expected as does the Bluetooth even though it is only the SBC codec it does still sound good enough for casual listening, again quite surprised with the quality here. This is quite a revealing amplifier, if you use a poor source then it will show through this amp, that’s good! The Digital inputs are a plenty! 3 optical inputs is very generous with optical 1 (TV) encompassing a trigger system from the TV so turn on the TV and it will wake the amplifier. This feature can also be turned off as can the WiFi and Bluetooth if you do t wish to use them which for the purists out there is another bonus. I didn’t find any interference from the digital section when using analogue but still for those with old school equipment that may have allowed that interference and the memory haunts them at least Denon have given the option to neutralise the aforementioned features. Denon also allows you to turn off wake from the TV if so desired, practical to say the least. There is no motorised volume knob with the 900 like the other models in the PMA series, why it was not included is unclear but imo its one less moving part to be concerned over in regards to any potential failure and system noise so for me its not missed and prefer Denon’s choice to not include such a mechanism. The tone sound adjustment has a good feel and sound. The treble and bass add a nice degree of tonal change in regard to actual sound quality which is where I find many amps to be a little cumbersome and just blanket the sound with either frequency, good job here Denon. I still use the direct source more than the tone control but the quality is there if I change my mind. I haven’t used the phono stage as I do not use vinyl but others have reviewed this amp and find the phono stage to be good. I predominantly stream my music and so in all honesty the 900 is a no brainer and having HEO/Airplay 2 built in brings everything I need into one system and with a performance that brings not complaint from the Audiophile in me which also understands the more niche product out there. The internal dac does a splendid job with whatever digital platform I may use and takes a lot of trouble out of the day by just having it all there in one. Speaker matching the Denon is going to be easy. I can recommend the Wharfedale 12.2, Cambridge Audio SX-60, Elac Debut 3 amongst others. I tried a pair of B&W 607 S2 with this amplifier and they sound excellent! The S3 version of the 607 and 606 are going to be another excellent choose for this amp from Denon. Floorstanders will shine too and if had the budget needed to make a speaker choice I wouldn’t hesitate with the Wharfedale 12.3 for example. I’m using the PMA900HNE with the Wharfedale 12.2 and the Wharfedale SW150 subwoofer presently and this match has excellent soundstage detail with clarity and power, no complaints, great system synergy here! So in conclusion a solid choice of amplifier and will probably last for years as most Denon gear has and continues to do so. Good job Denon!

Good looking well made with multiple inputs & outputs well detailed powerful sound & Bluetooth it’s a brilliant Amp, proper please with this 😎

Utter Joke 🎯 Why I Chose Streaming After buying the Denon PMA-900HNE amplifier and a pair of DALI Oberon 5 speakers, I couldn’t afford a CD player yet. So streaming high-resolution music files was the best way to go. It should’ve been simple—connect, stream, enjoy. Instead, it turned into a costly workaround and a complete failure of promised functionality. 💸 Forced Workaround: Whirlwind Cost I bought the Denon PMA-900HNE expecting it to stream music directly. It didn’t. No matter what I tried—Wi-Fi, Ethernet, resets, updates—it refused to function. So I had to buy the WiiM Pro Plus streamer for £220 just to make the system usable. That means my £600 amp ended up costing me over £800. And the only reason it works now is because I’m bypassing Denon’s streaming entirely. Music now streams flawlessly through the RCA input of the amp. But that makes the amp’s built-in streaming—and the HEOS system—completely redundant. I paid for features that don’t exist. 📱 HEOS App: The Fatal Flaw This amp relies on the HEOS app for streaming. That’s the core failure. - It constantly fails to connect—even though my speakers are plugged in via Ethernet and fully powered. The issue isn’t speaker detection. It’s HEOS failing to manage a stable internet connection. - Multi-room playback is unreliable. It drops connections, refuses to sync, and wastes time. - TIDAL integration is dysfunctional—but let me be clear: TIDAL Connect itself is not the problem. It works flawlessly on every other device in my home. The failure is entirely on HEOS. - I can’t search properly, can’t scrub through tracks, and basic controls are missing. - The app looks outdated. It’s clunky, confusing, and lacks essential features. - It forgets my setup every time. I have to reconfigure everything from scratch. - Updates don’t fix anything. They break features that used to work. - Even with Ethernet, HEOS still fails. The connection is there—but the app doesn’t know what to do with it. - Denon support is non-existent. I’ve sent feedback, asked for help—no response. HEOS is probably the very worst app I’ve used across any piece of technology, ever. It’s utterly redundant and makes Denon look like they don’t give a crap about music, streaming, or the people buying their products. 🔍 Want Proof? See for Yourself If you think I’m exaggerating, go read the reviews for the HEOS app on the Google Play Store. You’ll see hundreds of users reporting the exact same failures—connection issues, broken streaming, useless updates, and zero support. 👉 HEOS App on Google Play Store Scroll through the 1-star reviews. It’s not just me—it’s a pattern. The app is broken, and Denon has done nothing to fix it. 🎧 The Amp Itself: Underwhelming and Redundant Even without the streaming disaster, the amp doesn’t hold up. - The sound is flat. It lacks energy and detail, especially with bookshelf speakers. It’s like listening through a pillow. - The tone controls are basic. I can adjust bass and treble, but there’s no real way to shape the sound. - It struggles with bigger speakers. Even at moderate volume, it feels underpowered. - At higher volumes, the amp craps out—despite my DALI speakers being fully capable and reliable. The amp simply can’t keep up. - The volume feels off. At mid-levels, the sound lacks punch, at higher volumes it turns to mud - For what I paid, it doesn’t deliver. My Final Word This setup cost me more than it should have. The amp doesn’t stream. The app doesn’t work. And the sound isn’t worth the price. I had to spend extra money just to make the system do what it claimed to do out of the box. I don’t recommend this to anyone who values reliability, sound quality, or basic respect for the customer. Will never go near Denon again

Great sound ,easy to set up

Excellent sound, prodigious power and fairly simple to use. Downgraded my existing Marantz MCR510 and Spektor 1s to supplying my PC audio and replaced with the Denon amd Zensor 3 speakers, along with an existing spare Wharfedale SW150 sub. It sounds majestic,with a crystal clear soundwith some very nice transient headroom and the musoc punches along far better than I have known for a very long time. I now will be busy learning about the ins and outs of HEOS. At this moment, I would recommend either HiFi Cast or Bubble UPNP over HEOS if you are streaming from a large NAS library. In this application, HEOS seems to be left very far behind. All in all, very impressed at this point. Further thought. Remember that this already has a 2 uear warranty with Denon, so if you pay for the 3 year warranty like I did, you will be getting only an effective 12 month extension.