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Densen Beat-110 amplifier test

Densen Beat 110 is a very musical amplifier, which does not hide the richness of the timbres, with raspy dynamics of sound. From the disadvantages we note that the device will not suit people who listen to music from time to time, as the B-110 requires considerable time to warm up. One more relative disadvantage – absence of remote control in the set.

Audio Engineering

Densen Beat-110 integrated amplifier

FEATURES

Densen, a Danish company by enthusiastic engineer Thomas Sillesen, is developing a conceptual technique that looks and designs nothing like its competitors.

DENSEN’s slim cabinets are made of extruded aluminium sheet metal with concealed screw connections so the cabinets look like one unit. In circuit engineering Stilisen is a follower of professor Ottala, a well known opponent of global feedback in amplifiers, starting from DM-series, feedback in Densen devices is not used at all.

The B-110 integrated amplifier is the youngest in the company’s lineup, but this fact only affects its output power: 2×60 watts at 8 ohms and 2×120 watts at 4 ohms. Everything else: from components to circuit topology to packaging techniques is the same as in the top-of-the-line Densen models.

The volume regulator is made with discrete Vishay film resistors, switched by relays on the microprocessor commands. The result is a very sensitive level adjustment with a step of half a decibel and a total number of “steps” of 200 pieces. The circuit components are mounted on a double-sided Teflon printed circuit board with signal circuits on top and ground lines on the bottom. Soldering is done with “silver” brazing in a nitrogen atmosphere, thus avoiding oxidation of the surfaces. Capacitors with a total capacitance of 40K. The ÎŒF ohms are placed in close proximity to the final stage transistors to reduce the time for adding power to the amplifier output – DMCD Densen Mass Current Distribution technology.

On the rear panel along with two acoustic outputs you can find 7 line inputs, including two tape recorders, provided with the appropriate outputs, there is also a processor input and output. In addition the B-110 has two line outputs from the preamplifier stage. Two auxiliary connectors to the right of the speaker terminals – the DenLink port for connection of the amplifier with other DENSEN equipment and EPS input for an external power supply.

Like many other Danish manufacturers, Densen supports the idea of upgrading their products. So the possibilities of B-110 can be expanded, if you equip it with phono stage, multi-channel processor/preamplifier board Surround Board mentioned above or even an active crossover SAXO, custom-made for a particular speaker system.

SOUNDING

The amplifier requires several days of initial warm-up, the manufacturer recommends not less than 100 hours. The B-110 also takes a while to pick up its “form” each time after a night’s downtime it needs about an hour to warm up.

The difference in sound between unheated B-110 and its “fighting” mode is quite significant. The cold amplifier plays clear and quite detailed at once, but is dry and restrained, especially at the bottom. After the warm-up the sound articulation opens up in the whole range, the sound becomes much more emotional, the development of the scene improves and there is an evident energy in the mid-bass.

The amplifier has a rare for this class of equipment musicality with good working through the timbres and overtones from bottom to top, only in the last octave airiness sound slightly decreases.

Otherwise, the treble is reproduced with just the right accents and silvery texture. It does not suffer from the affliction of many inexpensive Zero Feedback amplifiers – the bass is fast and well controlled all the way down low. The Danish designer’s stage comes out volumetric and transparent, with the accurate localization of images in azimuth and depth, the images get “live”, pleasant halos. By the way, for ideal resolution of big orchestra groups the picture lacks some contrast, but even in this case the whole scene and instruments scales are faithfully reproduced by the amplifier.

Price

: 57,000 Dollars.

Densen

Bow Technologies ZZ-8 CD player was used as a signal source. The amplifier lowers the source level in the tweeter considerably, and makes almost no difference in the bass. The amplifier’s bass roll-off starts at 60Hz -0 and goes down to 60Hz.3 dB at 20 Hz , in the HF from 4 kHz -0.5 dB at 20 kHz . The THD of the amplifier at 1kHz is less than 0.071%, THD of the source 0.008% . Stereo amplifier has a significant impact on the harmonic spectrum of the source throughout the frequency range. The second and third harmonics are more noticeable, which thus become the maximum THD of the amplifier. In addition, the amplifier highlights the fourth and fifth harmonics, and all harmonics above the third become less even, experiencing a boost in the bass area.

Audio Engineering

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John Techno

Greetings, everyone! I am John Techno, and my expedition in the realm of household appliances has been a thrilling adventure spanning over 30 years. What began as a curiosity about the mechanics of these everyday marvels transformed into a fulfilling career journey.

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Comments: 1
  1. Jackson Gibson

    Can you please provide more information about the Densen Beat-110 amplifier test? Specifically, what are the key features, performance metrics, and overall user experience?

    Reply
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