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  1. Home
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  3. PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 vs Denon AE PMA-A110
PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 vs Denon Anniversary Edition PMA-A110
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PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2

Integrated Amplifier | 100 watts RMS into 8-ohms

PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2
Check price atAmazon›
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Denon AE PMA-A110

Integrated Amplifier | 80 watts RMS into 8-ohms

Denon Anniversary Edition PMA-A110
Check price atAmazon›
PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 PS Audio Stellar Str...
Check price atAmazon›
Denon AE PMA-A110 Denon AE PMA-A110
Check price atAmazon›
PS Audio Stellar Str...
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Denon AE PMA-A110
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PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 vs Denon AE PMA-A110 Integrated Amplifier Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different types of amplifiers. PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 is a Streaming Integrated Amplifier speaker whereas the Anniversary Edition PMA-A110 is a Integrated Amplifier with built-in DAC speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 and Denon AE PMA-A110 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key SpecsPS Audio Stellar Strata MK2Denon AE PMA-A110
BrandPS Audio
United States · founded 1973
Denon
Japan · founded 1910
PowerMM phono input, two I2S inputs, Class A headphone amplifier.80 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 160 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms
Amplifier classClass DClass A/B
Built-in DACYesYes
Phono inputMMYes
Headphone outputYes1/4
BluetoothNoNo
Weight9.50kg / 20.9lbs25.05kg / 55.1lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)2.80" x 17.00" x 13.50"
71 x 431.8 x 343 mm
7-3/16" x 17-1/8" x 18-11/16"
183.0mm x 435.0mm x 475.0mm

What size room are the PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 and Denon AE PMA-A110 Amplifiers good for?

The size of the room in which you are planning to use these amplifiers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their max power parameters:

Listening Environment PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 Denon AE PMA-A110
Near-field Poor Poor
Small Room Average Average
Mid-size Room Good Good
Large Room Average Average
Very Large Room Poor Poor

The rest of this page covers where each one wins, how they compare in size, their inputs and outputs, the full specifications and a verdict.


Reasons to choose PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 over Denon Anniversary Edition PMA-A110
MSRP Price(*) 3,499USD vs 3,999USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
Watts into 8-ohms 100 watts vs 80 watts Delivers higher power into 8-ohms speakers
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) 0.02% at 1kHz, 10W into 4 ohms vs 0.07% Less Harmonic Distortion
Base Surface Area 1481.1cm2/ 229.6inch2 vs 2066.3cm2/ 320.3inch2 takes less space in your room
Height 71mm vs 183mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces

Reasons to choose Denon Anniversary Edition PMA-A110 over PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2
Watts into 4-ohms 160 watts vs 150 watts Delivers higher power into 4-ohms speakers
Total Analog Inputs 4 vs 1 More options for connecting Analog sources
PhonoInput Yes vs No Connect a turntable directly to your amp
USB Input Yes vs Connect Sources via USB

Size, drawn to scale

FRONTPS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 front: 432 x 71 mm (17 x 2.8 in)Denon AE PMA-A110 front: 435 x 183 mm (17.1 x 7.2 in)PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2432 × 71 mmDenon AE PMA-A110435 × 183 mmTOP / FOOTPRINTPS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 footprint: 432 x 343 mm (17 x 13.5 in)Denon AE PMA-A110 footprint: 435 x 475 mm (17.1 x 18.7 in)PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2432 × 343 mmDenon AE PMA-A110435 × 475 mm
Both amplifiers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.

One scale for both, aligned at the back panels the way they would sit against a wall, so the deeper one visibly stands further out.

Denon AE PMA-A110 needs about 40% more shelf area. Denon AE PMA-A110 is 132mm deeper - the measurement that decides whether a rack door closes. Denon AE PMA-A110 is 112mm taller.

Inputs and Outputs

The input and output selections that are offered is an important factor when comparing two amplifiers. Here you can find how the I/O selections of the PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 and Denon AE PMA-A110 differs from each other.

PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 Inputs
  • Total Number of Analog Inputs: 1
  • RCA Line Input
  • XLR Input Port
Denon AE PMA-A110 Inputs
  • Total Number of Analog Inputs: 4
  • Phono Input
  • 3 Optical Digital Input
  • 1 Coaxial Digital Input
  • USB Input:
Outputs
  • Yes Headphone Output
Outputs
  • Stereo RCA Preamp Outputs
  • 1/4 Headphone Output

Balanced connections

PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 has balanced XLR connections and Denon AE PMA-A110 does not. A balanced cable carries the signal twice, on two conductors of opposite polarity. Interference picked up along the way lands on both equally and cancels when the two are recombined at the far end, so the longer the cable run and the noisier the surroundings, the more it is worth. Whether it also yields more power depends on how the amplifier is built inside - some are balanced end to end, others convert to single-ended internally and deliver the same either way.

Denon AE PMA-A110 Back View
Denon AE PMA-A110 Back View (Click the image for the larger version)

What's in the Box of Denon AE PMA-A110?

Here are the items that come with the Anniversary Edition PMA-A110:
  • Integrated amplifier
  • 68-inch AC power cord
  • Remote control (RC-1237)
  • 2 AAA batteries
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Safety Instructions
  • Warranty Information

PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 vs Denon AE PMA-A110 full specifications

Every spec we hold for both, side by side
SpecificationPS Audio Stellar Strata MK2Denon AE PMA-A110
Overview
BrandPS AudioDenon
TypeStreaming Integrated AmplifierIntegrated Amplifier with built-in DAC
Channels22
Amplifier classClass DClass A/B
Output devicesSolid StateSolid State
Released20232020
List price$3,499$3,999
SeriesStellarPMA
Power and performance
Power into 8 ohms100 W RMS80 W RMS
Power into 4 ohms150 W RMS160 W RMS
Power, as ratedMM phono input, two I2S inputs, Class A headphone amplifier.80 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 160 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms
Minimum impedance–4 ohms
Signal-to-noise ratio–110 dB
THD0.02% at 1kHz, 10W into 4 ohms0.07%
Frequency bandwidth–20 Hz-20 kHz
Digital and DAC
Built-in DACYesYes
DAC chip–Burr Brown PCM1795 Quad 384-kHz/32-bit
Max bit depth–32-bit
Max sample rate–384 kHz
DSD–Yes
Network and streaming
Wi-FiYes–
BluetoothNoNo
AirPlay 2–No
Chromecast–No
Roon–No
BluOS–No
HEOS–No
DTS Play-Fi–No
Inputs
Analogue inputs14
RCA inputsYes–
XLR inputsYes–
Phono inputMMYes
Phono type–MM,MC
Optical digital–3
Coaxial digital–1
USB input–Yes
HDMI inputNo–
Outputs
Preamp outputs–Stereo RCA
Pre-out / main-in loop–No
Headphone outputYes1/4
Speaker terminalsBinding posts–
Features and control
Tone controls–Yes
Direct / pure mode–Yes
CD playerNoNo
Handheld remoteYesYes
Remote model–RC-1237
Physical
Dimensions (H x W x D)71 x 431.8 x 343 mm183.0mm x 435.0mm x 475.0mm
Dimensions, inches2.80 x 17.00 x 13.50 inch7-3/16inch x 17-1/8inch x 18-11/16inch
Weight9.50 kg (20.94 lbs)25.05 kg (55.11 lbs)
FinishesBlack, SilverBlack
Removable power cordIECIEC 2-prong
Parts warranty3 Years5 Years
Labour warranty3 Years5 Years

A dash means the manufacturer does not publish that figure, or it does not apply. 53 specifications compared.

Verdict

No single best amplifier here. What decides it is what you have to drive, what you need to plug in, and how much of the system you want in one box.

AreaBetterWhy
PowerAPS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 has more power - 100W against 80W into 8 ohms. That is about 1dB, which is a small step in loudness but real headroom on peaks.
Grip on hard loadsBDenon AE PMA-A110 holds up better into a 4-ohm load: its output nearly doubles to 160W, where the other increases strongly. That matters with demanding speakers far more than the 8-ohm figure does.
Built-in DACBBoth decode on board, but only Denon AE PMA-A110 handles DSD.
Analogue inputsBDenon AE PMA-A110 takes more analogue sources - 4 against 1.
Amplifier classdependsPS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 is Class D and Denon AE PMA-A110 is Class A/B. Class D runs cool and draws almost nothing at idle; Class A/B runs warm and is the long-established mainstream choice. Modern examples of both measure well - judge by the rest of the page.
Shelf spacedependsPS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 takes up about 28% less shelf area (1481cm² against 2066cm²), and it is 132mm shallower, which is the measurement that decides whether a rack door shuts.
PriceAPS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 costs less - $3,499 against $3,999 at list.
Watts per dollarAPS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 is the cheaper watt - about $35 per watt against $50. A blunt measure, and it says nothing about how either sounds, but it is the honest one for raw output.

A PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2  B Denon AE PMA-A110
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both amplifiers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.

Which should you choose?

The usual trade-off: Denon AE PMA-A110 measures better, PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 costs about 13% less. With most speakers in most rooms that gap is smaller in practice than it looks here. If your speakers are a difficult load - 4 ohms nominal, big woofers, or a sensitivity in the low 80s - Denon AE PMA-A110 is the safer partner, because how an amplifier behaves when the impedance drops matters more than its 8-ohm rating.

What a spec sheet cannot show: how either sounds with your speakers, how the controls feel day to day, and what the app is like to live with - which is where most all-in-one amplifiers are actually won or lost. Power figures are the manufacturers' own and are not measured to a common standard, so treat small differences as noise. If you can hear both, that will tell you more than any row above.

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