POLK AUDIO SWA 500 Dedicated Digital Power Amplifier For CSW Series 800W/4Ω 250W/8Ω

Driver Complement
Electrical
Dimensions
Cabinet Size     3-1/2" H x 17" W x 12-5/8" D
(8.89cm H x 43.18cm W x 32.07cm D)
Shipping/Other     
Shipping unit:     each
Total Shipping Weight     14.00 lbs. (6.35kgs)

Overview

Integrated Amplifier with DAC mode

Integrated Amp with USB-DAC for High-res Audio and "Simple & Straight” Engineering Design from High-end Models

• 2 x 160 W (4 ohm) output
• Advanced Ultra High Current (UHC)-MOS Single Push-Pull Circuit Power Amplifier with new Schottky barrier diodes
• DAC Master Clock Design
• USB-B input for High Resolution Audio up to 384 kHz / 32 bit and 11.2 MHz DSD
• Digital isolator to eliminate high-frequency computer noise on the USB-B
• Low noise OLED display for source and sample rate indication
• Analog Mode for pure audio reproduction switching off digital audio circuitry and display
• Advanced AL32 Processing Plus
• Direct Mechanical Ground Construction to minimize unwanted vibration
• Chassis construction with 6 independent blocks to eliminate noises
• Leakage-cancelling-mounted twin transformers
• Main transformer with separate power supplies for analogue and digital circuits
• Wide dynamic range playback, supporting high-resolution audio sources
• High-grade volume control for precise adjustment
• 2 Digital Optical and 2 Digital Coaxial inputs
• High performance MM & MC Phono Equalizer Amp
• Available in Premium Silver

Denon is one of the rare audio brands that continued to actively develop Hi-Fi components and accumulate, refine, and pass down Hi-Fi audio technologies. The 2500NE series, designed for todayʼs age, has been developed by both veteran engineers and talented young engineers who have inherited the Denon technologies and expertise that have been cultivated over many years and decades. And the performance of the PMA-2500NE goes well beyond that of Denonʼs previous PMA-2000 series. With its ultimate built-quality, unique Denon technologies and state-of-the-art connectivity, the PMA-2500NE truly is a masterpiece of sound technology. Thanks to the rear USB-B input and embedded high quality D/A converter, the PMA plays high resolution files up to 384kHz/32bit and DSD up to 11.2MHz from a computer in impeccable sonic quality. For the best performance from analogue inputs, the PMA features an Analog Mode which allows to switch off all unutilized sections like the digital input circuitry or the low noise display for an unaltered audio reproduction.

Channels 2

Digital in: USB-B / optical / coaxial / USB-A / 2 / 2 /

Sample Rate digital In 192 kHz / 24-bit

USB-B DSD Audio Streaming (DoP): DSD2.8 / DSD5.6

Technical Specifications

Continuous power output, per channel, 8Ω

• Both channels driven, 8Ω,20Hz-20kHz, 0.2% THD - 200W
• Single, 4Ω, at 1kHz - 400W

Inputs

• Nominal sensitivity  for 200W / 8Ω - 1.15V (RCA), 2.3V (XLR)
• Input impedance - 10kΩ
• Frequency response 20Hz-20kHz +/- 0.05dB
• Signal/noise ratio (Awtd) 50W / 8Ω - 110dB

General

• Power consumption (standby) -

High rigidity metal frame
Shielded high current power supply
• 500VA toroidal transformer
• 80.000uF capacitor bank
• Rubber insulated aluminium feet
• WBT connector on unbalanced input
• Neutrik connector on balanced input
• Fully discrete analogue design
• Onsemi MJL1302/3281 power transistor
• Low overall feedback
• High stability on capacitive loads
• White Gold cable on output connection
• 100W/8Ohm power unit and double the
power on 4 Ohm until 390W on 2Ohm; a
big power reserve that allows to drive any loudspeakers even in a big room.

Choosing the DAC

Both our CXA60 and CXA80 amplifiers employ the same Wolfson WM8740 DAC, and thereʼs a very good reason for that: it sounds superb! There are more recent Wolfson DACs in circulation, however none sound quite as great as the WM8740 in our view. Which is why, time and again, we choose them.

The CXA80 utilises two separate windings on the oversize toroidal transformer. In effect, this is like having two toroidal transformers wound onto one chassis, providing separate windings for each amplification module. If you get a huge transient in the right channel, it wonʼt unsettle whatʼs going on in the left. The current is being drawn from a different path, rather than a common path, so the output is stable and remains unflustered, whether your liking is for Little Richard or Lamb of God.

The transistors used by the CXA80 are not your usual common or garden offerings. They come with an integrated Dynamic Thermal Tracking System. So what does this mean? Normally a Power Output transistor utilises a thermo-coupler attached directly to the heat sink of the amp; this informs the system so that it can rebias when key temperatures are reached. However, using Integrated Dynamic Thermal tracking provides a far more accurate reading of the real temperature of a transistor, and relays it faster too because itʼs not a delayed heating effect. This enables us to bias the amplifier more accurately and in almost real time. Which means your CXA80 is always running at optimum performance.

If you want to use a subwoofer as part of your speaker complement, the CXA80 doesnʼt penalise you for it. Because we want to ensure thereʼs no unnecessary high frequency noise affecting the subwoofer, weʼve put the output filter at 3KHz. This is high enough to prevent any phase shift associated with the low pass filter affecting what happens below 200Hz. The result is a phase linear subwoofer output signal which is clean and musical.

The CX range represents a step change in the way our engineers have approached signal path design, and the result is one of our most musical and entertaining amplifiers yet.

Previously, we went to almost surgical lengths to minimise distortion in order to get the best results. This invariably meant 46 components sat in the signal path. For the CX Series, we wanted to dramatically reduce that component count. The CXA80 now has only 24 components in the signal path. The big difference is that there are now 500 support components as well. Their job is to guarantee those 24 key components are absolutely optimal all the time, regardless of mains fluctuations and other influences.

This has made a big difference when it comes to tuning. Previously, tweaking one of the 46 components only made a small difference and it was sometimes difficult to quantify exactly what difference any change made. With the CX series, those 24 components have now actually become quite critical. Changing just one affects the character of the amplifier.We can hear very clearly what each of those components is doing.

This revision has fundamentally changed the character of the amplifier. Listening to a CX series amplifier is fun, engaging and exciting.

In order to offer 24-bit 192kHz resolution via asynchronous USB we use a specialist XMOS device dedicated to the USB input. Weʼve also written a custom driver to allow PC users to access the higher sample rates available in USB Audio 2 mode. This bespoke code allows us to stream audio files at the highest possible resolution.

If you want to use your CXA80 with a Bluetooth source, we offer an optional BT100 audio receiver. To ensure that this does not interfere with other components in the amplifier, itʼs isolated internally on the digital input board. From the ground up, this is an audiophile Bluetooth device. All the coding for the BT100, including the aptX implementation, is done in-house. We even include an extension cable which enables you get the best Bluetooth range.

Sometimes thereʼs a good reason to keep things uncomplicated. The CXA80 features a high-quality damped metal chassis, designed to ensure that nothing rattles or interferes with the electronics. Weʼve also kept volume control simple. The CXA80 uses a logarithmic ALPS pot. And when it comes to switching inputs, the CXA80 uses relay switching with silver plated contacts. This classic approach is still the best way to move signals around, rather than with transistors or electronic switches.

• Power output:80W RMS into 8 Ohms, 120W RMS into 4 Ohms
• DAC:Wolfson WM8740
• Frequency Response: