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This is a buyer’s market for older integrated amplifiers, and £225 is a strong deal here: it sits below the £229 25th percentile and well under the £244 median from six comparable listings. It is priced as a quick, sensible buy rather than merely fair value, assuming the unit is working properly.
The PMA-860 remains a particularly capable vintage Denon, offering 80 watts per channel, useful current delivery, MM/MC phono input, and a natural, unfatiguing presentation that suits both vintage and modern speakers. Its straightforward, serviceable construction is another attraction. At this money, the main check is simple: confirm both channels are clean, controls are quiet, protection does not trip, and the phono stage works. If so, this looks like an excellent pickup.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Denon traces its origins to 1910, when American entrepreneur Frederick Whitney Horn founded Japan's first audio equipment company, Nipponophone, initially focused on gramophones and records. The Denon brand emerged in 1939 from the merger of Japan Denki Onkyo—combining "den" for electricity and "on" for sound—with other entities, marking a shift toward professional audio development. This heritage includes pioneering Japan's first professional disc recorder in 1945, used to capture Emperor Hirohito's voice, and launching the nation's first long-playing records in 1951.
The brand excels across a broad spectrum of hi-fi categories, from amplifiers, turntables, and tuners to loudspeakers, cassette decks, and phono cartridges. Denon's innovations extend to digital frontiers, such as the world's first practical PCM recorder in the early 1970s, the inaugural CD player in 1981, and early home theater systems with Dolby Digital in 1995. Today, its lineup encompasses AV receivers, headphones, wireless streaming solutions like HEOS, and high-channel processors, blending professional-grade components with consumer accessibility.
Denon holds a commanding position as a mid-to-high-end mainstay in the hi-fi market, revered for its blend of technological firsts, robust build quality, and balanced sound signatures that appeal to discerning enthusiasts. No longer a vintage collector's niche, it competes confidently against premium rivals, backed by over a century of audio leadership and strategic partnerships like its merger with Marantz.
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