Best Denon AV Receivers

Denon AVRX4300H - feel every moment of a film

Denon is a long-established brand that rarely disappoints customers nowadays, so choosing Denon you can at least be sure that guarantee will work well for the next few years. This model is especially good if you are a cinema lover and wish to experience the same in your own house. There are much more to tell about Denon AVRX4300H, so let’s have a look at a full range of Denon AVRX4300H specs below.

Design

There are two wheels by sides separated by the big screen with a command panel in the middle. The wheel on the left (just above the power button) is a source input select, the one on the right is for volume. The central area is dedicated to the control panel and the screen where the chosen mode is shown up. Overall though, this designer solution is modern and fit most interiors I am aware of, including my own. There are several inputs in the front which make the life slightly easier as there is no need to turn the receiver around if you want to plug the USB device, for example, or connect your phone to this av receiver. You can also request an information or status of your receiver just by pressing related buttons on the front panel. At the back, there are places for HDMI inputs and outputs at the top, speakers of different zones, monitor, subwoofer and different gaming systems connections.

Features

If you want to listen to your playlist and your songs are all mixed up and have different recording formats, don’t worry anymore - Denon AVRX4300H recognizes every audio format apart from AIFF, so until your playlist is not in AIFF, you are safe for now. Same with built-in decoders - AVRX4300H will be more than happy to enhance movie sound of the film for you, but not if it uses DTS:X decoding. There are no problems at all with other DTS and Dolby, but if you are a fan of DTS:X only, that’s not a receiver for you. I need to warn you in advance that great sound means lots of power, so don’t be surprised when you see 0.5W in standby mode. This receiver has a three-zone compatibility which means you will have a longer set up to come through, however later you can enjoy all the benefits of this feature. The receiver also can be controlled remotely via your smartphone, so if you forgot where the remote is, just do the needed within the app on your smartphone.

Performance

You can use Denon AVRX4300H in many ways. For radio lovers, there are 40 preset AM/FM stations available for you to listen to. For cinema lovers, there are much more to tell. The receiver has an HDMI pass-through up to 4K and 3D pass-through for fast video conversion, a three-zone capability to replicate the cinema effect, bi-amplifying and pure direct mode to ensure the delivery of every piece of sound to you. The receiver can turn itself off if not in use, so if you’ve gone and forgotten about it, it shouldn’t be a problem at all. It has a sleep timer as well, so if you love to go to bed while watching a film, this is a useful function to have a look at.

Sound Quality

It is a 9.2 channel receiver which has a digital sound processing and supports Dolby Surround sound effects. Audio D/A conversion happens at 32bit / 192kHz rate so you can be sure you get a clear sound with no delays. Denon AVRX4300H can be truly proud of its 0.05 % total harmonic distortion and 102 dB signal-to-noise ratio – you can hear the difference as there are no disturbances in the sound especially in three-zone mode. The sound itself is quite loud (what would you expect from 125W per channel?) so the dialogues are heard even at low volume (20-30).

Connectivity

If you’ve been looking for an av receiver with more than 2 HDMI outputs, you’ve found the one - Denon AVRX4300H has 3 HDMI outputs so you will have a chance to connect something you’ve always wanted but haven’t got a chance. Apart from it, there are 2 AV inputs, 2 optical and coaxial digital inputs, 8 HDMI inputs, 2 subwoofer outputs, USB-port, and a phone port. Talking about wireless connection methods, there are Bluetooth and WiFi so you can connect your wireless speakers or a phone or even earphones and enjoy the 3D sound in the room next door. For someone who likes more traditional ways of Internet connection, there are two ports available – one for IEEE 802.3 and the other one for IEEE 802.3u.

Setup

Denon AVRX4300H is quite easy for setting up due to microphone auto calibration option available. The only little thing to be aware of, for the best performance, while doing the settings for three zones or Audyssey, when measuring second, third and so on positions, position the calibration microphone within 60 cm of the first measurement position (main listening position). Another tip is if you want to hear the bass even at a low volume, switch Dynamic EQ in the menu to “On” and this will correct the frequency in the way you want.

Conclusion

Overall, Denon AVRX4300H is a great receiver that you will enjoy for the next few years for sure. Personally, I like to use it as a home cinema receiver and not to be so picky in terms of quantity of AM/FM stations installed, however, I am more than sure that it will be as superb for the rest things as well. For me, the receiver with 3 HDMI outputs and tree-zone compatibility and Bluetooth support should be a must have in every house, so you will not regret buying it. Hope this Denon AVRX4300H review helped you to find out more about this receiver so now you can make your own judgment on what to do.

Denon AVR-X3500H: True 4K Scaling

The Denon AVR-X3500H is a 7.2-channel AV receiver that is complemented with Dolby Atmos and DTS: X. It has a built-in HEOS technology that presents to the user the full control over the music library and media devices in the house.

Design

Even short visual Denon AVR-X3500H review makes it clear that the device has a concise design with a symmetrical arrangement of controls on the front panel and a large fluorescent display. The matte black body frame is made of solid material, and despite the ribbing surface, settling dust is still visible on it. Four stable legs allow you to place the device even on a shelf, but it should be noted that the receiver weighs 23.8 pounds, which is quite a lot for such unit.

Features

It is compatible with Dolby Vision and even supports the new Hybrid Log Gamma broadcast format, adding to a picture incredible brightness and naturalness. This Denon AVR-X3500H AV receiver supports 4K/60fps HDMI scaling, has an In/Out input connector for infrared control, an RS-232C interface for interacting with external control devices that work as part of a smart home system. Also, the unit supports smartphone remote control and AirPlay. I really like that the Denon AVR-X3500H stereo receiver is equipped with ARC, which in addition to the ability to control the system volume from the standard TV remote control, allows you to enjoy additional systems, such as Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD.

Performance

It provides access to Internet radio (40 stations are preset) and a wide range of music services such as Spotify, Deezer, Tidal, Amazon Music, and many others. You can choose the required service on the menu. The receiver works seamlessly, there are no lags or freezing while in use.

Sound Quality

It attracts the users with a decent indicator of maximum power equal to 180W in the channel. It can play a signal from some other source, whether it can be a CD, streaming audio, or HDMI. The sound itself is clean and realistic, and there are no hindrances (noise and crackling) even when listening to the music on a maximum volume. 3D sound is really good and the Dolby Surround expands the soundstage of even old movies.

Connectivity

Not only the Denon AVR-X3500H specs are amazing, as this device has the expanded digital HDMI switching: 8 inputs and 3 outputs. All the 8 HDMI inputs and 2 HDMI device outputs support HDCP 2.2 compatibility as well as the latest HDMI specifications, including 4K Ultra HD 60Hz video. There’s a phono input, which means that the device is able to work correctly with the signal received directly from the vinyl disc player.

Setup

A sound system adjusting is based on the popular Audyssey MultEQ Editor app that makes the general setup of the system, taking into account the real acoustic conditions. You should install the tuning microphone in several different positions and start the installation process that will be performed automatically. It’s also possible to switch the output signals from the connectors for available speakers by selecting the corresponding option. Simple adjustments of the tonal characteristics are available directly from the device control menu. The receiver provides the ability to save the preferred configuration and sound mode for each source, which can be accessed by simply pressing a button on the front panel or remote control.

Conclusion

This receiver produces an energetic sound and mellow tone. Moreover, it supports AirPlay, Hybrid Log Gamma broadcast, Dolby TrueHD, and is complemented with the autocalibration, so the setup process won’t be hard.

Denon AVR-S640H: Budget-friendly Model for Home Stereo and Theater

The Denon AVR-S640H is an affordable 5.2-channel receiver, meaning that it’s necessary to use 5 speakers, plus a subwoofer or a couple of them for getting optimal surround sound. It’s also a 4K UHD device for arranging a home theatre system with great picture quality.

Design

The Denon’s design stands out for its ergonomics. The housing of this receiver is sleek, however, its controls feel a little bit clumsy. The body is solid with a bright display. All the inputs and outputs on the rare panel are marked with different colors to make the connections clear. The USB port can be found on the front panel.

Features

The Denon AVR-S640H stereo receiver is HEOS equipped for managing it via smartphone, for streaming music services, and connecting wireless HEOS speakers to listen to music anywhere in the house. The AVR also works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri.

This receiver decodes and delivers true digital DTS surround sound from the HDMI inputs. It supports Dolby Vision format that’s why the users can enjoy deeper darks and enhanced brightness.

The Denon AVR-S640H specs include HDR10 and 4K pass-through support, but the unit lacks Dolby Atmos for using ceiling speakers and making the sound even more realistic (for instance, if it rains in the movie, it’s heard how the rain comes from directly above the heads).

Performance

Providing maximum performance and 150W per channel, it has stable performance at even 4-ohm load. The receiver features sub control, meaning that it has settings to raise and lower subwoofer levels. However, it’s still necessary to adjust the dials on the active subwoofer in order to provide optimal customizing.

Sound Quality

This receiver can be connected to the wired front, center speakers, and wireless surrounds to create flawless soundstage. It has enough functionality to adjust the sound with regard to the content and making it perfectly balanced. This model is remarkable for the harmonic sound of vocals and musical instruments (or voices and background, speaking of video content).

Connectivity

The unit comes with 6 HDMI inputs to hook up the HDMI compatible equipment plus Bluetooth connectivity. The movies can be streamed from the Ethernet connected device or Wi-Fi.

Furthermore, there is a phono input to connect a turntable to it. This input comes with a built-in preamp to avoid buying a separate item. It’s also possible to connect the receiver to a computer via HDMI output. Note that there is no support for such legacy devices as VHS players or video cameras.

Setup

The Denon AVR-S640H AV receiver includes the Audyssey setup system that measures the room acoustics and automatically adjusts sound levels for almost any speaker installation making the speaker type minor. The complete setup is possible only with a TV connected to the receiver. You can also use quick select buttons to save the preferred audio settings for each source of the signal.

This AVR is capable of working with a single zone only, meaning it can’t play, for example, in a living room and on the patio simultaneously.

Conclusion

In summarizing the Denon AVR-S640H review, I’d point out that this AVR is a reasonable solution to arrange a home theater or stereo system in a single room of any size and layout. This model is a real time-saver, as it’s easy to set up via the on-screen menu and there is no need to connect the external preamp to use the turntable.

Denon AVR-S650H: 5-Channel AV receiver with Multiple Options

The Denon AVR-S650H is a basic model of the S-series of Denon AV receivers. Still, the middle-level cost is backed up by a solid processor, enhanced video possibilities (full UHD support), clean high-resolution sound with multiple equalization options, and well-developed connectivity. The receiver features typical for Denon sturdiness and minimalist look while offering simple and comprehensive navigation both on-panel and via remote / wireless control.

Managing 5.2-channel configuration and popular surround sound formats, this receiver would definitely fit as the heart of the home theater while its options enable various activities including music listening, TV watching, gaming, etc.

Design

Heavy weight (almost 21 lbs) and considerable size (13.3 x 17.1 x 6 inches) of the Denon AVR-S650H AV receiver are justified by the overall solid quality of build it has. All elements (buttons, dials, screen, connection ports, feet) are made reliably. The controls panel and the screen are quite wide, with a few functional buttons. Most of the connections are situated on the rear side.

Features

The receiver supports the UHD video format with HDR and Dolby vision delivering the 4K signal in its programmed richness of color and precision of detail. HDMI eARC activated, the sound can be processed via the acoustic set enriching the TV watching with surround sound. The 5.2-channel configuration lets hook up two subwoofers, while the EQ panel brings multiple possibilities for calibrating the sound for different sets / activities and tweak it at the user’s liking.

Performance

Browsing the Denon AVR-S650H specs, one can find this receiver is quite a powerful feeding 150W per channel (75W in stereo mode). Its relatively low impedance lets it work with a wide array of speakers. The processors work fast ensuring the lagless sound and video even for the highly dynamic content and video gaming. Besides, the receiver supports HEOS multi-room connectivity letting it transmit the sound to two different acoustic sets via a wireless connection.

Sound Quality

With the well-set EQ, the Denon AVR-S650H delivers a clean, detailed, and almost colorless sound. Within the standard frequency range of 20 – 20,000 Hz, it provides even response filling the air with the wide soundstaging and creating exact imaging. It’s good at producing sharp and clear yet non-shrieking highs and solid rich mids. The bass goes thumpy and deep, though at complex bass compositions it might lack dynamics a bit. The general tonal balance of the Denon AVR-S650H stereo receiver isn’t bright but rather a fraction darkened constituting a “character” of this model.

Connectivity

The rear panel of the AVR-S650H features five HDMI, two coaxial, and two optical digital inputs, with two analog inputs and one HDMI output. There’s a USB port and phone connection on the front. Wireless includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, smartphone application. HDMI CEC works well enabling immediate system activation from a single remote. The device works with different voice control techs (Alexa, Google, etc.), while the voice functionality includes only basic navigation options.

Setup

Default settings and modes on this receiver are well-tuned to fit wide application purposes. Highlight the dialogues in the “Reference” mode, enjoy Dolby or DTS HD sound in the home theater option or colorless pure sound in the “Flat” setting. The setup on-screen assistant menu helps perform the initial tuning, while the overall navigation and EQ settings are quite simple and comprehensive.

Conclusion

Let’s sum up the highlights of the Denon AVR-S650H review:

• High clarity and fidelity of 24 bit / 192 kHz sound.
• Developed wireless with reverse Bluetooth technology.
• Smart and precise calibration with Audyssey MultEq system (with remote