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Soundbars vs AV receivers: which is right for you?

By What Hi-Fi?

No matter how you want your home cinema sound, Denon has the answer

(Image credit: Denon)

When it comes to home entertainment, we've really never had it so good. From discs to streaming, TV shows to films, there’s a never-ending supply of brilliant content to enjoy from the comfort of your armchair. It’s being delivered in a sound and picture quality that’s better than ever, and, thanks to Denon, seeing and hearing it in all its glory is refreshingly simple. 

As flatscreen TVs have become thinner, the quality of the internal speakers has drastically dropped. This means it’s crucial you enhance your TV’s sound, not just for those explosive, edge-of-the-seat action scenes but also for those vital moments of delicate dialogue. Nobody wants the crucial moment ruined by lacklustre sound. With sound playing such an important role in our enjoyment of TV and movies, how can you maximise your home cinema experience?

Thankfully, there’s an easy choice. You can choose form and function with a slim but powerful Denon soundbar, which won’t fill your room with speakers but will fill it with high-quality sound. Or you can opt for the ultimate audio quality with a feature-packed Denon AV receiver. The good news is there are options for everyone, whatever your requirements.

Form and function: Denon soundbars

(Image credit: Denon)

Choose a Denon soundbar and you’ll benefit from an all-in-one audio system, complete with amplifier, speakers, and more – just plug and play to upgrade your TV’s sound. 

If space is at a premium, a soundbar is a room-saving choice, while still offering a significant upgrade on your home audio. And thanks to features such as Bluetooth, AirPlay, HEOS multi-room, HDMI connectivity, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Dolby Vision, and more, a Denon soundbar is much more than just a TV speaker.

Immersive surround sound, in a slimline design 

The Denon DHT-S316 (opens in new tab) delivers a soundbar and wireless subwoofer at a bargain price (£299/€299). This slim system still packs in Bluetooth audio, HDMI with ARC (audio return channel) connectivity, Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound decoding, and Denon’s Dialogue Enhance, which allows you to turn up the dialogue without having to adjust the overall volume. Simple set-up means you’ll be enjoying theatre-quality sound in no time.

Outstanding dimension, clarity and power

Step up to the more powerful Denon DHT-S516H (opens in new tab) (£699/€699) soundbar and wireless sub and you benefit from the addition of AirPlay 2 for seamless iOS streaming and HEOS connectivity for wireless, whole-home audio across compatible AV receivers, systems and speakers. There’s also Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri voice control, support for hi-res audio and the ability to connect up to two devices with 4K HDMI and digital optical and coaxial inputs.

Premium sound with four 4K HDMI inputs 

For the ultimate streamlined sound, the Denon DHT-S716H (opens in new tab) is a compact soundbar with 9 drivers delivering 3-channel sound, with the option of a wireless subwoofer. Four 4K HDMI inputs, alongside digital optical and coaxial inputs, gives you a wealth of connectivity. All the features of Denon’s soundbar range are here in a sleek, stylish package, making this the flagship model in the range. But there is another way…

The ultimate sound: Denon AV receivers

(Image credit: Denon)

If you’ll settle for only the best, you need a Denon AV receiver. Connect all of your home entertainment products for the best sound quality in stereo, surround and 3D sound, all completely customisable to your room. If you take your movie nights seriously, you need to hear true surround sound the way only an AV receiver and speaker system can deliver.

Experience the latest in 3D sound formats

The Denon AVR-X1600H (opens in new tab) (£479/€579) offers 145 watts of power to a maximum of seven speakers, with connectivity for up to six devices over HDMI. You can stream through Bluetooth, AirPlay 2 or the HEOS multi-room app, and there’s support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X 3D surround sound. The receiver supports 4K video, hi-res audio, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Siri, and there’s Audyssey room correction for calibrating the sound to your room.

The digital octopus 

Upgrade with the Denon AVR-X2600H (opens in new tab) (£599/€699) and as well as all the features of the previous model, you get more power and more connectivity, with 150 watts of power and eight HDMI inputs. The addition of a second HDMI output is ideal for running a TV and projector or two screens in the same room, or for sending audio and video to a second room. 

High powered home cinema

While for the ultimate AV performance, there’s the Denon AVR-X3600H (opens in new tab) (£999/€1199), this year's What Hi-Fi? Product of the Year. On top of all the previous specifications, you’ll feel the power of 180 watts through up to nine speakers. There’s support for the latest IMAX Enhanced specification, 4K video upscaling for even better pictures and a choice of three HDMI outputs. The premium MultEQ XT32 room calibration technology from Audyssey ensures the AV receiver’s performance is perfectly optimized to your room. 

With Denon, the choice is yours

Whether you want compact convenience or no-holds-barred surround sound thrills, Denon has a soundbar or AV receiver to fit the bill. And thanks to five-star reviews and What Hi-Fi? Awards, you can be assured you’re getting class-leading picture and sound performance.

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What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


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