Let's compare Denon AVR-S540BT versus Denon AVR-S720W for an overview of all their pros and cons. According to the results of our review, Denon AVR-S540BT received 5.5 points out of 10 possible, and Denon AVR-S720W was rated 6.6 points. The release date of AVR-S540BT is 2018, and AVR-S720W is 2016. And as a result of the comparison, AVR-S720W seems to be a better option for the role of a home theater center than AVR-S540BT.
For the built-in amplifier, the devices received different marks - 6 and 7, respectively, on a 10-point scale.
The number of channels is equal to the number of possible connected speakers. The Denon AVR-S540BT supports 5.2-channels sound, but Denon AVR-S720W supports a 7.2-channels configuration.
RMS stands for the actual power of the receiver. The higher this value, the louder the sound can be produced. The differences between the models in terms of RMS power are significant - for the AVR-S720W this value is 75/8 W/Ohm, and for the AVR-S540BT it is 70/8 W/Ohm.
AVR-S540BT | AVR-S720W | |
---|---|---|
Channels | 5.2 | 7.2 |
Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 70/8, 90/6 | 75/8, 110/6 |
Output impedance, Ohm | 8, 6 | 8, 6 |
Frequency response | 10Hz-100KHz | 10Hz-100KHz |
THD in stereo, % | 0.08 | 0.08 |
The score for audio features is 6 of 10 for both receivers.
Pure Direct mode feeds sound directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing. Only Denon AVR-S720W has Pure Direct mode.
Most receivers now come with a microphone included. It is with the help of this microphone that the auto-calibration system functions, which adjusts the sound of the receiver to the room.
AVR-S540BT | AVR-S720W | |
---|---|---|
Digital to analog converter (DAC) | 192 KHz/32-bit | 192 KHz/32-bit |
Bi-amping | ✖ | ✖ |
Pure direct (straight) | ✖ | ✔ |
Auto speaker calibration | Audyssey MultEQ | Audyssey MultEQ |
Speaker A/B switching | ✖ | ✖ |
Other audio features | Compressed Audio Restorer | Audyssey Dynamic Volume, Audyssey Dynamic EQ |
The connectivity of competitors in our comparison is markedly different, Denon AVR-S540BT scored 5, and Denon AVR-S720W scored 8 out of 10.
Wireless connection via Wi-Fi is possible on the Denon AVR-S720W.
Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for the receiver's control or even music broadcasting.
Wired internet connection via RJ45 allows receiver faster connection than wireless or even use NAS storages. Wired connection via RJ45 is possible in the AVR-S720W only.
DLNA is the perfect way to use your local cloud storage to stream movies and music directly to a TV. You can use the DLNA protocol only with Denon AVR-S720W.
AVR-S540BT | AVR-S720W | |
---|---|---|
Wi-Fi | ✖ | ✔ |
USB | 1 (USB 2.0) | 1 (USB 2.0) |
Bluetooth | ✔ | ✔ |
Ethernet (RJ45) | ✖ | 1 |
DLNA | ✖ | ✔ |
MHL | ✖ | ✖ |
Now music streaming services are gaining more and more popularity. They allow users to listen to millions of songs by subscription.
AVR-S540BT | AVR-S720W | |
---|---|---|
Apple Music (AirPlay) | ✖ | AirPlay |
Amazon Music | ✖ | ✖ |
Spotify | ✔ | ✔ |
Other streaming services | TIDAL, Pandora | Pandora, SiriusXM |
The presence of many connectors makes the receiver more versatile. But there are also narrowly targeted models, the number of connectors which are limited to a certain area of use. And when choosing their own receiver, users need to consider exactly your goals for using the receiver. For extensive connection, both receivers got 6 points on our 10-point scale.
Denon AVR-S540BT is equipped with 5/1 HDMI inputs and outputs, and Denon AVR-S720W has 6/1 HDMI inputs and outputs.
AVR-S540BT | AVR-S720W | |
---|---|---|
HDMI input/output | 5/1 | 6/1 |
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) | ✖ | ✖ |
HDMI CEC | ✔ | ✔ |
Digital content protection (HDCP) | HDCP 2.2 | HDCP 2.2 |
Subwoofer output (LFE) | 2 | 2 |
Headphone output | 1 x 6.3 | 1 x 6.3 |
Optical digital input | 2 | 2 |
Coaxial digital input | 1 | 1 |
Composite input | 2 | 2 |
Component input/output | 0/0 | 0/0 |
Phono (MM) input | ✖ | ✖ |
Front panel connectors | USB, phones, setup mic | USB, HDMI, phones, setup mic |
Multi channel preamp output | ✖ | ✖ |
The AV receiver is the heart of the home theater. And in this case, support for all current video formats ensures the best user experience, so it is very important to consider this when choosing a device. Video features of rivals in our comparison were rated 6 out of 10.
AVR-S540BT | AVR-S720W | |
---|---|---|
HDR (High Dynamic Range) | ✔ | ✔ |
4K signal pass-through | 4K/60Hz | 4K/60Hz |
8K signal pass-through | ✖ | ✖ |
HDMI signal pass-through | ✔ | ✔ |
3D signal pass-through | ✔ | ✔ |
HDMI pass-through in standby mode | ✔ | ✔ |
Video conversion | ✖ | ✖ |
Analog to HDMI scaling | ✖ | ✖ |
HDMI to HDMI scaling | ✖ | ✖ |
Dolby Vision | ✔ | ✖ |
Other video features | HLG, BT.2020 | x.v.Color |
In terms of evaluating additional features, both receivers received a score of 8 out of 10.
AVR-S540BT | AVR-S720W | |
---|---|---|
Voice control | ✖ | ✖ |
App control | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Amazon Kindle | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Amazon Kindle |
Display | colour OSD | fluorescent |
Tuner | AM, FM | AM, FM |
Sleep timer | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto power off | ✔ | ✔ |
ECO mode | ✔ | ✔ |
Graphical user interface (GUI) | ✔ | ✔ |
Setup assistant | ✔ | ✔ |
Firmware update | USB | network, USB |
Other additional features | has not | IP Control |
As the center of a home media system, each multichannel receiver has an additional set of terminals for connecting the second set of speakers to create additional audio space in Zone 2 or even Zone 3 where audio can have the separate source.
AVR-S540BT | AVR-S720W | |
---|---|---|
Multi-room zones | has not | 2 |
Zone audio output | has not | speaker |
Zone HDMI output | has not | ✖ |
Multi-room control | has not | HEOS App, Denon 2016 AVR Remote |
RS-232 | 0 | 0 |
Remote control input/output (IR) | 0/0 | 0/0 |
DC trigger output (12V) | 0 | 0 |
Denon AVR-S540BT got 5 points for the multichannel surround sound and Denon AVR-S720W got 7.
Dolby Atmos' particularity is that this is the object-oriented sound format, that is, each audio signal object is independently sounded and connected to its spatial position. Denon AVR-S720W can create 3D sound due to the Dolby Atmos support.
DTS:X is an algorithm used by the processor to create sound scenes, where sounds connected directly to objects rather than channels, and to determine the optimum sound output distribution in space. Surround sound with DTS:X is available on the AVR-S720W.
AVR-S540BT | AVR-S720W | |
---|---|---|
Dolby Atmos | ✖ | ✔ |
Dolby TrueHD | ✔ | ✔ |
Dolby Surround | ✖ | ✔ |
Dolby (other) | Dolby Digital Plus | Dolby Digital Plus |
DTS:X | ✖ | ✔ |
DTS HD Master | ✔ | ✖ |
DTS Virtual:X | ✖ | ✖ |
DTS Neural:X | ✖ | ✔ |
DTS (other) | DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS | DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-Surround |
Auro-3D | ✖ | ✖ |
IMAX Enhanced | ✖ | ✖ |
Multichannel stereo | ✔ | ✔ |