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Denon HEOS AVR review
Most customers are looking to find an AV receiver with decent equipment, and an improved decoder with strong amplifiers and Denon HEOS AVR might be favorite in this question. We estimated the model 4.8 out of 10, after carefully reviewing. The overall rating is too low, we would not recommend choosing this receiver. This model went on sale in 2017. A 5.1 channel amplifier is one of the main features of the model.
Denon HEOS AVR Pros
- ✔The receiver has a function of wireless connection to the Internet via Wi-Fi.
- ✔Bluetooth is now one of the key wireless communication protocols. In AV receivers, it is used for audio signal transmission or remote control. And it is in the model under review that Bluetooth support is implemented.
- ✔The presence of a USB port allows the receiver to play content from external media.
- ✔With 4K/60Hz pass-through support, it is possible to pass data through this model without degrading image quality.
- ✔ARC feature eliminates the need for an additional composite or optical cable when connecting this unit to a TV.
- ✔The manufacturer claims support for CEC in Denon HEOS AVR and therefore you can control any HDMI-connected device using one remote control.
- ✔This receiver supports the data encryption protocol HDCP 2.2 which allows licensed devices to play high definition audio and video.
- ✔Stream music from one of the most popular services Spotify directly on the Denon HEOS AVR.
- ✔The main functions of this model can be controlled using voice control.
- ✔The reviewed receiver has a Pure Direct mode, when used it feeds sound directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing.
Denon HEOS AVR Cons
- ✖The HEOS AVR has not a phono (MM) input for connecting a phonographer or turntable.
- ✖Dolby Atmos technology has not been included.
- ✖Can not manage the DTS:X surround format.
- ✖Does not support for HDR.
- ✖HDMI eARC function not implemented.
- ✖AirPlay is not supported.
- ✖Denon HEOS AVR is unable to use Amazon Music.
- ✖Does not have an automatic power-off when idle.
- ✖Energy-saving ECO mode is not implemented.
- ✖Bi-amping is not available.
- ✖Has no speaker A/B switching function.
- ✖There is no sleep timer.
- ✖The Denon HEOS AVR can not use the auto speaker calibration.
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Denon HEOS AVR back and front view
Denon HEOS AVR specs and features
Amplifier
| Channels | 5.1 |
| Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 50/8, 65/6 |
| Output impedance, Ohm | 8, 6 |
| Frequency response | 10Hz-100KHz |
| THD in stereo, % | 0.05 |
Audio features
| Digital to analog converter (DAC) | N/A |
| Bi-amping | ✖ |
| Pure direct (straight) | ✔ |
| Auto speaker calibration | ✖ |
| Speaker A/B switching | ✖ |
| Other audio features | has not |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | ✔ |
| USB | 1 (USB 2.0) |
| Bluetooth | ✔ |
| Ethernet (RJ45) | 1 |
| DLNA | ✖ |
| MHL | ✖ |
Streaming services
| Apple Music (AirPlay) | ✖ |
| Amazon Music | ✖ |
| Spotify | ✔ |
| Other streaming services | Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, Napster, SiriusXM, TuneIn Radio, iHeart Radio, Sound Cloud |
Extensive connection
| HDMI input/output | 4/1 |
| HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) | ✔ |
| HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) | ✖ |
| HDMI CEC | ✔ |
| Digital content protection (HDCP) | HDCP 2.2 |
| Subwoofer output (LFE) | 1 |
| Headphone output | 1 x 6.3 |
| Optical digital input | 1 |
| Coaxial digital input | 1 |
| Composite input | 0 |
| Component input/output | 0/0 |
| Phono (MM) input | ✖ |
| Front panel connectors | ✖ |
| Multi channel preamp output | ✖ |
Video features
| HDR (High Dynamic Range) | ✖ |
| 4K signal pass-through | 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 | has not |
Additional features
| Voice control | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant |
| App control | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android |
| Display | ✖ |
| Tuner | ✖ |
| Sleep timer | ✖ |
| Auto power off | ✖ |
| ECO mode | ✖ |
| Graphical user interface (GUI) | ✖ |
| Setup assistant | ✖ |
| Firmware update | network, USB |
| Other additional features | has not |
Multi-room
| Multi-room zones | has not |
| Zone audio output | has not |
| Zone HDMI output | has not |
| Multi-room control | HEOS App |
| RS-232 | 0 |
| Remote control input/output (IR) | 1/0 |
| DC trigger output (12V) | 0 |
Multichannel surround
| Dolby Atmos | ✖ |
| Dolby TrueHD | ✔ |
| Dolby Surround | ✖ |
| Dolby (other) | Dolby Pro Logic |
| DTS:X | ✖ |
| DTS HD Master | ✔ |
| DTS Virtual:X | ✖ |
| DTS Neural:X | ✖ |
| DTS (other) | has not |
| Auro-3D | ✖ |
| IMAX Enhanced | ✖ |
| Multichannel stereo | ✔ |
Audio file formats
| MP3 | ✔ |
| WMA | ✔ |
| AAC | ✔ |
| WAV | ✔ |
| FLAC | ✔ |
| ALAC | ✖ |
| Other audio file formats | has not |
Power
| Operational power consumption, W | 110 |
| Standby consumption, W | 0.1 |
| Removable power cord | ✔ |
Dimensions
| Size W x H x D, cm/inches | 43.1 x 7.6 x 27.9/17.1 x 3.6 x 11 |
| Weight, kg/lbs | 5.9/13/2 |
Other
| Release year | 2017 |