Skip to main content

Denon unveils affordable receivers with 4K support, Dolby Atmos chops

Since the beginning of the year, companies have been introducing surprisingly low-priced A/V receivers with all the features buyers would expect in many higher-end models, just in time for the arrival of 4K Blu-ray discs and players on the market. Now Denon is getting in on the action as well.

The company has just announced two new models in its popular S-Series line of network A/V receivers. The Denon AVR-S720W and AVR-S920W both come in at less than $600, but pack features customers might expect to find in models costing twice the price. Even better, buyers won’t have long to wait to get their hands on them.

Recommended Videos

Related: Yamaha’s powerful new R-N602 takes multiroom up a notch

Unlike many lower-priced home theater receivers, both of these models offer 7.2-channel audio. Dolby Atmos is supported out of the gate, and DTS:X is coming as well in a future firmware update expected to roll out in August, so two of those channels can be rearranged to allocate sound to overhead speakers for a more immersive sonic image. The receivers integrate with Denon’s HEOS multi-room home audio system, as well as with MultEQ, which measures the room the receiver is in and uses DSP correction to achieve the best sound.

On the video front, these receivers offer 4K full-rate pass through, complete with HDR, HDMI 2.0a (for HDR support from Ultra HD Blu-ray players), and HDCP 2.2 on every input. Beyond that, 4:4:4 Pure Color sub-sampling is supported, as are BT.2020, 21:9 video, and even 3D. Both receivers even feature a setup assistant with an icon-based graphical interface, which anyone who has had to struggle with long text-only menus will appreciate.

Networking comes in the form of both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and each receiver features dual antennas for optimal connectivity. Both AirPlay and DLNA are supported, and the receivers offer built-in Internet radio via Sirius XM, and they offer streaming via Spotify Connect and Pandora. For Denon HEOS users, the receivers can even be controlled with the HEOS app, while all users can stream music to the receivers with the Denon 2016 AVR Remote app, available on iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire devices.

denon-avr-s720w-3 manual
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The AVR-S720W will sell for $480 and packs a claimed 165 watts of power. It features one HDMI output and a total of six HDMI inputs, with one on the front for easy access. A USB port is also supplied on the front panel with iPod Digital Direct support. In a move we don’t always see, speaker cables are included in the box.

The more powerful AVR-S920W has a retail price of $580 and claims 185 watts of power output per channel. This model also includes a few features that its younger sibling lacks, like a second HDMI output and eight total inputs. If your TV doesn’t have a built-in 4K upscaler, it might be worth spending more for this model, as it offers Advanced Video Processing, which includes upscaling.

Both of these new S-Series receivers are expected to go on sale sometime this month.

A version of this post first appeared on our “brother site,” Digital Trends.

Kris Wouk
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
Industry season 4: Everything we know so far
One key cast member is unlikely to return for the fourth season.
Myha'la in 'Industry'

After three seasons on HBO and Max, Industry has proven itself to be one of the most thrilling, unexpected success stories of the past few years. The show, which follows a group of young employees as they work their way up the rungs of an investment bank, has focused on the kinds of wild personalities required to sacrifice every scruple you have in the name of making money.

The show's third season ended with a major twist, as Pierpoint, the bank at the show's center, went under. Given that major twist, many are wondering what the show's fourth season might entail. Here's what we know about the show's fourth season so far:

Read more
Thunderbolts* first reactions praise Florence Pugh, suggest a dark, character-based movie
The reactions are a good sign for a struggling MCU.
The cast of Thunderbolts

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is not as dominant as it once was, in part because the movies they've put out lately have not been received all that warmly by critics or audiences. The first reactions to Thunderbolts* suggest that it might be a step in the right direction. The reactions are overwhelmingly positive, and praised both the movie's darker tone and star Florence Pugh, in particular. Here's a rundown of what people are saying:

Film writer Emily Murray calls the movie one of the "best" MCU movies in some time. She added that it “has so much spark, charisma, and tells a genuinely emotional story you connect with. A tear was shed. Florence Pugh in particular superb, just walks away with it.”

Read more
Bill Hader will co-write a new HBO series about the Jonestown massacre
The story of Jonestown has been infamous for almost 50 years.
Bill Hader in Barry.

If you watched Barry all the way through to its conclusion, you're likely aware that Bill Hader is a kind of dark guy. He's always talking about his fascination with serial killers and murderers, and now he's channeling that fascination into a project for HBO. Variety is reporting that Hader will co-write and potentially star in a new HBO series about the infamous Jonestown massacre.

Hader is co-writing the series with Daniel Zelman, and while it's still in development, the show could potentially be Hader's next star vehicle with HBO, where he also worked on Barry.

Read more