Skip to main content

Put the ‘theater’ in home theater with Denon’s $3,000 Dolby Atmos receiver

For some people, a basic home theater setup just won’t cut it. If you’re looking for utter home theater domination, you may want to check out the new flagship receiver from the folks at Denon, a $3,000 piece of home theater awesomeness known as the AVR-X7200W. Offering hi-res audio streaming, 9 channels of potent sound, and compatibility with the magical new Dolby Atmos surround sound technology as a warm-up, the X7200W dares you to find a more capable commander for your home theater system.

Related: Martin Logan’s new electrostat will blow your mind and your bank account

Recommended Videos

The X7200W is certainly no small investment, but for its hefty price tag, demanding users will get a veritable cornucopia of options. The system is capable of delivering 150 watts of sound through its proprietary high current transisters, which can be spread out to a traditional 9.1 or 9.2 channel surround setup. But what’s the fun in that? In order to bring home the kind of sonic immersion you get from a trip to the theater at home, the X7200W goes deeper.

Perhaps the biggest draw of the unit is its compatibility with the new Dolby Atmos technology, which is a new surround configuration that allows for specially designed Atmos speakers to be installed in the ceiling, or to fire sound at the ceiling from the top of proprietary speakers to create a visceral, incredibly seamless surround sound effect. The unit’s multiple Atmos configurations include 5.1.2 (with the “.2” indicating dual Atmos channels) 5.1.4, or 7.1.2. Add in a dual channel amplifer, and the receiver pushes 7.1.4, or 9.1.2 Atmos configurations.

In addition to Dolby Atmos, the X7200W includes Auro-3D technology, which uses extra speakers similar to the new Atmos setup for a 9.1 channel configuration that employs the so called “Voice of God” effect, or up to 10.1 channels, again with the deployment of an extra amplifier.  Got speakers? The unit also offers 13.2 channel pre-outs to drive an even larger surround sound setup, though that also requires an additional amplifier.

Bluetooth streaming, and dual-antenna Wi-Fi with both Airplay and DLNA support allow for a multitude of wireless streaming options, including multiple high resolution file formats, as well as native support for Spotify Connect, and other Internet radio stations. Other features include all the top specs for 4K passthrough at the highest resolution to feed your new 4K UHD TV, as well as HD and SD upscaling, D0lby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master audio decoding, and much more.

Denon’s new answer to your home theater’s every need is slated for release in January 2015.

Content in this article originally appeared on our Brother site, Digital Trends.

Ryan Waniata
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Waniata is an audio engineer, musician, composer, and all-around lover of all things tech, audio, and cinema. Hailing…
The writer of one of Netflix’s biggest drama is taking on James Bond next
We still don't know who will star in this new installment.
James Bond at a casino

The news that Denis Villeneuve would be taking on the next James Bond film was certainly exciting for many, and as we continue to speculate about who might take over as 007, we're also learning more about who else will be working behind the scenes on the film.

We now know that Steven Knight, the writer behind Peaky Blinders, will be writing the next Bond movie. While Knight is best known for his work on TV, which includes Peaky Blinders and the recent Stephen Graham series A Thousand Blows, he's also the writer behind Spencer and Maria.

Read more
Every new Game of Thrones spinoff explained
George R.R. Martin's television world continues to grow
Matt Smith starring in House of the Dragon

When it first aired on HBO in the early 2010s, Game of Thrones dazzled audiences with revolutionary special effects and terrific acting in a unique fantasy world. Based on author George R.R. Martin's series of novels, the universe depicts the battles between several different noble families as they try to climb to the top of the continent of Westeros, both politically and figuratively. The war scenes, family drama, and massive number of characters helped make the story feel fresh and new every time a new episode aired.

As Martin's attention shifted to television and away from his books, fans have looked to the TV series to finish some of the stories he couldn't finish on the page. Game of Thrones left fans wanting more, despite its poorly received finale, and a plethora of spinoffs are on the way. House of the Dragon already has two seasons completed, and there are several others in the coming years to look forward to.
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon finished its second season in 2024. The show chronicles the heated family dynamics of the Targaryen empire almost two centuries before the events of Game of Thrones. The third season should pick up the civil war between Queen Rhaenyra's forces and King Aegon's after a slow-building conflict throughout the second act.

Read more
The ultimate guide to cigar terminology: Speak like a true aficionado
The ‘I definitely know my cigars’ cheat sheet. You're welcome.
Man wearing top hat lighting a cigar in a bar

You're not the only one who has felt out of your league talking cigars with someone who obviously knows his stuff, trust me. To everyone else, the cigar world is a secret society with its own language—a mix of tradition, craftsmanship, and ritual that may as well be code to the onlooker. But here’s the secret–you don’t need years of puffing to sound like an aficionado.

This guide explains cigar jargon in the most approachable way possible. No BS, no elitism, no jargon— just straight talk in plain, everyday words. You’ll learn the basic structure of cigars, how to describe what you’re tasting, and how to talk shop without sounding like a rookie. Whether you’re sparking up at a lounge, perusing a humidor, or just kicking back, having the lingo effortlessly rolling off your tongue will elevate your cigar game instantly.

Read more