Over the years, Denon Electronics has put the power of HEOS into a lot of different products. There have been several speakers, as well as amps, extenders, a soundbar, and more. Now the company is extending that convenience to a receiver, the Denon HEOS AVR.
It certainly doesn't look like the typical home theater component. It also doesn't perform like one. The 5.1-channel receiver is designed to provide stellar sound, but promises to be as simple as a soundbar when it comes to set up and operation. The HEOS app can actually walk you through the entire process, which includes configuration for systems ranging from 2.0 to 5.1.
Of course, the real hook is that the HEOS AVR has that HEOS technology. That means it can drive your favorite speakers and any HEOS wireless speaker as surround channels. It can also be part of a multiroom HEOS setup, using your home's Wi-Fi for wireless streaming music throughout the house. Those streaming options include music from your home computer or NAS, as well as Spotify Connect, Pandora, and TIDAL. (Just know that subscriptions and/or fees may apply for those services.)
The HEOS AVR features built-in 5x 50W Class D amplification that works with both wired and wireless speakers. It also includes four HDMI 2.0a/HDCP 2.2 inputs so you can make it part of a 4K Ultra HD home theater system. Other features include support for all streaming formats including high-resolution audio, Bluetooth, Audio Return Channel, and the ability to learn TV remote commands.
Denon plans to start shipping the HEOS AVR in April, with an MSRP of $999.
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