Denon HEOS AVR 5.1-Channel Wireless Audio and Video Component Receiver, Gun Metal Silver

Denon HEOS AVR

Denon

Denon HEOS AVR 5.1-Channel Wireless A/V Component Receiver, Gun Metal Silver

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Home Electronics

Home Theater

Receivers & Amplifiers

Denon Receivers & Amplifiers

Denon HEOS AVR 

Buy: Denon HEOS AVR 5.1-Channel Wireless Audio and Video Component Receiver, Gun Metal Silver Type: Amplifier, WiFi Preamp

I actually sought out this receiver specifically for a WIRED 5.1 home theater setup, which it is perfectly capable of doing despite being mostly a footnote in marketing. I also wanted Denon's sought-after sound quality, which it delivers. I don't really understand "wireless" speakers, since they require their own internal amplifier and are wired to the wall for power, but I digress.
Other receivers competing in this range get several things wrong that take away from the experience: 1) Too many rear I/O jacks, 2) too many front controls, 3) fragmented on-screen menus (GUI), 4) a complex remote, and 5) cumbersome size and weight. The HEOS AVR gets all of these right by having modern digital inputs and hardly anything else, nice plug-in speaker jacks, NO GUI (instead entirely app-controlled), a single front control for volume, compact size, and a tiny remote that you don't really even need. The result is that both the hardware and the software step out of the way of your other devices, while functioning superbly as a 5.1 class D integrated amplifier and wireless music streamer. I deducted one star on ease of setup and ease of use because navigating the app is occasionally frustrating, but overall it is decent. I deducted one star because it is missing some commonly-found USEFUL features: headphone jack, HDMI pass-through, and input upscaling.
No, this product is not for an audio hobbyist or someone with a lot of devices, but you are not considering this product if you are and Denon has you covered elsewhere. If you want a ultra-clean setup that has great sound and doesn't compete for space on your TV screen to do its job, this device is hard to beat.

Gets Out of the Way

The Denon HEOS AVR is simply the most unique and distinct receiver that I have ever owned.  It offers true wireless surround sound.  There is one other big name manufacturer that offers wireless surround sound but you must use that companies very expensive and overpriced speakers.  Denon, alone, allows you to use one of its HEOS speakers or use its HEOS Amp to power your own surround speakers.  But for some well-documented clunkiness (which you quickly adapt to) with its application to run the receiver, this receiver is excellent. The sound is dynamic, powerful and full of breath and life. There is very little distortion even at higher volumes and the receiver runs cool to the touch as if it is never under strain for moderate-sized room. My only wish is that Denon would develop a HEOS AVR 2.0 and update the amp and add a bit more  power so that it would liven up larger rooms. Denon if you're listening...you have customers eager to jump up to the next technological leap. :-)

Excellent Sound

Very good sound quality and functionalities. I'm having some problem with the Bluetooth option. If you try to reproduce music from the HEOS app it works great, if you wanna stream music from Bluetooth, this is not your product. The support answers your question and try to help, but they don't go too deep.

Great product

This system is awful!  If trying to control in home audio and tv surround with zones.  Give up - complexity overwhelms the system and always h e to reboot at the device ( or even power cycle on remote works)

Denon HEOS AVR 5.1-Channel Wireless Audio and Video Component Receiver, Gun Metal Silver

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