Denon AVR-S970H
Product Name: Denon AVR-S970H
Product Description: 7.2 Channel 8K AV Receiver
Overall
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DESIGN - 91
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FEATURES - 92
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CONNECTIVITY - 93
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SOUND QUALITY - 92
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VALUE - 94
Summary
New value king from Denon.
Pros
- High-Quality Audio Performance
- Advanced Video Capabilities
- Immersive 3D Audio
- Extensive Streaming and Connectivity Options
- User-Friendly Setup and Operation
Cons
- Complexity for Beginners
- Firmware Update Requirements
Denon AVR-S970H Review
In the ever-evolving world of home entertainment, the Denon AVR-S970H stands out as a beacon for audiophiles and cinema lovers alike. This state-of-the-art AV receiver blends cutting-edge technology with Denon’s renowned audio engineering to deliver an immersive listening and viewing experience. Whether you’re looking to create the ultimate home theater setup or simply elevate your music listening sessions, the AVR-S970H is designed to exceed expectations.
With support for the latest audio formats, multiple 8K HDMI inputs, and a suite of streaming options, this receiver is not just about power; it’s about precision, versatility, and connectivity. In this Denon AVR-S970H Review article, we’ll dive deep into the features, performance, and user experience of the Denon AVR-S970H, showcasing why it might just be the centerpiece your home entertainment system has been waiting for.
Table of Contents
Denon AVR-S970H Build and Design
The Denon AVR-S970H is a testament to Denon’s commitment to quality and innovation in the AV receiver market. With its sleek, modern design, this receiver is not just an electronic device but a centerpiece of any home theater system. The build quality of the AVR-S970H is robust, featuring a sturdy chassis that houses its advanced technology and components. It’s designed to deliver not only superior sound quality but also to withstand the test of time.
The AVR-S970H stands out with its discrete high-current amplifiers on all channels, capable of delivering up to 90W per channel (at 8 ohms, 20-20kHz, THD 0.08%). This power ensures that the receiver can drive any speaker, providing a dynamic and immersive audio experience. The larger size of the AVR-S970H, compared to its predecessors, accommodates a larger power transformer, more substantial output transistors, and additional heat sinks. These components contribute to the receiver’s ability to deliver more punch and maintain audio clarity even at lower volume levels, making it an excellent choice for audiophiles seeking a powerful and nuanced sound.
The design of the AVR-S970H is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, with a front panel that offers easy access to controls and connections. The user interface is designed for simplicity and ease of use, ensuring that setting up and navigating the receiver’s features is straightforward. The inclusion of six HDMI inputs and support for the latest video technologies like 8K Ultra HD and various HDR formats highlights Denon’s focus on future-proofing their devices, ensuring compatibility with the latest and upcoming video sources and displays.
Moreover, the AVR-S970H’s design includes thoughtful considerations for connectivity and multi-room audio setups. With HEOS Built-in technology, it seamlessly integrates into a wireless multi-room audio system, allowing for streaming music throughout the home. This feature, combined with the receiver’s robust build and design, positions the Denon AVR-S970H as a versatile and high-performing centerpiece for any home entertainment system, ready to meet the demands of the most discerning audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts.
Denon AVR-S970H Features
The Denon AVR-S970H is a feature-rich AV receiver designed to be the heart of your home theater system, offering an array of advanced capabilities to enhance your audio and video experience. Here’s a detailed look at its standout features:
High-Performance Discrete 7-Channel Amplifier
The AVR-S970H is equipped with discrete high-current amplifiers on all channels, delivering up to 90W per channel (at 8 ohms, 20-20kHz, THD 0.08%). This ensures powerful and precise audio reproduction capable of driving any speaker setup.
Advanced 8K Home Theater Support
This receiver supports 8K/60Hz pass-through and 4K/120Hz pass-through for the best video quality on all your sources. It also supports HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma), and Dynamic HDR, providing exceptional clarity, contrast, and color.
Immersive 3D Audio Experience
With support for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and DTS Neural:X upmixer, the AVR-S970H creates an immersive 3D audio experience, placing sound where it would naturally occur in space for lifelike audio that envelops you.
HEOS Built-in for Wireless Music Streaming
HEOS Built-in technology allows you to stream your favorite music wirelessly across compatible devices throughout your home. It supports a wide range of streaming services and offers multi-room audio capabilities.
Enhanced Gaming Experience
The AVR-S970H is designed with gamers in mind, supporting 4K/120Hz pass-through, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Quick Frame Transport (QFT), and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) to ensure a smooth, lag-free gaming experience.
Voice Control Compatibility
This receiver is compatible with popular voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri, allowing you to control your audio experience using voice commands.
Audyssey MultEQ XT32 Room Calibration
With the included Audyssey MultEQ XT32, the AVR-S970H automatically calibrates the sound to suit the unique acoustics of your room, ensuring optimal audio performance tailored to your space.
Connectivity and Expansion
The AVR-S970H features six HDMI inputs and two outputs, supporting eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) to receive uncompressed and object-based audio from your TV with a single HDMI connection. It also offers a range of inputs for analog and digital sources, ensuring compatibility with a wide variety of audio and video equipment.
Two-Source, Two-Zone Audio
This feature allows you to enjoy surround sound in the main room while playing a different audio source in another room, offering flexibility for multi-room audio setups.
Easy Setup and Operation
The Denon AVR-S970H is designed for ease of use, featuring a guided setup assistant and a clear, intuitive on-screen interface that makes it easy to configure your home theater system.
These features make the Denon AVR-S970H a versatile and powerful AV receiver, capable of meeting the needs of the most demanding audio and video enthusiasts. Whether you’re looking to create an immersive home theater experience, enjoy high-quality music streaming throughout your home, or enhance your gaming setup, the AVR-S970H offers the performance and flexibility to achieve your entertainment goals.
Denon AVR-S970H Connectivity
The Denon AVR-S970H AV receiver is designed with a comprehensive suite of connectivity options to accommodate a wide range of audio and video sources, ensuring seamless integration into any home theater setup.
HDMI Inputs and Outputs
The AVR-S970H is equipped with multiple HDMI inputs and outputs, supporting the latest standards, including 8K video pass-through and eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel). This allows for the highest quality video and audio transmission from and to various sources, including UHD Blu-ray players, game consoles, and streaming devices.
Analog and Digital Audio Inputs
For legacy and modern audio sources, the AVR-S970H includes a variety of analog inputs (e.g., RCA inputs for connecting devices like CD players or turntables with a preamp) and digital audio inputs (optical and coaxial), catering to a wide range of audio equipment.
Phono Input
A dedicated phono input with a built-in phono stage makes it easy to connect a turntable directly, allowing vinyl enthusiasts to enjoy their records with high-quality sound.
USB Port
A front-facing USB port provides a convenient connection for playing digital music files directly from USB drives, supporting a range of formats including MP3, WAV, FLAC, and more.
Network Connectivity
With built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet, the AVR-S970H offers network connectivity for streaming music services, internet radio, and accessing other networked audio content. This connectivity also enables firmware updates and integration with smart home networks.
Wireless Streaming via Bluetooth and HEOS
Bluetooth connectivity allows for wireless music streaming from smartphones, tablets, and computers. Additionally, HEOS Built-in technology enables multi-room audio, streaming from popular music services, and control via the HEOS app.
Voice Control Compatibility
The AVR-S970H is compatible with major voice control agents like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri, allowing users to control playback, volume, and more through voice commands.
Zone 2 Feature
With the capability to power audio in two different zones, the AVR-S970H can send a separate source signal to another room, allowing for varied listening experiences throughout the home.
Pre-Outs for External Amplification
For those looking to expand their system or use more powerful external amplification, the AVR-S970H includes pre-outs that enable connection to external power amplifiers.
These connectivity options make the Denon AVR-S970H a versatile and future-proof choice for building or upgrading a home theater system, providing users with the flexibility to connect a wide range of devices and enjoy high-quality audio and video content.
Denon AVR-S970H Sound Quality
The Denon AVR-S970H has garnered positive feedback for its sound quality from users and experts alike, emphasizing its capability to deliver a powerful and immersive audio experience.
Powerful and Dynamic Sound
The AVR-S970H is equipped with high-performance discrete 7-channel amplifiers that deliver up to 90 watts per channel (at 8 ohms, 20-20kHz, THD 0.08%), ensuring enough power to drive any speaker setup. This power translates into a sound that is both powerful and dynamic, capable of filling medium-sized rooms with rich, detailed audio.
Immersive 3D Audio Experience
With support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, the AVR-S970H creates an immersive 3D audio experience by placing sound where it would naturally occur in space. This results in a more lifelike and enveloping soundstage, enhancing the realism of movies, music, and games.
Refined Sound Quality
The AVR-S970H provides a “little extra” in terms of sound quality, especially when streaming music or playing vinyl. The receiver’s ability to deliver a clean, dynamic sound with plenty of “punch” has been particularly appreciated, making it a great choice for audiophiles looking to get the most out of their high-fidelity recordings.
Advanced Room Calibration
The AVR-S970H features Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room calibration technology, which automatically adjusts the sound to suit the unique acoustics of your room. This ensures optimal audio performance tailored to your space, further enhancing the listening experience by balancing and fine-tuning the sound.
Versatility and User Satisfaction
Customers have praised the AVR-S970H for its versatility and ease of use, noting that it performs exceptionally well across a variety of content, from TV shows and sports to movies and music. The inclusion of the HEOS app for easy music streaming and the receiver’s compatibility with various audio formats add to its appeal.
Firmware Updates and Connectivity
Some users noted the importance of firmware updates for maintaining optimal performance and resolving any issues, such as HDMI passthrough problems. The comprehensive connectivity options, including multiple HDMI inputs, support for wireless streaming, and integration with voice control systems, contribute to the AVR-S970H’s overall user satisfaction.
In summary, the Denon AVR-S970H is celebrated for its sound quality, offering a powerful, immersive, and refined audio experience that can be tailored to individual listening environments. Its advanced features, combined with user-friendly operation and versatile connectivity, make it a highly recommended choice for anyone looking to enhance their home theater system.
Denon AVR-S970H Pros and Cons
Based on the information and reviews from Denon’s official site and Crutchfield, here are five pros and two cons of the Denon AVR-S970H:
Pros:
1.High-Quality Audio Performance: The Denon AVR-S970H delivers powerful and dynamic sound with its high-performance discrete 7-channel amplifier, capable of up to 90 watts per channel. This ensures a rich and immersive listening experience for movies, music, and games.
2. Advanced Video Capabilities: With support for 8K/60Hz pass-through, as well as 4K/120Hz pass-through, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG, and Dynamic HDR, the AVR-S970H is well-equipped for future video technologies, providing exceptional clarity, contrast, and color.
3. Immersive 3D Audio: Thanks to its support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, the AVR-S970H creates an enveloping 3D audio experience, placing sounds in a spatial context for more lifelike and engaging audio reproduction.
4. Extensive Streaming and Connectivity Options: With built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HEOS, and compatibility with popular voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri, the AVR-S970H offers versatile streaming capabilities and easy integration into smart home ecosystems.
5. User-Friendly Setup and Operation: The inclusion of Audyssey MultEQ XT32 for room calibration makes setting up the AVR-S970H straightforward, optimizing audio performance for the specific acoustics of the listening environment. The user interface is intuitive, facilitating easy access to the receiver’s extensive features.
Cons:
1. Complexity for Beginners: Some users may find the array of features and settings on the AVR-S970H overwhelming, particularly if they are new to AV receivers. The initial setup and calibration process, while guided, can be daunting without prior experience.
2. Firmware Update Requirements: There have been reports of needing firmware updates to resolve certain issues, such as HDMI passthrough problems. This necessitates an additional step that might inconvenience some users, especially those who prefer a “set it and forget it” approach to their home theater equipment.
These pros and cons highlight the Denon AVR-S970H as a feature-rich AV receiver offering exceptional audio and video performance, with a few considerations regarding its complexity and the need for occasional firmware updates.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Denon AVR-S970H stands as a testament to Denon’s commitment to delivering high-quality audio and video experiences to home theater enthusiasts. With its powerful audio performance, advanced video capabilities, immersive 3D audio support, and extensive connectivity options, the AVR-S970H is designed to be the centerpiece of any modern home entertainment system. Its support for the latest audio formats, 8K video, and various HDR formats ensures that it is future-proof, ready to deliver exceptional entertainment experiences for years to come.
While the AVR-S970H is packed with features that appeal to audiophiles and cinephiles alike, its complexity and the occasional need for firmware updates may pose challenges for beginners. However, these minor drawbacks are far outweighed by the receiver’s performance and versatility. Whether you’re looking to enjoy the latest blockbuster movies, immerse yourself in high-fidelity audio, or simply stream music throughout your home, the Denon AVR-S970H offers a compelling package that combines Denon’s audio engineering expertise with cutting-edge technology.
For those in search of an AV receiver that balances sound quality, video performance, and smart connectivity, the Denon AVR-S970H emerges as a top contender. Its ability to drive a refined, powerful sound in medium-sized rooms, coupled with user-friendly setup and operation, makes it a worthy investment for anyone serious about creating an unparalleled home theater experience.
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