Denon has introduced a new component to its line-up—the Denon Home Amp. This device, priced at $799, serves as a significant update to the previous HEOS Amp HS2, incorporating new features such as an HDMI eARC input and multichannel Dolby Audio compatibility. The Home Amp aims to compete with similar products from Sonos and Bose by offering a blend of modern connectivity options and powerful amplification.
The Denon Home Amp presents a modern and minimalist design that fits seamlessly with existing home audio setups. Its clean lines and squarish dimensions are comparable to the Sonos Amp and Bose Music Amplifier, featuring touch controls on the front panel for easy access to presets, play/pause, track skipping, and volume adjustment. This aesthetic upgrade is part of Denon’s strategy to rebrand its HEOS line of wireless multiroom speakers and components under the new Denon Home brand.
One of the most notable features of the Denon Home Amp is its HDMI ARC/eARC input. This allows users to downmix multichannel Dolby Audio into a two-channel format, making it an excellent choice for those who prefer a stereo setup for their TV audio instead of a traditional soundbar or AV receiver-based multi-speaker arrangement.
The Home Amp also includes optical and USB-A digital inputs, RCA analog inputs, and four-way binding posts for connecting passive speakers and a subwoofer. Notably, the 3.5mm input from the previous HEOS Amp HS2 has been omitted.
The amplification power of the Home Amp has seen a significant boost. It now offers 100 watts per channel at 8 ohms and 125 watts per channel at 4 ohms, up from the 70 watts per channel offered by the HEOS Amp HS2. This enhancement ensures that the Home Amp can drive a wide range of speakers, from in-ceiling and in-wall speakers to outdoor and bookshelf speakers, providing versatile options for home audio enthusiasts.
Denon’s HEOS platform continues to be a central feature of the Home Amp. The HEOS app allows users to stream music from a variety of popular services, including Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn, SiriusXM, Amazon Music, Tidal, iHeartRadio, Deezer, and SoundCloud. The device supports high-resolution audio formats such as ALAC, FLAC, and WAV up to 24-bit/192kHz, as well as DSD 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz, catering to audiophiles who demand the best sound quality.
The Home Amp’s multiroom capabilities are robust, enabling users to play the same song throughout their home or different songs in different rooms, supporting up to 64 zones. This flexibility is ideal for creating a cohesive and immersive audio experience across multiple rooms.
In addition to HEOS, the Home Amp is compatible with Apple AirPlay 2, allowing users to stream audio from any Apple device and manage the Amp through the Apple Home app. This integration also enables Siri voice control, offering a convenient way to control playback and other functions. Amazon Alexa compatibility is available via the HEOS Alexa skill, though Google Assistant is not supported.
Bluetooth connectivity is another feature of the Home Amp, allowing users to stream music directly from smartphones, tablets, or other Bluetooth-enabled devices. This ensures that users have multiple options for wireless audio streaming, catering to various preferences and device ecosystems.
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The Denon Home Amp is available for purchase at authorized Denon retailers and on Denon's official website, priced at $799 in the US and $999 in Canada.
