The 8 Best Denon Receivers
Updated by · How we research
Eight current Denon receivers compared on channels, HDMI inputs, room correction and streaming. The AVR-X1700H is the pick for most living rooms. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Denon's model names tell you most of what you need: S models are the simpler ones, X models add power and better room tuning, and A models are the hand-built flagships. A higher number means a newer generation. For most homes, seven channels hit the sweet spot, running five speakers plus two overhead for Dolby Atmos without a separate amplifier.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Denon AVR-X1700H takes the top spot. It runs a seven-speaker Atmos system, streams over Wi-Fi and has a turntable input at a price most people can live with, and it has years of owner feedback behind it. The old list was all 2018 to 2020 models that Denon has since replaced, so every one of them is gone: the AVR-X6700H, AVR-X4700H, AVR-X3700H, AVR-X8500H, AVR-S960H, AVR-S750H, AVR-S650H and AVR-X1600H. The AVR-A110 Anniversary Edition was a limited run and has left the special honors.
For a single-brand list, the real work was reading Denon's own spec tables model by model, because the S and X lines share names but not features: which HDMI inputs carry 8K, which calibration version is in the box, and which models accept a Dirac license. We checked those against a Denon roundup from theTechHolics, which used the receivers, and What Hi-Fi's receiver reviews. The AVR-S980H, AVR-X2900H and AVR-X3900H are 2026 releases and look nearly identical on paper to the models they follow, so we'll revisit them as reviews arrive. The AVR-X3800H and AVR-X4800H are good receivers that we left off only because we couldn't find them reliably in stock new.
October 21, 2020:
A handful of the company's most prominent models saw recent upgrades, including the new AVR-X4700H 9.2 and the S-Series 960H. In their most expensive models, one of the biggest new additions is the 8K passthrough functionality that should theoretically futureproof those selections from the coming advent of 8K televisions. Many models only feature the one 8K input, however, so by the time all your gaming and streaming devices catch up and output in 8K, you might need an upgrade.
Even that 960 model has an 8K in and out, but it should be noted that the company hasn't raised the unit's wattage per channel. At 90 watts each, it is more powerful than some other models like the Denon AVR-X1600H, but it still can't compete with their more expensive offerings. Another thing to look for in some of these models is height virtualization like you see on the X-Series 6700H, which comes from dedicated outputs designed to feed speakers set up in the ceiling or at the upper corners of the room, creating a hemispherical audio landscape that's even more immersive than surround sound.
July 06, 2019:
Denon is pretty well-known for their high-quality home audio products, and their all-in-one AV receivers are no exception. Thankfully, you don't have to shell out a ton to land yourself a functional and great-sounding surround sound controller. The S540BT is worth a look if you're on a strict budget and want to remain loyal to the brand, but if you can afford it, the S650H is probably worth the extra money. The S750H and X3500H are mid-range options that will serve many households well, as long as you don't plan on needing an entire 11 or 13 channels. The X4500H is pretty costly, but it's also an excellent balance of power and flexibility. Then there are the 6500 and 8500; these are super-high-end devices that only those truly dedicated to home theater may appreciate. If you plan on going all-out with your speaker setup and have the cash, give these a look.
Also keep in mind some of Denon's more interesting technologies. Their HEOS wireless streaming makes it very easy to run a multi-room audio system without laying down any wires, and IP integration allows you to control the setup through your smartphone. Also worth mentioning is the Audyssey equalizer adjustment. It uses a microphone to listen back to the unit's sound after it's been installed and adjust itself accordingly, ensuring that all the speakers sound as good as they possibly can, without requiring you to have experience in fine-tuning a sound system. We think that's both clever and useful.
Special Honors
Denon AVR-A1H Denon's top receiver goes beyond anything sold in our main list, with 15 amplified channels at 150 watts each and support for layouts up to 9.4.6. Denon says it is hand-built at its Shirakawa Audio Works factory in Japan. It's sold through Denon and specialist dealers, and it suits a purpose-built home cinema more than a living room. denon.com
Dirac Live Room Correction Dirac Live is a paid room-correction program that several Denon receivers accept as an upgrade, including the AVR-X2900H, AVR-X3900H, AVR-X6800H and AVR-A10H. It measures your room with a microphone and corrects the speakers' timing and tone more finely than the built-in calibration, and a bass add-on helps balance multiple subwoofers. Buy the license only if you're willing to spend time measuring. dirac.com
S, X Or A: Reading Denon's Model Names
The A line is the flagship tier: Denon says its elite receivers are hand-built at its Shirakawa Audio Works factory in Japan.
Denon sorts its home theater receivers into three lines, and the letter tells you a lot before you read a spec sheet. The S line is the entry range. The AVR-S570BT runs five speakers and streams only over Bluetooth, while the AVR-S980H adds Atmos, Wi-Fi and two HDMI outputs. S models use the basic version of Denon's Audyssey calibration.
The X line is the core range. Models such as the AVR-X1700H and AVR-X2900H step up to the more detailed MultEQ XT calibration, and the bigger X models get the top XT32 version. The A line is the flagship tier: Denon says its elite receivers are hand-built at its Shirakawa Audio Works factory in Japan.
The number is the generation. Within a line, a higher number is a newer model, so the X1800H followed the X1700H and the X3900H follows the X3800H. Denon's receiver range still sells several generations side by side, and the most recent is not always the better buy. The 2026 releases carry nearly the same specs as the models they follow, so a discounted older model with the same features can be the smarter pick.
Channels, Atmos And Which HDMI Inputs Matter
The first number in a receiver's channel count is how many speakers it powers; the second is how many subwoofer outputs it has. A 5.2 receiver runs a classic surround setup: three speakers up front, two beside or behind you and a subwoofer. Dolby Atmos needs speakers above you, either in the ceiling or firing up from the front speakers, so a 7.2 receiver runs a 5.2.2 layout with two overhead. A 9.4 model like the AVR-X3900H can run four overhead speakers, and some can process more channels if you add an outside amplifier.
For video, look past the 8K label. Very little 8K content exists, but the same HDMI 2.1 inputs also carry 4K at 120 frames per second, which current game consoles use. On the S models and the X1700H, three of the six inputs are 8K-ready, so plug the console into one of those. eARC lets the TV send its own apps' sound back to the receiver, including Atmos, over one cable. For 4K at 120 or 8K, use a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. The Audioholics receiver buying guide walks through the same choices in more depth.
Power Ratings, Room Correction And Placement
Denon quotes power per channel into 8-ohm speakers with two channels driven. That's an honest figure for stereo, but a receiver driving all its channels at once delivers less per channel. On some models, such as the AVR-X2900H, Denon promises at least 70% of rated power with five channels driven. Speakers rated at 4 ohms draw more current, so check the receiver's manual before pairing them with an entry model.
Every surround receiver here comes with a setup microphone that measures your room and sets speaker levels and distances, and most run Audyssey, which also adjusts tone. Bigger models get finer versions of it. The X2900H and up also accept a paid Dirac Live license, which Denon describes on the AVR-A10H page as a more precise room-correction option, with a separate bass control add-on for multiple subwoofers.
Receivers run warm. Leave several inches of open air above the unit, don't stack other gear on top, and keep it out of closed cabinets unless they're ventilated. The larger X and A models are heavy, so check that the shelf can take the weight and depth.
How we researched this
We compared about 20 current and recent Denon receivers, read Denon's spec tables for the 8 picks, checked a Denon roundup and the receiver lists from What Hi-Fi and CNET, looked at long-term owner feedback, and checked Denon, Marantz and Sound United against U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls. No AV receiver recall turned up.
Sources (15)
- Denon: AVR-X1700H specifications
- Denon: AVR-S980H specifications
- Denon: AVR-X3900H specifications
- Denon: AVR-S570BT specifications
- Denon: DRA-900H specifications
- Denon: AVR-X2900H specifications
- Denon: AVR-X6800H specifications
- Denon: AVR-A10H specifications
- Denon: AVR-A1H
- Denon: AV receiver range
- theTechHolics: Best Denon receivers
- What Hi-Fi: Best AV receivers
- CNET: Best AV receiver
- Audioholics: How to buy an AV receiver
- CPSC recalls
Frequently asked questions
Are Denon receivers good?
Yes, for most home theaters. Denon receivers regularly appear on reviewers' best-of lists, and the X line in particular offers strong room calibration and streaming for the money. The main caveats are that power ratings assume two channels driven and that cheaper models make only some HDMI inputs 8K-ready.
What is the difference between Denon's S and X series?
The S series is the entry line, with simpler calibration and fewer features. The X series adds more power, the more detailed MultEQ XT or XT32 calibration and, on the X2900H and up, a Dirac Live upgrade path. The A series is the hand-built flagship tier.
How can I tell what year a Denon receiver is?
Look at the number. Within a line, a higher number is a newer generation: the X1600H came out in 2019, the X1700H in 2021 and the X1800H in 2023. The S980H, X2900H and X3900H are the 2026 releases.
Do I need a 5.1 or a 7.1 receiver?
A 5.2 receiver like the AVR-S570BT is enough for five speakers and a subwoofer. Pick a 7.2 model if you want Dolby Atmos height speakers or rear surrounds now or later, since it can run a 5.2.2 layout.
Do Denon receivers work with Alexa?
Most Wi-Fi models do. Denon lists Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri support for models such as the AVR-X1700H and DRA-900H. The AVR-S570BT has no Wi-Fi, so it has no voice control.
Who makes Denon receivers?
Denon is a Japanese audio brand dating to 1910. It shares an owner and much of its engineering with Marantz, and its A series flagships are built at its own factory in Shirakawa, Japan.
