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A Prestigious Japanese Hi-Fi Brand Just Went Big on Affordable Home Theater Systems

It’s designed for people “ready to step up from a soundbar or basic audio setup.”

Black Denon audio receiver with silver knobs and digital display showing "Dolby Sur B-ray" on a wooden shelf next to a gray speaker.Denon
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By Tucker Bowe

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Denon is best known for its AV receivers, of which it makes a wide variety. They can range from around $400 to $10,000, with the higher-end models supporting more channels, offering more power and integrating more premium technologies and features.

Now, the Japanese heritage audio manufacturer has released a new AV receiver, and it’s one of its most affordable offerings. But despite its sub-$1,000 price tag, it can support an extensive multi-channel surround system and boasts some pretty serious features.

Black Denon audio receiver with display and control knobs on a wooden shelf below a wall-mounted TV.
The Denon AVR-S980H is a 7.2-channel AV receiver that costs under $1,000.
Denon

Step up from a soundbar

The Denon AVR-S980H is a 7.2-channel AV receiver that, according to the brand, is designed for people “ready to step up from a soundbar or basic audio setup into a more immersive home theater experience.”

It’s also flexible. The AVR can support a standard stereo system, but can be expanded over time to support a 5.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos (with support for height channels) or 7.2-channel surround sound system.

The idea is that it’s an AVR that won’t need to be replaced if you decide to build a more immersive home theater system down the line.

Two people watching a flat-screen TV displaying a tornado scene in a living room with wooden speakers and a media console.
It can be configured in a stereo setup and grow in time to support a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos or 7.1-channel system.
Denon
Black Denon audio receiver with knobs and buttons on a wooden shelf, a hand adjusting the left knob.
It supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi streaming, so you can use it as the hub of a sound system when not watching TV.
Denon

Wired and wireless home theater

The AVR-S980H packs a Class A/B amplifier that delivers 90 watts per channel, making it suitable for medium-sized rooms and for driving a wide variety of entry-level and midrange sound systems.

Denon claims that this should provide “enough muscle to handle action-packed movies, dynamic music and the growing number of high-performance speakers that people pair with AVRs.”

In addition to wired loudspeaker systems, the AVR-S980H is also compatible with Denon’s new Home line of wireless speakers (which are kind of like Sonos rivals). So if you have a Home 200, Home 400 or Home 600 speaker, you’ll be able to use them as wireless surrounds.

Black Denon AV receiver with digital display showing "Video Game" and a white gaming controller in front on a dark reflective surface.
It supports gaming features like 1440p pass-through and AMD FreeSync to deliver smoother visuals and more responsive gameplay.
Denon
Person holding a white game controller playing a video game displayed on a wall-mounted screen above a wooden shelf with audio equipment.
According to the brand, the AVR-S980H is “just as comfortable for powering gaming sessions, binge-watching
marathons or listening to background music throughout the day.”
Denon

Feature packed

As hinted, the Denon AVR-S980H carries many of the same premium features as the company’s higher-end offerings. It’s compatible with 4K and 8K TVs. It supports Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. And it supports 1440p pass-through and AMD FreeSync, making it a good fit for setups with the latest gaming consoles.

On the streaming front, it supports both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (including AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect). It’s powered by HEOS, meaning it can be configured in a multi-room group with other Denon (and several of Marantz’s) wireless speakers and hi-fi components.

Additionally, the AVR-S980H has a built-in moving-magnet phono preamplifier, so you can easily incorporate a turntable.

Black Denon AVR-S980H integrated network AV receiver with digital display and control knobs on a blue background.
The Denon AVR-S980H is available now.
Denon

Sub-$1,000 price tag

The Denon AVR-S980H costs $949, making it one of the more affordable AVRs that Denon sells. It comes in one finish: black.

It’s available now on the company’s website and through other authorized retailers.

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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