Denon Releases 3 New AV Receivers with Three 8K HDMI Inputs for Under $700!

No matter what is going on in the world it's always good to see new releases from big companies like Sound United gearing up for the holidays. It's even better when the products are some of the most affordable yet  technologically advanced units we've seen to date. The AVR-S760H, AVR-S660H, and AVR-X1700H from Denon are all priced below $700 and all three come with 8K HDMI inputs and the latest technologies for advanced voice control and connectivity options.

The two new S-Series AV Receivers, the AVR-S660H ($450) and the AVR-S760H ($550), are designed with three 8K HDMI inputs to accommodate people looking to upgrade to the latest 8K entertainment and gaming sources.

With the new Denon S-Series AVRs, users can build the very best 4K home theater today and know their AV receiver is also 8K ready when they are. These AVRs offer outstanding features and functionality to meet demanding entertainment needs at an affordable price for customers ready to upgrade from beginner systems or sound bars. With seven channels of discrete amplifications, the AVR-S760H offers extra upgrades, such as Dolby Atmos or DTS:X capabilities for the most realistic, immersive home cinema experience.

--Trip Randall, President of Denon.

AVR-S660H 5.2 Channel AVR

The Denon AVR-S660H is a  5.2 channel AV receiver that delivers five channels of 75W per channel amplifications (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, THD: 0.08%, 2ch. driven).  For $450 this is a simple and solid AVR that should provide a quality surround sound experience for the price. It features Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio decoding for high-resolution and lossless soundtrack playback. The AVR-S660H features the latest and advanced HDMI specifications such as 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz pass-through capabilities on its three HDMI inputs up to 40Gbps, Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, Dynamic HDR and HLG as well as 8K upscaling and HDCP 2.3 support on all HDMI inputs (6 in/1 out). The AVR-S660H also offers built-in HEOS multi-room music streaming technology.

AVR-S760H 7.2 Channel AVR

The Denon AVR-S760H is a 7.2 channel AVR has the same features of the AVR-S660H plus an upgrade to 7.2 channels and the important addition of 3D immersive audio formats Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. It comes with seven channels of discrete amplification rated 75W per channel (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, THD: 0.08%, 2ch driven). With the AVR-S760H, you can build a  5.1.2 Dolby Atmos surround sound system by installing height or top speakers, or Dolby Atmos elevation speakers atop matching floor standing or bookshelf loudspeakers. The AVR-S750H also comes with DTS Virtual:X and Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization technologies so if you don't have or can't install height or top speakers you can still have the excitement of immersive 3D audio in rooms where the placement of additional loudspeakers is impractical. 

AVR-X1700H 7.2 Channel AVR

The new AVR-X1700H features three 8K HDMI inputs to accommodate the latest 8K sources for advanced gaming and lifelike entertainment experiences. The AVR-X1700H delivers seven channels of amplification at 80W per channel (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, THD: 0.08%, 2ch driven).

The AVR-X1700H is a great starting point for budding enthusiasts looking for a fully-featured AVR at an accessible price. Complete with multiple 8K HDMI inputs, virtualized surround sound and several other technologies usually found in premium home theater systems, this AVR has it all. At a time when so many people are considering system upgrades to watch their favorite TV and movies in higher quality, this receiver handily delivers the next-gen experience our customers are demanding.

--Trip Randall, president of Denon.

Like the AVR-S760H, the Denon AVR-X1700H offers immersive 3D audio with support for the latest surround sound formats, including Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology, DTS:X and DTS Virtual:X.

Three Denon AVRs with 3 8K HDMI Inputs for Under $700!

All three models will feature an advanced HDMI section. The six input/one output HDMI board includes three 8K inputs supporting 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video pass-through up to 40Gbps. All HDMI inputs boast 4:4:4 Pure Color sub sampling, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG), Dynamic HDR and BT.2020 pass-through support. All three models come with 8K upscaling on ALL inputs and HDCP 2.3, the latest copy protection standard for effortless playback. The AVR-X1700H is easily connected via eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) to deliver uncompressed and object-based audio from the TV to the receiver via a single HDMI cable. Gamers also have a host of technologies available for a smoother and quicker gaming experience, including: 4K/120Hz pass-through, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Quick Frame Transport (QFT), and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM).

The new receivers are compatible with Apple AirPlay 2 for iPhone users while the front-panel USB port offers convenient audio playback of other high-resolution audio formats (WAV, FLAC, ALAC and DSD 2.8/5.6 MHz files) from a variety of players. Wireless connectivity to popular streaming music services like Spotify, Pandora, Tidal and more are also easily accessed via Bluetooth or HEOS built-in technology. With HEOS Built-in, the receivers can stream music wirelessly across compatible HEOS built-in products lfrom anywhere in the home

The AVR-S660H and AVR-S760H come with Audyssey MultiEQ room correction for simple speaker setup and acoustic calibration of the system. The technology detects the size, type and configuration of the speakers used and measures their response in up to six listening positions for optimal performance. The AVR-X1700H uses Audyssey MultEQ XT for speaker setup and acoustic calibration It works from a simple 2.1-channel setup to a 5.2.2 Dolby Atmos/DTS:X setup. Both the AVR-S760H and AVR-X1700H allow you to further customize settings to your liking with the advanced Audyssey MultEQ Editor app, available for purchase in iOS and Android stores.

All the receivers also come with a new feature called “Dialog Enhancer” which lets you adjust the dialog level on the fly and a newly added HDMI signal information feature which allows you to confirm if 8K or 4K120 signals or other HDR formats are passing through the AVR. Additionally, the AVR-S760H and the AVR-1700H offer “Dual Speaker Presets” which allows you to store and switch instantly between two different speaker configurations and Audyssey settings.

The new S-Series AVRs work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Siri for voice control of AVR functions while the AVR-1700H also works with  Josh.ai for voice control of AVR functions and supports major third-party command protocols like Control 4 SDDP (Simple Device Discovery Protocol). HDMI diagnostics mode and a smart remote management via Domotz or OvrC are also supported with the AVR-1700H.

The AVR-S660H and AVR-S760H are available for $449 and $549, respectively, at authorized Denon retailers. The AVR-X1700H is $699 and will be available starting November 2021 at authorized Denon retailers. For more information on the latest additions to the Denon X-Series receivers, please visit usa.denon.com/us.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.