Denon AVR-S980H Receiver Is An All-Round Entertainer

Denon proudly states that its new AVR-S980H was designed for listeners who want great sound without a complicated setup, a steep learning curve, or a living room full of wires.

The brand adds that its latest 7.2-channel AV receiver is aimed at people who want to step up from a soundbar or a basic sound system but still want something approachable and easy to live with.

The AVR-S980H boasts 90 watts per channel (8 ohm, 20Hz-20kHz, 0.08% 2ch Drive), which should give most homes enough muscle to handle action-packed movies and dynamic music.

Around the rear, you have six HDMI inputs (3x8K and 3x4K)and two outputs, an MM phono stage input, and four analogue inputs. Digital is taken on board via two optical and one coax input. Rounding things off are a pair of subwoofer outputs.

Naturally, Denon’s AVR-S980H will slip seamlessly into an HEOS ecosystem. Moreover, it can also be used with the recently released Denon Home 200, 400, and 600 speakers as wireless surrounds. Denon confirms that although wireless surround functionality will arrive via a future firmware update, it will not be available at launch.

The new AV receiver is built to scale over time. This enables you to start with a simple two-speaker setup and expand over time into a full 5.1 surround sound, or a more immersive 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos setup, without needing to replace the receiver at the centre of it all.

You also get support for Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and HEOS multiroom audio. For auto speaker setup, the S980H is compatible with Audyssey MultEQ when used with a suitable microphone.

Another skill of the S980H is its support for 1440p pass-through and AMD FreeSync. This translates to smoother visuals and more responsive gameplay, making fast-moving scenes feel cleaner and easier to follow.

We are confident that the setup should be straightforward thanks to the step-by-step on-screen instructions. After setup, you can tailor the AVR to your preferences using the TV’s on-screen menu, or enjoy seamless control via a remote app or a web-based interface on your phone or PC.

The Denon AVR-S980H is available now priced at US$949 | £799 | €899.

For more information visit Denon