Denon Home Amp Review

Once the sole domain of professional custom integrators, multi-room audio is enjoying a healthy growth period thanks to evolving wireless standards and more efficient Class D amplifiers. Perhaps most important is the work being done by manufacturers to build the backbones of a functional operating system that brings the various elements together. Arguably, no manufacturer is better placed to capitalise on this than Denon, with its latest Home Amp looking to assert itself as a contender for those looking for discreet, flexible, high-performance audio.

UP CLOSE

Denon has imbued the Home Amp with a surprising number of features considering its compact form factor. The manufacturer claims a feisty 100W per channel into 8 ohms from its Axign Class D power module, rising to 125W into 4 ohms. Connectivity is broad, with physical inputs comprising optical, HDMI eARC, RCA, USB and Ethernet. Wireless connectivity is via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi 5. On the output side, we have a single RCA subwoofer output and the speaker terminals for the two channels of output audio.

Internally, Denon’s well-established HEOS system puts it all together – playing sources from TV, CD, vinyl, DLNA, USB, Airplay2, Roon, Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz and many more. It decodes everything from Dolby Digital, LPCM, WMA, and MP3, up to 24-bit/192kHz FLAC and 5.6MHz DSD. In short, this unassuming 86x217x234mm box will take almost any source you can think of and turn it into loud music – assuming you’ve plugged in your speakers, of course!

Following the same path as the latest receivers from Denon and Marantz, this is a shared platform, so a lot of this might sound similar to the recently reviewed Marantz M1. But this isn’t a simple rebranding exercise because, according to Denon, the Home Amp has no fewer than 285 unique parts compared to its cousin, and is built in Vietnam rather than the M1’s Japan. The differences ensure that each model has a unique audio flavour which fans of these respective brands have come to expect.

Visually, the Home Amp is quite understated and clearly designed for function over form. It is a basic black box with minimalist touch controls and a status light on the front and a metal vented top surface. Unassuming is the word of the day, which means you won’t feel guilty hiding it away in a cabinet or bookshelf and letting the music do all the attention-getting.

For those planning to use the Home Amp to add additional audio spaces to your existing home, then two of these will fit side-by-side comfortably in a 2RU space in a rack. They easily integrate with other HEOS devices from Denon or Marantz, avoiding the need to bear the cost of a full custom integration product. The 2kg Home Amp feels confidently weighty, which is a surprise considering its size. The rear panel connections are reasonably accessible, but I did find the speaker terminals flimsy. Some banana plugs would be much easier to manage here, rather than messing about with bare wires.

The Home Amp is pretty easy to set up, thanks to clear instructions, the front status light and the excellent HEOS app – the latter providing step-by-step and visual guides as you connect to your network and get started. For the purposes of my review, the amplifier was mated with a pair of Polk Reserve R100 speakers. The HEOS app proved very responsive when set up, and offers a wide range of controls for EQ, balance, high and low pass filters, DIRAC and so on.

THE LISTENING

It is immediately clear that – while the externals might look a little simple – Denon has not compromised on internal quality and performance. Normally, a streaming amplifier of meagre dimensions will feel like a cut-down version of a real product, but the Denon delivers a full-sized sound. It also carries the flexibility and control options you would expect from a grown-up stereo receiver, provided you don’t mind operating it via its app interface.

The Home Amp is an impressively balanced-sounding device. Bass is strong at the low end, and detail is sharply represented at the top, without either side being overpowering. Across almost any genre of music, the Denon never breaks into a sweat – and for a package that can hide between books on a bookshelf, that’s no small feat! It’s easy to recommend for someone looking to power a small to mid-size stereo listening space, or an outdoor area, who wants convenience with quality.

For example, Harry Styles’ As It Was is a tight and fast modern pop track combining taut bass and sharp snare drums, smooth vocals, and powerful drum rolls. The Denon didn’t baulk at any of this, and no EQ tweaking was needed to enjoy those rich tom-tom rolls. His androgynous vocals sounded surprisingly satisfying, and didn’t feel as processed as many Class D amplifiers that I have heard. Effortless power delivery at both ends of the spectrum allowed the recording to retain its depth and spread, and this made for a strong and expansive sound.

Hip-Hop classic Whoomp, There It Is from Tag Team is a sonic assault course, and the Home Amp had no problems bringing out that strong bassline at higher volumes, whilst retaining a clear and detailed midband. The synthesiser work was well defined and never seemed compromised by the demands that the low end put upon the amplifier. It showed commendable resolution for a modestly priced product, proving it is way more than its diminutive dimensions suggest.

Wonderland from Openfire is an eclectic blend of dynamic vocals, energetic drums, electronic keyboards and guitars. It’s an adventurous struggle to convey the energy of a live performance in recorded form, and the clean delivery of the Denon clearly revealed the eccentric vocal performance of Luka Sandeo that lies at the heart of this track. Likewise, Howling for You by The Black Keys showed this amp’s musical insight even with complex mixes. All the lead elements of the recording – from the electronics, lead and rhythm guitars and bass – worked together in a most satisfying way. It delivered an almost “in the moment” live feel, making the music magic.

THE VERDICT

Denon’s new Home Amp is a highly capable wonder-box that squeezes impressive functionality and good sound into a compact package. A great way to save space without unduly sacrificing performance, it’s a high-performing whole-home solution that doesn’t come with a CI price tag.

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