TVs might be getting better when it comes to picture quality but thin designs mean audio is always going to be limited. This is why a soundbar should be there to give you the full home theatre experience.
Your TV is likely 4K or even 8K in resolution but you might be making do with mediocre sound quality, whether you realise it or not. It’s like buying a Ferrari but lift up the bonnet and there’s a tiny Fiat 500 engine inside.
The two don’t go together and this mismatch shouldn’t be the case in your lounge either – it’s called AV (audio visual) for a reason. Luckily Denon is on hand with an excellent range of soundbars catering to different budgets and requirements.
Whether you’re watching the latest blockbuster, the big game or taking on other players online gaming, a soundbar will bring your living room to life. Let’s take a look at three Denon soundbars so you’re bound to find one that fits.
Denon DHT-S316 : Slim but substantial
Affordable but feature packed, the DHT-S316 is not just a soundbar, it’s a plug-and-play entertainment centre thanks to its two-way speakers and bundled wireless subwoofer.
The DHT-S316 is particularly good if you don’t have much space for a soundbar as it stands at just 5.5cm tall. You still get powerful room-filling sound which includes Dolby Digital and DTS Decoding for that surround sound feeling.
Furthermore, the soundbar has Denon’s own Dialogue Enhancer so you don’t miss out on important lines without losing other audio.
Despite being slim, the DHT-S316 has lots of connectivity including Bluetooth, optical input, an aux port and HDMI with ARC (audio return channel). You can also control the soundbar with your TV remote.
The DHT-S316 is £280 and available from Currys PC World and Richer Sounds
Denon DHT-S516H: Wireless precision
Moving up to the DHT-S516H gets you all the benefits of the DHT-S316 with a lot more on top.
For starters, two bi-amplified mid-woofers and two tweeters with advanced DSP (Digital Signal Processing) provide knock out sound quality. The soundbar system also supports High-Res Audio playback, Dolby Digital Plus, and comes equipped with a wireless subwoofer.
You’ll also benefit from voice control functionality thanks to support for Siri via Apple AirPlay 2, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa. This will allow you to control the volume, play, pause, skip tracks and more. However, this will require a separate compatible voice enabled device.
On top of the features found on the DHT-S316 such as HDMI input and output with ARC, you can connect up to two devices with 4K HDMI. The DHT-S516H also comes with HEOS Built-in, which means it’s compatible with other HEOS enabled devices. This technology allows for whole home multi-room audio which can be controlled effortlessly from the HEOS app.
The Denon DHT-S516H also features pre-set EQ modes optimized for movie and music listening. Select the Movie mode to punch up the bass of an action scene or to make dialogue sound clearer. Choose the Music mode for a wider soundstage and even dispersion. Or, switch to Night mode for lowered bass and clear dialogue when it’s time to quiet things down.
The DHT-S516H is £699 and available from Currys PC World.
DHT-S716H: Premium power
If you want to go all out then the 716 has everything you could need and you don’t even need to factor in space for subwoofer because the soundbar does it all in one neat and stylish package.
An array of 9 drivers deliver 3-channel sound with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio surround sound decoding so you’ll experience immersive home theatre sound no matter what’s on the screen.
Connectivity is probably better than your TV with no less than four HDMI inputs supporting 4K Ultra HD pass through, HDCP 2.2, HDR and Dolby Vision. There’s also optical, Ethernet, USB and more.
Like the 516, you get premium features such as High-Res Audio support, smart assistants, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2 and HEOS. A handy remote control features six Quick Select buttons which can be customised to your favourite functions or radio stations.
The DHT-S716 is £799 and available from Currys PC World and Audiovisual online.