Denon Unveils New 8K AV Receivers for 2022

Denon has announced five new AV receivers for 2022 that offer updated HDMI 2.1 connectivity and support for 8K video at a rather wide range of prices. It has been a while since we have seen a new crop of home theater receivers from Denon, but it looks like they were rather busy working on these new designs that have every bell and whistle imaginable.

Some consumers might scroll through the list of features and think that they are never going to use many of them — and they would be correct. This has been an issue for AV receivers for a long time and we hope that more companies take the path chosen by Anthem and Rotel who have focused on sound and image quality and not gimmicks.

The five new models include:

• Denon AVR-A1H – $6,499 at Amazon
• Denon AVR-X4800H – $2,499 at Amazon
• Denon AVR-X3800H – $1,699 at Amazon
• Denon AVR-X2800H – $1,199 at Amazon
• Denon AVR-S970H – $899 at Amazon

Tip: All of the receivers have an abundance of features, so we will only touch on the major highlights in this article. If you tap the links on the model numbers, that will take you down the “rabbit hole” of the technical features and specifications for each receiver. 

Features in Common

The Denon receivers in the following group all have the following core features:

• Surround Sound Support: Most surround sound formats including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X Audio.
• HDR Support: HDR10/10+, Dolby Vision, HLG, Dynamic HDR pass-through
• HDMI 2.1: Includes HDMI-eARC and Gaming Support (4K/120Hz, 8K/60Hz, VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), and Quick Frame Transport (QFT).
• Hi-Res Audio:  Support for 24-bit/192kHz audio playback. Digital audio format support includes MP3, WMA, WAV, MPEG-4/AAC, FLAC, and ALAC. 
• Heos: Multi-room wireless streaming
• Wireless Music Streaming: Amazon HD, Spotify Connect, Pandora,  and more… Roon Tested.
• Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Wi-Fi (Wired Ethernet is also included if needed).
• Voice Control: Alexa Built-in, Google Assistant, Josh AI
• Smartphone App Control: iOS, Android
• Audyssey Room Correction Built-in: MultEQ, MulitEQ XT32, Dynamic EQ, Dynamic Volume

A-Series 

AVR-A1H ($6,499): There is only one entry (so far) in Denon’s A-Series category for 2022/23 but it’s the Big Kahuna of their AV Receiver line. Coming in at just over 70 pounds, this beast provides more than most home theater fans probably need. 

The AVR-A1H houses 15 discrete assignable amplifiers that can output 150 wpc and provides four subwoofer outputs (including both balanced and unbalanced connections). You can set up a main and 2nd room system, use the speaker bi-amp connection flexibility, or set up the ultimate Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, or Auro 3D Audio configuration (support for up to a 9.4.6 channel setup). The A1H also includes IMAX Enhanced and Sony 360 Reality Audio support. 

The AVR-A1H includes 8 HDMI inputs and three HDMI outputs. 

Tip: The A1H will support Dirac Live room correction via a future firmware update.  The inclusion of Dirac Live will allow users to fine-tune speakers connected to a receiver to more accurately match the acoustic environment of the room they are placed in, providing a more well-rounded music listening experience with better accuracy, larger sweet spot, more precise voice intelligibility, as well as deeper, but less boomy bass.

Go in-depth: Learn more about the flagship AVR-A1H A/V Receiver here.

X- Series

AVR-X4800H ($2,499): This receiver shares most of the same features as the A1H, but with a 9.4 channel configuration and lower per-channel power output (that’s 9 amplified channels that can output 125 watts per channel and preamp outputs for up to four subwoofers). However, this receiver can easily accommodate Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro 3D audio formats in just about any room without the ultra-high price tag of the A1H. The X4800H has 7 HDMI inputs and 3 HDMI outputs. 

Tip: The X4800 will support Dirac Live with a future firmware update.

AVR-X3800H ($1,699): This is also a 9.4-channel receiver with most of the same features as the X4800, but with a lower power output of 105 watts per channel (which is still plenty for 90% of the rooms out there). The X3800H has 6 HDMI inputs and 3 HDMI outputs. 

Tip: The X3800H will support Dirac Live with a future firmware update. 

Related: We previously reviewed the predecessor to the X3800H, the AVR-X3700H A/V Receiver (2020 model) which is still available while supplies last for about $500 less.

UPDATE 3/18/2023: The Dirac Live Room Correction option is now available for the A1H, X4800H, and X3800H. In addition to the Dirac update, Mini DSP’s UMIK-1 or Umik-2 microphone is recommended for use with Dirac Live (The Audyssey Mic will not work).

Tip: Audyssey Room Correction still remains an option even if Dirac Live is installed. You just can’t use both systems at the same time.

AVR-X2800H ($1,199): The receiver is better suited for use in use in a medium-sized room, with 7.2 channels with AV with 95 watts per channel. This receiver also leaves out Auro 3D Audio, MAX Enhanced, and Sony 360 Reality audio support. The X2800H has 6 HDMI inputs and 2 HDMI outputs. 

S-Series

AVR-S970H ($899): The most affordable receiver in this group, the AVR-S970H is a 7.2 Channel AV receiver that can output 90 watts per channel. With 7.2 amplified channels to work with, you can opt for a standard 7.2 channel setup, a 5.2.2 Dolby Atmos/DTS:X channel setup, or a 5.1 channel setup combined with a two-channel stereo setup in an additional room. 

The Denon AVR-S970H also provides a total of 6 HDMI inputs, three of which are 8K compatible. Also, even though it is the least expensive of this receiver group, it still supports 4K/120Hz pass-through via the 8K-enabled HDMI inputs.

Tip: The 7.2-channel Denon AVR-S760H A/V Receiver (2021 model) we previously reviewed remains available while supplies last.

Entry Level Options

Two additional receivers in Denon’s 2022/23 offerings are the AVR-S570BT ($299) and X580BT ($686 in select markets). These receivers are designed as very affordable entry-level units. 

Unlike the receivers discussed above, these two receivers don’t have internet streaming and multi-room audio capabilities, and many other advanced features. However, both receivers are equipped with Bluetooth (that is what the “BT” in the model numbers refer to), so you can stream music from compatible smartphones. 

These receivers also don’t have traditional turntable phono inputs. To connect a turntable, users will have to place an external phono preamp between the turntable and the receiver, unless the turntable has its own built-in phono preamp.

Both receivers have a 5.2 channel configuration, which means 5 traditional channels (left, center, right, left surround, right right surround) that can output 70 watts of power, plus two subwoofer outputs. 

The AVR-S570BT (not confirmed yet for the X580BT) doesn’t include Dolby Atmos or DTS:X but does include Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding for Blu-ray Disc and other compatible content sources.

AVR-S570BT (once again not confirmed for the AVR-X580BT) includes 4 HDMI inputs and one output that is 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz compatible with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) support for gamers and can also pass-through HDR10/10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG HDR formats.

Price & Availability

• AVR-A1H – $6,499 at Amazon
• AVR-X4800H – $2,499 at Amazon
• AVR-X3800H – $1,699 at Amazon
• AVR-X2800H – $1,199 at Amazon
• AVR-S970H – $899 at Amazon

Where to buy: Amazon | Amazon.ca | Crutchfield

Related Reading

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