Approximately twice as large as an Apple TV box, the Denon Home Amp remains compact (two Home Amp can even be placed side by side in a rack). Don't be fooled by its looks, it has power to spare, more than many much larger volume amplifiers. The icing on the cake is that it also includes the Heos network/multiroom functionality.
Denon Home Amp, Class D amplification££££
The compactness of the Denon Home Amp is of course linked to the presence of a particularly valiant Class D digital amplification since it is capable of delivering 2 x 100 W at 8 ohms (2 x 125 W at 4 ohms). Configurable in Dual Mono mode, the Denon Home Amp offers five audio modes: Stereo, Direct, Virtual, Denon Dialog Enhancer and Night. Precision, the front panel accommodates tactile transport buttons.
Denon Home Amp, Heos functionality££££
We of course find the exclusive Heos network/multiroom platform capable of managing up to 64 [abc]streaming[/abc] [abc]Hi-Res zones Audio[/abc]. The management of music services (Deezer, Amazon Music HD, Tidal, etc.) and network streaming is therefore complete: [abc]DSD[/abc] 2.8/5.6 MHz, [abc]Alac[/abc], [abc]Flac[/abc], [abc]Wav[/abc] up to 192 kHz/24 bits, [abc]AAC[/abc] and [abc]MP3[/abc] up to 320 kbps, [ abc]WMA[/abc] up to 192 kbps. We also note the [abc]Bluetooth[/abc] 5.0, [abc]AirPlay 2[/abc], the [abc]Wi-Fi[/abc] ac Dual Band and Spotify Connect. Of course, the [abc]UPnP[/abc] ([abc]DLNA[/abc]) audio gateway function is present. Just like the compatibility with all Heos devices from Denon and Marantz.
Denon Home Amp, connectivity££££
The Denon Home Amp finally has an HDMI [abc]eARC[/abc] CEC connector, a perfect feature for automatically switching to TV sound once it is turned on , and recover the sound signal up to [abc]Dolby Atmos[/abc] and [abc]DTS:X[/abc] coming for example from [abc]OTT[/abc] applications such as Netflix or Disney+, to be broadcast via [abc]downmix[/abc] in [abc]Dolby Digital Plus[/abc] 2.0. Not forgetting an [abc]optical[/abc] input, a stereo [abc]RCA[/abc], a subwoofer output, a powered [abc]USB[/abc]-A port, an [abc]Ethernet port [/abc] and two pairs of screw terminal blocks.
Control of the Denon Home Amp is provided via the television remote control if the latter is connected, or using the Heos application.
Availability, in black, immediate. Indicative price: 799 euros.
Reminder of the key characteristics of the Denon Home Amp:
• Model: [abc]2.1[/abc]
• Power: 2 x 100 W at 8 ohms or 2 x 125 W at 4 ohms
• Inputs: 1 [abc]optical[/abc] input, 1 [abc]RCA[/abc] stereo input, 1 [abc]USB[/abc] port and 1 [abc]Ethernet[/abc] port ]
• Outputs: 1 [abc]HDMI[/abc] [abc]eARC[/abc] output, 1 subwoofer output
• Total harmonic distortion (THD): 0.05%
• Function [abc]UPnP[/abc] ([abc]DLNA[/abc]) audio
• Compatibility [abc]AirPlay 2[/abc]
• Compatibility [abc]Flac[/ abc] HD
• Compatibility [abc]Alac[/abc]
• Compatibility [abc]DSD[/abc] 2.8/5.6 MHz
• Compatibility [abc]Wav[ /abc]
• [abc]MP3[/abc]
compatibility• [abc]WMA[/abc]
compatibility• [abc]Wi-Fi[/abc] Dual Band compatibility
• Wi-Fi ac compatibility
• [abc]Bluetooth[/abc] 5.0 compatibility
• Streaming [abc]Hi-Res Audio[/abc] via USB/Network: yes
• Heos Multiroom network• Spotify Connect network
• Web radio(s): yes, Tune In
• Dimensions (L x H x D, mm): 217 x 86.2 x 234 mm
• Weight: 2.1 kg