Audio Video News

Denon today introduced a hi-res-ready stereo receiver with onboard wireless music streaming, a phono input, and something you won’t find in most two-channel components — a full-featured HDMI video section.

Aimed squarely at two-channel music enthusiasts, the DRA-800H ($499) is Denon’s first stereo receiver to support Wi-Fi-based wireless multiroom streaming through the company’s Heos platform, which provides quick access to Spotify, Tidal, Pandora, Amazon Music, TuneIn internet radio, and other streaming services. Bluetooth streaming is also supported.

The receiver is built around a new symmetrical-design amplifier rated to deliver 100 watts per channel, custom resistors, audio-grade capacitors, and 32-bit AKM digital-to-analog converters (DACs). 4K/HDR (high dynamic range) passthrough and audio return channel (ARC) are supported and the receiver has a front-panel USB port for gapless playback of 192-kHz/24bit FLAC, WAV, and ALAC audio files and DSD 2.8/5.6MHz files — all of which can also be streamed from network sources.

Additional audiophile accoutrements include a power transformer with oxygen-free copper windings, double differential DAC circuitry, short-signal-path circuit-board layouts, and the ability to drive low-impedance speaker loads.

The DRA-800H also supports voice control via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Josh.ai, and Apple Siri. Alexa can be used to control the receiver with voice commands for switching inputs, while Google Assistant and Siri can be used to adjust volume, skip tracks, and more.

Five HDMI inputs and one output are provided with support for 4K/60Hz video, HDR10 and HLG high dynamic range (HDR), BT.2020 passthrough, and HDCP 2.3 processing in addition to optical and coaxial digital inputs, analog RCA inputs, and a moving-magnet phono input. A Zone 2 pre-out is also included along with a subwoofer output.

The DRA-800H offers “a mixture of dedicated hi-fi amplification, circuitry, and carefully selected components to easily drive a two-channel listening system alongside an advanced HDMI suite that supports full 4K Ultra HD 60Hz video with ARC,” said Michael Greco, senior director of global brand management at Denon parent company Sound United.

Front-panel controls include knobs for bass, treble, and balance and a source direct mode that bypasses the tone controls. Two pairs of speakers can be connected via bi-wireable, gold-plated speaker terminals.

Third-party control devices are supported and the receiver features Control4 SDPP (Simple Device Detection Protocol) certification for integration with Control4 home automation devices.

For more information, visit usa.denon.com.