professionals and cons
- Hello-res audio help
- Multi-room integration
- Dolby Atmos help
- Costlier than rivals
- Obscure EQ settings
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Sonos has maybe been probably the most acknowledged identify within the house speaker marketplace for a while, however Denon has one thing to say about that. The corporate lately launched its lineup of second-generation house audio system: the Denon Residence 200, Residence 400, and Residence 600.
The Denon Home 400 is the mid-tier choice within the lineup, and it is designed to go head-to-head with the Sonos Era 300. It has an identical, bigger type issue, up-firing Dolby Atmos audio system, and a slew of good streaming options. It is also constructed on the corporate’s HEOS multi-room audio platform, for integration with audio system from different HEOS-compatible lineups.
Additionally: I replaced my Sonos Era speakers with an unlikely alternative – and didn’t miss a beat
Sonos has spent years refining its good speaker choices, and the Period 300 is a wonderful instance of the place it is landed. Can Denon really tackle the likes of Sonos with aggressive options? I have been utilizing the Denon Residence 400 to search out out.
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It is really very good
The HEOS multi-room platform runs issues behind the scenes, and it handles issues like streaming, the app expertise, and so forth fairly nicely. I really discovered it supported all of the options I’ve come to depend on in my Sonos audio system. HEOS natively helps a number of music streaming platforms, together with Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon Music, and extra, whereas Apple Music connectivity depends on the speaker’s AirPlay 2.
The Residence 400 works completely nicely by itself, however you can too pair two for stereo playback or use them as wi-fi encompass audio system alongside the Denon Residence Sound Bar 550. That choice is particularly useful if you wish to construct out a correct front room setup with out working speaker wire in all places — and it mirrors Sonos’ implementation with its soundbars. Denon additionally helps HEOS-compatible subwoofers for additional low-end muscle.
For bodily connections, there’s Wi-Fi, a USB-C port, a 3.5mm aux enter, and a built-in microphone. Whereas the HEOS ecosystem may not be as well-built as Sonos’s, in day-to-day use, HEOS works fairly nicely. Setup is straightforward, multi-room grouping is reliable, and you have got protection throughout the foremost streaming providers.
Music sounds glorious
Contained in the Residence 400, you will discover six drivers complete, together with two tweeters, two 114mm (4.5-inch) woofers, and two up-firing drivers devoted to top data. Each single a type of drivers will get its personal devoted Class D amplifier, giving the speaker exact management over every component of the sound.
This acoustic make-up is a significant improve over the previous-generation Residence 250, which had fewer drivers and could not do something near true Atmos playback. The Residence 400 is definitely the primary HEOS-enabled speaker to help actual Dolby Atmos music playback, utilizing bodily upfiring drivers fairly than virtualized top results.
Additionally: Tidal vs. Qobuz: I tried both hi-res streaming services, and they couldn’t be more different
You may hear the distinction in appropriate content material, too. Whether or not you really wish to use Atmos whereas listening to music is one other story. I generally discover it fulfilling, however I often favor to stay to stereo playback. Nevertheless, Atmos help does actually assist if you use these audio system as surrounds in a house theater setup. The immersion of 3D audio is noticeable from the encompass audio system and the entrance channels, which may work collectively to boost the peak impact.
You may management the speaker’s frequency vary, but it surely’s not very exact. To be clear, Sonos would not provide you with very exact management both, so when you’re evaluating the 2, this is not essentially an enormous disadvantage for this speaker particularly. You’re going to get primary bass, treble, and top controls, so you can also make heavy-handed changes, however the controls are just a little arduous to search out.
I spent some time digging via settings earlier than realizing I needed to really be taking part in audio via the speaker to regulate the changes. When you get an understanding of the app and the way it works, you will discover it principally straightforward to navigate, but it surely’s nonetheless not very intuitive.
In case you’re an audio nerd, you will respect the higher help for hi-res audio on the Denon Residence 400. The Residence 400 can play full 24-bit/192kHz audio natively, and when you play audio via the USB port, you’ll be able to play your FLAC information. That is forward of the Sonos Period 300, which may settle for 24-bit/192kHz audio as an enter however downscales it throughout playback.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
The Denon Home 400 is a critical house speaker that considerably blurs the road between consumer-grade and audiophile audio system within the sub-$500 value vary. True audiophiles with deep pockets will not take into account the Residence 400 an audiophile-grade speaker, however informal listeners will respect its sound.
Additionally: Sonos Play vs. Sonos Move 2: Why I’d go with the $200 cheaper Bluetooth speaker
In case you’re on the lookout for immersive and full-sounding audio with out paying a excessive value, the Denon Residence 400 is completely price contemplating. That mentioned, whether or not it beats options depends upon your area. In some areas, like Europe, it prices the identical because the Sonos Era 300however within the US, it prices $150 extra. Most individuals on the lookout for a wise speaker on this class will wish to save the money and go for the Period 300, particularly if they do not care about higher high-res playback.
