Denon DHT-S517: review in a minute
The Denon DHT-S517 wants to maximize the sound that you can get for your money. It's a Dolby Atmos-ready wireless subwoofer plus soundbar system, configured to deliver 1.2-channel playback of movie soundtracks. From its tidy dimensions to its convenient build and finish, the DHT-S517 is mundane with serious deadly aspirations.
Setting up the Denon DHT-S715 is pretty simple. Entry options are convenient. The subwoofer and sound bar form a wireless connection almost as fast as connecting to mains power. If 'ease of use' is important to you, then this Denon will be just what you need - it's really hard to suggest ways in which it might be less painful to use. It's one of the best budget soundbars for those who don't want the hassle.
Equally gratifying is the way the Denon DHT-S715 delivers movie soundtracks. It delivers powerful, expansive sound that's immersive and easy to follow, though it doesn't maximize the full potential of Dolby Atmos soundtracks like the best Dolby Atmos soundbars do. The subwoofer is a bit detached from the rest of the action, however, and its relative lack of detail puts it at odds with its associated soundbar, which is nice and clear. The whole system could use a bit more positivity when it comes to playing music, too.
There's a lot to admire here, though, and the Denon DHT-S517 is worth considering if you're looking for a very affordable and more compact option (ideal for 700-inch and larger TVs). The Sony HT-G2 is still slightly our favorite in this price range, though, and if you want something without the subwoofer, check out the Bose Smart Soundbar XNUMX or the Sonos Beam XNUMXnd Gen.
Denon DHT-S517 review: Cost and release date
- Launch mid 2022
- Official price at €699 / €XNUMX / AU €XNUMX
The Denon DHT-S517 launched in XNUMX and in the UK it retails for $XNUMX, though you won't have to look far to find it near $XNUMX. In the US it retails for €XNUMX max and in Australia it costs AU €XNUMX or so.
That's a huge price for a Dolby Atmos wireless soundbar/subwoofer combo from one of the most trusted brands, but by no means without competition. Everyone from Sonos to Sony to Samsung has a chance to compete to make our list of the best soundbars for this price, though most don't have Denon's true Dolby drivers.
Denon DHT-S517 review: features
- Great physical connectivity
- Seven pilots on the soundbar
- Setup is instant
The speakers in the soundbar portion of the Denon DHT-S517 are tuned to deliver the "three" and "two" elements of the DHT-S1.2's "three.517" spatial audio setup, while the subwoofer drives the serious ones The sound bar features a XNUMX x XNUMXmm oval midrange driver at each front end, each accompanied by a XNUMXmm tweeter, forming the left and right channels. A XNUMXmm full-range supervisor sits in the middle, like the center channel, as you'd expect.
Behind each grill on top of the soundbar is a XNUMXmm full-range driver, neatly angled to give you the best chance of reflecting sound off your ceiling for that airy Dolby Atmos effect.
Denon is reluctant to discover the amount of free amp power here. But, as the "audio performance" section will make clear, the headroom is simply more than enough for all but the largest of listening spaces.
Setup really couldn't be simpler. Both units need to be connected to mains power, then the soundbar connects to your TV, ideally via eARC, so its Dolby Atmos potential can be exploited. However, you also get a digital optical input and a 5mm analog input. Fortunately, there are some HDMI sockets: one with eARC to connect to the TV, while the other can take video input and pass it through to the TV, so you don't lose the use of any of your prized HDMI ports.
The subwoofer and soundbar pair wirelessly in no time. If they don't, they may be forced to, but in our experience, they situate and make a connection immediately. And that's your job done. There's no room calibration, no manipulation of crossover frequencies. When it comes to the Denon DHT-S517, one size fits all.
The control options are brief and precise. Along with the physical controls on the soundbar, the DHT-S517 comes with a small clickable remote. Besides these obvious things (on/off, volume and input select), you have a separate control for the bass output, a "dialogue amp" (which is essentially the same thing, but for the mids, choose between bass , medium and high). ), and "pure" control. The latter simply disables all audio processing, letting you enjoy music in plain old-school stereo.
The audio format LED indicator on the DHT-S517 soundbar lights cyan to point to a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, green for non-Atmos Dolby formats. But sometimes the green light will come on even though you know your incoming signal is in Dolby Atmos, and the soundbar's HDMI connection needs to be disconnected and then reconnected before Denon dominates it.
Denon DHT-S517 Review: Audio Performance
- A powerful, affirmative and (above all) confident sound
- The subwoofer could be better integrated
- Dynamism and detail in equal parts
Along with Dolby Atmos audio, there's a lot to like about the DHT-S517's sound. The midrange, for example, is effected truly impressively. The center channel is the hardest working factor of virtually any movie soundtrack, naturally, if for no other reason, it's where all the dialogue is. The Denon does a good job of creating enough space for voices to project, and has a lot of information about the character, texture, and tonality of spoken words. Even as vocals scream to be heard against a rowdy, action-packed backdrop, the DHT-S517 gives them plenty of room to express themselves.
The overall soundstage space should not be neglected either. Admittedly, the "height" aspect of The Man From Toronto's Dolby Atmos soundtrack isn't particularly pronounced. Nonetheless, Denon's presentation is expansive and immersive. He directs the effects from left to right with genuine positivity and blocks sounds in situation with equal authority.
At the top of the frequency range there is as much bite and crunch as is allowable. The DHT-S517 never threatens to misbehave unless you're sloppy with volume levels: high-pitched sounds can become ill-defined and a bit shrill in these circumstances. Keep things realistic though, and there's a decent balance on top and plenty of detail in terms of texture and substance to enjoy.
The lower end of the frequency range is a bit more troublesome. There's no question that the subwoofer digs and punches hard, and the essential attack and decay control is pretty good too. But it's a little short on details and information compared to the soundbar, and it seems happy enough to keep up with what's happening on the screen.
But most important is the slight, more defined sound gap at the point where the soundbar passes the subwoofer. It's by no means a long distance, but the imperfect way of judging the crossover between the two is noticeable. Has enthusiasm, however, the subwoofer. He totally enjoys the large active alterations found in so many movie soundtracks, and even at notable volume he controls his output well.
Switching to purely audio content takes the DHT-S517 out of its comfort zone somewhat. A file of Sugar's If I Can't Change Your Mind streamed via Bluetooth sounds as robust and affirmative as a movie soundtrack, but Denon's inability to properly match his frequency response is underscored. . The result is a somewhat lumpy, and somewhat overly obvious sound the product of many components rather than a single entity.
Denon DHT-S517 review: Design
- Simple design with very elegant canvas.
- Suitable for TVs XNUMX inches and larger
- Remote control or top controls
The soundbar portion of the Denon DHT-S517 is a usefully solid size of 4 x 7 x XNUMXmm / XNUMX x XNUMX x XNUMX inches (W x H x D), that it's no wider than the best XNUMX- to XNUMX-inch TVs, and it's not very likely to block the bottom of all but the lowest screens. The cabinet is plain plastic, though the dark gray acoustic cloth that covers its front half looks and feels premium in a reserved way.
The front of the soundbar features a small amount of branding and a similarly small row of 4 LEDs. The number that lights up and the color they display will give you details about the source, audio format, and volume level. The top is where you'll find 5 control buttons, covering power on/off, Bluetooth pairing, input selection, and volume up/down. Meanwhile, the back of the soundbar is where the physical inputs live. There are also some keyhole cutouts in case you want to mount the soundbar on the wall; at 5kg, it's not much of a threat even to bulkheads.
The subwoofer, meanwhile, is built from the same plastic as the soundbar and its front section is covered in the same acoustic fabric, concealing a XNUMXmm woofer. On the back of the subwoofer cabinet is a fairly large bass-reflex port, a power jack, and a button to wirelessly pair the subwoofer to the soundbar. There is also a small indicator light to confirm that the wireless pairing has been done.
Denon DHT-S517 Review: Value
The speaker setup here is nearly unmatched for the price, and it's a lot of fun watching your favorite movies with this soundbar blasting out.