Denon ends 2019 with a bang, or rather a boom, with its just-announced Denon DHT-S216 soundbar that supports DTS Virtual:X surround sound at just $249 (about $190, AU365). This price puts it around the same price as many entry-level bars from Vizio, Samsung, and Sony, but DTS Virtual:X support, as well as some of Denon's new custom features, are what might set it apart. Competition According to specifications submitted to TechRadar, the Denon DHT-S216 measures 2,35 inches tall and uses two 3-inch subwoofers, two 1 3/4 x 3 1/2-inch woofers, and two 1-inch tweeters. inch. inch. Rotate to find HDCP 2.2 HDMI IN and HDMI OUT ports that support ARC and 4K/60Hz playback. Denon's Pure Mode is new to this bar: it removes surround processing and removes the snappy features associated with Movie, Music, or Night modes for a more precise, open sound," though it also has three settings—enhanced dialogue that strengthens the midrange. -organize and improve the clarity of the dialogue.
(Image credit: DTS)
DTS Virtual: X vs. Dolby Atmos
So what's wrong with DTS Virtual:X? It is an audio technology that promises additional sound without the need for powerful speakers. You can do this regardless of source, but the effects are more pronounced when you view content that supports it. Dolby Atmos is available in virtual and real formats, depending on the speaker and content you use, but we often refer to products with Dolby Atmos if they have future speakers. So what is the difference? Although neither DTS nor Dolby want to compare, DTS Virtual:X is similar to Dolby Atmos-lite. It's quite versatile, but our experience suggests that the sound effects are a bit less pronounced than with Dolby Atmos. Also, Dolby Atmos is a bit more widely supported: Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Vudu, and iTunes all support Dolby Atmos, but none of them support DTS Virtual:X. So what does this mean for the Denon DHT-S216? At this point, inadvertently ourselves, we're estimating that your budget price tag will probably outweigh its ability to produce true surround sound and you should greatly benefit from virtual surround sound, but we'll have to move on to our labs before we can test it out to give a final opinion.