Denon AVR-S970H

    89
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    USA
    UK

    Highlights

    • 7.2 Channels
    • 7.1 Channel Processing
    • 90 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven)
    • HDMI 2.1
    • Dolby Atmos, DTS:X
    • HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
    • 8K Passthrough, 8K Upscaling
    • Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet
    • Phono Input
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    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Table of Contents
    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. 2022 Lineup
    4. Predecessor
    5. Multi-zone Playback
    6. Inputs and Outputs
    7. Audio Section
    8. Video Section
    9. Evaluation
    10. Specifications

    Overview

    Denon AVR-S970H was introduced in 2022. It is equipped with 7 channel amplifier with 90 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven) power per channel and is capable of 7.1 maximum channel processing. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, passes 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz and upscales up to 8K 50/60Hz and 4K 100/120Hz 4:4:4 video signal.

    We evaluated the a/v receiver and gave 89 overall score out of 100. Our ranking system is based on the amplifier specifications, audio and video features, connectivity, multizone capabilities, radio and many other details.

    Amplifier
    86
    Audio Features
    86
    Video Features
    100
    Connectivity
    86
    Zones
    77
    Radio
    98
    OVERALL
    89

    For more details about the ranking please go to    Evaluation page.


    Here is a history of the series, where you can view and compare the main specifications of the receivers.

    Evolution of the series
    Model Year Chann. Power Dolby Atmos DTS:X HDR10 HDR10+ Dolby Vision Pass. Price
    AVR-S970H Image cannot be found 2022 7.2 90 W 8K
    AVR-S960H Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		2020 7.2 90 W 8K
    AVR-S950H Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		2019 7.2 90 W 4K
    AVR-S940H Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		2018 7.2 90 W 4K
    AVR-S930H Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		2016 7.2 90 W 4K
    AVR-S920W Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		2016 7.2 90 W 4K
    AVR-S910W Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		2015 7.2 90 W 4K

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Denon AVR-S970H vs AVR-S960H vs AVR-S950H vs AVR-S940H vs AVR-S930H vs AVR-S920W.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Denon AVR-S970H.

    PROs

    •   Dolby Atmos
    •   Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization
    •   DTS:X
    •   Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic.
    •   HDR10
    •   HDR10+
    •   Dolby Vision
    •   HDMI Version
    •   eARC
    •   New HDCP Version
    •   Auto Low Latency Mode Pass-through
    •   VRR
    •   QFT
    •   8K Passthrough
    •   8K Upscaling
    •   Wi-Fi
    •   Bluetooth
    •   Works with Amazon Alexa
    •   Google Assistant
    •   HEOS
    •   3 8K Inputs
    •   USB Input
    •   Phono Input
    •   Ethernet
    •   Analog Tuner
    •   Pandora
    •   Spotify
    •   Tidal

    CONs

    •   No Front Wide Channel Support
    •   No IMAX Enhanced
    •   No Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer
    •   No DSD via HDMI
    •   No RCA Pre-Outs
    •   No Composite Video Inputs
    •   No Digital Radio

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   7.2 Channels
    •   Power Output - 90 W
    •   7.1 Channel Processing
    •   6 HDMI Inputs
    •   2 HDMI Outputs
    •   RCA Line Inputs
    •   2 Zones
    •   Bluetooth 4․2

    Denon 2022 Lineup

    In 2022 Denon released 7 new receivers. Here is the lineup:

    Denon 2022 Lineup
    ModelChannelsPowerMax. Ch. Proc.Pre OutsRoom Corr.Immersive AudioHDRZones Price
    AVR-A1H Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		15.4150 W15.417.4 Audyssey MultEQ XT32 and Dirac Live (upgrade)Dolby Atmos
    DTS:X
    Auro 3D    		HDR10
    HDR10+
    Dolby Vision    		3
    AVR-X4800H Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		9.4125 W11.411.4 Audyssey MultEQ XT32 and Dirac Live (upgrade)Dolby Atmos
    DTS:X
    Auro 3D    		HDR10
    HDR10+
    Dolby Vision    		3
    AVR-X3800H Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		9.4105 W11.411.4 Audyssey MultEQ XT32 and Dirac Live (upgrade)Dolby Atmos
    DTS:X
    Auro 3D    		HDR10
    HDR10+
    Dolby Vision    		2
    AVR-X2800H Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.295 W7.1 Audyssey MultEQ XTDolby Atmos
    DTS:X    		HDR10
    HDR10+
    Dolby Vision    		2
    AVR-X2800H DAB Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		7.295 W7.1 Audyssey MultEQ XTDolby Atmos
    DTS:X    		HDR10
    HDR10+
    Dolby Vision    		2
    AVR-S970H Image cannot be found 7.290 W7.1 Audyssey MultEQDolby Atmos
    DTS:X    		HDR10
    HDR10+
    Dolby Vision    		2
    AVR-S570BT Image cannot be found
    Compare
    		5.270 W5.1HDR10
    Dolby Vision    		1

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Denon AVR-A1H vs AVR-X4800H vs AVR-X3800H vs AVR-X2800H vs AVR-X2800H DAB vs AVR-S970H.

    Predecessor

    Here we are comparing Denon AVR-S970H to its predecessor AVR-S960H and displaying the major changes.

    UPGRADES Denon AVR-S970H vs Denon AVR-S960H
    Dolby Atmos Music vs
    More 8K Inputs 3 vs 1
    Lower FM Harmonic Distortion (IHF, 1 kHz) Mono/Stereo: 0.7%/1.0% vs Mono/Stereo: 0.7%/1.0%
    DOWNGRADES Denon AVR-S970H vs Denon AVR-S960H
    Less RCA Line Inputs 4 vs 5
    Less Composite Video Inputs vs 2
    Less Composite Video Outputs vs 1
    Less Component Video Inputs vs 2
    Less Component Video Outputs vs 1

    For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Denon AVR-S970H vs AVR-S960H.

    Multi-zone Playback

    Denon AVR-S970H offers multi-zone playback which allows you to play different input sources in 2 different rooms.


    Zone 2

    • Powered Zone 2: You can use the unit's 2 amplifier channels by connecting Zone 2 speakers directly to the speaker terminals. The remaining 5 channels will be left for main zone amplification.
    ZONES
    Number of Zones2
    Powered Zones 2
    Zone 2 Outs
    RS-232C Interface
    +12V Trigger Output
    Remote (IR) Input/Output0 / 0

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    Inputs and Outputs

    Audio

    • Phono Input: There is an MM phono input with built-in phono stage for connecting the moving magnet cartridge output of the turntable directly to the a/v receiver.
    • Analog Line Inputs: There are 4 line inputs for analog audio connection.
    • Digital Inputs: 2 optical inputs and 1 coaxial input are available for digital audio connection.
    • Headphone Output: There is a 6.3 mm (1/4") headphone output jack on the front panel.

    Video

    • HDMI:
    • Inputs: 6   Outputs: 2 (1 x 8K and 1 x 4K (simultaneous))
      8K Inputs: 3

    Front A/V Inputs

    • USB
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    TERMINALS
    HDMI Inputs6
    HDMI Outputs2 (1 x 8K and 1 x 4K (simultaneous))
    8K Inputs3
    USB Input1 Front for USB memory
    USB DC Out Port
    Optical Inputs2
    Optical Outputs
    Coaxial Inputs1
    RCA Line Inputs4
    RCA Line Outputs
    XLR Line Inputs
    Phono Input
    Multi-Channel Input
    RCA Pre-Outs0.2
    XLR Pre-outs
    Composite Video Inputs
    Composite Video Outputs
    S-Video Inputs
    S-Video Outputs
    Component Video Inputs
    Component Video Outputs

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