Denon AVR-S960H 7.2 Channel AV Receiver

Denon AVR-S960H 7.2 Channel AV Receiver

The Denon AVR-S960H is a 7.2 channel AV receiver with 90 watts per channel, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding for a 5.1.2 height layout, and the HDMI specification that defined its generation: 8K/60 Hz and 4K/120 Hz passthrough on one input and output, with eARC, HDR10 Plus and Dolby Vision support. HEOS streaming, AirPlay 2 and Audyssey MultEQ room correction are built in.

Key features

• 7.2 channels at 90 W per channel into 8 ohms
• Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for 5.1.2 immersive audio layouts
• 8K/60 Hz and 4K/120 Hz passthrough with 8K upscaling
• HDR10, HDR10 Plus, Dolby Vision and HLG video support
• Audyssey MultEQ room correction with Denon Setup Assistant
• HEOS multiroom streaming, AirPlay 2 and two-way Bluetooth
• Six HDMI inputs and two HDMI outputs, HDCP 2.3 throughout
• Phono input for a turntable plus optical and coaxial digital inputs

Video switching without the bottleneck

A receiver that cannot pass a modern console signal forces awkward workarounds: the console goes straight to the television and audio returns over a compromised path. The S960H avoids that. One HDMI input and the main output support 8K/60 Hz and 4K/120 Hz, all six inputs support 8K upscaling and HDCP 2.3, and the main output carries eARC for lossless audio back from the TV’s own apps. Auto Low Latency Mode, Variable Refresh Rate and Quick Frame Transport support the gaming features of current consoles and PCs, so the receiver can stay at the centre of the system.

Immersive audio and height virtualisation

With seven powered channels, the receiver runs a 7.2 layout or a 5.1.2 Atmos and DTS:X layout with two height speakers. For rooms where height speakers cannot be installed, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization and DTS Virtual:X create a sense of height from conventional speakers. Two subwoofer outputs allow a second sub to even out bass across seats. Power is rated at 90 watts per channel into 8 ohms from 20 Hz to 20 kHz at 0.08 percent THD with two channels driven, ample for typical living-room speaker packages.

Room correction and setup

Audyssey MultEQ measures the room with the supplied microphone and corrects for the peaks and dips that furniture, walls and speaker placement create, while the Denon Setup Assistant walks through connection and configuration on the television screen with clear graphics. The result is a system that is calibrated rather than merely connected: dialogue level, surround balance and subwoofer integration are set from measurements taken at the listening positions, not guessed from default values.

Streaming, voice and everyday connections

HEOS is built in for multiroom music with compatible Denon and HEOS products, alongside AirPlay 2, Bluetooth reception for phones and Bluetooth transmission to headphones for late-night listening. Voice control works through Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri ecosystems. Beyond HDMI there are analogue inputs including a moving-magnet phono stage for vinyl, optical and coaxial digital inputs, and front USB playback, covering legacy sources alongside streaming.

The AVR-S960H measures 434 x 339 x 167 mm and weighs 9.5 kg. It suits a living-room cinema built around a current games console, a 4K or 8K television and a 5.1.2 speaker layout, where one box must switch, decode, calibrate and stream without becoming the weak link.