Denon has collaborated with Amazon to integrate Amazon Alexa hands-free voice service to voice enable the HEOS wireless multi-room sound platform. With a planned launch Q1 2017, the collaboration follows on Denon’s formation of a voice user interface team earlier this year, led by Robby Kilgore.
HEOS users will be able to control their HEOS products by using the Alexa voice service using natural speech instead of the HEOS app on an iOS, Android or Amazon Fire device. Users will be able to simply ask to play music, answer questions, get news and local information, control smart home products and more. The new music skill is expected to be available on all HEOS enabled devices by Q1 2017.
Introduced by Denon in 2014, the HEOS series features four wireless multi-zone speakers; HEOS 1, HEOS 3, HEOS 5 and HEOS 7; the HEOS HomeCinema soundbar and subwoofer, the HEOS Drive multi-zone amplifier as well as the HEOS Link and HEOS Amp, that bring HEOS functionality to Hi-Fi systems and passive speakers.
HEOS brings Denon audio performance to any—or all—rooms in the home by easily connecting to an existing Wi-Fi network through the HEOS app, available for iOS, Android and Amazon Fire devices. It instantly gives users multi-room audio control at their fingertips, commanding music in every room from any HEOS device. Another bonus is the ability to play High Resolution audio through HEOS devices to truly unleash Denon performance. In addition, the inclusion of Bluetooth allows user to play their HEOS speakers outside of a network like at the park or the beach.