The new Denon Home Sound Bar 550 has been announced today, a high-performance and compact sound bar that adds superior TV audio to the Denon Home portfolio.
Delivering Dolby Atmos and DTS:X 3D surround sound from a six-driver array, as well as 4K video compatibility, the sound bar reproduces bigger, room-filling 3D sound whether watching movies, TV or listening to music.
Using HEOS Built-in, listeners can stream high-resolution music from various music services or their local libraries directly to the sound bar. Those who have already invested in the HEOS ecosystem, including other Denon Home products, can add the Denon Home Sound Bar 550 as a separate wireless zone without pulling any wires.
Customers have the option of using the Sound Bar 550 either as a standalone TV speaker or as part of the Denon Home ecosystem, including the Denon Home 150, 250 and 350, which can all be implemented as rear-channel surrounds. For a more impactful cinema experience, listeners can add the DSW-1H wireless subwoofer separately.
Easy to set-up, the sound bar can be controlled on the device itself, through the remote control, or the HEOS app. For ease of use, the control panel on the sound bar lights up when a hand approaches it to enable the user to control features such as volume adjustment, play/pause, muting Alexa and the ability to skip or restart songs without using the app or remote control.
Improving usability further, the remote control and HEOS app are both equipped with three Quick Select buttons, which give listeners the option to store their preferred source with listening modes or internet radio stations to access them with a single button press.
With eARC connectivity, the Sound Bar 550 can be connected to the TV with a single HDMI. It is also compatible with Apple AirPlay 2 for streaming from Apple device.
To use as part of the smart home ecosystem, Sound Bar 550 is the first Denon sound bar to include onboard software drivers for Control4, Crestron, URC, ELAN and more.
Alexa smart assistant functionality will be activated via a firmware update in spring 2021 through the built-in microphones on their Denon Home Sound Bar 550 and Denon Home wireless speakers. If the user chooses to enable Alexa, the sound bar will function as an Alexa controller, which will add voice controllable capabilities to the home theatre, such as volume control, input selection, and adjusting the bass and treble. The microphones will not be enabled without explicit user permission.
Priced at £599 / €649 / $599, the Denon Home Sound Bar 550 will be available from next month.