Denon has updated its soundbar catalog with the new Denon DHT-S416, a compact soundbar that comes to be placed in the mid-range. It is the first model from the manufacturer to arrive with Chromecast integrated, which will allow sending music through a WiFi connection.
The Denon DHT-S416 offers Dolby Digital 5.1 decoding, has an HDMI ARC connection, and is so compact that it can be easily mounted on the wall. It has an external subwoofer, Bluetooth connectivity, and several sound modes to get the best fit for each type of content. In short, it is a compact soundbar but, it incorporates the external subwoofer and WiFi connection, in addition to losing some features. Let’s take an in-depth look at everything the new Denon DHT-S416 has to offer.
Denon DHT-S416 Datasheet
| Denon DHT-S416 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Soundbar |
| Speakers | 2.1 two-way with wireless subwoofer |
| Maximum power | Unknown |
| Surround technology | No |
| Rear speakers | No |
| Connections | HDMI ARC in / out, optical in, auxiliary in |
| 4K pass-through | Yes, 4K / 60 Hz and HDCP 2.2 |
| Supported audio formats | Dolby Digital |
| Wireless connectivity | Bluetooth and WiFi with Google Chromecast |
| Subwoofer | External |
| Control | Control and application |
| Others | Dialog Optimizer Four Preset EQ Modes |
| Dimensions | Soundbar: 900 x 54 x 83mm, 1.8kg Subwoofer: 171 x 318 x 342mm, 5.2kg |
| Release date | Coming soon |
| Price | €329 |
A Compact and Slim Soundbar with External Subwoofer
Denon has designed the DHT-S416 so that it can be placed in virtually any space. It is only 5.6 centimeters high, which will allow it to be placed in front of the TV without covering the bottom of the screen (at least in most models). Besides, it can be easily mounted on the wall with the help of the mounting template supplied with the soundbar.
For further ease of installation, the Denon DHT-S416 connects to the TV via an HDMI cable thanks to its 4K and ARC-compatible input/output. This protocol allows the TV audio to be sent to the soundbar easily, and also allows the volume control of the soundbar with the TV remote control.
And if you have a very old TV or one that does not have HDMI ARC, you can connect the soundbar using its optical digital input. The bar also has a 3.5 mm auxiliary jack connection, which will allow you to connect almost any type of music player.
Finally, note that the bar is accompanied by an external subwoofer, capable of enhancing the reproduction of the bass without adding size to the main soundbar. This subwoofer is wireless, so it can be placed anywhere in the room without any cable problems.
In terms of design, this is a fairly sleek and stylish soundbar. The entire front is covered with a black acoustic fabric that covers the speakers. On the sides, there is a slightly shiny finish, as well as on the back.
The upper part of the bar, as in the smaller model, has “two halves”, one with a fabric finish and the other in black plastic.
In the separation of these two halves is where Denon has placed the five control buttons that have the soundbar. Specifically, there are the power button, the input change button, the Bluetooth button, and the two buttons to control the volume.
Dolby Digital and Google Chromecast Decoding
As for the audio, the Denon DHT-S416 offers a two-way 2.1 set (4 drivers) with, as we have seen, a wireless subwoofer. The bar is compatible with Dolby Digital decoding, allowing it to provide a simulation of surround sound with Blu-ray devices, game consoles, and TV streaming applications. However, we must take into account that it is not compatible with other sound formats.
Denon has incorporated some of its technologies to achieve better sound. For example, the Dialogue Optimizer improves the intelligibility of dialogues with three different modes and is ideal for movies and television programs. It even allows you to raise the level of your dialogues without having to adjust the overall volume.
On the other hand, the Denon DHT-S416 includes three different sound modes: Movie, Music, and Night. The Movie mode is ideal for movies and series, as it offers a simulation of the surround effect. The Music mode is ideal for listening to music, while the Night mode balances the sound so that there will be no surprises when there is an explosion or music is played in a movie or series.
The Sound Bar also features the Denon Pure Audio mode, which eliminates surround processing by erasing audio settings to reproduce the sound in its purest form.
In addition to using it to enhance the sound of our TV, Denon DHT-S416 can be used as a wireless speaker. It has integrated Google Chromecast, a system that will allow users to stream high-resolution music over WiFi from music services such as Google Play Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music HD, Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, and Qobuz, among others.
And, on the other hand, it is equipped with Bluetooth connectivity. This allows easy transmission of our favorite music directly from an intelligent device to the soundbar via Bluetooth.
Price and Availability
In short, Denon’s new soundbar seeks to carve out a niche for itself in the market with its connectivity and sound. It is a soundbar designed simply to enhance the sound of our television, hence it is only compatible with the Dolby Digital format. It has an external subwoofer and an HDMI ARC input/output for easy connection to the TV.
On the other hand, Denon also wanted to provide it with options to use it as a speaker to play music, thanks to the integration of Google Chromecast and Bluetooth connectivity.
The Denon DHT-S416 will arrive in the coming weeks with an official price of €329.
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