The difference an AV receiver can add vs a soundbar can offer massive improvements in sound and can even save some cash as long as you can deal with the cabling. The Denon AVRS760H aims to be an agile and well-costed unit for those looking to get into home cinema kit.
Unboxing the S760H, I was greeted by a design that’s quintessentially Denon, sleek, understated, and giant knobs on the front. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel, and that’s perfectly fine. The front panel is intuitive, with a clear display and tactile buttons that don’t require a magnifying glass to decipher. If you’ve seen Denon hi-fi or AV before, it will look familiar, if not, it won’t look too daunting at least.
Setting up AV receivers can often feel like assembling IKEA furniture without the manual. Thankfully, Denon’s Setup Assistant is a godsend. Guiding you through each step with on-screen prompts, it transformed what could have been a difficult task into a straightforward process. Even the Audyssey MultEQ calibration, which measures and adjusts the sound to suit your room’s acoustics, was simple. The User Interface (something you might hear a store colleague call UI) is actually made with ‘Users’ in mind. You’d think that would be standard – but some older models have seemed actively hostile to being used for their intended purpose.
Once everything was connected, I put the S760H through its paces. With 75 watts per channel, it effortlessly powered my 5.1.2 setup (tested on a Focal Sib Evo Atmos package), delivering crisp highs, robust mids, and a bass that was both punchy and controlled. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content came alive, immersing me in a soundscape that belied the receiver’s price point.
Upgrade your home entertainment experience, with the Denon AVR-S760H.
In an age where devices multiply like rabbits, the S760H’s six HDMI inputs (three of which support 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz pass-through) are a welcome feature. Gamers will appreciate the Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), ensuring smooth visuals and responsive gameplay. The inclusion of eARC means high-quality audio from your TV’s apps is just a single HDMI cable away. For the non-gamers looking at the acronyms with bemusement, don’t worry, anything with an HDMI, likely any of your kit from the last 15 years will plug in and work just fine.
With built-in HEOS, streaming music from services like Spotify, Tidal, or Amazon Music is a breeze. The receiver also plays nice with voice assistants, Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, allowing for hands-free control. While I still prefer the tactile satisfaction of a remote, it’s nice to have options. There is also an app that mostly works for those who want less black rectangles with buttons in their living space. HEOS is also a great jumping off point if you’re looking to spread sound through your home in a ‘multiroom’ set up – something to chat with a store colleague about if you’d like to see how it works. It may not excel musically with options like the Yamaha RXV6A managing to just about beat it here, but it’s pitched as an AV receiver rather than AV/HIFI hybrid.
The Denon AVR-S760H strikes a commendable balance between performance, features, and affordability. It’s a receiver that caters to both novices dipping their toes into the home theater waters and seasoned enthusiasts seeking a reliable centerpiece for their setup without needing to remortgage. While it may lack some of the bells and whistles of higher-end models, it delivers where it counts. Why not pop down to your local Richer Sounds store today and check it out for yourself?
Author: Tom, Cardiff Store
