The DRA-800H may be found online among other stereo receivers from Marantz’s sibling company, Onkyo/Integra, as well as those from Harman Kardon, Yamaha, Outlaw Audio, and even more premium brands like Arcam and Cambridge Audio. However, this Denon is the only one of the bunch to provide anything particularly special. There are more expensive and bulkier (heavier) versions in its power class with similar audiophile aspirations, such as the Outlaw RR2160 ($849, review at soundandvision.com) and the Arcam SR250 ($2,500), but neither one delivers the same blend of current features and ergonomics.
The Denon DRA-800H is a middle-of-the-road option with a full rack-width chassis and an estimated weight of 18 pounds, designed with the audiophile in mind. It can handle loads as low as 4 ohms thanks to its high-current, Class A/B amplifier, which is rated for 100 watts RMS x 2 into 8 ohms (both channels powered, complete 20 to 20kHz bandwidth, 0.08% total harmonic distortion). The entirely symmetrical design philosophy used in Denon’s best amplifiers includes the use of high-quality audiophile capacitors and resistors. All connections have been made as directly and as quickly as feasible.
The added processing capability of the 32-bit, 8-channel AKM AK4458 premium DACs is reported to improve dynamic range and reduce noise, while the high-quality analog preamp circuitry is also praised. The device supports DSD at 2.8 or 5.6MHz and FLAC, WAV, and ALAC files up to 192kHz/24bit. (It’s important to note that AIFF files are not supported; this prevented me from playing several of the high-resolution tracks in my collection.) The DRA-800H, like certain Denon and Marantz receivers and amps, includes a Direct listening mode that disables the bass, treble, balance, and Digital Restorer circuitry for low-bitrate streams, as well as a Pure Direct mode that disables the front-panel display entirely.
The Denon DRA-800H reveiw: Design
The DRA-800H can be purchased with either a black or silver faceplate; however, the silver model is only available in Europe. The knob on the left cycles among the available inputs and the four Quick Select buttons can be set to instantly recall the input of choice, together with any previously saved EQ, gain, pan, etc. settings. The big plastic volume control turns easily enough, but for the price, I was hoping for something with the weight and feel of a high-quality audiophile component. There are additional buttons below the screen for adjusting the AM/FM channel, activating Zone 2, and choosing between the left and right speakers. High-resolution audio files can be played via the USB connection from a flash drive or other device, and a headphone jack allows for quiet, personal listening.
Not a poor application of the amp’s low-impedance capabilities, the two sets of speakers may be independently switched thanks to high-quality plastic binding posts located around the rear. There is also a stereo pre-out for Zone 2, which can be used to power an amplifier in another room. There is a moving magnet phono input (no phono stage is needed) and two additional RCA connectors that can be assigned to other devices like a CD player.
The Denon DRA-800H review: Connectivity
Any one of the five UHD/HDCP2.3-compatible HDMI ports can be used to receive one of the three digital audio inputs (two optical and one coaxial). All UHD HDR10 and HLG signals are sent to the HDMI Monitor out, which supports ARC for PCM stereo playback from a smart TV’s built-in streaming platform. The low-pass crossover frequency can be adjusted in the settings menu anywhere from 40 Hz to 250 Hz, and there are two subwoofer outputs.
Both wired Ethernet and built-in Wi-Fi provide network and wireless features (supported by a pair of antennas on the rear panel). My basement listening studio has patchy Wi-Fi reception, but the receiver has always connected without a hitch, no matter how long I’ve used it. The Denon HEOS app serves as a network navigator and music streaming service, with support for key platforms like Spotify (through Spotify Connect), Tidal, Pandora, Amazon Music, SiriusXM, Deezer, Napster, SoundCloud, Rhapsody, TuneIn Internet radio, and iHeart Radio. I haven’t used HEOS in quite some time, but I was pleasantly surprised by the app’s ease of use and sleek visual design. You may create a queue in HEOS from any of the supported services or playlists (including Tidal, but not Spotify or Amazon), and you can save individual Pandora or TuneIn stations, for example, as HEOS Favorites that can be accessed through the app, the on-screen display, or Quick Select memory. Unfortunately, neither Tidal nor Spotify offered the aforementioned last feature.
In addition to using the app to manage playback, the DRA-800H also features an onscreen graphic display for navigating to media on a TV through its HDMI output. The screen refreshes in response to orders sent from the HEOS app, but you can also use the included remote to control your music. The track’s title, artist, cover art, and playtime are all displayed alongside handy on-screen navigation controls and, as a nice touch, the service’s name. It shows the file format and bitrate when available; for example, “MP3-128 kbps” for Pandora music, “AAC-256 kbps” for Amazon Music tracks, and “FLAC-44.1 kHz/16-bit” for a Tidal track of CD quality.
This isn’t all. AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth are both available for direct streaming from a mobile device (but not the higher-resolution AptX version), and Bluetooth transmission is also supported so that wireless headphones can be connected to the DRA-800H. The Denon is identified as an AirPlay 2 speaker on your network, allowing you to choose it alongside other AirPlay 2 speakers for simultaneous playback while streaming from an iOS device. Without a HEOS speaker or compatible playback system, you’ll have to rely on the receiver’s Zone 2 functionality or the HEOS app to send audio from the main listening area to any additional rooms in the house.
Final Thoughts on the Denon DRA-800H
A quick look at this new Denon model showed that we’ve come a long way. Denon’s revamp of the classic stereo receiver makes a great beginner system for dorm or apartment dwellers—add bookshelf speakers, towers, and a subwoofer, and you’re ready to party. Denon’s incorporation of network and wireless connectivity has completely revolutionized music access and exploration, while the intelligent addition of HDMI connectors ensures strong sound for TV and movie viewing. Like in old times, all the analog inputs are available. Most importantly, Denon focused on sound quality. Look and listen.
