Denon AVC-S660H vs Denon AVR-X550BT

Here we are comparing Denon AVC-S660H to Denon AVR-X550BT to reveal their common strengths and weaknesses as well as the differences between them which will help you in making a correct decision before the purchase. Both receivers have 5 channel amplifiers with Denon AVC-S660H's being more powerful.

Now that we've looked at the most essential specifications and gained a basic understanding of these receivers, we can delve into more details and see the differences between them.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Denon AVC-S660H over Denon AVR-X550BT.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Denon AVR-X550BT over Denon AVC-S660H.

We already listed pros and cons of each model. However, you may also find useful to look at their common strengths and weaknesses shown side-by-side.

Amplifier

Speaker Configurations

Denon AVC-S660H's and Denon AVR-X550BT's amplifiers can be assigned for different speaker configurations.

• Configurations: Available configurations are:
Denon AVC-S660H: 5.2 with internal amplifier.
Denon AVR-X550BT: 5.2 with internal amplifier.

Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC)

Denon AVC-S660H supports Audio Return Channel (ARC) which allows the compatible TV to send audio signal to the a/v receiver through the same HDMI cable which is used to send audio and video signals to the TV. So one HDMI cable is used to transfer audio signal in both directions. New Enhanced ARC will support uncompressed audio formats such as Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio whereas the previous ARC could support only Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS, DTS HD, and PCM.




Sound Processing

• Audyssey: Denon AVC-S660H comes with Audyssey Dynamic EQ and Dynamic Volume.
Dynamic EQ: selects the best possible frequency response and surround volume levels moment-by-moment. This ensures that the bass response, tonal balance and surround impression remain constant despite changes in volume. This is the first technology that carefully combines information from incoming source levels with actual output sound levels in the room, a pre-requisite for delivering a dynamic volume solution.
Dynamic Volume: Your Listening experience can be greatly diminished when there are significant shifts in volume between television programs, commercials and within the program material itself. When this happens you must constantly adjust the volume to maintain your desired listening level. Audyssey Dynamic Volume monitors the volume of program material moment-by-moment and automatically adjusts it, maintaining the desired listening level for all content while optimizing the dynamic range to preserve impact.
• Compressed Music Enhancer: Denon AVC-S660H and Denon AVR-X550BT feature Compressed Music Enhancer which enhances the quality of the music files with lossy compression.

Room Calibration

Denon AVC-S660H comes with Audyssey MultEQ and Denon AVR-X550BT comes with room correction system.

• Audyssey Room Calibration: Audyssey is an acoustic measurement technology which automatically restores the acoustic distortion caused by the acoustic behaviour of a room with only a push on a button. Audyssey equalization provides an clear, accurate, natural sound with voices and dialog that become focused and intelligible, restoring the musical balance. Musical instruments and sound effects become precisely localized and the surround soundstage is made seamless and enveloping.

HDMI

Denon AVC-S660H comes with 3 HDMI 2.1 inputs with 8K support and 3 inputs with 4K support. It has 1 output.

Denon AVR-X550BT comes with 5 HDMI inputs. It has 1 output.

• 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz Passthrough on Denon AVC-S660H: 3 out of 6 inputs pass up to 8K 50/60Hz (YCbCr 4:2:0/8-bit) and 4K 100/120Hz (RGB/YCbCr 4:4:4/8, 10-bit and YCbCr 4:2:2/12-bit) and the rest of the inputs pass up to 4K 50/60Hz 4:4:4 video signal.
  4K/60Hz Passthrough on Denon AVR-X550BT: All inputs pass up to 4K 50/60Hz 4:4:4 video signal.
• 8K Upscaling on Denon AVC-S660H: It can upscale from 1080p and 4K up to 8K 50/60Hz and 4K 50/60Hz from HDMI sources.
• BT.2020 Color Space: BT.2020 or Rec. 2020 is a color standard which delivers a wider color gamut compared to Rec. 709. It covers approximately 75% of the total visual spectrum while the Rec. 709 covers only 35% (available on both models).
• HDCP Copy Protection: Denon AVC-S660H is HDCP 2.3.0 and Denon AVR-X550BT is HDCP 2.2.0 compliant which is a requirement for 4K/HDR copy-protected content transmission.
• 3D Ready: Both receivers are able to pass 3D video through HDMI.

HDR (High Dynamic Range)

Denon AVC-S660H supports HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dynamic HDR and Hybrid Log-Gamma.

Denon AVR-X550BT supports HDR10, Dolby Vision and Hybrid Log-Gamma.

High dynamic range video has greater dynamic range than standard dynamic range (SDR) video with brighter whites and deeper blacks. The result is greater contrast and more details in dark and bright areas, better color and depth.

• HDR10: HDR10 uses the wide-gamut Rec. 2020 color space. It sends static metadata via video stream to the TV which calibrates its screen brightness and color according to that. HDR10 supports 10-bit color which corresponds to 1024 shades of the primary RGB colors. It is technically limited to a maximum of 10,000 nits peak brightness, however common HDR10 contents are mastered with peak brightness from 1,000 to 4,000 nits.
• HDR10+: HDR10+ is an HDR video technology that adds dynamic metadata to HDR10 source files. The dynamic metadata are used to adjust brightness levels on a scene-by-scene or even frame-by-frame basis. HDR10+ supports maximum of 10,000 nits peak brightness and 10-bit or more (up to 16-bit) color bit depth. It uses Samsung's dynamic metadata defined in SMPTE ST 2094-40.
• Dolby Vision: Dolby Vision is a set of technologies developed by Dolby Laboratories for high dynamic range (HDR) video. It covers content creation, distribution, and playback. Like HDR10+, it includes dynamic metadata that are used to adjust and optimize each frame of the HDR video to the consumer display's capabilities in a way specified by the content creator. Dolby Vision allows for a maximum resolution of 8K up to 12-bit color depth, maximum peak brightness of 10,000 nits and a color gamut up to Rec. 2020. It uses Dolby's proprietary dynamic metadata defined in SMPTE ST 2094-10.
• Dynamic HDR: Dynamic HDR enables a noticeable progression in overall video image quality from SDR to static HDR, and now static HDR to dynamic HDR. Dynamic HDR support ensures every moment of a video is displayed at its ideal values for depth, detail, brightness, contrast, and wider color gamuts - on a scene-by-scene or even a frame-by-frame basis. HDR-enhanced content is available for movies, videos, TV shows, video and PC games and VR.
• Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG): The Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) is a transfer function developed mainly for HDR live video feed and over-the-air broadcasts. It is an HDR format that uses BT.2020 color primaries and a bitdepth of 10-bit. It is backward compatible with the transfer function of SDR and is designed to be better-suited for television broadcasting, where the metadata required for other HDR formats is not backward compatible with non-HDR displays. HLG defines a non-linear optical-electro transfer function, in which the lower half of the signal values use a gamma curve and the upper half of the signal values use a logarithmic curve.

Gaming Features

Denon AVC-S660H supports Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Quick Frame Transport (QFT) for lag-free and smooth gaming.

• Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM): Auto Low Latency Mode enables the ideal latency setting to automatically be set allowing for smooth, lag-free and uninterrupted viewing and interactivity. When the receiver detects a gaming signal it will enter ALLM. The signal will also be sent to the TV causing it to automatically switch to a low-latency, low-lag mode for gaming. Some functions will not be available on the receiver and TV during ALLM.
• Variable Refresh Rate (VRR): VRR enables a gaming source such as a console or computer to deliver video frames as fast as it can, which in many cases is slower than the normal static refresh rate. It allows the TV to adapt to certain frame rate which reduces or eliminates lag, judder and frame tearing for more fluid and better detailed gameplay.
• Quick Frame Transport (QFT): QFT reduces latency for smoother no-lag gaming, and real-time interactive virtual reality. It transports each frame at a higher rate to decrease display latency, which is the amount of time between a frame being ready for transport in the GPU and that frame being completely displayed.

Audio

• Phono Input: There is an MM phono input on Denon AVC-S660H with built-in phono stage for connecting the moving magnet cartridge output of the turntable directly to the receiver.
• Analog Line Inputs: There are 3 pair of line inputs on Denon AVC-S660H and 2 pair of line inputs on Denon AVR-X550BT for connecting sources with analog outputs.
• Digital Inputs: 2 optical inputs are available for digital audio connections on both receivers.
• Headphone Output: There is a 6.3 mm (1/4") headphone output jack on the front panel of each receiver.

Video

• HDMI:
Denon AVC-S660H
Inputs: 6   Outputs: 1
8K Inputs: 3.
Denon AVR-X550BT
Inputs: 5   Outputs: 1
8K Inputs: 0.
• Composite Video: Connect you VCR, Laserdisc player and other old video equipment with composite video cables.
Denon AVC-S660H
Inputs: 2   Outputs: 1.
Denon AVR-X550BT
Inputs: 2   Outputs: 1.

Front A/V Inputs

• Denon AVC-S660H: USB
• Denon AVR-X550BT: USB

Denon AVC-S660H

Denon AVR-X550BT