Denon AVR-S740H

    86
    Image cannot be found

    Highlights

    • 7.2 Channels
    • 7.1 Channel Processing
    • 75 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven)
    • Dolby Atmos, DTS:X
    • HDR10, Dolby Vision
    • 4K/60Hz Passthrough
    • Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet
    • Phono Input
    Image cannot be found
    Image cannot be found

    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Denon AVR-S740H was introduced in 2018. It is equipped with 7 channel amplifier with 75 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven) power per channel and is capable of 7.1 maximum channel processing. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, passes 4K/60Hz video signal.

    We evaluated the a/v receiver and gave 86 overall score out of 100. Our ranking system is based on the amplifier specifications, audio and video features, connectivity, multizone capabilities, radio and many other details.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Denon AVR-S740H.

    PROs

    •   Dolby Atmos
    •   DTS:X
    •   Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic.
    •   HDR10
    •   Dolby Vision
    •   New HDCP Version
    •   Auto Low Latency Mode Pass-through
    •   Wi-Fi
    •   Bluetooth
    •   Works with Amazon Alexa
    •   HEOS
    •   USB Input
    •   Phono Input
    •   Composite Video Inputs
    •   Ethernet
    •   Analog Tuner
    •   Pandora
    •   Spotify
    •   Tidal

    CONs

    •   Low Power Output - 75 W
    •   No Front Wide Channel Support
    •   No Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization
    •   No IMAX Enhanced
    •   No Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer
    •   No DSD via HDMI
    •   No HDR10+
    •   No eARC
    •   No 8K Passthrough
    •   1 HDMI Outputs
    •   0 8K Input
    •   Few RCA Line Inputs
    •   No RCA Pre-Outs
    •   No Digital Radio
    •   Bluetooth 3․0 + EDR

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   7.2 Channels
    •   7.1 Channel Processing
    •   6 HDMI Inputs
    •   2 Zones

    Denon 2018 Lineup

    In 2018 Denon released 12 new receivers. Here is the lineup:

    Denon 2018 Lineup
    ModelChannelsPowerMax. Ch. Proc.Pre OutsRoom Corr.Immersive AudioHDRZones Price
    AVR-X8500H Image cannot be found 13.2150 W13.215.2 Audyssey MultEQ XT32Dolby Atmos
    DTS:X
    Auro 3D
    HDR10
    Dolby Vision
    3
    AVR-X6500H Image cannot be found 11.2140 W11.211.2 Audyssey MultEQ XT32Dolby Atmos
    DTS:X
    Auro 3D
    HDR10
    Dolby Vision
    3
    AVR-X4500H Image cannot be found 9.2125 W11.211.2 Audyssey MultEQ XT32Dolby Atmos
    DTS:X
    Auro 3D
    HDR10
    Dolby Vision
    3
    AVR-X3500H Image cannot be found 7.2105 W7.27.2 Audyssey MultEQ XT32Dolby Atmos
    DTS:X
    HDR10
    Dolby Vision
    2
    AVR-X2500H Image cannot be found 7.295 W7.1 Audyssey MultEQ XTDolby Atmos
    DTS:X
    HDR10
    Dolby Vision
    2
    AVR-X1500H Image cannot be found 7.280 W7.1 Audyssey MultEQ XTDolby Atmos
    DTS:X
    HDR10
    Dolby Vision
    2
    AVR-X550BT Image cannot be found 5.270 W5.1HDR10
    Dolby Vision
    1
    AVR-X250BT Image cannot be found 5.170 W5.1HDR101
    AVR-S940H Image cannot be found 7.290 W7.1 Audyssey MultEQDolby Atmos
    DTS:X
    HDR10
    Dolby Vision
    2
    AVR-S740H Image cannot be found 7.275 W7.1 Audyssey MultEQDolby Atmos
    DTS:X
    HDR10
    Dolby Vision
    2
    AVR-S640H Image cannot be found 5.275 W5.1 Audyssey MultEQHDR10
    Dolby Vision
    1
    AVR-S540BT Image cannot be found 5.270 W5.1HDR10
    Dolby Vision
    1

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Denon AVR-X8500H vs AVR-X6500H vs AVR-X4500H vs AVR-X3500H vs AVR-X2500H vs AVR-X1500H.

    Predecessor

    Here we are comparing Denon AVR-S740H to its predecessor AVR-S730H and displaying the major changes.

    UPGRADES Denon AVR-S740H vs AVR-S730H
    Higher DAC Specs 192 kHz/32 Bit vs 192 kHz/24 Bit
    Phono Input vs
    Wi-Fi Standard IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n vs IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
    DOWNGRADES Denon AVR-S740H vs AVR-S730H
    Network Audio Formats MP3, WMA, MPEG-4 AAC, Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, DSD vs MP3, WMA, MPEG-4 AAC, Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD
    Music Playback via USB MP3, WMA, AAC, Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, DSD vs MP3, WMA, AAC, Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD
    High Resolution Audio Formats via USB Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, DSD vs Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD

    For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Denon AVR-S740H vs AVR-S730H.

    Successor

    In 2019 Denon AVR-S740H was replaced by AVR-S750H. Let us now have a look at some important differences between Denon AVR-S740H and its successor.

    UPGRADES AVR-S750H vs Denon AVR-S740H
    Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization vs
    Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) vs
    Newer HDCP Version 2.3 vs 2.2
    Bluetooth Headphone Transmission vs

    For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Denon AVR-S740H vs AVR-S750H.

    Audio Section

    7 channel Amplifier

    Denon AVR-S740H features 7 channel power amplifier. It is rated at 75 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven) and is able to drive 4 ohm speakers.

      AMPLIFIER
      Channels7.2
      Power Output75 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven)
      Front Wide Channel Support
      Discrete Amplification
      THX™ Certification
      Continuous 6 Ω Rated
      Certified 4 Ω Performance
      Mono Block Power Amplifier Construction
      Bi-amp Capability

      Speaker Configurations

      Denon AVR-S740H's 7 channel amplifier can be assigned for different speaker configurations.

      • Dolby Atmos Configurations: The following speaker configurations are supported for Dolby Atmos:
      • 5.2.2 with internal amplifier.
      • DTS:X Configurations: The speaker configurations for DTS:X are the same as for Dolby Atmos:
      • 5.2.2 with internal amplifier.
      • Configurations without height channels: There are also other speaker configurations available which do not include height channels:
      • 5.2, 7.2 with internal amplifier.
      Denon AVR-S740H

      Dolby Atmos

      Denon AVR-S740H supports Dolby Atmos. It is a cinematic audio format in which sounds exist as individual entities, called audio objects. In Dolby Atmos, any sound can exist as an independent audio object, free of channel restrictions. They can be precisely placed and moved anywhere in your room, including overhead, to flow above and around you in three-dimensional space. Through the use of audio objects, overhead sound, and all the richness, clarity, and power of Dolby sound, Dolby Atmos turns your room into an amazing place for entertainment. The format supports up to 128 simultaneous independent audio objects in a mix for rich, realistic, and breathtaking sound. It recreates the director's original concept through descriptive metadata to provide customized playback for home theater and delivers sounds above you through overhead speakers, special upward-firing Dolby Atmos speakers, or a Dolby Atmos enabled sound bar.

      • Dolby Surround Upmixer: If the content is not mixed in Dolby Atmos then the Dolby surround upmixer will expand the audio to all channels including ceiling speakers. The upmixer has replaced the Dolby Pro Logic II family with improved upmixing algorithms.

      DTS:X

      Denon AVR-S740H supports DTS:X. A technique used in DTS:X is similar to the one used in Dolby Atmos. Instead of a fixed number of channels, DTS:X defines object locations from the listener in polar coordinates. An a/v receiver then dynamically renders sound according to the current speaker configuration. The speaker layout employed by DTS:X is the sum of Dolby Atmos and Auro-3D. It has standard 7.1 channel base layer, a 5 channel height layer above the base layer on the front and side walls, and 3 rows of speakers on the ceiling.

      • DTS Neural:X: DTS Neural:X is an advanced upmixer that can take non DTS:X content and upmix it to the DTS:X speaker layout. It has replaced the DTS Neo family with improved flexibility.
      • DTS Virtual:X: DTS Virtual:X bridges the gap between DTS:X codec and the reality of so many consumers' homes, allowing you to enjoy multi-dimensional sound regardless of room size, layout, or speaker configuration. If you have a limited speaker setup you will miss a full immersive potential of your entertainment system. DTS Virtual:X adds height and surround audio effect to your system without adding height speakers. It works with multiple configurations and delivers immersive sound experience out of 5.1 or even 2.1 speaker layouts.
      • DTS Dialog Control: This function adjusts the dialog levels during playback of the DTS:X stream. It allows you to separately increase the dialog levels in contrast with the background sound and hear dialog easily even under noisy circumstances.
      DECODING
      Dolby Atmos up to 5.1.2
      Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization
      Dolby Atmos Music
      Dolby TrueHD
      Dolby Digital Plus
      Dolby Surround Upmixer
      Dolby Pro Logic
      Dolby Digital EX
      Surround EX
      DTS:X up to 5.1.2
      DTS Neural:X
      DTS Virtual:X
      DTS Neo
      DTS-HD Master Audio
      DTS-HD High Resolution Audio
      DTS 96/24
      DTS Express
      DTS-ES Discrete 6.1, Matrix 6.1
      IMAX Enhanced
      Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer

      Sound Processing

      • Audyssey: Denon AVR-S740H 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.

      Room Calibration

      Denon AVR-S740H comes with Audyssey MultEQ room correction system and includes the calibration microphone. It also supports Audyssey App.

      • 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.

      Video Section

      HDMI

      Denon AVR-S740H features 6 HDMI inputs. It has 1 output.

      • 4K/60Hz Passthrough: All inputs pass up to 4K 50/60Hz 4:4:4 video signal.
      • 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%.
      • HDCP 2.2 Copy Protection: All inputs and outputs are HDCP 2.2 compliant which is a requirement for 4K/HDR copy-protected content transmission.
      • 3D Ready: Denon AVR-S740H is able to pass 3D video through HDMI.

      HDR (High Dynamic Range)

      Denon AVR-S740H supports HDR (high dynamic range) video formats such as 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.
      • 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.
      • 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.
      Denon AVR-S740H

      Gaming Features

      Denon AVR-S740H supports Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) 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.
      VIDEO FEATURES
      HDR10
      HDR10+
      Dynamic HDR
      BT.2020 color space
      Dolby Vision
      HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma)
      HDBaseT Compatible
      Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC)
      HDCP Version2.2
      QMS (Quick Media Switching)
      ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode)
      VRR (Variable Refresh Rate)
      QFT (Quick Frame transport)
      3-D Ready
      Video Signal Passthroughup to 4K 50/60Hz 4:4:4
      Video Signal Upscaling

      Multi-zone Playback

      Denon AVR-S740H offers multi-zone playback which allows you to play different input sources in 2 different rooms.


      Zone 2

      • Powered Zone 2: You can use the unit's 2 amplifier channels by connecting Zone 2 speakers directly to the speaker terminals. The remaining 5 channels will be left for main zone amplification.
      ZONES
      Number of Zones2
      Powered Zones 2
      Zone 2 Outs
      RS-232C Interface
      +12V Trigger Output
      Remote (IR) Input/Output0 / 0

      Check out the receivers which are frequently compared to Denon AVR-S740H.

      Inputs and Outputs

      Audio

      • Phono Input: There is an MM phono input with built-in phono stage for connecting the moving magnet cartridge output of the turntable directly to the a/v receiver.
      • Analog Line Inputs: There are 2 line inputs for analog audio connection.
      • Digital Inputs: 2 optical inputs and 1 coaxial input are available for digital audio connection.
      • Headphone Output: There is a 6.3 mm (1/4") headphone output jack on the front panel.

      Video

      • HDMI:
      • Inputs: 6 (1 front)   Outputs: 1
        8K Inputs: 0
      • Composite Video: Connect you VCR, Laserdisc player and other old video equipment with composite video cables.
      • Inputs: 2   Outputs: 1

      Front A/V Inputs

      • HDMI, USB
      Image cannot be found
      Image cannot be found
      TERMINALS
      HDMI Inputs6 (1 front)
      HDMI Outputs1
      8K Inputs
      USB Input1 Front for USB memory
      USB DC Out Port
      Optical Inputs2
      Optical Outputs
      Coaxial Inputs1
      RCA Line Inputs2
      RCA Line Outputs
      XLR Line Inputs
      Phono Input
      Multi-Channel Input
      RCA Pre-Outs0.2
      XLR Pre-outs
      Composite Video Inputs2
      Composite Video Outputs1
      S-Video Inputs
      S-Video Outputs
      Component Video Inputs
      Component Video Outputs

      Denon AVR-S740H Evaluation

      We evaluate Denon AVR-S740H and give score of 86 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 6 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new receiver is added to the database.


      OVERALL
      86

      Amplifier

      EXCELLENT
      85

      We give Denon AVR-S740H a score of 85 for Amplifier features.

      •   7.2 Channels
      •   Low Power Output - 75 W

      Audio Features

      EXCELLENT
      85

      We give Denon AVR-S740H a score of 85 for Audio Features features.

      •   7.2 Channels
      •   No Front Wide Channel Support
      •   7.1 Channel Processing
      •   Dolby Atmos
      •   No Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization
      •   DTS:X
      •   No IMAX Enhanced
      •   No Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer
      •   No DSD via HDMI

      Video Features

      EXCELLENT
      94

      We give Denon AVR-S740H a score of 94 for Video Features features.

      •   HDR10
      •   No HDR10+
      •   Dolby Vision
      •   Auto Low Latency Mode Pass-through
      •   No 8K Passthrough

      Connectivity

      GOOD
      83

      We give Denon AVR-S740H a score of 83 for Connectivity features.

      •   No eARC
      •   New HDCP Version
      •   Wi-Fi
      •   Bluetooth
      •   Works with Amazon Alexa
      •   HEOS
      •   6 HDMI Inputs
      •   1 HDMI Outputs
      •   0 8K Input
      •   USB Input
      •   Few RCA Line Inputs
      •   Phono Input
      •   No RCA Pre-Outs
      •   Composite Video Inputs
      •   Ethernet
      •   Bluetooth 3․0 + EDR

      Zones

      GOOD
      77

      We give Denon AVR-S740H a score of 77 for Zones features.

      •   2 Zones

      Radio

      EXCELLENT
      96

      We give Denon AVR-S740H a score of 96 for Radio features.

      •   Analog Tuner
      •   Pandora
      •   Spotify
      •   Tidal


      For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

      Amazon Affiliate Disclosure

      ZKelectronics is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon (.com, .co.uk, .ca, etc) and any other websites that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program.