Denon AVR-X1600H DAB (UK version)

Overview

Denon AVR-X1600H DAB was introduced in 2019. It is equipped with 7 channel amplifier and is capable of 7.1 maximum channel processing.

We evaluated the Receiver and gave 85 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.

Amplifier score is based on power ratings, minimum impedance load, power supply, transformer type, total harmonic distortion, damping factor, signal to noise ratio and other small details. Audio score depends on the number of channels, front wide channel support, maximum channel processing, support of audio formats, DAC specifications, room calibration algorithm... Video score is based on HDR, Dolby Vision and video signal passthrough and upscaling, analog to HDMI upconversion. Connectivity score is defined from all wired and wireless inputs and outputs, internet and bluetooth connections, HEOS, SONOS and others. Multizone score depends on the number of zones with their outputs. Radio score is evaluated form digital radio support and analog tuner with its frequency range, signal to noise ratio, harmonic distortion...

Pros and Cons

In this section we present pros and cons of Denon AVR-X1600H DAB.

Major Changes from its predecessor

Here we are comparing Denon AVR-X1600H DAB to its predecessor AVR-X1500H and displaying the major changes.

UPGRADES	Denon AVR-X1600H DAB	vs	Denon AVR-X1500H
Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization		vs
Bluetooth Headphone Transmission		vs
Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC)		vs
Newer HDCP Version	2.3	vs	2.2
Digital Radio	DAB/DAB+	vs
Newer Bluetooth Version	4.1	vs	3.0 + EDR

DOWNGRADES	Denon AVR-X1600H DAB	vs	Denon AVR-X1500H
Analog Tuner	FM with RDS	vs	FM/AM with RDS

For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Denon AVR-X1600H DAB vs Denon AVR-X1500H.

Amplifier

Denon AVR-X1600H DAB has 7 channel amplifier and delivers 80 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven) and also has a stable performance at 4 Ω load.

Video Features

The Receiver has 4K passthrough up to 60p. It can bypass HDR10, Dolby Vision.

HDR10

High-dynamic-range (HDR) video has greater dynamic range than standard-dynamic-range (SDR) video with brigter whites and deeper blacks. HDR10 was announced on August 27, 2015, by the Consumer Technology Association and 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 up to 1000 nits of brightness and 10-bit color which corresponds to 1024 shades of the primary RGB colors.

Dolby Vision

Dolby Vision is an update to HDR10 by adding dynamic metadata that can be used to more accurately adjust brightness levels up to 10,000 nits maximum brightness on a scene-by-scene or frame-by-frame basis and supports up to 12-bit color depth (4096 shades of RGB) and 8K resolution.

Dolby Atmos and Dolby Surround upmixer

Denon AVR-X1600H DAB supports Dolby Atmos with its Dolby Surround upmixer. It can be configured upto 5.1.2 channels using internal amplifiers.

Dolby Atmos is the first cinematic audio format in which sounds exist as individual entities, called audio objects. In Dolby Atmos, any sound - the helicopter, a car screeching around a corner, a melodic bird call - 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. You'll feel like you're inside the action, in ways you've never experienced before.

Dolby Atmos for the home represents every sound in the original cinema mix as an audio object. Extensions to the Dolby Audio™ codecs, along with an advanced scalable algorithm, allow Dolby Atmos to be delivered via Blu-ray Disc and streaming media. A spatially-coded substream is added to Dolby TrueHD or Dolby Digital Plus. A Dolby Atmos audio/video receiver (AVR) adapts the cinema experience to your home theater from seven speakers to as many as 34 in 24.1.10 configuration, recreating the original artistic concept. 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.

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 and Neural:X upmixer

Denon AVR-X1600H DAB supports DTS:X with its Neural:X upmixer. It can be configured upto 5.1.2 channels using internal amplifiers.

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 is a new 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.

Audyssey

Denon AVR-X1600H DAB comes with Audyssey Dynamic EQ and Audyssey Dynamic Volume.

Audyssey 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.

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 Correction

Denon AVR-X1600H DAB comes with Audyssey MultEQ XT room correction system and includes the calibration microphone. It also supports Audyssey App.

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.

Connectivity

Denon AVR-X1600H DAB can be connected to internet using ethernet cable or built-in wi-fi adapter. It can also connect to bluetooth devices via built-in bluetooth adapter. The Receiver works with Amazon Alexa and supports AirPlay 2. It has 6 HDMI inputs and HDCP 2.3 copy protection. There is a phono input with built-in phono stage for connecting the cartridge output of the turntable directly to the Receiver.

Front panel has HDMI and USB inputs.

Specifications

Here we list all the available features and specifications of Denon AVR-X1600H DAB.

BASICS
Brand	Denon
Model	AVR-X1600H DAB
Type	A/V Receiver
Country	UK
Release Year	2019

AMPLIFIER
Channels	7.2
Front Wide Channel Support
Discrete Amplification
THX™ Certification
Continuous 6 Ω Rated
Certified 4 Ω Performance
Mono Block Power Amplifier Construction
Bi-amp Capability	assignable

AUDIO
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Engine	Four 300 MHz DSP cores
DAC	AKM
Maximum Channel Processing	7.1
D.D.S.C. HD Digital
Alpha Processing
Air Studios Monitor Certification
Dolby Atmos	up to 5.1.2
Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization
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
PCM	2-ch/Multi-ch Input
Music Playback via USB	MP3, WMA, AAC, Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, DSD
High Resolution Music Playback via USB and/or Network	up to 192 kHz
High Resolution Audio Formats via USB	Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, DSD
Multi-Channel Music File Playback via USB
Gapless Playback
DSD via HDMI
DSD via USB	2-ch Input
DSD to PCM Converter
USB DAC
Jitter Reduction
DTS Dialog Control
Dialog Enhancement
Dialog Level Adjustment
Dialog Normalization
Dialogue Lift
Compressed Music Enhancer
High-resolution Music Enhancer
Audyssey Dynamic EQ
Audyssey Dynamic Volume
Audyssey LFC
Audyssey Sub EQ HT
Audyssey DSX
Direct Mode
Pure Direct Mode
Independent Dual Subwoofer Output

CALIBRATION
Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic.	Audyssey MultEQ XT
Audyssey App Support
Optimized Bass Redirection
Bass Sync

VIDEO
Video Signal Type	NTSC/PAL
HDR10
HDR10+
BT.2020 color space
Dolby Vision
HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma)
QMS (Quick Media Switching)
ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode)
VRR (Variable Refresh Rate)
QFT (Quick Frame transport)
3-D Ready
Video Signal Passthrough	up to 4K 50/60Hz 4:4:4
Video Signal Upscaling
Analog To HDMI Upconversion
Component Video Upscaling
Analog to Analog Video conversion
isf Certified Calibration Control

CONNECTIVITY
MHL Input
DLNA 1.5
FireConnect
FlareConnect
HEOS
Chromecast Built-In
DTS Play-Fi
Works with Amazon Alexa
Google assistant
Apple Siri
Works with SONOS
AirPlay	AirPlay 2
Apple Product Connection	iPod, iPhone and iPad
Remote App	Denon 2016 AVR Remote App for iOS and Android devices and Kindle Fire
InstaPrevue Input Source Prevue
Ethernet
Ethernet Switch
Wi-Fi
Bluetooth	SBC
Bluetooth Headphone Transmission
HDBaseT Compatible
Enhanced ARC
HDCP Version	2.3
HDMI Input	6 (1 front)
HDMI Output	1
USB Input	1 Front for USB memory
USB DC Out Port
Analog Audio Line Input	2
Analog Audio Line Output
Phono Input
Optical In	2
Optical Out
Coaxial In/Out	/
Composite Video Input	2
Composite Video Output	1
S-Video Input
S-Video Output
Component Video Input
Component Video Output
PC In
Multi-Channel Input
Analog Pre-Outs	0.2
XLR Inputs
XLR Pre-outs
Front A/V Inputs	HDMI, USB
Speaker A/B	assignable
Headphone Out	6.3 mm

ZONES
Zones	2
Powered Zones	2
Zone 2
RS-232
+12V Trigger Output
Remote (IR) Input/Output	0 / 0

MISC
On-Screen Display	Hybrid Graphic User Interface
GUI Languages	9
Web Browser Control
IP Control for CI
Control4 SDDP
FL Display	1 line
Remote Controller	RC-1227
Pre-programmed / Learnable / LCD Display	/ /
Detachable Power Cord
Denon Link HD
Setup Assistant
Quick Select plus / Quick Select	/

RADIO
Analog Tuner	FM with RDS
Digital Radio	DAB/DAB+
Internet Radio	TuneIn
Pandora
Spotify
Tidal
Deezer
Napster
SiriusXM Internet Radio

CONSTRUCTION
Front Panel	not Metal
Speaker Terminals	7
Large Speaker Terminals	7
Color-Coded Speaker Terminals
Transparent High-Grade Speaker Terminals
High Grade Audio Components
Gold plated RCA terminals

POWER
Power Supply	AC 230 V, 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption	430 W
No Sound Power	ECO On/Off: 29 W/39 W
Standby Power	0.1 W

GENERAL
ECO Mode / Hybrid Standby Function
Auto Power off
Dimensions (W x H x D)	434 mm x 151 mm x 339 mm (with antenna: 434 mm x 215 mm x 339 mm) 17 1/8" x 6" x 13 3/8" (with antenna: 17 1/8" x 8 1/2" x 13 3/8")
Dimensions of Package (W x H x D)	523 mm x 232 mm x 435 mm 20.6" x 9.1" x 17.1"
Weight	8.5 kg
Weight of Package	10.6 kg
Warranty	3 Years

SPECS
Power Output (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2	80 W (0.08% THD)
Power Output (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 2	120 W (0.7% THD)
Maximum Effective Power Output (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven, JEITA)	175 W (10% THD)
Rated Power Output (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven, IEC)	145 W (1% THD)
Phono Distortion	0.03% (1 kHz, 3 V)
Input Sensitivity and Impedance (Line)	200 mV/47 kΩ
Input Sensitivity and Impedance (Phono MM)	2.5 mV
S/N Ratio (Line, IHF-A)	98 dB
S/N Ratio (Phono MM, IHF-A)	74 dB
Phono RIAA Deviation	±1 dB (20-20 kHz)
Frequency Response (Analog In)	+1/-3 dB (10 Hz to 100 kHz, Direct mode)
DSD Sampling Rates via USB	5.6 MHz, 2.8 MHz
Video Input Sensitivity/Output Level and Impedance	1 Vp-p/75 Ω (Composite)
Video Frequency Response	5 Hz to 10 MHz, 0 dB/-3 dB (Composite)
Ethernet Standard	100BASE-TX
Wi-Fi Standard	IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n
Wi-Fi Terminal Frequency	5 GHz, 2.4 GHz
Bluetooth Version	4.1
Bluetooth Frequency	2.4 GHz
USB Terminal	USB2.0 5V, 1 A
FM Frequency	87.5 MHz - 108.0 MHz
FM 50 dB Quiet Sensitivity (IHF, 1 kHz, 100% MOD.)	Mono: 2.8 µV (20.2 dBf)
FM Effective Sensitivity	1.2 µV (12.8 dBf)
FM S/N Ratio	Mono/Stereo: 65 dB/65 dB
FM Harmonic Distortion (IHF, 1 kHz)	Mono/Stereo: 0.4%/0.4%
DAB Freq	174.928 (5A) - 239.200 (13F) MHz (BAND III)

* - 480i/576i and 480p/576p only
** - 480i/576i only
*** - no 1080p/24 upconversion
**** - 1080p signal is not converted

Successor

In 2021 Denon AVR-X1600H DAB was replaced by AVR-X1700H DAB. Let us now have a look at some important changes that the successor brought.

UPGRADES	Denon AVR-X1700H DAB	vs	Denon AVR-X1600H DAB
HDR10+		vs
QMS		vs
VRR		vs
QFT		vs
Video Signal Passthrough	up to 8K 50/60Hz and 4K 100/120Hz 4:4:4	vs	up to 4K 50/60Hz 4:4:4
Video Signal Upscaling	from 1080p up to 8K 50/60Hz and 4K 100/120Hz 4:4:4	vs
Wi-Fi Standard	IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac	vs	IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n
Newer Bluetooth Version	4.2	vs	4.1

For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Denon AVR-X1700H DAB vs Denon AVR-X1600H DAB.