Introduction
Regarding the Denon AVR S660H in particular, the receiver supports the Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats in addition to the virtual and up-mixing technology found in programs like Dolby Pro Logic ll, DTS Neo:6, and Virtual Sound mode. It also has 5.2 built-in amplification channels with 75 watts of power per channel. It has a lot of goodies, including High-Resolution Audio, HEOS technology, AirPlay 2, voice control, custom integration, HDMI upscaling, and fully functional HDMI 2.1 ports, in addition to the basic version of Audyssey dubbed Audyssey MultEQ auto-calibration system.
The AVR-main S660H’s selling point, as it was with the S760H, is none other than its three 40Gbps enabled HDMI 2.1 connections, which set it apart from the competition in the lower tier 5.2 channels AV receiver market. Due to the S660H’s advantage in terms of affordable gaming, many customers who are unconcerned with Dolby Atmos will undoubtedly choose Denon’s offering. So let’s check out what we have right away.
The S660H’s design is identical to that of the S760H in every way, including size. It appears that the S660H’s shell has enough room to accept the additional amplifiers of the S760H, therefore nothing needed to be changed. The only thing that can be used to identify it is that the less weight it has, the less hardware it has.
Audio Excellence
The receiver must make do with the more dated Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats because it does not support the most recent Dolby Atmos and DTS: X. The type of up-mixing and virtual technology features included are also impacted by this.
The five speaker connections are arranged in a straight line at the bottom of the device’s back, which greatly facilitates wire management. The terminals are of the standard quality that we have come to expect from Denon, and each terminal has its own amplifier.
The HDMI inputs are located at the top, and there are now six instead of five like on the S650H. However, the number of HDMI ports has increased by one, and three of them support HDMI 2.1 in its entirety.
The remaining connections consist of the same 2 composite video inputs and 1 output, 2 optical and 1 coaxial digital inputs, 1 Ethernet port, 0.2 channels pre-outs, 2 analog audio inputs plus a further one specifically for phono, the typical FM/AM antenna inputs, WiFi, and Bluetooth connectors. Here, as opposed to the S650H, Denon has incorporated a coaxial digital input that was previously missing.
Final Reflections
We all like the newest and best sound design and output, yet a sizable segment of the population still prefers the traditional 5.1 channel surround sound setup for their daily dose of cinema. And at a price that most people can afford, the AVR-S660H is more than adequate to meet these fundamental requirements. The S660H is a fantastic AV receiver that is focused on gaming and is more than capable of supporting the most recent console generation.
The S660H offers a lot of appealing features. Its build quality is unmistakably Denon, its audio output is among the best for an AV receiver in this class, it offers a tonne of extras and online services, and its HDMI 2.1 ports give it an advantage over comparable 5.2 channel receivers now on the market. Additionally, it might be the ideal addition to your gaming entertainment room for $499.
Regarding the S660H’s drawbacks, we cannot claim that they were particularly significant given its price and category. Its power output was obviously not the most impressive, and it would quickly run out of electricity in a large space. We also disliked the lack of a front HDMI port, which would have made connecting additional devices much simpler. The built-in wizard is all you have because the receiver does not support the Audyssey app, but we would dearly love to have an illuminated remote because trying to hit the right button in the dark can be such a frustrating task.
