Head to head
Denon AVR-S670H vs AVR-X1800H
The 5.2 channel S670H against the 7.2 channel X1800H. The deciding factor is whether you want Atmos height channels now or ever.
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This is the entry-level Denon decision: both share the same HDMI 2.1 board, HEOS streaming, and Audyssey correction, so a first-time buyer with a 5.1 speaker set wonders if the cheaper one is enough. The one question that decides it: will this room ever get height speakers?
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Basic 5.1 rooms and apartments | 5.1.2 Atmos in small to medium rooms |
| Price tier | Budget | Mid-range |
| Amplified channels | 5 | 7 |
| Rated power | 75 W/ch | 80 W/ch |
| Dolby Atmos | No | Yes, up to 5.1.2 |
| HDMI 2.1 (4K120) inputs | 3 of 6 | 3 of 6 |
| Room correction | Audyssey MultEQ | Audyssey MultEQ XT |
| Pre-outs | Dual sub outs only | Dual sub outs only |
| Streaming | HEOS, AirPlay 2 | HEOS, AirPlay 2 |
Pick the Denon AVR-S670H if
- You have a 5.1 speaker set and an apartment or small room where heights are not practical.
- You care about HDMI 2.1 gaming support more than surround format support.
- The receiver is a placeholder and you expect to replace the whole system in a few years.
Pick the Denon AVR-X1800H if
- You want two Atmos height or up-firing channels now or within the life of the receiver.
- You want XT room correction, which measures more positions and filters more finely than base MultEQ.
- You have a medium room and want a little more headroom per channel.
Verdict
Buy the AVR-X1800H. The two extra channels and XT correction are the difference between a receiver you keep and one you replace, and the price gap is small relative to the rest of a system. The exception is a strict 5.1 room with no ceiling access and no plan for up-firing modules, where the S670H is all you need.
Common questions
- Can the AVR-S670H be upgraded to Atmos later?
- No. It has five amplified channels and no pre-outs, so there is no way to add height channels.
- Do both have the same HDMI 2.1 support?
- Yes. Both have three 8K/4K120 inputs out of six, plus eARC on the output.
- Is there a cheaper 7-channel option?
- Denon's AVR-S770H is the S-series version with seven channels, but it keeps base MultEQ rather than XT.