Denon DHT-S217 Internal Hardware, Connectivity, Music, and more!

The first thing you’ll wonder when you look at the Denon DHT-S217 is how a soundbar with 2.1 channels can also support Dolby Atmos. There is an easy solution. The soundbar employs virtual technology to imitate the overhead activity of Atmos tracks as accurately as possible rather than using up-firing Atmos drivers, as many top-tier releases do.

You could also be confused about how it has 2.1 channels without a subwoofer. But, again, the solution is that Denon built two subwoofer drivers inside the speaker itself.

Denon DHT-S217 Connectivity

Denon

Many lower-end soundbars include the Denon’s two HDMI ports, one of which is an input and the other an output, allowing it to pass through the signal.

If HDMI is unavailable, there is also a Digital Optical input and an AUX 3.5mm micro jack. But remember that you won’t obtain Dolby Atmos audio with these two connections.

A USB port is also there, although it is just used for maintenance as there is no music playback. Last but not least, there is a subwoofer output in case you wish to improve the bass performance of the soundbar.

The device has Bluetooth 5.0 wireless capabilities, allowing you to stream music from your smartphone to the speaker. Unfortunately, Bluetooth is only valid for music because only the SBC codec is supported; anything else will undoubtedly cause audio syncing issues. Since WiFi is not accessible and the DHT-S517 was also without it, it is not surprising that we are also without it here.

Also Read: Sonos Arc: Is it worthwhile to spend your money on this soundbar?

Controls options 

The DHT-S217 and DHT-S517 operate the device in precisely the same ways. As a result, control choices are pretty constrained compared to the competitors. Although we previously mentioned the built-in buttons that are present and provide some basic functionality, the remote still serves as the primary method of controlling this device.

Finally, the DHT-S217 enables you to program your IR (infrared) remote to manage volume, mute, and other soundbar features (source selection or bass level). Again, the handbook has comprehensive directions for doing this that are simple to follow.

Music

Denon

You have two options for music playback with the DHT-S217. Using the TV or a video player as the source, it may connect through Bluetooth or the HDMI connector. We decided to stream music over HDMI from our TV to get the finest sound quality for our evaluation.

We have compared Denon soundbars to various Polk Audio products in the past, notably the Sigma series, and we have always remarked that, in our opinion, the Denon soundbars have a slight advantage since they have a Pure mode, and that is also the case here.

Final thoughts 

In conclusion, the Denon DHT-S217 succeeds in certain respects over its predecessor and unquestionably has its advantages. There is a sizable market for soundbars that are easy to operate and fit neatly into that category.

So it should undoubtedly be on your list of things to think about if you’re searching for a cheap, inexpensive device that is easy to install and even operate.