Denon Reveals New AVR-S980H, Priced Under $1K and Loaded with Modern Options

Todd Anderson said:

View attachment 91772 (April 15, 2026) Denon is making a strong play in one of the most competitive categories in home theater, and it’s doing it with a number that should grab plenty of attention. The new AVR-S980H lands at $949 (buy it now on Amazon), sliding in just under that $1,000 mark while still checking a lot of the boxes enthusiasts care about. It's a 7.2-channel receiver built for music and theater fans looking to move beyond a soundbar without stepping into more complex or expensive territory. But once you look a little closer, it's apparent Denon is opening access to quite a bit of bang for the buck.

Power is rated at 90 watts per channel into 8 ohms, two channels driven, which should position it in a sweet spot for small to mid-sized rooms and a generous range of speaker pairings. Headline factory specs? No. But if they hold true, the S980H should deliver controlled, dynamic sound across a full surround setup, whether that’s a 5.1 surround system or a true 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos configuration.

Speaking of immersive audio, the AVR-S980H supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, along with their respective upmixers for legacy content. That means it can take standard surround or stereo material and expand it into a more enveloping presentation. What’s missing is Auro-3D. For some listeners, that matters, especially those who prefer Auro’s ability to preserve the integrity of a front soundstage during upmixing. While not a deal-breaker, its absence is notable.

On the video side, Denon is keeping things current. The receiver offers six HDMI inputs and two outputs, with support for 8K pass-through, HDCP 2.3, and modern HDR formats including Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG. There’s also eARC support, which simplifies sending audio from a TV back to a receiver via a single HDMI connection. Gaming features are part of the package as well. Variable Refresh Rate, Auto Low Latency Mode, and AMD FreeSync are all supported, along with 1440p pass-through. In practical terms, those should make for smoother gameplay and fewer distractions when things get fast.

Room correction is handled by Audyssey MultEQ, which uses a calibration microphone to tailor the sound to your space. It’s a familiar system, and while it doesn’t offer the same level of customization as some higher-end solutions, it remains effective for dialing in a balanced, cohesive sound without a steep learning curve.

There’s also a strong focus on flexibility. The S980H integrates with Denon’s HEOS platform for multiroom audio, supports AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth, and, via a future update, opens the door to wireless surround speakers when paired with Denon's new Home 200, 400, and 600 speakers.

The Denon AVR-S980H is available now through Denon and authorized retailers like Amazon, priced at $949.

Related Reading:

• NEWS: Denon Introduces AVR-S270BT: A Budget-Friendly 5.1 Channel Receiver with a Few Surprises
• NEWS: Hands-On Review: JBL's Stage2 Speakers and Modern Audio AV Receivers
• REVIEW: Elite's Dynamic VSX-LX805 AV Receiver – A Full Review
• NEWS: Denon Expands Its Wireless Line with New Home 200, 400, and 600 Speakers
• NEWS: Onkyo and Integra Unveil New Stereo Receivers with Cutting-Edge Connectivity and Built-In Streaming, TX-8470 and DTM-7.4

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-Jim- said:

Thanks for the quick article @Todd Anderson . I'm thinking of retiring my ancient Denon AVR-S900W as the Zone 2 section of the amplifier is distorting badly. It's in my basement system which surprisingly gets more use than my other systems. This receiver may be what I'm looking for. But I really want the new receiver to output a Sub signal to Zone 2 so I can have 2.1. (My old Denon AVR-S900W did not do this.) Will this one do it? Or do you know of an another receiver with this capability? Thanks for the assist.

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• Why has Denon changed their price policy in a way that treats different continents extremely differently? Look at the AVC-X4800H
  • It costs ~ 1300 € in South Korea.
  • It costs ~1650 € in the US.
  • It costs ~ 2000 € in Europe.

• When is Denon publishing a stance on Dolby Vision 2? It is totally unclear whether existing AV-receivers will be able to support it with a firmware upgrade. TVs need new hardware, but since AV-receivers only need to forward and not interpret the signal, I see a chance that a firmware upgrade will do. On the other hand, properly forwarding Dolby Vision 1 and HDR10+ is something many (older) devices cannot do, so this is not entirely trivial. Still, with Dolby Vision 2 TVs being about to hit the market, Denon should have a roadmap on the matter, no? I am totally in the dark whether I can buy or need to wait.

Todd Anderson said:

I spent some time looking through hookup scenarios... I'm not seeing evidence that you can run a sub in Z2.

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