(May 14, 2026) Denon has been busy in early 2026. Last month, the company introduced the AVR-S980H, a compelling sub-$1,000 receiver aimed at bringing approachable home theater performance to a broader audience. Now, Denon is moving up the ladder with two new X-Series models that sit one tier below its flagship A-Series lineup while still offering a deep feature set for enthusiasts building serious theater or media room systems.
The new AVR-X2900H is priced at $1,349, while the AVR-X3900H lands at $1,849. Neither model is cheap, but in today’s AVR market, both arrive at price points that feel fairly reasonable given their channel counts, HDMI support, room correction options, and overall system flexibility.
The AVR-X2900H is the more approachable of the two, offering a 7.2-channel platform with seven channels of onboard amplification rated at 95 watts per channel (8 ohms, 20Hz to 20kHz, 2ch driven). It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, along with 8K pass-through, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Variable Refresh Rate, Auto Low Latency Mode, Quick Frame Transport, and AMD FreeSync for gaming setups.
Room correction starts with Audyssey MultEQ XT, which gives the X2900H a capable onboard calibration system out of the box. For users who want to go further, Dirac Live Room Correction is also available as an optional paid upgrade, giving owners a path to more advanced tuning without needing to replace the receiver.
Denon also didn’t skimp on connectivity. The X2900H includes six HDMI inputs and two HDMI outputs, two subwoofer outputs, a moving magnet phono input, HEOS multiroom streaming, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth headphone transmission, and Denon’s web-based setup and control interface. It also carries Denon’s 70% Guarantee, which means the receiver is designed to deliver more than 70% of its rated power with up to five channels driven.
The AVR-X3900H is where the lineup takes a more enthusiast-focused turn. It expands to nine channels of onboard amplification, 11.4 channels of processing, and 105 watts per channel (8 ohms, 20Hz to 20kHz, 2ch driven). That opens the door to larger immersive audio layouts while also giving users room to grow beyond a basic 5.1.2 or 7.1 system.
Arguably, the biggest story with the X3900H is the inclusion of Audyssey MultEQ XT32. Unlike the MultEQ XT package found on the X2900H, XT32 offers much higher filter resolution and more advanced room correction capabilities. Denon says it supports up to eight measurement positions and more than 10,000 control points, while SubEQ HT individually calibrates dual subwoofers. For many users, that’s a powerful built-in calibration package that may be more than enough without immediately stepping into paid Dirac upgrades.
That said, the X3900H still leaves the door open for deeper tuning. It supports the full Dirac Live ecosystem as an optional upgrade, including Dirac Live Room Correction, Bass Control, and Active Room Treatment. For enthusiasts and integrators working in more complex rooms, that flexibility is a major part of the appeal.
The X3900H also adds four independent subwoofer outputs, full 11.4-channel pre-outs, Auro-3D, IMAX Enhanced, Sony 360 Reality Audio, and directional subwoofer modes. Auro-3D is a particularly nice inclusion for enthusiasts who value immersive upmixing, especially because Auro-Matic remains one of the more respected upmixers for expanding legacy content into a larger speaker layout.
Shared across both models is Denon’s HEOS platform, which enables the receivers to integrate into larger whole-home audio systems. Both models will also support a future firmware update that allows Denon Home 200, 400, and 600 speakers to be used as wireless rear surrounds, a useful option for living rooms and multimedia spaces where running speaker wire isn’t practical.
Taken together, the AVR-X2900H and AVR-X3900H give Denon two strong new entries in the middle of its AVR lineup. The X2900H looks like a sensible step-up model for users who want real home theater capability without overbuying, while the X3900H is the more compelling enthusiast play, especially with XT32 built in, four independent subwoofer outputs, Auro-3D, and access to the full Dirac upgrade path.
The Denon AVR-X2900H and AVR-X3900H are available now through Denon, Audio Advice, and authorized retailers worldwide.
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