Denon makes really good looking equipment, and the AVR-S650H is no exception. The front panel is feature rich – nice volume and source selector knobs, four pre-set buttons that store your preferred setting for various uses, 6.35mm headphone and 3.5mm mic jacks respectively, and four sound styling option buttons to choose from.
The unit has Bluetooth, or it can be controlled with the included remote that can universally sync. It’s likely possible to also sync it to a remote you already have.
The back panel has pretty much every terminal you could need, and is also nicely labeled to make it easier for the laypeople. The speaker terminals are nice binding posts that can accept all the major types of connectors. Each mode has a corresponding HDMI input that supports 4k. The only small criticism we can think of is that some people might want more than three RCA jack pairs.
The AVR-S650H is rated at 150 W per channel which is easily enough to handle just about any full set up of five speakers and two subwoofers.
Denon also has a remote app for any Bluetooth source if you’d rather control things that way than with a physical remote.
Overall Take, As Compared to the Competition
Any 100+ wpc receiver from a reputable brand will power virtually any home speakers – just find the cheapest one with the features you want and save your budget for the actual speakers. Prices in the audio world are fickle, but we’ve seen the AVR-S650H drop down to one of the least expensive 5.2 units. If you can get one at a good price it’s a solid choice to be the hub of your home system.
