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Denon’s $3K flagship receiver with Dolby Atmos will do everything but wash your car

After staggered release of its latest and greatest new network A/V receivers over the past few months, Denon has finally unveiled its flagship of the fleet, the new AVR-X7200W. Offering a hefty 9-channel power plant, multi-format hi-res streaming, the latest in 4K video passthrough, and compatibility with the powerful new Dolby Atmos surround sound technology, the X7200W dares you to find a more capable commander for your home theater setup.

At $3,000, the X7200W is certainly no small investment. But for that sum, demanding users will get a veritable cornucopia of options. The system is capable of delivering 9-channels of audio at a claimed 150 watts each, delivered with Denon’s symmetrical monolithic amplifier design, with the company’s custom made High Current Transistors. Those 9 channels can be spread out to a standard, massive surround setup, or split into one of a number of more advanced setup options.

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The X7200W comes loaded with the new Dolby Atmos technology, which allows for Atmos speakers to be installed in the ceiling, or to fire from the top of speakers to bounce sound off the ceiling from specially designated channels for a vividly immersive surround effect. The unit’s multiple Atmos configurations include 5.1.2 (meaning dual Atmos channels) 5.1.4, or 7.1.2. Add in a dual channel amp, and the receiver pushes 7.1.4, or 9.1.2 Atmos configurations.

In addition to Dolby Atmos, the X7200W includes Auro-3D technology, which uses extra speakers similar to the new Atmos setup for a 9.1 channel configuration that employs the so called “Voice of God” effect, or up to 10.1 channels, again with the deployment of an extra amplifier. And the unit also offers 13.2 channel pre-outs.

Bluetooth streaming and dual-antenna Wi-Fi with both Airplay and DLNA support allow for a multitude of wireless streaming options with a wide support of file formats, including the more obscure options such as DSD and AIFF. The device also (as expected) offers native support for Spotify Connect, and other Internet radio stations.

Connection ports abound along the device’s exterior, including 8 HDMI 2.0 inputs (1 in front), 3 HDMI outputs with full support to run up to 3 zones, a front facing USB input, and a funhouse of other connection options, including the aforementioned 13.2 channel pre-outs. Other features include all the top specs for 4K passthrough at a max 60Hz resolution with HD and SD upscaling, a phono input, Audyssey’s MultEQ XT 32 room calibration, remote control from iOS and Android devices, DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD decoding, and much more.

A quick breakdown of the AVR-X7200W’s marquee features are listed below.

  • 150W x 9ch high quality discrete power amplifier
  • Symmetrical monolithic amplifier design with Denon custom made transistors
  • D.D.S.C.-HD32 with AL32 Processing Multichannel, Denon Link HD
  • Built-in Wi-Fi with dual antenna, built-in Bluetooth
  • HDMI 2.0 with 4K Ultra HD 50/60 Hz Pass-through
  • HDCP2.2 upgradeable (scheduled for spring 2015)
  • Advanced Video Processing with upscaling up to 1080p and 4k Ultra HD 50/60Hz
  • 8 HDMI inputs (incl. 1 front), 3 HDMI outputs (2 main + zone)
  • Dolby Atmos (5.1.2, 5.1.4, 7.1.2, 7.1.4, 9.1.2 configuration — latter two require additional amplifier)
  • Auro-3D upgradable (9.1ch, 10.1ch with VOG (Voice of God) configuration — latter requires additional amplifier)
  • Audyssey DSX and DTS Neo:X 11.1ch processing
  • Wide support for streaming formats including DSD and AIFF streaming
  • AirPlay and DLNA music streaming; Spotify Connect
  • Advanced ECO mode with off/on/auto setting
  • Audyssey MultEQ XT32 / Sub EQ HT / LFC (Pro ready)
  • Audyssey Dynamic Volume and Dynamic EQ
  • Phono input
  • 11.2ch processing and 13.2ch pre-out; gold-plated terminals
  • 3 source, 3 zones
  • ISF calibration
  • Improved Setup Assistant and Graphical User Interface (Hybrid GUI, 9-languages)

Denon’s new answer to your home theater’s every need is slated for release in January 2015 for $3,000.

Ryan Waniata
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a…
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