Denon announced a new app based wireless multi-room sound system, called HEOS, which connects to your existing Wi-Fi network to play music in any room. The HEOS by Denon will include three wireless multi-zone music players ($299-$599). With a single app, users can control the whole home, available from iPhone and Android devices. An optional access point range extender will be available to improve or expand the users existing home wireless network (sold separately).
“The great-looking HEOS Multi-Room Wireless Speaker plays music contained on your smartphone. If you have more than one speaker, they can work as a multi-room system for your entire home. It’s the ideal audio set-up transferring Denon’s music experience to today’s busy consumer, allowing them to enjoy their favorite cloud music services to the fullest,” said Brendon Stead, Denon’s vice president of product
Features
- Audiophile-level synchronization. The system is designed with new technology that makes for an incredible level of synchronization, a level even audiophiles can appreciate.
- State-Of-the-Art audio DSP optimization. Denon partnered with Waves Audio, the world’s leading developer of professional audio digital signal processing (DSP) technologies. The Denon Multi-Room-Sound will use embedded MaxxAudio® by Waves, a sophisticated sound enhancement suite customized to provide top-of-the-line sound quality for an optimized listening experience.
- Superior acoustic design. Denon’s audio expertise has evolved to meet the unique needs of today’s connected music consumer.
Easy to Use
Open the box and HEOS by Denon comes to life with its simple, intuitive and well-designed whole home control via the Denon Controller app for iOS and Android. This makes it easy and convenient to set up and operate the players through your frequently used wireless devices. Working with any existing home Wi-Fi network, the players connect effortlessly to your home network. Truly within minutes you can begin enjoying the sound of your favorite music filling the room—no Ethernet cable required.
The Wi-Fi connection is key to great playback and sound quality and Denon’s dual-band Wi-Fi uses modern Wi-Fi networks to their fullest advantage. The system integrates dual band 802.11n Wi-Fi to provide long range and bandwidth, giving you the freedom and flexibility to place your HEOS by Denon Multi-Room-Wireless Sound products anywhere in your home. The Denon system avoids common sources of interference from single-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth devices, microwave ovens, baby monitors and cordless phones.
If users need to overcome difficult Wi-Fi conditions created by poor Wi-Fi range or have a need to create a network for the first time, Denon offers a Range Extender. The HEOS Extend differs in that it strengthens the entire home network for all Wi-Fi devices.
Content and Playback
Once set up, sit back and enjoy your experience with access to the world’s leading online music services. With USB and NAS playback, the HEOS by Denon Multi-Room-Wireless Sound system allows users to also stream music collections stored on a hard drive, thumb drive or NAS drive. Play content locally, to another Denon wireless speaker, or to all Denon wireless speakers with playback times that don’t miss a beat when it comes to responsiveness.
Price and Availaibility
HEOS by Denon Multi-Room Wireless Sound System will be available in three different sized speakers from $299 to $599, which follow up the initial product launch introduction with pre-amp/amp expansion products. The pre-amp and amplifier products will allow for functionality of legacy audio products. The amps drive passive speaker systems and give you the ability to create additional zones of audio. These are expected to be available in the months following the initial release and into 2015, and beyond. Products will be available at select Denon dealers and online at Denon.com.
