Denon is introducing a pure AV-Amplifier after a long absence from the AV market. This will be the first AV-Amplifier Denon have released since their AVC-A1HDA back in 2009. The AVC-X8500H is a 13.2 channel AV Amplifier and features Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Auro 3D surround decoding, with 13 channels of built-in amplification.

“Denon is deeply immersed in the industry and investing in future technology to deliver best-in-class, first-of-its-kind innovations for installers and consumers. As more home theatre enthusiasts integrate object-oriented audio into their builds, we identified a missing need and designed the industry’s first true 13-channel AV Amplifier with plenty of muscle on tap to power formats like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Auro 3D,” said Richard Velazquez, global head of brand management at Denon. “In addition to our monolithic amplifier design with our custom-made transistors and compatibility with nearly every advanced AV format, the AVC-X8500H is incredibly easy to setup. Owners can use voice commands with Alexa’s Smart Home Skill to control the unit and leverage whole-home audio integration to experience the future of home theatre.”

Hand-assembled in small batches in Japan, the 13.2 channel AV Amplifier will work at the centre of a  whole-home wireless music network, with wireless connectivity via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, streaming capabilities with Apple AirPlay, and wireless multi-room audio technology. Users can play music in every room from a variety of sources, including high-resolution DSD (2.8 and 5.6 MHz), FLAC, ALAC and WAV files. It also features Amazon’s Alexa Smart Home Skill for Entertainment Devices.

The AVC-X8500H features IP control capability for integration with third-party control devices and Control4™ SDDP (Simple Device Detection Protocol) certification. An RS-232C serial port is available to directly connect to external home automation and control equipment, and an IR remote control input on the rear panel enables remote control compatibility with other components in the home theatre system.  The Denon AVC-X8500H also is fully compatible with the latest HDMI connectivity and HDCP 2.2 specifications on all eight HDMI inputs and triple HDMI outputs. The amplifier supports 4K Ultra HD 60Hz video, 4:4:4 Pure Colour sub-sampling, High Dynamic Range (HDR), 21:9 video, 3D and BT.2020 pass-through support. The Denon AVC-X8500H is available now for € 3,699 / £3,299 in black or silver.