Denon Home Sound Bar 550 - 4 channel sound bar with Dolby Atmos and HEOS

Audio/Video Section
Network Multiroom Audio
Control & Convenience Features
Mounting & Power Requirements

Audio/Video Section

4.0Ch Active Soundbar: The Denon Home Soundbar 550’s unique 4.0, six-driver arrangement creates an immversive, virtual 3D surround sound without taking up too much space under your TV. A combination of two premium 0.75″ soft-dome tweeters, four 2.1875″ full-range drivers, and two 2″ x 3.5″ passive radiators create balanced, powerful, detailed sound. By itself, the Denon Home Soundbar 500 creates a 4.0ch home theater from a single speaker; or it can be paired with Denon Home wireless speakers (all sold separately) to create a more enveloping surround sound experience. After an available firmware update, Denon’s wireless subwoofer can also be added (also sold separately).

• Optional Wireless Rear Speakers: Optional Denon Home 150, 250, or 350 speakers (sold separately) can be paired as dedicated rear speakers to the soundbar, creating realistic surround sound all around you.
• Optional Wireless Powered Subwoofer (available firmware update): If you’re looking for even more bass from the Denon Home Soundbar 550, after an available firmware update you’ll be able to connect Denon’s DSW-1H wireless powered subwoofer (sold separately).

3D Immersive Surround: The Denon Home Soundbar 550 offers support of Dolby Atmos & DTS:X through its HDMI input and HDMI eARC output; as well a support of Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD Master Audio. The soundbar optical digital input only supports Dolby Digital and DTS.

• Dolby Atmos: Dolby Atmos surround sound technology dispenses with channel-based coding in favor of more advanced object-based coding, giving the soundtrack designer the ability to precisely place sounds anywhere in the 3-dimensional space for horizontal and vertical surround effects.
• DTS:X: The latest immersive surround sound system, DTS:X features object-based audio coding that lets the soundtrack designer place sonic elements anywhere in the 3D acoustic soundspace, and provides for overhead effects to deliver a stunning surround sound experience.

Note: The Denon Soundbar 550 is limited to 4.0 channels and will downmix Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and other surround sound formats to 4.0ch for playback.

Dialog Enhancement & Night Mode: Dialog Enhancement boost dialog in movies and vocals in music, so they can be better heard over the movie effects and musical instruments. Night Mode lets you enjoy high fidelity sound without annoying jumps in volume, so you can watch your favorite programs late into the night without disturbing other family members.

HDMI 2.0b: Equipped with one HDMI input and one HDMI eARC output, the Denon Home Soundbar 550 incorporates an advanced video section that features the HDMI 2.0b specification; including support for 4K/60 Hz Ultra-HD video with HDCP 2.2 compatibility (a requirement for 4K Ultra HD copy-protected content), HDR (High Dynamic Range), and ARC (Audio Return Channel).

• 4K/60Hz + HDCP 2.2: The Denon Home Soundbar 550 supports up to 4K (3840×2160 pixels) video @ 60 frames per second on all of its HDMI inputs and output. It will also pass a 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, or 1080p video signals via HDMI. There is no video resolution upscaling. All of the soundbar’s HDMI jacks support HDCP 2.2, which fully complies with the latest copyright protection standard for 4K video transmission.
• HDR (High Dynamic Range): The Soundbar 550 supports High Dynamic Range video – including HDR10 and Dolby Vision. High Dynamic Range video provides enhanced picture quality by simultaneously enabling greater detail for both the dark and bright parts of an image. HDR reproduces a greater dynamic range of luminosity or brightness levels, creating greater contrast. This increased contrast reveals the subtle nuances of the image, from detailed blacks and shadows to the brightest whites and colors, plus greater depth.
• eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel): This feature of the soundbar’s HDMI output allows audio to be sent from your compatible TV to the speaker through the same HDMI cable already being used to send audio and video to your TV. This eliminates the need for extra cables connected to your television. eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) will support uncomprerssed audio formats like Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, & DTS HD Master Audio – where as the previous ARC (Audio Return Channel) was limited to only Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS, DTS HD, and PCM.

Note: Use a premium high-speed 18Gbps HDMI cable for the best 4K, HDR, and eARC performance.

Digital & Analog Inputs: In addition to HDMI connectivity, the Denon Home Soundbar 550 is outfitted with an optical (toslink) digital input and an analog stereo minijack (3.5mm) audio input.

• Optical Toslink: For TVs without ARC via HDMI, you can connect the Denon Home Soundbar 550 via its optical (toslink) digital audio input. The digital input supports 2ch PCM and 5.1ch Dolby Digital/DTS.
• 3.5mm Minijack: Additionally, Denon has included a stereo analog minijack (3.5mm) input jack that lets you connect the Home Soundbar 550 to your TV without ARC or a digital output, or to a portable music player. This connection only supports 2ch PCM.

Note: The digital optical output of some flat-panel TVs only send an audio signal in 5.1ch when receiving Dolby Digital/DTS surround sound from the TV’s built-in tuner, network connection, or connected USB device; and will output only 2ch stereo from sources connected to the TV via HDMI, or RCA (like your Blue-ray/DVD player or satellite/cable box).

USB Port: The Denon Home Soundbar 550 is fitted with a rear-panel USB (type-A) port that allows you to enjoy a variety of high-resolution and compressed music files from a USB mass storage class memory device, such as a USB thumbdrive (formatted in FAT 32). You’ll be able to control your USB device’s music and view song/artist info from the HEOS app on your Apple iOS or Android device. USB portable audio devices that can be charged via USB will be charged when plugged into the speaker’s USB port (5V/1A); even in standby mode. USB audio can be distributed other HEOS products connected to your home network.

• Music Browsing: Use the HEOS app on your mobile device to browse your connected USB device’s music library by Artist, Album, Genre, or Song. You can also type in an artist name or song title to find music in your USB device’s library.
• Playback Control: Basic playback control from the included remote control or Heos app include includes Play/Pause and Previous/Next Track.
• Song/Artist Info: You are able to view song/artist information with Album Art from your inserted USB device on the HEOS app.

Note: It is not possible to connect and use a computer via the USB port of this unit using a USB cable. The USB port does not support Apple iOS or Android devices. USB hubs and card-readers are not supported.

High Resolution & Compressed Music Formats: The Denon Home Soundbar 550 supports compatibility with high-resolution audio files for the ultimate listening experience via select online music services, DLNA, and USB. Listen to uncompressed WAV (PCM), ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec), and FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) music files up to 24-bit/192-kHz; as well as DSD (2.8/5.6MHz). HEOS is also compatible with compressed music files – such as MP3, WMA, and AAC (MPEG4).

Built-in Bluetooth: The Denon Home Soundbar 550 features built-in Bluetooth 4.1 with a 98.4′ wireless range for music streaming (A2DP 1.2) and control (AVRCP 1.5). You’ll be able to wirelessly connect to smartphones (including iPhone & Android), tablets (including iPad & Android), laptops (including Microsoft Surface & Macbook), computers (including Windows PC & Mac), and other Bluetooth-enabled devices. Up to eight Bluetooth devices can be remembered by the Home Soundbar 550, so family members as well as friends can enjoy their favorite tracks (only one device can be used at a time)

• Wireless Music Streaming: You’ll be able to wirelessly stream stored music, music apps, and other audio content from your Bluetooth-enabled source device to the Denon active soundbar speaker. The Home Soundbar 550 supports the Bluetooth SBC codec only.
• Wireless Music Control: You will also be able to control basic playback functions (Play/Pause, FF/RW, Skip) from the unit’s top-panel controls (the remote does not offer playback control). Advanced music operation will still need to be handled from your Bluetooth-enabled source device. There is no song/artist information display on the soundbar; continue to use your Bluetooth device’s screen to view song/artist info.

Note: Bluetooth hands-free communication for making and answering phone calls is not supported.

Network Multiroom Audio

HEOS Wireless Multiroom Sound: The Denon Home Soundbar 550 is part of the HEOS wireless multiroom audio eco-system – comprising of a family of wireless network speakers, AV receivers, amplifiers, & pre-amplifiers for your whole home. There is a free HEOS app to control them from your Apple iOS or Android mobile device. You can enjoy your favorite streaming music services, internet radio, or your own music collection through out your home. Plus, set-up is intuitive and simple. To make HEOS wireless multi-room audio work in your home, you’ll need.

• Denon’s HEOS network audio speakers, receiver amplifiers, and/or pre-amplifiers
• a wireless (WiFi) home network with internet connection
• an Apple iOS or Android mobile device connected to your home wireless (WiFi) network
• the free HEOS app downloaded on your Apple iOS or Android device

Note: Prior to using the HEOS system, you’ll need to setup up your free HEOS account. Your HEOS account remembers all your settings and preferences such as all your music service logins and HEOS playlists. When you’d like to add multiple smartphone or tablet controllers to your system, you only need to sign in to each new device with your HEOS user name and password. Instantly all your music services and HEOS playlists are available in the new controller too. If you prefer, multiple HEOS accounts can be setup in a single household. This way, each family member can enjoy their own personalized Pandora, Spotify, etc. account settings and still share all the same speakers in the home.

Wired or Wireless Network Connectivity: The Denon Home Soundbar 550 and HEOS uses your home’s wireless (WiFi) network for whole-house audio entertainment. The Denon Home Soundbar 550 can connect to your home’s network via Ethernet (RJ-45) or WiFi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac). At least a dual-band (2.4/5GHZ) “N” router is recommended for the most reliable wireless network connection for high-resolution music playback. The free HEOS app for Apple iOS and Android is used for wireless (WiFi) setup with your home’s network.

Note: A WiFi extender (sold separately) may be necessary if your network’s wireless signal is weak to some of the HEOS speakers or players in your application.

Hi-Res & Audiophile-Grade Synchronization: To deliver a true audiophile listening experience for high-resolution music playback (up to 24-bit/192kHz) with multiple HEOS speakers & receivers at once, each HEOS speaker and receiver must be synchronized to an extremely high degree. Based on years of meticulous research, HEOS delivers unparalleled synchronization performance within microseconds for exceptional high-resolution music playback.

• HEOS Gen 2: HEOS Gen 2 (HS2) products, like the Denon Home Soundbar 550, will distribute high-resolution music files (up to 24-bit/192kHz) throughout your home to other HEOS Gen 2 (HS2) product; without any down-sampling.
• HEOS Gen 1: HEOS Gen 2 (HS2) products, like the Denon Home Soundbar 550, will down-sample high-resolution music files (up to 24-bit/192kHz) to CD-quality (16-bit/44.1kHz) and then distribute the music throughout your home to older HEOS Gen 1 product.

Online Music Services: You’ll be able to stream your favorite online music service like Pandora, iHeart Radio, SiriusXM, Tidal, Amazon, Rhapsody, TuneIn, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, and more. The HEOS app on your Apple iOS or Android device will serve as the controller for these apps and provide song/artist information with Album Art. You can create a “Favorite” station list, so you can quickly access your favorite internet radio stations and online music channels. These online music services can be distributed to other HEOS products connected to your home network.

• Amazon Music: Listen to millions of songs, thousands of playlists, and ad-free personalized stations with Amazon Prime & Unlimited Music. With the addition of Amazon Music HD, you will now be able to play Ultra HD music (24-bit/48kHz to 192kHz) on supported HEOS devices from the HEOS App when choosing Amazon Music. An Amazon Music (Prime, Unlimited, or HD) subscription will be required.
• TIDAL: TIDAL is a global streaming service that offers over 30 million songs in high-fidelity CD sound quality. TIDAL has two pricing tiers; either $9.99 or $19.99 a month. Both pricing levels allow you to access TIDAL’s entire music library. The $19.99 tier has the added benefit of high-fidelity sound at CD-level quality.
• Spotify Connect: If you subscribe to Spotify and have the Spotify App on your Apple iOS or Android smartphone, you can stream Spotify to the HEOS system. Spotify is a digital music service that gives you on-demand access to one of the largest music libraries in the world (over 15 million tracks and counting). Spotify makes it easier than ever to discover, manage, and share music with your friends. You can browse music by artist, album, track, or most popular; and create your own music library with customized playlists.
• Pandora: Pandora is free, personalized radio that plays music and comedy you’ll love. Just start with the name of one of your favorite artists, songs, comedians or composers and Pandora will create a custom station that plays similar tracks. You can also rate (thumbs up/thumbs down) songs as they play, and Pandora will adapt stations to your feedback. You can even bookmark up to 100 stations and easily switch between favorites.
• iHeart Radio: iHeartRadio is a free, all-in-one digital radio and music streaming service that lets you listen to thousands of live stations from across the country and allows you to create personalized custom stations featuring songs from the artist you select and similar music.
• TuneIn: The HEOS system includes access to more than 100,000 free internet radio streams from all corners of the globe via the TuneIn radio service. Just select the TuneIn logo from the main Music menu and browse among the 100,000 stations neatly organized into popular categories and select a station that appeals to your mood.
• SiriusXM: SiriusXM Internet Radio lets you listen to over 120 channels of commercial-free music, talk radio, news, sports, entertainment, and more.
• Napster: Napster is a streaming music subscription service (starting a $10 per month) that allows you to play the full-length songs you choose on demand from a collection of over 10 million songs, without ads and without having to purchase or download the music.

Note: Availability of online music services may vary by region. Not all services may be available at time of purchase. Some services may be added or discontinued from time to time based on decisions of the music service providers or others.

AirPlay 2 w/ Siri: AirPlay 2 is an advanced and easy-to-use wireless multiroom audio platform for iTunes, Apple Music, and other compatible Apple iOS apps. With AirPlay 2 you can play any sound from your Apple iOS device (running iOS 11.4 or later) or Mac computer (running OS X 10.13.2) on the Denon Home Soundbar 550 and other compatible AirPlay 2 speakers throughout your home. You will also be able to ask Siri-enabled devices (like your Apple iPhone, iPad, or Watch) to control playback of your Apple Music on the Denon Home Soundbar 550. You can choose to play audio in one room, play the same audio in grouped rooms, or play the same audio in every room. If you are an Apple Music subscriber, you can even play different music in different rooms (you can control and group directly from Apple’s Music App and Home app on your Apple iOS device). You can even watch videos and movies from YouTube and Netflix on your compatible Apple iOS device or Mac computer with perfectly synced audio on the Denon Home Soundbar 550.

Note: AirPlay 2 does not support multiroom audio distribution via HEOS. Multiroom audio distribution can only be done with other AirPlay 2 compatible devices (sold separately).

Mobile Device Streaming: Using the HEOS app on your Apple iOS or Android mobile device, you are able to stream your device’s music library to the Denon Home Soundbar 550. You’ll be able to browse your music library by Artist, Album, Genre, and Song; control music playback functions like Play/Pause and Previous/Next Track; and view song/artist info with Album Art from the app on your compatible mobile device. You can even type in an artist name or song title to find music in your mobile device’s library. Your device’s music library can be distributed to other HEOS products connected to your home network.

• Playlists: You can save the Now Playing queue as a HEOS Playlist that you can recall later. The new playlist will be available from the Playlists button on the Music tab on the HEOS controller app.
• Music Sharing: The HEOS App also has a feature called “Music Sharing” which can share the local music stored on your mobile device to other HEOS app users on your home network. The name of the mobile device you are sharing from will appear as a new Local Music source allowing other HEOS controller apps to browse and play music on your device from their device.

DLNA Certified: The Denon Home Soundbar 550 is DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) 1.5 and Windows 7/8 compliant. This allows you to wirelessly stream a variety of high-resolution and compressed music files stored on your network connected Windows PC or DLNA-certified NAS drives to the Denon Home Soundbar 550. From the HEOS app on your Apple iOS or Android device you can browse music files, control playback and view song/artist information with album art. DLNA music content can be distributed to other HEOS products connected to your home network.

Multi-Room Configuration: Built-in HEOS technology enables the PMA-150H to become part of the HEOS by Denon wireless multi-room audio eco-system, allowing you to stream and control all of your local and online music effortlessly from anywhere in your home with the HEOS App on your compatible Apple iOS or Android mobile device over a wireless WiFi network connection. The HEOS system is a true multi-room audio system that automatically synchronizes audio playback between multiple HEOS devices so that your music (up to 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res audio) coming from different rooms is perfectly in sync and always sounds amazing. You can play the same audio source in every room or any combination of rooms you choose, including a different song in every room.

• Systems & Groups: The HEOS wireless multiroom sound system can support up to 32 HEOS speakers, receivers, players, amplifiers, and/or pre-amplifiers (all sold separately) on a single wireless network (IEEE 802.11 g/n; 2.4/5GHz). You can join or group up to eight individual HEOS devices into a group that function as if they were a single source. The HEOS eco-system is flexible enough where you can create up to 16 Groups (2 Heos devices per Group). You can easily group 16 rooms together with Party Mode by simply using a “pinch” gesture.
• Compatible Sources: The following sources can be distributed through the HEOS multi-room audio system –
  • TuneIn Internet Radio & Spotify Connect
  • HEOS music apps (including Amazon, Pandora, Tidal, and more)
  • Windows PC & DLNA music servers
  • Bluetooth & USB audio (AirPlay is not supported)
  • Music libraries stored on your Apple iOS or Android mobile device.
  • Analog & Digital inputs (including HDMI, Optical, Minijack)

Note: A Group refers to the HEOS App’s ability to play multiple HEOS systems together, so you’re simultaneously outputting the same source information from all the HEOS systems. Grouping the systems will also allow proper synchronization to all systems so you should never hear an audio delay between the HEOS systems.

Control & Convenience Features

Remote Control: The Denon Home Soundbar 550 comes with an IR remote for basic control of the soundbar speaker. Basic control functions include Power, Source Volume/Mute, Nigh/Dialog Enhancer, Bass & Treble, as well as Quick Select functions. The Home Soundbar 550 is also pre-programmed to work with select television’s IR remote controls and offers support for HDMI CEC.

• Pre-Programmed: The Denon Home Sound Bar 550 has most of the leading television remote control codes built-in, so you can control the soundbar speaker with your TV’s remote. Compatible TVs include Samsung, LG, Sony, and Vizio. Control functions include Power on/off & Volume up/down.
• HDMI Control: You can switch off the power, switch input source and adjust the volume of this system using your TV’s remote control over an HDMI connection. Your TV also needs to be compatible with the HDMI control function. This function may not operate due to connected devices or settings.
• Quick Select: Three Quick Select buttons can be programmed for easy access of your favorite functions and radio stations from the IR remote.

Proximity Sensing Controls: The Denon Home Soundbar 550’s proximity sensing top-panel control interface is activated as soon as your hand approaches. When your hand gets close to the soundbar, its top-panel controls lights up, allowing for easy operation of volume adjustment, play/pause, and previous/next track functions.

HEOS App: You’ll need to download the HEOS App (for Apple iOS 9.0+ and Android OS 5.0) onto your compatible Apple iOS or Android mobile device. The app is required and provides everything you need to set up and enjoy music on the HEOS system. Using your mobile device and the HEOS app, you can setup, browse, explore, and control HEOS system right in the palm of your hand, from anywhere in your home. Your compatible Apple iOS or Android device must be connected to the same home wireless (WiFi) network as the HEOS speaker system. The HEOS app consists of 4 control screens.

• Settings: The “Settings” screen enables you to connect one or more HEOS speakers, receivers, amplifiers, and/or pre-amplifiers to your home’s wireless network. You also get access to Bass & Treble.
• Rooms: From the app on your Apple iOS or Android device, you can select which rooms you want playing. You can play the same music in multiple rooms by grouping rooms together, or you can listen to a different source in each room.
• Music/Sources: You can select what music and which source you want to listen to from the app. Choose from online music services like Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn, Tidal, etc.; your music library on your Apple iOS or Android device, Windows PC/DLNA server, or USB thumbdrive; and HDMI, Digital, or Aux inputs; as well as Bluetooth on the Denon Home Soundbar 550. You can also select music from Playlists you’ve created, Favorites you’ve saved, and your recent listening History.
• Now Playing: The “Now Playing” screen displays song, artist, and album information; along with Album Art. You also get basic playback controls like Play/Pause and Previous/Next Track, plus Volume controls Up/Down and Mute. In addition the “Now Play” screen functions unique to the selected online music service or music library.

Alexa Built-In (available firmware update): HEOS and Amazon Alexa customers can now enjoy the convenience of Alexa voice control plus high-quality wireless home audio. In addition to controlling your HEOS components with the HEOS app on your mobile device or tablet, you can now control them with Amazon Alexa voice technology through the Soundbar 550’s built-in microphone or an external Amazon Alexa device (such as the Amazon Echo – sold separately). You’ll need to download the the Alexa app (for Apple iOS 11.0+ and Android OS 6.0+) onto your compatible smartphone or tablet device to setup and enable Alexa voice control. Voice control functions include –

• Alexa voice commands include Volume (up/down, specific volume number, & mute); Playback (Play, Pause, Stop, Next, Previous, Resume); and Power (on/off). Plus, you can even use Alexa to switch inputs on HEOS enabled AV receivers and soundbars.
• You can group your HEOS-enabled devices using the HEOS app with an Alexa-friendly name. Once they are grouped, Alexa voice commands will control the group as a whole. If you want to play audio content from only one HEOS-enabled device in the group, you must ungroup the device within the HEOS app.
• You are able use voice commands to search for songs, albums and artists and even podcasts and internet stations from HEOS & Alexa compatible music apps – like Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Spotify Connect, & SiriusXM.
• You can also ask Alexa for weather forecasts, sports scores, news updates; as well as control smarthome appliances, cameras, lighting, and more.
• For a list of current Alexa voice commands supported by the HEOS HomeEntertainment Skill, click here. For setup instructions, click here.

Notes: Make sure the unit has the latest HEOS software and firmware update is installed. You will need to actively enable the soundbar’s built-in microphone via the HEOS App on your your compatible Apple iOS or Android device (the microphone is not turned on by default).

Works With Google Assistant: Ask your Google Home speaker or other devices with Google Assistant built-in to control HEOS content across your listening environment. Once you start music in the HEOS app, you can ask the Google Assistant to control volume, play, pause, skip tracks, and more. Once you have grouped your HEOS-enabled devices using the HEOS app, you can use the Google Assistant and voice commands to control a group of HEOS devices as a whole. You’ll need to download the Google Home app (for Apple iOS 12.0+ and Android OS 5.0+) onto your compatible smartphone or tablet device to setup and enable Google Assistant Support.

• A future firmware update (no ETA) will allow you to use the Google Assistant and your voice to queue up music services, power on/off devices, switch inputs and more.
• Click here for more info on Google Assistant for HEOS.

Note: You will need a Google Home or Google Assistant-enabled device (sold separately) to operate your HEOS products via voice-command; the speaker’s built-in microphone does not support Google Assistant. Your HEOS components and the Google Assistant-enabled device must be on the same network. Make sure the unit has the latest HEOS software and firmware update installed.

Standby Modes: The Denon Home Soundbar 550 features two standby modes to save power.

• Auto Standby: To save power, the speaker system will automatically enter Standby mode whenever there is no audio signal or control for 20 minutes and will automatically resume whenever the speaker is selected and playing music again. There is no visible indicator or LED that will show that the speaker is in Standby as it is a fully automatic function.
• Deep Standby: The speaker also has the ability to automatically enter “Deep Standby” whenever their is no wired or wireless audio connection for more than 60 minutes. The front panel LED will turn off during Deep Standby. To “wake” the speaker system from Deep Standby, you must press the volume or mute buttons which will immediately turn on the front panel LED.

Firmware Updates: Firmware and software updates from HEOS are delivered to the Denon Home Soundbar 550 via your home network’s Internet connection. When such updates become available, you will be notified when you open the HEOS app on your Apple iOS or Android device.

Mounting & Power Requirements

Mounting & Placement Options: The soundbar of the Home Soundbar 550 can be table-top mounted or wall mounted (keyholes slots are provided for wall-mounting the speaker). The soundbar speaker should be placed as close as possible to the television screen. It should be centered left-to-right with the screen, and ideally no more than a few inches above or below. The most common location is below the screen.

Power Requirements: The Denon Home Soundbar 550 active soundbar speaker will need to be plugged into an AC wall outlet or surge protector (sold separately) using the included 6.5″ AC power cord.