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Inside Denon

From “Star Wars” to streaming

How Dolby and Denon changed home theatre sound forever

Denon AVR with Dolby Logo

Think back to the first film that truly drew you in—not just with the story, but with the sound. The one where the music swelled, the action thundered, and you felt like you were right inside it all. That feeling of being surrounded, lifted, and transported? That’s the magic Dolby made possible in cinemas—and that Denon helped deliver to living rooms around the world.

As Dolby celebrates 60 years of pushing the boundaries of cinematic sound, we’re proud to reflect on the role we’ve played in bringing those innovations home—one breakthrough AVR at a time. Let’s rewind the tape and explore some of the ways Dolby and Denon have shaped the way we experience home entertainment.

Denon AVR

1975–1977: Dolby goes cinematic

Dolby Stereo brought a breakthrough four-channel optical format to 35mm film, delivering Left, Centre, Right, and Surround channels from a standard soundtrack. It quietly launched in 1975, but it was the debut of Star Wars in 1977 that made the world take notice. For many, this was the moment that put Dolby on the map—when cinemagoers felt, possibly for the first time, that sound could be just as thrilling as the dazzling visuals on screen.

1982–1985: Surround comes home

In 1982, Dolby Surround translated theatrical experiences to VHS and LaserDisc. Denon launched its first Dolby Surround AV receiver, the AVC-300, in 1985—bringing directional sound to living rooms everywhere. For home audiences, sound made the leap from background to prominent storytelling element.

1987–1988: Dialogue takes the spotlight

Dolby Pro Logic further refined home theatre sound with its ability to decode a two-channel stereo signal into four separate channels. For film lovers, it was a game changer: Suddenly, whispers were clear as day, and action scenes had weight and direction. As Dolby brought cinematic balance to the home, Denon quickly integrated the format into our AV receivers, helping listeners hear every word and feel every moment.

AVP-8000

1992–1996: The Dolby Digital leap

Dolby Digital premiered in 1992 in Batman Returns, introducing discrete 5.1-channel audio with a more natural sound stage and enhanced clarity. We took the next step with the AVP-8000 (known in Europe and Asia as the AVP-A1)—the world’s first Dolby Digital preamp—delivering that same multichannel experience to high-end home theatres, for the ultimate in realism.

1999–2004: Adding depth and detail

Dolby Digital EX, introduced in 1999, added rear surrounds to deepen the sense of space in film soundtracks. The Phantom Menace was the first to showcase it, with effects that seemed to move seamlessly behind the listener. Dolby Pro Logic II followed, bringing new dimension to stereo content, and Dolby TrueHD brought lossless audio, primarily for Blu-ray, unlocking pristine multichannel sound for home theatre.

By this point, Denon engineers had developed a reputation for implementing Dolby formats quickly, optimising their performance in real-world home theatre systems. “When Dolby develops a new format, we’re often brought in early as part of the ecosystem partners,” explains Yoshinori Yamada, Denon’s Product Line Director, Electronics. “Our role is to evaluate how the technology aligns with our performance standards and product roadmap ... we’re not just meeting specs but delivering a truly emotional sound experience.”

Sound Demonstration

2012: Dolby Atmos takes sound vertical

Everything changed in 2012 with the introduction of Dolby Atmos. Centred around object-based audio and introducing height channels, the format allowed sound to move freely above and around the audience—as showcased in Brave, the first theatrical release in the format. For audiences, this meant that sound was no longer just in front of or behind them—it was overhead, swirling around, fully enveloping them.

2014: The first Atmos AVR ushers in a revolution

Denon was the first to bring Dolby Atmos to consumers with the launch of the AVR-X5200W, the world’s first Atmos-enabled AV receiver. For home users, it meant unprecedented audio immersion—finally, in their own living rooms.

Just as Atmos helped filmmakers realise bold new ideas in sound, Denon has worked to ensure home listeners feel that same sense of scale, movement, and emotional impact. For us, Atmos was more than just a technical update—it was a paradigm shift. “It wasn’t just about adding more channels—it was about rethinking the spatial audio,” says Yuuki Takahashi, Denon’s Manager of Global Product Development. “We built custom test rigs, created new evaluation material, and spent countless hours refining the circuit topologies and signal paths to preserve clarity and dynamics across all object positions.”

Denon AVR

2018: Scaling up sound

In 2018, Denon launched the AVR-X8500H—the first 13.2-channel AVR. Four years later, we raised the bar again with the AVR-A1H, a 15.4-channel powerhouse designed to support the most complex object-based soundscapes.

This leap called for tight collaboration across mechanical, electrical, and acoustic teams. “Our approach has always been ‘build for scalability,’” says Yamada. “Many of our internal circuit designs—like the power supply architecture and DSP framework—were developed with headroom in mind. That foresight allowed us to go beyond 11 channels before others could catch up.”

 “We couldn’t compromise on the amplifier topology,” Takahashi adds. “Every channel in a Denon AVR gets discrete amplification. We optimized the parts layout and the routing of audio signals inside the chassis to minimize crosstalk and electromagnetic interference, which becomes more difficult as you scale up.”

2019: Dolby Atmos Music pushes spatial sound further

Dolby Atmos Music brought object-based sound to albums, singles, and soundtracks across every genre. Major artists embraced the shift, with everyone from Beyoncé to The Beatles inviting listeners inside their spatial mixes. Meanwhile, cinematic soundtracks for films like Dune showcased Atmos’ home-theatre potential, and games like Halo Infinite brought tactical precision to every footstep and firefight. Our AVRs kept pace—supporting music, film, and game formats across every room of the home.

Dolby theater demonstration

Rethinking the AVR for a new era

Dolby Atmos didn’t just change content—it changed how AVRs are designed. To render object-based audio in real time and maintain precise spatial placement, we adopted a multi-core DSP architecture and overhauled our signal processing pipeline.

One of the most difficult challenges was one users never see: internal timing. “One major challenge is maintaining phase coherence between channels,” says Takahashi. “If timing isn’t perfect, the illusion of a 3D soundstage collapses.” That meant optimising support for advanced calibration algorithms, such as Audyssey MultEQ XT32, to ensure perfect time alignment—even in asymmetrical rooms.

User experience was equally important. Our engineers knew that even the most advanced system wouldn’t matter if customers couldn’t set it up easily. “Atmos is powerful but complex,” Yamada explains. “We focused on making it accessible without compromising performance.” That’s why today’s Denon AVRs include features like setup assistants, speaker layout detection, and flexible channel mapping—to make systems easier to use without sacrificing performance.

AVR-X6800H

Built to move you

Today, Denon AVRs support the most advanced Dolby formats, including Dolby Atmos and Dolby TrueHD, and deliver lossless, cinema-grade audio. Features like 8K video support, HEOS whole-home streaming, and Dirac Live room correction future-proof the experience.

For Takahashi, what matters most is the emotional connection: “Dolby’s technologies allow us to immerse the listener in the story—not just with energy or impact, but with nuance.” And that, says Yamada, is why the partnership has endured: “Our mission has always been to bring studio-grade sound into the living room. Dolby helps us do that—not just by giving us the tools, but by sharing a creative vision for immersive storytelling.”

Dolby made surround sound iconic. Denon made it unforgettable.

From the first home theatre amp to the world’s first 15.4-channel Atmos receiver, Denon has led the way at every Dolby milestone. For us, this legacy isn’t just technical—it’s emotional. It’s part of our promise to deliver unforgettable sound.

If your AV receiver isn’t ready for the latest Dolby formats, your films, music, and games are missing the magic. Upgrade to a Denon AVR and bring cinematic sound home—just the way it was meant to be heard.

Discover the power of Denon AVRS

EISA Award Badge
AVC-A1H, Black, dynamic
AVC-A1H
15.4 Ch. 150W 8K AV Receiver with HEOS® Built-in
£6,000.00
NEW
AVC-X6800H, , dynamic
AVC-X6800H
11.4 Ch. 205W 8K AV Receiver with HEOS® Built-in
£3,000.00
AVC-S670H, , dynamic
AVC-S670H
5.2 Ch. 75W 8K AV Receiver with HEOS® Built-in
£549.00