Denon DHT-S517

The Denon DHT-S517 is a 3.1.2 soundbar with Dolby Atmos, upfiring speakers and a wireless subwoofer. It brings cinema sound to the living room with a single HDMI eARC connection, without complex setup.

Cinematic sound without complication

For anyone who wants to move beyond thin TV sound without filling the living room with speakers and cables, the DHT-S517 offers a complete answer: a long, slim bar and a separate subwoofer that talk to each other wirelessly.

Sized for large screens

At roughly one metre wide, the bar sits naturally in front of large televisions and spreads sound across the full width of the picture. Its low profile helps keep the bottom edge of the screen and the TV's infrared receiver clear. Clean lines and a black finish let it blend discreetly with most modern furniture.

On the wall or on a cabinet

Built-in keyhole slots allow wall mounting below the TV, while the bar sits just as securely on furniture. It adapts to the layout of your room rather than the other way round. No separate bracket is needed for wall use, which keeps installation simple and the look tidy.

A subwoofer where it works best

The subwoofer only needs a mains socket, as the signal arrives wirelessly from the bar. Place it beside the sofa or in a corner, wherever bass performs best and its presence is least intrusive. Freed from a signal cable, you can experiment with positions until the low end sounds even across the room.

One-cable installation

A single HDMI connection to the TV is enough to get the system running. Denon's thinking here is simple: fewer settings, fewer cables and more time for films, series and music.

3.1.2 layout and Dolby Atmos sound

Inside the bar, seven drivers are arranged in a 3.1.2 configuration. Together with the wireless subwoofer, the system delivers front channels, a centre channel, low frequencies and height information.

Drivers aimed at the ceiling

Two full-range drivers face upwards and use reflections from the ceiling to create the sense of sound above the listener. With Dolby Atmos content, helicopters, rain and ambience take on a three-dimensional quality, without the need for extra speakers at the back of the room.

A dedicated centre channel

A dedicated centre driver handles dialogue, so voices stay anchored in the middle of the picture and stand clear of the score and effects, even when you are sitting off-axis.

Tweeters and midrange for a clear image

Left and right, two 25 mm tweeters and two racetrack midrange drivers widen the stereo stage and add detail to the treble, without harshness at higher volumes. The result is a sound image that extends beyond the physical edges of the bar and suits larger rooms.

Bass that supports the picture

The subwoofer takes care of low frequencies, leaving the bar free to focus on mids and highs. Explosions, film scores and electronic music gain weight and movement that a TV alone cannot provide. Because the bar no longer has to reproduce deep bass, it can play louder with less strain and lower distortion.

Connections, modes and everyday use

The DHT-S517 is designed to slot easily into a modern entertainment set-up and adapt to whatever you are watching, from late-night films to the news and music.

HDMI eARC with 4K pass-through

The HDMI eARC output carries high-resolution audio from the TV, such as Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Atmos. An additional HDMI input with 4K Ultra HD video pass-through lets you connect a console or player directly to the bar.

More sources

An optical digital input and a 3.5 mm analogue input cover older televisions and other devices, while Bluetooth lets you play music from a phone or tablet with a single tap.

Clear dialogue in three steps

The Denon Dialog Enhancer lifts voices in three levels, so you catch every word without constantly raising the volume. It is especially useful for films with a busy score or for documentaries.

Modes for every occasion

Movie and Music modes tailor the presentation to the content, Night mode tames sudden jumps in volume for late viewing, and Pure mode bypasses surround processing for more direct music listening, letting you hear recordings closer to how they were mixed.

Control with the remote you already own

Besides the buttons on the bar and its own remote, the DHT-S517 can learn commands from your TV remote, so everything can be controlled from one place. Auto power-off and low standby consumption complete a device built for everyday use.