Denon updates HEOS multi-room system with hi-res and Bluetooth

The revised Denon HEOS 1 (£199), 3 (£249), 5 (£349) and 7 (£499) wireless speakers will support uncompressed WAV, ALAC (Apple Lossless) and FLAC music files up to 24-bit/192kHz over a wireless network or via USB. The HEOS Link preamp and stereo Amp also get the Bluetooth and hi-res audio upgrade.

"We are pleased to introduce this new upgrade to our HEOS platform that brings high-resolution audio playback, built-in Bluetooth and a significant increase in processing power that will intensify performance and support new features that we can't wait to bring to the HEOS family," says Brendon Stead, senior vice president of product development at Denon.

Denon HEOS 7 (HS2) wireless speaker

Denon HEOS 7 (HS2) wireless speaker

Denon HEOS Link amplifier

Denon HEOS Link amplifier

A future upgrade will bring DSD (Direct Stream Digital) and AIFF support. The new models incorporate an ARM A9 1.25GHz processor with 512MB of flash memory combined with 256MB of RAM to handle hi-res audio playback.

As before, all HEOS products can be controlled using the free HEOS app for iOS and Android. And there's support for Spotify, Deezer, Tidal, Soundcloud and TuneIn radio.

In addition, the HEOS HS2 products will be compatible with the first-generation models, so users can add them to an existing HEOS multi-room system.

MORE: Denon HEOS hands-on review

Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.