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Denon has today announced its Home Sound Bar 550, a Dolby Atmos/DTS:X model which incorporates the HEOS streaming/control platform. The new 'bar is also ready to act as an Alexa controller, via its built-in microphone.

Set to hit retail mid-February priced £600 (and available for pre-order from February 1), the Home Sound Bar 550 is described by Denon as a 'high-performance, compact soundbar' that makes 'movies, TV and music wonderfully immersive.'

A single-box system, the bar features a six-driver array (two tweeters and four midbass units) in a stereo configuration, augmented by a pair of passive bass radiators.

With no physical upfiring drivers, 'expertly tuned' DSP is deployed to deliver a 3D audio performance in combination with Atmos and DTS:X decoding. Connections are HDMI in/out (with eARC), plus optical digital audio, 3.5mm aux and USB inputs.

Additionally, the Home Sound Bar 350 supports high-resolution music playback (FLAC, WAV and ALAC to 24-bit/192kHz, plus DSD 2.8/5.6MHz) and streaming from Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music, Amazon Music HD and other platforms through the HEOS app.

As a first for Denon, the soundbar features onboard software drivers for Control4, Crestron, URC and other home control systems, making it suited to integrators. It's also compatible with Apple AirPlay 2.

For multichannel devotees, the Home Sound Bar 350 can be partnered with Denon's Home 150, 250 or 350 wireless speakers, operating as surrounds. Additional bass can be delivered via the company's £600 DSW-1H wireless subwoofer.

Features of the new Denon 'bar include touchpanel controls (volume, play/pause, etc) that illuminate courtesy of a proximity sensor; control through your TV's remote, the Home Sound Bar 550's bundled remote or HEOS app, and Quick Select functions to store preferred listening modes/sources.

The soundbar's built-in microphone will come into play in Spring, when a firmware update will introduce Alexa smart assistant functionality. This update will also introduce Alexa chat japes to Denon's other Home wireless speakers.