A Sonos nemesis has arrived – I tested all of Denon's new Home speakers

Earlier this month, at a private listening experience with a small group of others, I got a preview of Denon's latest Home 2.0 speaker line-up – the Home 200, Home 400 and Home 600.

It's no secret that the best Wi-Fi speakers are abundant, and that many brands, including Sonos, are already well-regarded by many users. But said brand also caused a lasting kerfuffle with its app update debacle and non-support for outgoing, older speakers in its range.

Denon hasn't gone down that route, taking on an inclusive, future-proofed mantra – where the company's Heos app can handle both earlier-gen and the latest 2.0 models in their own groupings (across 16 devices and 64 zones, if you so wish).

But the other big reason that Denon might have just hit a home run against Sonos? All these Home speakers – from small 200, to mid-size 400 and large 600 units – are Dolby Atmos certified for spatial audio output compatibility.

I also get the impression that Denon has imbibed some design cocktail of sorts, given the higher-end look and feel of the full range. I'll detail what each model can do and what I made of each in the individualised sections below – but, spoiler alert, it's very good news indeed.

Denon Home 200

• Stereo output from three drivers
  • 2x 1in tweeters; 1x 4in woofer
• Dolby Atmos virtual enabled
• USB-C and AUX 3.5mm, Siri voice control
• Pair can be used in 3.1 or 5.1 arrangement using Home 550 soundbar and sub
• Finishes: Stone, Charcoal

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The smallest of the Home 2.0 units, and an update to the earlier Home 150, the Denon Home 200 is about as close to a Sonos Era 100 rival as you're likely to see.

What's special about this model, however, is that its trio of speakers is arranged with the tweeters in a left/right configuration – meaning true stereo output can be handled by this little speaker. A rare thing indeed.

You'd be better off buying a pair, of course, for true stereo pairing – or using as two rear outputs in tandem with your Denon Home 550 soundbar (as a 3.0.2 system; or upgrading to 3.1.2 with the addition of a sub).

But if you're just buying one, you may wonder what the whole virtual Dolby Atmos experience is like on this little speaker. I heard a couple of tracks, including an Atmos mix of Ed Sheeran's Shivers – and, at moderate 'width' settings in the app, it gives a broader soundstage.

Don't get me wrong, though, this isn't 'true' Atmos, and with the Heos app pushing to the max, the crossover gets to the point of confusing – sidelining the vocal in a way that sounds detached, sometimes phased against the other processed output.

Nonetheless, you don't have to dabble with additional processing. Denon's 'Pure Mode' leaves everything be. Using this and listening to Norah Jones gave a striking example of how capable this diminutive speaker is – detailed vocals, savvy amounts of bass, and an impressive wideness.

• Pricing: £299 / €TBC / $TBC / AU$TBC

Denon Home 400

• Stereo and upfiring output from six drivers
  • 2x 0.75in tweeters; 2x 1.25in mid-range drivers; 2x 4.5in woofers
• Dolby Atmos virtual enabled – as 2.0.2 channel system
• USB-C and AUX 3.5mm, Siri voice control
• Compatible with Home 550 soundbar, sub
• Finishes: Stone, Charcoal

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Next up, it was the turn of Denon's mid-size Home 400, which I think will be among its most popular models. It's akin to Sonos' Era 300 model in terms of scale, but has a more complex speaker arrangement.

The critical feature about the Home 400 is that it has a 2.0.2 channel output, meaning your typical left and right stereo, no true 'sub', and a pair of dedicated upfiring speakers. That's why this goes the extra length in being true Dolby Atmos (plus some virtual processing added, of course).

The result of those upfiring channels? Far more height to the staging, of course. But I was able to really test how much so when listening to the Atmos mix of The Doors' Riders On The Storm, where the overhead channels are given this whispering vocal aspect that you'd barely notice in the original.

Now, I'm not saying I prefer the Atmos mix of this track – quite the opposite, frankly – but using the Heos app's 'height' adjustment, that whispering vocal was emphasised hugely, pushing it upwards and into a much greater focus. Used sparingly, this height benefit adds a real immersive element.

Even without it, listening to Sheeran's Shivers again, the addition of larger drivers for bass just gives a very grounded, strong backbone. It's a quality-looking speaker that sounds the part, too.

• Pricing: £449 / €TBC / $TBC / AU$TBC

Denon Home 600

• Stereo and upfiring output with integrated sub, total of seven drivers
  • 2x 0.75in tweeters; 4x 2.25in mid-range drivers; 1x 6.5in woofer
• Dolby Atmos enabled – as 2.1.2 channel system
• USB-C and AUX 3.5mm, Siri voice control
• Compatible with Home 550 soundbar, sub
• Finishes: Stone, Charcoal

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At the top-end of the line-up is the Denon Home 600, which updates the 350 model, and is close to a Sonos Five if you're looking for an alternative equivalent.

Again, of course, Denon has gone all-in on the Dolby Atmos aspect here, with 2.1.2 channels – two for left/right, an integrated sub central, and two upfiring speakers – meaning true upfiring output.

Think of it like the Home 400, above, but upscaled – and with added bass, thanks to the dedicated integrated woofer. That makes this model my favourite of the lot, although the increase in size and asking price may not see it become the biggest seller.

Listening to Chris Stapleton's Death Row gave the opening bass riff real gravitas; the overall soundstaging here feels most complete and convincing – and that's just from the purest output from stereo.

Testing Sheeran's Atmos mix once again, and the Home 600 is most adept with its width and height adjustments – as available in the Heos app – to provide the most coherent picture and boldest sense of space.

Not only does the Denon Home 600 sound mighty, but its looks also stand apart thanks to a metallic grille with machined holes, instead of the stretched fabric finish of the Home 400 model. Both look elegant, but in the 600 it's clear where your extra cash is going.

• Pricing: £599 / €TBC / $TBC / AU$TBC

First Impressions

Overall, Denon looks to have a genuinely top-tier product line on its hands here – a real step up from the Home speaker products of before.

But it's also great to see that those older-gen products haven't been thrown out of the window. They're still supported and compatible in the Heos app, along with the new models (although zoned separately; you can multi-room with two generations, but you can't stereo pair two generations of models).

That's something Sonos failed to manifest when upgrading its range, which alienated some users. Denon clearly knows that, and this range will prick up the ears of those lost souls looking for a new audio home.

Not only that, but the addition of Dolby Atmos is a major checkbox achieved. Its use needs to be tempered, sure, but you can do so in the Heos app – or bypass it entirely – and with settings just right, all three of these speakers deliver truly wide and tall soundstages that'll impress.

The finish has also stepped up a notch, with designs that'll rival the best of them – Sonos included. The pricing has risen as a result, though, with the brand clearly self-assured of its worth – and rightly so.

So if Sonos isn't doing it for you right now, then Denon's Home 2.0 alternative line-up, on first impressions, looks and sounds like a stellar alternative with some stand-apart features that others can't rival.