The Denon Home Amp is a cheaper take on its cousin, the Marantz Model M1

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Undercutting a family member

A black Denon Home Amp seen from the front at a slight angle. On the front are icons for 1, 2, 3, Play/Pause, Minus and Plus.
(Image credit: Denon)

If you like the look of the Marantz Model M1 streaming amplifier but aren't so keen on the price, Denon's Home Amp is for you. It's a very similar device – hardly surprising, given both brands are owned by parent company Masimo – but at £200 / $200 cheaper.

The Home Amp is another just-add-speakers streaming amp that can be hooked up to a TV, turntable, CD player or hi-fi system – all you need is speakers of some sort. And it brings all the joy of streaming.

Like the Model M1, it plays nice with Denon's HEOS ecosystem, so can fit seamlessly into a multi-room setup. Also like the M1, it boasts 100W of power per channel into 8 Ohms, and has been tuned by the Denon Sound Master himself, Shinichi Yamauchi. 

There are plenty of physical connections: HDMI eARC, a subwoofer out for adding some extra bass, USB, Ethernet, optical and line-in. It's small, too – about the size of an Apple TV 4K – which makes finding space for it pretty easy.

On the wireless side, there's Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Bluetooth, Tidal, Deezer and Amazon Music. It also has some preset buttons on the front (which don't feature on the M1), as well as controls for play/pause, and volume up and down.

Given the spec similarities but price difference, performance is likely to differ somewhat between the Denon Home Amp and Marantz Model M1. Still, the Home Amp looks like a good option if your budget won't stretch to the £999 / $1000 M1.

The Denon Home Amp launches in early August for £699 / $799 / AU$TBC.

MORE:

The Marantz Model M1 could be the hi-fi streaming amplifier I've been waiting for

Explored: should you buy a streaming amplifier?

Also consider: Bluesound Powernode Edge review

Joe Svetlik
Joe Svetlik

Joe has been writing about tech for 17 years, first on staff at T3 magazine, then in a freelance capacity for Stuff, The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, Men's Health, GQ, The Mirror, Trusted Reviews, TechRadar and many more (including What Hi-Fi?). His specialities include all things mobile, headphones and speakers that he can't justifying spending money on.

9 Comments Comment from the forums
  • podknocker
    The Class D streaming amp sector is growing quickly and has real momentum now. From WiiM amps all the way up to the NAD Masters models, it's all sounding good and I think there's something for everyone and every budget.
    Reply
  • mad823
    podknocker said:
    The Class D streaming amp sector is growing quickly and has real momentum now. From WiiM amps all the way up to the NAD Masters models, it's all sounding good and I think there's something for everyone and every budget.
    True, however none of them had Dolby decoding before. For many of us, it's a great feature.
    Reply
  • EbanksMS
    Find it hard to believe it's the size of an Apple TV 4K! More like a fat Mac Mini. I forget the specific Apple-babble. Studio maybe? With the Marantz/Denon streaming limitations, the Wiim Amp Pro will have them both for lunch.
    Reply
  • manicm
    EbanksMS said:
    Find it hard to believe it's the size of an Apple TV 4K! More like a fat Mac Mini. I forget the specific Apple-babble. Studio maybe? With the Marantz/Denon streaming limitations, the Wiim Amp Pro will have them both for lunch.

    Um no, the WiiM Amp or Pro will simply be out of the M1's league from a sound quality and power point of view. The reviews on YouTube are out - reputable ones like Darko, Robinson etc.

    The WiiM Amp's amp is actually mediocre, hence the low price.
    Reply
  • EbanksMS
    Hmmm.... An "audiophiles" perspective but I seriously doubt that either Linkplay or DEI are targeting that niche market with these offerings. Sometimes doing everything good enough, IS enough.
    Reply
  • manicm
    EbanksMS said:
    Hmmm.... An "audiophiles" perspective but I seriously doubt that either Linkplay or DEI are targeting that niche market with these offerings. Sometimes doing everything good enough, IS enough.

    Yes, but let's not pretend it's as good as the M1, which is what you suggested. Regardless off room correction software included or not, which by the way is rudimentary in the WiiM's case.

    The M1 is at another level, as it should be at the price.
    Reply
  • EbanksMS
    I suggested nothing of the sort. (Personal comment dleeted by moderation.). I am and have always been, speaking to the product's success. This has nothing to do with specifications. If you can't appreciate that the Wiim brand is exploding while Marantz/Denon are pursuing their former glory then I'll just wave the old white flag.
    Reply
  • manicm
    EbanksMS said:
    I suggested nothing of the sort. Don't annoy Mr Strawman. I am and have always been, speaking to the product's success. This has nothing to do with specifications. If you can't appreciate that the Wiim brand is exploding while Marantz/Denon are pursuing their former glory then I'll just wave the old white flag.

    To quote you 'the Wiim Amp Pro will have them both for lunch'.

    The forthcoming WiiM Amp Pro may contain a better DAC chip - which will be the same as the WiiM Ultra - but initial reviews seem to suggest the Ultra is not a big step over the Pro.

    I will still give the new Amp Pro a fair crack though, regardless of price.
    Reply
  • 12th Monkey
    EbanksMS said:
    I suggested nothing of the sort. (Personal comment dleeted by moderation.). I am and have always been, speaking to the product's success. This has nothing to do with specifications. If you can't appreciate that the Wiim brand is exploding while Marantz/Denon are pursuing their former glory then I'll just wave the old white flag.
    No personal comments please - forum rules are in a sticky in each subforum.
    Reply