I listen to music a lot. Like, a lot. I listen to music on my commute to work, in the shower, while cooking, while working on my laptop, sometimes while playing video games — whenever I can, really. As does my partner, who plays her favorite tunes as and when she can, helping me discover new music.
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And sometimes, we work in different rooms of our apartment, but we still want to listen to the same songs. Sure, we can use two of the same Bluetooth speakers and sync them up, but the music isn't always hi-res. Thankfully, I get to test some outstanding audio gear as part of my job, and I discovered a simple solution while testing the Denon Home 350 smart speaker: create a multi-room, whole-home audio system.
As a complete beginner to the whole-home scene, creating a multi-room system couldn't have been easier. If you want to do the same but are overwhelmed by the number of smart speakers out there, fret not. Let me take you through how I did it, and how you can do it too.
All you want for Christmas is these two speakers
To get started, you'll need to buy a couple of things. To create a multi-room system, you'll need at least two speakers, and there's no better choice than Denon's Home lineup. There are four speakers to choose from, ranging in price, so I chose the Denon Home 150 and the Denon Home 350.
The Home 150 is Denon's entry-level smart speaker, and its compact size means you can place it on your TV stand or coffee table without sacrificing too much space. For such a small speaker, it's extremely powerful and it reproduces basslines accurately, so much so that I can feel my coffee table shake when the Home 150 is playing.
Then there's the Home 350, which costs a pretty penny. It's Denon's most expensive smart speaker but it's so worth the premium. Its versatility is unmatched with plenty of options for wired and wireless connectivity, as well as 10/10 sound across genres. Both the Home 150 and Home 350 are easy to setup and control, and you can set up a multi-room system via the HEOS app (Android or iOS).
The app enables you to customize the speakers and assign them to different rooms. You can create either a left and right channel for stereo sound or have the same sound play through both (or multiple) speakers. You can also synchronize any and all HEOS-compatible speakers together; they don't necessarily need to be Denon-branded.
Earth-shattering sound
But why is it that I'm recommending the Denon Home 150 and the Denon Home 350 when there are so many other smart speakers out there, and some that are cheaper? The answer is simple: hi-res streaming over Wi-Fi. If you're an audiophile or someone who thoroughly enjoys listening to music, you'll know that you can't put a price on the best sound quality — and the Home 150 and Home 350 will have you appreciating music in new ways.
The upmixer works in conjunction with each speaker's amplifiers and drivers. The result? Powerful bass, crystal clear vocals, outstanding mids, and earth-shattering sound.
The Home 150 is fitted with one 1-inch tweeter and one 3.5-inch woofer as well as two class D amplifiers. Meanwhile, the Home 350 is fitted with two 1-inch tweeters, two 2-inch mid-range drivers, two 6-inch woofers, and six class D amps.
Both speakers also feature a DTS Neural:X upmixer each, which helps produce immersive, lifelike, three-dimensional sound — stand anywhere in the room and you'll hear the same sound.
The upmixer works in conjunction with each speaker's amplifiers and drivers. The result? Powerful bass, crystal clear vocals, outstanding mids, and earth-shattering sound. Regardless of what I listened to, it sounded phenomenal. I'm a tough critic, so praise doesn't come lightly.
Whether I was jamming to the heavy 'Holy Mountains' by System of a Down or the mellow 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood' by Lana Del Rey, the Home 350 and Home 150 didn't let me down. I was even surprised that in 'Love Love Love' by Of Monsters and Men, which doesn't have a strong bassline. The bass still made the floor vibrate!
Forever holding on
I test a lot of products as a reviews writer, and I don't usually get attached to the them... but I'd be lying if I said the Denon Home 150 and the Denon Home 350 hadn't weaseled their way into my heart. They just sound. Too. Darn. Good. Regardless of where you're standing in the room, the sound quality is mindblowing through either speaker.
I never knew I needed a multi-room setup until I tried Denon's Home lineup. I now love having whole-home audio because it means my partner and I can listen to the same songs even though we're dong our own thing. It's also nice having Alexa around as I can just ask her to remind me of menial tasks.
You can, of course, read all about my experience in my in-depth Denon Home 350 review. Audiophile-quality sound has never sounded this good, and now I can't go back. You'll have to pry the Home 150 and the Home 350 from my dead, cold hands.
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