Rank #10 in Best AV Receiver 2026: 10 Ranked, and the Wattage Numbers That Don't Add Up
Denon AVR-S970H 7.2-Channel AV Receiver
Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.
The Denon AVR-S970H is the unit at number 10 in this guide, and it is also the dearest one here at £877.72. It earns its place less for what it does than for how clearly it shows the problem this article is about: the two halves of its own Amazon listing do not agree. The bullet points say 90 watts per channel. The spec table underneath says Output Wattage: 75 Watts and Wattage: 75 watts — a 15 W-per-channel difference, with a third figure, Output Power: 980 Watts, that matches neither.
HDMI follows the same pattern. The bullets list 6 HDMI Inputs; the spec table lists Total HDMI Port: 8. The channel count splits three ways as well — 7.2 Channels in the bullets, Number of Channels: 7 in the table, and a 5.1.2 Surround Sound Channel Configuration alongside both. What the listing does state consistently is HEOS Built-in, 8K HDMI inputs, 8K upscaling, Dolby Atmos & DTS:X support and a phono input, and the rating is a solid 4.4 from 139 reviews. Every figure on this page comes from the Amazon listing as it was published, not from any test of ours.
How those 139 ratings break down
An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.4 stars.
Specification
Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.
| Price | £877.72 |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4 out of 5, from 139 ratings |
| Output per channel (bullets) | 90 watts |
| Output Wattage (spec table) | 75 Watts |
| Output Power (spec table) | 980 Watts (as listed) |
| HDMI inputs (bullets) | 6 |
| Total HDMI Port (spec table) | 8 |
| Channels | 7.2 in the bullets, 7 in the spec table, 5.1.2 surround configuration |
What buyers actually say
Quoted from customer reviews on Amazon
Verified purchase“It seems to be the best budget AVR for gaming. Very easy setup. Pay attention to the manual when setting the speaker impedance. It has enough punch to drive good floorstanding speakers from budget and mid tier.I use it with a 5.1.2 setup and it does wondersI highly recommend”
Verified purchase“Awesome 🤩 great quality and auddyse calibration great worth it go for it under 50kBest AV Reciever 😄”
What it is up against
The rivals it was ranked against in Best AV Receiver 2026: 10 Ranked, and the Wattage Numbers That Don't Add Up.
Questions people ask
How many watts per channel does the Denon AVR-S970H deliver?
The listing gives more than one answer. The bullet points say 90 watts per channel, while the spec table lists Output Wattage as 75 Watts and Wattage as 75 watts.
How many HDMI inputs does the Denon AVR-S970H have?
The bullets state 6 HDMI Inputs and the spec table states Total HDMI Port: 8. The listing does not say whether the higher figure counts front-panel or second-zone sockets.
How many channels can the Denon AVR-S970H drive?
Three answers appear on the page: 7.2 Channels in the bullets, Number of Channels: 7 in the spec table, and a Surround Sound Channel Configuration of 5.1.2.
Does the Denon AVR-S970H support Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and 8K?
Yes, as listed. The special features field names 8K HDMI inputs, 8K upscaling, HEOS multiroom, Bluetooth audio transmission, a phono input for turntable, and Dolby Atmos & DTS:X support.
Can I plug a turntable into the Denon AVR-S970H?
The listing includes a phono input for turntable among its special features and lists RCA among its connector types, alongside HDMI and Optical.
What does the Denon AVR-S970H cost and how is it rated?
The listing price is £877.72 and the rating is 4.4 out of 5 from 139 ratings. It is the most expensive receiver in this guide.
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