Expert review Denon Home 150
Denon Home 150
- With extra Denon speakers, you can easily create a multi-room setup or stereo set and stream music in the entire house.
- With the touch controls, you can control the music without using your smartphone or tablet.
- To control your TV or other speakers with voice commands, you need a Chromecast or Chromecast Audio.
First impression
The Denon Home 150 comes in a compact box and includes a power cord and quick start guide. The guide takes me through the setup, which goes pretty quickly. Simply plug in the cable, press the button, and that's it. My first impression of the app is that it's a bit outdated, as if it still matches the design of the iPhone 4. The design of the speaker itself is good. It's a sleek and compact speaker. Personally, I'm not a fan of the control panel. I can see too many fingerprints for my taste.
Easy setup
I'll explain the setup a little better. It's pretty easy. I plug the speaker into the socket with the included cable. Then, I download the HEOS by Denon app on my smartphone. The app helps me set up the speaker. It also provides solutions if I can't make it work the first time. In the quick start guide, I can find how to reset the speaker. That's useful if I want to connect it to a different WiFi network, for example.
Powerful sound
The sound quality leaves nothing to the imagination. I can easily switch from a mellow piano melody to an EDM song with a deep bass. It blows me away. This small speaker has so much power. The bass is clear and pure. I don't want to turn up the volume higher than 65%, or the neighbors will complain. Those who like a good bass will really enjoy this speaker. The treble doesn't stand out as much.
Accompanying app and voice assistant
The HEOS by Denon app is a bit outdated compared to the powerful sound and sleek design of the speaker. It's pretty basic and only helps me with the setup. You can use the app if you want to create a stereo pair or multi-room setup with multiple Denon speakers. Keep in mind that you have to create a HEOS account if you want to use their streaming services. The voice assistant isn't available yet at the time of testing. It'll probably be available after a software update. We expect the update in the fall of 2020.
Conclusion
Denon didn't disappoint, as usual. The fact that such a small speaker produces such a powerful sound and clear bass still resounds in my ears. The rich sound, sleek and compact design, and easy setup are 3 big advantages of the Home 150. The app could get a makeover in my opinion, it doesn't really have a modern look. I do have access to various streaming services. And hopefully, I can use the built-in voice assistant in the future.
