Denon makes high-quality AV receivers and integrated amplifiers, combining both of them together and you get Denon DRA-800H. It is a very versatile stereo receiver with a massive amount of features that cater to both music and movie enthusiasts. The DRA-800H is a talented all-rounder, allowing you to focus your budget on getting a better pair of left and right speakers instead of spreading out your budget just to get multiple decent-quality HT speakers.
There are plenty of stereo speakers to choose but to find the right pair, we will first need to learn more about the Denon DRA-800H stereo network receiver. We should find out as much necessary information about this Denon receiver as possible, such as its merits, specifications, and sonic characteristics. Once we have all the crucial data, we will start listing out the best speakers to match with the Denon DRA-800H later on.
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Sonic Characteristics and Important Specifications of Denon DRA-800H
As a stereo AV receiver, the Denon DRA-800H has an advantage over integrated amplifiers which will be the video processing feature. It could process 4K Ultra HD 60Hz video (UHD HDR10/HLG signals) to provide you with beautiful cinematic visuals in the comfort of your own home. The Denon DRA-800H is slightly more compact than the usual AVRs, allowing it to fit nicely in any home without taking up much space. Do note that the DRA-800H doesn’t have Audyssey, if you need such room correction technology, we will suggest checking out the current Denon AVR models. It has plenty of connectivities like ARC, HDMI, etc., more so than most integrated amplifiers, and even has an AM/FM radio tuner.
At this price point, the Denon DRA-800H is pretty powerful with 100 Watts per channel (2ch driven, 8 Ohms). The frequency response is as expected, which is 20Hz-20kHz. With these specs, we will recommend going for not difficult-to-drive bookshelf and floor-standing speakers with a nominal impedance of 8 Ohms. You can connect up to 2 active subwoofers, providing you with thunderous and rumbling bass reproduction, much needed for an exhilarating home theater experience. It also takes a huge load off and allowing your stereo receiver to focus its power on the rest of the higher frequencies. You can also stream your music via the internet and the Denon DRA-800H supports high-resolution audio files (192 kHz/24-bit) as well.
More Details at Amazon – Denon DRA-800H 2-Channel Stereo Network Receiver
The Denon DRA-800H has amazing imaging which is really necessary for watching movies since it couldn’t connect to more speakers (surround, center, etc.) and process true surround sound formats. The excellent imaging of the stereo receiver helps create ‘rear’ and ‘side’ surround sound effects, where you can hear gunshots whizzed past you from the rear in an action scene. Loud noises such as a metal door slamming shut behind you can be heard clearly and with precision. It may not beat the immersion and scale of a sound system with multiple speakers using 3D audio formats, but this is really good enough and you are only using 2 speakers with the bass been supplemented by 1 or 2 subwoofers.
The soundstage is wide and deep, with plenty of details to boot. The Denon DRA-800H is able to produce a smooth and accurate music presentation. It has a strong bass performance but does overshadow the subtle details a little. You can adjust the treble gains to help increase the clarity. Playing either the music and movies at loud volumes does not sound cringe which is great for long hours of entertainment without feeling listener fatigue. The overall sound reproduction is well-balanced and has neutral sonic characteristics, the midbass is quite emphasized which provides a bit of warmth in the music delivery.
The Denon DRA-800H is really a remarkable stereo receiver, especially at this price point. The sound quality is great for a stereo (2.1) playback of your favorite movies and it is musical enough for a pleasing listening experience. There is really nothing to nitpick, as it does well in what it is made for and is sanely priced. It is time for us to share with you the best speakers that you can go for and pair them with the Denon DRA-800H. These matching speakers’ price range will also be quite close to the usual cost of the stereo receiver.
Denon DRA-800H Specifications
- Power Outputs: 100 Watts into 8 Ohms, 120 Watts into 6 Ohms (2 channels driven)
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
- DAC: AKM
- Wireless: Bluetooth Connection, Bluetooth to connect wireless headphones, HEOS, Wi-Fi
- Inputs: 5 HDMI inputs, 1 USB input, 1 MM Phono input, 2 Optical inputs, 1 Coaxial input, 2 RCA inputs, Ethernet
- Outputs: Headphone output, 1 HDMI ARC, 1 Zone 2 output, 2 Subwoofer outputs
- Dimensions (W x D x H): 434mm x 338mm x 152mm (17.1″ × 13.3″ × 6″)
- Weight: 8.3kg (18.3lbs)
Best Speakers to pair with Denon DRA-800H
The Q Acoustics Concept 20 is one of the very best bookshelf speakers to match with your Denon DRA-800H stereo receiver. The DRA-800H has more than enough power to really drive this multi-award-winning loudspeaker. Concept 20 is one of the most highly sought-after bookshelf speakers at this price range, it is amazing for music due to its articulate presentation and punchy performance. The clarity of these loudspeakers is equally impressive which also makes them suitable to be part of a home theater system. The Q Acoustics Concept 20 is well-match with the Denon DRA-800H stereo receiver, just add 1 or 2 active subwoofers into the mix and you are all set.
More Details at Amazon – Q Acoustics Concept 20 Compact Bookshelf Speakers
The KEF Q350 is another amazing bookshelf speaker to pair with your Denon DRA-800H. This pair of KEF stand-mounters have an astonishing level of clarity which allows them to easily reveal every musical nuance including the subtlest of details. The very detailed sound reproduction of the KEF Q350 and deep bass response will do well in both music and movie playbacks. They are still musical sounding due to their articulate delivery but you will need to add an active subwoofer as they do lack the impact. The sonic characteristic of the Denon DRA-800H is well-matched with the KEF Q350 and you should really hear them out.
More Info at Amazon – KEF Q350 Bookshelf Speakers
When home theater entertainment is more important to you, then you might want to go with Klipsch Reference R-820F floor-standing speakers. These are highly efficient floor-stander and the Denon DRA-800H can drive them with ease. The crystal clear sound quality and loudness level of the R-820F make them terrific home theater speakers as all the subtle sound effects can be heard, engaging you in every action scene. Furthermore, the large spacious soundstage that the speakers can project complements the DRA-800H receiver greatly. The bass performance is taut and does dig deep into the bass extension but doesn’t really rumble as an active subwoofer with ported cabinet can do.
More Info at Amazon – Klipsch Reference R-820F
If the music listening experience is crucial for you, then the Q Acoustics 3050i will be the floor-standing speakers that you should go for. The Denon DRA-800H has sufficient power to drive these floor-standers but we will recommend adding an active subwoofer into the mix when playing back movie sources. The 3050i are impeccable musical performers, they have a clean and warm sonic delivery which is a suitable match with the stereo receiver. The smooth and refined music presentation is easy on the ears and does deliver an impact when the music calls for. For most music genres, the Q Acoustics 3050i is sufficient enough on its own.
More Info at Amazon – Q Acoustics 3050i Floorstanding Speakers
For the tight budgets, the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 will be one of the best speakers to go with the Denon DRA-800H stereo receiver. These bookshelf speakers are really good because of their affordability and their exceptional sound quality for the price. It is a transparent loudspeaker with a well-balanced sonic presentation of any music/movie sources with plenty of snappy attacks. It does lack in the bass department but can be easily solved by adding in one or two active subwoofers. You can even use the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 speakers as surround speakers if you are planning to upgrade to a multi-channel surround system in the future. We will recommend having an audition with them first.
More Info at Amazon – ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelf Speakers
There are two types of subwoofers to go for, one will be the ported cabinet and the other sealed. It will depend on your main requirements, such as if your main entertainment will be more towards watching movies or listening to music. If watching movies is your main entertainment, we will suggest going for SVS PB-2000 Pro 12″ ported subwoofer, and as for music, you should go for SVS SB-2000 Pro 12″ sealed subwoofer. Ported cabinet subs are more efficient when it comes to bass output and also they have higher max SPL. Sealed cabinet subs have a more accurate rendering of instruments and are more agile, this is why they are usually better for music. Still, you should hear them out before deciding which type of sub is best suited for you.
More Info at Amazon – SVS PB-2000 Pro 12″ Ported Subwoofer
More Info at Amazon – SVS SB-2000 Pro 12″ Sealed Subwoofer
To Conclude
These are some of the best bookshelf and floor-standing speakers to match with your Denon DRA-800H. For an amazing cinematic experience, you will most probably need a subwoofer or two even when you are planning to get a pair of floor-standers. Do have an audition with the potential speakers and hear them out first before seriously considering getting them. If possible, you should audition the speakers and the subwoofers simultaneously using your Denon DRA-800H as the stereo receiver.
