The catch
Denon AVR-S570BT
Physical heights cannot be powered from five main channels.
Side by side
Denon AVR-S570BT vs Denon AVR-S770H: S770H lets a five-speaker room take two physical height speakers
Quick verdict
For a fixed 5.1 room with four fast HDMI devices, the S570BT is the fit. The S770H is worth the step up if you will use two physical height speakers, six source inputs or HEOS.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Seven channels get you one height pair
Going from S570BT to S770H makes 5.1.2 possible, but not 5.1.4.
Where this comes from
Five ear-level speakers and two heights put all seven S770H amplifiers to use.
The catch
Denon AVR-S770H
Just three HDMI inputs handle 4K120.
Denon AVR-S570BT
- Why pick it
- You are keeping the room at five ear-level speakers
- Four high-frame-rate sources each need a direct input
- The catch
- Physical heights cannot be powered from five main channels.
Denon AVR-S770H
- Why pick it
- You have two height speakers ready to go in
- You want six HDMI sources and HEOS on one receiver
- The catch
- Just three HDMI inputs handle 4K120.
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What this page compares
See how the Denon S570BT and S770H differ for a fixed 5.1 system or a room with two real height speakers, including HDMI source counts and music connections.
For a fixed 5.1 room with four fast HDMI devices, the S570BT is the fit. The S770H is worth the step up if you will use two physical height speakers, six source inputs or HEOS.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
You install two physical height speakers
S570BT provides five main amplifier channels, while S770H supports 5.1.2.
- Denon AVR-S570BT
- Not suitable
- Denon AVR-S770H
- Better fit
Four 4K120 sources, all separate
Three fast inputs on S770H.
- Denon AVR-S570BT
- Better fit
- Denon AVR-S770H
- Caution
Six HDMI devices remain plugged in
S770H has six inputs, compared with four.
- Denon AVR-S570BT
- Caution
- Denon AVR-S770H
- Better fit
The finished room stays 5.1 and has four sources
Either one handles this layout. Plans to add heights later would change the choice.
- Denon AVR-S570BT
- Good
- Denon AVR-S770H
- Good
In practice
Differences you will notice
Seven channels get you one height pair
Going from S570BT to S770H makes 5.1.2 possible, but not 5.1.4.
How we worked this out
Five ear-level speakers and two heights put all seven S770H amplifiers to use.
The gaming upgrade comes with a condition
Four 4K120 sources are more than the S770H has fast inputs for, even though its total HDMI count is higher.
How we worked this out
Of the S570BT’s inputs, four are fast. The S770H has six sockets, three of them fast.
Network sources change how many cables you need
With HEOS playback, all six S770H HDMI inputs can stay free for video devices.
How we worked this out
Network music streaming is part of S770H. S570BT offers Bluetooth and source-device connections in its place.
Plan your receiver connectionsLay out my system
Check a documented speaker layout against HDMI sources and external-amplifier plans.
Denon AVR-S570BT
Cannot handle this setup
This layout is not one of its documented speaker setups.
Denon AVR-S770H
Handles your setup
Runs 5.1.2 on its own built-in amplifiers. Takes 3 HDMI devices, 1 of them at 4K/120Hz.
A powered subwoofer does not count toward the speaker channels. This checks one main room. Check Zone 2, bi-amping and unusual speaker assignments yourself. Leave room for ventilation, and confirm HDMI settings, cables and speaker impedance before you install.
Option A
Denon, AVR-S570BT
AVR-S570BT
A fit for a five-speaker TV system, with four modern HDMI inputs. Casual phone playback runs over Bluetooth, so there is no network music setup to deal with.
- Best for
- Rooms with five speakers and four HDMI sources
Facts we checked
- 5 main processing channels and 5 built-in amplifier channels
- Of 4 HDMI inputs, 4 support 4K120 video
- 1 HDMI output
- Room setup by Auto Setup
- Subwoofer outputs aside, 0 full-range main-channel pre-outs
- Before ventilation space, the chassis is 6-inch high with antennas horizontal
Option B
Denon, AVR-S770H
AVR-S770H
You can use the seven amplifiers for 7.1 surround or for 5.1.2 with two heights. With six HDMI inputs and HEOS, it suits a system that mixes movies, games and music.
- Best for
- Your first 5.1.2 setup, with multiple sources
Facts we checked
- 7 main processing channels and 7 built-in amplifier channels
- Of 6 HDMI inputs, 3 support 4K120 video
- 1 HDMI output
- Room setup by Audyssey MultEQ
- Subwoofer outputs aside, 0 full-range main-channel pre-outs
- Before ventilation space, the chassis is 6-inch high with antennas horizontal
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Denon AVR-S570BT | Denon AVR-S770H | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powered speaker layouts | 5.1 | 7.1 or 5.1.2 | The S770H gives you a choice of rear surrounds or one height pair. |
| Total HDMI inputs | 4 | 6 | Two more connected sources fit on the S770H. |
| 4K120-capable HDMI inputs | 4 | 3 | More fast inputs are found on the S570BT. |
| Room setup | Auto Setup | Audyssey MultEQ | With the S770H you get the Audyssey calibration workflow. |
| Network streaming and MM phono | Neither | HEOS and MM phono input | On the S770H you can do without separate network-streamer and phono-stage boxes. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Denon AVR-S570BT
- Four HDMI source inputs and no more.
With Denon AVR-S770H
- A TV-and-projector plan is still limited by one HDMI output.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
You are keeping the room at five ear-level speakers
Go with Denon AVR-S570BT. The finished 5.1 layout is covered by its five amplifier channels.
You have two height speakers ready to go in
Go with Denon AVR-S770H. Five ear-level speakers and two heights run off its seven amplifier channels.
The receiver alone has to run a 5.1.4 system
Neither model fits. Neither the documented processing layouts nor the internal-amplifier ones cover this requirement. Pick a receiver that has the physical configuration you need.
Decision guide
How to decide
Stay with the S570BT if the room is a fixed 5.1 layout with four fast HDMI devices. Move up to the S770H when you will genuinely use two physical height speakers, six source inputs or HEOS.
Buy the two channels for speakers you have
In a 5.1.2 layout you have five ear-level speakers and two heights. The S770H powers that arrangement directly, whereas the S570BT stops at five main channels. Should the heights be years off, the added channels do nothing for you physically today. Once the cables are already run, let this difference settle the choice between the pair ahead of any music features.
Match each fast device to a port
The S570BT handles four high-frame-rate sources against three for the S770H, even though the S770H has more HDMI inputs overall. Connecting a source to the TV can sometimes send its audio back over eARC, but then the TV is part of the audio-format and control path. Treat that workaround as something to verify for compatibility. Do not count on it as a free input.
Count the extra boxes you would have to add
With an MM turntable and a network music library, the S770H is more self-contained. The S570BT can still take those sources, but through external equipment. Before deciding which receiver keeps the system simpler, add up that equipment, its cables and the inputs it still needs. Note that each model has one HDMI output, so neither directly handles a two-display installation.
What this page can’t tell you
- Only physical speaker channels are counted here, so virtual height effects are left out.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the AV receivers we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
How many fit
16 of the 34 models checked meet every need here: “Put in two height speakers” and “Hook up four 4K120 sources”.
16 models fit, out of 34 checkedShow the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “Put in two height speakers” and “Hook up four 4K120 sources”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denon AVR-S570BT |
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| Denon AVR-S770H |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Denon AVR-S570BT
You are keeping the room at five ear-level speakers
See price & reviews on AmazonDenon AVR-S770H
You have two height speakers ready to go in
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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