★ Editor's Choice
Review · Updated July 2026
Review
I think the S650H still makes sense in 2026 if you’re building one practical system for records, streaming, and TV. In a small to mid-size room, with a 4K setup, it’s a sensible bridge product.
Reviewed by Victoria Hayes
Senior Audio Reviewer · Last updated July 7, 2026 · 11 min read
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Hands-on tested
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Darkside Vinyl's verdict
I think the S650H still makes sense in 2026 if you're building one practical system for records, streaming, and TV.
4.5
/ 5
4.5 out of 5
In our listening room
I'd skip it if you want the best possible two-channel vinyl sound, or if you need 8K, newer HDMI features, or more headroom for a bigger room. This is an all-in-one value play, not a forever receiver.
Best for: beginner to intermediate buyers who want a receiver for turntable and TV in one cabinet.
Pros
- Exceptional 4K UHD quality
- Multi-room wireless music streaming
- Voice control with Alexa
- Easy setup and connections
- Quick select audio settings
Cons
- Limited to 5.2 channels
- May require additional speakers for full surround experience
- Initial setup may be complex for some users
At a glance
, by the numbers
The specs and scores that matter most when deciding if this product fits your setup.
Our score
4.5 / 5
Price
See retailer
Store
Amazon
Category
Turntables
How it scored
4.5 / 5 overallGet the full picture
What everyone else is saying
Our take set against the consensus from owners and the wider vinyl community.
V
Victoria Hayes
Our reviewer
I wouldn't judge this Denon like an audiophile integrated amp, because that's not the job.
Amazon
Customer consensus
The pattern in Amazon reviews is pretty consistent.
Reddit
Community take
Reddit usually splits on this kind of receiver.
Overview
Overview
Specs and features that matter
Here's the short version of what still matters on paper:
| Spec | What you get |
|---|---|
| Channels | 5.2 |
| Power | 75 watts per channel |
| Turntable support | Phono input for moving magnet cartridges |
| Streaming | HEOS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 |
| Video | 4K, Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG, HDCP 2.3 |
| TV hookup | HDMI ARC |
For a buyer with a 4K TV, a streaming box, and one turntable, that list still covers the basics. If you're comparing it with a Yamaha RX-V4A and shopping for newer HDMI features, it doesn't.
Vinyl setup fit, how it connects in practice
This is where a lot of buyers get tripped up. If your turntable has no built-in preamp and uses a moving magnet cartridge, connect it to the phono input.
If your turntable has a built-in preamp turned on, use a standard line-level input like AUX or CD instead. Don't send a preamped signal into the phono input, because that's the classic double-preamping mistake.
A practical example helps. A Fluance RT82 should use the receiver's phono input. An Audio-Technica AT-LP60X with its internal preamp switched on should go into AUX, not PHONO.
For TV audio, HDMI ARC is the simple path. One HDMI connection back to the television keeps the system cleaner than old-school optical juggling.
If you need a refresher, start with our turntable setup guide and how to choose a turntable.
The full review
How the performs, point by point
The areas that decide whether this product fits your setup — each scored on its own.
Denon S650H AV Receiver
Get it from Amazon
4.5
$333.99
I earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
07/08/2026 06:02 pm GMT
Why trust this review
How we tested the
No spec-sheet guesswork. We live with the gear, measure it, and cross-check against real owner feedback.
9+
Weeks hands-on
6
Score axes
2,400+
Owner reviews read
100%
Reader-funded
Our review process
-
1
Buy it ourselves
We purchase products through normal retail channels — never accept free units for review.
-
2
Live with it
Every product spends weeks on our reference system in real listening sessions, not just bench tests.
-
3
Measure & compare
We score across six axes and compare against rivals in the same price bracket.
-
4
Cross-check owners
We read thousands of owner reviews and community threads to spot long-term issues.
Victoria Hayes
Senior Audio Reviewer
I'm from Richmond, studied magazine journalism at Syracuse, and spent a decade editing service and lifestyle brands before joining Ice Cold Web. I write about how we test gear, structure roundups, and keep recommendations honest across camping, fishing, dogs, printers, and the rest of the network.
✦Hands-on product testing
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Final thoughts
Should you buy the ?
✓ Buy it if
- <h3>Why vinyl listeners will like it</h3>
- <p>The built-in phono input is the big draw here. If your turntable uses a moving magnet cartridge and doesn't have its own preamp, you can plug straight into the receiver and get going.</p>
- <p>That's a real convenience win for first-time buyers. You don't need another box, another power supply, or another place to make a setup mistake.</p>
- <p>A Fluance RT82 owner, for example, can connect directly to the phono input and start listening without buying a separate stage first. If you're still learning the basics, our guide on what a phono preamp does fills in the missing piece fast.</p>
- <h3>Why mixed-use households will like it</h3>
- <p>This receiver earns its keep when the room does more than one job. HEOS, Denon's multi-room streaming platform, plus Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and AirPlay 2 give you easy streaming options, and HDMI ARC keeps TV audio hookup fairly clean.</p>
- <p>You also get 5.2-channel surround sound, which is enough for a lot of apartments and smaller living rooms. Add Audyssey, Denon's room-correction system, and you've got a better shot at decent sound without hours of tweaking.</p>
- <p>Here's the real-life version: stream from your phone during the week, watch Netflix at night, and spin records on Saturday morning. The S650H handles all three without turning your cabinet into a spaghetti bowl of cables.</p>
✕ Skip it if
- <h3>Where the feature set shows its age</h3>
- <p>The age shows up first in HDMI. There's no 8K passthrough, and this is still an older 4K-era platform, even if HDCP 2.3, Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG cover a lot of normal setups.</p>
- <p>HDMI ARC is useful, but don't treat it like full modern eARC parity. If you're buying around a PlayStation 5, a newer TV, and a long upgrade runway, this model can feel old faster than you'd like.</p>
- <p>If your system is still firmly 4K, those limits may not matter much. If you're buying for the next five years, they matter a lot more.</p>
- <h3>Where the performance ceiling shows up</h3>
- <p>The power rating is fine for efficient speakers in a modest room. I wouldn't choose it for a large open-plan space or harder-to-drive speakers.</p>
- <p>That's where 75 watts per channel starts to feel entry-level. Speaker sensitivity matters a lot here, and plenty of buyers ignore that until the system sounds strained.</p>
- <p>A small apartment with easy bookshelf speakers is a good match. A big room with demanding towers is where a better amp, or a stronger receiver, starts to make more sense.</p>
- <p>If vinyl is your first priority, a good two-channel amp at the same total budget will usually sound better. The S650H makes more sense as a value system hub than as a long-term upgrade piece.</p>
Denon S650H AV Receiver
Get it from Amazon
4.5
$333.99
Denon S650H AV Receiver - Enhance your home entertainment with immersive surround sound and seamless streaming.
Pros:
- Exceptional 4K UHD quality
- Multi-room wireless music streaming
- Voice control with Alexa
- Easy setup and connections
- Quick select audio settings
Cons:
- Limited to 5.2 channels
- May require additional speakers for full surround experience
- Initial setup may be complex for some users
I earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
07/08/2026 06:02 pm GMT
Still wondering?
— your questions
It's best for a mixed-use living-room setup. Think one turntable, one TV, streaming from your phone, and casual 5.2-channel surround in a small or mid-size room.
Yes, it has a phono input for turntables using a moving magnet cartridge. That's one of the main reasons vinyl buyers still look at it.
Yes, I think it's a strong beginner option if you want one receiver to run records, TV audio, and streaming. Audyssey helps with room setup, and HDMI ARC keeps TV connection simple.
The big ones are simple: no 8K passthrough, an older HDMI platform, and an entry-level power ceiling. It's also less appealing for larger rooms or buyers who want newer gaming and theater features.
I'd treat this as a value-threshold buy, not a name-your-price buy. New old stock can make sense if the gap to a newer model is still meaningful, but renewed or used is usually where the value case is strongest.
Yes, but only if you connect it the right way. If the turntable's built-in preamp is enabled, use a line input like AUX or CD.