In this article, I will review the Denon DHT-S316, a 2.1 soundbar that has been on the market for a little over a year, but has become more known and sold in recent months thanks to its low price and also (it must be said) due to Samsung’s stock issues, which have left it as one of the few 2.1 bars with a decent price.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Format | Soundbar with subwoofer |
| Channels | 2.1 |
| Drivers | 5 (2 woofers, 2 tweeters, 1 external subwoofer) |
| Subwoofer Type | Bass Reflex, wireless |
| RMS Power | 100W |
| Decoding | Dolby, DTS |
| Wired Connections | 1x HDMI, 1x Optical digital audio, 1x 3.5 mm analog output |
| Wireless Connections | Bluetooth |
| Remote Control | Yes |
| Size (Bar) | 90 x 5.5 x 8.2 cm |
| Size (Subwoofer) | 17 x 31 x 34 cm |
| Weight (Bar) | 1.8 Kg |
| Weight (Subwoofer) | 5.2 Kg |
| Available Colors | Black |
Design
With dimensions of 90 cm in width, 5.5 cm in height, and 8.2 cm in depth, the Denon DHT-S316 is one of the most compact 2.1 soundbars in recent times. This is a plus for those who have space issues on the TV stand.
In terms of size, it is an excellent bar for TVs between 32 and 47 inches. Obviously, there is no problem if you use it with a larger TV, but as you can see in the image, the bar is really small compared to my 55″ LG OLED TV.
The casing of the bar is plastic, and with how light it is (less than 2 Kg), it feels like very little, but this is only in appearance. At the front, the typical fabric mesh protects the drivers, and in the center of it is the Denon logo.
On top, we have a row of buttons, the classic basic commands for volume, sound source selection, activating Bluetooth, and, of course, turning the bar on and off.
Just above the logo, there are tiny LEDs that serve as status indicators for some functions, but they are so small that they are practically invisible. Additionally, it is a bit confusing and chaotic to know these states, as they are combinations and a few colors. You can see the table of these LED states at this link.
The Subwoofer is also very compact, more so than usual. It is completely wireless and is of the Bass Reflex type, although it has the air port on its front. This has the advantage of being able to place it on either side of the television.
A detail: the package includes the mounts in case you want to hang the bar on the wall. So, those who really have a lot of space issues have no excuse.
Connections
In the connections section, we find a soundbar equipped with the usual in its price range. We have an HDMI ARC port, to send all the sound from the TV and be able to control the bar’s volume with the TV remote.
Of course, there is also a digital optical audio input, which is very convenient for older TVs that do not have HDMI ARC. And as a positive note, there is also a 3.5 mm analog audio input (mini-jack), making this one of the very few current soundbars that have this connection. If you have a very, very old TV that can only output analog audio, the Denon DHT-S316 is for you.
On the wireless side, we have Bluetooth in its version 4.2. Unfortunately, we only have the A2DP profile, with no trace of aptX or aptX-HD. What it does have is a standby mode, which allows the bar to turn on automatically if a previously paired device connects to Bluetooth. This function can be disabled.
Additionally, it should be noted that the Bluetooth performance is fantastic. The coverage is huge and the reception is fantastic, being able to send music from more than 10 meters away, with walls and furniture in between, without the signal suffering interference.
Controls
In addition to the buttons present on the bar to perform some of the most basic functions, the Denon DHT-S316 comes with a small remote control, with which we can select some sound modes and additional settings.
The buttons and what they do are as follows:
- Power button: no mysteries
- Mute button: no need to explain
- Three source selection buttons: one for TV (optical output or HDMI ARC), another for auxiliary output, and a third for Bluetooth
- Bass: Bass intensity adjustment
- Vol: Volume adjustment
- Movie Button: This is the default mode of the bar, but if you change it, you can reactivate it with this button. The sound simulates cinema audio, with enhanced voices and a slight surround effect
- Night Button: The usual volume compressor, to equalize all sounds and avoid scares that could wake up the neighbors at night
- Music Button: A more neutral sound to give naturalness to the music
- Three Dialog Enhancer buttons: A voice boost through three buttons, for 3 levels of adjustment according to our preference
That’s all. There is no possibility of accessing extra settings through any app. Surely, some more equalization settings are missed. Also, the change between the different modes is very small and, in some, imperceptible. This is one of the weakest aspects I have found in the Denon DHT-S316.
Audio channels, drivers, and audio formats
As I have mentioned a couple of times, this Denon DHT-S316 is a 2.1 channel sound system. The driver distribution is one tweeter and one mid-woofer per channel. Denon does not provide data on the size of these drivers, and the front protection does not allow it to be appreciated visually, but due to the small size of the bar, they must be small.
Denon also does not provide data on the power of the set in the official information on its website, although by consulting retailer information, I have been able to find out that the power is 100W RMS.
There is also no way to know the exact diameter of the subwoofer cone, but due to its size, it must be around 6 inches, a size consistent with the type of equipment we are talking about.
Regarding audio compatibility, there are no surprises. The Denon DHT-S316 decodes both Dolby and DTS content without problems, as well as LPCM.
Sound quality
After having tested so many soundbars, one can get an approximate idea of their sound just by observing their size and reading a bit over their specifications. I had the expectation that this bar would sound similar to the Samsung HW-N450, and my analysis has not been far from that feeling.
Like that Samsung model, this Denon DHT-S316 sounds quite good for its price. Its sound is quite balanced, without being outstanding in any frequency but also not a disaster in any of them. The mids have enough weight and body, and only in the highest highs have I noticed sibilance and bright effects, which I have appreciated mostly in the sound of cymbals.
As for the bass, what is expected in a subwoofer of these proportions: they are far from the punch of subwoofers of other ranges. In fact, if I take the Denon HEOS HomeCinema as a reference, the subwoofer of the DHT-S316 is ridiculous, as it is quite worse. However, it is evident that it provides much more punch and dynamism than the TV speakers, so just for that, you are already winning.
A peculiarity it shares with the Samsung HW-N450 (and its later model, the HW-R550) is that it sounds, surprisingly, better with music than with movie or series content. I have tested the bar with all kinds of musical genres, and in all, it has performed well: there is no doubt that it is a super competent music player, and I would say even more, it is a fantastic music system for its price, much better than many WiFi or Bluetooth speakers that are twice its price, so in this aspect, it is an absolutely recommended purchase.
With the rest of the content, the sound is good, although I say without boasting. Testing the bar with the movie Midway on Amazon Prime Video, the sound is cinematic enough and enjoyable, with voices sounding with an acceptable level of detail, as well as the sound of explosions, which sound very good thanks to the subwoofer. The same goes for testing with video games like Red Dead Redemption 2, which has pleasantly surprised me, with dialogues, ambient sound, and the sound of gunshots sounding fantastically well.
However, forget about surround effect: it is good stereo sound, and due to the dimensions of the bar and the characteristics and arrangement of its drivers, it is impossible to expand the sound much beyond the physical dimensions of the bar.
Additionally, the Denon DHT-S316 does not allow expansion with rear speakers for surround sound. This is what it is: a good 2.1 system, and those who want more channels and a more immersive sound will have to look at the competition.
In terms of power, it can be said that it is not lacking but not abundant either. In living rooms of 25-30 m2, it works well, but if you push the volume to the maximum levels, it starts to show the usual crackling and distortion in mid-high frequencies. This is why in larger living rooms, it may fall short, especially if you like to enjoy high volumes.
Denon DHT-S316: Verdict
The Denon DHT-S316 is an affordable soundbar that offers a noticeable improvement over TV speakers and most soundbars under $300. It performs well for TV content, movies, series, and video games but stands out particularly in music playback.
However, there is a significant quality gap compared to other soundbars, such as the Denon HEOS HomeCinema, which delivers a more powerful sound and superior bass. Compared to the Samsung HW-N450, the Denon shares many features, though it lacks an HDMI input.
Against the Yamaha YAS-109, the Yamaha has advantages like WiFi, Alexa, and better mid and high-frequency clarity, but the Denon offers stronger bass due to its external subwoofer. When compared to the Yamaha YAS-107, the Denon DHT-S316 has the edge thanks to its subwoofer, making it a better choice if you have space for it.
