Denon Home App

I hesitated for a long time about whether the purchase was worthwhile and whether it would offer any added value, but ultimately went for it. It quickly became clear that this was a good decision, because I now only need the HEOS app for volume control, to select an input source, to change settings (such as tone control / source input volume / speaker volume levels, etc.), and for firmware updates. My entire music library is now my Bluesound Vault 2, which is connected to the Denon Home Amp. This means I no longer have to burden the HEOS app with creating and switching between playlists, or switching to a favorite radio station, for example, or switching from an album on "This Phone" to a playlist or album on a music streaming service like Tidal or Qobuz. The sound quality is also better now and displays more detail because the streaming source is no longer my smartphone, but the Bluesound Vault 2, which means, for example, Hi-Res audio files are now actually played back as Hi-Res audio files. For example, previously I wasn't able to listen to both grouped TV audio and grouped streaming audio in stereo sound mode (except in Multi-Channel Stereo mode) through the Denon Home Soundbar 550 (its surround speakers, paired via the Setup Assistant, didn't play any sound in Stereo mode). Now, it's possible to listen in stereo through all Denon Home speakers via the Denon Home Amp, provided both the aforementioned speakers and the Denon Home Soundbar 550 are set to 'Stereo' sound mode. Integrating them into a multi-room setup consisting of only active Denon Home devices (without passive stereo speakers), adding them to 'Rooms', and adding them to the 'Pre-selection group' was very easy.