Main trade-off
Denon AVR-S570BT
Five main channels cannot power physical heights.
Head-to-head
Denon AVR-S570BT vs Denon AVR-S770H: S770H adds two physical height speakers to a five-speaker room
The short answer
The S570BT fits a fixed 5.1 room with four fast HDMI devices. The S770H is the useful step up when two physical height speakers, six source inputs or HEOS will actually be used.
Before you choose
The reasoning and the trade-offs
Seven channels buy one height pair
Moving from S570BT to S770H enables 5.1.2, not 5.1.4.
What this is based on
Five ear-level speakers plus two heights use all seven S770H amplifiers.
Main trade-off
Denon AVR-S770H
Only three HDMI inputs support 4K120.
Denon AVR-S570BT
- Choose it for
- The room will stay at five ear-level speakers
- Four high-frame-rate sources need direct inputs
- Main trade-off
- Five main channels cannot power physical heights.
Denon AVR-S770H
- Choose it for
- Two height speakers are ready to install
- Six HDMI sources and HEOS should share one receiver
- Main trade-off
- Only three HDMI inputs support 4K120.
About this comparison
Compare Denon S570BT and S770H for a fixed 5.1 system or two real height speakers, with HDMI source counts and music connections explained.
The S570BT fits a fixed 5.1 room with four fast HDMI devices. The S770H is the useful step up when two physical height speakers, six source inputs or HEOS will actually be used.
Winner by situation
Start with what you need it to do
Two physical height speakers are installed
S570BT has five main amplifier channels. S770H supports 5.1.2.
- Denon AVR-S570BT
- Not suitable
- Denon AVR-S770H
- Better fit
Four separate 4K120 sources
S770H has three fast inputs.
- Denon AVR-S570BT
- Better fit
- Denon AVR-S770H
- Caution
Six HDMI devices stay connected
S770H has six inputs against four.
- Denon AVR-S570BT
- Caution
- Denon AVR-S770H
- Better fit
The final room stays at 5.1 with four sources
Both cover this layout. Future height plans would change the choice.
- Denon AVR-S570BT
- Good
- Denon AVR-S770H
- Good
What matters in practice
The differences that matter
Seven channels buy one height pair
Moving from S570BT to S770H enables 5.1.2, not 5.1.4.
How we reached this conclusion
Five ear-level speakers plus two heights use all seven S770H amplifiers.
The gaming upgrade is conditional
Four 4K120 sources exceed the S770H fast-input count even though its total HDMI count is higher.
How we reached this conclusion
S570BT has four fast inputs, while S770H has three fast inputs among six sockets.
A network source changes the cable count
HEOS playback can leave all six S770H HDMI inputs available for video devices.
How we reached this conclusion
S770H includes network music streaming. S570BT provides Bluetooth and source-device connections instead.
Plan your receiver connectionsPlan my setup
Check a documented speaker layout against HDMI sources and external-amplifier plans.
Denon AVR-S570BT
Does not support this setup
This layout is outside the documented speaker configurations.
Denon AVR-S770H
Supports your setup
Supports 5.1.2 using the receiver's own amplifiers. Connects 3 HDMI devices, including 1 at 4K/120Hz.
A powered subwoofer is separate from the speaker-channel count. This checks one main room. Zone 2, bi-amping and unusual speaker assignments need another manual check. Allow ventilation space and confirm HDMI settings, cables and speaker impedance before installing.
Choice A
Denon, AVR-S570BT
AVR-S570BT
Four modern HDMI inputs for a five-speaker TV system. Bluetooth handles casual phone playback without a network music setup.
- Best matched use
- A five-speaker room with four HDMI sources
Checked facts
- 5 built-in amplifier channels and 5 main processing channels
- 4 HDMI inputs, including 4 supporting 4K120 video
- 1 HDMI output
- Auto Setup room setup
- 0 full-range main-channel pre-outs, excluding subwoofer outputs
- 6-inch chassis height with antennas horizontal, before ventilation space
Choice B
Denon, AVR-S770H
AVR-S770H
Seven amplifiers cover either 7.1 surround or 5.1.2 with two heights. Six HDMI inputs and HEOS suit a mixed movie, game and music system.
- Best matched use
- A first 5.1.2 system with several sources
Checked facts
- 7 built-in amplifier channels and 7 main processing channels
- 6 HDMI inputs, including 3 supporting 4K120 video
- 1 HDMI output
- Audyssey MultEQ room setup
- 0 full-range main-channel pre-outs, excluding subwoofer outputs
- 6-inch chassis height with antennas horizontal, before ventilation space
Meaningful differences
What changes the fit
| What changes | Denon AVR-S570BT | Denon AVR-S770H | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powered speaker layouts | 5.1 | 7.1 or 5.1.2 | The S770H adds either rear surrounds or one height pair. |
| Total HDMI inputs | 4 | 6 | The S770H accommodates two more connected sources. |
| 4K120-capable HDMI inputs | 4 | 3 | The S570BT has the larger fast-input count. |
| Room setup | Auto Setup | Audyssey MultEQ | The S770H adds the Audyssey calibration workflow. |
| Network streaming and MM phono | Neither | HEOS and MM phono input | The S770H can avoid separate network-streamer and phono-stage boxes. |
What you give up
Every choice has a cost
If you choose Denon AVR-S570BT
- Only four HDMI source inputs.
If you choose Denon AVR-S770H
- One HDMI output still limits a TV-and-projector plan.
Recommendation switch
The decision flips if...
The room will stay at five ear-level speakers
Choose Denon AVR-S570BT. Its five amplifier channels cover the finished 5.1 layout.
Two height speakers are ready to install
Choose Denon AVR-S770H. Its seven amplifier channels power five ear-level speakers and two heights.
A 5.1.4 system must run from the receiver alone
Choose neither. The documented processing or internal-amplifier layouts do not cover this requirement. Choose a receiver with the required physical configuration.
What matters in practice
How to make the call
Buy the two channels for actual speakers
A 5.1.2 layout uses five ear-level speakers and two heights. The S770H can power that arrangement directly, while the S570BT is limited to five main channels. If the proposed heights are still years away, the extra channels offer no physical benefit today. If the cables are already in place, this difference should decide the pair before the music features.
Map the fast devices to ports
The S770H has more HDMI inputs overall, but the S570BT accepts four high-frame-rate sources against three on the S770H. A source connected to the TV can sometimes return audio over eARC, although the TV then becomes part of the audio-format and control path. That workaround deserves a compatibility check rather than an assumed free input.
Consider the boxes you would otherwise add
An MM turntable and network music library make the S770H more self-contained. The S570BT can still receive those sources through external equipment. Count that equipment, its cables and its remaining input requirements before deciding which receiver makes the system simpler. Both models have one HDMI output, so neither directly solves a two-display installation.
What this comparison cannot tell you
- Virtual height effects are not counted as physical speaker channels.
What the facts say
What the comparison shows
Useful conclusions from the current AV receivers comparison, followed by the checked facts used to reach them.
Compared set
16 of 34 models checked match every need here: “Add two height speakers” and “Connect four 4K120 sources”.
16 matching models from 34 checkedSee the checked facts and calculation notes
Match countThe count uses the current product-to-need assignments for “Add two height speakers” and “Connect four 4K120 sources”. A need with no documented match does not count.
| Product | Needs matched | Checked facts | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denon AVR-S570BT |
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| Denon AVR-S770H |
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Ready to choose?
Check the price. Read the owner reviews.
Open either model on Amazon to check the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Denon AVR-S570BT
The room will stay at five ear-level speakers
See price & reviews on AmazonDenon AVR-S770H
Two height speakers are ready to install
See price & reviews on AmazonLinks open in a new tab.