Denon HEOS 1From real comments

Verdict distilled from 19 mentions across 10 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment33%
PROS 33%
CONS 67%

Rank based on 19 mentions across 10 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a budget-friendly speaker with decent sound for about $99
  • You already have a strong mesh Wi-Fi router to minimize dropouts
  • You're invested in the Denon/HEOS multi-room ecosystem and want added zones

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need rock-solid, drop-free wireless connectivity out of the box
  • You stream from HiFi services and require high-bitrate audio quality
  • You're frustrated by dated, occasionally unreliable app experiences

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Sonos One
Excellent sound quality
Sonos One
Excellent sound quality
2Budget
Amazon Echo (1st Gen)
Decent sound with tweakingDurable long-term reliabilityLoved twist volume controlDevice shows wear over timeLimited third-party speaker controlSetup difficulties
Amazon Echo (1st Gen)
Decent sound with tweaking
Durable long-term reliability
Loved twist volume control
Device shows wear over time
Limited third-party speaker control
Setup difficulties
3Premium
Sonos Era 300
Excellent Atmos surround performanceSeamless Sonos ecosystem and ease of useStrong stereo pair sound qualityDisabled front driver in surround modeHigh priceInconsistent or disjointed sound for some listeners
Sonos Era 300
Excellent Atmos surround performance
Seamless Sonos ecosystem and ease of use
Strong stereo pair sound quality
Disabled front driver in surround mode
High price
Inconsistent or disjointed sound for some listeners
4
Denon Home 250
Impressive sound for its sizeProximity-sensing touch controlsStrong wireless stereo pairing experienceAudio-video lag when watching video
Denon Home 250
Impressive sound for its size
Proximity-sensing touch controls
Strong wireless stereo pairing experience
Audio-video lag when watching video
5Premium
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A9
Iconic, eye-catching designLong-term listening satisfactionExpandable multi-room setupUncertain fit for small roomsGoogle Assistant privacy concernsLimited flexibility on early models
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A9
Iconic, eye-catching design
Long-term listening satisfaction
Expandable multi-room setup
Uncertain fit for small rooms
Google Assistant privacy concerns
Limited flexibility on early models
6Mid
Amazon Echo (2nd Gen)
Rich, Room-Filling SoundSharper Far-Field MicrophonesUseful Smart Home & Calling IntegrationConnectivity Dropouts & Setup FailuresNo Bluetooth Multi-Room SyncEarly Units Had a Sound-Quality Bug
Amazon Echo (2nd Gen)
Rich, Room-Filling Sound
Sharper Far-Field Microphones
Useful Smart Home & Calling Integration
Connectivity Dropouts & Setup Failures
No Bluetooth Multi-Room Sync
Early Units Had a Sound-Quality Bug
Best value
7Premium
Apple HomePod
Great home theater/TV speaker setupExcellent sound qualityStrong value when discountedHigh retail priceWeak Siri assistantHardware reliability issues
Apple HomePod
Great home theater/TV speaker setup
Excellent sound quality
Strong value when discounted
High retail price
Weak Siri assistant
Hardware reliability issues
8Mid
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
Improved Sound QualitySmart Home IntegrationTemperature Sensor FeatureLack of 3.5mm Audio JackSetup Connectivity IssuesInconsistent Voice Recognition
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
Improved Sound Quality
Smart Home Integration
Temperature Sensor Feature
Lack of 3.5mm Audio Jack
Setup Connectivity Issues
Inconsistent Voice Recognition
9Mid
Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
Improved sound qualityNew spherical designGood value/pricing on dealsZigbee/smart device connectivity problemsDesign/accessory complaintsQuestionable upgrade value
Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
Improved sound quality
New spherical design
Good value/pricing on deals
Zigbee/smart device connectivity problems
Design/accessory complaints
Questionable upgrade value
10Mid
Sonos Play:3
Strong sound qualityReliable multi-room integrationGreat resale value and bargainsDifficult setup and factory resetMono confusion in single-unit modeSupport and reliability concerns
Sonos Play:3
Strong sound quality
Reliable multi-room integration
Great resale value and bargains
Difficult setup and factory reset
Mono confusion in single-unit mode
Support and reliability concerns
You are here
31Budget
Denon HEOS 1
Expandable multi-room systemReliable long-term with good routerGood sound for the priceFrequent connectivity dropoutsDifficult initial pairing/setupFrustration damaging brand perception
Denon HEOS 1
Expandable multi-room system
Reliable long-term with good router
Good sound for the price
Frequent connectivity dropouts
Difficult initial pairing/setup
Frustration damaging brand perception

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Sound and build quality impress for the price. Owners describe the HEOS 1 as having great build quality and sound for roughly $99, with one buyer saying they didn't expect Sonos-level performance at that price but were happy with the purchase. Another longtime HEOS user says the system sounds great when it works, even after years of expanding their multi-room setup with additional speakers over time.

Wi-Fi connectivity is a recurring frustration. Multiple users report speakers losing communication with routers, zones disappearing, and needing frequent resets of routers, tablets, and speakers. One user resorted to running ethernet cables after wireless reliability failed, while others say Marantz and Denon tech support could not resolve persistent connection drops, with some calling the system unreliable or 'sub par.'

A good router makes a big difference, but results vary. Several commenters note that pairing HEOS 1 with a strong mesh Wi-Fi router leads to years of trouble-free use, suggesting network quality is a major factor in reliability. However, other users with seemingly capable Denon/Marantz AVR setups still report persistent pairing nightmares and connection issues that remain unresolved, indicating inconsistent real-world performance across households.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?