Quick Take
If you’re chasing that “instant cinema at home” vibe, the Denon AVR-X8500HA gets you there in one shot. It powers big, enveloping sound, plays nice with the latest movie and gaming formats, and streams to the whole house with HEOS. It’s loaded (and a bit complex), but once you set it up, everything—movies, music, games—feels larger, cleaner, and more immersive.
Pros |
Cons |
|---|---|
| • 13.2 channels with real headroom for large, immersive layouts | • Feature depth can overwhelm first-timers |
| • Supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and DTS:X Pro, IMAX Enhanced, Auro-3D | • Occasional user-reported quirks may need a firmware update or tweak |
| • 8K/60 and 4K/120 video pass-through plus wide HDR support (Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Dynamic HDR) | • Best results demand time for speaker placement and calibration |
| • Gaming perks: VRR and ALLM for smoother, lower-lag play | • Big, heavy, and overkill for simple plug-and-play setups |
| • HEOS multi-room streaming; AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth built-in | • Only one HDMI input is 8K/4K120 capable; plan sources accordingly |
| • Alexa voice control; robust Audyssey room correction (XT32) |
Denon isn’t messing around with the 8500HA. It’s a 13.2-channel receiver that delivers 150 watts per channel and supports today’s most demanding audio formats. Whether you’re building a 7.x.6 Atmos system or packing in front-wides, it has the processing and amplification on tap. On the video side, it handles 8K/60 and 4K/120 signals, plus the full spread of modern HDR formats, so your movies and games look as good as they sound. HEOS ties everything together for whole-home music, and Audyssey MultEQ XT32 dials your room in without the guesswork.
Key Features of the Denon AVR-X8500
| Amplification / Channels | 13.2 (13 amplified) |
| Power Rating | 150 W/ch (8Ω, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.05% THD, 2 ch driven) |
| Immersive Audio | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, DTS:X Pro, IMAX Enhanced, Auro-3D |
| Video & HDR | Up to 8K/60 pass-through & upscaling, 4K/120; HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG, Dynamic HDR |
| Gaming | VRR, ALLM (plus QMS/QFT support) |
| HDMI | 8 inputs (7 rear + 1 front), 3 outputs; eARC |
| Streaming | HEOS Built-in (major services supported), AirPlay 2, Bluetooth; Roon Tested |
| Room Calibration | Audyssey MultEQ XT32 with Sub EQ HT, Dynamic EQ/Volume |
| Size & Weight | ~17.1″ W × 18.6″ D × 7.7″ H; ~52 lb |
| Status | Archived model from Denon (still widely available via retailers) |
Big-room power & layouts
Thirteen amplified channels on board means you can run truly immersive setups—think 7.1.6 or 9.1.4—without adding extra amps. It’s rated at 150W per channel (with two channels driven), so it has the headroom to keep action scenes loud, clean, and effortless.
Audio formats
It handles the full spread of 3D formats: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X (including DTS:X Pro), IMAX Enhanced, and Auro-3D. Translation: whether it’s helicopters overhead, crowd noise behind you, or orchestral height channels, the X8500HA can map it all convincingly.
HDMI that’s ready for now (and later)
You get 8 HDMI inputs (7 on the back, 1 up front) and 3 outputs, including eARC for high-bitrate audio from your TV’s apps. There’s dedicated 8K/60 and 4K/120 support plus 8K upscaling, and it plays nice with the full HDR set—HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG, and Dynamic HDR.
Gamer-friendly smoothing
If you game, you’ll appreciate the HDMI 2.1 perks: VRR to tame screen tearing, ALLM to keep latency low, and QFT/QMS for fewer stutters and faster mode switches. It’s the difference between “pretty smooth” and “yep—that’s butter.”
Whole-home streaming built in
HEOS lets you stream Spotify, Amazon Music, TIDAL and more to compatible speakers around the house. AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth are on board, and it’s Roon Tested if you’re picky about your library. Voice control plays nicely with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple (via HomePod/Siri).
Set-and-forget room tuning
Audyssey MultEQ XT32 with Sub EQ HT measures your room, aligns dual subs, and tames peaks so dialogue stays clear and bass stays tight. Dynamic EQ/Volume keeps late-night listening punchy without waking the house.
Installer niceties & multi-zone
Three zones, IP/RS-232/web control, dual 12V triggers, full pre-outs (up to 15.2), and an HDMI Zone 2 output. It’s flexible enough to grow with your system as your setup gets more ambitious.
Built like serious hi-fi
Monolithic amp construction, discrete output stages, AL32 Multichannel processing, jitter-reduction, and gold-plated RCAs—all aimed at lowering noise and raising refinement. You’ll hear it in quiet scenes and musical micro-detail.
Sound Quality and Usability
Sound quality on the 8500HA has been lauded by many users, and for good reason. The receiver’s ability to manage multiple channels with clear separation results in an immersive soundstage that brings out dialogues, sound effects, and music nuances in astonishing detail. Vocal clarity has been particularly praised, giving movie and concert audio an extra layer of realism. If you’re a fan of home movies with rich surround sound or someone who streams hi-res music, this receiver delivers on that promise.
The immersive audio formats make a noticeable difference, especially in Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compliant setups, where sounds can be precisely placed in three-dimensional space—think raindrops, helicopters, or footsteps coming from above you or behind the couch.
Video performance also gets good marks, with the 8K upscaling allowing users to watch lower resolution content with improved sharpness and vibrancy on their compatible displays. This helps the AVR-X8500HA serve well for those invested in future-proof home theaters without immediately needing 8K content.
On the usability front, several customers appreciated the straightforward setup process. Denon’s interface and guided processes help reduce headaches during the initial configuration, even when working with complex speaker arrays and source devices.
However, not every experience has been seamless. A minority of users reported occasional functional glitches—like device recognition issues or sporadic firmware quirks—that require troubleshooting. While these haven’t been widespread, they’re worth noting for anyone wanting smooth, plug-and-play simplicity straight out of the box.
Who Is the Denon AVR-X8500HA For?
This AV receiver isn’t designed for casual viewers or audio listeners who just want a simple plug-and-play system. It’s tailored to the home theater enthusiast, audiophile, or dedicated gamer who demands superior performance, the latest technologies, and customizable sound and video environments.
If you have a high-end speaker system or plan to build one that includes overhead or surround speakers, the Denon AVR-X8500HA’s 13.2 channels give you the flexibility and power you need. Likewise, if you’re a video buff with an 8K TV or projector on the horizon, or if you crave the best audio and video streaming capabilities with voice assistant integration, this receiver is designed with you in mind.
Final Thoughts
The Denon AVR-X8500HA represents a premium investment in your home theater setup, offering an exceptional blend of powerful audio performance, cutting-edge video technology, and smart features. Its 13.2 channel configuration, support for a wide range of immersive audio formats, and attention to future-proofing with 8K and advanced HDR make it a formidable choice for those seeking an immersive cinematic experience at home.
While most users find it straightforward to set up and enjoy, occasional reports of technical quirks remind prospective buyers to be prepared for a bit of troubleshooting or to ensure their firmware is regularly updated. The feature richness might require some patience for newcomers but pays off in flexibility and sound quality.
Buy the Denon AVR-X8500HA on Amazon
FAQ
Q: How many speakers can it power and process?
A: It powers 13 channels and processes up to 13.2, enabling layouts like 9.1.4 without external amps.
Q: Is the 150 W/ch rating “all channels driven”?
A: No. Like most AVRs, the 150 W spec is with two channels driven (8Ω, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.05% THD). Real-world multi-channel power is lower but ample for most setups.
Q: Does it support 8K on every HDMI input?
A: No. There’s a dedicated 8K-capable input (also supports 4K/120). The rest support up to 4K with HDR.
Q: Which HDR formats are supported?
A: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG, and Dynamic HDR.
Q: Is it good for next-gen gaming?
A: Yes—4K/120 pass-through plus VRR and ALLM help reduce lag and screen tearing with compatible consoles/PCs.
Q: What room correction does it use?
A: Audyssey MultEQ XT32 with Sub EQ HT, plus Dynamic EQ/Volume.
Q: Does it support eARC?
A: Yes. You can pass high-bitrate audio (like Dolby TrueHD/Atmos) from your TV’s apps back to the AVR via eARC.
Q: Is DTS:X Pro included out of the box?
A: DTS:X Pro support is available (enabled via firmware) and allows up to 13-channel DTS:X processing.
Q: Can I expand with external amplifiers?
A: Absolutely. It has full pre-outs (up to 15.2) if you want to offload channels to external amps.
Q: How many HDMI outputs are there?
A: Three—two main monitor outs plus a Zone 2 HDMI out for another room/display.
Q: Is the AVR-X8500HA still current?
A: It’s now listed as an archived model by Denon, but it remains a flagship-level performer and is still widely available. If you want the latest generation, consider Denon’s current top models.
Buy the Denon AVR-X8500HA on Amazon
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