Denon DHT-S416 review

Pros

  • Price competitive
  • Excellent bass tones
  • Built-in Chromecast

Cons

  • The highs are too fast and sharp
  • There is no preset for radio or sports.
  • Big jumps between volume levels

Design & Build

The overall design is that of Denon DHT-S416 soundbar is elegant and subtle. It has a fabric lined front speaker that has the Denon logo in the centre. The bar and subwoofer have sharp edges and a black finish.

I tried this soundbar on the 50in television (not shown) and it worked well. If you own a smaller model, the device could take over the TV or be able to fit on your TV – it’s 990 x 54x 53mm. It’s certainly not the largest soundbar that we’ve ever seen.

The buttons on top of the bar are for power and source buttons, Bluetooth and adjusting the volume. In the rear, you will find the ports that you need to connect to power the device, as well as connector slots for your television (more about this in the next section). All the cables you require are provided inside the package.

The actions of the soundbar can be seen by the colour/number of lights that it displays. If, for instance, you reduce the volume, you’ll notice the number of lights diminish. If you switch off your TV off, lights on the soundbar will turn green, the lights will turn off to signal that the device is shut off.

The Denon DHT-S416 comes with an remote control that you can use to turn on the soundbar, alter the source, alter the bass and volume levels, and also play/pause music. There are three options to enhance dialogue as well as preset EQ settings for music, movies or night-time playsback.

The remote is easy and user-friendly, with bold and large text. However, the design and feel are a bit expensive, and brighter color options for the buttons could be better for people who have visual impairments.

Connectivity & Setup

The setup of the Denon DHT-S416 audiobar is simple. At the back, you have a slot for the power, an HDMI ARC port as well as optical cable slot (the method I used to connect to my television).

There are no additional HDMI ports available on this soundbar. This means you’ll be unable to connect any additional devices, like a gaming console via your audio setup and you’ll have to connect them to ports on your television.

It’s one of the very first Denon soundbar that can support Google Chromecast, meaning you can play music on your smartphone to apps like YouTube, Tidal, Deezer, Spotify and more. It also supports to use the Google Home app to sync the soundbar to other audio devices in your home.

Contrary to Polk MagniFi It doesn’t come with Google Assistant, so you aren’t able to control it using your voice.

You can also stream music through Bluetooth. The soundbar, however, does not support the standard A2DP codec and there’s a noticeable quality loss when playing music via Bluetooth as compared to other devices that have tested the aptX codec.

Wired provides the highest audio quality. In addition to that…

Sound Quality

The Denon DHT-S416 has the 2.1 setup with two stereo speakers and an amplifier. Dolby Digital decoding, and Dolby Digital Plus in addition to an wireless subwoofer that has an integrated cabinet.

The sound quality is impressive for its price. It’s vibrant and rich and you can pick up even the smallest details within scenes and tracks. The speaker performs top-of-the-line when you play games, high-action films or listening to bass-heavy music due to the booming low tones.

Bass is, in general, the most powerful aspect that this particular soundbar can offer. If you prefer to increase the volume you should bring the bass up, too. When you turn down the volume only a couple of notches, you lose that low-end audio quality.

The mids don’t sound too bad, and blend well with music and movies. Highs , however, sound too sharp but there isn’t much in the control. That means that instruments for percussion and synthesizers can make the sound ring slightly and do not blend in.

The Denon gives you a full-on experience. The Denon was the perfect choice for me to see Godzilla Vs. Kong and was amazed by the mechanical sounds, crashes, and planes sounded fantastic.

It doesn’t have an option for 3D and virtual surround technologies as Dolby Atmos on rivals. If you’re looking for something that’s more immersive, like the cinema, then look into buying more expensive models.

The audio presets work quite well. The bass rumble in movie mode was perfect for shows that had plenty of action and stunts while the music mode worked well for many different musical styles, such as electronica, jazz, and rock.

The night mode is much quieter and gentler so as to not disturb neighbors. It is also possible to use the Pure preset mode to listen to music without effects added on the top.

But there’s no setting for radio, sports, or podcasts. It means that you must adjust the settings to get the perfect level that can be frustrating. There are only three choices to enhance your dialogue and not the vast spectrum that you can get from bass.

The peaks between the volume levels are quite significant. For someone living living in a home I am always looking for the sweet spot where I can enjoy excellent audio for movies and not having my neighbors call the police to me with an noise complaint. It’s difficult to find that middle ground in this system.

If you live in an unattached property (or you don’t consider what your neighbors believe) it might not be a problem. But, I believe the soundbar could work just fine with some additional volume levels.

The subwoofer is wireless but at times, it would disengage to the soundbar. But, unplugging it at the wall and then turning the soundbar on and off was able to resolve the issue.

Price & Availability

The Denon DHT-S416 audiobar has an RRP of just PS299 and you can purchase it through Denon’s website or from the Denon site or Amazon UK. The soundbar isn’t currently available for purchase in the US.

In light of the fact that this bar has an acoustic subwoofer and a subwoofer, this is a reasonable price for what you receive. The closest equivalent price we’ve tested would be that of the Edifier S50DB however you don’t have the same booming bass is available with the Denon.

For a few hundred dollars additional, there’s an even more expensive model, the Denon DHT-S516H that comes with superior audio quality and more options for connectivity (though it doesn’t have Chromecast and Dolby Atmos). It also has the small Sonos Beam, that comes with Amazon Alexa support. But the Denon DHT-S416 does not have the same features as the price of this gadget.

If you’d like to know how other rivals stack up to each other, check out this guide on the top soundbars. If you’re looking to upgrade your whole audio and entertainment setup, you can also check out our recommendations for the most effective televisions available now.

Verdict

The Denon DHT-S416 soundbar is among of the cheapest options to buy when you’re looking for a subwoofer as well as a wireless model to boot.

It’s not able to produce the type of 3D immersive sound that expensive competitors like Dolby Atmos or similar products do but it’s still a decent overall.

The high-frequency artefacts are too sharp with this soundbar. The lack of a preset option for audio-heavy content like podcasts or sports is a pity. Also, it’s not the tiniest option available if you’re using an older TV.

There’s no doubt that this is a great soundbar, if you don’t require additional bells and bells.

How to Become a YouTuber – The Ultimate Checklist

Being a YouTuber is an enjoyable and lucrative career. It is easy to make videos on subjects you enjoy and earn money from it, don’t you think? However, becoming a well-known YouTuber isn’t a simple task.

Behind every famous vlogger lies an extended journey of struggle and dedication. There are investments that you have to make, procedures you have to follow and many more things to follow before you make your very first YouTube video.

With all the things that need to be accomplished and a lot to be done, it’s hard to keep in the right direction with your endeavors to become YouTuber. This article will give you the most comprehensive list of things to take care of if you’re looking to be YouTuber.

How to Become a YouTuber – The Ultimate Checklist

Decide on Your Niche

The first thing to decide on is your niche. Make sure you know the industries you’ll focus upon in the videos you make. There’s a tendency for the thoughts to wander everywhere when you’re trying cover too numerous subjects and sub-topics.

Choose a few closely related areas depending on your passions or your knowledge. For instance, a health YouTuber might create content on exercises and healthy eating habits.

This is a great method to remain organized, start with a solid foundation, stay consistent and draw a targeted audience. If you begin with a particular focus that you are able to grow your knowledge in these niches and eventually become experts. Additionally, producing consistently quality content within those areas will help you draw viewers who are interested by your content.

If you’re interested to expand your target audience by diversifying your subject. As an example, YouTuber, Andrea Ocejo began by creating videos on fitness and health. After gaining nine thousand subscribers, she’s focused on a wider variety of topics and creating videos about travel, fashion as well as beauty.

Outline Your Channel Goal

What do you hope to accomplish through your channel? Do you want to assist people through creating informative videos? Do you wish to teach the people how to perform tasks by creating tutorials and step-by-steps? Or maybe you simply would like to share your stories and entertain your audience.

Define the goals you’d like to achieve with your channel to ensure you are able to plan your videos. This will aid in getting a steady and steady start instead of trying to cover every aspect of every aspect.

For instance, Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy is primarily focused on unboxing videos where they review the products features. The aim is to provide the viewers with an honest and impartial review to guide them in their purchase. It’s no wonder that he has gained 14 million subscribers on his channel.

Naturally, one may decide to become a YouTuber for fame and the money. While it’s okay to concentrate on this aim however, you must ensure that you’re providing content with an impact on the viewers. If you don’t you’ll be unable to gain a following or grow your fan base and make money from your channel.

Brainstorm Content Ideas

Next, you must brainstorm videos ideas. This is an vital step to begin before the process of creating your channel. This will ensure that you do not run out of ideas after just a few videos.

Check out the content that similar to what other YouTubers in your area have already created. Do you have something similar, but with a different style? Could you come up with something superior? Think about the problems and the needs of your group of people. Think of topics that address these issues in a way that is likely to draw them in.

The possibilities are infinite if you’re always looking for ways to offer an added value to your customers. Also, you can check out our entire listing of YouTube video ideas to help you get started.

Develop a Content Schedule

The consistency of your schedule will allow you to maintain your consistency. It gives your viewers the confidence that they can count on you to release new content on the set dates. It also provides an appropriate timeline so that you can plan your work and stay on course.

Before even developing a channel, it is important that you need to choose a schedule for publishing that you can manage. Daily uploads of content can be an excellent way to reach new viewers however, it could be overwhelming for a small team of just one person.

It’s recommended to begin by setting a weekly plan. As you become more familiar with the schedule, you’ll be able to increase the number of videos you produce. For instance, you can make two videos per week while sticking to your daily schedule.

Dani is the creator of Editing Is Everything is a YouTube channel that publishes new content each Saturday at 9AM Eastern Standard Time. She will highlight the schedule on her channel’s banner to let viewers are aware of when they can look forward to new videos.

Assess Your Equipment

The equipment you choose to use will determine the quality of the content that you create. It’s therefore essential to be aware of the equipment you’ll require to produce the type of content you’re planning on making. While you don’t have to buy expensive equipment in the beginning however, you must be equipped with a few basic items.

You’ll require a PC with a good speed and specs to meet your requirements. It is essential to invest in a good Video editing programs. Although you don’t have to shell out hundreds of dollars ensure that it’s got all the basics features required to perform what you’re looking for.

Windows Movie Maker and iMovie is a good place to starting point. There are also other low-cost alternatives like Filmora as well as Corel VideoStudio.

In terms of software, you may need a screen recorder that is reliable. The Debut Screen Recorder is an ideal and affordable option that allows you to add captions to your videos.

If you’re planning to spend time using a camera or video other than screen-based recording you’ll require a quality camera. It’s possible to start with your smartphone camera , if you’re using a top-quality camera phone.

However, if you plan to be speaking on the screen, ensure that you have a good microphone. The quality of your audio can greatly affect the quality of your video overall This is why it’s an essential aspect.

Create and Optimise Your Channel

Once you’ve got the majority of the fundamentals set it is time to make your channel. In case you have already created one, you may make the necessary changes to optimize it.

Select a name for your channel that is distinctive and catchy. You can also choose to use your personal name, if it’s suitable to you.

When you write the „About“ section, make sure that you are able to clearly explain the things your channel is about. However, you should prioritize readability by breaking text into smaller paragraphs.

For instance, take an look at Maangchi’s channel’s description. It’s clear and concise, but to the essence. The author has also divided the text into smaller paragraphs to make it easy to read.

You can include keywords in the description in a manner that is natural. This makes it easier for users to locate the site when looking for those keywords.

It’s equally important to maintain an attractive and consistent design for your channel so that it leaves an impression on your viewers. Your channel’s artwork plays a significant role in establishing your status as a trustworthy YouTuber.

Jubilee for instance, is an attractive yellow channel icon that has an „J“ to symbolise their channel’s name.

The banner on their profile shows different people in the metro, and is appropriate for a channel that is focused on videos that are centered around humans. Apart from that it also includes some yellow elements that are consistent with the colors of the icon.

Hire a graphic designer to design an icon for your channel and a banner that visually matches your tone of voice. You can also use tools such as Snappa to create your own channel artwork.

Your channel’s artwork does not have to be elaborate but it must be easily identifiable. Be simple but distinctive and uniform color scheme and typeface. Make sure to use this style regularly on your social media pages so that people are able to instantly recognize your brand.

Upload and learn from the First Video You Watch

After you’ve set up and optimized your channel you can begin creating and uploading your very first video. Pick a topic from your list and make the video that is sure to grab the attention of the viewers.

It’s also important to keep in mind that regardless of the amount of time and effort you invest in your first video, it’s not going to be flawless. This is the problem that all YouTubers face as they begin their journey. The best way to get over this obstacle is to take lessons from it.

Pay attention to how people react to the issue. What are they liking and what do they complain about? Have they any useful comments on how you can improve your next video?

You could also utilize YouTube Analytics in order to analyze how your video was able to hold the attention of the viewers. These insights can help you make more appealing videos that appeal to the people you want to reach.

Final Thoughts

These are the basic actions you’ll need to complete before you can begin your journey as YouTuber. However, your work doesn’t stop with this point. It is also necessary to establish your social media profile so that you can reach an even larger crowd. Social media can assist you in promoting your video and make them available to people who aren’t already subscribers to the channel.

Utilize this checklist to lay a solid base to become a professional YouTuber.