Denon HEOS 1 HS2 Wireless Speaker Review

Do you like to stream your music throughout your entire house? Are you always looking for the best of the best when it comes to listening to your music?

How would you feel about doing it wirelessly and for a reasonable price? The Denon HEOS HS2 Wireless Speaker might just be what you’ve been looking for.

You can stream music from almost all the major streaming services, play different songs in different rooms, and connect it to most of your other devices.

Some users have had problems with the app, problems with the speaker connecting to their Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and some have even had the speaker stop working altogether.

But are these problems anomalies or is this the norm for the HEOS HS2? That is what we are looking to find out.

If you’ve been in the market for a speaker like this, read further as we go into detail of the features, both positive and negative, of the Denon HEOS HS2 Wireless Speaker.

Once you have all the facts, then you can decide for yourself. Let’s get started!

Denon HEOS 1 HS2 Wireless Speaker: The Details

Specs

• Weight: 4.2 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.6 x 5.1 x 6.5 inches
• Product Type: wireless speaker
• Compatible with Amazon Alexa?: It’s Wi-Fi connectible and Bluetooth-connectible, and the free app works on Apple, Android, and Kindle Fire devices

How Does It Work?

The Denon HEOS HS2 Wireless Speaker is designed to be as portable as possible without losing any of the sound quality.

At just over four pounds in weight, it is easy to move from room to room or even bring into the bathroom due to its completely sealed enclosure.

This enclosed speaker ensures no humidity is going to mess up your next shower solo, or performance in the hot tub (your spouse or roommate, on the other hand, might have an issue).

Setup

For setup, start by plugging in your HEOS, downloading the app on your smartphone or tablet, and then plugging your smartphone/tablet into the speaker using the 3.5 mm cable that comes with it.

Follow the instructions provided by the app, connect to your network (Wi-Fi or Bluetooth), and set up what rooms you’re going to use your speaker in.

This final setup is designed to give you more control over the speaker while on the fly, so no more wrecking the hype when your phone gets confused about which speaker you’re aiming for.

Then all you have to do it sit back and enjoy your music.

Streaming

You can stream music from a ton of different services, including Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, SoundCloud, Napster, TIDAL and Rhapsody with the HEOS app.

Though Apple Music is not yet available for the HEOS.

The app works on Apple, Android, and Kindle devices, meaning nearly any device you or your friends bring over will be ready to dive right in.

You can also pull music from any network-connected music server or via direct input using a USB stick or NAS drive.

There is also a stereo line for an analog audio source. Got an old record player (or a new one, we see you hipsters!)? You can hook it up to the HEOS as simply as you would with old-time speakers – if not easier!

Extras

There is also an extra GO Pack you can purchase that includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that provides another six hours of play time.

Also included is a silicone splash guard to protect the jacks from water if you want to use your speaker during a pool party or in the bathroom when you are trying to get your Whitney Houston on.

Sync-ability

Additionally, if you buy more than one HEOS speaker, they can all sync together to either play one song on all your speakers – or you can have each speaker play a different song, all controlled by your phone or tablet.

If you have friends or family who have different music tastes than you, this is a must. It might keep your relationship together, who knows?

Denon: The Brand

Denon was founded in 1910 by Frederick Whitney Horn. Denon, despite being founded by an American, is a Japanese company.

They work to design audio and home theatre products that provide the best experience for the consumer, whether that be when listening to music or watching a movie.

Their stated “quest” is to make the “perfect entertainment environment” for their customers.

Denon HEOS HS2 Wireless Speaker Review

The Positives

Sound Quality

Considering this is the main feature of this device, it’s worth assuring you; the sound quality on the HEOS is outstanding.

The HEOS includes something called DSP (Digital Sound Processing) that provides a complete, full range of sound. It custom tailors the vibrations to help deliver the most balanced output possible.

Anyone who’s had a cheap speaker or set of headphones where only one side works knows how important balance is when listening to your favorite music.

All Denon models, including the HEOS, also support high-resolution audio (aka HD audio). Think about your HD television; this is that, but for music.

Portability

Not only is the HEOS lightweight enough to carry around, it also comes with the ability to control it from any room.

Because the speaker syncs to your smartphone or tablet, wherever you are with one of those devices is where you can control your music.

If you’re in your bedroom and the speaker is in the living room, as long as you have your device, you can change the song, control the volume, or pause the music – it really is that easy.

Water Resistant  

Okay, so a lot of speakers are portable, but are they protected against water? The HEOS HS2 is. This takes away a lot of the risk that comes with shower raving, or having your tunes play by the pool.

Unlike other delicate speakers,  you won’t have to worry about a little bit of water or humidity getting to your speaker, as the HEOS has a silicone splash guard to seal the jacks and the device from damage.

This opens up a lot of possibilities for wireless listening. Partying by the hottub? Taking the boat out for a spin? You can worry less.

Easy to Set-Up and Use

With the HEOS 1 HS2 expect to be up and jamming to your favorite tunes in a matter of minutes. Setup is quick and easy, which means less fussing about and more dancing around.

You literally plug it in, download the app, connect the two, and off you go! And if you’re planning on giving this as a gift, you won’t have to be on standby to help them set it up.  Even your grandparents won’t mind!

And once you’re connected, it won’t be too long before you figure out all the features that come along with the HEOS.

But if all else fails, don’t hesitate to call their helpful customer service department and they’ll help you along.

Compact and Stylish 

Gone are the days of big clunky boomboxes. The HEOS 1 HS2 sticks to a sleek and contemporary design that’s compact so it can seamlessly fit into your home.

You won’t need to clear up too much space or change your overall decor to have this speaker fit into your lifestyle. It will look great anywhere while making the sound quality the centre of attention, instead of the speaker.

It’s not just compact, but also lightweight so it won’t be a pain to haul around when you want to take it with you. It can easily fit into a backpack, a medium sized purse or tote without being cumbersome.

Here’s a video showing what the Denon HEOS 1 HS2 looks like out of the box.

The Negatives

Connectivity

Unfortunately, a number of users have had problems with the app that syncs your smart device with the speaker. It is glitchy, crashes frequently, and un-syncs with the speaker.

Since your phone or tablet is the main way you are able to control what you play on your HEOS, the app being unreliable is a major issue.

There have also been problems connecting to certain streaming services. It is difficult and takes multiple tries to get working.

Reliability

There were a number of cases with our testers where the speaker just stopped working altogether after a while. They have their music playing and then it just stops.

Whether this is a problem with the Wi-Fi connection, how the phone and speaker are synced, or another issue is unknown.

As a speaker’s main purpose is to play audio, the fact that there are some users who have had trouble even doing that can be a major problem.

This seems to be more of a rarity but still something to look out for, so just hang on to your receipt should something like this occur.

Overall Verdict

Based on all the different factors, we will cautiously recommend the Denon HEOS HS2 speaker.

While there are a couple things to watch out for, this speaker still gets a lot of rave reviews, so clearly there are a lot of people who are very satisfied with this speaker and all that it can do.

For the price, this is probably the best you are going to get. Denon’s competitors charge more than twice the price for a speaker that does pretty much the same thing this one does.

It’s crystal clear that the pros do outweigh the cons, and if you’re willing to take a chance that you won’t have any problems and are looking for a less expensive speaker, the Denon HEOS HS2 Wireless Speaker might be the one for you.

Where to Buy the Denon HEOS HS2 Wireless Speaker

Portable, wireless, speakers aren’t a new thing, but those interested usually have to pay a pretty penny to get a hold of one.

Fortunately, the Denon HEOS HS2 comes in at an affordable price, making it a popular choice on the shelves of department and electronic shops both in-store and online.

To start your search, check out the following online retailers.

• Best Buy (from $199)
• BH Photo Video (from $199)
• Denon (from $199)

But of course, you can also find it on Amazon.

That’s a wrap on our Denon HEOS 1 review. Curious enough to try it out?