Digital Drive: REVIEW: Denon HEOS Link Other by kh6idf

Model:	HEOS Link
Category:	Other
Suggested Retail Price:	$349
Description:	Multi-room streamer/DAC
Manufacturer URL:	Denon
Model Picture:	View

Review by kh6idf on August 22, 2015 at 21:33:18
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for the HEOS Link

Looking for a replacement for my Squeezebox classic (SB3) since Rhapsody dropped it from their supported devices, I came across this Denon model, part of their new HEOS line of multi-room audio.

The HEOS Link in my application is used as a single room source feeding into an external DAC via it's coaxial digital output.

Basically, the Link consists of a streaming player with both wired and wireless ethernet, USB input, digital and analog input, and coaxial as well as optical digital output and an internal DAC driving a pair of RCA analog outputs. A very versatile device.

Music services currently supported include Pandora, Rhapsody, Spotify, Tidal, TuneIn (internet radio) and a few others, with more coming in the future. Streaming quality is currently limited to 16-bit up to 48KHz with a variety of compressed and lossless formats. For a complete description see the specs on Denon's product page.

There is no remote control provided, instead you download the free HEOS app and use an iphone, ipad or Android tablet for a remote. This works very well and the app is simple to use. There is also no display on the HEOS Link itself, since the tablet or phone serves as both a remote and display.

Now on to the sound quality, both with an external DAC (Behringer DEQ2496 / AKM 4393) and with the internal Burr-Brown (now TI) PCM 5102 DAC. Firstly, using an external DAC via either the coaxial or optical digital outputs, sound quality is very good, similar to the Squeezebox sound being full bodied, 3-dimensional, transparent and clean. Initially, for a week or two I could hear the high frequencies were not quite right, something was amiss, but after a few weeks of operation / burn in all is well. I waited to write this review until I was sure of the sound quality.

Using the internal DAC (BB/TI PCM-5102) I was surprised actually that it sounded so good. The well balanced, 3-dimensional sound I heard with the external DAC was largely intact. Even with a pair of Stax headphones on the RCA outputs, it sounded very clean and coherent. So I can recommend the Heos Link even when used standalone with it's internal DAC, something I could not really do with the Squeezebox. To get the best sound from that device an external DAC was mandatory.

The HEOS Link contains an internal 115VAC power supply and a detachable power cord, so it does not have a "wall wart" but can be plugged directly into an AC outlet. It is heavy and substantial feeling with good build quality, although this substantial feeling is due to Denon placing a lead slab inside the bottom of the case according to another review!

I have been using Pandora, Rhapsody, TuneIn and Spotify with Spotify being the highest bitrate source at 320kb/sec. Sound is good with all these services but I can hear the improvement with Spotify over the others. I also tried purchasing an album from classicsonlinehd.com, downloading it in FLAC lossless format to a USB drive and plugging it into the back of the Heos Link. The app has a USB music source, and it found the purchased album and played it flawlessly with nice album art on the tablet controller.

Since the internal DAC is capable of 32-bit 384KHz, perhaps a future software update may enable playback of higher-res files than the current 16-bit 48 KHz, although I have not seen any mention of this from Denon. But the hardware capability seems like it is there.

Overall I am pleased with the HEOS Link, it is a very capable and versatile streamer/DAC at a reasonable price if you can live with the 16-bit 44.1 (or at best 48KHz) limitations (basically CD quality).

Product Weakness:	No high-res capability beyond CD quality
Product Strengths:	Sound quality, input/output versatility, ease of use.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Linn LK280
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Linn Kairn
Sources (CDP/Turntable): HEOS Link
Speakers: Magneplanar SMGc / Audio Pro B240 subwoofer
Cables/Interconnects: Blue Jeans Cable LC-1 interconnects, generic RCA coaxial digital
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Classical, Acoustic, Choral
Room Size (LxWxH): 15 ft x 10 ft x 8 ft
Room Comments/Treatments: large skylight well, acoustic foam panels on side walls
Time Period/Length of Audition: 1 month
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Furman PL-8 series II
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Linn LK280
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Linn Kairn
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	HEOS Link
Speakers:	Magneplanar SMGc / Audio Pro B240 subwoofer
Cables/Interconnects:	Blue Jeans Cable LC-1 interconnects, generic RCA coaxial digital
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical, Acoustic, Choral
Room Size (LxWxH):	15 ft x 10 ft x 8 ft
Room Comments/Treatments:	large skylight well, acoustic foam panels on side walls
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 month
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Furman PL-8 series II
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner