Apple’s HomePod has only been updated once since its original debut back in 2018, and even the 2023 revamp was nothing to write home about. For as good a speaker as the HomePod is, it feels like one of Apple’s more neglected products. You would think that with the massive push to AI and the recent unveiling of SiriAI, Apple would have modernized the HomePod, but we are still waiting. So, when Denon released their new Home 200 that had some very friendly Siri and Apple ecosystem features, I had to give it a try. After using it as my main home and office speaker for a few months, it feels like the modern HomePod Apple is yet to deliver. Here are my thoughts!
Let’s start off with the specs. The Denon Home 200 builds on the strong foundation of the previous Home lineup. The biggest addition here is the support for Dolby Atmos, which really helps bring a sense of immersion when listening to your media. Here is what you get:
As you can see, this speaker has all the intangibles and goes above what you would expect from a speaker like this. What I love is that the Denon 200 gives you plenty of options for how and where you listen to your music. You can enjoy Dolby Atmos processing for an immersive listening experience, or switch to Denon’s Pure mode for a more natural sound.
The ecosystem piece with the HEOS app is also a welcome advantage. You can set these speakers up as a stereo pair, add their bigger siblings, like the Denon 400 and Denon 600, and control all your media output directly from the HEOS app or through Apple’s native AirPlay system. So not only does this speaker sound great, but the ecosystem features feel intentional rather than half-baked.
I have used both the regular HomePod and the HomePod mini, so I wanted to see not only how they compared in terms of sound quality but also how they worked within my Apple ecosystem. Let’s start with the sound.
The sound quality in this speaker is excellent. The speaker is about the size of the HomePod, so its not a huge speaker to begin with. The amount of power, bass, sound exposure, and crisp volume this thing delivers is very impressive. It has a dual-tweeter setup that helps create a wide soundstage, enhancing immersion. Dolby Atmos support adds an extra sense of openness, making everything from music to podcast vocals feel more expansive. I also really enjoyed the Pure mode, which disables all spatial processing to give you the purest listening experience (for lack of a better term). So if you want a speaker that won’t take up a giant chunk of your living room or office, but you still want that punch and to feel the music. This Denon 200 can do that for you. But as an Apple ecosystem fanatic, I wanted to see how it held up in my Apple world.
First, we have the AirPlay 2 support. That allows the speaker to work exactly as you’d expect with an iPhone. You can seamlessly push music or any media from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac via Control Center and all the native Apple controls. So while the HEOS app is great for managing some specifics of the speaker, it really isn’t needed to play music on one or more Denon 200s simultaneously. Another key here is the built-in Siri support. Because the speaker supports Siri, it almost feels like you are using a HomePod. You can use the classic voice command to get Siri going on the Denon 200 and use it like you would with any other HomePod. You can manage the media on the speaker, you can set times, ask questions, manage smart home lights, and anything that a HomePod can do via voice, the Denon 200 can do.
This is the feature that sets the Denon 200 apart from other speakers in this category. HomePod hardware has not changed much in years, and as far as we know, the current set of HomePods has not been shown to support the new Siri AI coming in the Fall. That is why I have been enjoying the Denon 200 so much. This speaker gives you all the capabilities from a Siri standpoint that the current HomePods offer, while also meeting modern speaker and connectivity standards in this space.
And what is nice about the Denon system is that the Denon 200 is great as a standalone speaker, but you have the option to drastically expand the ecosystem. You can set two of them up as a stereo pair, you can add a HEOS subwoofer, or even use them as wireless rear changes alongside the Denon Sound Bar.
The Denon Home 200 is the entry-level model in the new Home lineup. The Denon Home 200 comes in two colors: Charcoal and Stone (the one pictured in this article). They are sold for $399 and are available today on Amazon and other retailers. They also have the Denon 400 and Denon 600. Each step up offers a larger speaker with a more powerful sound. The Denon 400 goes for $599, and the Denon 600 goes for $799.
While the HomePod is still a great-sounding speaker, I got a bit tired of waiting for a new 2026 version to come out. The Denon 200 has answered all of its callings. The speaker itself is amazing for all types of media, from podcasts and audiobooks to Dolby Atmos-supported live concert media. It is loud, it fills any room, and punches way above its weight class.
Then, of course, the Apple ecosystem integration with Siri is just what I wanted out of a smart speaker. I just wanted to be able to control some of my smart home with a modern speaker, and the Denon 200 not only does that but also excels in that area. So if you are looking for a new home wireless speaker, a Father’s Day gift, or just want something different from a HomePod, the Denon 200 is a great option.
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