We next tried the DHT-FS5's night-mode feature while watching some DVDs and found it mildly effective in reducing the films' dynamic range for late-night listening.
CD sound, with or without the subwoofer, was only acceptable for background listening. In stereo or music modes, the sound felt cramped and small. The DHT-FS5's sound was more or less on par with a table radio.
We finished up with a shoot-out between the DHT-FS5 sound bar and the similarly priced Zvox Z-Base 550, using the Mission: Impossible III Blu-ray to distinguish the differences. The Denon had greater overall clarity and produced a much larger, room-filling sound field than the Zvox. That said, the Zvox had a richer, bigger sound, and dialogue was more naturally balanced. With the Denon, voices sounded a little thin. We liked both units for different reasons, but we'd give the nod to the Denon.
Conclusion
The tastefully designed Denon DHT-FS5 offers decent sound quality for the price, and is worth considering for those seeking a simple-to-install upgrade to their TV's built-in speakers.
Additional editing by Charles Kloet
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