Denon has a definition problem here. Not musical definition: heaven forbid, this unit operates at high-resolution and should offer all the definition you need in those terms. No, it’s what exactly to call the DNP-2000NE — how to define its functions. Officially it’s a “high-resolution streamer with HEOS Built-in”. And so it is. But it’s also rather more.
For one thing this streamer has a set of digital inputs, for which it behaves not as a streamer but as a digital-to-analogue converter. And indeed these abilities go beyond many standalone DACs in having an HDMI connection which can play audio from your TV, and a USB-B socket for playing direct from a computer or laptop, in addition to optical and coaxial connectors.
For another, it’s got a volume control. That makes it a preamplifier, and if you don’t use any analogue sources you could do without a conventional amplifier in your system, and go straight from this Denon into power amps or active speakers.
So it’s more than a streamer — to give the DNP-2000NE its full due we might call it a streaming digital preamplifier. Definition sorted, then, let’s see exactly what it can do for you.
Build & facilities
Streamers come in all shapes and sizes, including teeny-tiny boxes, as you can see elsewhere this issue. But Denon’s DNP-2000NE, although low in height, is full component width,
