Denon vs LG Audio Systems

Denon sits at the premium end, with the DCD-900NE CD player at £400, the RCD-N12 DAB network mini system at £599 in white or black and the AVR-S970H AV receiver at £800. LG focuses on affordable portable speakers, including the XG1 XBOOM GO at £19.99, the XBOOM Grab at £79, the XO2TBE XBOOM 360 at £79.99 and the XBOOM Stage 301 at £299.

Denon's kit is built around HEOS, its built-in wireless multi-room platform, which is included in the RCD-N12 and the AVR-S970H. The RCD-N12 adds DAB radio, HDMI ARC, AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth. The DCD-900NE offers Advanced AL32 Processing, a Pure Direct mode and digital outputs with hi-res audio support, while the AVR-S970H is a 7.2-channel receiver rated at 90 watts per channel with 3D Audio. LG's XBOOM range is Bluetooth-based, with the XO2TBE spreading sound 360 degrees around a room. The smaller LG models lack deep bass and there is no WiFi multi-room option, so Denon is the stronger choice for whole-home audio.

Denon suits buyers who want a complete home system: a CD player for physical discs, a receiver for a home cinema set-up, or a network mini system with radio and streaming in one box. LG suits buyers who want an affordable, stylish portable speaker for a bedroom, kitchen or garden, or a 360-degree speaker for gatherings. Buyers wanting room-filling bass should look beyond the smaller LG models. Denon's prices reflect a much broader role in the living room.

Bottom line: choose Denon if you want a multi-room home system with HEOS streaming, DAB radio or a home cinema receiver, from £400 to £800. Choose LG if you want a budget portable Bluetooth speaker, from £19.99 for the XBOOM GO to £79.99 for the 360-sound XO2TBE.