Make your living room the ultimate game day destination with Denon and Polk

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Make your living room the ultimate game day destination with Denon and Polk

Forget flat, tiny TV speakers or one-dimensional sound bars—this football season, put your living room on the 50-yard line when you upgrade to a full surround system from Denon and Polk. Every play hits harder, every cheer surrounds you, and with Sunday Night Football now streaming in Dolby Atmos, game day has never felt so real. Here’s how to create a setup that’s so good, your friends will never want to watch anywhere else.

Step 1: Choose your system

Ready to upgrade your game day experience? Start with a Denon AVR, the heart of any great home theater. If you’re new to AVRs, we have recommendations that make getting started simple and stress-free. Both the AVR-X1800H and AVR-S970H unlock surround sound and Dolby Atmos, so you can experience every play with stadium-like energy. Each supports full 5.2.2 Atmos or DTS:X setups with height speakers, and both include Atmos height virtualization so if you don’t have height channels yet, you can still enjoy a convincing sense of overhead sound with a traditional 5.1 system.

The AVR-X1800H is the easiest way to step up. Pair it with Polk Signature Elite speakers for a straightforward 5.1 or 5.2.2 system that transforms your setup from basic TV audio into a full-blown immersive experience.

The AVR-S970H adds more muscle and flexibility. With 90 watts per channel, it’s ready for larger rooms, and Zone 2 support lets you repurpose channels for music in another space. Match it with Polk Monitor XT speakers, and you’ll have a system that delivers game-day impact now and room to grow later.

Step 2: Set up your room

Next, set up your speakers in your space. Place left and right speakers on either side of the TV, add a center channel directly below or above the screen for crystal-clear commentary, surrounds just behind your seating area angled slightly inward, and a subwoofer near (but ideally not directly against) a wall or corner for the most impact. Add height or up-firing speakers for Atmos, and you’ll feel the roar of the crowd not just around you, but overhead.

Both AVRs include Audyssey MultEQ room correction, which automatically measures your space with the included mic and balances your speakers. Run it once, and it optimizes your sound for your room so every seat is the best seat in the house.

Step 3: Dial in your settings

After Audyssey has balanced your system, you can tweak further. Dynamic EQ keeps the mix lively even at lower volumes, while Dynamic Volume smooths sudden jumps between commentary and commercials. Press the Movie button on the remote, then choose Dolby Surround or DTS Neural:X to expand a standard broadcast into full surround. If you’re streaming Sunday Night Football in Dolby Atmos, the receiver automatically selects Dolby Atmos/Surround for the most immersive playback. Once you adjust settings, Denon remembers your choice.

If announcer voices seem buried, raise the center channel level a notch. Skip Pure Direct mode on game day—it bypasses surround processing and takes away the immersive edge.

Step 4: Expand with HEOS

Denon AVRs and speakers are Powered by HEOS, a wireless platform that lets you wirelessly stream, group, and control music and sports audio throughout your home on compatible Denon systems. On game day, that means you can take the play-by-play into the kitchen, garage, or backyard without missing a touchdown. Add a Denon Home wireless speaker, for example, and the action stays perfectly in sync from room to room—so the whole house is part of the stadium.

It's all about that feeling

Sound is what transforms game day from background noise into a full-body experience. It’s about the rush, the energy, the shared excitement—and with Denon and Polk, every cheer and tackle pulls you deeper into the drama, surrounding you like you’re right there on the field.

Upgrading makes your home more than just a place to watch—it makes it the place everyone wants to be. Whether you start with a simple 5.1 system or step right into Dolby Atmos, your living room becomes the go-to game-day headquarters. Add HEOS whole-home streaming, and no matter where your guests wander, they’ll stay connected to every play. This season, give your friends and family a reason to cheer even before kickoff: You’ve got the home-field advantage.

Make your living room the ultimate game day destination with Denon and Polk

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