Denon has made an extensive update to the HEOS HomeCinema soundbar we reviewed in 2017. The all-new HEOS HomeCinema HS2 doesn't look radically different, but there are lots of features under the hood that render this a significant update. Indeed, Denon pumped a seemingly endless supply of new tech into this product, transforming it into smart speaker in the process via Amazon Alexa. It's a very slick feature, especially if you live in a smart home filled with devices you can control with voice commands using Amazon's digital assistant. Once you've activated the HEOS Home Entertainment Skill on your Alexa account (read here for details on that), you'll be able to say things like "Alexa, play Steely Dan in the living room" or "Alexa, pause the living room" or "Alexa, volume down in the living room," and so on. As fun as all that can be, I found voice commands to be an incomplete substitute for a remote control--which is a little problematic because Denon doesn't provide one for this speaker.

Denon put wireless speaker leader Sonos in its crosshairs when it launched its HEOS wireless audio platform in 2014. This past month, Denon showed a major commitment to HEOS by integrating the multi-room audio technology into its new receiver models. Denon upped the ante again yesterday, announcing it will integrate Amazon's Alexa digital assistant into HEOS products. We should see Alexa-powered HEOS speakers and components sometime in the first quarter of 2017. With digital assistants gaining greater integration in smart devices, computers, and gaming consoles, audio is the next logical battleground.