Denon PerL Pro

Awesome noise canceling earbuds with personalised sound! – We were highly impressed with these earbuds straight out of the box. It took us a bit to find the right ear tips and wing attachments for our ear canals, but the Denon app has a great feature that tests the fit of each earbud so you can discover which sets are right for you and which are not going to have a good seal for fit and sound quality. In the end, the best fit turned out to be the same set of ear tips and wing attachments for both of us.

We were intrigued by the process of the personalised audio testing, where the app first checks how well the earbuds fit your ear canal, then goes through a series of audio tests to determine your hearing profile and customise the settings to best suit the way that you personally hear sound. You can see from the screenshots of our results that even though the earbuds and ear tips are the same, my husband and I have very different hearing profiles. We both prefer the way our own personalised settings sound to us, so I guess that shows that the testing and customised listening profiles are worth having!

Once we had the profiles set up and started listening to music we were both immediately impressed by the Denon PerL Pro’s Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Social Mode abilities. The ANC is not like you’re in a vacuum without any sound, but it deadens outside noise so well that you generally won’t know it’s even occurring and certainly shouldn’t have your listening experience disrupted by it. It’s great for drowning out the vacuum cleaner or focussing on your work in a noisy office. You no longer have to turn the volume up high and risk damaging your hearing just to be able to hear over the noise around you. I can listen to an audiobook with the volume comfortably low/moderate and am only sightly aware of other noise around me.

Then there’s Social Mode, which allows you to tune in to what’s going on around you when you need to be more aware of your surroundings. With just a simple tap of the earbuds as per your preferred setting (more on that later) Social Mode allows you to easily communicate with someone nearby if you wish, even while you continue to listen to audio. There’s no need to remove your earbuds just to answer a quick question or to be more aware of the traffic etc around you.

The customisable touch controls are another feature I really like. You can assign different tap commands to a range of options, for instance play/pause, fast forward or rewind, volume up or down, social mode on/off, voice assistant to make a phone call etc. Not only do I find these tap controls quite easy to use, but being able to configure them to my preferences means I can select which I want quick access to and which tap command feels most natural to me for each. You also have the option to have the audio auto-pause when you remove an earbud, so you won’t miss anything.

I know some people have felt the volume of the Denon PerL Pro don’t go loud enough, but we find the earbuds have a great volume range. Personal preference I suppose, but we have found them plenty loud enough and have never needed to use them anywhere near full volume even when there’s considerable noise around us, I guess this is at least partly due to the effective ANC.

Some final comments: - Being circular it took me a bit to get used to how to insert them, but instructions are provided and now I do it without thinking. - I’d have been interested to try some other sizes in the foam ear tips, but the rubber ones fit me fine and maybe they’ll add more foam ones with future models. - I’ve worn them comfortably for 3-4hrs at a time with very minimal discomfort. - For some reason my Denon app always makes me re-enter my age and agree to the privacy policy etc as if I’m signing up again. It’s not a big deal and only takes a few seconds (and my husband hasn’t had this problem on his phone), but I’m sure at some point an update will fix this issue. - Cute storage/charging case with discrete lights that indicate the battery level of each of the earbuds and the case itself. They come with an included USB-A to USB-C charger cable. - The case feels strong with a magnetised system helping hold the earbuds in place. The case lid is also well designed to stay closed, yet opens effortlessly when you choose. - We find the Bluetooth connection reaches up to as far as 27 meters, allowing us to listen to great music or audiobooks throughout the garden without needing our phones on us, even when we want to make or answer a call.

We love these earbuds. The sound quality is clear and full, having the sound customised to be best suited to our own ears is really cool! The ANC works a treat and Social Mode is fantastic for allowing easy communication without any need to remove the earbuds. Sure they’re not cheap, but we think their build and sound quality is worth it and we highly recommend them!

Lossless audio adaptive to your ears – At first glance it would be easy to dismiss the Denon PerL Pro as just another of the “me too” earphones in a pill shaped charging case type product we currently see flooding the market, but they have their own unique appeal as an audiophile oriented alternative to the more usual options. They have aptX Lossless Bluetooth audio support, automatic compensation for ear response for sound customised to your ears, good enough active noise cancellation, and a feature filled app. Wireless range is good enough for personal earphones, volume is ample. Fit, finish, and build quality seem high. The product packaging is attractive and neatly laid out.

Straight into active noise canceling, although the ANC works well enough, the active noise cancellation and environment pass-through features of the Denon PerL Pro seem to fall short of Bose QuietComfort and Apple AirPods Pro. During ANC I found the Denon PerL Pro let through more environmental noise than I prefer, but I suspect those that find ANC uncomfortable or “pressurising” may actually appreciate the less aggressive silent treatment we get from Denon. The environment pass-through feature Denon calls “social mode” is present and it works, but I feel Apple AirPods Pro pip the Denon PerL Pro for transparency of the environment pass-through mode. The features are present and work well so it’s splitting hairs, but I do feel Bose are still the kings of the active noise cancellation hill Dr Bose himself invented. Denon has also borrowed other ideas to make the PerL Pro; the Adaptive Acoustic Technology has its roots in technology developed by Australian company Nura. In fact the Nura website has a link to Denon’s page for the PerL Pro. If you like the idea of Nura headphones, Denon’s headphones are adaptive to your ears in much the same way.

I found the Denon PerL Pro to be comfortable once they’re in and secure enough for some light exercise, but for me the circular shape takes just a slightly more mental effort to correctly orient in my ears than Aipods Pro which I can place in my ears barely thinking and without looking. Denon include a variety of attachments which should allow the PerL Pro to fit snugly in a variety canal sizes. There is nothing deal breaking about the comfort, it’s just slightly more fiddly to orient a symmetrical circle with an angled earpiece into the side of your head than a boom mic attached to an earpiece.

The app provides a generous range of customisation but I do worry that the more options companies add to these apps the more likely it is for users to inadvertently leave things inappropriately set. There is an included five band graphic equaliser I personally didn’t find useful as the sliders are centred what I find to be odd frequencies, with no separate preamp slider and no sliders for frequency bands below 400Hz or above 10kHz. I feel we’d have been better served by tone controls or just leaving it out. If you want it though, it’s there. Customising the sound brings me to the headlining feature of the Denon PerL Pro: Masimo Adaptive Acoustic Technology. Masimo AAT uses a series of test tones and response measurements to create a unique audio profile for your ears. When using the AAT feature I found the sound both better… and worse… maybe not worse… just substantially changed, I found it gave a “fuller” sound, but it modified the sound quite dramatically in a way I’m not sure I’m comfortable with. Maybe I’m just not used to hearing sound as I should? I do find if I leave it on I get used to it. Everyone’s ears will produce different results so YMMV. Every time I run the test the result is slightly different, but it’s always a similar shape, you can save up to three profiles and do A-B testing until you are satisfied you have it right. You can’t buy Nura anymore, but you can get these Denon PerL Pro.

Where the Denon PerL Pro comes into its own is audio quality. I listen to a variety of music and the PerL Pro excelled with variety. With no particular frequency range calling for attention, I would describe the audio presentation as balanced, and textured, with great depth and definition, although many would prefer the iconic sound signature from Bose, Denon seem to do a particularly good job of cleaning up AAC/SBC Bluetooth compression artefacts and deliver an audio experience that I’d suggest is more in line with classic audiophile expectations. Sound signature is a matter of taste so pick your flavour, but the standout audiophile feature of the PerL Pro which the Bose QuietComfort and Apple AirPods Pro absolutely lack, is support for the Qualcomm aptX Lossless Bluetooth audio codec. The ability to use aptX Lossless should be a boon for audiophiles that want to ditch wires. The unfortunate irony of aptX Lossless Bluetooth audio support at the present time however, is that there are very few devices available to transmit it. Although I tend to believe aptX Lossless will one day be mainstream, today is not that day, and although I’d love to be proven wrong, I feel the likelihood is Apple will never support it on devices like the iPhone, preferring to drive their own format agenda. Fortunately the PerL Pro support Apple’s chosen AAC so if you own an iPhone you’ll still be fine, if you have or buy a device which transmits aptX Lossless, you’ll be able to do something Apple and Bose currently can’t do.

Ultimately, the Denon PerL Pro arrive as a mixed bag. While some of the features don’t quite exceed stiff competition, they still measure up well, and high sound quality personalised to your ears still help the Denon PerL Pro standout.

Awesome earbuds once you’ve gotten used to them – I recently tried out the Denon PerL Pro earphones, and they’re my new go-to earbuds.: Pros: * Excellent audio and bass quality - The sound quality is superb. The audio is crisp, and the bass is punchy, delivering a fantastic listening experience. * Customisation galore - These earphones come with customisation options that allow you to fine-tune your listening experience according to your specific hearing profile. It's like tailoring the sound to your ears, and the difference is noticeable because you can swap from the default settings vs the personalised settings via the app. * Customisable earphone buttons - You can customize what happens when you touch the earphones. This is handy because you can set it up to your liking. * Social mode - One feature I really enjoyed is the ability to switch to social mode, which lets you hear the noise around you without taking your earphones out. It's perfect for those moments when you need to be aware of your surroundings. * Auto pause - These earphones automatically pause playback when you pull them out of your ears. It's a convenient feature that saves you the hassle of manually pausing your music or podcasts. * Good bluetooth range - The Bluetooth connection is solid, and I found the range to be impressive. I could move around my home without losing the connection to my device.

Cons: * Buds and size takes getting used to - The earphones are a bit larger than normal earbuds, and this might take some time to get used to. They stick out a bit more from your ears and a little heavier. * More insights wanted - While the customization options are great, I wish the app provided more detailed insights after setting up your listening profile. It would be nice to know how the settings impact my listening experience. * Difficulty with the case - The earphones can be a bit tricky to remove from their case. It's not a deal-breaker, but it can be a bit annoying when you're in a hurry. * Expensive - These earphones are quite expensive and would need careful consideration if you’re buying them.

In a nutshell, the Denon PerL Pro earphones offer a top-notch audio experience with plenty of customisation options. They do have a few minor quirks, like their size and case accessibility, but these are outweighed by their excellent sound quality and features like social mode and auto-pause. If you're an audio enthusiast looking for a unique listening experience, they're worth considering.

Excellent audio and bass but challenging to fit in my ears and a high price tag – Denon PerL Pro 590 Review Pros: Audio quality is superb FLAC audio sounds amazing Superb bass reproduction Plenty of earbud options but could be improved Customise the audio to your hearing via app Configurable controls in app EQ available via app Immersion mode is good, but weird sometimes Music stops when you remove an earbud Social mode is a nice idea but I rarely used it Bluetooth range is amazing! Definitely long battery life

Cons: Not loud enough, ever. Needs another 5+dB at least Difficult to get in and out of case Difficult to get in and out of your ears Difficult to get a good seal in my ears Chunky design - protrudes significantly from ears Chunky case - big in your pocket Foam tips are uncomfortable after only an hour Need more foam tips in the different sizes Confusing controls compared to other earbuds App is required to configure personal audio configuration Better earbuds can be purchased at a cheaper price

I have several types of earbuds in various price brackets so I was keen to try some from a reputable manufacturer such as Denon. Their DJ decks are amazing, which I have used regularly with my Audio-Technica professional headphones. I DJ and produce electronic music so I know my audio and equipment. I generally listen to music in FLAC or WAV format so I am used to extremely good audio reproduction so I was interested to see how these would go with higher bitrate audio of 1500kbps and above. They didn't disappoint.

The packaging is impressive with a wide variety of earbud tips to choose from. However, there is only one pair of foam tips and they became uncomfortable in my ears after only an hour so that was disappointing. I also found it extremely difficult to get a good seal in my ears no matter which size I tried. I was always having to fiddle with the earbud to try and get the best position for them. They are very chunky compared to my other earbuds with a, frankly, huge disk on the outside protruding from your ear. So be aware of that. You wouldn't want to wear these while riding as the chance of you knocking it out of your ear if you moved your helmet strap or snagged something the earbud would go flying quite easily. The extra seal, shaped like a b, was impossible to get onto the earbud. I tried for over an hour to put them on and gave up as I was concerned I might tear or snap it. Really annoying as I suspect this might have given me a better seal.

It is essential that you download the Denon Headphones app so you can configure the audio to your hearing. This was an interesting process as I haven't done this previously with any of my other earbuds. It's basically like having a hearing test - the audio sounds, beeps and clicks all help the earbuds to understand your hearing and create a specific profile for you. The audio sounded incredible afterwards. You can also create up to three profiles so, I guess, someone else could also use the earbuds? Seems odd and there would be hygiene concerns from doing this obviously. I didn't try creating a second profile but it would be interesting to see if they were identical or changed slightly or dramatically between them. Hopefully not obviously as they should be exactly the same each time.

Removing and inserting the earbuds from the case is, to be honest, quite annoying. I found myself struggling to get them out pretty much every time. Even getting them back in isn't fluid or easy most of them time. The case itself is a chunky boy so having this in my pocket feels, you guessed it, chunky. Especially when I compare it to some of my other way smaller earbud cases.

Bluetooth range is amazing! This is probably the best thing about wireless earbuds - no cables! I had some amazing corded earbuds but they don't get used at all now. Being able to put your phone on your kitchen bench and walk anywhere in your house, and outside, without losing any audio quality is brilliant! People who stick up their nose about wireless audio don't know what they are missing. I was able to do just this, leaving it on my kitchen bench top and go out the back to hang some washing out, walk to the back fence (5m away) and also go out the front of the house to my car (also 5m or more) to grab something. There are plenty of walls in between, including several with sisalation (the blue material that goes under the wall material in a house) which has foil on one side so can cause interference. Not so in my case.

Audio-wise they are exceptional ... however, given the issues with getting a seal, having to use the app to configure the audio and the chunkiness of the earbuds themselves AND the high price tag, I can honestly say I have earbuds that are way WAAAAAY cheaper than these that fit better and produce better audio, especially bass. The large disk shape just feel like a poser move from Denon unfortunately. "Ooh look at me, I'm using Denon earbuds ... oh no I knocked it out of my ear and it's gone down a drain!" I'm sure there are thousands of earbuds dropped into drains or lost on public transport each year now but many of mine are far less likely to do this than these Muto-sized earbuds. But hey, if you don't ever put a bike helmet on or other headwear with straps you'll probably be fine. But I'd be too concerned I'd lose them if I rode with them in.

You can see my Pro's and Con's above. Don't get me wrong, these are superb earbuds and I am very impressed with them. The app is good but did require me to log in my Denon account (new users to Denon will need to create an account). I wonder if this means whether they can push firmware updates to the earbuds? That would be interesting to find out.

I have to say that it certainly has been a positive experience overall reviewing these earbuds. If this is what Denon can do with wireless audio then I am impressed. I honestly expect nothing less really. They are clearly trying to be a contender to Audio-Technica, whose audio devices are absolutely incredible. It's just the price point of these products that might put many people off - it would me. But hey, it's not Apple garbage so that's a bonus. I hope people still aren't buying products just for the name and actually look for a quality products. That's why it's always a pleasure for me to write these reviews so I can hopefully help people out.

Are they any good? Hell yes! The audio and bass is exceptional - but could be louder. Are they worth the price? Probably not, unfortunately. At around $350 I would never have considered this product. I have earbuds that cost me less than $50 and they are better than these. Can they be improved? Absolutely. Reduce the size of the disc, make the fit better, more foam tips, increase the volume and they would be much better.