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Denon AH-C840NCW: Two-minute overview
Generally when testing a few of the best earbuds (and units that do not make it into that group), it looks like merchandise can simply be damaged down into three classes: buds attempting to rival AirPods, buds attempting to rival the AirPods Professional, and buds that are clearly doing their very own factor. The Denon AH-C840NCW can simply be filed into the center class.
These are the siblings to the Denon AH-C500W, buds listed straight within the former class, however the set you are studying about right here include a key distinction: these buds include silicon ear suggestions, and noise cancellation besides. That’s what will get them bumped from the primary class to the second.
Denon is a high-end audio firm primarily based in Japan that has made a decent title for itself with house audio, AV programs and audio system, and whereas it’s additionally no stranger to private audio (like headphones and earbuds – see additionally the PerL Pro), this clearly additionally isn’t its bread-and-butter weight loss plan. Working example: the AH-C840NCW are completely superb earbuds that actually are a viable choice given Apple’s costly earbuds… however they don’t fairly match all of the different AirPods Professional options in the marketplace.
The Denon AH-C840NCW hark rather a lot nearer to Apple’s choices than most rivals, and that’s most evident within the design division. There’s no denying that these are doppelgangers – Denongangers if you’ll – and there’s nothing flawed with that. Denon has aped the well-respected construct and these light-weight buds are straightforward on the ear, even when the information let the aspect down a bit.
In audio high quality too, these buds are inoffensive. The audio combine is pretty neutral-sounding, skewing barely in direction of bass however in any other case providing an easy-to-like (although exhausting to actually love) high quality to songs.
To this point, so AirPods Professional, and that isn’t essentially a flaw – the buds undercut Apple’s premium buds by a meaty margin. However Denon isn’t the one firm attempting to supply potential earbuds patrons a Professional choice on a non-Professional funds, with so many options at this worth level that my phrase rely forbids me from itemizing even a fraction of them.
It’s the characteristic set that lets the AH-C840NCW down. Regardless of some spectacular lively noise cancellation there’s an total dearth of additional performance, and some stumbles inside what’s really there. That is the realm that almost all usually than not defines the very best earbuds you should purchase, and so I battle to discover a distinctive promoting level for the Denon.
I typically loved listening to the Denon AH-C840NCW throughout my testing, however that’s not the identical as recommending them to purchase with your personal cash. Their myriad rivals usually have much more to supply, in order that they’re solely value shopping for if you happen to’re in search of buds that match the AirPods Professional precisely, as a substitute of beating them in any means.
Denon AH-C840NCW overview: Worth and launch date
- Unveiled and launched in April 2025
- Prices £149 (roughly $200, AU$300)
The Denon AH-C840NCW have been introduced in launched in April, alongside the AH-C500W that are comparable however barely cheaper and miss ANC.
You should buy the AH-C840NCW for £149 (round $200, AU$300) in order that they’re mid-ranged in worth. I couldn’t discover them on sale in Australia or the US, however Denon does provide earbuds in these nations (particularly within the US, which noticed the AH-C500W and AH-C830NCW) so a launch in these areas is feasible.
Judging not less than by the UK worth, that’s about an 8% worth hike on the last-gen mannequin however a 50% larger worth than the non-ANC siblings.
I’ve to level out that, writing three months after the buds’ launch, it’s fairly straightforward to seek out them discounted. Not by an enormous quantity, however by 10%-15% relying on which colour you need, which continues to be value taking into consideration.
Denon AH-C840NCW overview: Specs
Denon AH-C840NCW overview: Options
- Strong noise cancellation
- 7-hour battery life with ANC on
- Relative lack of additional options
In contrast to their siblings, the Denon AH-C840NCW provide ANC, which I suppose is what the ‘NC’ within the title refers to. I wasn’t anticipating a lot – why would the corporate skip ANC on that different product if it had something worthwhile up its sleeves – however was pleasantly shocked by what this mannequin provided.
The AH-C840NCW’s noise cancellation is meaty, wiping out annoying background noises with out a hint. The app additionally gives you a Transparency mode which appeared to work barely in a different way from others: as a substitute of scanning for necessary noises to filter in to your ears (resembling voices and necessary, twig-snapping-in-the-woods treble sounds), I obtained the impression it was only a weaker ANC. I may very well be flawed about this, however issues felt quieter in Denon’s Transparency mode than in equivalents I’ve examined.
Speaking concerning the app, it’s merely known as ‘Headphones’, however you will discover it within the Play Store or App Retailer by looking out Denon’s title. In addition to altering ANC modes, it permits you to customise the contact controls, monitor the buds’ connections (multi-point pairing permits for 2 concurrent pairs), activate LE Audio, change the damage detect to solely apply for one earbud and monitor battery ranges.
Lastly, there’s an equalizer, which is simply a 5-band one and doesn’t provide presets. If you happen to’re used to customizing your personal earbuds’ sound, you may discover this one just a bit restrictive.
Battery life hits 7 hours with ANC turned on or 10 hours with it off, figures which might go as much as 24 or 35 respectively whenever you issue within the case. The battery life is ever so barely above common and my very own testing roughly matched Denon’s stats offered.
This could be one of many shortest ‘Options’ sections I’ve ever written in a overview, as a result of the Denon don’t provide a lot in the best way of helpful options past the fundamentals. That’s a disgrace as a result of it’s within the characteristic set that (headphone) boys change into (headphone) males, and with rivals providing loads of further modes and capabilities, it impacts the competitiveness of the AH-C840NCW.
Denon AH-C840NCW overview: Design
- Small pebble carry case
- AirPods Professional lookalikes
- Delicate contact controls
By referring to the Denon AH-C840NCW as ‘AirPods Professional lookalikes’, I’ve in all probability conjured sure photos of stem-toting earbuds with silicon suggestions and slight tilts. This description doesn’t essentially denote AirPods – the world of wi-fi earbuds is far more diversified than that, with buds of various styles and sizes – however on this case it’s completely proper. You’ve seen the images, you knew the place this sentence was going.
The buds weigh 5.1g in order that they’re good and lightweight, and as that description suggests, they’re made up fo a stem that claims ‘Denon’, a spherical physique and a tip which protrudes at a slight angle. You should buy the buds in black or white (which additionally applies to the case) however the design is an identical.
Hidden someplace is a contact management, which you’ll customise within the app to alter quantity, play or pause music, and so forth. I say ‘someplace’ as a result of I by no means fairly discovered the place to faucet to set off it – often tapping the highest of the stem labored however sometimes I’d by chance press it whereas readjusting the buds in my ear, when my fingers have been nowhere close to the highest.
On that matter, I did need to readjust the buds fairly ceaselessly in my ear; by no means when sitting round at house, however when operating with the buds (unwell suggested; these aren’t operating earbuds), when strolling with them, or when understanding on the fitness center (sit ups is the last word match take a look at!). I even examined completely different tip sizes within the field (there are 4, not counting those on the buds by default) and this didn’t assist – I’m going to level the finger on the materials used within the tip, for not providing sufficient friction.
If you happen to’re not occurring walks and continually having to readjust the earbuds, they’re nice to put on, with the sunshine construct making certain you by no means get earache from lengthy intervals of listening. The buds even have an IPX4 score which protects them from splashes of water, however not a severe drenching.
Equally light-weight and transportable is the AH-C840NCW’s case, which is good and small at 58 x 21.3 x 25.4mm and lightweight at 54g. One thing bijou like that is straightforward to slide into trouser pockets with out it bulging out, or cover it in your desk whenever you’re charging it up by way of its USB-C port.
Denon AH-C840NCW overview: Sound high quality
- Single 12mm driver
- Ever-so-slightly heat audio profile
- Max quantity is just too low
Denon has match the AH-C840NCW with a 12mm driver. That’s the identical piece of equipment that its sibling noticed however with the eartips making certain surrounding sound doesn’t leak in, the buds sound rather a lot higher.
The AH-C840NCW have a gently heat sound profile that emphasizes bass just a bit, but it surely’s so slight that it received’t postpone individuals who desire a extra impartial sound. Bass is scooping and well-defined, however treble can be can be crystal-clear and sharp.
I’d have appreciated to see a extra pronounced, expansive and layered soundstage, because the buds appeared to lose devices and harmonies that weren’t distinguished, however they’re pretty detailed the place it counts in vocals, drums and keys.
The utmost quantity isn’t too excessive although. It’s superb for on a regular basis listening whenever you’re at house or in an workplace, but when I wished to listen to music properly over visitors, or get some further oomph for an lively track on a run, I discovered myself regularly urgent my telephone’s quantity up button – and it did not actually assist.
Denon AH-C840NCW overview: Worth
- First rate worth in comparison with AirPods…
- …not a lot in comparison with different rivals
In comparison with the Apple AirPods Professional, I’m prepared to say that the Denon AH-C840NCW provide respectable worth for cash. They undercut the large title buds with out chopping down on the standard an excessive amount of.
Nonetheless, when you think about a few of the different choices in the marketplace at this worth, you notice you may nonetheless be getting a lot extra to your cash. Rivals inside an analogous $/£/AU$ vary provide hardier designs, wider characteristic units or higher audio high quality, and often a mixture of all three.
Ought to I purchase the Denon AH-C840NCW?
Purchase them if…
Don’t purchase them if…
Denon AH-C840NCW overview: Additionally think about
How I examined the Denon AH-C840NCW
- Examined for 2 weeks
- Examined at house, within the workplace, understanding and on walks
My testing interval for the AH-C840NCW earbuds was two weeks lengthy, and it got here straight after I wrote the Denon AH-C500W overview, so I obtained to check the siblings back-to-back.
I paired the Denon with my Android smartphone for the entire testing interval and examined apps like Spotify, YouTube, Netflix and sure video games. Testing was finished at house, round my neighborhood (on runs and on walks), on public transport, at my workplace and on the fitness center.
I have been reviewing audio merchandise for TechRadar for years now, together with merchandise made by lots of Denon’s rivals and all three rivals talked about above.
- First reviewed in July 2025