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Denon AH-C840NCW: Two-minute evaluation
Sometimes when testing among the best earbuds (and units that do not make it into that group), it seems like merchandise can simply be damaged down into three classes: buds making an attempt to rival AirPods, buds making an attempt to rival the AirPods Pro, 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 in addition. That’s what will get them bumped from the primary class to the second.
Denon is a high-end audio firm based mostly in Japan that has made a decent title for itself with dwelling audio, AV programs and audio system, and whereas it’s additionally no stranger to non-public audio (like headphones and earbuds – see additionally the PerL Pro), this clearly additionally isn’t its bread-and-butter food regimen. Case in level: the AH-C840NCW are completely high quality earbuds that actually are a viable possibility given Apple’s costly earbuds… however they don’t fairly match all of the different AirPods Pro alternate options in the marketplace.
The Denon AH-C840NCW hark quite a bit 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 improper with that. Denon has aped the well-respected construct and these light-weight buds are simple on the ear, even when the guidelines 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 the direction of bass however in any other case providing an easy-to-like (although exhausting to actually love) high quality to songs.
So far, so AirPods Pro, and that isn’t essentially a flaw – the buds undercut Apple’s premium buds by a meaty margin. But Denon isn’t the one firm making an attempt to supply potential earbuds consumers a Pro possibility on a non-Pro funds, with so many alternate options at this worth level that my phrase rely forbids me from itemizing even a fraction of them.
It’s the function set that lets the AH-C840NCW down. Despite some spectacular lively noise cancellation there’s an general dearth of additional performance, and some stumbles inside what’s really there. This is the world that the majority typically than not defines the very best earbuds you should buy, and so I wrestle to discover a distinctive promoting level for the Denon.
I usually 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, so that they’re solely price shopping for in the event you’re searching for buds that match the AirPods Pro precisely, as an alternative of beating them in any method.
Denon AH-C840NCW evaluation: Price and launch date
- Unveiled and launched in April 2025
- Costs £149 (roughly $200, AU$300)
The Denon AH-C840NCW had been introduced in launched in April, alongside the AH-C500W that are related however barely cheaper and miss ANC.
You can purchase the AH-C840NCW for £149 (round $200, AU$300) so 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 international locations (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% greater worth than the non-ANC siblings.
I’ve to level out that, writing three months after the buds’ launch, it’s fairly simple to seek out them discounted. Not by an enormous quantity, however by 10%-15% relying on which shade you need, which remains to be price taking into consideration.
Denon AH-C840NCW evaluation: Specs
Denon AH-C840NCW evaluation: Features
- Solid noise cancellation
- 7-hour battery life with ANC on
- Relative lack of additional options
Unlike their siblings, the Denon AH-C840NCW provide ANC, which I assume 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 stunned by what this mannequin supplied.
The AH-C840NCW’s noise cancellation is meaty, wiping out annoying background noises with no hint. The app additionally provides you a Transparency mode which appeared to work barely in another way from others: as an alternative of scanning for essential noises to filter in to your ears (resembling voices and essential, twig-snapping-in-the-woods treble sounds), I obtained the impression it was only a weaker ANC. I might be improper about this, however issues felt quieter in Denon’s Transparency mode than in equivalents I’ve examined.
Talking concerning the app, it’s merely known as ‘Headphones’, however you’ll find it within the Play Store or App Store by looking out Denon’s title. As properly as altering ANC modes, it allows you to customise the contact controls, monitor the buds’ connections (multi-point pairing permits for 2 concurrent pairs), activate LE Audio, change the wear and tear detect to solely apply for one earbud and monitor battery ranges.
Finally, there’s an equalizer, which is simply a 5-band one and doesn’t provide presets. If you’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 may go as much as 24 or 35 respectively once you issue within the case. The battery life is ever so barely above common and my very own testing roughly matched Denon’s stats supplied.
This is likely to be one of many shortest ‘Features’ sections I’ve ever written in a evaluation, 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 function set that (headphone) boys turn out to be (headphone) males, and with rivals providing loads of additional modes and capabilities, it impacts the competitiveness of the AH-C840NCW.
Denon AH-C840NCW evaluation: Design
- Small pebble carry case
- AirPods Pro lookalikes
- Sensitive contact controls
By referring to the Denon AH-C840NCW as ‘AirPods Pro 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 diverse than that, with buds of various sizes and styles – however on this case it’s completely proper. You’ve seen the photographs, you knew the place this sentence was going.
The buds weigh 5.1g so that they’re good and light-weight, 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 can purchase 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 ‘somewhere’ as a result of I by no means fairly discovered the place to faucet to set off it – normally 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 had been nowhere close to the highest.
On that subject, I did need to readjust the buds fairly often in my ear; by no means when sitting round at dwelling, however when operating with the buds (in poor health suggested; these aren’t operating earbuds), when strolling with them, or when figuring out on the gymnasium (sit ups is the final word match take a look at!). I even examined totally 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’re not occurring walks and always 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 durations 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 light-weight at 54g. Something bijou like that is simple to slide into trouser pockets with out it bulging out, or cover it in your desk once you’re charging it up through its USB-C port.
Denon AH-C840NCW evaluation: 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 package that its sibling noticed however with the eartips making certain surrounding sound doesn’t leak in, the buds sound quite a bit higher.
The AH-C840NCW have a gently heat sound profile that emphasizes bass just a bit, nevertheless it’s so slight that it received’t postpone individuals who choose a extra impartial sound. Bass is scooping and well-defined, however treble can be can be crystal-clear and sharp.
I’d have favored to see a extra pronounced, expansive and layered soundstage, because the buds appeared to lose devices and harmonies that weren’t outstanding, however they’re pretty detailed the place it counts in vocals, drums and keys.
The most quantity isn’t too excessive although. It’s high quality for on a regular basis listening once you’re at dwelling or in an workplace, but when I wished to listen to music properly over site visitors, or get some additional oomph for an brisk music on a run, I discovered myself frequently urgent my telephone’s quantity up button – and it did not actually assist.
Denon AH-C840NCW evaluation: Value
- Decent worth in comparison with AirPods…
- …not a lot in comparison with different rivals
Compared to the Apple AirPods Pro, I’m keen to say that the Denon AH-C840NCW provide first rate worth for cash. They undercut the massive title buds with out slicing down on the standard an excessive amount of.
However, when you think about among the different choices in the marketplace at this worth, you understand you may nonetheless be getting a lot extra in your cash. Rivals inside an identical $/£/AU$ vary provide hardier designs, wider function units or higher audio high quality, and normally a mixture of all three.
Should I purchase the Denon AH-C840NCW?
Buy them if…
Don’t purchase them if…
Denon AH-C840NCW evaluation: Also contemplate
How I examined the Denon AH-C840NCW
- Tested for 2 weeks
- Tested at dwelling, within the workplace, figuring out 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 evaluation, 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 accomplished at dwelling, round my neighborhood (on runs and on walks), on public transport, at my workplace and on the gymnasium.
I’ve been reviewing audio merchandise for TechSwitch for years now, together with merchandise made by a lot of Denon’s rivals and all three opponents talked about above.
- First reviewed in July 2025