Denon's Latest AH-C840NCW Wireless Earbuds Are Now Shipping
The new wireless earbuds announced by Denon last month are now shipping so I thought I would tell you a little more about these mid-priced earbuds that go up against Apple's AirPods. Since the announcement, Denon has been sold by its owner Masimo to Harman International, along with its stablemates Marantz and B&W. But it's business as usual at one of Japan's oldest and most venerable audio brands.
The new Denon AH-C840NCW are true wireless earbuds with silicone ear tips and adaptive hybrid active noise cancellation for a more immersive listening experience. The noise cancelation is Hybrid ANC which automatically adjusts the level of noise cancellation using two microphones in each earpiece to monitor sound. The ANC also has a transparency mode that enables users to stay aware of ambient noise if needed.
Adaptive hybrid ANC differs from regular Adaptive ANC. With normal Adaptive ANC, the amount of noise cancellation applied is purely based on surrounding sounds. Hybrid ANC combines both feedforward and feed-backward circuitry to capture and cancel noise across a wider range of frequencies.
A full charge of the battery inside the storage case can provide up to 35 hours of playtime before a top-up is necessary. A full charge of the earbuds can yield up to 10 hours of listening time before they need to go back in the case. The earbuds also support wireless charging as well as the usual USB-C.
That figure depends on volume levels, the audio codec being used and whether ANC is turned on. With ANC turned on, the earbuds deliver up to seven hours of listening time from a single charge, with up to 24 hours of listening on the go using the charging case. A five-minute burst charge can provide about an hour of listening time.
These days, most people rely on their earbuds for making phone calls. It's important to have microphones that can pick up the user's voice. To handle this, Denon uses two mics and noise canceling to filter out some of the ambient sound that the mics would normally pick up. This can enhance call clarity in noisy spaces.
Currently, Bluetooth technology is going through a transition with many manufacturers of earbuds and other devices moving to the new Bluetooth LE standard. Bluetooth LE Audio is a power-efficient version of Bluetooth that's designed for low-bandwidth, intermittent data transmission, making it suitable for battery-powered devices, wearables and smart home products.
Bluetooth LE consumes less energy than Classic Bluetooth by quickly establishing and terminating connections as well as optimizing small data transfers. What's more, Bluetooth LE Audio supports high-quality, low-power audio streaming with audio codecs like LDAC and LC3.
The AH-C840NCW earbuds also support Auracast. This is a new Bluetooth technology that can broadcast to multiple earbuds or speakers. For example, a sports bar might have a TV showing a football game but with the sound off. If the TV supports Auracast, anyone with a pair of Auracast-compatible earbuds or headphones can pick up the audio signal from the TV wirelessly and listen to the ball game commentary without disturbing anyone around them. It's a little like the inductive loops used for hearing aid wearers.
As well as supporting Auracast, the Denon AH-C840NCW also have multipoint connectivity which means the earbuds can pair with two Bluetooth devices at once. One device could be a phone for business calls, while the other could be a tablet showing a movie or a digital audio player streaming Tidal.
With multipoint, a user can switch seamlessly between two devices. For example, they might be watching a movie on their iPad when an important business call comes in on their smartphone. One press and the user can seamlessly switch to take the call, automatically pausing the movie until the call is ended.
To get the most from these new earbuds, Denon has updated its smartphone app which offers customization of the AH-C840NCW. The Denon Headphones app lets the user adjust sound settings, touch controls, manage ANC levels and apply any future firmware updates for optimal performance.
Finally, the earbuds support voice assistants like Siri or Google Assistant when connected to a compatible device. They include protection against sweat and water thanks to a waterproof rating of IPX4 which means they are resistant to sweat and water splashes, making them suitable for workouts and outdoor activities.
The Denon AH-C840NCW true wireless earbuds are shipping now from Denon's website and through authorized retailers priced at $159 / £159 / €159.
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