Jack Wallen/ZDNET
When it comes to audio, I can be incredibly picky. Like most audiophiles, I have very specific requirements and needs before settling on a pair of headphones. That’s why most headphones don’t meet my requirements. I’ve had a few that were passable, but it’s rare that a pair of wireless earbuds has really pleased me.
Until I tried the Denon PerL Pro.
Before continuing, please note that these are high-end headphones sold at a price of €350. If you’re looking for high-quality sound and can afford them, know that these wireless headphones are hard to beat. I would even say that they rival my favorite filiare headphones, the V-Moda Crossfade 3.
However, when I received the Denon PerL Pro, I was skeptical. I’ve used so many pairs of in-ears (none of which are on my “daily used headphones list”), and I tend to discard them in favor of headphones.
But I just changed my mind.
No, I won’t use the Denon PerL Pro headphones for sports, because they are too expensive and too good to ruin with sweat. But to listen to precise, rich and elegant sound, these headphones are exactly what I need.
The characteristics of the Denon PerL Pro
- Masimo AAT technology for adapting audio rendering based on sound reflection in the inner ear
- Denon Sound Master and Dirac Virtuo technologies deliver precise, spatial sound
- CD-clear Bluetooth calls, thanks to Qualcomm AptX Lossless
- Eight microphones
- Social mode lets you stay aware of your surroundings
- The Denon Headphones app lets you personalize your experience with unique audio profiles and fine-tuning controls
- Up to eight hours of battery life and three additional charges using the case
- Customizable touch controls with four customizable touch inputs on each earcup
- Water and sweat resistant, IPX4 rated
- Frequency response: 20 to 40,000 Hz
- Weight: 8.6g (for each earbud)
As with all intras, fit is crucial. You need to get the best possible seal with the tips. I have always found foam tips to be far superior, but have a much shorter lifespan. Silicone tips may not create the best seal, but they last much longer.
My experience with the Denon PerL Pro
I always evaluate the quality of headphones (and headsets) without using the app to personalize the sound. I want to listen to the music exactly at the manufacturer’s default settings, to get a feel for the raw sound the hardware produces.
With some headphones, the experience falls far short of my expectations. However, in the case of these Denon PerL Pro headphones, the manufacturer has succeeded! As soon as I connected them to my Pixel Pro 8 (just took them out of the case and followed the automatic connection prompt on the smartphone), I opened Spotify and played my dedicated song to test such devices, Tom Sawyer by Rush.
If you had seen me, you would have immediately seen the huge banana that appeared on my face. I had finally found a pair of headphones that gave me back my faith! It only took four measures of music to impress me. I was convinced.
The Denon PerL Pro headphones are a true work of art. The sound is precise, vibrant, spacious and doesn’t miss a good note. The bass is perfect, the midrange is subtle but crisp, and the treble is spectacular. What’s really remarkable about these headphones is that you don’t need to use the app to customize the sound – it works well right out of the box.
And while the PerL Pro’s bass isn’t as thunderous as some competitors’, it’s much cleaner and more precise. The EQ on these headphones is perfect for every genre of music I’ve tried (prog rock, metal, classical, choir, 80s, rock, shoegaze, and pop). In some cases (like with the album Moving Pictures by Rush), the sound was so crisp and agile that I was certain it was coming from my turntable.
ZDNET Buying Tips for Denon PerL Pro Headphones
These headphones not only raised the bar for wireless headphones, they set a standard, and any headphones I use will have to live up to what these Denon PerL Pros have achieved.
It all comes down to this: if you have the money and are looking for sound that shouldn’t be possible to achieve with in-ear headphones, then these are the ones to buy. Forget everything Apple or Google have to offer and do your ears (and your soul) a favor by purchasing a pair of in-ear headphones that will light up your brain with out-of-this-world sound.
Source: “ZDNet.com”