The Denon AH-C830NCW are Denon's first pair of true wireless earbuds.

Japanese audio company Denon has been making equipment to listen to music for the best of a century. So I think it’s safe to say that the company knows what it’s doing. Indeed, in my experience, Denon makes some great Hi-Fi and some excellent wireless speakers under its HEOS sub-brand.

However, until now, Denon hasn’t made a pair of true wireless earbuds. I can only assume it’s taken the company all this time to come up with a product that it’s happy to put its iconic name. There’s nothing wrong with that; I’d much rather wait and have a great pair of earbuds than a mediocre pair put together or bought in by a brand trying to rush something to market.

The Denon AH-C830NCW noise canceling earbuds feel as if they have been meticulously engineered and the company is confident that these earbuds offer the best sound quality, comfort levels and voice call performance at such an affordable price.

Denon has used extensive ear canal simulation to create a shape that fits as many ear sizes as ... [+] possible.

Recently, I got the chance to try out a pair of AH-C830NCW and I think it’s been worth the wait. Denon has used some large dynamic drivers in the earbuds that can shift more air and create a bigger sound with a profound and impressive bass. In addition, the earbuds have been tested and fine-tuned by Denon Sound Masters to deliver superb levels of detail, a wide soundstage and dynamic sound. They’re not wrong; these are some of the most dynamic-sounding earbuds I’ve heard at this price point.

Blending an Apple AirPod-style with silicone ear tips, the Denon AH-C830NCW earbuds create an excellent acoustic seal thanks to the choice of tips in three different sizes. Denon has used Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling with dual microphones in each earbud to sample external sounds. This approach takes the effectiveness of the noise-canceling to the next level. The signals from the microphones are processed to reduce ambient noise, so the ANC function works well. It may not be up there with the best and most expensive earbuds, but for the money, these earbuds are more than adequate at canceling noise on a busy commuter train.

In addition to the ANC mode, Denon has also included Transparency Mode. By pressing the touch control on the left earbud, the user can cycle through ANC Off, ANC On and Transparency Mode so that ambient sounds can be allowed through to the listener’s ears. Transparency Mode is ideal for anyone who wants to listen to music but still be aware of traffic or travel announcements.

The Denon AH-C830NCW noise canceling earbuds feel as if they have been meticulously engineered and ... [+] the company is confident that these earbuds offer the best sound quality, comfort levels and voice call performance at such an affordable price.

The AH-C830NCW earbuds also feature a wear detection function that detects when the earbuds are being removed. If it detects the earbuds are being taken out of the listener’s ears, the music is automatically paused until the earbuds are put back in the listener’s ears.

As with most true wireless earbuds, a range of controls is available simply by tapping the touch-sensitive part of the earbuds with a finger. For example, the controls can pause the music or skip to the next track. However, there’s no volume control on the earbuds and neither is there an app for customizing EQ or updating firmware. That shortcoming might put a few people off, but quite a few true wireless earbuds on the market don’t have a smartphone app.

To make the AH-C830NCW sound as good as possible, Denon has used extensive ear canal simulation to create a shape that fits as many ear sizes as possible. For those who like music while exercising, the AH-C830NC have an IPX4 water-resistance rating. This rating makes them safe to wear in the rain or during heavy and sweaty workouts in the gym. And for users of Android smartphones, the earbuds can be paired in seconds using Google’s Fast Pair function.

The Denon AH-C830NCW true wireless ANC earbuds are available in black or white with a glossy finish ... [+] featuring silver accents.

A full charge of the AH-C830NCW’s batteries can provide up to six hours of playtime with ANC turned off and about 4.5 hours with the noise canceling turned on. The charging case has a reserve charge that can supply up to 24 hours of playtime before it needs recharging. A USB-C cable is provided for recharging the case, but Denon hasn’t included a wireless charging function for replenishing the batteries using a Qi wireless charging mat.

Many of us use our earbuds for making and taking calls because it’s more private than relying on speakerphone or holding a warm smartphone to the ear. Denon has used twin beamforming microphones with advanced digital signal processing to provide good call clarity to reduce background noise. A third internal microphone uses the ear canal’s natural shielding when the user is making a call in exposed or windy situations. This internal microphone helps make clearer calls even when the user is outside, where a gust of wind might spoil a call.

Verdict: The Denon AH-C830NCW are one of the most enjoyable sounding pairs of true wireless earbuds I’ve heard in a while. The sound is rich and fulsome, with a beautifully deep bass that never swamps the rest of the music. The treble is nicely pitched but never harsh or fatiguing. The midrange is forward enough to make vocals clear and pleasing. Overall, the sound masters at Denon have done a great job of tuning these earbuds to handle almost any genre of music. The active noise canceling function is good, although not class-leading. However, it’s more than adequate for commuting and will reduce most unwanted sounds. The built-in microphones are excellent for phone calls and video conferences, plus the anti-wind function works well. If you love music, you’ll love the Denon AH-C830NCW ANC earbuds.

Pricing & Availability: The Denon AH-C830NCW true wireless ANC earbuds are available in black or white with a glossy finish featuring silver accents. They are available now and cost $159 / £139 / €159.

More info: www.denon.com