Denon PerL Pro Review

Denon is perhaps most famous for its home audio gear, though it makes a killer over-ear headphone as well. But I have yet to trie any of their in-ear models. So, I was curious to see how their latest true wireless earphone, the PerL Pro, fared against other leading high-end earbuds. Can Denon compete with the Sony's and Sennheiser’s of the world? Or are the PerL Pro overpriced for what they deliver? 

What’s in the Box?

• PerL Pro Earphones

• Charging Case

• USB Type C Charging Cable

• Silicone Ear Tips XS/S/M/L 

• Wing Tips M/L

Look and Feel

While the round circular design of the shells look quite unique and elegant, the larger round size can make it a bit awkward to handle at times. But this was only an issue while taking the earbuds out of the charging case and putting them back in. Once the Perl Pro’s were in my ear, the size of he shell felt irrelevant. Also included, are removable ear-wings, which maximize the seal and snugness of the fit. I found the earphones to be quite comfortable to wear, though the firm fit was noticeable.

Design

Under the hood, a 10mm dynamic driver incorporates a triple-layer titanium diaphragm, aiming to minimize distortion. 

Noise Cancelling

The PerL Pro features adaptive noise-canceling (in addition to an ambient mode), which I found quite effective, though I wasn't able to compare it to more well-known noise cancelling models. Controls on the earbuds are customizable, and while I don’t usually like touch controls, I found the touchpads on the earpieces easy to navigate, especially since the faceplates are so circular and wide. 

Bluetooth

In terms of Bluetooth capabilities, the PerL Pro stands out, sporting the latest Bluetooth version 5.3, which almost eliminates the possibility of any interruptions or dropouts. Furthermore, this model also supports the new aptX Lossless in addition to the other standard codecs. 

Battery

The PerL Pro offers up to 8 hours on a single charge, with 24 extra hours of charge in the case, which is an above average performance. And a quick five-minute charge gives you an hour of battery life.

Extra Features

Denon's accompanying headphone app serves as a central hub, offering functionalities such as spatial audio and a sound personalization test. You’ll also have some control over your equalizer settings. Finally you’ll be able to control the multipoint function should you want to add a second device to your earphones.

Sound Impressions

For this review, I kept the equalizer and similar functions at the default setting with the ANC on. But it should be noted, there’s a lot of room here to play around with the tuning. I also should mention that the volume is louder than most other true wireless models on the market, allowing for plenty of headroom. 

Soundstage

The PerL Pro excels in providing very clean separation. As such, the imaging feels super precise and immaculate. That said, don’t expect soaring heights and a vast field of depth. While there is a good amount of width to the stage, it can sometimes feel slightly flat. Still, the PerL Pro provides a solid amount of space between instruments in all directions, which gives the stage a reasonably holographic feel. And this is about as much as you can expect from even a great pair of wireless earbuds.

Low-End

With the ANC on, you can expect warm bass with moderate presence in the mix. The sub-bass frequencies are reasonably visceral, while the mid-upper bass have a solid amount of stage presence as well. At its default setting, the bass is never too fat or resonant. In fact, the delivery is quite well controlled with minimal bleed into the higher frequencies. And on many tracks, the bass can feel pretty lean. Listening to string and acoustic instruments in this range, the presentation is very natural and detailed, although the instruments do take on a slightly richer color, which adds majesty and depth to the performance.

Mids

The PerL pro presents a tasteful, almost even balance here. The low-mid are fully present in the mix, bringing to tons of body and added color to the lower half of the frequency range. But despite it’s fleshiness, the delivery is very well separated and cleanly layered. The upper mids are just as enjoyable. Never too forward or grating, the easy upper mids nicely complement the rich lower frequencies. At the same time the upper-midrange offers some good snap and impact. Still, for those who like a particularly active or lively profile, the Perl Pro may not be dynamic enough in this range. But for listeners who appreciate an all-encompassing and immersive midrange, the Perl Pro delivers it in spades.

Highs

You’ll hear a little sparkle up here, though the treble extension stops short of becoming uncomfortably radiant. Listening to acoustic instruments in this range, the PerL Pro finds a nice balance between transparency and smoothness, lending a fluid quality to strings and vocals, while revealing a good amount of detail. There’s also a nice airiness up top that brings extra buoyancy and height to the upper treble frequencies.

Summary

In terms of sound quality, this is about as good as it gets in the world of true wireless earbuds. The form factor may not be as sleek as some competing earphones on the market, but I’ll take the distinctive look for the orgasmic tuning, natural delivery and incredible skill that the PerL Pro offers. Add to that an impressive battery life and effective ANC, and you’ve got one of the best earphones on the market, albeit a pricey one.

You can buy the Denon PerL Pro at Audio 46.