Denon PerL Pro tested: ear measurement for perfect sound
17/2/2024
Translation: machine translated
The traditional Japanese company Denon focusses on individuality with its PerL Pro. They use the app to measure your ear in order to provide you with the optimum listening experience. I'll tell you how this works in my test.
Denon has made a name for itself primarily with amplifiers and turntables. Headphones - especially in-ears - were more of an exception. The PerL Pro are now Denon's attempt to assert itself on the headphone market with a special technology.
Denon wants to provide you with active noise cancellation and high-quality sound with the PerL Pro. But also a personalised listening experience. To achieve this, they use technology from another company. The Japanese are working with the medical technology company Masimo. Their "Adaptive Acoustic Techology" is designed to provide personalised, loss-free sound with the PerL Pro. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
First impression: Fits (doesn't wobble, has no air and that's a good thing)
Even before I unpack the PerL Pro, I am inundated with information. On the back of the packaging, Denon explains how the "Customised EQ" works. Not only with words - they also print a graphic on the envelope. The scope of delivery is then pleasantly modest. The headphones with charging cradle, a short USB-A to USB-C charging cable and a few attachments in different sizes.
Source: Florian Bodoky
Two things are noticeable here. Firstly: In addition to the normal attachments, there are also silicone attachments for the malleus on the outside of the ear. In two different sizes. And secondly: Denon includes both silicone and foam rubber tips. The app tells me which ones are best for my hearing. Speaking of the app: the quickest way to find it is to scan the QR code included. There are also instructions for setting up the PerL Pro. The manufacturer has dispensed with a printed manual.
Overconfident as I am, I try the headphones on straight away - without the app. A wide, round badge sticks out of my ear - like a tunnel piercing or a radio plug from a 70s spy film. There is small, discreet Denon branding on each of the round panels. Design: Well, whoever likes it.
Source: Florian Bodoky
At least the large outer surface of the earplug sticks out far enough and the monster doesn't rub against my ear. Despite the large surface area, which is of course also a big target for rain, the headphones are protected against splashing water in accordance with IPX4.
The earbuds also seem quite heavy to me. My Drogen kitchen scales say 8 grams. So 16 grams in total - many true wireless earbuds weigh 4 to 5 grams - for example the AirPods Pro 2nd Gen. Meanwhile, the charging cradle weighs around 50 grams. It is very high-quality and solidly made, just like the buds themselves.
Source: Florian Bodoky
As soon as I hear it, a voice greets me in German. It also asks me to download the app "to personalise my listening experience with Masimo technology". All right then.
The app is running out of patience
I download the app and am first forced to create an account. I love that. But Denon isn't the only manufacturer, so what the hell. I'm asked for my email and immediately have to look for a 2FA code in my inbox to confirm it. The app then asks for my full name, age and gender. As I can't do anything else - and this personalisation is the core feature - I do this.
By the way: I also have to agree to make my personal data, especially that relating to my ear measurements, available to the manufacturer for "internal studies".
Source: Florian Bodoky
Now the measurement begins. I can create up to three different profiles in case I want to share the headphones. Now it has to be completely quiet around me. I close the door and silence the coffee machine. First, the app checks whether I'm wearing the optimum earpieces. Neither too small nor too big, so that I can neither hear ambient noise nor the headphones spilling out of my ears. I am guided through the process by a stern, but not rude, female-sounding computer voice.
I try out different attachments. Interestingly, almost every attachment seems to fit on the left - my right ear, on the other hand, is a tricky nut to crack. Eventually, the app seems to run out of patience. It also shows me a green tick on the right, even though I have tried the same attachment before without success. To be fair: I've tweaked it a bit too. So it's probably because I didn't insert the headphones correctly the first time.
After that, the listening test begins. The headphone lady announces that she is now investigating "how I listen to music". Star Trek-esque beeping begins. I sit very still, don't move and remain silent - as instructed. After a minute, the measurement is finished. The app creates my profile with individual adjustments.
Immersive bass - that's how I like it
After successful customisation, a track is played for me - "View2" by Sasha. But it's not the poppy poster boy from the 90s - apparently there are several artists with that name. I can switch between "Default" and "Personalised" to hear the difference. The lady in my headphones apparently came to the conclusion in her research that I need a lot of bass. I can then select my preferred immersion level - in other words, even more bass. But I have to be honest: the sound is fantastic. I sink into the chillhouse music that "just-not-this-one" Sasha plays for me.
Source: Florian Bodoky
Then I swipe through the app and see what else it has to offer. A few things. I can activate Multipoint if I have several devices connected to the PerL Pro. Activate auto-pause - so that the music pauses when I take out a pair of headphones. Spatial audio - a kind of "3D surround mode" is also available. It's nice - but doesn't have "head tracking" like the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra.
I can also activate active noise cancelling and social mode. So either total silence or I can hear noises from outside. There is also an equaliser, my hearing profile is displayed and much more. You should install the app for the hearing profile alone, otherwise the Denon PerL Pro are only worth half the price.
What I think is cool is that you can customise the touch controls. Tap on the right: Play/pause and answer a call. Tap twice: skip. Tap on the left: Switch between ANC and social mode and activate the voice assistant.
So bass - and what else?
Naturally, I now listen to even more music. I connect the PerL Pro to my Android phone because the iPhone doesn't support AptX Lossless. The PerL Pro offer this, as well as Dirac Virtuo and AptX Adaptive. They also support Bluetooth 5.3. I listen to the following three tracks:
Fishies - The Cat Empire
With this track, I want to test the balance of the PerL Pro. In a nutshell: they can't really score points here with my individual profile. If I set the immersive mode completely to zero and reduce the bass on the equaliser, I find myself at a generally acceptable bass level. Otherwise, it is very dominant. In principle, I like it, but the PerL Pro are a bit too "one-sided" for my taste. So if you're looking for something more balanced and precise, take a look at the latest Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3.
15 Step - Radiohead
The 15-year-old song by the electric rockers starts with a drum solo, followed by bass and guitar. Both the drums and the lead singer's falsetto show that the PerL Pro can also play high notes, but only when there is little or nothing to contrast them. Without too many electronic elements, the headphones are great. The PerL Pro must also be credited with the fact that they separate the instruments well - each one is easy to hear on its own. Zero risk of cacophony.
60 Feet Tall - The Dead Weather
Here we go! Alison Mosshart's rough, raspy voice, the wild drums and the scratchy guitar create a symphony that is made for the PerL Pro. I imagine myself at a concert, with the guitar entering my ear canal from the right and the bass and drums from the left. The surround effect hits full force and I sink into the sound. There is a slight lack of precision, but the PerL Pro definitely shows its strengths with these deep sounds.
Phone calls - when it's rather quiet
By the way, you don't usually need to worry about making phone calls either. The PerL Pro has a total of eight microphones - four in each bud. My voice was clear and audible when tested. However, a quiet environment is recommended. Especially with social mode activated. Otherwise, it can get a little loud for the person on the other end of the line.
Other than the active noise cancellation, I wasn't really convinced by the social mode in my test. The built-in microphones, which deliver the ambient noise to the ear, have a clearly perceptible inherent noise. That's a shame. This is not only annoying when making calls, but also when you want to hear the outside world while listening to music - for example when jogging.
Battery: lasts a decent amount of time
I think the battery life is great. After three hours of listening to music and making calls with noise cancellation activated, the app still shows me a charge level of over 60 per cent. More than my smartphone. The headphones last for eight hours, and the charging cradle provides a further three charging cycles. Denon is doing well with these values. Practical: If you take the buds out, they switch off automatically after a few minutes - even if they are not in the charging cradle.
In a nutshell
Conclusion: Deep in the core business
The sound is convincing. It may be a little bass-heavy, but the quality is really high. The app is also powerful and the battery performance is fine. The customisation is also cool. I heard a massive difference and the customised profile really drew me into the action. On the other hand, there's the design. It's a matter of taste, but I don't like it at all. The headphones are also relatively heavy. Unfortunately, the transparency mode doesn't convince me either - the inherent noise is annoying.
What's more, if you have an iPhone, you're missing out on a lot of music quality. This is because the AptX Lossless codec does not work here. However, this is due to the iPhone, not the headphones. All in all: Despite the price, you are making some compromises. But if you primarily value really good sound with a tendency towards bass - go for it.
Pro
- Sound
- Battery
Contra
- Design is a matter of taste
- Social Mode
- Convenience
Header image: Florian Bodoky
I've been tinkering with digital networks ever since I found out how to activate both telephone channels on the ISDN card for greater bandwidth. As for the analogue variety, I've been doing that since I learned to talk. Though Winterthur is my adoptive home city, my heart still bleeds red and blue.
