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Denon AH-C500W – Hardware Review

It’s already been a while since we last featured a pair of wireless earbuds on the site. Last time we took a closer look at Audio-Technica’s ATH-TWX7, which we absolutely loved. Even though the device came with a premium price tag, it hit all the right notes and is still one of our favorite high-end audio solutions when we’re on the go or moving around the house while playing music. Today, we’ll take a closer look at Denon’s AH-C500W, a mid-range device featuring an open earbud design. We put the device to the test and enjoyed what it had to offer for the most part. Design For our review, we were given the white variant of the AH-C500W, and it looks very classy. There aren’t that many bells and whistles on both the earbuds and the case. The case itself has a matte white coating with a subtle print of the Denon brand name on the lid. The same can be said about the earbuds themselves, as they also have a simple mention of the brand name and are otherwise solid white. There are some glossy finishing touches here as well. What perhaps stands out the most is the longer ‘stick’ design of the earbuds, which is becoming increasingly uncommon these days. All in all, the AH-C500W looks great and could match every outfit when used outdoors. Comfort Comfort-wise, we had mixed feelings when using the AH-C500W. Our biggest issue is that the device is a one-size-fits-all design, so it lacks in-ear adapters or similar accessories. If you have the desired ear shape, then you’ll experience smooth sailing from start to finish; if you don’t, however, then you might suffer from ear pain only mere moments after you start using the AH-C500W. Luckily, the earbuds themselves are very light, and the longer stick allows users to readjust them more easily. We are personally more a fan of wireless earbuds that have rubber in-ear adapters. The open earbud design does have its benefits, as you’ll stay aware of your surroundings but still feel like you’re right in the middle of your favorite tunes. Overview Denon’s AH-C500W are easy to set up, as they are immediately detected by your smartphone when you open the case. You simply pair, and you’re pretty much good to go. You can also download the designated app, which is actually rather impressive, except for the fact that you need to make an actual account for it. Even so, when you have the app installed, you’ll be able to update the firmware of your Denon devices, and you can tweak a lot of settings. Outside of the standard equalizer settings often found in these apps, you can adjust more advanced features, such as pausing content when you remove one or both earbuds, or even customizing what touch commands do. The latter is a very nice feature if you’re swapping from another pair of earbuds and want to go for the same control scheme as your previous ones. In terms of battery life, the AH-C500W does not disappoint. The earbuds work for around 7 hours on a single charge, with the case offering an additional 17 hours of listening pleasure. These times were fairly accurate, and this means that you will not need to recharge the case after every usage. Of course, there’s the matter of the actual sound quality. In this case, we can easily state that the AH-C500W has an amazing sound quality, and we thoroughly enjoyed watching our favorite shows and listening to our extensive music library. Voices truly pop to the foreground when needed, and all audio feedback was crystal clear. The bass was deep enough, but it does feel different than when you’re used to in-ear earbuds. If you call a lot when using earbuds such as these, we can also tell you that the microphone quality of the AH-C500W is great as well. While perhaps not the primary reason to pick up earbuds such as this, it’s always nice when you’re out and about and need to make a few phone calls, and people on the other end can hear you clearly. Conclusion Denon’s AH-C500W is a great device with crystal clear audio feedback in the same category as a lot of more expensive earbuds. The design is classy, and the battery life is great as well. Sadly, the open earbud design is something that doesn’t work for every potential user, and we experienced pain fairly quickly. If you’re in the market for earbuds such as these, we suggest going somewhere that allows you to try out a similar shape or design first, if you’re already sensitive to ear pain when having earbuds in. If you’re not sensitive to this, we expect you to experience nothing but smooth sailing with the AH-C500W.