Stereo  Headphones

Denon has added a smaller, more-affordable model to its Music Maniac collection of headphones.  Visually, the AH-D340 looks similar to its more-expensive big brother, the AH-D600.  The features of equally attractive styling, which means you won’t be mistaken for a DJ with these phones on.  The AH-D340 feels feather light on the head, even lighter than its roughly half-pound weight suggests.

Like the rest of the Music Maniac line, the AH-D340 features Denon’s patent-pending pentagon-shaped ear pads, which are made of memory-foam cushioning.  Intended to be fully portable, the phones include a removable 3-foot cable with 3.5-mm plug, as well as an inline Apple-device-compatible remote and microphone.  (The cable plugs into the right side of the phones, which is a bit awkward for lefties like me.)  An oversized zippered pouch allows you to tuck the AH-D340 in without unplugging the cable, which makes traveling with the phones easy.

Audio purists can easily source a longer aftermarket cable without the remote for use with your hi-fi system.  One of our favorites from ALO Audio works well and produces an increase in performance.  Plugging into the Bryston BHA-1 headphone amp quickly provides better bass response and a cleaner, less-grainy top end when sampling some jazz tracks consisting primarily of acoustic instruments.

The AH-D340 ignores the current trend of portable headphones—overly lush midrange response, heavy bass and rolled-off highs at the expense of musical accuracy.  While these are still not the last word in tonal accuracy, they do exhibit a very transparent midrange and more punchy, dynamic bass response, with a smooth high end.

The reviewer threw everything at these Denons: Earth Wind & Fire, Cyndi Lauper, Tiësto, Eminem, Kelly Clarkson, and even some André Rieu.  The D340 allows me to concentrate on the music and escape the analytical mode.  It leaves very little to be desired for a pair of portable headphones.  Denon has done a phenomenal job tuning them to a higher level than most at the $300.00 price point.

While the reviewer usually has a portable headphone amplifier with him on the go, he found the AH-D340 easy to drive.  They work well straight from a phone or iDevice, so unless on a long plane trip, you can probably leave the headphone amp at home and not take much of a hit in sound quality.

Since the launch of the first two Music Maniac headphones last year, Denon has faced a rather tough transition period, with fans of their older headphones criticizing the company’s latest efforts.  While the AH-D340’s design is a far departure from the mahogany ear cups of the past, it is an outstanding performer and worthy of the Denon name.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Operating Principle: Closed Cup.
• Sound Output: Stereo.
• Diaphragm: 1.5 Inches.
• Driver Type: Dynamic.
• Impedance: 36 Ohms.
• Sensitivity: 108dB/mW.
• Maximum Power Input: 1300 mW
• Frequency-Low: 7 Hz.
• Frequency-High: 37 kHz.
• Supported Input: 3.5 mm.
• Cable Length: 0.91 meters.
• Weight: 249 Grams.
• Available in BLACK with WHITE accents.

Your Cost

$ 148.88

EACH

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