Denon AH-NC732 Active Noise Cancelling Headphone

by Denon

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.9 x 7.7 x 10.4 inches ; 1.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001ETPZ74
• Item model number: AH-NC732K
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 7, 2004

Product Description

On ear, Active Noise Cancelin Headphone. This slim black headphone provides for over 95% outside noise reduction. Over 40 hours of battery life with a single AAA battery. This unit collapses into a small molded carrying case for traveling. iPhone/Touch compatible and no adaptor is needed! These are Great for the travelers or just someone who wants to listen only to their music!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

119 of 121 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars These work well but require some tinkering to sound their best., October 23, 2008

By 

Jonathan M. Derda (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Denon AH-NC732 Active Noise Cancelling Headphone (Electronics)

The Denon AH-NC732K is a very nice pair of headphones. They are compact, comfortable, and sound very good. The noise canceling works very well taking care of engine noise and other low frequencies. The included carrying case is perfect to slip in your briefcase or carry on bag and it has enough room for all of your adapters and cables.

The headphones don't fit around the ears like the larger Bose QuietComforts. They rest on and cover the entire ear. I was surprised that they were comfortable to wear. It took a little fiddling around to get a secure fit but it was worth it. The headphones feel like they are creating a seal to achieve maximum noise reduction. In fact if you just put them on without creating this "seal" you might not think much of these headphones so proper fit is key.

My first test was for noise cancellation. A lot of people will use these just for that feature and not even play any music through them. I ran an airplane noise WAV file through my desktop stereo system to simulate being in a plane. After cranking up the volume on my JBL 2.1 system I put the headphones on. There is a small switch on the side on the headphones to turn noise canceling on and off. With it off you could clearly hear the humming of the engines, the beeps of the seat belt indicators, and the general noises of cramming a hundred people in a cabin. Turning the noise cancellation on reduced these noises by 80%. The engines were barely audible and the beeps sounded like they were further away. Overall I was pretty pleased with the noise cancellation. Hopefully they work as well on a real flight.

I tested these for music with an iPod Nano and my stereo system. Plugged into the headphone out of my Peachtree Audio Decco using Sonos as a source I was immediately disappointed with the sound coming out of the Denons. They were bright and harsh with one note bass. I made sure the noise canceling switch was on, it was, and turning it off made the sound worse. I decided to "break in" the headphones before doing any more listening. I plugged them into the Nano and put it on shuffle mode, turned up the volume and then put a towel over them to drown out the sound.

After 5 hours of non stop playing I decided to give them another listen. They definitely sounded better, the highs were smoother and the bass was more relaxed. They still weren't great and for $299 they should be better. I decided to play around with the EQ settings on the Nano. Listening to The Beatles, Norah Jones, The Doobie Brothers, Daft Punk, etc. I checked every single EQ setting on the iPod. Surprisingly the Classical EQ setting sounded the best followed by Electronic , Rock, and Latin. With the Classical setting engaged these headphones sound fantastic. The volume was turned up 90% of the way to get the amount of sound I am used to, which is to say as loud as the real thing.
On my Shure E5C headphones the volume at half way is more than enough.

Comfort 4/5 They are very comfortable but it takes time to get them to fit correctly.

Convenience 5/5 I love the detachable cords, the case, and in a pinch you can listen to music if the battery dies.

Sound 5/5 They sound great once they break in but remember to try the EQ settings on your MP3 player to get the best sound.

Value 5/5 If you can try these at a local dealer and buy them for less than $299 (most dealers will discount) then they are a great deal, especially when compared to the competition.

EDIT 6-9-09
I took this set with me on a short flight from Denver to Milwaukee. Typically I take my Shure E5c ear buds, external headphone amp, and my iPod Touch with me on flights but I wanted to travel as light as possible on this trip. So I shoved the iPod into the back pocket of the Denons included carrying case and threw everything into my carry on bag.
So how much noise do they really cancel? Well I have to stick with my 80% comment from earlier. In terms of engine noise they probably canceled around 90%. It was the high pitched beeps, buzzing, and guy four rows ahead of me singing that got through.
I have always believed that in ear headphones like the Shures offered better sound and more isolation from noise than "noise canceling" headphones. Comparing my experience with the Shures and now the Denons I have to say that I have had a change of mind. These Denons were far more comfortable over the duration of the flight. They canceled more noise than the Shures blocked out and were less fatiguing to listen to. In a quiet environment the Shures E5C still has an edge over the Denon NC732 but my default travel headphone from now on will be the Denon AH-NC732.

98 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good value - Excellent noise reduction, May 22, 2009

By 

Farming in Michigan (Central Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Denon AH-NC732 Active Noise Cancelling Headphone (Electronics)

I bought the Denon AH-NC732 headphones after reading all of the reviews, but for a different application. I operate farm machinery, and the Sony earbuds I have been using with my MP3 player were uncomfortable and prone to being dislodged easily.

The Denon headphones have proven to be an excellent replacement. After about 40 hours of use, they are doing exactly what I bought them for. They very effectively reduce the engine (diesel) noise, provide very good sound, and wear comfortably for long periods of time in the field. They appear to be well-constructed, and if handled sensibly they should hold up to the use I purchased them for.

Along with some of the other reviewers, I doubt the claim of "99% noise reduction" and agree that about 80% is a more believable figure. I like the fact that I can hear my music well, and still audibly monitor the equipment I'm operating. For me, this is the perfect package.

I was very impressed with the price. I had looked at Bose headphones in an electronics store, and for about half the price, I think the Denon's are a great value.

I'll update this review if any issues arise, but for now the Denon's are doing very well.

**********************************************************************

UPDATE! After two weeks of use, the right-side earphone began emitting loud static while in noise-canceling mode. I changed batteries and tried two different sources with no effect. I contacted Denon's factory repair site and got the OK to return them. The headphones came with a one-year warranty.

I returned the Denon's in the box I received them from Amazon, along with my proof of purchase dated two weeks earlier. After nearly three weeks, I just received a set of "factory reconditioned" phones with a 90-day warranty! The set I sent them were in as-new condition, and had about two weeks/50 hours of use, in a climate-controlled environment. They were absolutely not abused. I really expected to get a new set returned to me.

I am going to contact Denon and complain, but I am a bit pessimistic. I would suggest looking at other headphones, but if you do buy Denon's, be advised that their one-year warranty is a joke.

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ZERO Stars!!

Further update: Almost two weeks now, and NO response (written, email, or telephone: all provided) from Denon. I am very disappointed in the company. No more Denon products in my house!

IF you are considering this type of headphone, I strongly suggest looking elsewhere. I thought I was getting a good deal, but NOT SO.

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent sound, value; NR works well, January 28, 2009

By 

Joseph Makita (Morgan Hill, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Denon AH-NC732 Active Noise Cancelling Headphone (Electronics)

If you don't want to read my boring review, skip to the bottom where I praise and recommend these.

First, let me thank the previous reviewers. I was contemplating these for several weeks based upon the other reviews.

The other reviews are spot on in their assessments. They do take a few minutes to adjust but then are quite comfortable. I don't wear them hours on end, so I cant speak to the comfort level of prolonged use, but I don't have any complaints about the comfort and fit using them on and off throughout the day when I want some isolation.

Another reviewer referred to the excellent sound quality. I do indeed hear my music with more clarity and richness. I can hear details with these that I have not heard with any other earphones. I notice this mostly in the mids and highs. I should note most of my music is recorded at 192kbs and 44 KHz.

I had used the Sony MDR-NC40 headphones but wanted something a little better. I bought the Denons about a week ago and have been very impressed with the sound quality and noise reduction. I work in a computer room with constant background noise. Putting the earphones on immediately drown out some noise, but the NR is impressive. You dont have to even listen to audio to dampen the outside noise. Oftentimes I use them with NR only and it definitely makes a noticeable difference.
My wife has the Bose Quiet Comfort. They also sound good, but not "$250 good".

For the value, I was surprised at the price point. I bought these through Amazon for almost half as much as other products.

I consider myself a sound enthusiast, because being an audiophile is way too expensive for my taste. These headphones have surpassed my expectations although the previous reviews set my expectations fairly high.

Summary of my thesis on the Denon AH-NC732:
In my opinion, better overall sound than Bo$e for less money. They did not disappoint.