TONEAudio Magazine
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<p><strong><a rel="attachment wp-att-11391" href="http://www.tonepublications.com/review/denon-ah-d340-headphones/attachment/1d/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11391" title="1d" src="http://www.tonepublications.com/media/1d.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="545" /></a>For 2013, Denon has added a smaller, more-affordable model to its Music Maniac collection of headphones. *Visually, the $300 D340 looks similar to its more-expensive big brother, the AH-D600, and features equally attractive styling, which means you won’t be mistaken for a DJ with these phones on. *The D340 feels feather light on the head, even lighter than its roughly half-pound weight suggests.</strong></p>
<p>Like the rest of the Music Maniac line, the 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 D340 in without unplugging the cable, which makes traveling with the phones easy.</p>
<p>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 (which we review in this issue) quickly provides better bass response and a cleaner, less-grainy top end when sampling some jazz tracks consisting primarily of acoustic instruments.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-11392" href="http://www.tonepublications.com/review/denon-ah-d340-headphones/attachment/2d/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11392" title="2d" src="http://www.tonepublications.com/media/2d.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="408" /></a>The 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.</p>
<p>I 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 this price point.</p>
<p>While I usually have a portable headphone amplifier with me on the go, I find 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.</p>
<p>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 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.</p>
<p>Denon AH-D340 Headphones</p>
<p>MSRP: $300</p>
<p><a href="http://www.denon.com/">www.denon.com</a></p>
[Source: http://www.tonepublications.com/review/denon-ah-d340-headphones/]
<p>Like the rest of the Music Maniac line, the 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 D340 in without unplugging the cable, which makes traveling with the phones easy.</p>
<p>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 (which we review in this issue) quickly provides better bass response and a cleaner, less-grainy top end when sampling some jazz tracks consisting primarily of acoustic instruments.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-11392" href="http://www.tonepublications.com/review/denon-ah-d340-headphones/attachment/2d/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11392" title="2d" src="http://www.tonepublications.com/media/2d.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="408" /></a>The 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.</p>
<p>I 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 this price point.</p>
<p>While I usually have a portable headphone amplifier with me on the go, I find 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.</p>
<p>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 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.</p>
<p>Denon AH-D340 Headphones</p>
<p>MSRP: $300</p>
<p><a href="http://www.denon.com/">www.denon.com</a></p>
[Source: http://www.tonepublications.com/review/denon-ah-d340-headphones/]