Denon AH-C551 In-Ear Headphones review

Fortunately, the cable design of the Denon AH-C551 earphones is different than that of the AH-C351, so you don't get the annoyingly uneven weight distribution. Rather, the AH-C551 features an even Y-cable (measuring 14 inches) descending from the earpieces. A slider at the bottom of the "Y" helps to prevent tangles when the headphones are not in use. There, the cable joins and extends a further 4.5 inches to the straight plug. Denon also includes an extender that measures about 32 inches long and terminates in a right-angle plug. All told, the cord ends up being plenty long enough to carry an MP3 player in a pocket or bag. Plus, the cable is relatively thick and seems fairly durable. The included zippered hard-shell case can also help to increase the life of the headphones.

The Denon AH-C551 In-Ear Headphones offer nice, balanced audio quality. They're definitely not as bass-heavy as V-moda models, so if you prefer a more even sound, this is the place to look. Still, the AH-C551s are not incapable of pumping out the bass, especially for tracks heavy on the low-end (Paul Oakenfold's remix of Justin Timberlake's "My Love" really thumped). We paired the headphones with both our computer and a Creative Zen V Plus for testing and were not disappointed. In general, music sounded rich and encompassing, with plenty of warmth through the mids and clarity on the high-end details. There were a few songs here and there that suffered from some jarring highs, but they were few and far between. These 'phones are definitely worthy of their $100 price tag.