New Products

Denon today launched noise-canceling wireless earbuds that automatically customize sound to the unique characteristics of your hearing.

The new PerL ($199) and PerL Pro ($349) earbuds are the first to feature proprietary Adaptive Acoustic Technology (AAT) developed by Denon’s Swiss parent, Masimo, the global company specializing in medical technology that also owns Bowers & Wilkins, Definitive Technology, Marantz, Polk Audio, and Boston Acoustics.

Once activated in the companion PerL Headphone app, the AAT system plays a range of tones and measures faint “otoacoustic emissions” (OAEs) produced by the inner ear to assess the listener’s hearing. Using artificial intelligence, the system then analyzes the data to determine how sensitive each ear is to various frequencies and creates a personal profile to deliver sound that is tuned to the unique characteristics of the listener’s hearing.

While both models offer active noise cancellation with a “social” listening mode, the PerL Pro features adaptive processing that automatically adjusts to noise in the environment and is equipped with aptX Voice and eight microphones (instead of four) for “best-in-class” voice calls. The PerL Pro also steps up to aptX Lossless Bluetooth (in place of standard Bluetooth) and includes Dirac’s Virtuo spatial processing (but no head tracking).

Rated battery life for the PerL Pro is 8 hours (plus 32 hours via the charging case) versus 6 + 24 hours for the PerL.

Both models are water-resistant and have 10mm drivers with the PerL Pro stepping up to a more refined triple-layer titanium diaphragm. Five ear tips (one foam) are included with each model to ensure a comfortable fit along with two wing tips to help keep the ’buds in place.

“The era of one-sound-fits-all is over,” said Masimo founder and CEO Joe Kiani. “PerL [short for Personalized Listening] automatically figures out the optimal sound for each individual, to cater to your unique ears. I am personally blown away by how good PerL Pro is. I have not heard my music like this since I was 18. PerL is intuitive, comfortable, and ergonomic. With its launch, we are transcending the listening experience.”

Denon says a limited number of PerL and PerL Pro earbuds are available for purchase now with a “fuller rollout” coming later in the year. For more information, denon.com.