DENON AH-C560 Black | In-Ear Stereo Headphones (Japan Import)

I bought these last summer during a visit to Taiwan. I had hoped to buy a replacement Audio-Technica CKM500 (which broke) but they have been replaced with the CKR5 which are a bit of a let-down with its bloated bass and congested soundstage. After trying out various headphones, the salesperson suggested the AH-C560, a mid-range Denon IEM released in 2010. Although they have been considered "discontinued" in some areas, they are still commonly sold in headphone stores in Taiwan.
 
Many reviews online are on the mic'd version the AH-C560R and while praising the sound quality its mic placement has been criticized which is something to watch out for.
 
Design:
Aesthetically, these are really simple but nice-looking headphones. The black one looks more or less typical, but I have the silver version which does stand out nicely. The term "hybrid "denotes the housing material, not the driver's design (these are dynamic drivers). Denon calls them "hybrid" because they use a mix of aluminum and resin in their housings, which Denon claims will reduce vibration interference and improve clarity. I’m not sure entirely how accurate this claim is, as the cable is quite microphonic, but the housings are quite durable, save for the strain reliefs, which are made from long tubes of hard plastic. While it feels durable and they haven’t snapped (yet), it is something to watch out for.
 
The biggest downside of the design is the cable. The cable is made of a rubbery plastic material that, while durable, is prone to tangles. In fact, the cable can become iced-solid being more easily kinked when it is cold. From the Y-splitter up to the housings without a cinch or clip, the cord is rather microphonic so they’re better off worn over the ear or using the clip. There is a cable cinch but it easily gets loose when you walk around. The cable is also 1.3m long, which may or may not be a disadvantage. I prefer a slight bit of length to the cable as the cable is less likely to be strained if it’s caught somewhere. This cable is very similar to that of the Audio-Technica IM70/IM50, though these IEMs have a over-ear fit (but I still found them a bit microphonic for an over-ear IEM)
 
7/10
 
Comfort
Denon's stock eartips are very similar to Audio-Technica’s and they are fully interchangeable with them as well.  Denon's are slightly more bulbous in shape and more durable. They don’t insert deep into your ears but are quite comfortable and I find myself wearing these for a long time. They tend to sit out the ear feeling slightly loose but aren’t likely to fall out of your ears so easily. As AT’s tips are a bit thinner they can fit into your ears a bit but give a slightly more laid-back sound. Wide-bore tips are most ideal if you want the most sub-bass and the widest soundstage, but it comes at the compromise of harsher highs - Phillips SH3590 tips are a better option, balancing between the tradeoffs.
 
Also included is a pair of Comply eartips. These isolate pretty well though they do make the highs a tad veiled.
 
8.5/10
 
Isolation
These are a "semi-open" in-ear headphone, as they have some small air vents on each side and don't fit very deep. This does help with the soundstage but does mean that isolation is somewhat lacking, I would say about the same level as the CKM500, though the design of the housing means you can put them in your ear a bit more with some tips. On medium to high volumes, they are fine for commuting. Comply eartips do help a bit, but they also change the sound signature, give a smoother, veiled sound.
 
6.5/10
 
Sound
I did not burn these in specifically but rather gradually with a month’s use. The bass was rather loose at first but has become tighter since then. They have rather high sensitivity and are easy to drive, so you’ll get a lot of volume with these. I don't consider myself an expert but these are my own impressions on the sound quality:
 
The bass impact is powerful but a tad blunt, but not sloppy or loose - fluid or smooth is the best way to describe it. The sub-bass and mid-bass are both elevated considerably, but they usually don’t distract from the rest of the frequency range. Overall the mids are smooth and warm, the lower mids being more forward and the upper mids a tad bit recessed. Overall, vocals sound a bit warm and dark with these, though male vocals can be a bit thin. Doin' It Right by Daft Punk is one particular track that shines with these. There is a slight treble peak has a slightly rough but sharp texture that adds some sparkle and extension, but I overall didn’t find these sibilant using stock or Audio-Technica eartips. Wide-bore tips expand the soundstage but also make the highs sound more sibilant.
 
The soundstage is quite wide for an IEM, thanks to the air vents, although depth and height are average. The instrument separation is good overall, but though the lower mid hump occasionally causes some parts to be drowned out a bit a higher volumes.
 
To conclude, these are excellent sounding IEMs despite being released in 2010. They are far from neutral but definitely excel in a wide variety of genres.. They work well for pop or R&B but are still competent for classical and jazz.
 
Despite the slight difference I felt the Denon tips gave me a bit better treble extension while the Audio-Technica tips give a slightly more rolled-off treble (the core is harder in the Denon tips). Phillips SHE3590 tips also fit and they give a somewhat thicker sound, a bit like the CKM500. Wide-bore tips greatly increases the soundstage height (and the depth to a lesser extent) and brings out the upper mids a bit more. The treble also sounds thicker. There is a tad bit of sibilance as the treble peak becomes apparent, but despite this compromise I would still recommend using wide-bore tips if you want to get the most out of the soundstage.
 
Compared to the CKM500, I was struck by how similar the two are as they are both bass-heavy but similarly detailed. The CKM500 has a more distinct treble peak and its soundstage is not as wide; both have a mid-bass hump but the Denons have more sub-bass. The Audio-Technica IM70 has a similar soundstage to the AHC560, but has less sub-bass and a more mid-forward sound.
 
8.1/10
 
Value
Given that they aren’t widely known and have been discontinued in North America, the price unfortunately hasn’t changed much since their launch. The technology and design is from almost 5 years ago, but the sound quality still excels. Although the cable design leaves something to be desired, these are still a great basshead IEM for the sub-100$ price point.
 
8.0/10