The Denon Globe Cruiser are well-crafted, comfortable headphones with a sturdy, durable design. They block a lot of noise in loud environments like on a plane or train. Unfortunately, they have below-average sound quality and leak quite a bit, which might disturb the people around you.
Our Verdict
The Denon AHGC20 are average for mixed usage. They have great isolation performance but sub-par sound quality. They do better in uses where sound quality isn't as much of a factor.
- Good noise isolation.
- Sturdy and durable build quality.
- Comfortable and stable fit.
- Boomy, unbalanced audio reproduction.
- Leaks a lot of sound.
- Treble delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to positioning.
The Denon AHGC20 aren't ideal for neutral listening. They have a bass-heavy audio reproduction and a closed-back design that limits their soundstage. This makes them sound too dark and closed for neutral listening.
The Denon Globe Cruiser are above-average commuting and traveling headphones. They deliver a strong noise isolation performance that will reduce a significant amount of ambient noise. They're comfortable and have a good, durable design.
The Denon Globe Cruiser are average at best for sports. They're wireless and remarkably stable. However, they're a little too bulky for strenuous exercise.
The Denon AHGC20 are decent for office use. The strong noise canceling will block the chatter of a busy office. However, they do leak a bit.
The Denon Globe Cruiser aren't suitable for wireless gaming.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Sep 28, 2017: The microphone has been tested with our new methodology, as explained here
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 Wireless 2016 are better wireless headphones than the Denon AHGC20 Wireless. The Plantronics have a better battery life, a longer wireless range, easier to use controls and a much better bass-heavy sound that does not drown vocals and instrumentals like the Denon. On the other hand, the Denon have a more premium build quality and a slightly more comfortable over-ear design that some may prefer over the Plantronics. The Denon also have much better noise cancelling performance, so they're a bit better suited for travel and noisy commutes.
The Sony WH-1000XM2 Wireless are a much better and more versatile headphone than the Denon AHGC20 Wireless. The Sony have a better noise canceling feature that blocks a lot more noise than the Denons. The Sony also sound better out of the box and come with a great companion app that gives them a lot more customization options than the Denon. The Denon, on the other hand, are slightly more comfortable than the Sony thanks to their better padding. They also have a slightly more durable design, although both headphones are well-made and look high-end.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 are much better noise canceling headphones than the Denon AH-GC20 Wireless. The Bose have a more comfortable over-ear fit and a better noise cancellation feature that makes them more suitable for travel and commuting than the Denon. The Bose also have a much better-balanced sound profile than the Denon, which sound poorly balanced, dark, and too bass-heavy. On the upside, the Denon feel better-built than the Bose, have a longer battery life, and a more premium look and feel.
The Sony WH-H900N/h.ear on 2 Wireless are a better headset than the Denon AHGC20 Globe Cruiser Wireless. The Sony have a better-balanced sound quality that caters to a lot more genres than the dark and bass-heavy sound of the Denon. The Sony are also a lot more customizable than the Denon, thanks to their better companion app, which gives you a full EQ and noise canceling options, unlike the Denon's companion app. On the other hand, the Denon have a more comfortable and premium-looking design that some may prefer over that of the Sony.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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