Pros

Super Lightweight.  The neckband is flexible and lightweight keeping the overall weight of the headphones to a minimum.

Features and Controls.  We really like the location and ease of use of the controls for music and calls.

Multiple Colors Available.  You can find the Exercise Freak in blue, yellow, or black.  We’re kinda partial to the blue and yellow though.

Cons

Price.  Besides the Monster iSport these are the most expensive workout headphones we’ve reviewed.  The Denon name and premium quality does come with these, but you’ll have to decide if that’s worth it.

Earbud Seal.  This is kind of a pro and a con depending on how you look at it.  The round style silicone tips don’t seal the ear canal 100%, which means you lose a little bit of noise isolation.  However, it does allow you to be a bit more aware of your surroundings, which is a great thing if you workout outdoors.

Our Review

The Exercise Freak is the first pair of headphones devoted solely to sports by Denon.

Below is a pretty nice photo by Denon showing all the features and controls.  As we mentioned above we really like how the ear piece that sits behind the ear holds all the controls.  Our audiologist took one look at these headphones and said, “It’s about time the headphone manufacturers started taking note of how hearing aid manufacturers have been doing this for years.”

Take a close look at the large round button on the ear piece.  This is a tap-to-talk button that essentially switches between music and phone if you have it hooked up to your iPhone or other smartphone.  You’ll also notice the volume/play/pause controls are on the top/back of the ear piece and the microphone is just underneath the ear piece, which is a perfect location to avoid wind distortion when working out outside.

One feature not shown above is the reflective lining on the neckband, perfect for evening (or early morning) workouts.  If you’re putting safety first this is becoming a must have feature for those of us that don’t workout in a gym.

Another cool feature is the Sport App they’ve created to work seamlessly with these headphones (though any other sport app would work as well).  This is another common feature that we’re seeing with a lot of new sports headphones (i.e. the Motorola SF Series)

Overall we’re a big fan of the Denon Exercise Freak.  We think they did a great job with their first pair of Bluetooth sports headphones, and our only real drawback is the price, which is anticipated to be $149.  It’s hard to convince us to spend that much when other headphones such as the Jaybird Freedom are available for less.  We do understand a lot of people love Denon headphones and that may be worth the premium.

Specifications

• Bluetooth 3.0 Wireless connectivity
• Sweat-resistant
• Weight: 23 grams (0.8 ounces)
• Play time: up to 7 hours

What’s in the Box

As you can see from the photo above Denon includes all the necessities for a workout headphones kit.

• Denon AH-W150 Exercise Freak Headphones
• Mesh carrying case with carabiner
• Micro USB cable for charging
• (4) sets of anti-microbial silicon ear tips (XS, S, M, L)

Where to Buy

Click here to get the Denon AH-W150 Exercise Freak Headphones