Denon AH-GC25W - Wireless Over-Ear Headphone Manual

Preparation

To ensure proper operation, please read this Owner's Manual carefully before using the product.

Unpacking

Check that all of these are present before using this device.

Quick Start Guide	Safety Instructions	Audio cable (approx. 1.3 m)	Audio cable (approx. 1.3 m) with remote control mic
USB cable (Micro-B connector, approximately 1.2 m)	Carrying pouch

Features

Sound quality

• These headphones are compatible with a wide range of codecs, including the high sound quality codecs aptX HD, AAC and SBC.
  These headphones automatically select the optimum compatible codec for your Bluetooth device (smartphone or tablet) so you can enjoy high-grade wireless sound.

Functions

• You can enjoy listening to music wirelessly by connecting these headphones to your Bluetooth device. Playback operations and volume adjustment can be performed for the paired audio device using the headphones.
• You can connect to an audio device that is not equipped with Bluetooth using the supplied cable, or in case Bluetooth is not allowed or the battery runs out. The included audio cable with a remote control mic is compatible with operations and calls on playback devices.
• Connect to a computer with the included USB cable to enjoy high-quality music played from your computer. Music can be played back from your computer even while the headphones are charging so that music can be enjoyed without worrying about the battery running out.

Telephone Calls

• You can also make hands-free phone calls by pairing these headphones to a Bluetooth compatible mobile phone. Equipped with Qualcomm® cVcTM technology that suppresses echoes, enabling low-noise phone calls.

Charging / Battery status

Connect the headphones to a computer or USB AC adapter (sold separately) using the supplied dedicated USB cable to charge the battery.

The charging status can be checked from the charging LED on headphones.

Charging status	Color of charging LED
Charging	Red
Fully charged	Green

Checking the remaining battery power
The remaining power of the rechargeable battery can be checked from the number of alert sounds or audio guidance. It can also be checked from the number of times the charging LED flashes. Press and hold the button for approximately 2 second to turn the power on, then press the call button twice when a call is not in progress.

• When the remaining power of the rechargeable battery is running low, the charging LED flashes at approximately 3-second intervals together with an alert sound.
• You can also check the remaining power of the rechargeable battery on an iPhone. (*)

* The remaining power of the rechargeable battery can be displayed as a percentage (%) on an iPhone, but this number is an approximate value.

Wearing

Adjust the slider to the preferred length.

• In order to hear the best quality sound, be sure that the ear pads correctly cover both the left and right ears. If there are gaps between your ears and the headphone ear pads, sound will leak and the bass level will be reduced.

NOTE

• Be careful not to trap your fingers, etc. in the moving parts.
• Do not pull the slider too forcefully.

Switching Audio Guidance

You will be notified when an operation has been correctly completed via the audio guidance or an alert sound. You can switch to audio guidance in your preferred language or use only an alert sound for guidance.

1. While the power is on and a call is not in progress, press and hold the call button and volume "+" button together for approximately 1 second.
   The options switch between the audio guidance languages or only alert sounds in the following order while the buttons are pressed.
   English / Japanese / German / French / Italian / Spanish / Chinese / Alert sounds (Default: English)
   
2. Release the buttons when the options have switched to your desired setting.
   This commits the audio guidance setting.

Adjusting the audio guidance volume
The audio guidance volume can be adjusted between 3 levels.

1. Press and hold the volume "+" button and volume "-" button together for approximately 5 seconds.
   An alert sound is heard and the audio guidance volume changes in the following order. Repeat step 1 until the desired volume is selected.
   Medium / High / Low (Default: Medium)
   

Connections

Bluetooth operation

You can enjoy listening to music wirelessly by connecting the headphones to your Bluetooth device.

Pairing

Pairing (registration) is an operation that is required in order to connect a Bluetooth device to the headphones. When using Bluetooth for the first time, you need to pair the headphones and your Bluetooth device so they can communicate with each other. Once a Bluetooth device has been paired with your headphones, pairing does not need to be performed again for future Bluetooth connections with that device.

• Pairing needs to be done again in the following cases.
• When 9 or more devices have been paired with the headphones
  These headphones can store pairing information from a maximum of 8 devices. When 9 or more devices are paired, the new pairing information overwrites the oldest pairing information in order from the oldest information onwards.
• Multiple Bluetooth devices cannot be played back at the same time.

Connecting

There are two methods for connecting with Bluetooth devices:

1. Connecting to the headphones for the first time
2. Reconnecting paired devices

Connecting to the headphones for the first time

Check that the headphones are not connected to any Bluetooth device before pairing.

1. Turn on the Bluetooth function of your Bluetooth device.
   • For details, see the Owner's Manual of the Bluetooth device that you want to connect.
     
2. While the power is off, press and hold the button for approximately 4 seconds.
   The Bluetooth LED lights and then blinks in approximately 1-second intervals as the headphones enter pairing mode.
   
   
   • The headphones turn on after pressing and holding the button for approximately 2 second. Continue pressing the button.
   • If the Bluetooth LED does not light even when the button is pressed, the rechargeable battery has no power remaining. Charge the battery.
3. Select "DENON AH-GC25W" from the list of devices displayed on the screen of your Bluetooth device.
   When pairing is completed and the Bluetooth connection is established, the Bluetooth LED lights for approximately 5 seconds.
   
4. Playing back music on the Bluetooth device.
   Music played back on the connected Bluetooth device is output from the headphones.
   
   • If the power is on, press and hold the button for approximately 3 seconds to turn the power off before pairing.
   • The headphones pairing mode is canceled if pairing is not completed within 3 minutes. In this case, press and hold the button for approximately 3 seconds to turn the power off and then pair the devices again.
   • If you are requested to enter a PIN code (pass key), enter "0000" (four zeros).

Reconnecting paired devices

Check that the headphones are not connected to any Bluetooth device before connecting.

1. Turn on the Bluetooth function of your Bluetooth device.
   • For details, see the Owner's Manual of the Bluetooth device that you want to connect.
     
2. While the power is off, press and hold the button for approximately 2 second.
   The Bluetooth LED lights for approximately 1.5 seconds and the headphones power on before automatically connecting to the Bluetooth device.
   • When the Bluetooth connection is established, the Bluetooth LED lights for approximately 5 seconds.
     
     
   • If the Bluetooth connection is not made automatically, select "DENON AHGC25W" from the list of devices displayed on the screen of your Bluetooth device.
3. Playing back music on the Bluetooth device.
   Music played back on the connected Bluetooth device is output from the headphones.

Switching Bluetooth playback devices

1. Stop or pause playback on the current playback_device.
2. Start playback on the device that you want to listen to.

Call standby
Simultaneous call standby is possible, but the device that receives the call first takes priority. Calls cannot be made simultaneously.

Connecting to a computer via USB

Audio data on a computer can be played through the headphones by inserting the USB cable (supplied) in the USB port of the headphones and connecting them to the computer.

• The headphones automatically start charging when they are connected to a computer.

Operation

Listening to music

Listening to music using a Bluetooth connection

First check that the headphones and Bluetooth device are connected via Bluetooth.
Playback operations can be performed from both the Bluetooth device and headphones. Here we will explain the operations using the buttons on the headphones.

• When the headphones are connected using the audio cable, the Bluetooth function is automatically turned off and the Bluetooth device cannot be controlled using the headphones.

Playback/pause
Press the button once.

• The Bluetooth LED flashes in 5-second intervals during playback.
  

Volume adjustment
Increase volume: Press the volume "+" button.
Decrease volume: Press the volume "-" button.

• An alert sound is heard when the maximum or minimum volume is reached.
  

Listening to music using the audio cable

Use the included audio cable to connect to an audio device that is not equipped with Bluetooth, when Bluetooth is not allowed or the battery runs out.

• Call and playback operations using Bluetooth are disabled when the headphones are connected via the audio cable.

Using the audio cable with remote control mic
An audio cable with a remote control mic as well as an audio cable are included with these headphones. Use the audio cable with the remote control mic to connect with remote control-compatible playback devices to play and pause music, as well as receive, make and hang up phone calls.

Audio playback/pause
Press the remote control button.

Answer / hang up phone call
Press the remote control button when a call is incoming or while on a call.

• Enabled remote control operations may vary depending on the device connected, and mic operations may not work correctly.

Listening to music on a computer via USB

First check that the headphones and computer are connected via USB.

For Windows OS

1. Click "Start" on the computer screen and then click "Control Panel".
   This displays the Control Panel settings list.
2. Click "Sound".
   This displays the Sound menu screen.
3. In the "Playback" tab, make sure that "Default Device" is checked for "AH-GC25W".
   0 If it is checked for another device, select "AH-GC25W" and click "Set Default".
4. Play the music in the player software on your computer.
   The music being played is output through the headphones.

For Mac OS

1. Move the cursor to "Go" on the computer screen and click "Utilities".
   This displays the Utilities list.
2. Double click "Audio MIDI Setup".
   This displays the "Audio Devices" screen.
3. In "AH-GC25W", make sure that "Use this device for sound output" is checked.
   0 If it is checked for another device, secondary click "AH-GC25W" and select "Use this device for sound output".
4. Play the music in the player software on your computer.
   The music being played is output through the headphones.

• The buttons on the headphones can be used to control playback in addition to the controls on the computer.

Playback/pause	Press the button once
Next track	Press the button twice
Previous track	Press the button three times
Increase volume	Press the volume "+" button
Decrease volume	Press the volume "-" button

*It may not be possible to use the buttons of the headphones to control the playback with some computers or player software.

Conducting phone calls

Calls can be made while you are wearing the headphones. You can hear the caller's voice through the headphones, and your voice is picked up by the built-in microphone in the headphones. Use the call button to operate Bluetooth compatible mobile phones connected via Bluetooth.

When the headphones are connected using the audio cable, the Bluetooth function is automatically turned off and calls cannot be made using the headphones.

Making a call

Dial the number with the mobile phone connected via Bluetooth. Audio playback is paused and the call is connected.

Answering an incoming call

When an incoming call is received, audio playback is paused and the ring tone is heard.
Press the call button once to answer the call.

Ending a call

Press the call button once during the call.
When a call is ended, playback of the paused track is restarted.

Using the call waiting function

If you receive a call while another call is already in progress, you can place the current call (call A) on hold and switch to the new call (call B).

• Some of mobile phones may not be compatible with these functions.

1. Press the call button once during the call.
   • This places the current call (call A) on hold and switches to the new call (call B).
   • When the new call (call B) ends, the headphones return to the call that is on hold (call A).

To return to the call that is on hold (call A)

1. Press and hold the call button for approximately 3 seconds during the call (call B).
   • This places the current call (call B) on hold and switches to the call that is on hold (call A).

Ignoring an incoming call

Press and hold the call button for approximately 3 seconds when an incoming call is received.

Switching a call from the headphones to a mobile phone

Switch the current call to the mobile phone. Press the call button three times.

• The switch operation cannot be used when a call waiting call is received. Switch using the mobile phone.

Other operations

• Press the volume buttons (+/-) to adjust the volume of the caller's voice.

Turning the power off

1. Press and hold the button for approximately 3 seconds.
   The Bluetooth LED turns off and the power is turned off.
   

• A small amount of power is consumed even when the power is off.

Information

Audio Playback and Phone Calls on a Bluetooth Device

• These headphones are compatible with SCMS-T content security standards. You can use these headphones with SCMS-T compatible mobile phones or devices.
• In order to listen to music via a Bluetooth connection, the connected Bluetooth device needs to be A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) compatible. (*)
• In order to control playback of the Bluetooth device using the headphones, the connected Bluetooth device needs to be AVRCP (Audio Video Remote Control Profile) compatible. (*)
• The connected Bluetooth device needs to be compatible with either HSP (Headset Profile) or HFP (Hands-free Profile) in order to use the headphones for conducting phone calls. (*)
• The Bluetooth device needs to be compatible with either HFP or HSP and A2DP in order to conduct calls during audio playback. (*)

*For details on profiles that the Bluetooth device is compatible with, see the Bluetooth device Owner's Manual.

Deleting pairing information

Delete pairing information if you have made a mistake entering pairing information or when re-pairing a device.

1. Press and hold the volume "+" button for approximately 5 seconds while in pairing mode.
   The Bluetooth LED flashes 5 times and the pairing information is erased.
   

• To make a Bluetooth connection after clearing the pairing information, follow the instructions on "Connecting to the headphones for the first time"

Troubleshooting

First, check the following.

1. Are all of the connections correct?
2. Were the instructions in the manual followed correctly?
3. Is the connected device being operated correctly?

If the headphones do not operate properly, check the corresponding issue here.
If the issue is not covered here, there may be a malfunction. Contact the store where you purchased the headphones. If the staff at the store where you purchased the headphones also do not know how to resolve the issue, contact the Denon Customer Service Center or your nearest Repairs Center.

Power does not turn on / power is turning off automatically

Power does not turn on.

• When the rechargeable battery has no power remaining, connect the headphones to an AC adapter or computer using the supplied USB cable to charge the battery.

The device cannot be charged

• Check whether the power plug is correctly inserted into the power outlet.
• Make sure the supplied USB cable is inserted correctly into the headphones.
• If the headphones are connected to the computer via the USB port, check that the computer is powered on.

No sound comes out

• Check that the headphones and the connected device are powered on.
• Adjust the volume of the headphones and the connected device to a suitable level.
• Pair the headphones with the Bluetooth device.
• If you are trying to play music on a computer via USB, check that the supplied USB cable is fully connected.

Sound is distorted, noisy, or cuts in and out

• Adjust the volume of the headphones and the connected device to a suitable level.
• The Bluetooth device is out of range. Bring the Bluetooth device closer to the headphones.
• The Bluetooth connection is experiencing wireless interference. Move the headphones away from appliances such as microwave ovens and other wireless devices.
• Power cycle the device and try again.

Cannot play media using Bluetooth

Cannot connect using Bluetooth.

• Check that the power of the Bluetooth device is on and the Bluetooth function is enabled.
• Check whether the Bluetooth device is in sleep status.
• Bring the headphones and the Bluetooth device closer together.
• Turn the Bluetooth device off and back on and try again.
• Pair the devices again.
• Select A2DP as the Bluetooth connection profile on the transmitting Bluetooth device. For details, see the Owner's Manual of the Bluetooth device.
• If the USB cable is connected, remove it.
• If the audio cable is connected, remove it.

Sound is not output from the headphones when connected using Bluetooth.

• Check that audio is being played back on the Bluetooth device.
• Increase the volume. Increase the volume on the Bluetooth device if it is necessary to adjust the volume on the Bluetooth device.

Cannot make a phone call

• Some smartphones and phone apps do not support hands-free calls.

Cannot hear the caller's voice.

• Press the call button to switch to the call if it comes while you are listening to music on the headphones.
• Check that the power of the Bluetooth device is on and the Bluetooth function is enabled.
• Select HSP or HFP as the Bluetooth connection profile on the transmitting Bluetooth device. For details, see the Owner's Manual of the Bluetooth device.
• Check that the Bluetooth device is set to handle calls through the headphones. For details, see the Owner's Manual of the Bluetooth device.
• Increase the incoming call volume.

Precautions for Use

• Be sure to read the Owner's Manual of the device that you want to connect.
• Check the volume settings when using the headphones on public transport or in public places and make sure you do not disturb people around you.
• These headphones are not guaranteed to work with all combinations of Bluetooth devices/mobile phones.
• These headphones do not support connection with all Bluetooth devices/mobile phones.
• Bluetooth wireless technology can communicate over a distance of approximately 10 m. However, obstructions (people, metallic objects, walls, etc.) and radio wave conditions affect the range in which communication is possible.
• The Bluetooth device that you want to connect must support the same profile as these headphones in order to use the Bluetooth function. For details on profiles that the Bluetooth device is compatible with, see the Bluetooth device Owner's Manual.
• Due to features of Bluetooth wireless technology, playback of audio on the headphones is slightly delayed compared to the voice/audio playback on the transmitting device.

Specifications

Headphone section

Bluetooth section

USB audio component

General

*For purposes of improvement, specifications and design are subject to change without notice.

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