I sadly have to somewhat disagree about the treble complaint, for me with my set up I just find that is has excellent control and transparency throughout entire range with no sibilance whatsoever whilst retaining buttry smoothness. I play DSD and HQ quality 24 bit classical and overall sound is nothing short of superb. A little eq can go a long way if and when one doesn't like a certain frequency or sound profile. Cheers. Sources matter.
If you're listening to classical with them, it makes sense that you're enjoying the treble. Different genres tend to benefit from different tunings and classical tends to sound best with some extra treble energy and solid bass extension.
When you say that you'd want a little more bass impact and less treble, you got an easy solution which will also leave your pocket full of change: AH-D7200. I speak by having had both. Boughtvthe 9200 first, liked it but not floored. I then found an open box 7200 for 300£ and decided to get them to see how close would they get. I ended up liking them more, especially for longer sessions. Soundstage remains as you described it so no gains there. Just a bassier and less trebly signature which most would describe warmer. D9200 now sold and not missed.
@@PassionforSound yea lol few people think like that, some people think that amp is only to get music louder so cheap and expensive are the same 🤷♂ and we are stupid to invest in amps, what can you do :) we can argue but its pointless
Try the D9200 with Forza Noir HPC Mk2 cable, you will be surprised. Its sound is much more lifelike than with the factory cable. (pure copper cables are perfect for this hp)
I have these, the treble is neutral but it's definitely got some bite to it, I apply a rather surgical EQ to knock down the 5.5k, 8k and 12k by 1.5-2 dB. Smooth as butter and the detail is addictive.
These are great for listening to stand up comedy, especially on vinyl. Audience laughter is super realistic, and the timbre of hecklers is spot on. Also great for the "I Have a Dream" speech.
Also something to be aware of with these: the pads take a few weeks to wear in. At first they are quite firm and the drivers are a little farther from your ears. For me, this made the bass too lean unless I pressed on the cans. After some use, this went away and the bass response is strong the moment I put them on. This fact may influence many people's experience with these if the unit they try is brand new out of the box.
That's very interesting - thanks for letting us know! For anyone wondering, this pair were already well used by the owner so representative of long term experiences, not brand new sound.
Try the D9200 with Forza Noir HPC Mk2 cable, you will be surprised. Its sound is much more lifelike than with the factory cable. What I would be interested in is the ZMF Atrium. Based on tests and some forum posts, it could be even better. (of course also open)
Glad you're loving them - definitely a really solid closed back. I think I tried some alternate cable options that I already had, but they never quite won me over. I definitely like and respect them though, just don't love them as such
@@edwardbit8225 Yeah mate, I got 2 cables flying around here who tell a different story. But its fine, if you think cables dont make a difference, good for you, you can save that money.
@@edwardbit8225 You can't measure everything that is relevant for sound reproduction. Yes, measurements are important but don't give you the whole picture. And honestly, ASR is not a reliable source to conclusively prove anything.
I have two sets of Denon 5200s (both bought at a discount, the first three years ago). I use them for every day work/causal listening/gaming. I think that these are very nicely made headphones with good ergonomics and pretty good sound - nice bass and not fatiguing at all. They work fine with every amplifier I tried. They have limitations for sure, and these limitations apparently partly carry over to the 9200s (that are 3-4 times more expensive). I really like my 5200s, but I actually never considered getting a 7200 or 9200 - preferring another brand in that price category.
Would you consider reviewing the Denon AH-D7200 variant? They're considered very dark with a reduced treble. Drastically different sound signature to the 9200s
I agree about the CONGESTION part only. But I believe this isn't a "feature" or an "objective issue" it's a side effect of the decoration that they have that is well suited for acoustic music, country, pop, etc. They make things sound "glarey" or "shiny". There's a warmth and a glare in the treble and a mid bass hump that makes things pop in a luxurious fashion. But that doesn't work with aggressive genres. It is miraculous with moderate vocal + instrumental music. Like endgame miraculous.
@@PassionforSound I can’t say for certain as I’ve seen various forum posts of the 3 saying they are the same bio-cellulose driver from the same oem. They other posts and data say the driver denon uses is proprietary.
@@PassionforSound Pretty sure Fostex manufactures these for Denon just like they have in the past. There are some design differences (notably with the yokes) but many of the components look identical. The other Denon models such as the D series 7000, 5000 and 2000 for example were all rebranded Fostex TH models
Cannot talk of the Klipsch hut the Fostex TH900 is a more extreme, v-shape with far, far better soundstage, also more comfortable. Great basshead-grade headphone which surprisingly works well also for Classical and Jazz (which is what Inlisten): this really caught me by surprise. The 9200 is more neutral with more forward vocals.
I'd be guessing that the latter is true. It's very common for factories like Fostex to make OEM for other companies, but it's rare for them to hand over their own driver designs and specs.
Closed backs are a funny beast. I probably should have kept the Beyerdynamic T5.3 or DCA Aeon Noire as two closed backs that I really liked, but I was always searching for perfection and it probably doesn't exist ☹️
@@PassionforSound Well I kept the Noire's despite not liking them much. Another example of not following hype trains; I found them very lacking, fine for electronic music but I don't listen to much of that. Focal in my country seems to be cleaning house, I got the Celestee for 500$ and now the Radiance is 700$, so keep an eye out for sales. :D I also tried the closed back audio technica ATH-AWAS, very delicate and nice for mid range music, but perhaps over priced. Might get those in a sale someday as well.
Hey, i am getting these in 1050$ new In your opinion are these good in detailing, dynamism at this price? I like analytical, dynamic and engaging sound
I wouldn't actually describe them as smooth and rich. They're a bit "dry" for my tastes in the upper end. I hope you enjoy them because it's all personal preference, but the richness is questionable IMO.
Thanks for another great review. I have always been curious about the D9200. Most reviews seem to like them. I like the look and I would like to have a closed back. I still need to get my ears on these at some point. I wish it was easier to audition higher end headphones. I honestly don't know of anywhere local that I could listen to nicer headphones and headphone gear. I missed CanJam but I have to try to make it to the next one.
Yes, it's definitely hard when you're looking to drop significant cash without hearing the products for yourself - our ears are all a bit different. Hopefully you can make it to a CanJam as you say.
Your observations are spot on. The only thing I would add is that the bass is, to my ears at least, a bit too woody sounding. It has these slight resonances and a lack of weightlessness. Not as prominent as in the 7200, but compared to the Z1R its quite underwhelming.
@@PSN-eq4lt I don´t remember if the 7200 has more weight and bass than the 9200, but the latter is cleaner and more natural in the lows/low-mids. The Z1R is bass heavy, but the low end sounds spectacular. I pull down 3dB on a semi-wide bell at 80Hz - a low shelf filter will reduce the sub bass too and you don´t want that.
@@PSN-eq4lt The Sony definitely sounds fuller, more punchy and dynamic. Sub bass is better on the Denon in that it´s better balanced with the rest of the low end. On the Sony, the sub bass rolls off quite noticeably - but it can be improved with a parametric eq.
The Denon is not easy to drive although sensitivity and impedance would imply so. If you do not drive them with capable amplification they do not sound good and rather too two dimensional and too unsophisticated. My Beyerdynamic DT990PRO sounds better when the Denon is not driven properly. Normally they have a nice kind of edge in the highs on them. When you put them on you do not notice this peak in the highs. Longer listening it is there though. But it does depend on the amplification. The Denon is a very natural sounding headphones though. Mostly because of the mids which are natural. If these do not sound right then your amplification falls too short. With this review not really being a lot positive I reckon not enough quality amplification was used.
I can assure you that amplification was not a problem. The Chord TT2, Soloist 3X GT and Linear Tube Audio MZ3 all got a go and none transformed the headphones from what I've described. There's always going to be synergy with certain amps and headphones, but it's definitely not about power so much as the tonal character of the amp.
From a distance I can’t say what’s wrong then. Nevertheless these are great headphones. These go a real long way. A lot of people tested it and are impressed. My Beyerdynamic DT990pro is a laugh compared to the Denon. I experimented with cables but be aware that the stock cable has qualities. Especially for the correct naturalness the Denon has. If you blow that then this becomes an uninteresting headphones. I tried a fancy cable that was no succes in that way. In the end a phantom cable brought more. But it could be a lot of things that are off. I don’t doubt the quality of these headphones. You should not either. And obviously more people agree in their responds.
Thanks for your positive reaction. I don’t doubt your experience too with these headphones. I do find these are ‘tricky’ headphones as mentioned before.
I agree, the factory cable (the three-meter one) is very good. However, I use a balanced cable on a daily basis. I am also of the opinion that the degree of amplification matters, although the impedance does not indicate it. They scale well with the EQ. I like them more with warm amps, less with thx aaa amps. I found that they get a great synergy with xduoo xd05 bal and bal2. These are headphones that need to be known properly, they can have many faces. I love them.
I'm on the verge of selling my Aeon Noires for these. My problem with the Noires is the imaging just isn't reliable for gaming or anything that sets a stage, probably pretty similar to what you describe here about the center being quite narrow, except for voices. And for music, well I don't mind them being overdamped, but I don't like how there's a bit of missing energy and tone around 2khz. On top of them being portable, but requiring an unportable amp to power them properly. How do these fair on a bald head for 4+ hours?
@@PassionforSound Yeah those keep being brought up. I have the T1.2 right now, do the T5 have missing energy around 2khz as well? It's the only thing that really bothers me as it takes the magic away from voices.
Hi and happy new year, for the same price, 700-800€(2nd hand) what do you recommend between this and focal radiance? I had denon d5200 and 7200, liked both. Mainly listen rock and metal. Thanks in advance for your help
@@PassionforSound Thank you - and very interesting! I have DCA A2 Noire and after one week of listening to Fostex TH X00 I realized how much Noire lacks in bass slam and macro dynamics. Yes I know , Fostex is kind of extreme in bass performance and tonal balance. So, I thought that Denon D9200 could be an improvement from Noire. Now I really need to audition D9200 somehow.
From what you've tried, what would you rate the best in regards to technicalities, layering, seperation, resolution in a closed back headphone? The Stellia are impressive.
It took me a while to pair them with the right DAC and Amp to my taste. DAC pairing was the hardest part. I choose Topping D70S with filter setting#4 Amp is Feliks Echo MK2 All stock cables are replaced for Audioquest. The bass is amazing deep and powerful. Try a good version of Fly me to the moon by Frank Sinatra.
Wow! That's a tough one. I think the Liric is more technically capable, but perhaps a little harder to listen to (depending on source chain and genres). If you offered me one of the two though, I'd probably take the Lirics.
Good morning from Finland. Id like to know if these are good for death and/or black metal? Im thinking Cthulu from Alkaloid for death and something like Black Waves from Abigail Williams for black. Thanks!
Hey Lachlan, thank you for this nice overview. I had the chance to listen to the D9200 at my local hifi dealer. I mostly agree with your results. They are decent for closed backs, but not exceptional for the price. Comparing them with the closed backs that might play in a similar range (all a bit less expensive thought), I prefer my Focal Celestee and Beyerdynamic T5 3rd gen. Even the DT 1770 Pro don't have to hide behind the Denons considering the price difference.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Rainer. It's a shame I didn't have any closed backs when these came through, but your suggested alternatives all make a lot of sense to me!
@Passion for Sound Well, you can't provide everything at the same time. As most ("audiophile") people go for open back, it makes sense that you don't have lots of closed back headphones. I would love to lend a pair or two of my closed backs to you. I think it's a bit difficult due to customs, though as you're located in Australia and I'm in Germany. If you see a way to do it, please let me know.
Thank you for the thought, but you're right that shipping cost and time can make it problematic, even before customs duties. I'm starting to build back up now to have some options with the HarmonicDyne Athena, HiFiMan Sundara Closed and ZMF Atrium Closed in house for now. No doubt there'll be more in the future too.
I like mine and listened quite a bit on them until I got the HE1000 V2 Stealth which one upped them in many ways. I now know the limitations of both dynamic drivers, and closed backs. If anyone has not tried a good open backed planar, I highly suggest it. But for what these are, I think they've done as good of a job as they could, and I still go back to them sometimes. They are pleasing, a bit warm, mostly non fatiguing. I can see why some might feel they are boring, and others might feel they are just right.
Haha, not the pink shirt. It's entirely an issue with a new recording setup I was trying to get to work so I could simplify my workflow. I've reverted to my old system now though so production quality will return to normal over the next few videos. (I think 3-4 videos have this problem, but can't recall when they're all due out)
I'd stick with a pure copper cable. The brand doesn't matter, but I'd try to find a good quality pure copper litz. The Apos Flow cables are one of my favourites for price and performance, but for full disclosure, I also sell them here in Australia so I'm a little biased.
These do have dual entries (i.e. a plug on each cup) so you could use a "balanced" cable. Whether it is better depends a lot on the amp you're using though. Not all amps sound better balanced and the headphones don't care either way - it's just about getting the best quality from the source to the headphone.
@@PassionforSound thank you I use a fiio m17 And with symetric it delivers definetely more Power regarding its specs Could you recommend a good headphone amplifier around 1200€?
I'd look at the Geshelli Labs A3 Pro or Aune S17 Pro. Both sit well inside your budget, but are excellent for the money and you'd need to spend more than your budget to beat them.
Im treble sensitive and hear no excess treble with these. Nor do I listen to much classical (hiphop, jazz, electronic, acoustic) I mentioned this phantom treble to others who were also baffled. If these have too much treble he1000v2 must be near unlistenable. Or is it HTRF?
We all have different treble sensitivities depending on the shape and size of our ear canals (i.e. which exact frequencies can cause us problems) so this isn't surprising. Just scanning through these comments, there are those saying the same as you and those agreeing with me. Both are correct 🙂 I discussed it in detail here: ua-cam.com/video/Y41oQTfDWiI/v-deo.html
I have Denon d5200; overall they sound good, but the bass sounds like it farted into a pillow; there is no clear punch. Denon d9200, in my opinion, they are unfinished, precisely because there are a ton of high frequencies, there are simply a lot of them, plus they are also emphasized. As for me, if I removed from 15% to 25% of the treble and slightly made the bass bolder and boosted by 1 dB, it would be valuable. And so you have to know what an equalizer is and constantly adjust something in it.
These are my No1 choice in that price range.. The diminishing returns are STEEP after these.. I am surprised to hear you thought the treble was off, that definetily left me with second thoughts. Btw the video is really choppy, I just tested by downloading the video as well - you probably know.
Glad you're enjoying the 9200s. Audio is always very subjective. When I recorded this, I was trying some new setups to streamline my production. Needless to say, from the choppy-ness you saw, that approach failed. 🙂
@@PassionforSound I don't own them but I've been eyeing them they were my first pick then you came out with this video :) I was very disappointed in treble on the Cincotres as well it also comes off "un-natural" with bright emphasis like some ambient, shimmering even!
I actually prefer the D7200 with EQ. D9200 has issues with dynamics and sounds congested with fast, bassy and layered music. The price is also absurd for the sound quality.
The tech used in those was acquired from Nura and it's excellent (but not new as such). It was available in the Nuraphone, Nuraloop and one other model IIRC. The output from that system is excellent if the target curve chosen by the designers is a good one.
@@PassionforSound I got my Hifiman HER9 set up with the Hiby DAP, but thinking of picking up something not quite as ostentatious (proud of it cuz MasseriaFTW!) and am thinking about these or the Technica AZ80. Might go for the Denons. Thinking I'll have access to the Hiby App PEQ and MSEB to tweak the sounds as well.
That treble issue you are talking about is easily fixable with full copper cable. In this case I would not recommend any silver containing cable if you think the treble are too much. These are one of the best closed backs out there!
A pure copper cable can help a little, but that's what I was using and it's not enough to completely resolve it for anyone like me. Thankfully, we all hear a little differently so this headphone will be great for some people.
I have Denon D9200 and Sennheiser HD650. I found out that Denon D9200s are picky at sources more than amplifications. The more I upgrade the sources the better these headphones are. I agree that these headphones are 2.5D the soundstage has a little depth. The midrange somehow has a dip and peaky at treble that make these headphones a bit bright. I think the synergy of these headphones should pair with neutral to dark equipments. These are more comfortable than Sennheiser HD650s. I also like Denon D9200 more than Sennheiser HD650 which makes me feel slow, bored and veiled. Overall a good solid build headphone with good sound quality but not great.
Thank you for your review, but I have to disagree with your take this time. I feel that with a little bit of a cable upgrade (warmer and bassier cable) can really correct most of your issues with the D9200. I agree that the treble can be a touch strong but I have never felt that the D9200 lacks any resolution in anyway and this is coming from the Stax 009 owner. Due to somewhat of a narrow earcup, the depth of the soundstage is limited but the spatial cues are still very solid compared to other top end closed back headphones such as the Z1R, HD820, and ES-R10. I also found the D9200 to do a lot right and little wrong. Most importantly for me, they are very musical, easy to power, and sound great to my ears out of anything I own. Did you try them out of a balanced source and amp or top end DAPs given the balanced can help with rendering a more realistic soundscape as well as separation and congestion.
I was using these from multiple sources including a Chord TT2 and M-Scaler so source quality wasn't an issue. I also used a quality copper litz cable. I think what this is coming down to is that we all have slightly different treble sensitivities due to our ear anatomy so what's a little spicy for me might be just fine for someone else. Overall, I agree with what you've said in that they don't do much wrong, but they're still a bit hot for my ears, even with nice sources and cables. For others, like you, they might be just right 🙂
Can't go further to this video.... Did you ever heard about sterero ? Did you try it on your phone ? This one and only restitutes the exact work of studio musician and engineers' work. JUST THAT.
@@PassionforSound I can understand. It is very subjective. But how can you know that it would not be accurate to the recordings since you probably were not there during the recording sessions and the mix mastering ?
The reality is that chasing accuracy to a recording is a futile endeavour because if you aren't matching the exact source chain used in the studio then you'll never hear the same thing. I was simply responding to your claim that the D9200s do exactly what you're saying is impossible to gauge.
I have owned a couple of mid tier Denon headphones. Whereas my feeling is that they were good value at their respective price points. For lack of any relevant vocabulary here, their sound signature struck me as distant or light. I became bored with them. Not a criticism ,as it simply came down to preference and I have found some technically great great headphones in the great chasm of boredom.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Tim. I have only spent significant time with the D9200s. Interesting to hear that the mid tiers lack excitement/engagement. I wonder if it's a house sound of theirs and maybe even a cultural choice based on local preferences?
This will be highly subjective, but you can simply buy D7200 and push treble in EQ to absurd levels. D9200 are super convenient, but I don't like the sound.
Oh my... IT IS AN AUDIOPHILE HEADPHONE... Not a geek one....Bamboo is not particular and casual ? Oh My.... Everyone is hand-crafted unique and make part of THE UNCREDIBLE SOUND OF THIS HEADPHONES....
@@PassionforSound I meant every headphone is hand made pieces by pieces and no bamboo part is the same. Plus this material have amazing properties that you denial in your video. Sad
@@PassionforSound Premium Sound The AH-D9200 Headphones offer high quality sound from this flagship model. 50mm FreeEdge drivers manufactured in Japan are built for rigidity and low mass, in order to cancel out unwanted resonances. Low distortion and accurate sound is produced from the nanofiber diaphragm, whilst the driver is mounted on a resin baffle, engineered to reduce vibrations. The FreeEdge driver is driven by a 1 Tesla strength Neodymium magnet, comprised of neodymium, iron and boron, and is able to drive the diaphragm with much lower distortion due to its strength. The overall effect is an exemplary headphone driver for clean and audiophile quality from the AH-D9200. Bamboo Housing A noticeable feature of the Denon AH-D9200 headphones is the Japanese bamboo wood housing. Selected for its exceptional acoustic properties, the Japanese bamboo reduces unwanted resonance to produce a detailed sound and bring a warmth to your music. The bamboo is hand crafted in Japan, where special care is taken in creating the AH-D9200 headphones. Due to the distinct pattern of the wood, no two pairs of AH-D9200 headphones are the same, so they not only make the music sound better, but they look great too.
I think you've bought into the marketing a little too hard. Every brand has their own version of this for each different headphone. It doesn't mean that it's not true to some degree, but it doesn't make any headphone better than any other because they're focussing only on the positives of their design and not the shortcomings. For example, the compact size of the D9200 cups is likely contributing to their very flat soundstage because there's not much space for driver angling and acoustic treatment. Likewise, the driver design is definitely very responsive and quite resolving, but might be compromising on other factors like the speed of decay (gives weight and body to the sound) or the self-damping of certain resonances that can lead to a brighter and more aggressive sound.
Ugly choice of songs (1), CD QUALITY TEST (? 🤔)...... Testing an HIFI Headphones with CD QUALITY and analyse it.................. From Blue in green to Hey Nineteen (learn about this one please), EVERY INSRUMENT IS CLEARLY BRINGING TO OUR EARS EVERY DISCERNABLE fqz AS NEVER BEFORE.PERIOD.
I sadly have to somewhat disagree about the treble complaint, for me with my set up I just find that is has excellent control and transparency throughout entire range with no sibilance whatsoever whilst retaining buttry smoothness. I play DSD and HQ quality 24 bit classical and overall sound is nothing short of superb. A little eq can go a long way if and when one doesn't like a certain frequency or sound profile. Cheers. Sources matter.
If you're listening to classical with them, it makes sense that you're enjoying the treble. Different genres tend to benefit from different tunings and classical tends to sound best with some extra treble energy and solid bass extension.
When you say that you'd want a little more bass impact and less treble, you got an easy solution which will also leave your pocket full of change: AH-D7200.
I speak by having had both. Boughtvthe 9200 first, liked it but not floored. I then found an open box 7200 for 300£ and decided to get them to see how close would they get. I ended up liking them more, especially for longer sessions. Soundstage remains as you described it so no gains there. Just a bassier and less trebly signature which most would describe warmer. D9200 now sold and not missed.
That's really interesting. Thanks, Andrea! I'll see if a D7200 can cross my path. 🙂
Hows the soundstage compared vs like airpods max with 3d on?
Any 3D processing will make it hard to compare, but I also haven't tried the Airpods Max.
@@PassionforSound 👍
Per me ci sono 3db di troppo su tutto il basso
This is my favorite closed back I prefer it over the Liric and verite closed
Wow! That's a big call, but I'm glad you're enjoying it so much - that's all that matters 🙂
@@PassionforSound yea lol few people think like that, some people think that amp is only to get music louder so cheap and expensive are the same 🤷♂ and we are stupid to invest in amps, what can you do :) we can argue but its pointless
Yep 🙂
Try the D9200 with Forza Noir HPC Mk2 cable, you will be surprised. Its sound is much more lifelike than with the factory cable. (pure copper cables are perfect for this hp)
I have these, the treble is neutral but it's definitely got some bite to it, I apply a rather surgical EQ to knock down the 5.5k, 8k and 12k by 1.5-2 dB. Smooth as butter and the detail is addictive.
That makes a lot of sense to just tweak those treble peaks. Glad you're enjoying them so much!
These are great for listening to stand up comedy, especially on vinyl. Audience laughter is super realistic, and the timbre of hecklers is spot on. Also great for the "I Have a Dream" speech.
LoL - there's a musical niche
Rivers Of Blood speech sounded even better!
L O L
Also something to be aware of with these: the pads take a few weeks to wear in. At first they are quite firm and the drivers are a little farther from your ears. For me, this made the bass too lean unless I pressed on the cans. After some use, this went away and the bass response is strong the moment I put them on. This fact may influence many people's experience with these if the unit they try is brand new out of the box.
That's very interesting - thanks for letting us know!
For anyone wondering, this pair were already well used by the owner so representative of long term experiences, not brand new sound.
Try the D9200 with Forza Noir HPC Mk2 cable, you will be surprised. Its sound is much more lifelike than with the factory cable. What I would be interested in is the ZMF Atrium. Based on tests and some forum posts, it could be even better. (of course also open)
Personally, I like the D9200 with pure silver cable. Cables made a huge difference for me, totally love it
Glad you're loving them - definitely a really solid closed back. I think I tried some alternate cable options that I already had, but they never quite won me over. I definitely like and respect them though, just don't love them as such
@@edwardbit8225 Yeah mate, I got 2 cables flying around here who tell a different story. But its fine, if you think cables dont make a difference, good for you, you can save that money.
Scientifically measuring some variable does not equal scientific proof of effect
@@edwardbit8225 You can't measure everything that is relevant for sound reproduction. Yes, measurements are important but don't give you the whole picture. And honestly, ASR is not a reliable source to conclusively prove anything.
I own the D9200's and enjoy them. Who makes the pure silver cables that you are using with the D9200? Thanks
I have two sets of Denon 5200s (both bought at a discount, the first three years ago). I use them for every day work/causal listening/gaming. I think that these are very nicely made headphones with good ergonomics and pretty good sound - nice bass and not fatiguing at all. They work fine with every amplifier I tried. They have limitations for sure, and these limitations apparently partly carry over to the 9200s (that are 3-4 times more expensive). I really like my 5200s, but I actually never considered getting a 7200 or 9200 - preferring another brand in that price category.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Alpha.
Would you consider reviewing the Denon AH-D7200 variant? They're considered very dark with a reduced treble. Drastically different sound signature to the 9200s
I'd definitely consider it, but currently have no contact to access them unless someone loans me their own pair.
I agree about the CONGESTION part only. But I believe this isn't a "feature" or an "objective issue" it's a side effect of the decoration that they have that is well suited for acoustic music, country, pop, etc. They make things sound "glarey" or "shiny". There's a warmth and a glare in the treble and a mid bass hump that makes things pop in a luxurious fashion. But that doesn't work with aggressive genres.
It is miraculous with moderate vocal + instrumental music. Like endgame miraculous.
I'm glad that you like them!
Has anyone compared the denon d9200 vs fostex th900mk2 vs Klipsch hp3? I believe they are all using the same biocellulose dynamic drivers.
Are they actually the same driver or just using the same tech from Fostex? I.e. same impedance, etc.? I've not checked so they definitely could be 🙂
@@PassionforSound I can’t say for certain as I’ve seen various forum posts of the 3 saying they are the same bio-cellulose driver from the same oem. They other posts and data say the driver denon uses is proprietary.
@@PassionforSound
Pretty sure Fostex manufactures these for Denon just like they have in the past. There are some design differences (notably with the yokes) but many of the components look identical. The other Denon models such as the D series 7000, 5000 and 2000 for example were all rebranded Fostex TH models
Cannot talk of the Klipsch hut the Fostex TH900 is a more extreme, v-shape with far, far better soundstage, also more comfortable. Great basshead-grade headphone which surprisingly works well also for Classical and Jazz (which is what Inlisten): this really caught me by surprise. The 9200 is more neutral with more forward vocals.
I'd be guessing that the latter is true. It's very common for factories like Fostex to make OEM for other companies, but it's rare for them to hand over their own driver designs and specs.
I realized recently that I don't like most closed backs. The only one I like is the Celestee, but mostly for its tonality and timbre.
thought so myself but not anymore since I own verite closed
Closed backs are a funny beast. I probably should have kept the Beyerdynamic T5.3 or DCA Aeon Noire as two closed backs that I really liked, but I was always searching for perfection and it probably doesn't exist ☹️
@@PassionforSound Well I kept the Noire's despite not liking them much. Another example of not following hype trains; I found them very lacking, fine for electronic music but I don't listen to much of that. Focal in my country seems to be cleaning house, I got the Celestee for 500$ and now the Radiance is 700$, so keep an eye out for sales. :D I also tried the closed back audio technica ATH-AWAS, very delicate and nice for mid range music, but perhaps over priced. Might get those in a sale someday as well.
Hey, i am getting these in 1050$ new
In your opinion are these good in detailing, dynamism at this price?
I like analytical, dynamic and engaging sound
Yes!
If you like analytical and dynamic sound, that should suit you well, I think. Hope you love them!
@@PassionforSound thank you
I like analytical sound also being rich and smooth not thin
These do that well, right?
I wouldn't actually describe them as smooth and rich. They're a bit "dry" for my tastes in the upper end. I hope you enjoy them because it's all personal preference, but the richness is questionable IMO.
@@PassionforSound did you eq them, if yes did they fix these problems for you?
Thanks for another great review. I have always been curious about the D9200. Most reviews seem to like them. I like the look and I would like to have a closed back. I still need to get my ears on these at some point. I wish it was easier to audition higher end headphones. I honestly don't know of anywhere local that I could listen to nicer headphones and headphone gear. I missed CanJam but I have to try to make it to the next one.
Yes, it's definitely hard when you're looking to drop significant cash without hearing the products for yourself - our ears are all a bit different. Hopefully you can make it to a CanJam as you say.
in Europe we can buy, try, and send back without any cost if we don't like it.
That's a nice position to be in
Your observations are spot on. The only thing I would add is that the bass is, to my ears at least, a bit too woody sounding. It has these slight resonances and a lack of weightlessness. Not as prominent as in the 7200, but compared to the Z1R its quite underwhelming.
Thanks for adding your impressions!
So, according to you d7200 has more weight and bass than d9200 and how d7200 compares to z1r?
@@PSN-eq4lt I don´t remember if the 7200 has more weight and bass than the 9200, but the latter is cleaner and more natural in the lows/low-mids. The Z1R is bass heavy, but the low end sounds spectacular. I pull down 3dB on a semi-wide bell at 80Hz - a low shelf filter will reduce the sub bass too and you don´t want that.
@@jaegervand2112 which is more punchy, hard and dynamic z1r or d9200?
@@PSN-eq4lt The Sony definitely sounds fuller, more punchy and dynamic. Sub bass is better on the Denon in that it´s better balanced with the rest of the low end. On the Sony, the sub bass rolls off quite noticeably - but it can be improved with a parametric eq.
The Denon is not easy to drive although sensitivity and impedance would imply so. If you do not drive them with capable amplification they do not sound good and rather too two dimensional and too unsophisticated. My Beyerdynamic DT990PRO sounds better when the Denon is not driven properly. Normally they have a nice kind of edge in the highs on them. When you put them on you do not notice this peak in the highs. Longer listening it is there though. But it does depend on the amplification. The Denon is a very natural sounding headphones though. Mostly because of the mids which are natural. If these do not sound right then your amplification falls too short. With this review not really being a lot positive I reckon not enough quality amplification was used.
I can assure you that amplification was not a problem. The Chord TT2, Soloist 3X GT and Linear Tube Audio MZ3 all got a go and none transformed the headphones from what I've described. There's always going to be synergy with certain amps and headphones, but it's definitely not about power so much as the tonal character of the amp.
From a distance I can’t say what’s wrong then. Nevertheless these are great headphones. These go a real long way. A lot of people tested it and are impressed. My Beyerdynamic DT990pro is a laugh compared to the Denon. I experimented with cables but be aware that the stock cable has qualities. Especially for the correct naturalness the Denon has. If you blow that then this becomes an uninteresting headphones. I tried a fancy cable that was no succes in that way. In the end a phantom cable brought more. But it could be a lot of things that are off. I don’t doubt the quality of these headphones. You should not either. And obviously more people agree in their responds.
Absolutely. I'm not saying that you or others shouldn't like them. Your experiences with the cables are interesting too - thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your positive reaction. I don’t doubt your experience too with these headphones. I do find these are ‘tricky’ headphones as mentioned before.
I agree, the factory cable (the three-meter one) is very good. However, I use a balanced cable on a daily basis. I am also of the opinion that the degree of amplification matters, although the impedance does not indicate it. They scale well with the EQ. I like them more with warm amps, less with thx aaa amps. I found that they get a great synergy with xduoo xd05 bal and bal2. These are headphones that need to be known properly, they can have many faces. I love them.
I'm on the verge of selling my Aeon Noires for these. My problem with the Noires is the imaging just isn't reliable for gaming or anything that sets a stage, probably pretty similar to what you describe here about the center being quite narrow, except for voices.
And for music, well I don't mind them being overdamped, but I don't like how there's a bit of missing energy and tone around 2khz. On top of them being portable, but requiring an unportable amp to power them properly.
How do these fair on a bald head for 4+ hours?
I found them ok, but not amazing for comfort. I'd probably look at the Beyerdynamic T5 3rd gen as potentially better options though
@@PassionforSound Yeah those keep being brought up. I have the T1.2 right now, do the T5 have missing energy around 2khz as well? It's the only thing that really bothers me as it takes the magic away from voices.
I don't remember their exact tuning, but I'll have a graph in my review of them (I think) that should give you some sense of their sound)
Yay! Thanks for the shout out! ... =D
Thank you for lending me the headphones!! 🙏🙂
Hey Passion for Sound! Thanks Much !.......
🙂
Hi and happy new year, for the same price, 700-800€(2nd hand) what do you recommend between this and focal radiance? I had denon d5200 and 7200, liked both. Mainly listen rock and metal. Thanks in advance for your help
I haven't tried the Radiance so I can't be certain, but if I were buying blind, I'd put my money on the Radiance.
Hello very great explained review
Aeon 2 noire vs denon d9200 whats better?
I'd choose the Aeon 2 Noire every time. They're a brilliant closed back
@@PassionforSoundplease review denon d7200, its thick sounding headphone and rate it price to performance ratio
Thanks
I'll see if I can get a demo unit to review. That's really the deciding factor in what gets in the channel because I can't afford to buy all the gear.
@@PassionforSound i will look forward to it
Im now liking your reviews and opinions
@@PassionforSound Thank you - and very interesting! I have DCA A2 Noire and after one week of listening to Fostex TH X00 I realized how much Noire lacks in bass slam and macro dynamics. Yes I know , Fostex is kind of extreme in bass performance and tonal balance. So, I thought that Denon D9200 could be an improvement from Noire. Now I really need to audition D9200 somehow.
From what you've tried, what would you rate the best in regards to technicalities, layering, seperation, resolution in a closed back headphone? The Stellia are impressive.
In closed backs? I haven't tried the Stellia, but the best closed backs I've tried are the DCA Stealth and ZMF Atrium Closed and Vérité Closed.
It took me a while to pair them with the right DAC and Amp to my taste. DAC pairing was the hardest part. I choose Topping D70S with filter setting#4
Amp is Feliks Echo MK2
All stock cables are replaced for Audioquest.
The bass is amazing deep and powerful. Try a good version of Fly me to the moon by Frank Sinatra.
That makes a lot of sense that a nice tube amp like that would work so well with them.
Thoughts on how these stack up vs the Meze Liric?
Wow! That's a tough one. I think the Liric is more technically capable, but perhaps a little harder to listen to (depending on source chain and genres). If you offered me one of the two though, I'd probably take the Lirics.
Good morning from Finland. Id like to know if these are good for death and/or black metal? Im thinking Cthulu from Alkaloid for death and something like Black Waves from Abigail Williams for black. Thanks!
I'm afraid I don't listen to those genres so I'm not sure what characteristics you'd be wanting for that sort of music.
Hey Lachlan, thank you for this nice overview. I had the chance to listen to the D9200 at my local hifi dealer. I mostly agree with your results. They are decent for closed backs, but not exceptional for the price. Comparing them with the closed backs that might play in a similar range (all a bit less expensive thought), I prefer my Focal Celestee and Beyerdynamic T5 3rd gen. Even the DT 1770 Pro don't have to hide behind the Denons considering the price difference.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Rainer. It's a shame I didn't have any closed backs when these came through, but your suggested alternatives all make a lot of sense to me!
@Passion for Sound Well, you can't provide everything at the same time. As most ("audiophile") people go for open back, it makes sense that you don't have lots of closed back headphones. I would love to lend a pair or two of my closed backs to you. I think it's a bit difficult due to customs, though as you're located in Australia and I'm in Germany. If you see a way to do it, please let me know.
Thank you for the thought, but you're right that shipping cost and time can make it problematic, even before customs duties. I'm starting to build back up now to have some options with the HarmonicDyne Athena, HiFiMan Sundara Closed and ZMF Atrium Closed in house for now. No doubt there'll be more in the future too.
I like mine and listened quite a bit on them until I got the HE1000 V2 Stealth which one upped them in many ways. I now know the limitations of both dynamic drivers, and closed backs.
If anyone has not tried a good open backed planar, I highly suggest it.
But for what these are, I think they've done as good of a job as they could, and I still go back to them sometimes. They are pleasing, a bit warm, mostly non fatiguing. I can see why some might feel they are boring, and others might feel they are just right.
Thanks for sharing your experiences
Seems like you have a frame rate issue with the video. Maybe it's a visual illusion caused by the pink shirt.
Haha, not the pink shirt. It's entirely an issue with a new recording setup I was trying to get to work so I could simplify my workflow. I've reverted to my old system now though so production quality will return to normal over the next few videos. (I think 3-4 videos have this problem, but can't recall when they're all due out)
@@PassionforSound I was also going to say something about the frame rate. I knew something was off.
Which cables do you recommend for Denon AH-D9200 headphones?
- Pure copper?
- Hybrid (silver + copper)?
Any particular maker/s?
I'd stick with a pure copper cable. The brand doesn't matter, but I'd try to find a good quality pure copper litz. The Apos Flow cables are one of my favourites for price and performance, but for full disclosure, I also sell them here in Australia so I'm a little biased.
@@PassionforSound
Thank you. 👍🏻
I'll continue searching manufacturers here in Europe.
Cheers!
Is it possible to use it with 2,5mm or 4,4mm cable so that it would be symetric, and would this be an improvement?
These do have dual entries (i.e. a plug on each cup) so you could use a "balanced" cable. Whether it is better depends a lot on the amp you're using though. Not all amps sound better balanced and the headphones don't care either way - it's just about getting the best quality from the source to the headphone.
@@PassionforSound thank you
I use a fiio m17
And with symetric it delivers definetely more Power regarding its specs
Could you recommend a good headphone amplifier around 1200€?
I'd look at the Geshelli Labs A3 Pro or Aune S17 Pro. Both sit well inside your budget, but are excellent for the money and you'd need to spend more than your budget to beat them.
Im treble sensitive and hear no excess treble with these. Nor do I listen to much classical (hiphop, jazz, electronic, acoustic)
I mentioned this phantom treble to others who were also baffled.
If these have too much treble he1000v2 must be near unlistenable.
Or is it HTRF?
We all have different treble sensitivities depending on the shape and size of our ear canals (i.e. which exact frequencies can cause us problems) so this isn't surprising. Just scanning through these comments, there are those saying the same as you and those agreeing with me. Both are correct 🙂
I discussed it in detail here: ua-cam.com/video/Y41oQTfDWiI/v-deo.html
I have Denon d5200; overall they sound good, but the bass sounds like it farted into a pillow; there is no clear punch.
Denon d9200, in my opinion, they are unfinished, precisely because there are a ton of high frequencies, there are simply a lot of them, plus they are also emphasized.
As for me, if I removed from 15% to 25% of the treble and slightly made the bass bolder and boosted by 1 dB, it would be valuable.
And so you have to know what an equalizer is and constantly adjust something in it.
That's interesting to hear. Thanks for sharing!
lcd x vs d9200 which one would you choose in sound?
I haven't tried the LCD-X so can't say - sorry!
@@PassionforSound did you tried d7200?
No, I haven't.
LCD-XC is a better comparation.
True. I don't have that one either though 🙂
These are my No1 choice in that price range.. The diminishing returns are STEEP after these.. I am surprised to hear you thought the treble was off, that definetily left me with second thoughts. Btw the video is really choppy, I just tested by downloading the video as well - you probably know.
Glad you're enjoying the 9200s. Audio is always very subjective.
When I recorded this, I was trying some new setups to streamline my production. Needless to say, from the choppy-ness you saw, that approach failed. 🙂
@@PassionforSound I don't own them but I've been eyeing them they were my first pick then you came out with this video :) I was very disappointed in treble on the Cincotres as well it also comes off "un-natural" with bright emphasis like some ambient, shimmering even!
I actually prefer the D7200 with EQ. D9200 has issues with dynamics and sounds congested with fast, bassy and layered music. The price is also absurd for the sound quality.
I've not tried the D7200. I think the D9200 is probably stretching the value proposition as you say.
You should check out the new Denon Perl Pro. It's the next big thing.
The tech used in those was acquired from Nura and it's excellent (but not new as such). It was available in the Nuraphone, Nuraloop and one other model IIRC. The output from that system is excellent if the target curve chosen by the designers is a good one.
@@PassionforSound I got my Hifiman HER9 set up with the Hiby DAP, but thinking of picking up something not quite as ostentatious (proud of it cuz MasseriaFTW!) and am thinking about these or the Technica AZ80. Might go for the Denons. Thinking I'll have access to the Hiby App PEQ and MSEB to tweak the sounds as well.
Having a touch of EQ available might really make these a solid choice for your needs.
How would these compare to the Meze 109 Pro?
To me, they're not even in the same league. The 109s are a far more complete and technically capable sounding headphone.
Thanks for this. I found the 9200 too uncomfortable, I don’t like it’s headband. It created a hotspot for me on the top of my head.
I can understand that. It seems we're all very different with how/where each headband makes contact with our scalps.
That treble issue you are talking about is easily fixable with full copper cable. In this case I would not recommend any silver containing cable if you think the treble are too much. These are one of the best closed backs out there!
A pure copper cable can help a little, but that's what I was using and it's not enough to completely resolve it for anyone like me. Thankfully, we all hear a little differently so this headphone will be great for some people.
I have Denon D9200 and Sennheiser HD650. I found out that Denon D9200s are picky at sources more than amplifications. The more I upgrade the sources the better these headphones are. I agree that these headphones are 2.5D the soundstage has a little depth. The midrange somehow has a dip and peaky at treble that make these headphones a bit bright. I think the synergy of these headphones should pair with neutral to dark equipments. These are more comfortable than Sennheiser HD650s. I also like Denon D9200 more than Sennheiser HD650 which makes me feel slow, bored and veiled. Overall a good solid build headphone with good sound quality but not great.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with them, Midori!
Thank you for your review, but I have to disagree with your take this time. I feel that with a little bit of a cable upgrade (warmer and bassier cable) can really correct most of your issues with the D9200. I agree that the treble can be a touch strong but I have never felt that the D9200 lacks any resolution in anyway and this is coming from the Stax 009 owner. Due to somewhat of a narrow earcup, the depth of the soundstage is limited but the spatial cues are still very solid compared to other top end closed back headphones such as the Z1R, HD820, and ES-R10. I also found the D9200 to do a lot right and little wrong. Most importantly for me, they are very musical, easy to power, and sound great to my ears out of anything I own. Did you try them out of a balanced source and amp or top end DAPs given the balanced can help with rendering a more realistic soundscape as well as separation and congestion.
I was using these from multiple sources including a Chord TT2 and M-Scaler so source quality wasn't an issue. I also used a quality copper litz cable.
I think what this is coming down to is that we all have slightly different treble sensitivities due to our ear anatomy so what's a little spicy for me might be just fine for someone else. Overall, I agree with what you've said in that they don't do much wrong, but they're still a bit hot for my ears, even with nice sources and cables. For others, like you, they might be just right 🙂
Can't go further to this video.... Did you ever heard about sterero ? Did you try it on your phone ? This one and only restitutes the exact work of studio musician and engineers' work. JUST THAT.
I tried it on lots of sources and I don't really agree that it's accurate to the recordings (very few headphones actually are)
@@PassionforSound I can understand. It is very subjective. But how can you know that it would not be accurate to the recordings since you probably were not there during the recording sessions and the mix mastering ?
The reality is that chasing accuracy to a recording is a futile endeavour because if you aren't matching the exact source chain used in the studio then you'll never hear the same thing. I was simply responding to your claim that the D9200s do exactly what you're saying is impossible to gauge.
I have owned a couple of mid tier Denon headphones. Whereas my feeling is that they were good value at their respective price points. For lack of any relevant vocabulary here, their sound signature struck me as distant or light. I became bored with them. Not a criticism ,as it simply came down to preference and I have found some technically great great headphones in the great chasm of boredom.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Tim. I have only spent significant time with the D9200s. Interesting to hear that the mid tiers lack excitement/engagement. I wonder if it's a house sound of theirs and maybe even a cultural choice based on local preferences?
they even look boring 😆
😂
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as they say
This will be highly subjective, but you can simply buy D7200 and push treble in EQ to absurd levels. D9200 are super convenient, but I don't like the sound.
These are my favourite closed backs. I love them
Glad you're enjoying them! It's good that we have so many options available because we all hear a bit differently after all.
Input 1.8W.!!! Respect
Haha. Like a headphone AND a battery 🤣
Oh my... IT IS AN AUDIOPHILE HEADPHONE... Not a geek one....Bamboo is not particular and casual ? Oh My.... Everyone is hand-crafted unique and make part of THE UNCREDIBLE SOUND OF THIS HEADPHONES....
Are you saying the bamboo cups are hand made? I don't believe that's the case
@@PassionforSound I meant every headphone is hand made pieces by pieces and no bamboo part is the same. Plus this material have amazing properties that you denial in your video. Sad
@@PassionforSound Premium Sound
The AH-D9200 Headphones offer high quality sound from this flagship model. 50mm FreeEdge drivers manufactured in Japan are built for rigidity and low mass, in order to cancel out unwanted resonances. Low distortion and accurate sound is produced from the nanofiber diaphragm, whilst the driver is mounted on a resin baffle, engineered to reduce vibrations. The FreeEdge driver is driven by a 1 Tesla strength Neodymium magnet, comprised of neodymium, iron and boron, and is able to drive the diaphragm with much lower distortion due to its strength. The overall effect is an exemplary headphone driver for clean and audiophile quality from the AH-D9200.
Bamboo Housing
A noticeable feature of the Denon AH-D9200 headphones is the Japanese bamboo wood housing. Selected for its exceptional acoustic properties, the Japanese bamboo reduces unwanted resonance to produce a detailed sound and bring a warmth to your music. The bamboo is hand crafted in Japan, where special care is taken in creating the AH-D9200 headphones. Due to the distinct pattern of the wood, no two pairs of AH-D9200 headphones are the same, so they not only make the music sound better, but they look great too.
I think you've bought into the marketing a little too hard. Every brand has their own version of this for each different headphone. It doesn't mean that it's not true to some degree, but it doesn't make any headphone better than any other because they're focussing only on the positives of their design and not the shortcomings. For example, the compact size of the D9200 cups is likely contributing to their very flat soundstage because there's not much space for driver angling and acoustic treatment. Likewise, the driver design is definitely very responsive and quite resolving, but might be compromising on other factors like the speed of decay (gives weight and body to the sound) or the self-damping of certain resonances that can lead to a brighter and more aggressive sound.
@@PassionforSound BS
no idea why this upload stutter for me but it is xD
you goofed up the framerate on this video
I was trialing a different production process (recorded this ages ago now) and yes, it messed up the framerates ☹️
They sound fairly blah.
I can definitely understand that opinion. I didn't mind them, but also didn't like them as such
Definitely not for everybody...
I tried the AH-D9200 a few years ago and did not think they were worth the price tag. Solid HP's... but very overpriced
I agree with your assessment of them as solid HPs. Value is always subjective, but they didn't wow me either.
Ugly choice of songs (1), CD QUALITY TEST (? 🤔)...... Testing an HIFI Headphones with CD QUALITY and analyse it.................. From Blue in green to Hey Nineteen (learn about this one please), EVERY INSRUMENT IS CLEARLY BRINGING TO OUR EARS EVERY DISCERNABLE fqz AS NEVER BEFORE.PERIOD.
Zero
No, that's going a bit far I think. As always, there's plenty of space in the grey... 🙂