These are two dynamic driver headphones that are top-of-the-line (TOTL) headphones for their respective brands. They are, however, quite different in many aspects. First, the D9200 is closed back, and the HD800S is open. Second, the D9200 is low impedance with a very high efficiency. The HD800S is high impedance and medium efficiency. Third, they are of very different physical design, the HD800S being clearly designed for stationary use. The more compact design along with the driver’s impedance and sensitivity makes the D9200 a lot more suitable for portable use.
Denon uses 50mm FreeEdge dynamic drivers for their headphones which use Neodymium magnets and nanofiber diaphragm. The HD800S uses a 56mm “Ring Radiator transducer system”, which has a hole in the centre of the dynamic driver, hence it’s called a ring radiator. The surface area of the two diaphragms is probably quite similar.
The HD800S was introduced in 2016, but its construction and design can be traced back to 2009 when the nearly identical HD800 was first released. The primary distinction lies in the black colour and the addition of dampening material in the ring driver’s centre, addressing the notorious treble peak issue.
At the time of HD800’s debut in 2009, Denon’s flagship headphone was still the legendary D7000. In 2012, the D7100 was launched. It was a total redesign and also a major step for Denon. The design/manufacturing of the previous headphones were outsourced and made by Foster (the parent company of Fostex). The D7100 was made in-house and was Denon’s first self-made flagship. The D7100 didn’t become a hit. The fans of the D7000 were disappointed in the change to the design and sound. Personally, I find the D7100 to be quite ok, with the exception that has a lot more bass than most audiophile headphones. EQ-ing down bass isn’t a problem if you use EQ, though. But let’s stay in topic:
Denon listened to their customers, and released the D7200 in December 2016, the same year as the HD800S was launched. This time, Denon’s flagship looked a lot more similar to the original D7000 and sounded closer too. However, Denon failed to reach the most demanding audiophiles with their new D7200 headphone. To cater for the higher-end segment, they ended up releasing a new top-of-the-line headphone; the D9200. It was launched in November 2018 but first made available to most consumers in 2019.
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SPECIFICATIONS SENNHEISER HD800S
- Over-ear, open-back design
- Transducer type: Dynamic driver
- 56mm Ring Radiator dynamic transducer system
- Sensitivity: 102 dB (SPL @ 1 V)
- Impedance: 300 Ω
- Frequency response: 4 Hz – 51,000 Hz
- Total harmonic distortion (THD): < 0.02 % (1 kHz 1 Vrms)
- Magnetic field: 10.5 mT
- Cable connector on headphones: Proprietary connectors.
- Cables: 2 included. One 3m long cable with 6.35 mm jack plug and a 3m cable with balanced 4.4mm Pentaconn jack plug
- Weight 330 g
- Made in Germany.
SPECIFICATIONS DENON AHD-D9200
- Driver Diameter 50 mm
- Driver Type Nanofiber FreeEdge
- Impedance 24 Ω
- Sensitivity 105dB/mW
- Maximum Power Input 1,800mW
- Frequency Response 5 – 56.000 (Hz)
- Cable connection on headphones: 2x 3.5 mm
- Included Cables: 2 – 3.0 m cable with Silver Plated 6.3 mm plug and a 1.3 m cable with a 3.5 mm plug and a 3.5 mm to 6.3 mm headphone plug adapter
- UPC AH-D9200EM 883795004657 Brown
- Weight 375 g
- Cup material: Bamboo
- Pads and headband: Leather
BUILD QUALITY AND COMFORT
Both are very well-built and comfortable headphones. The D9200 comes with sheepskin pads, the HD800 uses a synthetic microfiber material. The HD800S is lighter (330g vs 375g) and has larger cups with more room to breathe. At least for me, they are more comfortable. Pads are click-on proprietary with the HD800S, there’s normal circular pad/lip pads on the Denon. Both are user-replaceable. There are lots of 3rd party options if you want that. Many pads fit the Denons. HD800 pads fit the HD800S.
The Denon uses standard 3.5 mm jack connectors on the headphones, while HD800S uses proprietary cable connectors which makes cable swapping unnecessarily difficult and expensive. I think Sennheiser should have opted for 3.5 mm jacks, which is becoming more and more of an industry standard. The HD800S comes with two long cables, one with 6.35 mm TRS and one with balanced 4.4mm Pentaconn. The D9200 comes with a long cable with a 6.35mm jack and a short cable with a 3.5mm jack.
AMPLIFICATION
The two headphones are very different beasts when it comes to amplification. The D9200 has a very low impedance of 24 Ohms and a very high sensitivity of 106 dB. This makes it easy to drive, especially for portable use. However, it might not be a good match for tube amplifiers with high output impedance, especially not OTL.
The Sennheiser HD800S is 300 Ohms and loves tube amplifiers, OTL especially. It is not impossible to use it with portable setups but it is definitely more of a “stay at home” headphone. I’ve written a lengthy article about how to find a good match with regards to amplification for the HD800/S.
I have not used neither headphone much with portable headphone amplifiers but we’ll come back to that in my separate reviews.
COMPARISONS
For the comparisons I used the Ferrum Erco DAC-amp as well as the Questyle CMA800R and Auralic Taurus desktop amps. All are powerful solid state amplifiers of high quality. The differences remained the same across amplifiers.
It Should Be Obvious by Jørn Øien Trio
The D9200 has a delicious presentation. The bass is punchy and rich, the percussion is snappy and crisp. It feels very “alive”.
The HD800S sounds very open and light. The bass is very much reduced in quantity, so much sometimes that it’s almost not there. The HD800S is extremely airy, and also brighter. There’s a huge difference between them. It’s like listening to two separate mixes.
10:15 On a Saturday Night by The Cure
This track has a fabulous soundstage on both headphones, but the HD800S is in a different league. The airiness is insane. The bass, however, is much more satisfying with the d9200. The vocals are also more upfront. With the HD800S, there is more distance between you and the music.
Azelujos by Populous
The D9200 presents a very lively soundscape. The bass is powerful and there’s a meaty quality to it. The bass on the HD800S is much thinner. It’s detailed and textured but lacks the body and foundation.
Felt, album by Nils Frahm
This is such a beautiful and tender album. There’s mainly a piano playing with lots of ambient noises and sounds in the background. The HD800S portrays these in an unrivalled manner. The huge space, the fine detail and precision… It’s enthralling.
The D9200 also delivers this album with delicacy and tenderness. The immense sense of space and depth the HD800S has, however, cannot be matched.
Angel by Massive Attack
The bass is fuller and has more body with the D9200. It’s a bit unsatisfying with the HD800S in comparison. The HD800S is however deliciously spacious and detailed.
Holberg Suite by 1B1
Classical music tends to be good with the HD800S. This is no exception. However, it’s not like the D9200 is doing this piece any injustice either. They both have a rich and well-defined treble. The HD800S is more open-sounding, but the D9200 isn’t too far away, especially considering it’s a closed-back headphone. They have a different tonality, though: The HD800S is brighter and feels lighter, more ethereal, the D9200 is thicker and more “grounded”.
Around The Bend by Pearl Jam
This track sounds great with the HD800S. A very well-balanced presentation. Lots of space. The bass is very present but not too much, with great texture. Vedder’s vocals are nice, the ambient details are rendered with ease.
The bass with the D9200 is bloomier, with more quantity at the cost of some definition. The vocals are a bit warmer. All the little ambient details have less articulation.
Identikit by Radiohead
The D9200 has a nice and full bass. Thom Yorke’s voice is beautifully rendered. The soundstage is nice but the HD800S is far bigger and more open. The bass is really lacking punch and presence with the HD800S, though. Vocals are rendered nicely but the D9200 is more natural sounding to me.
HD800S WITH TUBES
Now, many, including me, find the HD800S to be a lot more likable with tubes. I give it some time with the Sparkos Gemini and the WA22 and compare it to the D9200. I’ll make it short, but these tube amps make the HD800S more organic and natural sounding, especially in the mids and highs.
WRAPPING IT UP
Treble
Both have nice treble detail, presence dynamics and extension. The HD800S is, however, clearer and presents more fine detail. The D9200’s treble might have a bit more body, even though it’s less dominating than with the HD800S. It isn’t a dark-sounding headphone by any means. The D9200 might be considered relatively bright, but compared to the HD800S it’s upper frequencies are well articulated but less dominant, in a way which I find more natural sounding.
Midrange
Both have a highly detailed mid-range. The D9200 has more midrange emphasis and I find its timbre to sound more natural.
Bass
The D9200 has undoubtedly more bass quantity. It’s nothing like the Fostex TH-900, however, and I find it very nicely balanced. That being said, it’s a bit bloomy and could sometimes have better detail. The HD800S has often less bass than desired, but the quality is higher: There is more texture and it’s more precise.
Soundstage
I will not surprise anyone by saying that the HD800S has the biggest soundstage. There’s no competition. The D9200 presents a more intimate experience. Instrument separation is good and it has very nice imaging. Even though the soundstage is smaller than the HD800S , it’s still quite good.
Sound-signature, timbre and technicalities
The D9200 has more bass, more midrange and a less bright, but still quite pronounced, treble. I find its tuning very natural and inviting. It’s quite smooth sounding, yet there is lots of details. However, the HD800S does feel more technically able. The huge soundstage, the extreme amount of detail and the micro-dynamics are a level or two above the D9200. So the HD800S shines in detail retrieval and sound-stage, the D9200 excelled in timbre and offers a more natural tonality.
CONCLUSION
These are two great headphones with different strengths and weaknesses. The HD800S is the most “high-fidelity” sounding of the two, it has better technical performance, soundstage and resolution. The D9200 is also technically speaking very competent but in direct comparison it can’t beat the HD800S on its strong points. However, I find the D9200 to be more “musical” sounding and a smoother and often more enjoyable listen overall.
If you can afford both they are certainly great complementary headphones. The D9200 is very well suited for portable use, both in terms of size, design and the fact that it’s less dependant on a powerful amplifier.
You can check out the Denon AH-D9200 on Amazon here and the Sennheiser HD800S here.
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