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Closed back headphones for classical, again
- Thread starter usery
- Start date
That fluent eloquenceI want to listen to music and, above all, enjoy it.
Over the last 50-plus years, I have invested huge sums in technology, always on the lookout for that last bit of "better". I still do today.
What fascinates me so much about the AH-D9200 is the incredible sovereignty or nonchalance with which the music is reproduced. Without gimmickry. Without embellishment. Effortlessly, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. As if there were no limits. I haven't yet managed to get these headphones to a point where I would say: "That's it, they can't do that".
I put them on, start the music and that's it. That's all it has to be. Can it be that simple? Yes, it can!

equanimity
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Running Nightmare
Head-Fier
To the point!That fluent eloquencehelped land me on another superlative that for me captures the AH-D9200's handling of music:
equanimity
Somehow my latest post landed in the Gustard H26 thread - here it is again here:
Our AH-D9200 hugfest has of course tipped me into desiring more "last bit of better" from my signal chain, which in turn 'compelled' me to recently acquire a Gustard A26. So far I'm pretty happy with it, minus a seeming defect in its built-in UPnP/DLNA streamer/renderer (intermittent playback drop-outs or stutter on higher-res PCM streams - I'll deal with Gustard on that).
My desire now turns to amplification. I'm currently using a beyerdynamic A20 which seems quite good - so much so I can rationalize moving it up to the bedroom headphone station, thus making room for a new amp at my main headphone station. See what I did there?![]()
What have you homies found for really good amplification with the AH-D9200? To baseline the discussion, my top contender at the moment is the Gustard H26.
Running Nightmare
Head-Fier
Headphone amplifier?
I switched completely to digital and streaming (currently Tidal) a few years ago.
I use a combination of Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra and Pre Box S2 Digital. Brutal little things (10x10 cm) with an honest, realistic sound character and razor-sharp imaging, excellent fine dynamic capabilities and an enormous wealth of detail even at the lowest volumes.
A few months ago I bought an iBasso DX 260 and to be honest, I use it almost exclusively at the moment. Transparency and attention to detail across the entire frequency range. Very clean and balanced. Deep black background. The DAPs I have used so far have not reached this level. I also appreciate the mobility of being able to move in and out of the house without having to sacrifice first-class sound.
I switched completely to digital and streaming (currently Tidal) a few years ago.
I use a combination of Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra and Pre Box S2 Digital. Brutal little things (10x10 cm) with an honest, realistic sound character and razor-sharp imaging, excellent fine dynamic capabilities and an enormous wealth of detail even at the lowest volumes.
A few months ago I bought an iBasso DX 260 and to be honest, I use it almost exclusively at the moment. Transparency and attention to detail across the entire frequency range. Very clean and balanced. Deep black background. The DAPs I have used so far have not reached this level. I also appreciate the mobility of being able to move in and out of the house without having to sacrifice first-class sound.
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Heh - predictably that set me off on an obsessive research binge on the DX260.Headphone amplifier?
I switched completely to digital and streaming (currently Tidal) a few years ago.
I use a combination of Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra and Pre Box S2 Digital. Brutal little things (10x10 cm) with an honest, realistic sound character and razor-sharp imaging, excellent fine dynamic capabilities and an enormous wealth of detail even at the lowest volumes.
A few months ago I bought an iBasso DX 260 and to be honest, I use it almost exclusively at the moment. Transparency and attention to detail across the entire frequency range. Very clean and balanced. Deep black background. The DAPs I have used so far have not reached this level. I also appreciate the mobility of being able to move in and out of the house without having to sacrifice first-class sound.
I've been 'jones-ing' lately for a DAP upgrade, so once again your timing is good. My smackdown will be between the DX260 and the Hiby R6 Pro II. AH-D9200 should do real well with either.
Running Nightmare
Head-Fier
Me again ... 
I can't wait to see what you decide!
Have you tried the Xelento?

I can't wait to see what you decide!
Have you tried the Xelento?
Me again ...
I can't wait to see what you decide!
Have you tried the Xelento?
I haven't tried the Exelento yet - I'm rapidly approaching one of those too-many-decisions and not-enough-bank ($$$$) moments

Running Nightmare
Head-Fier
In such cases, I recommend a visit to the cemetery.I haven't tried the Exelento yet - I'm rapidly approaching one of those too-many-decisions and not-enough-bank ($$$$) moments![]()
On the left are the unaffluent and on the right the rich. Or was it the other way round? I don't know anymore ....

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A momento mori ! Perfect!In such cases, I recommend a visit to the cemetery.
On the left are the unaffluent and on the right the rich. Or was it the other way round? I don't know anymore ....
![]()
No lie - the shirt I am wearing at this very moment:

Me again ...
I can't wait to see what you decide!
Have you tried the Xelento?
Heh - predictably that set me off on an obsessive research binge on the DX260.
I've been 'jones-ing' lately for a DAP upgrade, so once again your timing is good. My smackdown will be between the DX260 and the Hiby R6 Pro II. AH-D9200 should do real well with either.
It was a mildy anguished decision but I went with the Hiby R6 Pro II, for a few reasons. It arrives next week.
In 'preparation' I've been spending more time listening to the AH-D9200 through another DAP (Shanling M6 Pro 21), instead of through desktop DAC + amp (Gustard A26 + beyerdynamic A20). Reproduction and power are actually quite good from the M6 (ESS9068AS x2, ≤760mW @ 32Ω, output imped. < 0.6), but as usual the real star of the show is the D9200. I find it versatile, consistent and utterly reliable in performance, no matter what the upstream source.
I'm kinda stuck in early music for now but it's easy to do with the AH-D9200 being such a delight. This album in particular really shines through it:
Mon souverain desir • Gilles Binchois • Chansons (Ensemble Gilles Binchois, Vellard 1996-7 Erato)
They're all gems, but try tracks 12. Adieu, adieu mon joieulx souvenir for simple tear-inducing wonder, and the short, slightly-weirdo but enchanting finale 19. Filles a marier ne vous mariez ja, where all the ensemble voices pile on one at a time with renaissance percussion and strings accompaniment. The AH-D9200 presents it with real feeling and aplomb.

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Running Nightmare
Head-Fier
These headphones don't care what source the audio comes from. Even an iPad and a cheap Apple dongel deliver a thoroughly appealing listening experience, albeit with some compromises. Other headphones have long since given up. The only thing they can't handle is bad recordings. They are merciless in that respect. Thank goodness they are. Life is far too short for bad music and bad wine ...It was a mildy anguished decision but I went with the Hiby R6 Pro II, for a few reasons. It arrives next week.
In 'preparation' I've been spending more time listening to the AH-D9200 through another DAP (Shanling M6 Pro 21), instead of through desktop DAC + amp (Gustard A26 + beyerdynamic A20). Reproduction and power are actually quite good from the M6 (ESS9068AS x2, ≤760mW @ 32Ω, output imped. < 0.6), but as usual the real star of the show is the D9200. I find it versatile, consistent and utterly reliable in performance, no matter what the upstream source.
I'm kinda stuck in early music for now but it's easy to do with the AH-D9200 being such a delight. This album in particular really shines through it:
Mon souverain desir • Gilles Binchois (Ensemble Gilles Binchois, Vellard 1996-7 Erato)
They're all gems, but try tracks 12. Adieu, adieu mon joieulx souvenir for simple tear-inducing wonder, and the short, slightly-weirdo but enchanting finale 19. Filles a marier ne vous mariez ja, where all the ensemble voices pile on one at a time with renaissance percussion and strings accompaniment. The AH-D9200 presents it with real feeling and aplomb.
![]()
Not so with this album.
I've been using the headphones since 2019 and they still surprise me again and again. After just a few bars, I was spellbound by the performance. A beautiful recording. Despite the dissecting precision of the polyphonic reproduction, the sound remains silky smooth, which more than does justice to the intention of the music.
Another fine example of polyphonic choral music from the late Middle Ages or the Renaissance is "Utopia Triumphans" by Paul van Nevel.
The many interweaving voices require the utmost concentration to follow them individually. Many (I would even say almost all) headphones and even high-quality loudspeakers are quickly reduced to listening aids here. The AH-D9200s, on the other hand, create a coherent overall picture without the slightest effort and without losing even the smallest detail.
For example: No. 3 "Qui Habitat ..." becomes an independent organism with these headphones, which literally breathes. You can "hear" the inhalation and exhalation, based on each individual voice of the choir. The effect is created by a quadruple canon with 6 x 4 voices.
No. 4 "Deo Gratias" The quadruple canon even has 36 voices (9 x 4) and is an extreme example of this compositional technique.
An easy warm-up exercise for the AH-D9200.
Thanks for that! I'm a big fan of Huelgas Ensemble and van Nevel but don't know that recording. I bumped it to top of my listening stack, ahead of the previous entry Music for an Antwerp Church (Grandelavoix, Schmelzer 2016 Glossa) - also polyphony!These headphones don't care what source the audio comes from. Even an iPad and a cheap Apple dongel deliver a thoroughly appealing listening experience, albeit with some compromises. Other headphones have long since given up. The only thing they can't handle is bad recordings. They are merciless in that respect. Thank goodness they are. Life is far too short for bad music and bad wine ...
Another fine example of polyphonic choral music from the late Middle Ages or the Renaissance is "Utopia Triumphans" by Paul van Nevel ...
You may already know http://www.medieval.org/ and The Early Music FAQ - but if you don't, it's a real treasure.
Running Nightmare
Head-Fier
An interesting website that I was not yet familiar with. A wealth of useful information.Thanks for that! I'm a big fan of Huelgas Ensemble and van Nevel but don't know that recording. I bumped it to top of my listening stack, ahead of the previous entry Music for an Antwerp Church (Grandelavoix, Schmelzer 2016 Glossa) - also polyphony!
You may already know http://www.medieval.org/ and The Early Music FAQ - but if you don't, it's a real treasure.
I've always wondered what makes this album "Utopia Triumphans" sound so special and until now I couldn't really explain it to myself. Now I know. The ensemble stood in a circle during the recordings! The individual voices follow the various canons like recurring waves and, if I can hear it correctly, sometimes even in opposite directions. The demands on the audio equipment are therefore immense. No wonder most of them fail.
Kevintj604
Headphoneus Supremus
I second this. I blind bought an E3 and received them on Friday. They’re wonderful for classical. Easily the most punchy and dynamic DCA headphone I’ve tried. They need a lot of power to sound correct though so DAP’s aren’t going to help you there. Even with my KANN Max they sound underpowered. With the right source chain they’re easily one of the best closed backs I’ve ever heard.I tried them yesterday in direct comparison to my DCA Aeon 2 Noire and others (Fostex TH900 MKII, Hifiman Arya Organic & HE1000SE). The E3 are highly impressive and do not lack dynamics. They do need a certain level of volume to come alive, but when they do they sound staggeringly solid, precise and dynamic. A technical marvel to my ears.
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