So yesterday I visited my local Denon store which had all their new headphone lineup on display.
I'll go straight to the point, my main comparison was between the 9200 and 7200. I have to say that the 9200 are a good step up from 7200, tho not as huge as I would have hoped, especially in terms of physical design / comfort. Sound-wise, they were such a nice mix of bright and warm and offered excellent clarity.
Yes, I had the same first impression.
I felt the treble was bright but not harsh or sharp, it was just right. I'm pretty treble sensitive and this one did not annoy me at all.
For me the treble was slightly on the edge. It's interesting how the higher end drivers tend to also sound brighter (like the TH900 driver).
Bass quantity on the other hand is reduced compared to 7200 but had better texture and was much more linear. Though it still rolls off quite early imo, sub-bass was audible but I wouldn't mind if it went deeper than it does (especially at this crazy price-point, I think it rolls off around 40Hz). I listen to a lot of rap/hip-hop and I'm somebody who likes a nice mid-bass thump so this one did not impress me that much in this regard. Midrange was very clean without any annoying spikes or dips and quite even. Also no annoying spike at 2-3k like on the 7200 so that's nice. Sound would completely satisfy me for a closed-back headphone and I could see myself owning the 9200. It doesn't compete with the ZMF Auteur imo but that one's an open-back and way bigger too (tho similar price point).
Subjectively the D9200 IMHO has deeper extension, more articulate and better controlled bass than the D7200, when listened from the same pads. I tried 3 pads: D9200, D7200 and modded D7200. But measurements would tell that part and I could not measure the D9200 yet. However, since the D9200 sounded even brighter with the modded pads, it sounds best with the stock pads. Now if I compare the stock D9200 with the modded D7200, the latter feels to be the more linear everywhere with a similarly rich tonality (see the measurements a few posts up).
However I have to go back to the comfort issue. Even though the headphones are pretty lightweight, nothing seemed to be changed from 7200. It still uses the same headband (tho it did not create such a hot-spot on the top of my head like the 7200 did). Pads are the same, the oval opening for the ears is still quite small and the pads are still pretty shallow (maybe a tiny bit thicker than on 7200). I think this is my biggest issue with their new lineup in general. Pads should have been thicker with bigger opening for greater long-term comfort. Their size and depth annoys me and makes me constantly re-position the headphone on my head but nothing really helps. I think it's the main reason why I would never pick up any of the new Denons again. I sold my 7200 and I'm kind of glad. Comfort is simply the #1 thing for me.
Also they still leak sound to the outside world in comparison to other closed backs, most likely due to perforated and thin pads. It's not terrible but I wouldn't be able to take them to an open office environment and turn up my music.
Well I can understand that part.
How does the 9200 soundstage compare to the Elegia? I've used the TH-900 a lot for gaming, and it's huge soundstage helps a lot with immersion. Elegia is on the smaller side, and can be a little bass light at times.
However, the main reason I'm leaning towards the Denon's is that they use 3.5mm cables, so I can use my existing aftermarket cables with them (both my 8ft 6.5mm and 4ft 4.4mm). Is there any fit issues at the connectors that would make them incompatible with 3rd party cables?
The TH900 is far more comfortable and the sound stage is quite much larger. As such, probably better for a gaming and movies headphone.
However, after modding the D7200 is on par with the TH900 on both fronts and also more linear than the considerably more colored / V-shaped TH900. In turn, the TH900 has higher sensitivity and more brutal bass impact - likely many would prefer that for games and action.
All in all, the D9200 is not more comfortable than the D7200, but sounds better in stock form (if the treble works for you). The TH900 is still better in comfort and gaming/action/EDM/rock/metal fun.
I cannot decide on selling either my TH900 or the D7200. They both get a lot of head time.
The D7200 is my office headphone and it doesn't leak too much at moderate (sometimes high) listening levels. The TH900 is my movie headphone while I have the e-stats (Stax, Phenomenon) and Senn's for critical/music listening and several noise-cancelling ones (Bose and Sony) for traveling or wireless listening plus a few drawer-fitters. However, the modded D7200 or stock D9200 could do all these with the least amount of compromise of all headphones that I know. That's why I said the D9200 is the first truly reference level closed headphone that I encountered in a long time (not counting the R10).
To challenge that, I have an ever postponed plan of making (printing? CNC?) a new driver plate to adapt a Stax SRX Mk3 (Gamma Pro) e-stat driver to the TH900 housing. Maybe something for 2019
. It certainly won't be too portable but I have high hopes for the quality
. Anyway, it's not a stock model so the Denon D9200 remains my single do-it-all headphone model recommendation, with a wide room for easy modding potential (pad changes only).
For info, whoever wants higher/deeper pads for the D7200/D9200, I have a new set of MrSpeaker Voce pads, deep with large inner diameter (only EU).