Your post caught my eye. I currently have the AH-D9200's. "Currently have" sounds bad! No intention of selling them. Yet Anyway, I also wanted a pair of cheaper headphones for the office. Something which handles bass (particularly sub-bass) well and had less sound leakage than the 9200's. They also needed to be musical, engaging but not fatiguing. I settled on the DT-1770 Pro.Now, like you, I'm in a fever to look for the best bass. The 9200s started that itch , after tried some Beyers. In a few weeks, I will re-buy the DT 1990 Pro with an Amiron Wireless foam pads to increase the bass and decrease the highs. Then, I will save for the DAC/AMP I mentioned in "closed back thread". After that, I'm thinking to go deeply in the rabbit hole (if I still can, after all those purchases) with Z1R, and maybe TH 900 (i'm very curious about the bass of them) and, of course, the new Rögnir.
My current set up allows me to run both the 9200's and 1770's simultaneously. Comparing the two is somewhat easier. Setup is:
Tidal connect -> Pi3B running Moode Audio -> Allo Digione BNC O/P -> RME ADI-2 DAC FS -> AH-D9200
Allo Digione Coax O/P -> Chord Mojo -> DT-1770 Pro
It has been very interesting comparing the two. I appreciate due to the different DAC/Amps the comparison is not a direct one. But, I find it interesting nevertheless.
I personally did not enjoy the 9200's with the Mojo. I found the combination somewhat sibilant, plus the RME allows me to add EQ to the 9200's as I personally find they benefit from. I have two peaks at 30 Hz, both adding 1.5 dB but one with a tight peak (Q-factor) of 0.5, the other wider at 2. The 1770's I enjoy with the Mojo - nothing more to say.
Thankfully, considering the cost(!), I prefer the 9200 + RME combination most of the time. I find them very capable performers and revealing/accurate in a good way. Female vocalists like Kate Bush are particularly enjoyable to listen to. And well-recorded tracks, for example, Keith don't go by Nils Lofgren, sound superb. Also, EDM can be excellent, The mesmerizing Circle by Kellerkind is a fine example. That said, I often found the 9200's lacking in substance - not enough meat on the bones. This is irrespective of which DAC/Amp is used. And genres like Liquid DnB (for example, Buttons by Deadline) are for me not so enjoyable. I find the female vocals too thin and generally the music too bright and fatiguing.
As for the 1770's, I think the 9200's do a better job at detail retrieval and they provide a far better insight into the music. However, the 1770's have far more body, more weight, more meat on the bones. And this I often like. I also prefer them with Liquid DnB.
It's interesting. Listening to Buttons by Deadline, I prefer the weight the 1770's offer. But listening to The mesmerizing Circle by Kellerkind, I prefer the 9200's - the hang drums come across far more distinctly/clearer than with the 1770's.
On a bass related side note, I have a pair of FIIO FH5's. I find the fit not so comfortable, and the presentation of the music somewhat disjointed. But... the sub-bass extends deeper on these than either the 1770's or 9200's (with EQ). And I like sub-bass. A lot
Okay - have wasted enough of your time.
Enjoy the music