Your post caught my eye. I currently have the AH-D9200's. "Currently have" sounds bad! No intention of selling them. YetNow, 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.
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.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
I would say the quality of having a fast and articulate bass would go to the Denon AH-9200 in comparison (but its no "bass monster" after all). The Denon has also a more detailed, balanced and engaging sound, but it is not a day-and-night difference to the Clear. I only sold the Clear because on some tracks he was bit "shouty" at certain volume levels.
