Great comparison! Can you also compare the LIRIC with your GH50?
Here's a cursory comparison of the
LIRIC and the
Gjallarhorn GH50 -
The Gjallarhorn GH50 has the heavier bass section; mid-bass is definitely more potent, with a rather tangible punch. Bass remains relatively clean, however, and eschews any of the negative press typically associated with bass-heavy headphones. In fact, the lows on the Gjallarhorn are teeming with quality; there is good articulation here. On this front, however, the LIRIC slightly edges out the Gjallarhorn in the cleanliness of its low-end presentation; the Meze has a touch better layering and separation.
The mids on the Gjallarhorn are full and somewhat chunky; this contrasts well to the cleaner mids on the LIRIC. The latter presents vocals and instruments with slightly better clarity, as its entire tone lacks a persistent warmth that is present on the Kennerton. Thus, if you favor a better-defined midrange, the LIRIC would be the better choice. On the other hand, the Gjallarhorn is unabashed in its desire to produce sweet, melodic vocals that bring a sense of nostalgia; there's a touch of old-school warmth in its repertoire.
The treble on both of these headphones are more similar than the converse; the highs are attenuated to a degree that avoids any runaway peaks or excessive harshness. In fact, on the Gjallarhorn, the treble presentation is subdued in a manner that causes its signature to edge closer to the darker side of things. In contrast, the LIRIC retains a slightly more energetic section, with a tad greater sizzle its highs; there is a palpable sense of crisp definition and clarity to the Meze.
In terms of technicalities, the LIRIC is the better resolving headphone; micro detail is easily observed on the Meze vis-à-vis the Gjallarhorn. The Kennerton is no pushover in the general sense, but it has greater difficulty in expressing nuances and detail amidst its persistent tonal bloom. Staging on the LIRIC is also greater, with an easily-perceived sense of depth and width. In comparison, the Gjallarhorn's stage can be rather cramped and congested.
@Malevolent, what an insightful and accomplished comparison! Many thanks to you for that

Obviously, even after this latest battle, D9200s remain on the throne for you …is my impression correct, that the overall better perceived soundstage of Lirics (on top of the overall Lirics high SQ) doesn’t outweigh D9200s yet in the sound department - in terms of toe-tapping/head-bopping or “emotion” or how to call it?
As much as you like D9200s, if put the EDM aside, is Liric for other music on the same/higher “enjoyment” level or is that just not so simple (I guess the latter :-D ) ?
Regarding better detail on Liric, generally speaking, is more detail always better or is it that the less detail level (of e.g. D9200s) can be sweet spot for some (people/genres) and more would be just too much for a pleasant listening session?
Lastly, being leaner in tone (Liric) - is that just a matter of individual preference in sound, or should that be viewed as a negative, generally?
Don’t worry, I am not gonna dig deeper than this, as you’ve pretty much told so much already in your comparison. Once again, your help is very appreciated
The LIRIC is an engaging headphone, no doubt, and I could happily use it in a vacuum for EDM. However, the AH-D9200's greater coloration - it has a "u-shaped" signature - fits my preferences better. In fact, my favored sound has always been a "v-shaped" one. Thus, it comes as no surprise that well-tuned headphones bearing this signature, such as the TH900 Mk2 and the AH-D9200, rank very highly in my personal list of favorites.
Thus, the choice between these 2 headphones boils down to your personal preferences - if you want a heavier bass section and a brighter sound, go for the Denon. However, if you want slightly better balance in the overall tone, and you're not a fan of bright (or harsh) highs, opt for the LIRIC. The latter is a great headphone that would probably fit the needs and preferences of most closed-back headphone fans.