[Tayyab Pirzada]

Yes. I've owned both.

What are your thoughts on the differences between them?

 

[Mhog55]

What are your thoughts on the differences between them?

Quite different -
99s have a somewhat forward lower midrange. Midrange in general is very energetic. Bass can be a little bloomy, especially with the larger pads. Treble is rolled off with no real sense of extension or sparkle. Small Soundstage with an organic and rich tone. They really excel with rock music. Guitars and male vocals sound awesome.
For what it's worth, I didn't keep the NightOwl, though I could see why it would appeal to people. More width, depth and air than the Classics. Better treble extension and more lively in the presence region. Mids and low mids are pretty balanced. Tighter and more controlled bass - good quality and quantity. Overall I found it a smidgen to dark. Vocals and instruments in the midrange sounded too distant, with a somewhat hollow character.

 

[iFi audio]

99s have a somewhat forward lower midrange. Midrange in general is very energetic. Bass can be a little bloomy, especially with the larger pads. Treble is rolled off with no real sense of extension or sparkle. Small Soundstage with an organic and rich tone. They really excel with rock music. Guitars and male vocals sound awesome.

Yup, 99s are all about richness of tone, midrange presence and thick bass at a cost of treble energy. Not the jack of all trades, but surely engaging and enjoyable to listen to!

 

[YuzuSorbe7]

Favorites that I've owned.

Neumann ndh 20
Sony m1st
Shure srh 1540
Focal spirit professional
Sony z7m2
Austrian audio hix55
Oppo pm3
Audeze sine
DT 770 80

Edit: Thought more deeply and re arranged my order.

 

[fiiom11pro]

sony z7m2
fostex tx00
dt770
mr. speakers alpha dog/prime (when properly amped)

 

[plakat]

Without a particular ordering:
Austrian Audio Hi-X55
Beyerdynamic DT770/80
V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless Codex
Denon D7200
Shure SRH1540

Unfortunately the D9200 is outside the given price range, but its the closed model that beats all others I know.

 

[Kammerat Rebekka]

I was at a shop with my friend here the other day checking out headphones, and we ended up at this little make-shift a/b station we set up in a sofa (that was meant for customers checking out loudspeakers mind you). Now Hifiklubben is not exactly the most thrilling shop with regards to headphones, but they’ve always sold Denons, so we effectively had a chance to listen to the D5200, D7200 and D9200 side by side.
Depending on your tastebuds any of these cans could be the bee’s knees. You are buying a specific tuning...and what you’ll like the best is anyone’s guess...I was a little surprised by what I ended up prefering tbh.
D5200: The most linear of the lot...but with a good Denon kick in the lows. This one sounds like a properly smooth closedback TOTL with a very nice tonality.
D7200: An extremely weird tuning that I nevertheless enjoy immensely. It rather reminds me of the new SR2..but with more bass. Think Denon bass meets exaggerated Stax mids-kind of tuning. Yup we’re definitely in Funky Town
D9200: The more mature version of the D7200..though still exhibiting that weird tuning..which I oddly enough really dig.

Now the weird thing to all of this is actually that I ever so slightly prefer the D7200 over the D9200..and then a little ways behind comes the D5200..and I almost always go for the more linear tuning..while my friend, who usually is the complete opposite, liked the D5200 the most.
If anyone out there currently is wondering which of these cans to chose from...then I strongly advise a test-drive if possible - preferably in a way that lets you hear them all side by side. You may be surprised in what you find

 

[Audio-MCFly]

I have the Denons AH-D5200 at home atm but not sure if I will keep them. The D5200 has 3 major weaknesses for me.

1. It's not the most comfortable. There is a hotspot on top of the head and the ear pad holes are to small.

2. It's not the most natural sounding headphone out there

3. I mainly listen to rock and with this genre the guitars are too much in front and the voices/vocals get pushed back too much.

I'm thinking about the Ibasso SR2. @Kammerat: Do you think they are better suited for rock? can you compare both?

 

[plakat]

@Kammerat Rebekka while my preferences and characterizations are a bit different regarding D7200/D9200 (unfortunately I've never heard the D5200 though), its nice to hear about a direct comparison. I think Denon has a really nice lineup currently, and all of them look quite good.

 

[Kammerat Rebekka]

I have the Denons AH-D5200 at home atm but not sure if I will keep them. The D5200 has 3 major weaknesses for me.

1. It's not the most comfortable. There is a hotspot on top of the head and the ear pad holes are to small.

2. It's not the most natural sounding headphone out there

3. I mainly listen to rock and with this genre the guitars are too much in front and the voices/vocals get pushed back too much.

I'm thinking about the Ibasso SR2. @Kammerat: Do you think they are better suited for rock? can you compare both?

I think the D5200 sounds pretty natural for a closedback headphone so you may want to take whatever I say with a huge pinch of salt
It’s funny because I genuinely don’t like the new SR2. It sounds extremely weird to me. It’s like planar bass..but waaay too low in the presentation, the rest of the frequency response/tuning actually looks fairly similar to the D7200, although I feel the Denon is a much smoother ride in the treble. Both are however heavily boosted in the mids which is what gives off that ‘estat-like’ sense of detail and yup..they both sound extremely detailed. The SR2 just sounds thin to me whereas the D7200 has more meat on it’s bones. I think it’s because it’s tuning is tilted upwards, which to these ears becomes rather ‘shouty’. The Denon is tilted downwards and just seems “naturally enhanced” if that makes any sort of sense.
That’s just me though. You may love the SR2 like many already do - especially if you dig a brighter presentation

Edith: Hah! I forgot to compare it to the D5200...sorry about that.
They’re completely different headphones but the SR2 definitely takes care of the energy you seem to be missing from the mids. It also turns down the bass (way down), so everything is suddenly all about the mids and high frequencies.
For rock though, and you seem to be looking for a natural headphone with ‘proper mids’, I’d personally look at an R70X or an HD600/650. If you need the isolation, then maybe try out the K371

 

[GearMe]

I think the D5200 sounds pretty natural for a closedback headphone so you may want to take whatever I say with a huge pinch of salt
It’s funny because I genuinely don’t like the new SR2. It sounds extremely weird to me. It’s like planar bass..but waaay too low in the presentation, the rest of the frequency response/tuning actually looks fairly similar to the D7200, although I feel the Denon is a much smoother ride in the treble. Both are however heavily boosted in the mids which is what gives off that ‘estat-like’ sense of detail and yup..they both sound extremely detailed. The SR2 just sounds thin to me whereas the D7200 has more meat on it’s bones. I think it’s because it’s tuning is tilted upwards, which to these ears becomes rather ‘shouty’. The Denon is tilted downwards and just seems “naturally enhanced” if that makes any sort of sense.
That’s just me though. You may love the SR2 like many already do - especially if you dig a brighter presentation

Edith: Hah! I forgot to compare it to the D5200...sorry about that.
They’re completely different headphones but the SR2 definitely takes care of the energy you seem to be missing from the mids. It also turns down the bass (way down), so everything is suddenly all about the mids and high frequencies.
For rock though, and you seem to be looking for a natural headphone with ‘proper mids’, I’d personally look at an R70X or an HD600/650. If you need the isolation, then maybe try out the K371

Although I'm new to the D5200's, I'd agree with you. I like their signature for a set of closed back headphones...especially for the deal ($209) that Denon offered on Black Friday!

 

[Audio-MCFly]

thx for your response.

I need a headphone with a bit of isolation. The SR2 seems to have a good isolation for a semi open and the D5200 offers an under average level of isolation.

Yes I noticed that the reviews of the SR2 are quite controversial but even more with the AKG k371.

What I mean with that the D5200 are not so natural can you hear here. It's not so obvious like it seems in the sound demo but I can here the tendencies.

 

[JoeTho]

My favorite sub 1 grand closed back can is the Fostex TH-X00.

 

[Kammerat Rebekka]

Although I'm new to the D5200's, I'd agree with you. I like their signature for a set of closed back headphones...especially for the deal ($209) that Denon offered on Black Friday!

Yeah..you guys have it pretty sweet over there coconut-wise. That’s practically daylight robbery.
I just saw a deal over Adorama on the new HE6 for 6 or 700$....didn’t last long though..but man..that’s unheard of in Scandinavia.
I’m not at all surprised to hear that you like it. I think it’s a wonderful closedback...and my guess is that if you went ahead and blindfolded a good amount of people and let them hear the three Denons side by side, most would probably go for the D5200. It’s the more ‘recognisable’ signature whereas the others are more like sonic olives. Some of us love the flavour even if it is a little weird

 

[trellus]

Probably the Focal Elegia on my head now, they’re just so spacious, detailed, and easy to drive.