Denon AH-D7000 Premium Over-Ear Headphones

Before I bought the Denon AH-D7000 my previous (owned) headphones were (in date order): BeyerDynamic DT131(£35), Sennheiser HD565 (£150), HD25-1 II (£140) & Grado SR80i (£120). None of those are in the same league as the Denon so I was expecting a big improvement, boy did I get one!

Instantly the most noticeable aspects of the Denon's are the extra powerful and clarity but also the lack of fatigue from high (freq) & high volume. The latter was rather surreal (compared to the above). There is much more power to music with these phones across the board because of their rather insane bass but it doesn't come at much cost. They make music like drum & Bass or dubstep so exciting that it encourages you to push volume higher which I know can be dangerous but damn it's a lot of fun! The detail and clarity while rattling your head to bits with bass is really something to behold! Currently listening to: 'There's No I In Team, But There Is ME' by Butch Clancy... Wow! *huge smile*, it's just ridiculous and I don't want to stop! I was not a bass head before I put these headphones on btw.

Also noteworthy for headphones in this range is their ability to be driven from almost any source (volume wise at least), although I know this can be subjective. I am running the D7000's from my Samsung Galaxy S as I write this and it's pretty good! OK it's at maximum volume but it is loud and although I do wish I could push it higher it's only because of the lovely sound and not because I should. I also tried them with an iPhone (4) and a Cowon S9. Both provide noticeably more headroom in the volume than the Samsung. The Headphones are also quite forgiving of source files. MP3s sound better than they should but lossless/uncompressed still sounds better.

Although you can power the Denon's from almost anything you are really doing them a disservice if you do. My main setup has them connected to a Fiio E7+E9 combo DAC/Amp (through a PC) and although it is acceptable something a bit more refined (read expensive) will push them in an even better direction. I am currently looking at the Burson HA-160DS DAC/Amp but there are a lot of options out there to choose from.

The characteristics of these headphones suit a variety of music. My favourite genres are: Soundtracks, Metal, Industrial, Rock, Classical, Electronic, Pop, Jazz etc. The Denon's have given me a massive boost for almost everything! It makes bass heavy music hit with such impact it's difficult to go back to anything else! Anything orchestral gets so much more weight on the low end without too much colouration that it has made most of my collection feel much more dynamic and engaging. Jazz is great for the same reason. Perhaps vocals (mids) get the least attention at this price point but that's not a huge complaint. Perhaps if you consider the sound characteristics from Grado's phones (glass shattering highs and very open) to be pleasant then you may not like the the D7000's. However I do not want to suggest that the D7000's are all about bass, far from it. For me the D7000's are about fun, powerful sounds with a great deal of detail and control. The bass is lovable but not overcooked, it has texture and depth that you will not hear on lower end fun phones (like Beats).

I should probably point out that although the D7000s are closed they're not very well closed, if you are looking for stellar isolation you will be disapointed here. With the volume up people next to you will hear that you're listening, with quiet surroundings they will probably hear what you're listening to but for me what was more annoying was the sound leaking in. Compared to an open pair of headphones there is a big difference but there are much more closed phones out there if that is a big concern for you.

Comfort?... yes! They are really comfy and for long periods. They do not feel heavy and they clamp my head just hard enough to ensure they don't fall off to easily. For me (and this will be subjective) they are just right! The build quality is lovely too, the materials make it look and feel well worth the asking price! Not quite my style but this you can tell from the photos. The headband and cups are real leather (although some say they are not, perhaps because they look the same as the AH-D5000 which are pleather). The cups also rotate to help get the best fit and isolation, this is a nice touch and it does indeed help!

If you are considering the Denon's but are concerned that headphones of this price should not be so much about bass... Firstly I highly recommend trying them out (from a good source and amp if you can), if that convinces you something more neutral is for you I would I suggest checking out some of these:

' Audeze LCD-2
' Audeze LCD-3
' BeyerDynamic Tesla T1
' Hifiman HE-6
' Sennheiser HD800
' Ultrasone Edition 8

Be warned though, the price shoots up from here and you'll want to be pairing these with a similarly amazing Amp (DAC & Amp if from a computer) to get the most out of them. Unlike most of this 'King of headphones' collection The Denon is pretty forgiving of source and Amp pairing but that's not to say it doesn't still scale up with good equipment.

For me the Denon's are a great compromise between the lovely headphones that I already own and the absolutely insane world of super hi-end audiophile obsession. They really have given me a taste of high quality and I am truly hooked, there is no turning back for me. I am addicted to this sound!!

I read a lot before getting these, if you want a lot more info on these and what they compare to I highly recommend checking out the Head-Fi forums.

Great headphones. It's strength is the strong and firm bass and control. I was considering the D5000 but I know this was the right choice. Very pleased.