Is the Sennheiser HD 800s worth the upgrade from the Denon Ah-D5200?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Denon Ah-D5200 to the Sennheiser HD 800s buys you 16.0 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in sound (7.5 to 9.5) and value (6.0 to 6.5). On paper: weight 385 g to 330 g, driver size 50 mm to 56 mm and drivers per side 1 to 2. Worth checking: active noise cancelling goes No to No. That costs $1075 more, or about $67 per point of score - steep unless the specific gains above are ones you care about. If your current pair is worn out or the gains line up with how you listen, this one is worth the money.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound7.59.5
- Value6.06.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Ah-D5200 | HD 800s | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active noise cancelling | No | No | |
| Weight | 385 g | 330 g | |
| Driver size | 50 mm | 56 mm | |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 | |
| Frequency response | 5Hz-40kHz | 4Hz-51kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Ah-D5200 to HD 800s". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across over-ear and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.