Is the Denon Ah-D5200 worth the upgrade from the Sennheiser HD 800s?
Verdict
Downgrade
The Denon Ah-D5200 actually scores 16.0 points below the Sennheiser HD 800s, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. It loses ground on sound (9.5 to 7.5) and value (6.5 to 6.0). Worth checking: active noise cancelling goes No to No and weight goes 330 g to 385 g. It is at least $1075 cheaper, so the lower score comes with a saving. Only worth it if a specific feature above matters more to you than overall quality does.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound9.57.5
- Value6.56.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | HD 800s | Ah-D5200 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active noise cancelling | No | No | |
| Weight | 330 g | 385 g | |
| Driver size | 56 mm | 50 mm | |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 | |
| Frequency response | 4Hz-51kHz | 5Hz-40kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "HD 800s to Ah-D5200". 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.