Short answer: the ZMF Ori 3.0. It ranks #111 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $2,199.99. The Denon AH-D9200 ranks #124, rated 3.5/5, at $1,799, $400.99 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The case for the Denon AH-D9200: The bass is well behaved, within about 1.4 dB of target through the sub-bass and about 1.2 dB over in the bass, which gives a full but controlled foundation. Watch for: Upper mids are about 2.4 dB under target and a 6.1 dB dip near 2.3 kHz recesses vocals and piano.
Buy the ZMF Ori 3.0. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $400.99 with the Denon AH-D9200 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| ZMF Ori 3.0 | Denon AH-D9200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,199.99 | $1,799.00 |
| Ranked | #111 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #124 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 75 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 71 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.76 dB standard deviation | 2.50 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.22 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.80 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.8 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 80mm planar magnetic | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 60 ohms | 24 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 95 dB/mW | 105 dB/mW |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (540 g) | 0.8 lbs (375 g) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 5Hz - 56kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for ZMF Ori 3.0:
- HIFIMAN HE1000 V2 vs ZMF Ori 3.0
- Meze Empyrean II vs ZMF Ori 3.0
- Denon AH-D9200 vs Audio-Technica ATH-AWKT
- Denon AH-D9200 vs Audeze MM-500
- Denon AH-D9200 vs Sendy Peacock
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Headphones In Full
ZMF Ori 3.0: $2,199.99 ZMF eBay
Full ZMF Ori 3.0 review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.76 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 80mm planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 75 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 60 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 95 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.22 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (540 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Denon AH-D9200: $1,799.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The bass is well behaved, within about 1.4 dB of target through the sub-bass and about 1.2 dB over in the bass, which gives a full but controlled foundation. A preference score of 71 and a 2.5 dB deviation show a reasonably smooth overall tune. A 24 ohm impedance and 105 dB/mW sensitivity make it easy to drive from portable sources, and the closed back isolates.
Cons: Upper mids are about 2.4 dB under target and a 6.1 dB dip near 2.3 kHz recesses vocals and piano. Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is 3.5 dB low, then a 6.4 dB peak near 11.9 kHz and 4.8 dB of excess air add a hot, uneven sheen on top. At 375 g it is a heavy headphone, and the price is far beyond what the response alone delivers compared with the Denon AH-D7200.
Full Denon AH-D9200 review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2019 (7 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.50 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 56kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 71 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 24 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.80 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (375 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.2 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +1.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 190 Hz | -3.8 dB | 0.77 |
| Peak | 2,176 Hz | +6.6 dB | 1.99 |
| Peak | 1,036 Hz | -2.7 dB | 1.43 |
| Peak | 420 Hz | +2.1 dB | 2.13 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 7,028 Hz | +3.5 dB | 1.56 |
| Peak | 5,420 Hz | -6.3 dB | 3.42 |
| Peak | 4,317 Hz | +1.9 dB | 5.76 |
| Peak | 42 Hz | -0.4 dB | 2.39 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons