The Denon AH-D1200 is chic, lightweight and comfortable to wear, easy to carry and delivers above-average sound playback with fine levels of detail. As positive as all this may seem at first glance, the concept of these headphones doesn’t seem fully developed. On one hand, there are the black satin surfaces of the earpieces which are prone to tarnishing. Additionally, there is the limitation of the device to use with Apple devices. For my tastes, a contemporary headphone for mobile use should not have these kinds of limitations, especially considering the price range. And last but not least, the buyer can save himself the trouble of installing the additional app. There’s nothing delivered on a free level other than a simple media player.
All in all, we have a product that is technically and acoustically convincing, especially when it comes to playback of contemporary pop music, but one that is somewhat less convincing when it comes to handling.
With the Denon AH-D1200, the Japanese manufacturer delivers a closed, ear-enclosing HiFi headphone that strives to impress with sophisticated and precise sound. Denon is promoting the device for continuous use on the go, making it ideal for travellers or commuters. Do the headphones live up to these requirements?
What’s Included, Design and Function
The Denon AH-D1200 includes the headphones themselves, a nylon bag lined with soft fabric and two detachable 1.30 metre straight cables. One of these leads is equipped with a remote control and microphone to control music and allow for phone calls. The design of the headphones is defined by curved lines and a matt finish. In addition to the slick black version tested here, the AH-D1200 is also available in cream/brown/gold colour combinations. A Denon app can also be downloaded from the App Store. It also offers a simple media player function. As such, the purpose of the app isn’t abundantly clear to me. It’s also a shame that the EQ function can also only be activated by purchasing an in-app extra for a cost, with this not being obvious at first glance.
Inner Tech, Processing and Handling
The Ah-D1200 is equipped with specially developed 50 mm drivers. The aluminium cast shells make a robust impression, yet remain ultra-lightweight. All in all, these headphones weigh just over 250 grams. The ear pads are wonderfully comfortable thanks to their ergonomic design, memory foam cushioning and soft leather fabric. They can also be replaced, offering incredible long-term value. For this purpose, they are mounted on a thin plastic ring that clicks into the ear cups with ease. What I also like about these is that the pressure is not too firm, nor is the headband. The fact that the AH-D1200 is foldable and comes with a protective bag for transport also makes it easy to stow the headphones away when not in use.
The black satin surface of the earpieces are as sensitive to fingerprints as they look. Should these headphones actually be in daily use, a cleaning cloth should always be included. And while I’m on the subject of handling, I have to mention the plugs of the enclosed cables. The remote cable uses a common four-pin mini-jack plug. Additionally, the simple cable is provided with a mini-jack plug, but with a three-pin head. Unfortunately, there is no adapter for a large jack included.
In addition to a microphone button, the remote control includes volume control functionality, which can be used to continuously adjust the playback volume and microphone sensitivity. Unfortunately, the remote only works with iPhones and iPads and not on Android devices.
Sound Characteristics and Applications
The clear and detailed sound promised in the advertising material is actually immediately noticeable. Yes, you can definitely hear the advertised audio frequency range of 5 Hz to 40 kHz. Brilliant, finely drawn trebles meet defined levels of bass here. Event he low bass range is reproduced in an appealing way by these closed headphones. The mid-range sounds are wonderfully tidy when listening to contemporary pop productions, enabling a sophisticated listening experience. The AH-D1200’s high treble sound makes it almost always open and wide. This also applies to its stereo capabilities, although not to audio productions that are strongly centred. Here, the stereo image seems to be more narrowly focused.
The frequency response of these headphones are much better for pop and EDM than for rock and metal genres. In addition, the sensitivity of the headphones is very suitable for use on mobile devices due to its low impedance.
Technical specifications
- Ear couplingOver-ear
- Typeclosed
- Transducer principledynamic
- Frequency response (headphones)5 - 40.000 Hz
- Impedance26,85 ohms
- Sound pressure level (SPL)98,63 dB
- Pressure averaged from big and small head555 g
- Weight with cable261 g
- Weight without cable251 g
- Cable length130 cm
What's in the box
- Cable with mini jack
- Cable with mini jack and remote
- Carrying pouch
Special features
- also available in creme/brown/gold
Denon AH-D1200 – Where are these made? Are there any headsets with mic made in the USA?
The AH-D1200 have a clear & precise sound quality the price is right and they sit well on the ears covering fully.. That’s the good news: the bad news is the ear covering tends to come apart and there is no way of putting them back to how they sit in the ear muff holder this is a problem big time as the rest of the head phone is still in working condition..