Dan Clark ÆON CORE Headphone Review

[Chanur]

In fairly new to the headphone hobby. How my Hifiman Ananada Stealth or Sennheiser HD6XX compare to this? Besides the build quality difference (I'm assuming) what would I gain by splurging for something like this? I'm starting to look at headphones around 1000 so this is right in that target range.

 

[Darkatomz]

For $200 more, the Noire X has the built in waveguides that the Core does not and is well worth the cost increase. IMO anyways, as someone who has owned the Aeon 2 Noire as well as the Noire X. Otherwise looks like another great option at the <$1000 price point.

 

[Chanur]

For $200 more, the Noire X has the built in waveguides that the Core does not and is well worth the cost increase. IMO anyways, as someone who has owned the Aeon 2 Noire as well as the Noire X. Otherwise looks like another great option at the <$1000 price point.

I'm not sure what the waveguides are but I'll check into it!

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Dan hit another jackpot

 

[TheKoC]

There was a time when I tried to convince myself that I am a headphone guy and just need better headphones, now I have a Sennheiser HD800s and a Ananda Stealth, both rarely in use. Both sound great, but it turns out I am just not a headphone guy...

So I really hope I can quell the desire to get these, because they really look great

 

[Chanur]

There was a time when I tried to convince myself that I am a headphone guy and just need better headphones, now I have a Sennheiser HD800s and a Ananda Stealth, both rarely in use. Both sound great, but it turns out I am just not a headphone guy...

So I really hope I can quell the desire to get these, because they really look great

I definitely prefer my speakers and my HiFi set up. However I also like to enjoy the more intimate experience of headphones at times. I've been particularly enjoying it lately. Got a set up for the bedroom for relaxing, and just got the Schiit Vestri for the office.

 

[marcom22]

Are closed or open-back?

 

[amirm]

Amir,

Do you have an estimate of when you hope to ship this headphone from Tested Audio dot com ?

They are waiting on me to give them the green light. So could be very soon.

 

[HeadBanger]

Are closed or open-back?

They are closed.

AEON CORE

ÆON CORE, a new closed-back planar magnetic headphone and the direct successor to the ÆON 2. Not only does ÆON CORE introduce an all-new driver engineered for maximum efficiency, it’s Dan Clark Audio’s first headphone tuned to a revised Harman over-ear target developed through research with Dr...

danclarkaudio.com

HB

 

[Audionaut]

So feel free to read whatever bias you like in my subjective remarks.

Of course I will—and I hope the proceeds will allow you to indulge your love of good food

 

[Dan Clark]

So with the $900 Aeon 2 Noire, $900 Aeon Core, and $1100 Noire X all measuring roughly the same, how should you pick one?

View attachment 536898View attachment 536900View attachment 536902
View attachment 536897View attachment 536899View attachment 536901

It doesn't appear like the newer models are straight upgrades, otherwise the older models would surely be phased out or discounted but they're not

Complicated topic, but per the note I'm about to post (above this post) you can only go so far just looking at graphs, and sometimes the reasons can be "sneaky."

The headphones all sound unique, Stealth is probably the smoothest, with the largest soundstage. E3 has more lower treble presence and a punchier bottom, for example. All the other models are also a bit easier to transport, with folding gimbals. When you wear them, each presents a similar but unique experience, with improvements in distortion, portability, and often soundstage, as you go up the line.

 

[amirm]

Dan Clar AEON Freq response APO EQ Score 2 Flat@HF 96000Hz June052026-110221 Preamp: -3.50 dB Filter 1: ON PK Fc 12.3 Hz Gain 2.06 dB Q 0.59 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 69.8 Hz Gain 1.62 dB Q 2.09 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 108.6 Hz Gain -1.90 dB Q 1.28 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 5324.6 Hz Gain 4.23 dB Q 0.44 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 5472.0 Hz Gain -6.83 dB Q 4.60 Filter 6: ON PK Fc 3605.8 Hz Gain -1.39 dB Q 3.47 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 11604.4 Hz Gain 0.92 dB Q 1.88

What happens to preference score if you round to one decimal place?

 

[totti1965]

Here are some thoughts about the EQ.
Please report your findings, positive or negative!

Notes about the EQ design:

• The average L/R is used to calculate the score.
• The resolution is 12 points per octave interpolated from the raw data (provided by @amirm)
• A Genetic Algorithm is used to optimize the EQ.
• The EQ Score is designed to MAXIMIZE the Score WHILE fitting the Harman target curve (and other constraints) with a fixed complexity.
  This will avoid weird results if one only optimizes for the Score, start your journey here or there.
  There is a presentation by S. Olive here.
  It will probably flatten the Error regression doing so, the tonal balance should be therefore more neutral.
• The EQs are starting point and may require tuning (certainly at LF and maybe at HF).
• The range around and above 10kHz is usually not EQed unless smooth enough to do so.
• I am using PEQ (PK) as from my experience the definition is more consistent across different DSP/platform implementations than shelves.
• With some HP/amp combo, the boosts and preamp gain (loss of Dynamic range) need to be carefully considered to avoid issues with, amongst other things, too low a Max SPL or damaging your device. You have beed warned.
• Not all units of the same product are made equal. The EQ is based on the measurements of a single unit. YMMV with regard to the very unit you are trying this EQ on.
• I sometimes use variations of the Harman curve for some reasons. See rational here and here
• NOTE: the score then calculated is not comparable to the scores derived from the default Harman target curve if not otherwise noted.

Good L/R match.

I have generated one EQ, the APO config file is attached.

Score no EQ: 77.4
Score Amirm: 77.6
Score with EQ: 100.3

Dan Clar AEON Freq response APO EQ Score 2 Flat@HF 96000Hz
June052026-110221

Preamp: -3.50 dB

Filter 1: ON PK Fc 12.3 Hz Gain 2.06 dB Q 0.59
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 69.8 Hz Gain 1.62 dB Q 2.09
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 108.6 Hz Gain -1.90 dB Q 1.28
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 5324.6 Hz Gain 4.23 dB Q 0.44
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 5472.0 Hz Gain -6.83 dB Q 4.60
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 3605.8 Hz Gain -1.39 dB Q 3.47
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 11604.4 Hz Gain 0.92 dB Q 1.88

View attachment 536930

Thank you, much appreciated - you are faster than the speed of light!

Imho: After his speaker- or headphone tests, @amirm really ought to make it standard practice to reserve a spot for your contributions alongside the space for the manufacturer's specs!!!

 

[amirm]

Imho: After his speaker- or headphone tests, @amirm really ought to make it standard practice to reserve a spot for your contributions alongside the space for the manufacturer's specs!!!

Unfortunately the forum software has no standard mechanism to reserve a post for someone else. Even as Admin I can't create a post under some other alias.

 

[Chagall]

So with the $900 Aeon 2 Noire, $900 Aeon Core, and $1100 Noire X all measuring roughly the same, how should you pick one?

View attachment 536898View attachment 536900View attachment 536902
View attachment 536897View attachment 536899View attachment 536901

It doesn't appear like the newer models are straight upgrades, otherwise the older models would surely be phased out or discounted but they're not

That is kind of the goal though: standardized headphone tuning.
Buy yeah, the problem is they also aren't differentiated by price, looks, distortion, weight, or power requirements... So there isn't an obvious reason to pick one over the others without actually trying them and seeing if fit/seal/HRTF interaction quirks make the choice easier.

 

[Darkatomz]

I'm not sure what the waveguides are but I'll check into it!

This is the patented Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System (AMTS) that the higher/highest end DCA headphones are equipped with. More on the tech page. Makes a massive difference in the treble region when comparing the Aeon 2 Noire to the Noire X as it is much smoother.

 

[Dan Clark]

That is kind of the goal though: standardized headphone tuning.
Buy yeah, the problem is they also aren't differentiated by price, looks, distortion, weight, or power requirements... So there isn't an obvious reason to pick one over the others without actually trying them and seeing if fit/seal/HRTF interaction quirks make the choice easier.

One of the things that I've learned through doing direct research is that a series of small, low Q, low amplitude changes can create a fairly substantial net effect. In practice, the graphs may look similar with a lot of +/- 1-2 db low q variances, yet they'll sound obviously different. In some ways these "low Q" features can be more audible than high-Q features. When you combine this with individual ear geometry and fit effects people can have pretty different experiences even though the meaurements appear similar.

So you are quite correct! There's a family resemblance, but they're not clones.

Other factors include efficiency, and of course cost. AEON CORE is by far our most efficient headphone we've made, and can be driven by any decent portable gear, even some gear really meant more for IEMs. This also can really reduce the cost of ownership for people who already have gear that may be underpowered for our other models.

 

[delta76]

So with the $900 Aeon 2 Noire, $900 Aeon Core, and $1100 Noire X all measuring roughly the same, how should you pick one?

View attachment 536898View attachment 536900View attachment 536902
View attachment 536897View attachment 536899View attachment 536901

It doesn't appear like the newer models are straight upgrades, otherwise the older models would surely be phased out or discounted but they're not

not necessarily a bad thing. I'm fine with several headphones that measured the same, but different in look and feel (and comfort). more options to choose

 

[AudioSceptic]

Thanks for the review, @amirm!

We really put our all into AEON CORE, I literally set out to deliver a flagship-level experience at a price that made the headphones accessible to far more people, I hope you'll we succeeded!

Also, part of why this headphone sounds different is very subtle and requires a look at the Harman results for the original "Welti" target vs the recalibrated KB5000 target @Sean Olive and I produced.

With the KB5000-based tuning, AEON CORE does have a very lively and dynamic presentation, with a bit more presence in the lower treble than most of our headphones (E3 excepted, which is very similar in most of this region). It also has a different bass-touch, with a bit less energy in the 100-225Hz region than we usually use.

The net is that even people with our other headphones should find this a fun, well balanced addition to the collection.

Sorry for being long-winded but adding clarity to this requires a bit of explanation.

1) We don't recommend PEQ above 6 KHz, the GRAS measurements are questionable above this level. The following charts shows why I say this, it's one headphone tested on both the KB5000 45CA and a 5128, no smoothing, only one seating.

IMPORTANT NOTE: the red is the re-calibrated Harman target Sean and I developed last year. Note that the AEON CORE is closer to this target, which explains the subtle but definitely present tuning changes. Also note that Amir's PEQ works just as well with either. The normalization is a bit different from Amir's to better show the effect in question. Also, notice how closely all the detailed features between 1-7K align on the 2 devices, that was unexpected, with no smoothing.

View attachment 536970

Here is the exact same headphone on the BK 5128... Ignore the "target" curve, that's not validated, and is likely incorrect below 1000Hz. That said, the key takeaway is that the BK shows no shelf at all on the 6-11k, in fact above 8K it's really smooth. There's just one dip at around 7 which is, in fact, there. We have validated this with extensive listening.

View attachment 536972

The long and short is above ~7KHz we strongly recommend only shelf filters, or doing very specific individual tuning for those trained in acoustics who can generate a PEQ by ear. Any attempt to do so based on GRAS measurements will almost certainly result in excess treble.

2) We did make a tiny improvement in THD, so we're specing 1% at 114db now. An individual high q peak is allowed

3) I think the PEQ Amir put forward will work much better for most people than the more complex "curve fitted" result (no offense intended, it's just per note 1, the measurements above 6K on the GRAS are not, IMHO, trustworthy for this headphone.) The one modification worth testing would be to add a 7Hz +2.5dB Q=5. Keep in mind this is approaching or overlapping ear-canal resonances, so that last may or may not work for you.

4) I think the best way to summarize this is that this is, in fact, the first headphone we've tuned to the KB5000_7 research-based curve, even though the GRAS results above 7K made it hard to show, we validated this through a lot of testing and confirmation with the BK. This does give the headphone part of its unique signature, without being a major departure from our prior work.

Hope that is helpful, and maybe even interesting!

Dan

"add a 7Hz +2.5dB Q=5." You meant 7kHz, of course?

 

[Dan Clark]

"add a 7Hz +2.5dB Q=5." You meant 7kHz, of course?

Yes