Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire Review

[icey.seri]

I don't understand what you mean. I've only ever dealt with Sue at Dan Clark for support. Don't think one could refer to them as corporate.

I mean that the company can't really comment on it or admit wrongdoing, that's the same person, they just ignored it.

 

[icey.seri]

I mean that the company can't really comment on it or admit wrongdoing, that's the same person, they just ignored it.

After taking a look with a multimeter, right side(normal side), impedance 13ohms (as it should be), left side(quiet side), 19.1ohms, bad.
Should planars even do this?
Measured others:
Crinacle zero red: 102, 102 (wrong? it should be lower shouldn't it?)
HD6xx: 297, 298

Doing some math:
V**2 / R so we are getting 1.46x as much power to the right cup (because it's planar)
gets us less than 2db differential whereas i'm getting around 4 to 6db(by ear)

This could really be anything from intermittence to frequency variability of the imbalance. Until I can get proper testing with a rig, which I don't have and I suspect the local retailer doesn't have either since they did diagnosis by ear with their favorite tracks the last time round.

 

[staticV3]

After taking a look with a multimeter, right side(normal side), impedance 13ohms (as it should be), left side(quiet side), 19.1ohms, bad.
Should planars even do this?
Measured others:
Crinacle zero red: 102, 102 (wrong? it should be lower shouldn't it?)
HD6xx: 297, 298

Doing some math:
V**2 / R so we are getting 1.46x as much power to the right cup (because it's planar)
gets us less than 2db differential whereas i'm getting around 4 to 6db(by ear)

This could really be anything from intermittence to frequency variability of the imbalance. Until I can get proper testing with a rig, which I don't have and I suspect the local retailer doesn't have either since they did diagnosis by ear with their favorite tracks the last time round.

Your multimeter is measuring DC resistance.

In audio, we usually care about the AC impedance.

 

[Ahmonge]

After taking a look with a multimeter, right side(normal side), impedance 13ohms (as it should be), left side(quiet side), 19.1ohms, bad.
Should planars even do this?
Measured others:
Crinacle zero red: 102, 102 (wrong? it should be lower shouldn't it?)
HD6xx: 297, 298

Doing some math:
V**2 / R so we are getting 1.46x as much power to the right cup (because it's planar)
gets us less than 2db differential whereas i'm getting around 4 to 6db(by ear)

This could really be anything from intermittence to frequency variability of the imbalance. Until I can get proper testing with a rig, which I don't have and I suspect the local retailer doesn't have either since they did diagnosis by ear with their favorite tracks the last time round.

As far as I know, the impedance of planar transducers have only a resistive component. Measuring it with direct current is a correct procedure.

This message applies to your problem:

Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire Review

I have a non noire version and would need a replacement cable... any tips on ones that don't cost an arm and a leg? It is well assembled, pleasant to the touch (and looks good), the connectors on headphones side are not too tight or too loose. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005603255613.html

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[icey.seri]

After taking a look with a multimeter, right side(normal side), impedance 13ohms (as it should be), left side(quiet side), 19.1ohms, bad.
Should planars even do this?
Measured others:
Crinacle zero red: 102, 102 (wrong? it should be lower shouldn't it?)
HD6xx: 297, 298

Doing some math:
V**2 / R so we are getting 1.46x as much power to the right cup (because it's planar)
gets us less than 2db differential whereas i'm getting around 4 to 6db(by ear)

Your multimeter is measuring DC resistance.

In audio, we usually care about the AC impedance.

I get it, but I was betting on it being congruent + I was expecting planar to be ok

 

[paudio]

I mean that the company can't really comment on it or admit wrongdoing, that's the same person, they just ignored it.

They straight up told me that there was some sort of internal issue. And they replaced my drivers. What do you mean they just ignored it?

After taking a look with a multimeter, right side(normal side), impedance 13ohms (as it should be), left side(quiet side), 19.1ohms, bad.
Should planars even do this?
Measured others:
Crinacle zero red: 102, 102 (wrong? it should be lower shouldn't it?)
HD6xx: 297, 298

Doing some math:
V**2 / R so we are getting 1.46x as much power to the right cup (because it's planar)
gets us less than 2db differential whereas i'm getting around 4 to 6db(by ear)

This could really be anything from intermittence to frequency variability of the imbalance. Until I can get proper testing with a rig, which I don't have and I suspect the local retailer doesn't have either since they did diagnosis by ear with their favorite tracks the last time round.

The resistance should match very closely. If something is wrong with the voice coil or with the planar trace it could definitely change the resistance. You can also do a comparison sweep with something like REW. I think I posted my results recently before and after they replaced the drivers.

 

[Hyacin]

Would a Topping L70 (6W@16) be a good match for these?

I could get an A70 Pro (17W@16) for just 16% ($75 CAD) more, but it seems like it might be overkill?

These will likely be the most power hungry thing my setup ever drives, so I don't need to really future proof (in fact I already am as the Noires are a couple months out and I'm only rocking K371s for now)

TIA

 

[icey.seri]

They straight up told me that there was some sort of internal issue. And they replaced my drivers. What do you mean they just ignored it?

The resistance should match very closely. If something is wrong with the voice coil or with the planar trace it could definitely change the resistance. You can also do a comparison sweep with something like REW. I think I posted my results recently before and after they replaced the drivers.

My questions about the issue itself was just ignored, like I mean just not answered. I don't have any acoustic testing equipment and now my last email which was 10 days ago asking whether if I shipped the set to them in San Diego, they would be able to diagnose and tell me about the issue is still unanswered.

 

[icey.seri]

Would a Topping L70 (6W@16) be a good match for these?

I could get an A70 Pro (17W@16) for just 16% ($75 CAD) more, but it seems like it might be overkill?

These will likely be the most power hungry thing my setup ever drives, so I don't need to really future proof (in fact I already am as the Noires are a couple months out and I'm only rocking K371s for now)

TIA

6w @ 16ohms would blow your ears out and then some more. Really all you need (no headroom) is a small dongle, even the apple dongle has plenty of volume above comfortable levels if you're not doing eq. You don't need L70 levels of power or A70 levels, but if you wanted them anyways I wouldn't say to pick based on power

 

[jhaider]

6w @ 16ohms would blow your ears out and then some more. Really all you need (no headroom) is a small dongle, even the apple dongle has plenty of volume above comfortable levels if you're not doing eq. You don't need L70 levels of power or A70 levels, but if you wanted them anyways I wouldn't say to pick based on power

I wouldn’t say that for A2N. FWIW, I found Quedlix 5k with a “balanced” cable was insufficient for dynamic program material. That’s one reason I sold mine (I also didn’t care much for the auto-adjust headband, and they folded too bulky to fit in my briefcase.) RME ADI-2 works fine to drive them.

 

[Doodski]

The Schiit MAGNI headphone amp is a new model, has lots of power, blows the JDS Labs ATOM AMP+ out of the water for power output, has a 3 year parts and labor warranty and is made in the USA.
Maximum Power, 16 ohms: 3.0W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 2.5W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 50 ohms: 1.5W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 415mW RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 600 ohms: 220mW RMS per channel

Schiit Audio: Audio Products Designed and Built in Texas and California

www.schiit.com

 

[staticV3]

The Schiit MAGNI headphone amp is a new model, has lots of power, blows the JDS Labs ATOM AMP+ out of the water for power output

The Schiit Magni is an old model. It's the Magni Unity revision which is new.

Also, it's easy to be blinded by high power numbers, but always a good idea to take a step back and look at what they actually mean.

The Atom Amp+ clips at 1.1W where the Magni Unity can output 2.0W:


That's 6V and 8V respectively, meaning a +2.4dB volume boost or about 15% higher perceived loudness.

Not all that groundbreaking after all

 

[Doodski]

Magni Unity

Cool. It doesn't seem to be at the Schiit website. How do you know about this new MAGNI Unity?

 

[Doodski]

The Schiit Magni is an old model. It's the Magni Unity revision which is new.

Also, it's easy to be blinded by high power numbers, but always a good idea to take a step back and look at what they actually mean.

The Atom Amp+ clips at 1.1W where the Magni Unity can output 2.0W:
View attachment 380658 View attachment 380659

That's 6V and 8V respectively, meaning a +2.4dB volume boost or about 15% higher perceived loudness.

Not all that groundbreaking after all

LoL... It's impressive for between US $99 and US $109. The Schiit gets a extra year parts and labor warranty and outputs more power with built in protection circuitry. What's bad about it?

 

[staticV3]

Cool. It doesn't seem to be at the Schiit website. How do you know about this new MAGNI Unity?

LoL... It's impressive for between US $99 and US $109. The Schiit gets a extra year parts and labor warranty and outputs more power with built in protection circuitry. What's bad about it?

Nothing's bad, but "the Magni blows the Amp+ out of the water for power output" feels somewhat misleading when the reality is +2.4dB max output volume at 32Ω (~+15%).

So I tried to put it into context, that's it.

 

[icey.seri]

I wouldn’t say that for A2N. FWIW, I found Quedlix 5k with a “balanced” cable was insufficient for dynamic program material. That’s one reason I sold mine (I also didn’t care much for the auto-adjust headband, and they folded too bulky to fit in my briefcase.) RME ADI-2 works fine to drive them.

That's less of an issue with power and more of an issue with what level your digital signal is at, but per-program audio boosting is pretty hard to get on platforms

 

[tb753917]

I wouldn’t say that for A2N. FWIW, I found Quedlix 5k with a “balanced” cable was insufficient for dynamic program material. That’s one reason I sold mine (I also didn’t care much for the auto-adjust headband, and they folded too bulky to fit in my briefcase.) RME ADI-2 works fine to drive them.

Do you mean RME ADI-2 DAC？

 

[Doodski]

View attachment 380671


Nothing's bad, but "the Magni blows the Amp+ out of the water for power output" feels somewhat misleading when the reality is +2.4dB max output volume at 32Ω (~+15%).

So I tried to put it into context, that's it.

OK. You are 100% correct and I learned my lesson. Not to exaggerate measly similar power figures. LoL... It's a bad habit and I should know better and use the dB and power calculators that we have available.

 

[jhaider]

Do you mean RME ADI-2 DAC？

I have the Pro, but I think the only differences are A/D conversion and digital output option.

 

[staticV3]

I have the Pro, but I think the only differences is are A/D conversion and digital ioutput option.

The Pro has two DAC chips and a more powerful headphone amp.