There was a problem with the channels being unbalanced (the resistance of the left was 27 Ohms, the right - 13 Ohms). I solved the problem with the help of this video:
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Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire Review
- Thread starter amirm
- Start date
Hey Dan
How can one tell the manufacturing date? Is it in the EAN code?
(Contemplating getting a used Aeon2 Noire but hesitant about your "we repair for first owners" policy.)
Jimster480
Major Contributor
I had no idea that was ever a policy! I bought a used Aeon Flow Closed like 8? (maybe more?) years ago now and have never had an issue... had to replace the pads and maybe the headband.... but I bought the parts straight from DC and installed them myself!
My question was regarding the apparently common failure of those headphones, where channel imbalance would occur as a result of internal contacts failing.
Dan said in the post I replied to that they would extend the warranty and repair/replace headphones for affected owners.
Since this seems to be a manufacturing issue, I don't quite understand why people purchasing a used pair would be exempt of the warranty?
did you get the Noire X?
After careful inspection I'm not under the impression that my issues on my particular pair are in any way related to connector degradation.
I often encounter channel imbalance and have corrected it by cleaning the actual diaphragm. What I observe is that the screws that are used are of a rather soft metal where tiny little shards shed off when tightened into the screw bosses. Those shards then work their way into the diaphragm shorting small sections of the traces. It's been 3-4 times now that I've had to disassemble one or both the drivers to clean off the shards. The debris is visible to the naked eye though quite tiny.
First I use a little camera lens air blower to blow off anything easy followed by gently "dabbing" the diaphragm with the sticky side of blue painters tape. The second technique is very effective as long as you are gentle, I'm sure you could easily damage the diaphragm if done improperly.
The first few times I clean them out I assumed the source of the shards was manufacturing or something else, it wasn't until the most recent time that I noticed just how soft the screws were and how easy it was to create little shavings/shards, so from now on I'm also cleaning and inspecting the threads on the screws before reassemble.
If I notice significant imbalance I'll crank the volume and sometimes the force of the diaphragm moving actually displaces the shard, temporarily eliminating the short and returning volume balance.
I often encounter channel imbalance and have corrected it by cleaning the actual diaphragm. What I observe is that the screws that are used are of a rather soft metal where tiny little shards shed off when tightened into the screw bosses. Those shards then work their way into the diaphragm shorting small sections of the traces. It's been 3-4 times now that I've had to disassemble one or both the drivers to clean off the shards. The debris is visible to the naked eye though quite tiny.
First I use a little camera lens air blower to blow off anything easy followed by gently "dabbing" the diaphragm with the sticky side of blue painters tape. The second technique is very effective as long as you are gentle, I'm sure you could easily damage the diaphragm if done improperly.
The first few times I clean them out I assumed the source of the shards was manufacturing or something else, it wasn't until the most recent time that I noticed just how soft the screws were and how easy it was to create little shavings/shards, so from now on I'm also cleaning and inspecting the threads on the screws before reassemble.
If I notice significant imbalance I'll crank the volume and sometimes the force of the diaphragm moving actually displaces the shard, temporarily eliminating the short and returning volume balance.
Robbo99999
Master Contributor
Holy Shmoly, that's detailed! I wonder if @Dan Clark would want to know about this or comment on the reality of it. (It smells like it could be paranoia or indeed real in some cases, but it's good the manufacturer to know or comment). You'd also think it wouldn't be a problem unless you're taking your headphone apart & putting it back together a few times or if it comes that way from the factory.
How can I figure out if my unit is not affected by the internal technical issues causing higher impedance? (it's an older unit)
It doesn't sound like the drivers are imbalanced, but I feel like my SMSL desktop amp should be able to drive these headphones slightly better.. My Beyer DT1990 pro don't need more than around 20 on volume setting, while the Noire need 40-50 for the same recording.. on high gain.
It doesn't sound like the drivers are imbalanced, but I feel like my SMSL desktop amp should be able to drive these headphones slightly better.. My Beyer DT1990 pro don't need more than around 20 on volume setting, while the Noire need 40-50 for the same recording.. on high gain.
solderdude
Grand Contributor
When there is no channel imbalance then there is no issue that needs solving or per-emptive solving.
AEON 2 Noire = 103dB/V where DT 1990 PRO = 108dB/V (the mkII is 114dB/V)
The DT 1990 PRO is 5dB more sensitive so that too is normal behavior.
Just enjoy it, no need to worry about this possible issue that may happen with some of them.
AEON 2 Noire = 103dB/V where DT 1990 PRO = 108dB/V (the mkII is 114dB/V)
The DT 1990 PRO is 5dB more sensitive so that too is normal behavior.
Just enjoy it, no need to worry about this possible issue that may happen with some of them.
How can I tell for sure that there is no channel imbalance?
I have tried various sound files (stereo test tones) but most of them are not easy to distinguish...
and I don't trust my hearing enough to be able to pick up on it.. (doesn't mean I don't worry about a potential technical defect!)
and since Dan said that they only repair faulty units for original owners, I would be straight out of luck here...
Play a mono track and see if it's located on the center of your head. I have experienced the imbalance problem with my Aeon 2 Noires and this method worked for me, as the sound was clearly coming from one side.
Robbo99999
Master Contributor
And make sure your ears aren't blocked or partially blocked by wax. It's very easy to hear imbalance in headphones if you've got a somewhat temporary wax blockage in one of your ears. It shows up imbalance easier in headphones than it would in speakers because there's no cross talk between the ears with headphones - with speakers you get sound from left speaker going to both left & right ears for example, so wax blockage in one ear makes headphones sound like more channel imbalance than if you have the same blockage but listening to speakers or indeed everyday life.
solderdude
Grand Contributor
Play a mono file.
Listen if it pulls towards one side.
Listen to the same file with the DT 1990 to check if you want.
When both pull to the same side (if that even happens) then it is not the headphone.
I assume up till this day you never experienced something being wrong with it (sound leaning to one side) other than you expecting more loudness.
If that is the case there is nothing wrong with it at this moment.
No one can tell whether or not the fault will develop in the future.
Not ALL of these models have this issue anyway.
I only just received them yesterday, so there's that.
Selkirks
Active Member
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I bought a used pair of AEON 2 Noire earlier this year that had a clear channel imbalance. The center vocals were noticeably askew on familiar tracks right from the first listen. If you haven't noticed anything like this yet, your pair might be fine.
solderdude
Grand Contributor
When they are older ones and survived the transport and are fine then that might be a good one.
Or ... it is possible that it had an imbalance issue (basically a poor contact) which (temporarily) cured itself due to vibrations during transport.
option 1:
Return if possible and unsure
option 2:
Take the gamble it is fine and enjoy
option 3:
put it up for sale
I asked the seller and he checked them before I bought them. He did and said it was fine. But I'm paranoid like that
I paid a ton for shipping and taxes and customs.. I'd pay another ton for return shipping, losing me around 200 USD if I returned them.
staticV3
Grand Contributor
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You can measure the DC resistance with a basic multimeter.
If there are contact issues, then the multimeter will show it.
solderdude
Grand Contributor
Seems to work fine.
If they sound good to you then just enjoy them.
Use a multimeter. That is what I used to confirm my Aeon 2 Noire had channel imbalance (pretty easy to do and plenty of videos you can follow online).
DCA fixed them for me once it was determined they had the issue.
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