Dan Clark Audio AEON RT Review (closed headphone)

[staticV3]

Okay, then the Aeon RT isn't for me and I'll rather go for the Noir X.

Another DCA closed-back with Harman-level ear gain is the Aeon 2 Closed with perforated replacement ear pads ($70 from DCA):

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

The Aeon Closed X and Aeon 2 Noire get close as well, with a slight undershoot (better than RT Closed and Aeon 2 Closed):

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

All measurements here:

index/list_of_presets - oratory1990

r/oratory1990: Mostly covering topics like headphones, in-ear headphones, acoustics, electroacoustics, acoustic tuning, headphone design …

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[Oldson]

can anyone comment on which pads seal best when using glasses, Aeon closed or Ether closed?
i am tempted to try a used offering of one or the other.
my guess would be the Ether would be more forgiving of glasses

 

[dagot23]

Got Aeon X Open recently and I have to say, after some EQ these are easily the best headphones I've ever owned and I own a few more expensive models as well. Thanks, Dan.

 

[crdhn]

Does anyone know where can these be acquired in EU? Looking for open variant.

 

[dagot23]

Does anyone know where can these be acquired in EU? Looking for open variant.

You need to import. I don't think either Aeon model is sold in the EU. I bought mine from Drop, shipping to Europe didn't take too long. You can also just buy the regular version directly from DCA's site since they ship to the EU as well.

 

[snowsurfer]

Does anyone know where can these be acquired in EU? Looking for open variant.

There is an official distributor in Spain, Zococity.

https://zococity.es/

They stock both the open and closed variant. 999€. I've seen them at 799€ two black fridays ago.

It's a legit brick and mortar store from Valencia that are pretty good online. I've purchased lots of stuff there too. Returned some FiiO crap I didn't like and the return policy was rock solid.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Dan Clark Audio Hifi-Kopfhörer

Große Auswahl an Dan Clark Audio Hifi-Kopfhörer ᐅ Jetzt stöbern und kaufen bei Thomann - Europas größtem Musikhaus | versandkostenfrei ✓ 30 Tage Money-Back ✓

www.thomann.de

 

[dagot23]

Neither Thomann nor Zococity have Aeon RT in stock. They only have Aeon 2 which is more expensive. Importing Aeon RT, with the taxes and everything, costs about 650 euro. About 600 euro if you get the drop version on discount with their 10 euro off code. That's about 400 euro cheaper than Aeon 2. Aeon 2 even measures worse afaik unless you swap the pads. It's foldable though, so that's pretty neat.

 

[snowsurfer]

Neither Thomann nor Zococity have Aeon RT in stock. They only have Aeon 2 which is more expensive. Importing Aeon RT, with the taxes and everything, costs about 650 euro. About 600 euro if you get the drop version on discount with their 10 euro off code. That's about 400 euro cheaper than Aeon 2. Aeon 2 even measures worse afaik unless you swap the pads. It's foldable though, so that's pretty neat.

This is correct, when I posted I didn't realise the query was about the RTs - it was ages since I participated in this thread and received the update today. Zococity will order RTs for you though, I just gave them a quick call. May take a long time though.

 

[RHO]

You can order the RT directly from DCA yourself. No need for an extra middle-man.
DCA has very nice customer service.

 

[crdhn]

This is correct, when I posted I didn't realise the query was about the RTs - it was ages since I participated in this thread and received the update today. Zococity will order RTs for you though, I just gave them a quick call. May take a long time though.

We are in AEON RT thread though ;P
And yeah, I'd cut out the middleman out too.
Thanks everyone for info!

 

[Timbo2]

I purchased these about a month ago. One of the primary considerations was weight and comfort. On that front I've been impressed. These are also one of my rare headphones that I have that I prefer the "house" curve over equalization to the Harman Over Ear 2018 curve. Using the Harman curve I find them too bright with the 1 notch white filter.

This is Oratory 1990's FR measurement as well as his Harman PEQ settings using the 1 notch white filter.

On the other hand if we tilt this just a bit I marginally prefer it to the "house sound".

Finally for the heck of it I decided to see what I could do to replicate the tilted curve with fewer filters.

I'd be hard pressed to tell the difference in sound with the prior curve.


Filters below for anyone that wants to try them.

Preamp: -7 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 70 Hz Gain -4.5 dB Q 0.3
Filter 2: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 5.5 dB Q 0.7
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 152 Hz Gain 5 dB Q 2
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 510 Hz Gain 1.5 dB Q 1.5
Filter 5: ON HSC Fc 2000 Hz Gain 7 dB Q 0.7
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 2250 Hz Gain 2.5 dB Q 3
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 3200 Hz Gain -2 dB Q 5
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 4620 Hz Gain -2.5 dB Q 5
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 5800 Hz Gain -7.5 dB Q 3
Filter 10: ON HSC Fc 11000 Hz Gain -10 dB Q 0.7


Preamp: -7 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 70 Hz Gain -4.5 dB Q 0.3
Filter 2: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 7 dB Q 0.7
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 152 Hz Gain 5 dB Q 2
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 510 Hz Gain 1.5 dB Q 1.5
Filter 5: ON HSC Fc 2000 Hz Gain 6 dB Q 0.7
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 2250 Hz Gain 2.5 dB Q 3
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 3200 Hz Gain -2 dB Q 5
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 4620 Hz Gain -2.5 dB Q 5
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 5800 Hz Gain -7.5 dB Q 3
Filter 10: ON HSC Fc 11000 Hz Gain -10 dB Q 0.7

Preamp: -6 dB
Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 60 Hz Gain 3 dB Q 0.7
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 148 Hz Gain 4 dB Q 3
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 2350 Hz Gain 3 dB Q 3.5
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 4688 Hz Gain 5.5 dB Q 0.7
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 5383 Hz Gain -8 dB Q 2.5

 

[Mango]

Hello, I am recently looking for custom pads for my Aeon Flow closed headphone and came across Vesper Audio. Now I am not sure if I should perforate the inner walls all around or just the front side of the ear pads like the perforated ear pads from Dan Clark Audio? Also, I will be making the ear pads a bit wider.

 

[Timbo2]

Hello, I am recently looking for custom pads for my Aeon Flow closed headphone and came across Vesper Audio. Now I am not sure if I should perforate the inner walls all around or just the front side of the ear pads like the perforated ear pads from Dan Clark Audio? Also, I will be making the ear pads a bit wider.

Are you doing this for comfort or sound? It will change the sound marginally in an unknown way. For example Dan Clark measures his headphones and noted the perforations changed the frequency response. You may want go to his site and read what perforated pads do.

 

[Mango]

Are you doing this for comfort or sound? It will change the sound marginally in an unknown way. For example Dan Clark measures his headphones and noted the perforations changed the frequency response. You may want go to his site and read what perforated pads do.

For both comfort and sound, I know that DCA offers partially perforated pads (perforated at the front) for the Aeons. It's mainly for widening the sound stage and improve separation.

 

[Dan Clark]

Hello, I am recently looking for custom pads for my Aeon Flow closed headphone and came across Vesper Audio. Now I am not sure if I should perforate the inner walls all around or just the front side of the ear pads like the perforated ear pads from Dan Clark Audio? Also, I will be making the ear pads a bit wider.

There is no way to tell without accurate measurements; every pad will have different properties based on the exact foam, geometry, and even stitching that is used. It's wild-west on frequency response.

 

[Mango]

Thank you for your insight.

I already contacted your company about this. I was curious if you have tried the perforation on the whole inside of the pads with the Aeons, since the RT and the Aeon 2 come with the perforated ear pads only at the front (instead of the whole inner diameter).

 

[Dan Clark]

Thank you for your insight.

I already contacted your company about this. I was curious if you have tried the perforation on the whole inside of the pads with the Aeons, since the RT and the Aeon 2 come with the perforated ear pads only at the front (instead of the whole inner diameter).

We have tried all sort of geometry for perforation, it's exhausting... LOL.

 

[Mango]

Oh well, that can certainly be exhausting. I got a reply back from the customer service and they said the changes I will make in the custom pads will (mostly) affect the mid-range of the frequency response.

Vesper Audio also responded back and they are offering soft memory foam, so I suppose it's softer than the Aeon Flow Closed stock pads.