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Dan Clark E3 Headphone Review

Rate this headphone:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 5 1.9%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 11 4.2%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 38 14.7%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 205 79.2%

  • Total voters
    259
I'm not sure I can think of any good value parametric EQ standalone units that would work connected to your CD player.

Yes, only RME, minidsp 2x4 HD, or Flex. But I'm sure EQ will be in most upcoming DACs, now that Topping started the trend.

The Minidsp Flex is around $500 and can apply 10-band equalization to optical and coax inputs, so it will work with a CD player as the signal source. I've never counted how many CDs I've collected (my shelves are groaning under their weight) nor estimated how much I've spent, in total, on their purchase (if I knew that figure it would probably be so staggering it would alarm me). At this stage, investing 5 Benjamins in a signal processor for headphones would not be extravagant. But then, I could just buy the DCA E3 and completely avoid the need for equalization. Hmm...

If you go E3 then no need for EQ, but do you have a headphone amp? I'm asking because it needs some power. Also with E3, you can choose balanced or unbalanced cable so be careful to choose the right one - it's 330EUR when buying separately.
 
I'm sure EQ will be in most upcoming DACs, now that Topping started the trend.
I look forward to seeing that positive development.
If you go E3 then no need for EQ, but do you have a headphone amp?
Not yet, though I'll be using Amir's reviews as a guide to that purchase. Thanks for your advice...!

A trip down the rabbit hole: I still own a Dynaco CDV-2 CD player that I bought years ago. It actually includes a tube stage that enables it to work as a preamp for the analog output, and yes, there is a headphone jack. I have no idea what sort of distortion this design adds to the signal, but I can imagine how silly it would be to plug state-of-the-art headphones like the DCA E3 into this device. Just out of morbid curiosity, I should ask Amir if he would be interested in testing this CD player (I can appreciate his dim view of tube audio components...)
Dynaco CDV-2 compact disc player.jpg
 
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I look forward to seeing that positive development.

Not yet, though I'll be using Amir's reviews as a guide to that purchase. Thanks for your advice...!
In that case, RME ADI DAC 2 at around 1000 eur comes back into play. It's a DAC amp combo. But you can definitely go with other Amir recommend cheaper options.
 
I look forward to seeing that positive development.

Not yet, though I'll be using Amir's reviews as a guide to that purchase. Thanks for your advice...!

A trip down the rabbit hole: I still own a Dynaco CDV-2 CD player that I bought years ago. It actually includes a tube stage that enables it to work as a preamp for the analog output, and yes, there is a headphone jack. I have no idea what sort of distortion this design adds to the signal, but I can imagine how silly it would be to plug state-of-the-art headphones like the DCA E3 into this device. Just out of morbid curiosity, I should ask Amir if he would be interested in testing this CD player (I can appreciate his dim view of tube audio components...)
View attachment 380252
In that case, RME ADI DAC 2 at around 1000 eur comes back into play. It's a DAC amp combo. But you can definitely go with other Amir recommend cheaper options.
@Chagall , so @Henreid is gonna need a DAC & amp to get the most out of his CD player then, unless the CD player has analog out (but then you're relying on the DAC within the CD player)? I think digital out from the CD player would bypass all the Vacuum Tube stuff, so the cleanest sound would be digital out from CD player to a good measuring DAC then a good measuring headphone amp (or indeed a DAC/amp combo unit)? There's plenty of good measuring DAC & amps & combo DAC/amps here on ASR. I think I'd avoid using the headphone out on the CD player as it's quite an unknown as it's not been measured, and if you're spending $2000 on a headphone then you're not gonna want to skimp on the audio chain. Plenty of good value & good measuring DAC/amps here on ASR.
 
@Henreid is gonna need a DAC & amp to get the most out of his CD playerI think I'd avoid using the headphone out on the CD player as it's quite an unknown as it's not been measured, and if you're spending $2000 on a headphone then you're not gonna want to skimp on the audio chain. Plenty of good value & good measuring DAC/amps here on ASR.
Yes - you're absolutely right. I may have puzzled folks by exhibiting that vintage Dynaco tube CD player, since these days I'm actually using an OPPO Blu-ray player for my CDs. All the analog outputs on the Dynaco player are powered by the tube stage, and I realize it would be ridiculous to compromise the exquisite performance of E3 headphones by connecting them to that (the tubes created congestion I could hear even through my loudspeakers). But I figure I'd relegate the Dynaco player to my office desk for "casual" listening while I'm working, and just use its digital coaxial output to connect to a DAC and a headphone amp. For "serious" [undistracted] listening with the E3 headphones I'd use my living room OPPO player (+ DAC + headphone amp). My apologies for the confusion I caused...!
 
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Also with E3, you can choose balanced or unbalanced cable so be careful to choose the right one - it's 330EUR when buying separately.
There are aftermarket cables on Aliexpress at very reasonable prices. The connectors may appear exotic, but they are easily available and not particularly expensive (unlike the ones for the HD800).
 
Yes - you're absolutely right. I may have puzzled folks by exhibiting that vintage Dynaco tube CD player, since these days I'm actually using an OPPO Blu-ray player for my CDs. All the analog outputs on the Dynaco player are powered by the tube stage, and I realize it would be ridiculous to compromise the exquisite performance of E3 headphones by connecting them to that (the tubes created congestion I could hear even through my loudspeakers). But I figure I'd relegate the Dynaco player to my office desk for "casual" listening while I'm working, and just use its digital coaxial output to connect to a DAC and a headphone amp. For "serious" [undistracted] listening with the E3 headphones I'd use my living room OPPO player (+ DAC + headphone amp). My apologies for the confusion I caused...!
Good, sounds like a plan!
 
I'm in UK though, or doesn't matter? And thanks.

Ah, ok, maybe just go with the E3 then, and if you still don't like headphone listening then sell it - I mean it would be a bit of a hassle and you'd probably lose a bit of money, but go for it then.
Even if you are not doing an in person measurement with John, he has a number of 24 channel speaker systems, available as purchasable files, already measured which come close to that. The price is reasonable in the context of what you would have to spend on the A16, and the results should be spectacular, given the way the people who bought them over at Head Fi react. As someone who has spent some time with him on the in person measurement, I can attest to his utter devotion to detail and laser-like focus on getting things right for his clients. He should be able to give your something that works very well even without an in person measurement.

Look into the Omega 96 preset especially, I may pick one up myself even though I do have two systems with detailed in person measurements.
 
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Even if you are not doing an in person measurement with John, he has a number of 24 channel speaker systems, available as purchasable files, already measured which come close to that. The price is reasonable in the context of what you would have to spend on the A16, and the results should be spectacular, given the way the people who bought them over at Head Fi react. As someone who has spent some time with him on the in person measurement, I can attest to his utter devotion to detail and laser-like focus on getting things right for his clients. He should be able to give your something that works very well even without an in person measurement.

Look into the Omega 96 preset especially, I may pick one up myself even though I do have two systems with detailed in person measurements.
Thanks, I've bookmarked our posts for future reference if I do end up getting a Smyth Realiser.
 
@Dan Clark , you've made some really good headphones with the E3 & the Stealth with regards to Harman Curve headphones - where on earth can you go next, is there really room for improvement?? I'm thinking price or your own research re a different target curve, and then there's only personalised HRTF headphones for the future....how can you make them better, aren't headphones going the way of DACS of being a done deal until personalised HRTF comes into play? With this E3 you've made it more assessable re price & I think re reduced on head variation as I understand.

EDIT: it's scary for headphone manufacturers isn't it, at the moment? (The classic audiophile/audiofool mentality was the bread & butter of continual non-improvements & repeated sales).
 
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There's still a lot of room for bringing the E3's innovation down to an affordable price point.

In Europe, it costs €2500, which is crazy expensive. :(
And the $2000 (+ tax?) that it costs in the US is also insane for anyone who's not a die-hard audio enthusiast (there's a world beyond ASR and Head-Fi ).:p
 
The audiophile/audiofool mentality was the bread & butter of continual non-improvements & repeated sales.
No worries. Human nature being what it is, this mentality will persist and will ensure handsome profits for mediocre headphone manufacturers, far into the future (and self-styled headphone connoisseurs will continue to dismiss the tested accuracy of models like the DCA E3 while favoring the headphones their golden ears have convinced them are superior).
 
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No worries. Human nature being what it is, this mentality will persist and will ensure handsome profits for mediocre headphone manufacturers, far into the future (and self-styled headphone connoisseurs will continue to dismiss the tested accuracy of models like the DCA E3 while favoring the headphones their golden ears have convinced them are superior).
You're right that it does still exist, but I think it's on the wane. I feel that headphone manufacturers are realising that.
 
@Dan Clark , you've made some really good headphones with the E3 & the Stealth with regards to Harman Curve headphones - where on earth can you go next, is there really room for improvement?? I'm thinking price or your own research re a different target curve, and then there's only personalised HRTF headphones for the future....how can you make them better, aren't headphones going the way of DACS of being a done deal until personalised HRTF comes into play? With this E3 you've made it more assessable re price & I think re reduced on head variation as I understand.

EDIT: it's scary for headphone manufacturers isn't it, at the moment? (The classic audiophile/audiofool mentality was the bread & butter of continual non-improvements & repeated sales).
Hi! Sure there are always places to go, but alas sharing thoughts on future products or directions is not something we do.

There are always different communities and while people who care about price/technical parameters are certainly an audience there are others who don't care about cost or specs and are purely subjective. We try to serve people in both communities as I believe delivering the technicalities delivers also delivers big parts of the subjective experience, though the reality is there are still subjective things like soundstage that don't have accepted metrics to test against.

I hope by now it's obvious we're really into technology and performance as a core business foundation and love that there are sites like ASR where that can be seen by people who care, but I also have no problem supporting subjective reviewers and consumers because I'm confident strong technicalities create a better subjective experience, whether or not the subjective listeners care about said performance parameters.

Anyhow, short answer is "not scary..." but it does keep us on our toes...
 
Hi! Sure there are always places to go, but alas sharing thoughts on future products or directions is not something we do.

There are always different communities and while people who care about price/technical parameters are certainly an audience there are others who don't care about cost or specs and are purely subjective. We try to serve people in both communities as I believe delivering the technicalities delivers also delivers big parts of the subjective experience, though the reality is there are still subjective things like soundstage that don't have accepted metrics to test against.

I hope by now it's obvious we're really into technology and performance as a core business foundation and love that there are sites like ASR where that can be seen by people who care, but I also have no problem supporting subjective reviewers and consumers because I'm confident strong technicalities create a better subjective experience, whether or not the subjective listeners care about said performance parameters.

Anyhow, short answer is "not scary..." but it does keep us on our toes...
Thanks for the response, so you see that there is still a long future for fixed target curve headphones (meaning not personalised HRTF). I'm less certain that there is, especially when talking about experienced headphone users that have based their headphones around the objective measurement "ASR/Harman Approach". I mean they'll always be the audiophile/audiofool that is always chasing their next headphone particularly if they are not part of the objective measurement community, but I'd see that pool as decreasing in size. It was good to get your reply & thoughts on it, so thanks for that.
 
Can't make much sense of Dan Clark's response tbh, though this could be because of (understandably) not wanting to go into future plans too much. What are these things specifically meant for subjective listeners (aside from the mentioned soundstage)?

Still, very curious what DCA's next step will be. Can't imagine anything (significantly) improving upon the E3, as long as anything HRTF related won't be incorporated just yet.
 
Can't make much sense of Dan Clark's response tbh, though this could be because of (understandably) not wanting to go into future plans too much. What are these things specifically meant for subjective listeners (aside from the mentioned soundstage)?
No products specifically for subjectivists, as far as I understand. Just that creating products that are well-tuned according to objective criteria, have low distortion, are comfortable, practical to use and well-made (i.e. what DCA are aiming for as an engineering-focused company) also satisfies a lot of subjectivists. I do not see them doing anything esoteric just for the audiophool crowd.
 
Thanks for the response, so you see that there is still a long future for fixed target curve headphones (meaning not personalised HRTF). I'm less certain that there is, especially when talking about experienced headphone users that have based their headphones around the objective measurement "ASR/Harman Approach". I mean they'll always be the audiophile/audiofool that is always chasing their next headphone particularly if they are not part of the objective measurement community, but I'd see that pool as decreasing in size. It was good to get your reply & thoughts on it, so thanks for that.
Loudspeakers have had a known target curve for decades now, in part due to the work of Floyd Tool and Sean Olive, and others. That hasn't kept there from being a wide variety of choices. Of course there will be variations on the theme because Harman is a statistically valid curve, which means variances on it will still be in the realm of acceptable but people with varying tonal objectives, or even who just listen at different volumes, will find certain curves more to their taste. Young men want more bass, for example, women tend to want a bit less.
Can't make much sense of Dan Clark's response tbh, though this could be because of (understandably) not wanting to go into future plans too much. What are these things specifically meant for subjective listeners (aside from the mentioned soundstage)?

Still, very curious what DCA's next step will be. Can't imagine anything (significantly) improving upon the E3, as long as anything HRTF related won't be incorporated just yet.
That wasn't quite what I wanted to convey... I don't care if you are subjective or objective, our goal is to make products that adhere to rigorous technical criteria that are engaging, nice looking, and comfortable, thereby meeting the needs of both the objective and subjective communities. I believe you deliver technical excellence you can satisfy both audiences, whether or not the subjectivists care about performance metrics, they do make for a better product.

No products specifically for subjectivists, as far as I understand. Just that creating products that are well-tuned according to objective criteria, have low distortion, are comfortable, practical to use and well-made (i.e. what DCA are aiming for as an engineering-focused company) also satisfies a lot of subjectivists. I do not see them doing anything esoteric just for the audiophool crowd.
Exactly.
 
Loudspeakers have had a known target curve for decades now, in part due to the work of Floyd Tool and Sean Olive, and others. That hasn't kept there from being a wide variety of choices. Of course there will be variations on the theme because Harman is a statistically valid curve, which means variances on it will still be in the realm of acceptable but people with varying tonal objectives, or even who just listen at different volumes, will find certain curves more to their taste. Young men want more bass, for example, women tend to want a bit less.

That wasn't quite what I wanted to convey... I don't care if you are subjective or objective, our goal is to make products that adhere to rigorous technical criteria that are engaging, nice looking, and comfortable, thereby meeting the needs of both the objective and subjective communities. I believe you deliver technical excellence you can satisfy both audiences, whether or not the subjectivists care about performance metrics, they do make for a better product.


Exactly.
That's true re loudspeakers. I don't own any Genelec, but I think of them as technically the best, and they're still really quite expensive, so I think speakers have a fair ways to go for that excellent performance to trickle down in price over time. Perhaps great speakers are more challenging to make to a tight "good value" budget than headphones. The thing with headphones is they're already at lower distortion than many speakers and they're very receptive to EQ, unlike speakers, well at least in terms of significant EQ improvements. And you've obviously got your E3 & Stealth as some really good Harman tuned headphones that are sort of the pinnacle of Harman measured success albeit at the high end of headphone pricing. I mean I can see room for more affordable versions of measured excellence in headphones, but in terms of absolute sound quality I think we're at the limits for fixed target curve headphones - so that was more the angle I was going in my initial question.
 
If they fit your head correctly and you can drive them to acceptable volume levels, the DCA E3/Stealth seem to be nearly perfect with regards to sound quality, as either can be EQ'd to taste if something is slightly off. Comfort, fit, isolation, efficiency, durability, and price are just a few metrics I can think of that can always be improved upon.
 
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