Dan Clark E3 Headphone Review

[TRDK]

I am using iBasso DC07 Pro balanced Dongle DAC and Amp - 430mv + 430mv @32Ω with my Austrian Audio - The Composer (sensitivity: 112 dBspl/V and impedance: 22 Ω). Sounds great and there is enough power to drive them.

BUT, will iBasso DC07 Pro have enough power to drive E3?

THX

 

[Ahmonge]

I am using iBasso DC07 Pro balanced Dongle DAC and Amp - 430mv + 430mv @32Ω with my Austrian Audio - The Composer (sensitivity: 112 dBspl/V and impedance: 22 Ω). Sounds great and there is enough power to drive them.

BUT, will iBasso DC07 Pro have enough power to drive E3?

THX


View attachment 386555

E3 has a sensitivity of 84 dB/mW and an impedance of 27 Ohms. Assuming that the iBasso output is the same at 32 Ohms as at 27 Ohms, the maximum SPL with the E3s is 110 dB, which translates into average listening levels of 90 dB or more. Everything depends on your usual listening level.

 

[TRDK]

E3 has a sensitivity of 84 dB/mW and an impedance of 27 Ohms. Assuming that the iBasso output is the same at 32 Ohms as at 27 Ohms, the maximum SPL with the E3s is 110 dB, which translates into average listening levels of 90 dB or more. Everything depends on your usual listening level.

My listening level? I would say normal I have never done measurement

If I use the "Headphones power calculator" I come up with this numbers:

Torben

 

[staticV3]

If I use the "Headphones power calculator" I come up with this numbers:

The E3 has an efficiency of 84dB/mW, according to Amir's measurements.

Also, 115dB SPL Peak is very loud and may return unreasonably high power requirements.

I usually listen at ~80dB Peak

 

[TRDK]

The E3 has an efficiency of 84dB/mW, according to Amir's measurements.

Also, 115dB SPL Peak is very loud and may return unreasonably high power requirements.

I usually listen at ~80dB Peak

It says 90 here:

Dan Clark E3 Headphone Review

This is a review, listening tests, and detailed measurements of the Dan Clark E3 closed back headphone. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $1,999. As you see, the E3 has quite large cups which makes fitment on your ears quite easy. I used the headphone for about 2 weeks with good...

www.audiosciencereview.com

How do you find out what level: "I usually listen at ~80dB Peak"

Torben

 

[staticV3]

It says 90 here:

Dan Clark E3 Headphone Review

This is a review, listening tests, and detailed measurements of the Dan Clark E3 closed back headphone. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $1,999. As you see, the E3 has quite large cups which makes fitment on your ears quite easy. I used the headphone for about 2 weeks with good...

www.audiosciencereview.com

90 is manufacturer specs. 84 (as measured by Amir) is reality.

How do you find out what level: "I usually listen at ~80dB Peak"

How to measure closed-back headphone SPL

I would like to measure SPL with a hand-held SPL meter, which has an SPL log and PC interface. My headphones are closed-back. It seems to me that I could get best results by placing the two cups of the headphones together around the microphone wand, so that the pickup would be close to where...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Ahmonge]

To measure the listening level with headphones, a hand-held sound level meter is sufficient. Remove the windscreen, insert the tube containing the microphone between the ear pads of the headphones in such a way that there are no gaps and subtract 3dB from the measurement obtained (since you are measuring the two transducers at the same time).

 

[staticV3]

To measure the listening level with headphones, a hand-held sound level meter is sufficient. Remove the windscreen, insert the tube containing the microphone between the ear pads of the headphones in such a way that there are no gaps and subtract 3dB from the measurement obtained (since you are measuring the two transducers at the same time).

Two coherent sound sources will sum to +6dB, not +3.

 

[TRDK]

90 is manufacturer specs. 84 (as measured by Amir) is reality.

OK Below calculation with 84:

Let's assume that I listen at normal level with iBasso DC07 Pro balanced Dongle DAC and Amp - 430mv + 430mv @32Ω. Will this me enough power? Even to cover peaks in the music

THX

Torben

 

[staticV3]

Let's assume that I listen at normal level

What's "normal level"?

Will this me enough power? Even to cover peaks in the music

Peaks of what sound pressure level?

 

[TRDK]

What's "normal level"?
Peaks of what sound pressure level?

I cant measure the listening level, so I cant tell you that.

Torben

 

[staticV3]

I cant measure the listening level, so I cant tell you that.

Torben

The iBasso will drive the E3 to about 111dB SPL Peak, which means about 90-95dB SPL AVG with normal music mastered to close to 0dBFS Peak levels.

My usual listening volume is about 10-15% of what that setup is capable of.

Whether that's enough, I can only tell you once you tell me what qualifies as "enough".

 

[TRDK]

The iBasso will drive the E3 to about 111dB SPL Peak, which means about 90-95dB SPL AVG with normal music mastered to close to 0dBFS Peak levels.

My usual listening volume is about 10-15% of what that setup is capable of.

Whether that's enough, I can only tell you once you tell me what qualifies as "enough".

Thanks I don't know if this any help. In this combination:

iBasso DC07 Pro balanced Dongle DAC and Amp - 430mv + 430mv @32Ω with my Austrian Audio and The Composer (sensitivity: 112 dBspl/V and impedance: 22 Ω).

I use "Low gain" at a level of 55

THX

Torben

 

[Ken Tajalli]

Question:
My Audeze LCD-XC is quoted to have a sensitivity of 100dB for 1mV.
Yet Amir reported the headphones requiring 131mV for 94dB loudness??
And I can assure you, I need to push up my Hugo2 to over 3/4 of the way up to get a decent volume out of them, not using EQ or preamp cuts of any sort.
How come??

 

[staticV3]

Question:
My Audeze LCD-XC is quoted to have a sensitivity of 100dB for 1mV.
Yet Amir reported the headphones requiring 131mV for 94dB loudness??
And I can assure you, I need to push up my Hugo2 to over 3/4 of the way up to get a decent volume out of them, not using EQ or preamp cuts of any sort.
How come??

Amir has measured the 2021 revision LCD-XC at 111.7dB/Vrms or 94.5dB/mW (@425Hz).

For reference, Audeze's rating of 100dB/mW (mW, not mV!) is unsurprisingly a few dB higher than measured.

There could be many different reasons why you might have to turn up your Amp more than required, but theorizing and arguing about it doesn't help anyone.

Instead, just buy a multimeter and see what's up. They cost like $15.

 

[NTK]

If the 112 dBSPL @ 1 V number is real, that means the "ASR sensitivity" of The Composer is 94 dBSPL @ 126 mV. The ASR sensitivity of the E3 is 94 dBSPL @ 512 mV, which means the E3 is 12 dB lower sensitivity.

If the volume control on the iBasso is calibrated to dB, that means you'll need to increase the volume level by 12 when listening to the E3 to match loudness of The Composer. Do you think your iBasso have enough headroom left?

The max output voltage of the iBasso is 3.7 V given its spec of 430 mW @ 32 ohm load. That's IME is pretty much at the top end for USB powered dongles.

 

[Ken Tajalli]

Amir has measured the 2021 revision LCD-XC at 111.7dB/Vrms or 94.5dB/mW (@425Hz).

There could be many different reasons why you might have to turn up your Amp more than required, but theorizing and arguing about it doesn't help anyone.

Instead, just buy a multimeter and see what's up. They cost like $15.

I have a multimeter, a Fluke !
Most multimeters are not so accurate at 1kHz, they are mostly tuned for mains AC testing (mine is luckily).
What I was trying to show is that there are so many things at play here. I believe you have touched on some already.
Type of music, amount of compression used . . . etc.
I think what is of help to everyone is not relying on some isolated figures inserted into a calculator to tell you for fact, if an amp has enough power.
Even the Tanchijm dongle with 150mW or so output, has no chance in hell of driving my Audeze.
Rule of thumb helps here. Most headphones (85-95dB/1mW), bar the most insensitive ones, can run on 200mW to 800mW approximately, not accounting for any bass boost by EQ.
Sensitive IEMs need less, insensitive ones (Susvara ?) need considerably more.
Between 200mW and 800mW is a tricky area. Since loudness gains are logarithmic, there isn't much between 200 and 800. So if the sensitivity of a headphone is less than 90dB for 1mW, you should aim for the 800. if more than 90dB, you might scrape by less.
Conclusion:
At 400mW, the iBasso is not likely to be suitable for E3 of 84dB for 1mW sensitivity, unless you listen to highly compressed music at lowish levels Always.
I reckon one needs more than a Watt.

 

[TRDK]

Conclusion:
At 400mW, the iBasso is not likely to be suitable for E3 of 84dB for 1mW sensitivity, unless you listen to highly compressed music at lowish levels Always.
I reckon one needs more than a Watt.

If it require desktop equipment, than I am out. I only use DAP and Dongle - that is the way I listen to headphones

E3 would have been perfect

Torben

 

[staticV3]

Most multimeters are not so accurate at 1kHz

My cheap chinese multimeter is flat to 2kHz:

Connecting pre-amp to aux-in instead of main-in?

I would like to extend the amplification power of my Yamaha integrated (RN800A) by connecting its pre-out to an external amplifier. I have been considering several power amp options from Buckeye and Apollon, but due to vanity, have found myself being attracted to "prettier" products such as the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Even the Tanchijm dongle with 150mW or so output, has no chance in hell of driving my Audeze.

User error.

At 400mW, the iBasso is not likely to be suitable for E3 of 84dB for 1mW sensitivity

Strongly disagreed.

 

[Ken Tajalli]

If it require desktop equipment, than I am out. I only use DAP and Dongle - that is the way I listen to headphones

E3 would have been perfect

Torben

My Hugo2 should have about 600mW for E3.
IT might just scrape by, but in reality you need more.
Just go to a dealer, and try them out, if it works, it works.
Bear in mind that the E3 has decent bass output! that helps a hell of a lot.
If it didn't, and one needed to boost the bass by say 6dB, then one also needs to engage a -6dB pre cut.
That would mean, one would need 4 times the power to achieve it! Luckily, E3 is not one of those, but still, I reckon one needs over a Watt.
Give the afore mentioned LCD-XC a listen. There is a simple mod. (just remove two screw from the back plate to boost bass by 6dB) that I have measured and posted somewhere on ASR.
It is a lot cheaper than E3, has better measured distortion levels, but it is heavy, and a bit bright sounding (easily EQeable).
Best of all, it is sensitive, so 430mW goes a long way.