Dan Clark E3 Headphone Review

[Mauro]

Interesting. Especially since some said the E3 does "everything"
I thought the E3 could even be transformed for everything, e.g via Equalizer.

That’s the same reason I bought it! I think that they mean it is a very good all-rounder.

But Stax SR L700 and LCD5 for example have better resolution. He1000, HD800 and SR L700 have better soundstage. SR L700 has very good imaging.
Tonality-wise, CX works for vocals. Focal Utopia low-midrange bump can sound as dynamic bass…
I still have to find the perfect headphone. Also because some of the above are tonal colorations that can’t live together.

EQ works but I am not using it to switch from one tonal balance to another. Maybe it’s just laziness

 

[DEF]

That’s the same reason I bought it! I think that they mean it is a very good all-rounder.

But Stax SR L700 for example has better resolution. He1000, HD800 and SR L700 have better soundstage. SR L700 has very good imaging.
Tonality-wise, CX works for vocals. Focal Utopia low-midrange bump can sound as dynamic bass…
I still have to find the perfect headphone. Also because some of the above are tonal colorations that can’t live together.

EQ works but I am not using it to switch from one tonal balance to another. Maybe it’s just laziness

I think it would be interesting to hear from somebody who equalizes the E3 if they can transform into an CX for instance - to be comparable or better.
If not, I would also start collecting Headphones.
I would rather have one thing.

About Equalizer - I would set them as shortcut in Linux - software-side - via pipewire. That's as immediate to the sound driver I can get.
OR I run paid software.

 

[DEF]

Don't forget this unit is glued a LOT and maintainability is a tough call.
And it needs a exact fit on the head, or it will sound off.
For this reason alone I am gonna pass.
I thought about the Audeze LCD-5 instead but it appears that this one is not for 'fun'

 

[Sphynxx]

Does anyone here use the E3 with the iBasso D16 ?

 

[Zoide]

@Dan Clark

I accidentally dropped my DCA E3 from desk height. It hit one of the metal legs of my office chair and the wooden floor, making a nasty sound.

Externally, there isn't a single scratch, crack, or bend that I can see. And I *think* that they sound fine. But it's my most expensive audio purchase ever and I wonder: could there be any internal components that are prone to damage (cracking, jolting out of place, etc.)?

Thanks

 

[Rja4000]

@Dan Clark

I accidentally dropped my DCA E3 from desk height. It hit one of the metal legs of my office chair and the wooden floor, making a nasty sound.

Externally, there isn't a single scratch, crack, or bend that I can see. And I *think* that they sound fine. But it's my most expensive audio purchase ever and I wonder: could there be any internal components that are prone to damage (cracking, jolting out of place, etc.)?

Thanks

Unlikely.
The membrane is so light it almost doesn't have any "inertia" (on obvious simplification, but you understand what I mean).
Unless something breaks or moves in the frame, you should be fine.

EDIT
I was thinking electrostatic, but this one is planar magnetic. My bad.
If the membrane is unlikely to be damaged from shock, the magnet is a different story, maybe.

 

[DEF]

Unlikely.
The membrane is so light it almost doesn't have any "inertia" (on obvious simplification, but you understand what I mean).
Unless something breaks or moves in the frame, you should be fine.

Also they used so much glue in similar models that it's kind of impossible for the seal to break or things to move a massive amount.

Dan Clark Audio E3 Headphones Review

Immediately after I had published my review of Kennerton Arkona, stormy comments like "It's just because you've never tried E3!!!11" rained down. I wondered what the matter was, so I went and bought them.

boizoff.com

 

[Dan Clark]

@Dan Clark

I accidentally dropped my DCA E3 from desk height. It hit one of the metal legs of my office chair and the wooden floor, making a nasty sound.

Externally, there isn't a single scratch, crack, or bend that I can see. And I *think* that they sound fine. But it's my most expensive audio purchase ever and I wonder: could there be any internal components that are prone to damage (cracking, jolting out of place, etc.)?

Thanks

If there were an issue you’d know, problems are obvious distortion, gross imbalance, noises etc.

 

[Zoide]

Thanks, all. I think they're fine then. Can't say the same about my anxious mind, though...

I'm surprised there isn't a scratch or dent on them. Amazing build quality!

 

[DEF]

Thanks, all. I think they're fine then. Can't say the same about my anxious mind, though...

I'm surprised there isn't a scratch or dent on them. Amazing build quality!

Can you try a different height next time?
Would be fun to see just how sturdy they are.
And maybe @Dan Clark supports you for this endeavor.

 

[Zoide]

Can you try a different height next time?
Would be fun to see just how sturdy they are.
And maybe @Dan Clark supports you for this endeavor.

*hear no evil!*, *hear no evil!*

 

[ckernel8]

If it was half the price, I'd be ordering one now. As is, still a bit too expensive for me, but definitely a step in the right direction(and definitely something I'll be scouring the used market for in a couple years). Impressive that there really don't seem to be any compromises.

I've got good news for you. The new Noire X is probably pretty close to the E3 for half the price.

 

[Dan Clark]

Can you try a different height next time?
Would be fun to see just how sturdy they are.
And maybe @Dan Clark supports you for this endeavor.

We do a drop test on products and the E3 survived a 12’ drop onto porcelain with just a dented chassis. Not that we suggest trying this, but it is part of development.

 

[Zoide]

We do a drop test on products and the E3 survived a 12’ drop onto porcelain with just a dented chassis. Not that we suggest trying this, but it is part of development.

Amazing! Truly the best headphones not just in measurable performance but also in build quality

Thank you Dan, that puts all my remaining doubts and fears to rest.
No way mine got damaged from table height onto wood / office leg chair, then.

 

[DEF]

We do a drop test on products and the E3 survived a 12’ drop onto porcelain with just a dented chassis. Not that we suggest trying this, but it is part of development.

Whats ' ? Is that the same as " (inch) ? Please note those characters are different. Single and Double quote.

 

[Dan Clark]

Amazing! Truly the best headphones not just in measurable performance but also in build quality

Thank you Dan, that puts all my remaining doubts and fears to rest.
No way mine got damaged from table height onto wood / office leg chair, then.

As you'd guess, my office has a number of amps and cables connected to headphones on my listening station, and it's not uncommon for me to catch a cable with my armrest and whip it off the table and to the floor. Only once out of many, many drops did I damage a headphone; the metal chassis got a small dent hitting the solid metal base of my chair.

Whats ' ? Is that the same as " (inch) ? Please note those characters are different. Single and Double quote.

Having grown up in the USA and being an engineer, believe it or not I know the difference in notation.

' as in FEET. We drop test from a balcony to our lobby. A 12" test wouldn't be great for much except ensuring a chocolate bar wouldn't break.

 

[DEF]

' as in FEET. We drop test from a balcony to our lobby. A 12" test wouldn't be great for much except ensuring a chocolate bar wouldn't break.

Thanks. That's really educative. And you are funny

 

[ckernel8]

Good to see the meta material being implemented on a headphone half the price of the Stealth/Expanse, still too expensive for myself at the moment so I’ll wait for the updated Aeon Noir at the £1k price with meta material at the end of 2024………………please

HOW DID HE KNOW?

 

[Somafunk]

HOW DID HE KNOW?

What can I say? , my mother comes from a very long line of Colquhoun (pronounced Kuh-Hoon) highlanders here in Scotland and my great-great-great gran was known to have a bit of second sight so perhaps it’s in my genetics.

Or an educated (hopeful) guess

 

[Dan Clark]

HOW DID HE KNOW?

Darn those pesky clairvoyants!