Dan Clark NOIRE X Headphone Review

[Dan Clark]

What about driving it with rme adi2?

It can put out about 1W into the NOIRE X, it works great. We have a few in the shop.

P.S. Nice handle... I try to straddle that line myself.

 

[amirm]

What about driving it with rme adi2?

That's what I drove it with. Maximum volume I needed was -2.5 dB so plenty of power there.

 

[thewas]

Some 5128 measurements on it (and also comparisons to the E3):

 

[williamr]

Need to buy this quick before CAD vs USD drops any lower. Bay Bloor Radio in Toronto has this listed as

"Dan Clark Audio Noire X Planar Magnetic Closed Headphones — On the way from San Diego..."​

Dan please send them quick.

 

[Somafunk]

Thanks for the nice review, Amir!

A couple of things to note about the headphone:

Nice!, I commented last year on the E3 review that I was wishing for the technology to trickle down to an improved Noire and I see you listened to me (and thousands of others I imagine), I’ll see how much I can save up next year but I certainly plan/wish for buying one.

Nice work Dan,

 

[Dan Clark]

Nice!, I commented last year on the E3 review that I was wishing for the technology to trickle down to an improved Noire and I see you listened to me (and thousands of others I imagine), I’ll see how much I can save up next year but I certainly plan/wish for buying one.

Nice work Dan,

Thanks! Actually, it's kind of been a guiding principal behind the company since I started it... We try to trickle our technology down as fast as we can, and we never try to "de-feature" products at lower price points. Hope you have a chance to hear and enjoy one!

 

[Mort]

Ordered. Very excited as I don't love eq'ing headphones with any of my existing gear.

How quiet was the headphone to others?

 

[jhaider]

Does this one make the “oil canning” sound when you move your head, as A2N does? Great sounding headphone but that killed it for me.

 

[thegammaray]

Thanks for the nice review, Amir!

A couple of things to note about the headphone:

1) There are new ear pads, with an Alcantara suede finish on the contact surface for improved comfort
2) NOIRE X includes our self-tensioning headband
3) Ear pads are enhanced to reduce potential for foam rolling, to extend usable pad life and enhance comfort
4) Numerous driver updates to improve consistency and performance

I thought it'd also be interesting to post some results from the 5128, with the diffuse-field and Harman EQ points used as a "Harman-style" reference. I will publish a larger post with analysis and commentary comparing the GRAS and 5128 later. The target curve in the 5128 measurement was derived by applying Harman Curve EQ points to the B&K diffuse field compensation curve. It is interesting to note just how close the NOIRE X fits this curve, and also where there are some real differences relative to the GRAS in measured results. There are interesting implications for this in setting EQ, which I'll discuss in the technical post.

View attachment 409763

For a different view on THD I thought people might enjoy this, measured 85dB @1KHz on the GRAS. Note at 4KHz THD goes as low as 0.006%!

View attachment 409764

Lastly, here's a beauty shot for those who like these...

View attachment 409765

Mr. Clark, I'm a big fan of your headphones! I have an original Aeon Closed, and I'm interested in a closed-back that's more portable and Harman-tuned, so this is right up my alley.

Is it possible to buy the Noire X with a different top strap that's smooth instead of patterned? I bought and returned an E3 largely because I found the top strap to be uncomfortable on a shaved head. (The product description says the self-tensioning band prevents pressure points, but... the stitched pattern literally creates pressure points.) This is especially important since the models with AMTS seem to be heavier...

 

[Dan Clark]

Mr. Clark, I'm a big fan of your headphones! I have an original Aeon Closed, and I'm interested in a closed-back that's more portable and Harman-tuned, so this is right up my alley.

Is it possible to buy the Noire X with a different top strap that's smooth instead of patterned? I bought and returned an E3 largely because I found the top strap to be uncomfortable on a shaved head. (The product description says the self-tensioning band prevents pressure points, but... the stitched pattern literally creates pressure points.) This is especially important since the models with AMTS seem to be heavier...

It's similar, however, an easy fix is the get a ZMF padded headband strap, they fit and give a bit of plush for those looking for it... https://shop.zmfheadphones.com/collections/pads/products/crescent-snap

 

[juliangst]

Really great work. These might be the new price to performance sweet spot in the DCA lineup.

I do prefer the carbon look of my Aeon Noires and upgrading is probably not worth it but those new pads are a welcome change.
The old pads get worn down and disintegrate pretty quickly if you frequently reshape the memory foam back in place.

 

[thegammaray]

It's similar, however, an easy fix is the get a ZMF padded headband strap, they fit and give a bit of plush for those looking for it... https://shop.zmfheadphones.com/collections/pads/products/crescent-snap

Hmm. Thanks for the suggestion. Is it possible to order the Noire X headphones on a Noire (non-X) frame? That seems like a simpler, more elegant solution, and I figure you could just mix and match when you're assembling them, right?

 

[Dan Clark]

Really great work. These might be the new price to performance sweet spot in the DCA lineup.

I do prefer the carbon look of my Aeon Noires and upgrading is probably not worth it but those new pads are a welcome change.
The old pads get worn down and disintegrate pretty quickly if you frequently reshape the memory foam back in place.

Yes, the pads are compatible. The new pads are in the store now.

Hmm. Thanks for the suggestion. Is it possible to order the Noire X headphones on a Noire (non-X) frame? That seems like a simpler, more elegant solution, and I figure you could just mix and match when you're assembling them, right?

Nope. Gimbals are incompatible.

 

[thegammaray]

Yes, the pads are compatible. The new pads are in the store now.


Nope. Gimbals are incompatible.

Thanks for responding, in any case!

 

[A Surfer]

Thanks for the review amirm.
I just can't see the point in spending £1000.00 on any set of headphones these days when a £25.00 set of ear buds can give much better conformance to the ASR popular house curve, if that's what one is after.
I might change my mind if I could hear the DC headphones for a while, but with equalization some of the much cheaper headphones are likely to perform close enough to the DC offering under discussion at a fraction of the price.

You have to consider that driver size does matter to some extent. Our hearing system is also stimulated on the outer structures of the ear and a headphone will provide some of that stimulation while something purely inserted into the ear canal will not.

Plus seriously, pushing all that wax down into the inner canal? Bad idea. It will build up over the years don't kid yourself.

 

[amirm]

How quiet was the headphone to others?

You mean external noise isolation? If so, it is very good, perhaps better than E3. I am able to work comfortably next to my noisy analyzer.

 

[amirm]

You have to consider that driver size does matter to some extent. Our hearing system is also stimulated on the outer structures of the ear and a headphone will provide some of that stimulation while something purely inserted into the ear canal will not.

Plus seriously, pushing all that wax down into the inner canal? Bad idea. It will build up over the years don't kid yourself.

In addition to these, I have developed skin sensitivity in my ears causing itching so I can't wear IEMs full-time anymore.

The bass impact and spatial effects can also be superior to IEMs.

 

[usern]

Weight?

 

[Blake]

I keep getting thrown by a seeming lack of detail in the side photos, but I think it's because there's no texture... just black.

"It’s like how much more black could this be? And the answer is none. None more black."

 

[Somafunk]

Weight?

Between 380g and 400g, (according to the two reviews I’ve watched)