Dan Clark NOIRE X Headphone Review

[Curupira]

Is it true that the earpads on DCA use double-sided adhesive tape?

I ask because I often change my earpads every year, but I worry about messing up the double-sided adhesive.

I think so, but can't guarantee it on the higher end models.

You don't need to swap pads every year with them, though. Unlike Sennheisers and Focals, their earpads last longer.

 

[Ahmonge]

Is it true that the earpads on DCA use double-sided adhesive tape?

Yes, at least in the Aeons, but my experience changing pads is that the task is fast an easy.

 

[Rayman30]

DCA sent me a new unit, so far it does not have any imbalance issues . The customer service was excellent!

 

[Dan Clark]

Is it true that the earpads on DCA use double-sided adhesive tape?

I ask because I often change my earpads every year, but I worry about messing up the double-sided adhesive.

The adhesive is on the pad, so there's no worry, you don't "reuse" the adhesive.

 

[Viper780]

What kind of Adhesive do you use? 3M 9482PC

If I like to try out different pads it would be nice to replace the adhesive layer

 

[Chagall]

What kind of Adhesive do you use? 3M 9482PC

If I like to try out different pads it would be nice to replace the adhesive layer

You will change the frequency response of the headphones with unofficial pads.

 

[Viper780]

You will change the frequency response of the headphones with unofficial pads.

You will also change it with offical ones - that is the whole point of it

 

[Theriverlethe]

You will also change it with offical ones - that is the whole point of it

What? Headphones are tuned to a (mostly) known frequency response tolerance with stock pads, which allows somewhat reliable EQ. Unofficial pads can dramatically change the tuning and yield unpredictable results.

 

[Dan Clark]

You will also change it with offical ones - that is the whole point of it

Every pad made for the headphone by us or Dakoni will include attachment material, you needn't do anything other than order and swap the pads. The adhesive will reattach several times, in most cases, though as it stays attached the bond gets stronger over time and some adhesive may get left behind when peeled off. TBH I wouldn't suggest alternate pads unless you have a very specific objective, they sound change will be significant.

 

[mgilbert]

I just ordered a pair of these, along with the 4.4mm cable, to go with my Topping E70V/L70 DAC/Amp. I hope the imbalance issue has been resolved, as this is a huge purchase for a regular working person!

 

[Robbo99999]

I just ordered a pair of these, along with the 4.4mm cable, to go with my Topping E70V/L70 DAC/Amp. I hope the imbalance issue has been resolved, as this is a huge purchase for a regular working person!

I don't think there is a channel imbalance issue, a few reported units (or is it one) doesn't mean the headphone has a channel imbalance issue, depends how widespread it is & how severe. They should have good channel matching though being such a top tier headphone.

 

[Grouse]

@Dan Clark
I just ordered these headphones directly from you. (Hope they arrive by Thursday )
I thought some feedback as to why. I have been using Bluetooth headphone (b&w px8 currently) and wanted to step up at home so my partner doesn’t need to listen. I visited a shop locally in Stockholm (Sweden) and tested different pairs. http://audioconcept.se/
They were really good in the shop and I probably should have supported them but it takes a few hours to get there.

Firstly, I found them comfortable and the sound to be great. I compared to some other brands for this, but I am not a true audiophile. I listened and read reviews ( inc here) which showed me I probably wasn’t wrong with my opinion. However the decisive point (after testing and being impressed) was that you were on the forum here and responding to peoples comments. This shows you listen, and teaches me more about the product. Cheers and thanks.

 

[ry_]

Is anyone here in the Bay Area with these headphones? I’d like to audition them!

 

[qirex]

Is anyone here in the Bay Area with these headphones? I’d like to audition them!

I know AudioVision SF on California Street near Van Ness in the city stocks them. You generally have to call in advance to audition stuff.

 

[ry_]

They charge a non refundable $250 deposit (which is applied as a credit toward a future purpose). I wanted to get a specific cable from official DCA website and didn’t want to be locked into a purchase from AVSF which is why I wanted to see if any members would be willing to let me audition theirs.. sigh

 

[qirex]

They charge a non refundable $250 deposit (which is applied as a credit toward a future purpose). I wanted to get a specific cable from official DCA website and didn’t want to be locked into a purchase from AVSF which is why I wanted to see if any members would be willing to let me audition theirs.. sigh

I did not know that, they're kind of my neighborhood shop (being one of only like 3 left in the area) and they've always been super nice with me. I guess with the way audio purchasing goes nowadays (people listen in store then buy online) they made that change.

 

[ry_]

I did not know that, they're kind of my neighborhood shop (being one of only like 3 left in the area) and they've always been super nice with me. I guess with the way audio purchasing goes nowadays (people listen in store then buy online) they made that change.

Yeah, I totally understand why they do it and I don’t fault them for that either. I asked what if I didn’t like either headphone and they just said I’d be able to purchase something else which also i wasn’t too happy about. A $250 listening session for headphones is expensive. If it were speakers I’d be okay with it. Maybe I’ll just try walking in and seeing if they’ll be nice about it

 

[SorpassoSonance]

These are on sale on Amazon as a Prime Big Deal (October 7th and 8th only) for $799 (sold by Gramophone, shipped by Amazon): Noire X on Amazon.

To my ears they sound significantly better than my pair of Sennheiser HD 600s and Philips Fidelio X2HRs, making them the best over-the-ear headphones I own.

 

[dadim]

A question that might be already asked up to here, though I couldn't find it by searching this thread. Do you know if the planar transducer of Noire X is push pull? I mean, is there only one stator with magnets, or there are two of them, having the rotor (the membrane with the coil) between them?

 

[Arguile]

How do these do with hollywood style orchestras, EDM and pop music? I did place an order for them but just curious how other people are finding it for more general listening