Dan Clark NOIRE X Headphone Review

[Captain Thunderpants]

Any pleasure obtained by listening stupid loud is always short lived. You'll soon end up deaf, and where's the pleasure in that? Just imagine that the Noires are super delicate and back off.

Not sure if I'm slightly "deaf" from very young age but for last 30 some years I'm listening loud and "typical" 85dB is low for me, I have to crank it up a little more for the scene to widen and to hear quiet sounds and details without straining my ears, and listen to music relaxed.

 

[BeeKay]

But I love to listen to the music loud. Very loud. Obscenely loud one may say.

Guess you are young and don’t want advice from old farts. The message remains: Don’t, just don’t. Unfortunately the price is to pay after many moons. But it will be due. Then regrets don’t help anymore. Severe hearing loss it is - are you willing to pay?

 

[Captain Thunderpants]

Guess you are young and don’t want advice from old farts. The message remains: Don’t, just don’t. Unfortunately the price is to pay after many moons. But it will be due. Then regrets don’t help anymore. Severe hearing loss it is - are you willing to pay?

Turning 40 next month and for last 30 years listening to high levels. I guess I'm getting older since I'm not listen to music as loud as before but still louder than my friends.

 

[masterhw]

Are the NOIRE X HP's a big upgrade from my HD660S2? I hear more detail on my KEF's speakers.

I recently got the Noire X coming from a decade of HD650. With some mild EQ I am very pleased. They’re nice out of the box too, but it goes from good to great with a touch of EQ in my opinion. The separation of instruments and sound production elements is next level.

I wasn’t expecting the closed back to make much of a difference from open back in a quiet environment, but it really dropped the noise floor so that truly all I hear is the music (and occasional cable microphonics). That is a cherry on top, the HD650 is good but I truly feel like my head is in the producer’s DAW with this thing.

 

[Viper780]

Are the NOIRE X HP's a big upgrade from my HD660S2?

They are very different. I like the DCA more and they are way more resolving.

I hear more detail on my KEF's speakers.

You are sure? Both are similar loud?

 

[LGD_]

I recently got the Noire X coming from a decade of HD650. With some mild EQ I am very pleased. They’re nice out of the box too, but it goes from good to great with a touch of EQ in my opinion. The separation of instruments and sound production elements is next level.

I agree totally. I too have HD650, and it's a good sounding headphone (with EQ), but...
The Noire X is a whole higher level - Much more detailed and prescice. A little EQ helps here too, but you need a lot less of it with the Noire X.

And, because it is so detailed, There's no need to crank it up - and your ears will thank you for keeping that level down .

 

[Bl00dWolf]

This is the first time I've seen this. To be honest, it's disappointing.
They were just on a regular headphone stand. Today I took them off and saw that the ear pads were damaged.

Spoiler: photos

But okay, it's probably nothing serious, but I expected higher quality in this case. I've had the headphones for just over a year, bought them new.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Your skin oil must be "very corrosive".
It happens.

 

[Bl00dWolf]

Your skin oil must be "very corrosive".

Ahaha
The stand is covered with something to make it black. So it stuck so well and reacted so strongly that it peeled off along with the coating, down to the wood.

Before that, there were EDITION XS on the same stand and everything was fine for 3 years, if not more.

I think I'll do without the stand now.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Ahaha
The stand is covered with something to make it black. So it stuck so well and reacted so strongly that it peeled off along with the coating, down to the wood.

Before that, there were EDITION XS on the same stand and everything was fine for 3 years, if not more.

I think I'll do without the stand now.

Different pad material.
Soft suede vs something that is more Iike a cloth.

 

[Bl00dWolf]

Today, I also took the DX180 and NOIRE X to Roman from RAA.
So, soon there will be additional measurements of these very good headphones on 3-4 stands.
I will post a link when everything is ready.

Different pad material.
Soft suede vs something that is more Iike a cloth.

Yes, I think there was some kind of strange reaction between the headphone stand and NOIRE X pads material, which is quite unexpected.

 

[Bren Derlin]

I've been deep diving into headphones over the last two months. Not a rabbit hole I expected to go down. After reading the ASR reviews on numerous cans, I was really itching for the Noire X, but the $1,100 price point was a little steep, so was thinking I was going to settle for the Aeon RT for $500 - and I probably would have been happy with those. Looked on Crutchfield today, and they had a pair of scratch and dent for $700. Had to jump on those while they were available.

My current cans are Marshall Monitor bluetooth (non-ANC), and they've been OK for the past several years - but really wanted to know if I'm really missing out... Me thinks yes.

 

[Bl00dWolf]

Today, I also took the DX180 and NOIRE X to Roman from RAA.
So, soon there will be additional measurements of these very good headphones on 3-4 stands.
I will post a link when everything is ready.

so... it's ready =)

https://reference-audio-analyzer.pro/en/report/hp/dan-clark-audio-noire-x.php

 

[Bren Derlin]

Sorry for the TLDC, but....

Just took delivery of my Noire X for ($700 USD for the Scratch and Dent), and the iFi GO Link Max for travel.

Set up 1. iPhone + GO Link + Noire X + Apple Music via wifi.

These cans fit wonderfully on my bald head, and over my smallish (I guess) ears. Very solid seal for being bigger cups than I'm used to. They're not heavy, and I've been wearing these all afternoon... Even took these new cans for a walk. Welp. I was walking the dog while wearing the NX cans. It was windy. Glasses, plus baseball cap, with NX over the top. Not the greatest seal, but it worked. Lacked bass for sure. This will still be the perfect use for the Marshall BT cans.

I played about 2 minutes of 'Nature Boy' off the Confidential album by Special EFX, then unplugged and played those 2 minutes with my old 2019 Marshall Monitor Bluetooth (non-ANC). Disconnected, and plugged back into the DCA NX, now I'm just sitting here with a smile on my face rediscovering my familiar music again.

One big difference I will note is: with the Marshall cans, the music feels like it's right in the middle of my head. With the DCA NX, the music feels like it extends a bit beyond my ears and around my head. The NX are not nearly as congested and claustrophobic as the Marshall Monitor Bluetooth cans.


Set up 2. Mac Studio + Noire X + Apple Music via wifi

My demo playlist...

Special EFX, Confidential - Nature Boy
Liquid Tension Experiment, LTE 1 - Osmosis
Dream Theater, Falling Into Infinity - Hell's Kitchen
Dream Theater, Images and Words - Learning to Live
Dream Theater, Awake - Lifting Shadows Off A Dream <---- James LaBrie at his very best
Dream Theater, Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence - The Great Debate <---- Mike Portnoy at his very best - such an underrated album
Saigon Kick, Water - Space Oddity
Billy Idol - Don't Need a Gun
Heart, Bad Animals - There's the Girl
A-Ha - Take On Me (remastered 2015)
Styx - Lorelei
Little River Band - Lonesome Loser
Boston, Boston - More Than a Feeling
The Who - Magic Bus (mono edit)

Svrcina - Wish You Well (Acoustic Version) <---- my female vocals benchmark music
Gabrielle Aplin - Salvation
Fleurie - Breathe (single)
M83 - Holes in the Sky
Rain Jewels (feat Dinah Smith) - Wolf At Your Door
Pascal Letoublon - Friendships
The Naked and Famous, In Rolling Waves - What We Want <---- Alisa Xayalith's vocals (Chef's Kiss)
The Naked and Famous, In Rolling Waves - Hearts Like Ours <---- this song can get busy
The Naked and Famous, A Still Heart - A Still Heart

I got wrapped up in Alisa Xayalith's vocals, and just let my N&F playlist go...

Vangelis, Direct - Metallis Rain
Vangelis, Direct - Intergalactic Radio <---- The NX cans make Vangelis' Direct album 'sing'...
Niklas Aman, Wings - Wings
Generdyn, Dreams - Dreams (Feat. Eebee)
Enya, Watermark - Storms in Africa
Jan Hammer, Escape From Television - Forever Tonight
Yosi Horikawa, Wandering - Bubbles
Hannah Parrott, The Land of in Between - Flight
Hara Noda - Wood & Skin

Allen Cote, Wisconsin Foodie - Wine Spodeeodee (WI Foodie Theme)
Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra, Hold me - Margoram <---- Oh baby!
Henry Mancini - Something for the Cat
Vince Guaraldi, Peanus Portraits - Christmas Time is Here (Instrumental)
Pink Martini, Hang On Little Tomato - Let's Never Stop Falling In Love
Bueno Vista Social Club - Candela
Gypsy Kings - Bamboleo
Gypsy Kings - Baila Me <--- Latin percussion deliciousness
Gypsy Kings - Oy! <--- The "Very Best Of the Gypsy Kings" is so damn good on the Noire X cans.
Santana - Evil Ways

Anika Nilles, For a Colorful Soul - Neon <---- mad crush on Anika's drumming prowess

Ludwig Van Beethoven - Symphony No 6 in F Major, Op. 68 "Pastoral" III <---- They layers in this piece is just glorious...

Drum Corps International: Phantom Regiment, Ornaments In Brass - Nevorissk Chimes (The Fire of Eternal Glory) <---- gave this one a little extra juice knowing what's coming at the 1m 20s mark. Phantom's 28 member soprano line (back when they were still play G Bugles) just leaned back and let it rip. This is 100% pure brass nirvana. Gave me goosebumps on top of my goosebumps. ...I listened to this three times...

Drum Corps International: Phantom Regiment, Ornaments in Brass - Amazing Grace. ....See above - though it's at the 1m 27s mark. More goosebumps.

The Audiomachine 'Ascendance' album is absolutely spectacular. This album can sound really hollow, thin and muddy/mushy. I love what I'm hearing right now.

So yeah. Put these through their paces this afternoon, and they check all 'my boxes'. Vocals are SO good. Plenty of clarity and separation. More soundstage than I was expecting for closed back without the 'spatial gimmickiness'. With all that delicious clarity up top (check out Amirm's measurements with the bump around 4000k - yeah. Can be a bit much if you're sensitive), to me they're not fatiguing. When the recording calls for bass, the NX delivers. When a recording kinda sucks, like the Who's 'Magic Bus' (mono), it's revealing - the NX doesn't smooth everything over. If the bass is thin in a particular recording, you're going to get a thin presentation - I'm 100% ok with this. They are detailed, smooth and have a wonderful sweetness to the sound. They're laid back when they need to be. They're exciting when the music calls for it.

Going to be adding a desktop amp a bit later - really want to see if more power brings more to the table. I don't feel like I need more volume. As is, these work wonderfully at my computer and sitting in a chair with the little GO Link Max. I have absolutely zero buyers remorse here. And right now, I'm finding it very difficult to take this off. I just want to leave them on and keep listening....

 

[Bren Derlin]

So I hadn't tried this yet...

Mac Studio + GO Link Max + Noire X.

I really did this combo just to make it easier to connect the Noire X to the front of my Mac Studio. That was it. I wasn't expecting anything else. It was getting annoying reaching over my 27" display to the back of the computer and futzing to find the headphone port.

Didn't expect this:

This little portable amp just gave the NX a lot more juice out of my Mac Studio. Not only a volume boost, which is not something I'm overly interested in, but GO Link Max seems to pull deeper from the bass. Like noted above - if the bass is thin in the recording, it's not 'adding bass that isn't there' - tried this with several song to verify. But if there is good bass in a good recording, it seems to reach a bit deeper.

"Water", from Saigon Kick's 'Water' album, just illustrated how this little dongle just opened up the sub bass on a good recording. I hadn't heard it like this without the dongle. It's so good.

The GO Max Pro also seems to open up the spatial sound stage a bit - feels more airy. Probably related to volume I'm sure. Again, I don't like listening at excessively high volume. But that one extra bump on the volume button I couldn't get before is noticeable.

I had no complaints with the sound quality plugging my NX directly into the HP jack on the back of the Mac Studio, but not only does the USB-C compatible GO Link Max provide that bit of extra juice for the Noire X, it's infinitely easier to plug-n-play from the front of the Mac Studio vs reaching to rear headphone jack. Win-Win.

Meanwhile, I'm listening to Quinto Mayor. Latin Music is so F'N good through the Noire X.

Dammit. This is getting really addicting. I don't want to take these headphones off...

I have to give props where props is due. I wouldn't have considered these cans without this message board and Amir's review - ASR absolutely delivered the goods (again).

 

[Captain Thunderpants]

Not only a volume boost, which is not something I'm overly interested in, but GO Link Max seems to pull deeper from the bass.

Most planars need an amp with a big headroom, because they eat so much power. By the time you reach decent levels without a dedicated amp you're already starve your headphones on peaks, and most of the power is in sub bass. That means you start to lose sub bass first, then you hit clipping and start to hear heavy distortion. I'd say for Noire X you will need an amp capable to output 1W per chanel at 16Ohms. At least, if you're not like me and prefer to listen on low levels. That will provide a big enough headroom for peaks on lower frequencies and when your amp drives your driver, and not struggling to barely push it, sound changes drasticly, as you've already mentioned. Fuller, deeper sub bass, no distortion on mids and highs provides "cleaner" sound and you can hear more details. I find Noire-X lacking sub bass a little and a bit bright on some tracks, so if i would EQ i would add a low shelf @ +2-3dB, and maybe substract some 4-8kHz range. And that change alone calls for more powerful amp, because you listen to music at the same volume, it just has a slightly stronger punch, but +3dB will require almost twice the power on peaks. Tracks with high dynamic range sound absolutely amazing that way IMO.

 

[LGD_]

For those looking for a headphone amp for the Noire X, I very highly recommend :

Topping L30 II Review (Headphone Amp)

This is a review, detailed measurements and listening test of Topping L30 II. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $149. It comes in a number of colors. Usability could not be better with positive clicking switches for power/pre and gains. Three gains are provided with the low gain...

www.audiosciencereview.com

It really makes the Noire's shine, clean and plenty of power, for just $150 !

 

[Bren Derlin]

I do plan to get a desk amp.

For those looking for a headphone amp for the Noire X, I very highly recommend :

Topping L30 II Review (Headphone Amp)

This is a review, detailed measurements and listening test of Topping L30 II. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $149. It comes in a number of colors. Usability could not be better with positive clicking switches for power/pre and gains. Three gains are provided with the low gain...

www.audiosciencereview.com

It really makes the Noire's shine, clean and plenty of power, for just $150 !

Any recommendations for a dac/amp with USB-C input?

 

[Grimoire]

I do plan to get a desk amp.


Any recommendations for a dac/amp with USB-C input?

Fosi ZH3 is good, listening now...

 

[LGD_]

I do plan to get a desk amp.


Any recommendations for a dac/amp with USB-C input?

I'm listening right now to the SMSL D6 (not D6s), if you can find one it's a great little DAC, and has USB-C input.
But if you get another DAC, with regular USB input, you can just buy an adapter to USB-c.