Thread for Dan Clark Audio headphones.
@Hazi59 just curious if you use any of the tuning filters with your Aeon Noire and if so, which do you prefer.
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I got the Aeon 2 closed in yesterday. Had them delivered to work, had a 2 song test run in the locker room on my lunch break. Then I got home, was listening on the hiby RS6 with the black foam tuning filters in, only because that’s how the guy shipped them to me. Was already pretty solid there. I was worried those filters were maybe hiding some harshness or something in the upper mods or treble. No reason for thinking this way, just thinking about why the guy had those filters in. So I listened for a little bit, really solid with the RS6 and those filters. I then decided that maybe I should start listening to them with no filter at all, so that’s what I did and I immediately like what was hearing with no filters in. Sounded more open, less restricted to my ears.
Then I wanted to take it to my desk setup to try there. Hooked up to the Bifrost 2 >> CMA800R then really started to shine. The few that I talk to a bit more regularly know that I’m usually a very busy person and don’t have a ton of listening sessions that don’t get cut short. If I get an hour every few fans I’m lucky. Last night was no exception, but, I put the Aeons on my desk chain around 9:30pm, next thing I knew it was 12:30am. Got totally lost in it. Now this isn’t to say that it’s the best headphone I own, its just the fact that they’re closed really just isolated me from everything going on around me, the noise from living on a main road in an overly populated state especially. For that reason alone I forsee these being used much more often that I originally intended when I bought them. Also helps that all the praise they get for being very lightweight and comfortable is also the case for me.
I’ll try and post more detailed sound impressions once I have more time with them, this was kind of just “the way they made me feel” kinda thing. Was a solid listening session last night, very enjoyable. Overall best one I’ve had in a long time, no interruptions at all.
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Dang bro why u do me like this. Temptation I strong lol. Honestly it’s very rare too when you really talk about your experience with certain things. So for you to even write about it and enjoy it so much as a closed back with excellent isolation! Very niceeeeeee
Must be a dope pairing too with your gear since you ended up having one of those sessions where you lose track of time and get lost in the music!
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I don’t use any. The main difference between the Aeon 2 Closed and the Aeon 2 Noire is the Noire have the perf pads. The treble is more linear and even because of those pads, whereas the Original Aeon 2 Closed supposedly has 1 small narrow band peak at 6 kHz (upper mids/lower treble area). The Noire actually may have a bit more treble overall, but because it rises gradually and is linear, it isn’t as problematic. If the tuning filters don’t work out for you, you can always order the perforated pads…but definitely play with the filters first. On the Aeon 2 Closed, it seems many prefer the black felt 1 notch filter from what I’ve read.
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Yeah idk, I’m not super picky with FR besides sibilance regions. Once I hear an overwhelming sibilance it’s hard for me to hear anything else, other than that though I’m pretty flexible. If there is some peak, it’s not bothering me in the least. But yes, I’m definitely gonna try the filters once I have a good amount of time without them.
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I recently got a set of Aeon Noire. After my initial, short listen my first impression was this: “with none of the included sound inserts, and all compared to the Focal Clear: Good bass extension. Less overall bass than the Clear. Pleasant fun tuning. Nice texture for the price.
Dynamics wise, they’re pretty flat. For me, that sort of a wet blanket over it’s positive traits.”
Now, after having more time with them I have to say that the limited dynamic range isn’t quite as bad as my first impression. Still flat, but there is a healthy amount of micro detail there to enjoy. Also, a sweetness to the timbre that is quite pleasant and fun. Add to that planar bass extension and detail, and it all combines to a perfectly good listen. I think anyone considering a set is trading some dynamics for the amazing ergonomics and design. If pure sonic performance is what you’re after, I think there are better choices. But when adding the design and comfort to the equation it becomes much more competitive.
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I agree with you mostly. I think it is missing a bit in the mids IMO, which is where the detail suffers the most. I was able to get more out of the A2N when I listened to them on the Quicksilver (Sylvania 7189 and RCA 12AX7 tubes).
Have you heard the original gen Aeons at all? Believe it or not, the Aeon 2 and Noire are big improvements from the originals. They still suffer from the same issues as the originals, but nowhere near as much or as badly.
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If they are new their dynamics will get better with more burn in, and more power also helps. They still aren’t that dynamically strong, but it’s a big improvement over the old aeon
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Have not. But I believe that. I think the Noire’s dynamic shortcomings are present, but necessarily in your face, and definitely not a fatal flaw. There’s a lot to enjoy there.
I am powering the crap out of them with tbe Bakoon on high gain, lol. My next experiment is to try them with a BTR5.
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They do like power, that is fore sure. M0N is also correct that they need burn-in…a lot of it. Probably the headphone that needed the most (Audioquest Nighthawk needed a lot as well).
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The previous owner said he has 20-25 hours on them. Think it would benefit from more?
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They change for literally hundreds of hours if they are like the Ether CX.
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It took about 200 of hours for me to notice improvements.
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My pair of Ethers took a while to burn in but it was the biggest sound difference between new and burned in that I heard. It opens them up and adds in bass. I would say between 24 and 48 hours was the time for them.
They have good detail and extension but they are like the Noire as you describe in terms of dynamics. It’s not enough to put me off them though.
I wonder if that’s just the Dan Clark / Mr. Speakers preferred or house sound.
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Comfort on the Expanse is SO GOOD! Only problem is that it seems to “fold in” while on my head, caused the bottom of the cups to sometimes push up on the bottom of my ear. It seems like that problem will get better over time as it stretches out.
Top tier build quality, but who the hell is gonna fold this lol.
Minimal amounts of bass, so it sounds kinda shouty. Where is that harman curve bass boost? Sound is dead neutral to my ears. Sounds pretty similar to the stealth, but not as “dead” as I remember the Stealth being.
Detail is top tier. If you enjoy the Sennheiser 6 or 8 series or the Beyerdynamic T1.2 then this is definitely endgame. I don’t think I would own this headphone alone, I would probably pair it with a ZMF or Utopia or Meze for the times when I want more bass and musicality out of my headphone.
It seems like the type of headphone that sounds better the more you use it, so I’ll post some updated thoughts after a week. So far I’m very satisfied with it.
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Fwiw I remember somebody saying you could apply some heat to the headband to better conform to your head (if you wanted to speed things up)
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anyone with listening experience and can compare the Stealth and a Verite Closed?
I preferred the verite closed. The stealth has more resolution and is more neutral, also needs more power. The verite closed is warmer and has more bass. They’re two very different headphones imo
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Cool thanks. Might need a closed back after all. Might wait for the Atrium Closed though we’ll see.