Depends. If everyone likes it, Resolve will instinctively doubt it and look for something to criticize. And then he'll suggest getting the Bose QC Ultra.
100% this. Comfort is king. I won't listen to a headphone if it's not comfortable for me, no matter how good it sounds, so it's great to see this in reviews. The oblong/egg shaped cups usually feel way better for me than the round shaped ones because they don't touch my ears anywhere.
swapping pads that are prone to disintegrating after a year or two is an absolute necessity on a headphone in this price range, it's amazing that they are glued on
I dig reviewers that share about their musical tastes, favorite genres and also, share what kind of music or songs they’re using to evaluate audio gear. Hoping you will consider that as you move forward and upward. Thanks for the review.
DMS has his own channel and he does share all of these things. He even made a playlist for everyone to see and updates it regularly. Don’t know if it’s still up since I stopped checking it out after a while. On his own channel he also reviewed some albums. He is trained in mixing and mastering so his ears are excellent and he does like clean and neutral signatures.
Glad they’re bringing the AMTS system to more headphones. Just got my E3 about a week ago and I’ve been floored by how good it is. At least for me. Granted, I haven’t yet tried a ZMF closed back (and I LOVE my Caldera), so that’s next to try for sure. But E3 is quite possibly the best overall sounding headphone I’ve ever used. Including open backs. They really knocked it out of the park with those.
@Innocence44 I mean A) it probably should considering it’s basically double the price lol and B) idk I don’t completely agree. I think the E3 is more comfortable, and not as fatiguing. And tbh, I think the two are neck and neck with details and staging. It’s crazy to me how detailed the E3 is for the price. But hey that’s what’s cool about this hobby, HRTF and all that jazz. They both probably sound different to our heads & preferences :)
E3 and Caldera Closed do different things. If you like vocals closer, E3 on a Ferrum stack sounds fantastic. If you like bass and centre of the party, CC on Tubes.
@@TheBeastly1113 To my ears, the Caldera is a bit more mid forward, its more dynamic/punchy (has a more detailed, pleasing low end), has a bigger stage (though I gotta admit, the E3 is no slouch here either, which is an amazing feat for a closed back), and is MUCH more detailed. This is with the thick lambskin pads. The E3 is the smoother sounding out of the two and is quite comfortable, but they're not really in the same league, imo. I do think the E3 is the best closed back out there, it also outperforms a lot of open backs, so its definitely worth its price.
Hopefully the Noire X's sound stage is larger, or at least AS large as something like the Beyer Dynamic DT770. Because that's exactly what I'm coming from, the 250ohm version that is.
Please, please, please have a look a Focal Lensys Professional next. I would love a thorough review before pulling the trigger on a new pair headphones for mixing in less then ideal spaces.
My Edition XS, the QC just isn't there & there are issues so I'm keen to get rid of them. I've been wanting to move to a good closed back anyway. I would look at these but from everything I've heard about them, I've been sold on the ZMF Bokeh so I'm saving for a future stabilized drop.
Thanks for your excellent review of the new DCA Noire X. Ever since Dan Clark Audio introduced the E3s I've had a strong interest in owning a pair, but since I'm an older guy on a retirement budget I felt they were something of a luxury purchase I could dream about but not really afford. I'm especially enthusiastic about the Noire X because they perform so well compared to the E3s at half the price. The upper treble boost of the Noire X may actually be a beneficial feature in my case. While I've always tried to protect my hearing, I realize that aging has somewhat diminished my ears' sensitivity to higher frequencies. Now the only remaining question may be, do I wait to see if Dan Clark releases an open-back version of this model...?
Hopefully they actually are more reliable. Have had so many issues with channel imbalance / channels activity dropping 30% of the volume out of the blue. The warranty has been great, but when you are on your 4th set of Noires for the exact same issue, just flipping from left to right each time it makes me not trust the build quality.
@kanz7329 wouldnt call it a fail. These guys have finite time to be able to push through the product reviews along with other ventures they do, so I understand comparing to a more expensive product to approach the video from the value proposition argument
Hi DMS, i loved your project omega...my friend bought one and i had a chance to spend quite some time with it it. It was amazing with the ferrum hypsos/Erco as the DAC and the aune x7s as tye amp. I know that...the source gear, the amp and DAC choice is intersting and atypical....it sounds great with this source chain...and another thing I wanted to ask you, was your first impressions of the noble audio kublai khan IEMs. By the way, Iam Dr. Sahit Chava, a full time Vascular Surgeon and a part time audiophile. I mean I listen to music on IEMs while i operate....at low volumes of course. Cant use headphones as i need to use surgical telescopes in my most routine procedures...they are like spectacles with 4x magnification loupe on either side, and of course are very heavy!
What coating did the BLON BL 03 use? They have some anti-fingerprint coating on the outside so it always looks shiny and clean. The coating is only on the outside as the inside has the same mirror look, but it will get fingerprints. The BLON are $40 IEM, so the coating can't be something crazy expensive.
I've tried a lot of DCA headphones and I really can't get along with them, they all sound very scooped to me. Both the Stealth and E3 really weren't the hype I was hoping for. For me the ZMF Bokeh, the Beyerdynamic DT177X GO, or the Sony MDR-Z1R are more for me.
I got a really good deal on some Meze Lirics after I gave up on my noires after one channel had a major imbalance for the 4th time after many warranty claims. Wouldn’t go back
The only ones I tried were the RTs, which I got on a great sale. The detail was excellent, but they were so overbearingly bright and had nothing below 120hz. To hear any bass at all I really had to put my amp to work with an EQ. I ended up returning them. Are they all like that?
I also got the E3 based on so many reviews and recommendation, and it's the most underwhelming purchase I've ever made. It sounds wrong to me in so many places. My ears really disagree with the elevation in the 3.5-4.5khz region. I also don't like the slight elevation in the 300-400 range, as I find it can border on muddy or boxy sounding. To top it all off, the recessed 2k region makes it not perform as well when it comes to female vocal and competitive gaming, since that's an important sonic region for those things. I spent two hours EQing it with Peace EQ, and I definitely liked it more, but then the final nail on the coffin hit. They were just not comfortable to wear all day. I am sticking with my $300 IEMs because to me they sound better and feel more comfortable.
@ElvenSpellmaker I’m right there with you, I’ve been so let down by every DCA I’ve tried which really sucks beucase I love the look of them, I haven’t tried the E3 or noire x but everything else I have and they just sound limp, and boring as hell, DCA apparently doesn’t know jack about bass and dynamics it’s weird…
Good review DMS, but you keep comparing the NoireX to the E3, which 99% of viewers probably never heard. You should compare a pair of headphone to a cheaper product so we can have a better base of understanding and dream a little of what it sounds like to go higher in the tier list.
I've had the Aeon Noire for over a year and I'm super happy. I listened to the video with them on. Is it worth upgrading to the new Noire X? I changed the pads for some Dekoni Elite Sheepskin and they're still pretty good, with a lot of use. I might take the step if there really are improvements.
I've heard four units of Aeon series two of which had warranty level channel imbalance (like 4-6dB) and the other two had enough to notice and annoy, but listenable. Hopefully that's just bad luck on my part.
@ most likely … I tried it once moments after this video went live - it wasn’t indexed in Google so I just manually went to DCA’s web site and it showed the Noire X in their “midrange” line but clicking on it immediately showed their custom 404 page 😂
For anyone who wants to see this, you can check out our forum where listener has posted the comparison! forum.headphones.com/t/dca-aeon-noire-x-measurements-official-discussion/24663/6
I really like the Noire, but I ended up selling it after I bought the 620s. The lack of dynamics is really noticeable, and I appreciate the 620s sound isolation when traveling.
For a sound signature that includes a punchy bass, thicker sound or with some weight to it, and fun or lively listening experience, would you recommend the Noire X or a dynamic driver headphone?
If I didn't like the original aeon 2 noire will I also not like these ones? I'm guessing probably which is unfortunate because they were pretty comfy when I demod them.
Hello, can you advise me between the HD800 and the Noire X please. Without price constraints, which one do you prefer? I am a beginner and I want a good headset for home with a Fiio Q15. Does the X have an open stage like the HD800S? Thank you 🙏
wow, just as i wanted to grab Aeon 2 Noire for 660$ new, this beauty comes into play. But considering the price difference, are the new X that much better, than its predecessor?
Well, it's got a better tuning, better more comfortable headband design, actual new tech from pricier DCA models and comes in a sleek jet black. It's this worth $400 extra? For some it is. For me it is. Endgame without completely breaking the bank.
@@Decenium my ears touched the insides of the pads because of how narrow they were, the headband adjustment never felt right, it always felt like it was leaning one way or the other.
8:53 "if you really liked the tuning of the E3, you'll probably like Noire less" fuuuuuuuuck. E3 for me are a perfect headphones, but it's just too expensive for me, so I hoped that Noire would be something very close to it. Well, I hope that it's close enough.
So no dynamics yet and not portable driveability for a closed back. No mention of the padgate problems either with the Noire and Aeon series, I hope they fixed that at least.
Buying and selling my DCA aeon X closed has been my biggest audio regret. Got them for really cheap (420€) and there's no way I can afford noire X. Currently using hd620s which I got for 200€ brand new and I'm happy with them but they're not quite as good as the DCA were
Kind of a pointless message. People who are looking at that price point already know there are diminishing returns and know a chunk of that price increase also goes to better build.
I got the FT1s not long ago and they're easily my favorite headphones I've ever used. If FiiO ever made a detailed planar version with the same tuning, they'd be my end game.
in that case just use the headphones included with your phone 10 years ago. The will be drastically better then the FT1s. These might come out to 90% of a ZMF Verite vs like 25% of it that the FT1s would.
@@AnDr3w066 Don't judge a headphone or audio gear by its price tag. Been there done that. There are Giant Killers in the HP hobby now and then. FiiO FT1 is the most recent as far as HP's go. Geshelli and Schiit are other examples of getting great value for your money. But I don;t care how people spend their money. I'm just trying to throw in buy 2 cents on products I've heard that give good value. I've been to the top of the Mountain with Susvara and Chord Hugo TT2 & M-Scaler and quickly realized what the term diminishing returns means.
@@Mew-269 I've got a ZMF Atrium and an HE1000 Stealth V4 and the FT1 is in the conversation at $150 BUCKS!! Is it asa good as the $3K+ Stabilized Atrium I own... no... but it's pretty damn close. And for $150 dollars FiiO just launched a shot across the bow to all these other HP makers charging crazy high prices
It’s a very confusing name to have with the Massdrop collabs. What does the X mean for the Aeon? It’s a budget version of the original Aeon. What does the X mean for this Noire? It’s an upgrade to to original Noire…. What?
I still rock with the Aeon X open back & enjoy them. I’d love to purchase a pair of closed back but what would I really gain & would it be truly worth it?
Rant time: I own original Noire and I hate them. I had to invest in balanced cable and better amp for them to not sound just plain dead. If you listen mainly to not-so-loud jazz then sure, go for them, in some regards, sometimes, they can sound endgame-y. But I usually listen to rather loud metal, I like Focal headphones, so those DCA were a complete miss. They gave me constant impression of "we can, we just don't want to", like a high league football team just kicking ball during unimportant sparring match. Noire X are more punchy? Sounds like "you punch harder than 14 years old girl" kind of compliment lol. What's more, one pad just deformed by itself, turns out being puffy and comfy has its price. But the cherry on top it that those headphones managed to break by not being used for almost a year (!) one side was significantly quieter, it was not the cable. Turns out there is a "workaround" for this: blast sound throught them as loud as you can for some time. It fixed like 80-90% of that channel imbalance, thanks topping A90, but it is still not as it used to be. As somebody owning Atrium - no way in hell they are better as a blind buy for most users compared to Bokeh, at least when it comes to sound quality and enjoyment.
Same here, but those of us that bought the Norie I think know that this new iteration isn't really much different, though this review makes it sound new and different. My Noire is collecting dust, and I would sell it but it seems better to take it out once in a while and listen to exactly what I do not like in a headphone as a reminder to save the cash and ignore the hype.
what is strange you can find a lot of complaints such as yours online about DCA and other American manufacturers but you rarely see reviewers address any of those issues, it seems to create a vicious cycle online of vocal hype but silent hate trains; lesson learned, I do research and wait a couple months for the dust to settle.
I can already tell Resolve is gonna like this headphones, purely on the fact that the entire thing is in a single jet black color.
That's because he's Dead inside
Depends. If everyone likes it, Resolve will instinctively doubt it and look for something to criticize. And then he'll suggest getting the Bose QC Ultra.
Hell yeah! Finally someone that now measures earcup opening sizes. That’s something that gets ignored quite a bit when discussing comfort.
Hey, Zeos gives the knuckle estimate at least lmao.
100% this. Comfort is king. I won't listen to a headphone if it's not comfortable for me, no matter how good it sounds, so it's great to see this in reviews.
The oblong/egg shaped cups usually feel way better for me than the round shaped ones because they don't touch my ears anywhere.
I like the ranged FR graph to show variation, nice touch!
swapping pads that are prone to disintegrating after a year or two is an absolute necessity on a headphone in this price range, it's amazing that they are glued on
Seriously epic thumbnail. I know that sounds dumb and probably is, but Jesus that is a fantastic piece.
the real comparison we want is Aeon 2 Noire vs Noire X...if we could afford it, we'd all have E3s
I dig reviewers that share about their musical tastes, favorite genres and also, share what kind of music or songs they’re using to evaluate audio gear. Hoping you will consider that as you move forward and upward. Thanks for the review.
DMS has his own channel and he does share all of these things. He even made a playlist for everyone to see and updates it regularly. Don’t know if it’s still up since I stopped checking it out after a while.
On his own channel he also reviewed some albums.
He is trained in mixing and mastering so his ears are excellent and he does like clean and neutral signatures.
620s spotted, I've been loving mine.
Real
Ay love your videos Matt
@ yo! Thanks so much for this, that just made my day 🤘
Ditto, great closed back. I daily drive mine, been perfect for me
Glad they’re bringing the AMTS system to more headphones. Just got my E3 about a week ago and I’ve been floored by how good it is. At least for me. Granted, I haven’t yet tried a ZMF closed back (and I LOVE my Caldera), so that’s next to try for sure. But E3 is quite possibly the best overall sounding headphone I’ve ever used. Including open backs. They really knocked it out of the park with those.
I have a caldera and an E3. The caldera smokes it in every category. The e3 has a hair more sub bass, if that matters.
@Innocence44 I mean A) it probably should considering it’s basically double the price lol and B) idk I don’t completely agree. I think the E3 is more comfortable, and not as fatiguing. And tbh, I think the two are neck and neck with details and staging. It’s crazy to me how detailed the E3 is for the price. But hey that’s what’s cool about this hobby, HRTF and all that jazz. They both probably sound different to our heads & preferences :)
@@TheBeastly1113well as you said it cost more for him so it must surely be better...
I've heard both at CANJAM and the E3 is the better headphone
E3 and Caldera Closed do different things. If you like vocals closer, E3 on a Ferrum stack sounds fantastic. If you like bass and centre of the party, CC on Tubes.
@@TheBeastly1113 To my ears, the Caldera is a bit more mid forward, its more dynamic/punchy (has a more detailed, pleasing low end), has a bigger stage (though I gotta admit, the E3 is no slouch here either, which is an amazing feat for a closed back), and is MUCH more detailed. This is with the thick lambskin pads. The E3 is the smoother sounding out of the two and is quite comfortable, but they're not really in the same league, imo. I do think the E3 is the best closed back out there, it also outperforms a lot of open backs, so its definitely worth its price.
I'm surprised he doesn't mention the Bokeh when it comes to $1000 close backs
Cos that's a mid headphone
Agreed, Bokeh is a great headphone at that price!
Bokeh is a beautiful headphone but at $1K i would just search for preloved Verite closed/open or even a preloved E3
I believe they are not allowed to review any ZMF Headphones
Time for another tier list video :)
Oh my D, that video miniature is crazy cool! Awesome photo.
Excellent review as always :)
That's a frickin dope thumbnail 😮
Nice video, DMS! I'd be curious to hear how you'd compare both the Noire X and the E3 to the Verite Closed from ZMF. Thanks!
Picking mine up today. Excited!
So what do you think of them? 😮
Awesome. Very source dependent and not at easy to drive as some of the review would have you think
Hopefully the Noire X's sound stage is larger, or at least AS large as something like the Beyer Dynamic DT770. Because that's exactly what I'm coming from, the 250ohm version that is.
You look real badass in the thumbnail, nice 💯
YEWG improvement on the aesthetics!! They finally look good to me, great job Dan
Please, please, please have a look a Focal Lensys Professional next. I would love a thorough review before pulling the trigger on a new pair headphones for mixing in less then ideal spaces.
Nice review. I'm not sure what you changed with your mic setup, but you sound fantastic here.
My Edition XS, the QC just isn't there & there are issues so I'm keen to get rid of them. I've been wanting to move to a good closed back anyway. I would look at these but from everything I've heard about them, I've been sold on the ZMF Bokeh so I'm saving for a future stabilized drop.
Thanks for your excellent review of the new DCA Noire X. Ever since Dan Clark Audio introduced the E3s I've had a strong interest in owning a pair, but since I'm an older guy on a retirement budget I felt they were something of a luxury purchase I could dream about but not really afford. I'm especially enthusiastic about the Noire X because they perform so well compared to the E3s at half the price. The upper treble boost of the Noire X may actually be a beneficial feature in my case. While I've always tried to protect my hearing, I realize that aging has somewhat diminished my ears' sensitivity to higher frequencies. Now the only remaining question may be, do I wait to see if Dan Clark releases an open-back version of this model...?
Hopefully they actually are more reliable. Have had so many issues with channel imbalance / channels activity dropping 30% of the volume out of the blue. The warranty has been great, but when you are on your 4th set of Noires for the exact same issue, just flipping from left to right each time it makes me not trust the build quality.
that and the padgate issues
Thanks DMS! If you have the Aeon 2 Noir already is it still worth the upgrade to Noir X?
If possible, some measurement comparisons between the dca noire and noire x would be sick too
@@sorysrgee shame that the comparison wasnt done! such a fail
@kanz7329 wouldnt call it a fail. These guys have finite time to be able to push through the product reviews along with other ventures they do, so I understand comparing to a more expensive product to approach the video from the value proposition argument
@@kanz7329 I think this was not done on purpose
Ft1 pro review when?
Hi DMS, i loved your project omega...my friend bought one and i had a chance to spend quite some time with it it. It was amazing with the ferrum hypsos/Erco as the DAC and the aune x7s as tye amp. I know that...the source gear, the amp and DAC choice is intersting and atypical....it sounds great with this source chain...and another thing I wanted to ask you, was your first impressions of the noble audio kublai khan IEMs. By the way, Iam Dr. Sahit Chava, a full time Vascular Surgeon and a part time audiophile. I mean I listen to music on IEMs while i operate....at low volumes of course. Cant use headphones as i need to use surgical telescopes in my most routine procedures...they are like spectacles with 4x magnification loupe on either side, and of course are very heavy!
What coating did the BLON BL 03 use? They have some anti-fingerprint coating on the outside so it always looks shiny and clean. The coating is only on the outside as the inside has the same mirror look, but it will get fingerprints. The BLON are $40 IEM, so the coating can't be something crazy expensive.
Since I got my E3 I've been hoping that dca was working on an Aeon with AMTS
It looks superb!!
I've tried a lot of DCA headphones and I really can't get along with them, they all sound very scooped to me.
Both the Stealth and E3 really weren't the hype I was hoping for.
For me the ZMF Bokeh, the Beyerdynamic DT177X GO, or the Sony MDR-Z1R are more for me.
I got a really good deal on some Meze Lirics after I gave up on my noires after one channel had a major imbalance for the 4th time after many warranty claims. Wouldn’t go back
The only ones I tried were the RTs, which I got on a great sale. The detail was excellent, but they were so overbearingly bright and had nothing below 120hz. To hear any bass at all I really had to put my amp to work with an EQ. I ended up returning them. Are they all like that?
I also got the E3 based on so many reviews and recommendation, and it's the most underwhelming purchase I've ever made. It sounds wrong to me in so many places. My ears really disagree with the elevation in the 3.5-4.5khz region. I also don't like the slight elevation in the 300-400 range, as I find it can border on muddy or boxy sounding. To top it all off, the recessed 2k region makes it not perform as well when it comes to female vocal and competitive gaming, since that's an important sonic region for those things. I spent two hours EQing it with Peace EQ, and I definitely liked it more, but then the final nail on the coffin hit. They were just not comfortable to wear all day.
I am sticking with my $300 IEMs because to me they sound better and feel more comfortable.
@ElvenSpellmaker I’m right there with you, I’ve been so let down by every DCA I’ve tried which really sucks beucase I love the look of them, I haven’t tried the E3 or noire x but everything else I have and they just sound limp, and boring as hell, DCA apparently doesn’t know jack about bass and dynamics it’s weird…
@@xblur17Did you drive the E3 with powerful enough headphone amp?
It’s awesome that they kept the price the same as the original Noire.
How easy would these Headphones be to EQ without causing distortion issues?
does it have the same pad non-uniform deformation and thus channel imbalance problems of previous aeon models?
The new Alcantara pads supposedly address this issue.
@@TK-yu2pv are you referring to these 200$ meze pads?
@@dalejail No.
Good review DMS, but you keep comparing the NoireX to the E3, which 99% of viewers probably never heard. You should compare a pair of headphone to a cheaper product so we can have a better base of understanding and dream a little of what it sounds like to go higher in the tier list.
I've had the Aeon Noire for over a year and I'm super happy. I listened to the video with them on.
Is it worth upgrading to the new Noire X?
I changed the pads for some Dekoni Elite Sheepskin and they're still pretty good, with a lot of use.
I might take the step if there really are improvements.
Would love for you to try the Caldera Closed back. Interested in your opinion
I've heard four units of Aeon series two of which had warranty level channel imbalance (like 4-6dB) and the other two had enough to notice and annoy, but listenable. Hopefully that's just bad luck on my part.
no many people have had similar issues
You are getting me all hot and heavy measuring the earpads like that.
Will you do a roundup for closed backs, including the Bokeh?
Could you still show the response of the B&K as a separate line just as a reference point to previous videos?
i wish there was more description of their technical abilities and how its compared to e3, at least the tuning was covered well.
404 on the DCA page when you click on the headphone Noire X 😂
shows up for me...maybe they fixed it already?
@ most likely … I tried it once moments after this video went live - it wasn’t indexed in Google so I just manually went to DCA’s web site and it showed the Noire X in their “midrange” line but clicking on it immediately showed their custom 404 page 😂
@ yes just checked and it’s already fixed
What Headphone Model do you use in the above video? They look awesome.
It would be nice to see how a studio standard can like the DT-250/250 Ohm, stands up to the DCA,s closedbacks,, 🤔
Why in the latest videos there are almost no comparisons? From all reviewers in this channel
top tier thumbnail
What I want to know is if DCA is going to offer an upgrade option for the Aeon 2 Noire?
Anyone else notice the hair and the shadow from the key light match in the worst way.
Bit of an edge case question, but of the two, which one folds up smaller if you were to travel with them?
Do you have measurements on the same rig from the previous Noire?
For anyone who wants to see this, you can check out our forum where listener has posted the comparison! forum.headphones.com/t/dca-aeon-noire-x-measurements-official-discussion/24663/6
Could you please review the ZMF Bokeh?
I really like the Noire, but I ended up selling it after I bought the 620s. The lack of dynamics is really noticeable, and I appreciate the 620s sound isolation when traveling.
Isn’t the cheapest open back still better sounding than an expensive closed back?
Depends on hPtf effects but I tend to prefer a good closed back. I think e3 is better than most open backs.
@@DMS3TV
Any idea if the sound stage for the Noire X's is as large as the DT770(250ohm)'s?
how do you like that chord mojo dms
For a sound signature that includes a punchy bass, thicker sound or with some weight to it, and fun or lively listening experience, would you recommend the Noire X or a dynamic driver headphone?
How does this compare to the ZMF Bokeh Closed or Caldera Closed or Atrium Closed?
using the Aeon RT myself, but maybe time for an upgrade.
you know its gonna be a good video when dms is looking ominously looking quite devious in the thunbnail
If I didn't like the original aeon 2 noire will I also not like these ones? I'm guessing probably which is unfortunate because they were pretty comfy when I demod them.
Is the the price jump worth it from Sennheiser hd620s for Home/on the go combined with a fiio ka17? Thanks in advance :)
Hello,
can you advise me between the HD800 and the Noire X please. Without price constraints, which one do you prefer? I am a beginner and I want a good headset for home with a Fiio Q15. Does the X have an open stage like the HD800S?
Thank you 🙏
The E3 would be my choice. I prefer a much smother treble.
How does it stack up to Focal Radiance?
wow, just as i wanted to grab Aeon 2 Noire for 660$ new, this beauty comes into play. But considering the price difference, are the new X that much better, than its predecessor?
Well, it's got a better tuning, better more comfortable headband design, actual new tech from pricier DCA models and comes in a sleek jet black. It's this worth $400 extra? For some it is. For me it is. Endgame without completely breaking the bank.
thought getting my E3 for $200 off was a steal lol, I'll be passing on this though because I've had comfort issues with the Aeon line before.
How is 10% off a headphone a "steal"? Are you from Europe or something?
@@En_Joshi-Godrez I think it's fully worth msrp, getting it on sale was a bonus
@@chrisk3127 ok
comfort issues? I have the RT and its super comfortable, really large earcups, low weight, idk how it could be a problem
@@Decenium my ears touched the insides of the pads because of how narrow they were, the headband adjustment never felt right, it always felt like it was leaning one way or the other.
8:53 "if you really liked the tuning of the E3, you'll probably like Noire less" fuuuuuuuuck. E3 for me are a perfect headphones, but it's just too expensive for me, so I hoped that Noire would be something very close to it. Well, I hope that it's close enough.
wow. i was about to pull the trigger on the aeon noire yesterday. glad i waited!
Is that a Creality K1 or K2?
K1C 😄
Kinda wish I never bought my Noire… it never gets used lol
yup
@@chungang7037regular Noire, V1?
So no dynamics yet and not portable driveability for a closed back. No mention of the padgate problems either with the Noire and Aeon series, I hope they fixed that at least.
Actually I said the opposite in the vid. Better dynamics and easy enough to power with just a laptop.
Did you watch the video all the way through?
Buying and selling my DCA aeon X closed has been my biggest audio regret. Got them for really cheap (420€) and there's no way I can afford noire X. Currently using hd620s which I got for 200€ brand new and I'm happy with them but they're not quite as good as the DCA were
Does anyone have an idea of how these would compare to the new Focal Lensys Pro?
As someone who believes in diminishing returns... I'd suggest trying the $150 FiiO FT1 Closed Back before paying a Grand
Kind of a pointless message. People who are looking at that price point already know there are diminishing returns and know a chunk of that price increase also goes to better build.
I got the FT1s not long ago and they're easily my favorite headphones I've ever used. If FiiO ever made a detailed planar version with the same tuning, they'd be my end game.
in that case just use the headphones included with your phone 10 years ago. The will be drastically better then the FT1s. These might come out to 90% of a ZMF Verite vs like 25% of it that the FT1s would.
@@AnDr3w066 Don't judge a headphone or audio gear by its price tag. Been there done that. There are Giant Killers in the HP hobby now and then. FiiO FT1 is the most recent as far as HP's go. Geshelli and Schiit are other examples of getting great value for your money. But I don;t care how people spend their money. I'm just trying to throw in buy 2 cents on products I've heard that give good value. I've been to the top of the Mountain with Susvara and Chord Hugo TT2 & M-Scaler and quickly realized what the term diminishing returns means.
@@Mew-269 I've got a ZMF Atrium and an HE1000 Stealth V4 and the FT1 is in the conversation at $150 BUCKS!! Is it asa good as the $3K+ Stabilized Atrium I own... no... but it's pretty damn close. And for $150 dollars FiiO just launched a shot across the bow to all these other HP makers charging crazy high prices
That Noire X logo on th eheadphone looks awful and make it look cheap
It’s a very confusing name to have with the Massdrop collabs. What does the X mean for the Aeon? It’s a budget version of the original Aeon. What does the X mean for this Noire? It’s an upgrade to to original Noire…. What?
DCA headphones are always comfortable and have good build quality, but have they addressed the lack of dynamics?
They addressed the lack of dynamics with the E3.
Distilled water and a microfiber cloth eliminate fingerprints from all surfaces
Noir X or LCD-XC?
Glued on ear pads makes this an instant no buy 👎
Also, the 10k peak looks like a real sibilance monster. 🤮
Sweet thumbnail!
Hmmm. I want something that is different from the atrium closed.
🙏👑🐉👑🙏
Must be my headphones but I can literally hear ever pop and crackle of your voice while speaking.
gram?
What about drivability? Is the Noire easier to drive than the E3? Is it better for portability?
Speaking from experience, don't wear these outside you're gonna look crazy lol. I wore the e3 outside once, just once 😂
@@AT-vj2mz we like looking crazy and unhinged. It's the audiophile code
This is funny, because I've read some comments that anything other than the E3 sounds sterile and boring.
I still rock with the Aeon X open back & enjoy them. I’d love to purchase a pair of closed back but what would I really gain & would it be truly worth it?
you'd gain isolation and better bass extension in most cases.
@@andreasschwarz4908Also much better dynamics.
I saw the Thumbnail and immediately thought: Call of Duty type game? Oh headphone review. Lol
Too bad they went with the crappy elastic head band. The style on the Aeon is far superior.
Elon may sue DCA on the X name. lol...
Rant time: I own original Noire and I hate them. I had to invest in balanced cable and better amp for them to not sound just plain dead. If you listen mainly to not-so-loud jazz then sure, go for them, in some regards, sometimes, they can sound endgame-y. But I usually listen to rather loud metal, I like Focal headphones, so those DCA were a complete miss. They gave me constant impression of "we can, we just don't want to", like a high league football team just kicking ball during unimportant sparring match. Noire X are more punchy? Sounds like "you punch harder than 14 years old girl" kind of compliment lol.
What's more, one pad just deformed by itself, turns out being puffy and comfy has its price.
But the cherry on top it that those headphones managed to break by not being used for almost a year (!) one side was significantly quieter, it was not the cable. Turns out there is a "workaround" for this: blast sound throught them as loud as you can for some time. It fixed like 80-90% of that channel imbalance, thanks topping A90, but it is still not as it used to be.
As somebody owning Atrium - no way in hell they are better as a blind buy for most users compared to Bokeh, at least when it comes to sound quality and enjoyment.
Same here, but those of us that bought the Norie I think know that this new iteration isn't really much different, though this review makes it sound new and different. My Noire is collecting dust, and I would sell it but it seems better to take it out once in a while and listen to exactly what I do not like in a headphone as a reminder to save the cash and ignore the hype.
what is strange you can find a lot of complaints such as yours online about DCA and other American manufacturers but you rarely see reviewers address any of those issues, it seems to create a vicious cycle online of vocal hype but silent hate trains; lesson learned, I do research and wait a couple months for the dust to settle.
Fuuuu.. just bought noires a couple months back.
400 gramms+ its like wearing brick on your head. Noire 2 where good overall but muddy in mids and slow (driver issue) on low end.
Aesthetically, the white logo ruins it
another bright headphone from DCA…great😂
In two months, you'll love “DCA Withe” even more and in 8 months, you'll love “DCA White X” ....
E3 is still my favorite sorry.
But I really didn't like the stealth or expanse.
Beside fingerprints, that logo doesn't look good either.
Dan Clark is quite an innovator but never liked his tuning over the XTC and his politics are awful anti American
Some matte skin will save those glossy boy. 🤣
DMS, your mouth sounds so wet. Use a de-clicker in the future please
"Stache" looks stupid on you bro!