Totally agreed DCA and ZMF are closer to the market as they are small companies making only headphones in small quantities.

I think it would have been more useful for the pro market to come out with a new Stellia cheaper, as it is not any more on top, the DCA E3 move up the all closed back market at a more realistic price target and sound quality. DCA definitely anticipated the market before any one.

According to the review and what is mentioned below, this SP3000T does not seem to bring much to the already existing models as well as the DAP's market...

In terms of dynamics the E3 has nothing to do with the Stealth and the Expanse as well as other DCA model, this is why its success is so interesting

The only closed back's ZMF who could compete with the E3, might be the Caldera closed, but much much more expansive...

I had exactly the same feeling in the beginning, as the E3 is very hard to drive properly with the right cable, it took me some time to obtain the right balance, but when it is done, it sounds more natural than the VC's and much more realistic and vivid.

I own VC's since a few years now, but when I purchase the DCA E3 recently, it is definitely an upgrade, and at $ 2,000.- it cannot be competed an no way. Better soundstage, more airy, sound even better than many open back, more detailed, more precision etc...the best closed back money can buy...

Absolutely that’s why it was important to refixed everything for some people who sincerely think it’s one of the best closed back on the market…

The IO-12 cannot compete in terms of sound quality in any way among the great wired closed backs like the E3, the Atrium closed, the Caldera closed etc..

I also own the E3 and the VC's using both the Noir MK2 cable from FAW, I would say the E3 is technically a step ahead, more recent, better precision, details, dynamics, separation, staging, but much harder to drive and may occur some fatigue after over 2 hours of listening and if the track has...

Saying (DALI) that the IO-12 is the best closed back Headphone on the market, closed to perfection, comparing to the competition using cheap drivers, is without counting on the DCA E3 (more expansive) which is very very fare ahead, but when the Dali's video was recorded the E3 was not...

The Noir MK2 sounds much better with the E3 than the Vivo Cable from DCA, you should change the all cable. Better bass and depth, better balanced on the upper range.

The SE300 will be more suitable for metal, Hugo 2 is very detailed and more suitable for jazz, classical musik, folk-

Congrats DMS, thanks to this project you are showing the American dynamics are still high among your generation, I am sure it will be a success, hope you are working on a closed back version to confirm your expertise in this field, and make happy the other part of the market which will love to...

If you enjoyed the MK2 do not change, the Hybrid will not bring anything better for the Utopia which is already shining enough in the treble region, IMHO.

Which cable are you using ?

The SE300 with the Stellia should be good combo, it works also nicely with the ZMF VC but not great with the DCA E3

The Shanling M9 Plus is also a good DAP for the E3 with enough power and a great sound with Forza cable Noir MK2, good balance, great soundstage, airy, detailed... great combo.

Definitely tooooo muchhhhhh dynamicssssss for me and still cannot find an issue with it.

I encountered exactly the same problems with my E3 and happily I finally found a suitable solution by changing the cable, the Vivo is not the right cable and do not balance the sound well, I tried the Blue Dragon as advised by Moon Audio, but it add dynamics not welcomed at all, then I tried the...

For me breaking cables is more a loss of time than to be exciting...

FORZA should propose cables already burned in with an extra cost if necessary...

It is absolutely UNACCEPTABLE for such brand to treat customer this way, I own an M8 and M9 Plus and did not encounter any problem with them.

Easy and cheap solutions on the go !

It will be hard to obtain both worlds at this price… As fare as I am concerned up to now it is hard for me to listen to the E3 more than 45 minutes, after some fatigue occurs quickly as the sound for me has too much dynamics, if anyone has a tip to make it more relaxed with a DAP and or a cable...