Aeon 2 closed vs other headphones:
First of all, I haven't been much of a fan of closed headphones for the most part. My listening situation doesn't "require" a closed set of headphones, although at times it would be nice to have. Here is a list of closed headphones that I've owned or had for extended audition:
1. Aeon closed original
This is the natural comparison. But it would be a mistake to expect just an evolutionary change in this particular case. It's much more than that. The Aeon 2 closed has been completely reworked from the ground up. It has a new motor, new driver and new materials internally and is essentially an all new product instead of a reworked one. And more importantly, the A2c sounds like a completely difference headphone. Think revolutionary instead of evolutionary here. I won't make comparisons here because the A2c is simply much better across the board, period. There is nothing the original does that is competitive with the new A2c.
2. ETHER C Flow
Now this gets more interesting. Based on my evaluation, having owned the ETHER C Flow for over a year, these two headphones compete well against each other, despite the price discrepancy and pecking order. But at the end of the day, I'd pick the A2c every time. It's much more comfortable for starters. There is a distinct sound stage advantage for the A2c despite the difference in the size of the cups between the two headphones.. A2c does bass better with more slam, although this is pretty close. Mids are also close with A2c delivering slightly better textural information from vocalist than ETHER C Flow. With regard to treble, the A2c is better offering equal extension of the ETHER C Flow without a small peak that can sound sibilant with some recordings on ECF.
But wait, the EFC cost $700 MORE than the A2c and it sounds arguably better than it's more expensive sibling? Well, actually it does. So why would a company do this. It's not that complicated really. Companies like Schiit Audio do this as well. The $600 Bifrost 2 sounds better than the Gungnir MB costing $1250. Much of this has to do with time schedule of releasing a new product that does improve performance to a degree that it sounds and performs better than one of your own more expensive products. Later those older products like the Gumby and EFC will also be revised and updated and likely overtake their over-performing siblings. But take this for what it is, which is an opportunity to get flagship closed headphone performance at a mid-fi price. We all love a great deal, right?
3. Audioquest Nightowl Carbon
The NOC is a polarizing product to be completely fair. I do enjoy the tone and timbre of the bio-cellulose driver in this headphone. NOC can do nuance and low level detail very nicely when the right upstream gear are used to the proper effect. But in terms of over performance sonically, the A2c is leagues better. Unless you have a bent towards the bio-cellulose sound, the A2c takes this one easily.
4. Audeze XC
Let's get this out of the way right off the bat. The XC is stupid heavy. Send me to the chiropractor heavy. I could only wear it for about 30 minutes or so before the neck pain started in. But I do like the sound of the XC. Staging is better than average, but doesn't overtake the A2c. Tone and timbre of the mids is good with the XC and competitive with the A2c. But the XC has that Audeze dip somewhere in the upper mids/lower treble that always bugged me. These two headphones are competitive with the comfort of the A2c making the choice a no brainer for me personally.
5. Sony cd-3000
Going a little old school here with the Sony cd3k. This is an early 90's product that will natural be under the radar of most folks. The stock signature of this headphone was bright and lean with good staging. But add a dual exit copper cable and a good tube amp and this becomes a very good headphone. Many say that it competes well as a "mini r10" which is legendary in the community. But at the end of the day A2c trounces the cd3k, with more body, better staging and more coherency to the overall signature.
If you can't tell, I do in fact like the Aeon 2 c quite a bit. It's fair to say that I'm a little smitten with it. Listening to this headphone is often an addictive experience for me. I want to listen to "just one more song/album" each time that I use it. Five or six years ago, we saw somewhat of an explosion of new products in the headphone hobby, especially with regard to planar magnetic products. And now that the dust is settling, we have some real leaders that are paving the way with some truly exceptional products. I'm glad that we have Dan Clark Audio as one of the real innovators working to lead the way.
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