Dan Clark Audio (DCA) STEALTH and EXPANSE Impressions Thread

[skootb]

I didn't have it loud at all. I was auditioning at Audio46 in NYC. Even just putting the 2 ear cups together (sealing each other together) at a low volume, I could hear the music over the air conditioner in the store

 

[JLoud]

Have you ever tried the Audeze EL8 closed? Best isolation I have ever (not)heard in a closed back. You can still find them in the classifieds. Most come with a lightning connector if you use Iphones.

 

[VandyMan]

I didn't have it loud at all. I was auditioning at Audio46 in NYC. Even just putting the 2 ear cups together (sealing each other together) at a low volume, I could hear the music over the air conditioner in the store

That is actually not a very good test because normally your head would absorb a lot of the sound.

 

[deafenears]

I'm still using iems because I can't find a good closed back that doesn't leak. The best I could find in terms of not leaking was the Denon 9200, but the sound didn't blow me away. Stellia, Ether C, Verite Closed, others all leak enough that the person next to me at work can tell me what i'm listening to

Yes, how loud do you listen?

Probably could do with one of these filled with some sound absorbing cotton / fillers:

 

[MatW]

New owner here. I just got them yesterday and look forward to discovering them. I agree that they leak more sound than I would like. The vents at the top of the cups are the culprits. But it's not a deal breaker for me. Most closed backs do leak some sound indeed. When I need full isolation I use IEMs.

 

[skootb]

Yes, how loud do you listen?

Not loud at all

New owner here. I just got them yesterday and look forward to discovering them. I agree that they leak more sound than I would like. The vents at the top of the cups are the culprits. But it's not a deal breaker for me. Most closed backs do leak some sound indeed. When I need full isolation I use IEMs.

I think it's actually leaking through the pads that's the issue

 

[MatW]

I think it's actually leaking through the pads that's the issue

Maybe a bit of both. Did you hold one of those vents close to your ear, with the pads closed and a song playing?

 

[VandyMan]

I used to own the Ether C and it leaked the least of all the closed-backs I've owned. If it is leaking thru the pads, you may have a fit issue (do you wear glasses?) or you listen louder than you think. I used them at an office where the desks were very close together and never got any complaints. I've also used the Aeon Closed and some lower priced closed backs in the office with good results. Look for a closed back that gives you a tight seal around the pads.

 

[ra990]

Even better than the Chord TT2 is the Questyle CMA Fifteen with the Stealth. It really breathes some life into the Stealth and adds a bit of bottom end and top end sparkle. Listening to the Stealth on the TT2 after the CMA Fifteen makes them sound mushy and compressed. It's quite a bit better with the Stealth and is great with other planars as well. It can even handle the HE6SEv2 without running out of juice.

The only planar in my collection that I prefer the TT2 with over the CMA Fifteen is the LCD5.

 

[VandyMan]

I got a Stealth yesterday. After all the discussion saying that portables can't drive it, I was very pleased to discover that both my Hiby R6 Pro (750 mW/750 mW balanced) and my A&K Kann Cube can drive it well with the amp in high gain mode.

 

[marcus2704]

How do the Stealth sound with bass-driven music such as electronic, hip-hop and so on.

 

[6PANDEMONIUM6]

How do the Stealth sound with bass-driven music such as electronic, hip-hop and so on.

I would describe them as sub-bassy not mid-bassy. So they slam hard with EDM/Movie theater bass but they don't slam as hard with stuff over 100hz.

 

[Lumithium]

I like the sub-bassy tuning of the Stealth for electronic music. Especially the faster and more hardcore types.

A lot of these music already have aggressive mid-bass. Stealth helps with the balance a bit here. The cleaner style of Stealth really helps with these music, but the upper mids can be a bit much at times.

For other types of electronic music, the difference may not matter as much. I feel like the same could also apply to hip-hop, but I don't listen to hip-hop almost at all so no comments on that.

 

[Ciggavelli]

I like the sub-bassy tuning of the Stealth for electronic music. Especially the faster and more hardcore types.

A lot of these music already have aggressive mid-bass. Stealth helps with the balance a bit here. The cleaner style of Stealth really helps with these music, but the upper mids can be a bit much at times.

For other types of electronic music, the difference may not matter as much. I feel like the same could also apply to hip-hop, but I don't listen to hip-hop almost at all so no comments on that.

I listen to a lot of hip-hop. The Stealth sub-bass works well

 

[MatW]

I listen to a lot of hip-hop. The Stealth sub-bass works well

Hey man, good to see you. I am still discovering the Stealth. How do you like them for metal? My first impressions: very different to anything else I own. A little lean down low and forward in upper mids. But for now I'm thinking of these as complementary..