Dan Clark Audio E3 Review: Interview, Measurements, Impressions

[Frabera]

I own the SE300 it didn’t drive the E3 properly (not enough power) the best DAP for the E3 is the ONIX XM5

 

[WreckedEm2]

167

I own the SE300 it didn’t drive the E3 properly (not enough power) the best DAP for the E3 is the ONIX XM5

Can you describe how inefficient it was? Passable or just way too quiet and not functional?

 

[Frabera]

Mainly not enough power with a sound which was not full bodied.

 

[Frabera]

The SE300 do not bring the E3 not even to 80% of its potential

 

[WreckedEm2]

The SE300 do not bring the E3 not even to 80% of its potential

Okay, thanks. Were you going through 4.4mm?

 

[Kevintj604]

I have an se300 en route and also about to pull the trigger on the dca e3. How low was the volume and was it usable? If it's not able to power them properly, I might have to think about a different dap : /

Se300 won’t drive E3 at all. Not even close. It’s not enough power and also not enough current. I own a KANN Max and going 4.4mm with gain set to Super and it’s nowhere near enough. E3 is not a portable headphone despite what it might look like. I haven’t heard a portable or even transportable source drive it properly.

 

[WreckedEm2]

Se300 won’t drive E3 at all. Not even close. It’s not enough power and also not enough current. I own a KANN Max and going 4.4mm with gain set to Super and it’s nowhere near enough. E3 is not a portable headphone despite what it might look like. I haven’t heard a portable or even transportable source drive it properly.

Damn. I wonder if any Ak or Fiio dap would power the E3s sufficiently. If not, I might have to abandon my plan and go with the liric 2 which is much easier to drive

 

[Frabera]

Okay, thanks. Were you going through 4.4mm?

Yes, of course

 

[jarnopp]

Damn. I wonder if any Ak or Fiio dap would power the E3s sufficiently. If not, I might have to abandon my plan and go with the liric 2 which is much easier to drive

If you want portable, Mojo2 will work very well with E3. Been using them together daily since E3 was released. No issues and plenty of headroom, oomph, dynamics, detail, etc.

 

[Melitaboy64]

If you want portable, Mojo2 will work very well with E3. Been using them together daily since E3 was released. No issues and plenty of headroom, oomph, dynamics, detail, etc.

I can also suggest the Shanling H7. Plenty of power with your choice of output, and can act as a very capable DAP too when used together with the app.

 

[WreckedEm2]

Thanks for the suggestions on DAPs. From a desktop perspective, I have the K9 AKM. That should have enough power to drive the E3s to their full potential, right?

 

[Kevintj604]

Thanks for the suggestions on DAPs. From a desktop perspective, I have the K9 AKM. That should have enough power to drive the E3s to their full potential, right?

At less than a watt not even close. Sorry to rain on the parade a bit here but I think you need to be looking for another headphone.

If you're in Van you should go down to Headphone Bar and demo them. Travis will show you the differences. The E3 is basically the closed back equivalent to something like a Tungsten or Susvara.

 

[WreckedEm2]

At less than a watt not even close. Sorry to rain on the parade a bit here but I think you need to be looking for another headphone.

If you're in Van you should go down to Headphone Bar and demo them. Travis will show you the differences. The E3 is basically the closed back equivalent to something like a Tungsten or Susvara.

I'll go see Travis when he emails me that my se300 is ready for pick-up in the next week, hah. Yeah, he's great. I sounds like I might have to hold off on the E3 or go with the liric 2 if I want to keep my current gear.

 

[Kevintj604]

I'll go see Travis when he emails me that my se300 is ready for pick-up in the next week, hah. Yeah, he's great. I sounds like I might have to hold off on the E3 or go with the liric 2 if I want to keep my current gear.

Yeah sorry. I'm using a Ferrum stack and an HA-3A and both are basically tip of iceberg with the E3. Volume in balanced on the Ferrum is around 12:00 on the dial and the Oor has 9 watts. The E3 sounds phenomenal on the HA-3A and Travis has the Cayin in store so try the E3 on that. That's an end game closed back combination.

 

[WreckedEm2]

Yeah sorry. I'm using a Ferrum stack and an HA-3A and both are basically tip of iceberg with the E3. Volume in balanced on the Ferrum is around 12:00 on the dial and the Oor has 9 watts. The E3 sounds phenomenal on the HA-3A and Travis has the Cayin in store so try the E3 on that. That's an end game closed back combination.

You think the aune s17 pro would work using the k9 akm as a dac as well? I listened to that at Headphonebar a month ago and it sounded amazing (but different headphones than the E3)