Dan Clark Audio E3 Review: Interview, Measurements, Impressions

[dougq]

hi i need help the left driver of my e3 completely stopped producing sound. I tested all my headphones and none have issues. Never dropped or treated my phones badly not sure what caused this??

I would contact dca directly.

 

[mrspeakers]

hi i need help the left driver of my e3 completely stopped producing sound. I tested all my headphones and none have issues. Never dropped or treated my phones badly not sure what caused this??

Reverse the left and right cables, if the problem changes side it’s the cable or amp/downstream gear. If the problem stays on the left it is the headphone. Contact infor@danclarkaudio.com for more help if needed.

 

[Ahzungulul]

yes thank you i did just that and now the right driver doesnt have sound. I will purchase a new cable and report back

 

[mrspeakers]

yes thank you i did just that and now the right driver doesnt have sound. I will purchase a new cable and report back

Glad that caught it wasn't the headphone...

Be sure it isn't upstream in your other gear, like a bad interconnect or a bad channel on your DAC/Amp. Swapping out the other cables, or reversing them, can rule out the cables. For the DAC and amp if you have an alternate, just to check, you could be confident in where the problem is.

 

[tcarlson]

I run my E3 with a FIIO K9 ESS PRO or FIIO Q15 (AK) on desktop mode. I also have an IFI XDSD Gryphon (Burr Brown), but that doesn't really drive them well. The K9 works without limitation (3 W @ 32 ohm). The Q15 on ultrahigh (desktop wired mode at 1.6W @ 32 ohms) works at ~ 80 out of 120 on volume. The Q15 on battery just barely drives them at 120 out of 120 volume and sounds fine (limited to super high gain mode 1.06W @ 32 ohms). The Gryphon will drive them with limitations at full volume 106 of 106 on turbo mode with XSpace and XBass off (1 W or 6.7V @ 32 ohms) - a bit boomy on bass heavy tracks, though.

 

[BassicScience]

Note to potential E3 buyers: I've just listed mine here.

Happy New Year!

 

[rebbi]

Hey there, Dan,
How would the E3 do driven from the balanced port of an iBasso DX320 DAP?
Thanks!

 

[Waddiewadkins]

I run my E3 with a FIIO K9 ESS PRO or FIIO Q15 (AK) on desktop mode. I also have an IFI XDSD Gryphon (Burr Brown), but that doesn't really drive them well. The K9 works without limitation (3 W @ 32 ohm). The Q15 on ultrahigh (desktop wired mode at 1.6W @ 32 ohms) works at ~ 80 out of 120 on volume. The Q15 on battery just barely drives them at 120 out of 120 volume and sounds fine (limited to super high gain mode 1.06W @ 32 ohms). The Gryphon will drive them with limitations at full volume 106 of 106 on turbo mode with XSpace and XBass off (1 W or 6.7V @ 32 ohms) - a bit boomy on bass heavy tracks, though.

So if Gryphon is that to E3,, it might be v good > Noire X.. and it has XSpace which is cool,,and if I'm right, xbass wouldn't hurt Noire X,, different headphone sorry, portable talk is going strong in Noire X page..

 

[tcarlson]

Hey there, Dan,
How would the E3 do driven from the balanced port of an iBasso DX320 DAP?
Thanks!

At 1200mW/channel at 32 ohms, the ibasso DX320 should have enough power. Dan Clark Audio recommends a minimum of 1000 mW/channel at 32 ohms, but I’ve found it sounds best with a little more. An IFI XDSD Gryphon clips (1000 mW/channel at 32 ohms), but a FIIO Q15 on desktop mode Ultra high output (1610 mW/channel at 32 ohms) sounds excellent. The FIIO Q15 on battery super high gain (1060 mW/channel at 32 ohms) drives the E3 at medium high volume without clipping or issues.

 

[rebbi]

At 1200mW/channel at 32 ohms, the ibasso DX320 should have enough power. Dan Clark Audio recommends a minimum of 1000 mW/channel at 32 ohms, but I’ve found it sounds best with a little more. An IFI XDSD Gryphon clips (1000 mW/channel at 32 ohms), but a FIIO Q15 on desktop mode Ultra high output (1610 mW/channel at 32 ohms) sounds excellent. The FIIO Q15 on battery super high gain (1060 mW/channel at 32 ohms) drives the E3 at medium high volume without clipping or issues.

Wow, extremely helpful. Many thanks!

 

[cavetroll]

One of the best closed backs. Super comfortable too.

 

[Tekk59]

One of the best closed backs. Super comfortable too.

Imo, one of the best headphones, period (open or closed).

 

[cavetroll]

Imo, one of the best headphones, period (open or closed).

Do you have any recommendations for DAC/amp that pairs well with the E3s?

 

[Tekk59]

Do you have any recommendations for DAC/amp that pairs well with the E3s?

I use it with a Violectric V222 and a schiit Mjolnir 3. Both are highly recommended. For portable I use iem's.

 

[cavetroll]

For sure, that’s a gnarly setup. Thanks. Yeah I’ve been looking into the Schiit models recently.