My set came in yesterday and I’ve gotten a bit of listening, I can confirm that the stage is sort of out in front and normal shaped (rather than the sort of sphere around your head a lot of headphones do). Very spacious and airy. I wouldn’t say they sound like open backs, due to how unique the staging is, but very open sounding if that makes sense. I’m someone who hates how 99% of planars stage and image, and these seem to have solved that issue.
For context these are the first DCAs I’ve heard with AMTS. I’ve heard Aeon 2, Noire, and Ether CX. Didn’t keep any of them because I found them all either too hot in the treble (aeons) or lacking low end (ethers). E3 seems to blend all of the strengths of previous DCA products (excellent separation and detail) while smoothing out the frequency response and kicking up the technicalities quite a few notches (though they are a bit hot around 4-6k on some tracks, they’re much better than the Aeons and ether in that respect). The low end and lower midrange are really nicely filled out but never boomy. Not quite as rich and full as a ZMF, but much more than a hifiman or the ether cx.
These are also capable of being very punchy, but they need power. My cayin iha6 drives them pretty well, oor even better, but they really wake up on my ampsandsound mogwai SE. Kick drums can have huge impact if mixed well.
Over all i’m really impressed. They’re twice the price of ether or noire, but IMO sound more than twice as good.