[OneEyedHito]

While we’re on the topic of amps, can someone suggest a budget-minded option to pair with the E3? Right now I have an ifi zendac v2, and I’ve been looking to buy an xduoo ta-22. I like this combo amp/dac because then I can sell the ifi, but if there is a good option I can use it as my dac. I’m hoping to spend less than $500.

I’ve had many high end amps including WA33’s and the like here and I’ve listened to the stealth on most of them, I am currently running the E3 with the following to great success to my ears:
Xduoo XD05 Pro
Schiit Midgard
Even the I-Basso DC Elite drives then good.

I find the Midgard the best of the bunch when being fed a signal from the Xduoo using the AKM DAC Card.

Check out @GoldenSound review of the Midgard. It’s a banger for the bucks for sure.

 

[Dragonmilenario]

Hi!!!

I’m very interested in a new ‘portable’ closed-back headphone for various cases:

- At home, when I need isolation or don’t want to disturb my family.
- For long, relaxing walks in the city or on the beach area during my holidays in Spain.

Currently, I have the 109pro for home use (and very pleased with its sound and comfort) and the 99 classics. Now, I’m considering the New Liric 2 to replace the 99´s. I’m 99% decided on the Liric 2 because of its more ‘portable’ nature (smaller, easier to drive, and better aesthetics—though this is a personal preference, of course), but I think the E3 it´s a nice option too at the same price.

Has anyone used the E3 headphones outdoors? I think the Liric 2 might be too big for outdoor use for some (to me it´s in the limit), so the E3 are a no-go here... or am I wrong?

Thank you in advance!

 

[OneEyedHito]

Hi!!!

I’m very interested in a new ‘portable’ closed-back headphone for various cases:

- At home, when I need isolation or don’t want to disturb my family.
- For long, relaxing walks in the city or on the beach area during my holidays in Spain.

Currently, I have the 109pro for home use (and very pleased with its sound and comfort) and the 99 classics. Now, I’m considering the New Liric 2 to replace the 99´s. I’m 99% decided on the Liric 2 because of its more ‘portable’ nature (smaller, easier to drive, and better aesthetics—though this is a personal preference, of course), but I think the E3 it´s a nice option too at the same price.

Has anyone used the E3 headphones outdoors? I think the Liric 2 might be too big for outdoor use for some (to me it´s in the limit), so the E3 are a no-go here... or am I wrong?

Thank you in advance!

I wouldn’t wear the E3 outdoors. It’s a stationary home headphone for me. It’s too large to wear walking around to me. Especially if I’m going to be turning my head to and fro.

Now for walking I prefer IEM’s for music or AirPods (for audiobooks) but if I’m walking in a very public area I would only use AirPods or another tws type of IEM’s with ambient noise mode turned on. I need to hear people and things around me. For a private walk the IE900 are my choice.

 

[hanumanbob]

Hi!!!

I’m very interested in a new ‘portable’ closed-back headphone for various cases:

- At home, when I need isolation or don’t want to disturb my family.
- For long, relaxing walks in the city or on the beach area during my holidays in Spain.

Currently, I have the 109pro for home use (and very pleased with its sound and comfort) and the 99 classics. Now, I’m considering the New Liric 2 to replace the 99´s. I’m 99% decided on the Liric 2 because of its more ‘portable’ nature (smaller, easier to drive, and better aesthetics—though this is a personal preference, of course), but I think the E3 it´s a nice option too at the same price.

Has anyone used the E3 headphones outdoors? I think the Liric 2 might be too big for outdoor use for some (to me it´s in the limit), so the E3 are a no-go here... or am I wrong?

Thank you in advance!

You’d be better off getting a high end wireless like Dali IO 12. The idea of walking around with a cable and DAC /amp and phone seems like a lot. I guess a DAP would work better but why?

 

[Dragonmilenario]

I’ve listened to the Dali IO-12, and the sound is at the same level or even worse than the 99 Classics. I really enjoy walking through the residential area, forest, or beach in the evenings and nights with the 99s paired with the iBasso DC04 Pro. However, I think the E3 is more of a stationary closed-back headphone, and using it outdoors may seem nearly impossible, right?

 

[liujun050612]

Hi!!!

I’m very interested in a new ‘portable’ closed-back headphone for various cases:

- At home, when I need isolation or don’t want to disturb my family.
- For long, relaxing walks in the city or on the beach area during my holidays in Spain.

Currently, I have the 109pro for home use (and very pleased with its sound and comfort) and the 99 classics. Now, I’m considering the New Liric 2 to replace the 99´s. I’m 99% decided on the Liric 2 because of its more ‘portable’ nature (smaller, easier to drive, and better aesthetics—though this is a personal preference, of course), but I think the E3 it´s a nice option too at the same price.

Has anyone used the E3 headphones outdoors? I think the Liric 2 might be too big for outdoor use for some (to me it´s in the limit), so the E3 are a no-go here... or am I wrong?

Thank you in advance!

If E3 is a little easier to drive like Audeze LCD5, I will definitely take it on the go. Not on the streets, but on a flight or train.
Not a fan of IEMs on the street. I will take momentum 4 instead.

 

[OneEyedHito]

If E3 is a little easier to drive like Audeze LCD5, I will definitely take it on the go. Not on the streets, but on a flight or train.
Not a fan of IEMs on the street. I will take momentum 4 instead.

It’s not as easy to drive as the LCD-5 in my experience.

 

[ttys0]

While we’re on the topic of amps, can someone suggest a budget-minded option to pair with the E3? Right now I have an ifi zendac v2, and I’ve been looking to buy an xduoo ta-22. I like this combo amp/dac because then I can sell the ifi, but if there is a good option I can use it as my dac. I’m hoping to spend less than $500.

I really like my TA-22, and found it able to drive the E3 without issue. Another option, if you want to keep the Zen DAC, is the xDuoo MT-604. The balanced out from the Zen DAC would have to be used, but it's a lot cheaper than the TA-22. I think the MT-604 is a great hybrid tube amp, especially for its price, and it too is able to easily drive the E3.

 

[chesebert]

While we’re on the topic of amps, can someone suggest a budget-minded option to pair with the E3? Right now I have an ifi zendac v2, and I’ve been looking to buy an xduoo ta-22. I like this combo amp/dac because then I can sell the ifi, but if there is a good option I can use it as my dac. I’m hoping to spend less than $500.

Nitsch Pietus Maximus or Headamp glite mk2 with external PSU

 

[liujun050612]

It’s not as easy to drive as the LCD-5 in my experience.

Yes. LCD 5 is still not easy to drive. But it is easier to drive than E3. Which means you can find a portable DAP for LCD5, but not E3 currently. (except bulky transportable DAPs)

 

[Nomax]

A Review

Nice review...Yes, it just doesn't get any better when it comes to the mid and high frequencies acoustically speaking... and not in years either

NOMAX

PS. but for the low end/bass, i think the answer/that offers more perfection in this area is probably closer to the 2013 Harman curve and not the 2018
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/dan...nts-impressions.970772/page-102#post-18027557

 

[Toddy]

I noticed on the DCA E3 page is a photo showing them paired with an McIntosh MHA200, which is 500mW. Will the MHA200 drive the E3 properly?

It's on the low side for sure. If you don't listen above 95dB it's OK.

Shouldn't a Questyle CMA 18 protable with its quoted ‘>1W’ be at least 'enough'?

I'm still thinking about an around the house (=not in my listening room) solution.

 

[OneEyedHito]

Shouldn't a Questyle CMA 18 protable with its quoted ‘>1W’ be at least 'enough'?

I'm still thinking about an around the house (=not in my listening room) solution.

I have the CMA18. It drives them well yes. Not sure if I prefer the CMA18 or the DC-Elite sound wise since both have to be tethered to a player (my phone).

 

[Hans Yolo]

I’ve had many high end amps including WA33’s and the like here and I’ve listened to the stealth on most of them, I am currently running the E3 with the following to great success to my ears:
Xduoo XD05 Pro
Schiit Midgard
Even the I-Basso DC Elite drives then good.

I find the Midgard the best of the bunch when being fed a signal from the Xduoo using the AKM DAC Card.

Check out @GoldenSound review of the Midgard. It’s a banger for the bucks for sure.

Hot damn that’s a lot of power for $220. Thanks for the suggestion!

Also @GoldenSound, thanks for the review, that was excellent.

I was planning on buying an E3 and selecting the 4.4mm cable termination in case I ever get the absurd urge to run it through my FiiO BTR15. Is there anything wrong with using a 4.4mm to 6.35mm adapter to connect to the Midgard? Or is my idea of using a BTR15 on occasion so pointless that I should abandon trying to accommodate it?

 

[chrismoyer]

Hot damn that’s a lot of power for $220. Thanks for the suggestion!

Also @GoldenSound, thanks for the review, that was excellent.

I was planning on buying an E3 and selecting the 4.4mm cable termination in case I ever get the absurd urge to run it through my FiiO BTR15. Is there anything wrong with using a 4.4mm to 6.35mm adapter to connect to the Midgard? Or is my idea of using a BTR15 on occasion so pointless that I should abandon trying to accommodate it?

With the Midguard specifically I think you’d want the XLR output.