Dan Clark Audio Stealth Review, Interview, Measurements

[DarginMahkum]

Third, I'd love to use Qobuz, but when I last tried that, the catalog was way too tiny, the app too buggy and the cross device integration was mostly absent.

I am a Qobuz user more than 5 years now and I am also aware that they had really horrible bugs at least for Android (Tidal was not really much better). Recently together with another HeadFi'er we managed to make direct contacts with the development team and supported them with the Android application by directly reporting bugs and preliminary testing. They also bought several different DAPs we suggested to try the applications on, before releasing. So things improved greatly - for both performance and issues.

To Qobuz users, I am still in touch with them and if you encounter any serious issues and/or have suggestions, please let me know. I, of course, cannot influence their library but can directly forward your issues. Especially for Android.

 

[newworld666]

PM done

 

[Alcophone]

To Qobuz users, I am still in touch with them and if you encounter any serious issues and/or have suggestions, please let me know. I, of course, cannot influence their library but can directly forward your issues. Especially for Android.

For Qobuz => I am really missing some access to major DLNA renderer on Daps (like Bubbleupnp, UAPP or Neutron) from their android app or Windows 10 app.. As those apps are the only one to be able to get offline music/playlists (UAPP doesn't do any offline for Qobuz).
It would be a very serious improvement for Qobuz to handle dlna renderer, as now I prefer to use amazon HD with a limited EQ included which is better than nothing.

I appreciate you reaching out here, @Dargin.
@newworld666 and everybody else, let's not do that in this thread, though. I suppose it was still somewhat on topic when it was about whether the Stealth even makes sense with lossy compression, but Qobuz specific issues should be discussed elsewhere.

Thank you!

 

[DarginMahkum]

I appreciate you reaching out here, @Dargin.
@newworld666 and everybody else, let's not do that in this thread, though. I suppose it was still somewhat on topic when it was about whether the Stealth even makes sense with lossy compression, but Qobuz specific issues should be discussed elsewhere.

Thank you!

Yep, best way is dropping me a PM.

Looks like my Stealth is out for delivery. I am considering playing Last of Us 2 again with Stealth, this weekend.

 

[ThanatosVI]

At the end of the day it's about enjoying music. I'd rather discover lots of great songs with 320 kbit/s compression than listen to the few FLACs I bought on HD Tracks or ripped from my CDs over and over again. It's not like good headphones make no difference with 320 kbit/s, far from it.

Spotify Hifi is coming. The second I can use it, I will, even if it doubles my subscription fee. It nags me every day that it's lossy compression when I can stream 4K HDR movies in real time. Most of what I listen to is likely not available in better than CD quality anyway. Though I have already been surprised, but a noisy recording is noisy in lossless 24/96, too. Looking at you, Ruth B.

I can get lost in the music with Spotify. With everything else, the hassle of it is a distraction.

The moment Spotify Hifi is available I will return to it.

Back then when I cancelled the subscription, I gave them lack of CD quality as reason.

The overall Spotify experience Was just much more enjoyable than Tidal imo

 

[rangerid]

Try this to see if you can tell the difference between Lossless and Lossy:
http://abx.digitalfeed.net/

I still can't tell the difference on my setup, maybe I am not sure what to listen for.

90% of my music is still lossless flacs but I also got some <320kbps rips off youtube before I got into hifi.

 

[Nostoi]

Well, I had a chance to spend about 1/2 hour this afternoon comparing the Stealth with the Rognir and the ZMF VC thanks to excellent Kopfhörerboutique. All three headphones were being driven by a TT2/MScaler and a KHV-ESD.

Some brief impressions: the build on the Stealth is good. Cups feel good, pads comfortable, very good seal, headband no issue. The aesthetics isn't my cup of tea, but that's a question of subjective taste. Each to their own.

The reproduction of music for me feels linear/flat, quite natural, with no glaring peaks or problematic sections of the FR. Detail retrieval and imaging are very good. I can see the appeal for those looking for a natural headphone that isn't fatiguing but which is nevertheless very resolving.

However:

In short, as soon as I A/B'd the Stealth against my Rognir, I knew instantly that I'd be keeping the Rognir.

For me, the Stealth is a very good headphone, but against the Rognir I found it lacking in several respects. First, I didn't discern any technical aspects that topped the Rognir (if anything imaging, detail, and separation felt more precise and faster on the Rognir); second, the Stealth felt to me more congested and more closed, whereas I find the Rognir has a much airier presentation with better soundstage; finally, and above, all the Stealth was not engaging to me (and I think in terms of bass impact, the Rognir has a more visceral but controlled response). I actually found the Stealth a bit dry to be quite honest.

I've demoed a few DCA headphones before, and it seems the Stealth retains some of the feel of the earlier models. That will appeal to fans, but for those looking for a different take, I'm not sure they'll find it.

///

I also threw in the ZMF VC in the mix for good measure. It's not really a fair comparison because the tuning is so different, but it easily held its own in terms of musicality and sheer engagement.

(As an aside: I also tried the Final Audio D8000 Pro and Susvara and was very impressed by both).

Proof of existence:







As I say, these are initial impressions. I was prepared in a way for the Stealth to top the Rognir, but didn't find this to be the case. I will be very curious to hear what @DarginMahkum reports, as mine is only one opinion among others.

 

[DarginMahkum]

This is a very good HP. I have never heard instruments so clear, so tonally correct, so balanced, so individual but yet so together. It might be strange for some because it is dry, without any reverberations, but also not airy if that is what you like. Rögnir has more energy up there. There you lose some depth. It is not as easy to drive as Rögnir. I need 7-8 dB more. Rögnir mids are thinner sounding. That works for some albums better than others, for some not. Seal is better than Rögnir.

This has been one of my favorite albums for auditioning, and first time I am hearing guitars and piano so clearly, individually and so tonally correct.

 

[tdx]

Thanks for the impressions, very useful! How did the Rognir compare to the Susvara?

 

[Nostoi]

This is a very good HP. I have never heard instruments so clear, so tonally correct, so balanced, so individual but yet so together. It might be strange for some because it is dry, without any reverberations, but also not airy if that is what you like. Rögnir has more energy up there. There you lose some depth. It is not as easy to drive as Rögnir. I need 7-8 dB more. Rögnir mids are thinner sounding. But that works for some albums better than others. Seal is better than Rögnir.

This has been one of my favorite albums for auditioning, and first time I am hearing guitars and piano so clearly, individually and so tonally correct.

I agree with all that. The seal is very good on the Stealth - better than Rognir, for sure - and indeed much harder to drive than Rognir. You would need a seriously beefy DAP/portable amp to run these in trans-portable mode.

"Tonally correct" is also a good formulation. I think that's why I didn't gel with them - the energy of the of the Rognir speaks to me more (I'd also agree mids are more present on Stealth though I found lower mids more present on Rognir).

Anyway, glad you're clicking with them!

 

[xirxes]

Need more Rognir vs Stealth!

is VC softer all around than Stealth?

 

[Nostoi]

Thanks for the impressions, very useful! How did the Rognir compare to the Susvara?

This was my first time hearing the Susvara and it revealed in no uncertain terms the limits of a closed-back headphone. I was never a fan of HifiMan, but have to give them credit - they sounded superb and were also very comfortable. I didn't feel as though I was going back into a box with the Rognir after some time with the Susvara - though I'd say the tuning of the Rognir was closed to the Final D8000 Pro.

 

[ThanatosVI]

This is a very good HP. I have never heard instruments so clear, so tonally correct, so balanced, so individual but yet so together. It might be strange for some because it is dry, without any reverberations, but also not airy if that is what you like. Rögnir has more energy up there. There you lose some depth. It is not as easy to drive as Rögnir. I need 7-8 dB more. Rögnir mids are thinner sounding. But that works for some albums better than others. Seal is better than Rögnir.

This has been one of my favorite albums for auditioning, and first time I am hearing guitars and piano so clearly, individually and so tonally correct.

Sounds like I'd prefer the stealth from your impressions.

Keep it coming after more listening time

 

[Mkoll]

Well, I had a chance to spend about 1/2 hour this afternoon comparing the Stealth with the Rognir and the ZMF VC thanks to excellent Kopfhörerboutique. All three headphones were being driven by a TT2/MScaler and a KHV-ESD.

Some brief impressions: the build on the Stealth is good. Cups feel good, pads comfortable, headband no issue. The aesthetics isn't my cup of tea, but that's a question of subjective taste. Each to their own.

The reproduction of music for me feels linear, quite natural, with no glaring peaks or problematic sections of the FR. Detail retrieval and imaging are very good. I can see the appeal for those looking for a natural headphone that isn't fatiguing but which is nevertheless very resolving.

However:

In short, as soon as I A/B'd the Stealth against my Rognir, I knew instantly that I'd be keeping the Rognir.

For me, the Stealth is a very good headphone, but against the Rognir I found it lacking in several respects. First, I didn't discern any technical aspects that topped the Rognir (if anything imaging, detail, and separation felt more precise and faster on the Rognir); second, the Stealth felt to me more congested and more closed, whereas I find the Rognir has a much airier presentation with better soundstage; finally, and above, all the Stealth was not engaging to me (and I think in terms of bass impact, the Rognir has a more visceral but controlled response). I actually found the Stealth a bit dry to be quite honest.

I've demoed a few DCA headphones before, and it seems the Stealth retains some of the feel of the earlier models. That will appeal to fans, but for those looking for a different take, I'm not sure they'll find it.

///

I also threw in the ZMF VC in the mix for good measure. It's not really a fair comparison because the tuning is so different, but it easily held its own in terms of musicality and sheer engagement.

(As an aside: I also tried the Final Audio D8000 Pro and Susvara and was very impressed by both).

Proof of existence:







As I say, these are initial impressions. I was prepared in a way for the Stealth to top the Rognir, but didn't find this to be the case. I will be very curious to hear what @DarginMahkum reports, as mine is only one opinion among others.

I see a Stellia in those pics. Did you get to listen to it and compare with the Stealth, VC, and Rognir?

 

[Nostoi]

Need more Rognir vs Stealth!

is VC softer all around than Stealth?

That's a good question, though depends on what you mean by soft. I'd say the VC felt to me to have a more sheer impact than the Stealth. Listening to Thriller, the lower end grooves and hits with more visceral force. This is precisely why I keep the VC. The Stealth I would say is very flat. It's not exactly "fun," which again will have an appeal to many people.