Dan Clark Audio Stealth Review, Interview, Measurements

[DarginMahkum]

Today, I can spend a few hours to compare the Stealth and Ultrasone Edion 15 Veritas .... so I will test various situations

I know that ultra low frequencies can be an issue for most closed headphones .. so I tried to listen Max Richter's track "Cradle to The grave" from Hostiles Album :
-> the Stealth can't manage at all to pass the sub frequencies from 39" to 1'20" at a normal volume level, the bass section is totally distorted and needs to lower the volume by several db's to get the "music" available,
-> the Ultrasone can manage easily to reproduce those frequencies quite "clearly" even at a much higher sound pressure level with even more sub frequencies (which can leather earpads move a bit around the ear).
-> I use the same portable amp (M8 V2) for both headphones, but I apply some Harman Target PEQ to the ultrasone Ed15, and nothing to the Stealth (with one touch, I can switch between no PEQ for the stealth and PEQ + Volume adjustment for the Ultrasone and get same Spl pressure for both headphones (controlled by the graphics from Neutron).

At home I know that the HEDDphone can pass this track like the Ultrasone can do.

Though, this track is a bit extreme, it can maybe point out some real limits of the Stealth in low and ultra low frequencies...

Did you connect the Stealth to the XLR of M8? Other outputs may not be enough for Stealth.

 

[newworld666]

Yes it's connected on the hot side with XLR adapter .. and it already gives too much power for the Stealth, I have to lower the volume by a significant amount to avoid those distortions in ultra low frequencies. The Ultrasone Ed15 produce far more sound pressure with the same amp without distortion.
I will try with the portable Less BX2+ amp this afternoon, and see what happens.

 

[DarginMahkum]

Yes it's connected on the hot side with XLR adapter .. and it already gives too much power for the Stealth, I have to lower the volume by a significant amount to avoid those distortions in ultra low frequencies. The Ultrasone Ed15 produce far more sound pressure with the same amp without distortion.
I will try with the portable Less BX2+ amp this afternoon, and see what happens.

Interesting. I will also try with HA200 and RME.

 

[newworld666]

Interesting. I will also try with HA200 and RME.

Thank you, I am interested to see how your DCA Stealth will do comparing to an another planar like your HE1000se with your amps.
I've never really used for a long time period any Planars, I only use :
-> some Electrostatic headphones (KingSound or Stax) which both suffer from the same issue with Ultra low frequencies,
-> The AMT tech of the HEDDphone has no issue at all,
-> more traditional drivers like Sony Z7M2 (though they are 70mm) and the Ultrasone are quite perfect too.
-> IEM like my Xelento, Z1R and IE900 can pass this difficulty too without any significant issue.

Actually I can't say if such limitation is a big deal or not in a every day use. I have to spend much more time, and see if Harman Target with higher low frequencies can be corrected to a flat response with some PEQ and avoid those distortions.

 

[DarginMahkum]

Thank you, I am interested to see how your DCA Stealth will do comparing to an another planar like your HE1000se with your amps.
I've never really used for a long time any planars, only Electrostatics headphones (KingSound or Stax) which both suffer from the same issue, AMT tech has no issue at all and more traditional drivers like Z7M2 and the Ultrasone are quite perfect too. My IEM like Xelento, Z1R and IE900 can pass this point too.

Deleted to stop spreading false information.

 

[DarginMahkum]

Thank you, I am interested to see how your DCA Stealth will do comparing to an another planar like your HE1000se with your amps.
I've never really used for a long time period any Planars, I only use :
-> some Electrostatic headphones (KingSound or Stax) which both suffer from the same issue with Ultra low frequencies,
-> The AMT tech of the HEDDphone has no issue at all,
-> more traditional drivers like Sony Z7M2 (though they are 70mm) and the Ultrasone are quite perfect too.
-> IEM like my Xelento, Z1R and IE900 can pass this difficulty too without any significant issue.

Actually I can't say if such limitation is a big deal or not in a every day use. I have to spend much more time, and see if Harman Target with higher low frequencies can be corrected to a flat response with some PEQ and avoid those distortions.

I couldn't resist and unpacked Rögnir. Same result.

 

[newworld666]

Ok I just tried the DCA Stealth with a WM1A connected to a LESS BX2+ (2x3W@32ohms) => luckily there is no real issue anymore with such type of amp, maybe not totally clean as the Ultrasone, but difficult to say exactly as results are very close with the WM1A in this range of frequencies ...
So probably, it's the Centrance M8 V2 that can't provide enough juice to move properly a planar headphone, though it should push 2x1.4W at 42 Ohms. The Centrance M8V2 seems able to offer a good sound level to the DCA Stealth, but can't provide enough juice for clean ultra low frequencies when needed.

Tonight I will try with the 2x6W of the Monolith THX887 ..

For sure, it seems the DCA Stealth needs a lot of clean power to provide the best sound as possible in all the frequency range.

Let's hope that the future Fiio M17 (2x3W at 32ohms) or the Centrance Ampersand (2x3W at 32 ohms) will be able to support to be drained by the DCA Stealth. I intend to use mainly the Stealth without any Desktop DAC+Amp.

 

[DarginMahkum]

Ok I just tried the DCA Stealth with a WM1A connected to a LESS BX2+ (2x3W@32ohms) => luckily there is no real issue anymore with such type of amp, maybe not totally clean as the Ultrasone, but difficult to say exactly as results are very near ...
So probably, it's the Centrance M8 V2 that can't provide enough juice to move properly a planar headphone, though it should push 2x1.4W at 42 Ohms. The Centrance M8V2 seems able to offer a good sound level to the DCA Stealth, but can't provide enough juice for clean ultra low frequencies when needed.

Tonight I will try with the 2x6W of the Monolith THX887 ..

For sure, it seems the DCA Stealth needs a lot of clean power to provide the best sound as possible in all the frequency range.

Let's hope that the future Fiio M17 (2x3W at 32ohms) or the Centrance Ampersand (2x3W at 32 ohms) will be able to support to be drained by the DCA Stealth. I intend to use mainly the Stealth without any Desktop DAC+Amp.

That is good to know. I don't have a reference for the "clean", but with all 3 I have some rough shaking that makes you slightly lose the bass texture. I thought that was what you were referring to, but it is good that it was something else. I think it is mainly the physical shaking of the cups, in all 3.

I sold my both DAPs now and placing also all my bets on M17, too. I don't expect really any surprises, though.

 

[newworld666]

It was much more than just slightly lose the bass texture.. it was often really distorted in all ultra bass sections.

Do you think M17 too won't manage to move the DCA Stealth properly ?

 

[DarginMahkum]

It was much more than just slightly lose the bass texture.. it was often really distorted in all ultra bass sections.

Do you think M17 too won't manage to move the DCA Stealth properly ?

I think it will be as good as it can get. With MAX I didn't notice any issues, so M17 should also be OK. The 3W is probably only available with the supplied power supply, not with the battery. Unfortunately my DX300MAX is on the way to the new owner, otherwise I would also check with it.

 

[newworld666]

This afternoon, I spend most of my time now with the WM1A + BX2+ + DCA Stealth combo at my office, and I really like what I get through the ears. No mind to switch to my Electrostatics headphones (Kingsound and Stax) or Ultrasone to make some A/B comparison.
I am a bit amazed how much power the Stealth needs to be moved properly .... It's really nearer the HEDDphone than any of my dynamic closed headphones. I have read in the Centrance M8V2 thread that the DCA Aeon 2 Noire with 13 Ohms needed much more power than any of their expectations for their future Ampersand (so they had to make some mods to their project), but maybe the Stealth is not really far too, though it's a 23 Ohms (but sensitivity is only 86dB/mw).

Though this combo is really bulky and not really comfortable to use, I will probably bring it tomorrow for some 2 x 2 hours of TGV trip. I really hope this headphone will isolate me enough from the ambient train noise and enjoy my time sitting in the train.

 

[DarginMahkum]

This afternoon, I spend most of my time now with the WM1A + BX2+ + DCA Stealth combo at my office, and I really like what I get through the ears. No mind to switch to my Electrostatics headphones (Kingsound and Stax) or Ultrasone to make some A/B comparison.
I am a bit amazed how much power the Stealth needs to be moved properly .... It's really nearer the HEDDphone than any of my dynamic closed headphones. I have read in the Centrance M8V2 thread that the DCA Aeon 2 Noire with 13 Ohms needed much more power than any of their expectations for their future Ampersand (so they had to make some mods to their project), but maybe the Stealth is not really far too, though it's a 23 Ohms (but sensitivity is only 86dB/mw).

Though this combo is really bulky and not really comfortable to use, I will probably bring it tomorrow for some 2 x 2 hours of TGV trip. I really hope this headphone will isolate me enough from the ambient train noise and enjoy my time sitting in the train.

It is just below HEDDphone:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...alth-review-state-of-the-art-headphone.25920/

 

[newworld666]

It is just below HEDDphone:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...alth-review-state-of-the-art-headphone.25920/

Ok that's clear now ... ... very few will be able to enjoy the DCA Stealth, without using at least a 2x3W@32ohms amp. Now I understand a bit more why some can complain about apparent lack of dynamic in low frequencies.

 

[DarginMahkum]

Final stage of migration to DCA Stealth: Cable migration...

 

[Frankie D]

My day starts today at 6 am with the Stealth an this track


......she was here again



NOMAX

Great track!