Dan Clark Audio Stealth Review, Interview, Measurements

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Thanks for the tip! Pressing on the cups definitely improves subbass response. Your trick of moving the headband to the back also helped.

I'm a bit nervous about bending the rods, maybe I can think of a less invasive procedure to improve the clamp a little..

Understood.
But don't be afraid to break anything, those nitinol rods are freakin indestructible. Only downside of this 'mod' is that paint came off (about inch or so) from the rod where the kink was made.
I cannot imagine braking it with just fingers.
Maybe I'm not suppose to say this - but what the heck maybe it will help somebody, this tip comes actually from Dan himself during our Stealth conversation.

I don't know any other trick to improve seal other than making kink in the middle.

I'll quote Dans words how to make a kink:

It is in fact possible to bend the part to increase tension by creating a permanent set/kink in the wire just using your thumbs. Memory metal, like all metals, does have a point at which it will permanently deform. If you do this using your thumbs in the center of the wire you can in fact make a small "point" on the top of the wires to increase pressure. If you try and don't like the results the wires can be replaced with a bit of care. Obviously this is not warranty supported but we could sell you a couple of wires to replace if needed or you can return to us for service if you don't like the outcome. We have one employee with a small head who did this with his unit... You would just apply concentrated pressure to the exact center of both wires and try repeatedly increasing pressure until you feel it set.

 

[NOMOS]

Try to put slight pressure with your fingers on the cups - try different force to find the best bass/overall quality ratio to be the best. (When the force is too weak bass is going to be week, but too much force can cause actually too much bass/mid bass and overall sound signature will be muddy)

If bass is vastly improved then you have seal problems.
And from my experience I can say that people with smaller heads have problems with seal. I had to bent/make a kink in the middle of both rods to get proper seal.

Dan should really think about selling additional rods with stronger clamping force for folks with smaller heads. @mrspeakers


ps. also try different position on the head:
Move headband to be on the top of the head - by top I mean this way:

Instead of this way:

Using first position elastic is stretched a bit more hence clamping force is tiny bit stronger.

Do you have a picture like the Stealth now with the curved , kink rods looks at ?

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Do you have a picture like the Stealth now with the curved , kink rods looks at ?

Will try to post it tomorrow, alas it's hard to see/capture on photo.
I used a lot of force to bent it and I mean a lot.
Still the kink is rather small, visually at least.
But it helps big time.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Here are the pictures. As I said it's hard to capture as the kink visually is not that big.





ps. to make even that tiny kink I had to use a lot of force and bent it couple of times until the rod "gave up" a bit. Nitinol is tough.

 

[DarginMahkum]

Oh, well. As Stealth is my main HP, Expanse has been in its case since October and pretty much untouched except once or twice. Still waiting to find a new home in the EU. It is really hard for me to put Stealth down and pick up something else.

 

[ThanatosVI]

Oh, well. As Stealth is my main HP, Expanse has been in its case since October and pretty much untouched except once or twice. Still waiting to find a new home in the EU. It is really hard for me to put Stealth down and pick up something else.

I'm baffled that your Expanse still didn't find a new home. It's such an amazing headphone

 

[plumpudding2]

Oh, well. As Stealth is my main HP, Expanse has been in its case since October and pretty much untouched except once or twice. Still waiting to find a new home in the EU. It is really hard for me to put Stealth down and pick up something else.

I've been eyeing your ad but I'm afraid I won't need both too

 

[ThanatosVI]

I've been eyeing your ad but I'm afraid I won't need both too

Well you might not need the Stealth but you will need the Expanse, and there is only one way to find out wether I'm right

 

[paradoxper]

Well you might not need the Stealth but you will need the Expanse, and there is only one way to find out wether I'm right

Why? CA-1a dunks all over these.

 

[ThanatosVI]

Why? CA-1a dunks all over these.

Those two have completely different sound signatures.
The CA-1A is amazing from what I read though so maybe you're right

 

[Spawn300Z]

Current Cruising portable set up.
Chord Hugo 2/ Cayin C9 / DCA Stealth

 

[bobthebuilder2]

Hey there! I have a stealth and Hugo 2 and I Bluetooth to the Hugo 2 from my iPhone and play tidal but the sound is weak especially in the bass areas. Can you tell me how you did this setup and how you connected everything and what you use to play music through all this and is it a great set up? I want to use it on my plane so it doesn’t have to be super portable but not massive either. Thanks so much for any help! I tried buying a ak KANN max to drive the stealth alone and it sounds horrible. My focal headphone amp that I use to drive my utopias actually makes the stealth sound pretty good but it’s a bit bulky for the plane and I wonder if your set up may actually sound even better.

 

[jlbrach]

Why? CA-1a dunks all over these.

this true for half the price as it happens although I do like both the stealth and expanse...I sold them both but have my CA-1a

 

[OneEyedHito]

this true for half the price as it happens although I do like both the stealth and expanse...I sold them both but have my CA-1a

Huge fan of the CA1A, my Bliss shows up in the next day or so and can't wait to hear these on it.

 

[elira]

Hey there! I have a stealth and Hugo 2 and I Bluetooth to the Hugo 2 from my iPhone and play tidal but the sound is weak especially in the bass areas. Can you tell me how you did this setup and how you connected everything and what you use to play music through all this and is it a great set up? I want to use it on my plane so it doesn’t have to be super portable but not massive either. Thanks so much for any help! I tried buying a ak KANN max to drive the stealth alone and it sounds horrible. My focal headphone amp that I use to drive my utopias actually makes the stealth sound pretty good but it’s a bit bulky for the plane and I wonder if your set up may actually sound even better.

Bluetooth is weak in Hugo 2, I get good sound quality using it wired with one of these http://www.meenova.com/st/p/lgtnmuc.html and Apple Music. If you listen very loud you might need an amplifier, but at low volumes it works great.