I will be interested in waiting to see if the new pads really do hold up and don't do the foam rolling that the old ones always did.
Introducing NOIRE X
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Rat Tomago
100+ Head-Fier
There's a healthy smattering of people trying to sell these already on this site. Is this common? Admittedly, it deters me a little. I was a little torn between buying this and a used Focal Stellia.
Yes... Common. Its a luxury hobby where people make choices over the smallest differences, and many already have several other pairs.
dougq
500+ Head-Fier
People do that in this hobby. They rotate out gear. The stellias are fine sounding headphones but tuning that might be off. Additionally I question their build quality as the headbands have a tendency to break because they are held together by plastic.
Also depending on how you buy stellias their resale value has really tanked in the last year (as has most 2k+ headphones). If you spend even 2.5-3k now on them, expect to sell them for $1.5k now. I don't even know then I have seen a few sitting around at that price so they may be going lower.
The Noire X is kind of safe because it's in the $1k.
I'm not sure I understand the sales of them vs just returning other than a lot of them trying to sell it for more than what they bought it for (if you are a DCA member they are $850 shipped).
These are a very safe headphone to buy as the tuning is generally agreeable and any preferences can be altered by minimal EQ.
MillionAntz
100+ Head-Fier
It’s very common. Buyers remorse is very much a thing in this hobby. Speaking from personal experience
Conan1974
500+ Head-Fier
I did had the Stellia home, comparing with Clear OG.
Sounds good, but for me not as special to be worth the asking price. Just can not justify that.
What I can see now, it's not easy to resell expensive headphones.
I want to do that with mine Auteur Classic, waiting already like since August. So just think good, You might have a problem if they do not sound how You would like them too.
Maybe a DCA Aeon 2 open? Sounded quite good to me.
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Miguel Escobar
New Head-Fier
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How would this headphone compare to a typical open back? And I'm sorry to repeat my past question but looking for different experiences, do you think these acommodate large heads like the 109 pro or hd650 do?
Shagatron
New Head-Fier
They are very uncomfortable on my above-average-but-not-freakishly-big head. A real bummer. The "Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System (AMTS)" does a lot to add space to the sound, but you will notice that bass bloom typical in closed backs that is alleviated by open backs. These headphones could certainly be the right pair for the right person, but I am afraid that might be a pretty small group.
I understand with trying to come out with something for everyone, but it seems lately that each model is splitting hairs and not really doing anything different. I do like the price point though.
Dandelion777
100+ Head-Fier
I think for the price its a very nice hp, but I understand its sound might not be for everyone. Specially if you're looking for any sort of midbass punch, which I feel it lacks. If you're coming from a warmer set it might feel a bit...too clean in that aspect. At least it's the case for me. Slowly getting used to the beautiful texture I get in return. Also, I feel that to get the best out of this hp, even though its low impedance, and it will get manageable volumes with a lot of devices, to truly experience them you need a source, amp, with continous power at lower ohms. I run them off my astell and kern PA10 and it doesnt sound as powerful as when I run it from my ifi neo idsd 2, which I feel is the intended hearing experience.
ThanatosVI
Headphoneus Supremus
Very common, those who already own DCA headphones can get them with 15% discount (Club DCA)
That means they can try and sell afterwards at essentially no cost.
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My review has just gone up of the NOIRE X, I agree with the comments about a slight lack of punch yet, they are still a remarkably good headphone for the money - just be sure to demo them first to make sure their sound is right for your tastes (like any headphone really).
https://www.hifipig.com/dan-clark-audio-noire-headphones/
https://www.hifipig.com/dan-clark-audio-noire-headphones/
Rat Tomago
100+ Head-Fier
Thanks, Oscar, this is a very nice and thorough review. In a world where good writing is dying, I found this to be a detailed and yet compact piece of work, reflecting careful editing and some interesting word choices.
A little more detail on the soundstage earlier in the article would have been nice.
The notion that these headphones punch well above their weight seems like a consistent point among reviewers, and it would have been nice to get some comparisons.
All told, thank you for this review.
Rat Tomago
100+ Head-Fier
Your remarks overall seem quite consistent with @ostewart's review. It sounds like we are getting more detail than visceral impact. Which might be a reasonable trade off.
Dandelion777
100+ Head-Fier
He also highlights the xbass feature on ifi products if youre looking for a bit more of a visceral experience, it still doesnt quite get punchy, but it sorta reaches it. Bass rumbles with a bit more authority, and to me gets a bit more dynamic than the stock sound.
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