Introducing NOIRE X

[mowgli-kun]

Hello all. I’m taking the plunge and trying decide on cable(s).

I want one long XLR for desktop setup and one shorter 4.4mm for portable.

What are folks’ impressions of dummer vs Vivo? Does vivo buy me much better dynamics? Other?

Are there also quality after market cables for DCA HPs?

I'm personally in love with Hart Audio's interconnect system. One cable that stays attached to your headphones, and multiple interconnects that you can swap out to suit different connections (XLR and 4.4mm in your case).

 

[MisterButthead]

I'm personally in love with Hart Audio's interconnect system. One cable that stays attached to your headphones, and multiple interconnects that you can swap out to suit different connections (XLR and 4.4mm in your case).

I too use Hart audio cables on all my headphones including the X. I highly recommend them.

 

[brokenhat]

I've also had good experiences with Hart.

 

[JerseyD]

I can vouch for the quality of both Forza Audioworks and Arctic Cables (and they both have the DCA connector option). Excellent cables.

 

[Daniel4IEM]

Wow, thank you all for these great suggestions! So many choices. I have some research to do!

GU Craftsman, 46 Audio, and APOS Audio have Dan Clark Audio Replacement Cables.

I have a GU Craftsmen 6N single crystal silver 4.4mm cable for DCA. It’s a Litz Braid with 8 cores. It’s a nice looking cable that isn’t microphonic. Hardware is nice and solid. It’s $188 on Amazon. It’s around 1 m long and very lightweight vs the VIVO 3 m. The cable hangs nicely and doesn’t have memory (no tangles). It’s a great portable option.

I’ve also got the 3 m VIVO XLR cable. The VIVO has a sleeve over the cable. Sonically, the two cables are similar.

Another option is to get a 4.4 mm to female XLR 4 pin adapter to add to the VIVO. I got mine for $39.99 at Amazon from GU Craftsman. It’s better for desk setup as there is a bit of weight 3” from the amp connection (so best supported).

You could also just get a New Fantasia 4.4mm female to 4 Pin male XLR adapter. Zeos Pantera has one that shows up in a bunch of his videos. This would be the route for a mobile setup with one main cable. I use one for my Sennheiser HD660S2 into my desktop Amp.

I'm personally in love with Hart Audio's interconnect system. One cable that stays attached to your headphones, and multiple interconnects that you can swap out to suit different connections (XLR and 4.4mm in your case).

I can vouch for the quality of both Forza Audioworks and Arctic Cables (and they both have the DCA connector option). Excellent cables.

On a separate note, has anyone tried reducing clamp force? I'm pretty sensitive (even a little triggers TMJ for me) so just looking for tips without damaging the HP (or voiding warranty)

 

[mrspeakers]

Wow, thank you all for these great suggestions! So many choices. I have some research to do!

On a separate note, has anyone tried reducing clamp force? I'm pretty sensitive (even a little triggers TMJ for me) so just looking for tips without damaging the HP (or voiding warranty)

Easy, just contact info@danclarkaudio.com, we can provide guidance to increase or decrease clamp.

 

[Skev]

Removing the screws is easy, just need a precision screwdriver. Just removed mine and it’s much better for me. The screw just prevents the cups from angling back as much; removing the screws puts less force on my jaw from the bottom of the pads. Now they sit just right

 

[Lohb]

Anyone using ifi Pro iCAN with Noire X ? Synergy ?

I'm on the hunt for a tube hybrid with headroom..picked up Gremlin hybrid but it maxes out full volume with Noire X but it gives me a glimpe of it with tubes in the mix anyway....very nice. Only closed planars I'm curious to compare it with now is SJY's new Horizon CB planar...but again, that company - all their cans are like HE-6 to drive where the sensitivity lies, which is just nuts.

Is the stock cable pure copper or SPC ? Thanks.

 

[OskTheHeadphoneMan]

Hello family of head-fi! How are you?

Can anyone who owns both models, the E3 and the Noire, make a comparison?

And if had to choose just one, which one would it be?

Thanks in advance

Osk

 

[Zibi]

Hello family of head-fi! How are you?

Can anyone who owns both models, the E3 and the Noire, make a comparison?

And if had to choose just one, which one would it be?

Thanks in advance

Osk

I have own Noire for over 2 years now and have auditioned E3 recently. Based on my impressions and stellar reviews for E3 it offers better overall sound quality, especially the soundstage. I would definitely go with E3. Remember that you also have Noire X model available now at the ~1k Euro/USD price range. I have not had a chance to try them yet but supposedly they are fantastic value.

 

[Lohb]

Hello family of head-fi! How are you?

Can anyone who owns both models, the E3 and the Noire, make a comparison?

And if had to choose just one, which one would it be?

Thanks in advance

Osk

If you are looking for absolute imaging/detail extraction, then E3 as long as you can power it, it is stepped up on most aspects compared to Noire X...for me E3 was too much the mastering tool/scalpel so I could not immerse in the music but rather got stuck mentally evaluating all music from a technical perspective...I find e3 warmer, maybe tad more elevated in the bass and Noire X has resolved the issues with Aeon series IMO - macrodynamic heft aka bass kick, better centre image and no earpads collapse plus the arms look like they are treated with a more durable black coating so I don't expect that to chip off like Aeon2.

There could be a space between Noire X and E3 for another closed-back planar I believe...something polarising..."Cherry X" LoL.

 

[Turnaround]

Can anyone who owns both models, the E3 and the Noire, make a comparison?

And if had to choose just one, which one would it be?

I agree with the above comments that the E3 is the better and more spacious sounding headphone. But the E3 is harder to power than the Noire X. Look at the E3 thread, and you'll see discussion and disagreement over whether people think certain portable devices sufficiently power it. If you plan to use your headphones with portables, you may be better off choosing the Noire X.

 

[jarnopp]

Hello family of head-fi! How are you?

Can anyone who owns both models, the E3 and the Noire, make a comparison?

And if had to choose just one, which one would it be?

Thanks in advance

Osk

Having lived with the E3 as my primary headphone for over a year, I recently bought the NoireX and it is very good, but not as smooth as the E3, which does take slightly more power (like 4dB on Mojo2), which is fine for driving either). You should listen to both, since X can present as more dynamic and could be a better fit for you. But IMHO, E3 is better and more suited to all genres.

 

[brokenhat]

Diminishing returns as always in hifi. Twice the price and maybe 5-10% better and harder to drive, and heavier......

 

[jarnopp]

Diminishing returns as always in hifi. Twice the price and maybe 5-10% better and harder to drive, and heavier......

I agree to an extent…but having lived with it and heard the difference, when it’s better in pretty much every respect (though a bit harder to drive), I’ll take it for end game closed back. I lived with A2C then Noire for several years, so E3 should stand the test of time. In fact, each day I appreciate the detail and dynamics more. But, I totally get the price difference and value part of the equation, and 30 years ago, Noire X would likely have carried the day, at extreme extravagance.