Introducing NOIRE X

[CJ200]

My Noire X arrived today. Honestly, I'm a bit torn. The fit is wonderful, I listened for 4-5 hours while working today, and hardly noticed the headphones. The build quality is excellent too. On the low gain setting, I'm at the halfway point of the volume dial on the k9akm. I was expecting them to be harder to drive.

I'm not 100% sure about the sound yet. May be because they aren't burned in yet, my ears don't cooperate with the ATMS, or the k9akm isn't an ideal fit, or all three factors combined, I feel myself longing for more punch, sparkle, and more forward vocals. Don't get me wrong, the separation between the various instruments and vocals is superb, and they don't sound warm to me, but I'd imagined them to sound a bit more "aggressive" in the upper-mids and treble. I will check how they sound with the DC07Pro tomorrow.

 

[Waddiewadkins]

My Noire X arrived today. Honestly, I'm a bit torn. The fit is wonderful, I listened for 4-5 hours while working today, and hardly noticed the headphones. The build quality is excellent too. On the low gain setting, I'm at the halfway point of the volume dial on the k9akm. I was expecting them to be harder to drive.

I'm not 100% sure about the sound yet. May be because they aren't burned in yet, my ears don't cooperate with the ATMS, or the k9akm isn't an ideal fit, or all three factors combined, I feel myself longing for more punch, sparkle, and more forward vocals. Don't get me wrong, the separation between the various instruments and vocals is superb, and they don't sound warm to me, but I'd imagined them to sound a bit more "aggressive" in the upper-mids and treble. I will check how they sound with the DC07Pro tomorrow.

A month or two ago someone mentioned the 07...ibasso right?.. give it a search,they liked it..I did an interject ladder style slingshot buy of the dc elite for NX perhaps in 8 months. (slingshot maneuver being instead of buying upgrade for ie600 iems the DCE upgraded them enough for next savings duration)

 

[CJ200]

A month or two ago someone mentioned the 07...ibasso right?.. give it a search,they liked it..I did an interject ladder style slingshot buy of the dc elite for NX perhaps in 8 months. (slingshot maneuver being instead of buying upgrade for ie600 iems the DCE upgraded them enough for next savings duration)

Thanks and yes, I saw that comment. I'll try and see (or rather hear) whether the ibasso dongle dacs are a better fit for the NX than the akm.

 

[Matez]

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

Thanks a lot and enjoy

 

[Skev]

My Noire X arrived today. Honestly, I'm a bit torn. The fit is wonderful, I listened for 4-5 hours while working today, and hardly noticed the headphones. The build quality is excellent too. On the low gain setting, I'm at the halfway point of the volume dial on the k9akm. I was expecting them to be harder to drive.

I'm not 100% sure about the sound yet. May be because they aren't burned in yet, my ears don't cooperate with the ATMS, or the k9akm isn't an ideal fit, or all three factors combined, I feel myself longing for more punch, sparkle, and more forward vocals. Don't get me wrong, the separation between the various instruments and vocals is superb, and they don't sound warm to me, but I'd imagined them to sound a bit more "aggressive" in the upper-mids and treble. I will check how they sound with the DC07Pro tomorrow.

The Noire X for me are not “wow” headphones. They don’t appear to do anything particularly (not going to say well) showy, they just get in with it. Once you settle into them they’re fantastic, solid, trustworthy headphones. I can’t fault them even if I am sometimes trying to find that “what are they missing” … then I end up realising they’re not missing anything, it’s like just sitting with good familiar company.

 

[Ilomaenkimi]

The Noire X for me are not “wow” headphones. They don’t appear to do anything particularly (not going to say well) showy, they just get in with it. Once you settle into them they’re fantastic, solid, trustworthy headphones. I can’t fault them even if I am sometimes trying to find that “what are they missing” … then I end up realising they’re not missing anything, it’s like just sitting with good familiar company.

Very well said.
I have listened Noire X about 40 days now, every day 1-4hours.
Noire X is just perfect for me.

I'm thinking to sell my other headphones, i don't use or need them anymore.
I have found my cup of tea.

 

[panzerfan]

Very well said.
I have listened Noire X about 40 days now, every day 1-4hours.
Noire X is just perfect for me.

I'm thinking to sell my other headphones, i don't use or need them anymore.
I have found my cup of tea.

it's funny how that NX floored me completely, and I am a 100% digital chain person who use Fiio K19 without any filter and BTR17 for these things. I listen to these without EQ. I didn't enjoy the AutoEQ to Harman 2024 on the NX as much, whereas I must use Oratory1990 for HD800S, HD700, and HD650.

Now I just need to get a hold of E3 and really A/B the two.

 

[Tomas Webber]

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

Thanks Dan for the work you've done on the headphones. I've been using your products since the Aeon Flow, but the problems with the ear pads, which I couldn't buy in my country, led me to the Ethers. I started with the classic, then the C, now the Flow 1.1. Will you have an update for the Ethers with a closed back? Thanks

 

[Ilomaenkimi]

it's funny how that NX floored me completely, and I am a 100% digital chain person who use Fiio K19 without any filter and BTR17 for these things. I listen to these without EQ. I didn't enjoy the AutoEQ to Harman 2024 on the NX as much, whereas I must use Oratory1990 for HD800S, HD700, and HD650.

Now I just need to get a hold of E3 and really A/B the two.

I haven't even tested eq with Noire X, no need of any kind.
Though i don't have eq in my current set up.
When i had PEQ i didn't like the outcome with any headphone. Eq does something bad to the sound.

 

[CJ200]

Brief update: I tried to DC07Pro with my NX today for a few hours, and it sounded much better to my ears than the k9akm. Even with the ibasso, nobody is going to mistake them for bright Audio-Technica headphones or something like a tia trio, but comparing the k9akm and DC07Pro, the latter seemed to bring out a more dynamic and energetic NX, which retained the detailed rendition I have heard since I first got it. This is much more to my liking and these headphones are definitely keepers. I need to get the ibasso split cable, though, as the DC07Pro (volume: 45-50) and the NX drain my smartphone's battery in no time.

I also might have to check out the DC Elite to see how that sounds with the NX.

 

[MattTCG]

While this isn't a "difficult" headphone to drive to full volume, I feel it's a mistake to overlook the amp that you plan to use. I was originally using a Questyle Twelve desktop dac/amp. At the time I was pleased with the results and felt that I was hearing the NX at it's best. The Questyle is a current mode amp and typically pairs well with planars.

Then a few weeks ago, I did some gear swapping and now have the NX on a Headamp gsx-mini and Gungnir. The improvement was..."significant." In fact, there is no way that I'd want to go back to the original setup. Better dynamics and punch. More subtlety, nuance and detail.

 

[CJ200]

While this isn't a "difficult" headphone to drive to full volume, I feel it's a mistake to overlook the amp that you plan to use. I was originally using a Questyle Twelve desktop dac/amp. At the time I was pleased with the results and felt that I was hearing the NX at it's best. The Questyle is a current mode amp and typically pairs well with planars.

Then a few weeks ago, I did some gear swapping and now have the NX on a Headamp gsx-mini and Gungnir. The improvement was..."significant." In fact, there is no way that I'd want to go back to the original setup. Better dynamics and punch. More subtlety, nuance and detail.

Thanks for chimming in, @MattTCG.
I don't doubt that. The k9akm just didn't work for me. It demonstrated to me yet again that I'm no fan of warm sound signatures, be it in DACs, headphones or iems. It's a pity that Schiit DACs and amps (with their excellent cost-performance ratio) are not available over here. Due to the exchange rate, "serious" stuff like Vioelectrics or an Erco Gen 2 is really expensive. The cheapest decent headphone amp by a domestic maker is the Teac UD505x (the 507 costs twice as much). Any recommendations? Something like a Zen Signature set may be?

 

[OskTheHeadphoneMan]

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.

Thanks for answering bro!

 

[JerseyD]

Thanks Dan for the work you've done on the headphones. I've been using your products since the Aeon Flow, but the problems with the ear pads, which I couldn't buy in my country, led me to the Ethers. I started with the classic, then the C, now the Flow 1.1. Will you have an update for the Ethers with a closed back? Thanks

I have been under the impression that the E3 is the evolution of the Ether closed-back, but because its form factor is so different, the name was abbreviated from Ether to E.

 

[Lohb]

I have been under the impression that the E3 is the evolution of the Ether closed-back, but because its form factor is so different, the name was abbreviated from Ether to E.

It may well be, but there could be a refresh on Ether C with the new driver tech..its a great looking can in its own right.
I've only owned CX myself..and Ether 2 also which could take the new driver tech in the same form factor for a reboot on those lines.