[vonspanky]

It’s a really good match. @Huntersknoll
The Diablo steps away from the warmer iFi amp sound found in the Black Label and such.

The Noire tilt toward the warm-ish side of “neutral” and benefits from the cleaner sounding Diablo.

The balanced out provides an improvement over the single ended out as well.
More dynamic at lower volumes and headroom galore.
I found myself going using the Turbo gain when SE so it even helps preserve the battery life when in use since normal mode now outputs the juice.

Also if you pick up the Diablo with the travel case it makes a sweet portable set up.
It’s actually the main reason I bought the Noire.

PS off topic but does anyone else experience crappy/grainy pics under low lighting with iPhone! My 11 takes the grainiest pics unless under direct sunlight

I see that you have a zen dac in your pic. Have you tried the Noire through that? The Noire is on my closed back shortlist. I currently have a zen dax and zen can.

 

[Ficcion2]

I see that you have a zen dac in your pic. Have you tried the Noire through that? The Noire is on my closed back shortlist. I currently have a zen dax and zen can.

Its a Zen Can. It’s a good match for the Noire and the Bass boost makes electronic music fun.
I actually recently sold off my Noire.

I think I’ll be going the IEM route for travel purposes

 

[vonspanky]

Its a Zen Can. It’s a good match for the Noire and the Bass boost makes electronic music fun.
I actually recently sold off my Noire.

I think I’ll be going the IEM route for travel purposes

Thanks. Just got the Noire today. The Zen Can drives them easily. So far so good...

 

[Ficcion2]

Thanks. Just got the Noire today. The Zen Can drives them easily. So far so good...

It drives it without breaking a sweat, right?

I think iFi and DCA products have great synergy together.

I remember feeling disappointed when I first tried my Aeon 2 Open and my amp couldn't really deliver the juice.
The Zen Can is a quick, affordable option to remedy that.

A lot of people who first purchased the Zen DAC seem to question whether the Can makes an audible difference until they try it and its an obvious increase in power and dynamics on the cheap.

 

[vonspanky]

Yep, I have it on only 6db gain and max volume for me is with the dial at 12 o'clock. With 12db its at 9ish.
I'm running it with a Zen Dac as well. Next week a mate is coming over with his RME ADI-2 and a few other high-end cans to try. I'll post my thoughts.

Update: the Noire's are going back. Lots of positives but lacklustre and absent midrange sucks the energy and dynamism out of much of the music I listen to. I was looking for closed-backs I could rock out to without disturbing the wife late at night. These isolate very well but not cans for rocking out to... the search continues.

 

[Ficcion2]

I ultimately had the same issue. I love the build and looks of the Noire.
Easily one of the coolest looking cans around and probably the most comfy of any I've tried.

I tried the Noire after owning the Open back but they both ultimately were sold due to similar reasons.
No dynamics, not the greatest detail retrieval, and overall too polite for my tastes.

Honestly, my Sundara are more dynamic and sound better to my ears especially for jazz/instrumental music.
The Aeons were good for electronic but again too polite and I found my LCD2 closed have much better dynamics and bass texture.

 

[mrspeakers]

Yep, I have it on only 6db gain and max volume for me is with the dial at 12 o'clock. With 12db its at 9ish.
I'm running it with a Zen Dac as well. Next week a mate is coming over with his RME ADI-2 and a few other high-end cans to try. I'll post my thoughts.

Update: the Noire's are going back. Lots of positives but lacklustre and absent midrange sucks the energy and dynamism out of much of the music I listen to. I was looking for closed-backs I could rock out to without disturbing the wife late at night. These isolate very well but not cans for rocking out to... the search continues.

Noire was tuned to be close to the Harman curve. The original Aeon 2 closed has a more present and warmer midrange, the Harman curve reduces midrange energy by 2-3 db from about 200-800Hz in direct comparison.

 

[corgifall]

Finally got a pair of the Noire in for review. Not a bad set so far. The bass sounds more dynamic with standard pads but things sound better tuned overall with the new perforated pads. Low end thump is still somewhat lifeless but I wouldn't say its non existent. Just not the main attraction.

 

[spruce]

The Dekoni pads are a major improvement in comfort as well as longevity. The Dekoni pads hold their shape better unlike the stock pads that start to deform because the foam on the inside is too soft. The foam starts to fold itself. The Dekoni pads that I have tried are the sheepskin ones, they barely change the sound signature. I would stay away from the fenestrated and hybrid variants because they change the sound to much, adds to much treble. I haven't tried to remove the pads though. The adhesive they use is 3M VHB so I would image it is going to require a lot of force to pull them off, which could potentially damage the ear pads.

Not very happy with the stock pads deforming after minimal use and not being covered under warranty! I may try the Dekoni pads too. Thanks.

 

[eric5kim]

How does the Aeon 2 closed compare to the Fostex TH-900?

 

[Blinxat]

IMO thinner low mids are "correct" for closed headphones. Clears up the bass, less congested. Less chance of honky cuppyness.

 

[kkugel]

Anyone switched to Apple Music lossless too? Made my Aeon 2 Opens sound like tenfold the price coming from Tidal

 

[Mightygrey]

Anyone switched to Apple Music lossless too? Made my Aeon 2 Opens sound like tenfold the price coming from Tidal

Yes, but my experience was that they sound identical.

 

[kkugel]

Yes, but my experience was that they sound identical.

Really? To me transients are a lot silkier and the songs sound cleaner. I guess they have better masters

 

[Mightygrey]

Really? To me transients are a lot silkier and the songs sound cleaner. I guess they have better masters

The Redbook (non-MQA) files are from exactly the same masters.