SolarCetacean
500+ Head-Fier
The Stealth, and really all of the DCAs, is a headphone that I wish I liked more than I do. The design is very clever and very practical. The build quality is beyond reproach. I can hear that it's very neutral and extremely detailed - on par with estats to my ears, but I don't find it enjoyable. And it gets less enjoyable the longer I listen to it, as the perceived dullness of the sound gets more and more irritating to me. So it's just not for me.Without having heard the Noire, I'd generally concur on this assessment of the Stealth. It's remarkably resolving. That, plus the fact that it's a closed back and folds up, makes it a great HP to take to CanJam to test out amps and DACs, etc. It makes a great travel HP with a decent portable source and amp to drive it, too (though it's even passable with an iFi Go Blu for me). But it's less engaging than my other HPs.
I am still curious to try the E3 though. I've heard that it's more dynamic than the previous generation of DCA headphones, and it measures with more energy in the upper treble than the Stealth, so hopefully it is better in dynamics and air.