The Watercooler Headphone Edition – TOUR THREAD (see second post for active tours)

[thaslaya]

The Noire X has been received and excellent condition confirmed!

Thought about siging up for this one but I saw some say its a bit bright and bass light. Let me know your impressions!

 

[Frankie D]

The Noire X has been received and excellent condition confirmed!

What is your initial impression?

 

[DenverW]

What is your initial impression?

They're growing on me. My initial impression was, as @thaslaya mentioned, they were bass light. However I'm revising that opinion with some more time. I'll say they're excellent for classical music. They have a pleasant reverb that really works with string instruments. More to come . I'll add that I don't find them hot; the treble is fine.

 

[Aetherhole]

I shared my thoughts previously, but I think they are a bit bass light, especially compared to many other headphones, but I honestly didn’t mind after my mind adjusted to them. I could listen to all genres without issue on them and quite enjoyed them. Still heavily, heavily considering a pair for myself!!

 

[atomLI631]

question about the Noire X. Are the connectors a bit wiggly?

Received my pair yesterday (listening to them rn) and they are my first DCA cans. When I plugged the cable in, I thought the jack was loose on the L side. but then I plugged in the right and it was the same.

As for their sound... I briefly listened to them at Canjam and was able to A/B them against the E3. I actually preferred them over the E3. The E3 was very neutral and flat. Sounded good by a bit dull IMO. The Noire X sounded more dynamic and fun. As for the Noire X, they might be a bit light in sub bass, but the bass is tight. I find the mid bass decent. Kick drums sound tight and pronounced. Treble I find pretty smooth. They arent sibilant at all. Very nice detail and vocals sound a bit forward. The most surprising thing is how good the soundstage is for a closed back. They are also super light and comfortable to wear (although if you have big dumbo ears, you might have a problem as the pad opening is on the small side).

Things I dont like aside from the wiggly connectors are how they are a fingerprint magnets. I severely dislike glued pads (its 2025, cmon!!). And I got these specifically because they fold and can be a great portable set..but the case they come in is so small and tight you cant even fit a cable in there. Kinda defeats the purpose IMO.

A pleasant suprise is that my qudelix 5k in the balanced connection seems to work ok.

 

[DenverW]

question about the Noire X. Are the connectors a bit wiggly?

Received my pair yesterday (listening to them rn) and they are my first DCA cans. When I plugged the cable in, I thought the jack was loose on the L side. but then I plugged in the right and it was the same.

As for their sound... I briefly listened to them at Canjam and was able to A/B them against the E3. I actually preferred them over the E3. The E3 was very neutral and flat. Sounded good by a bit dull IMO. The Noire X sounded more dynamic and fun. As for the Noire X, they might be a bit light in sub bass, but the bass is tight. I find the mid bass decent. Kick drums sound tight and pronounced. Treble I find pretty smooth. They arent sibilant at all. Very nice detail and vocals sound a bit forward. The most surprising thing is how good the soundstage is for a closed back. They are also super light and comfortable to wear (although if you have big dumbo ears, you might have a problem as the pad opening is on the small side).

Things I dont like aside from the wiggly connectors are how they are a fingerprint magnets. I severely dislike glued pads (its 2025, cmon!!). And I got these specifically because they fold and can be a great portable set..but the case they come in is so small and tight you cant even fit a cable in there. Kinda defeats the purpose IMO.

A pleasant suprise is that my qudelix 5k in the balanced connection seems to work ok.

With the stock xlr cable they’re not wiggly.

Edit: after seeing a video there is some movement, I had misunderstood the question.

 

[goldwerger]

question about the Noire X. Are the connectors a bit wiggly?

Received my pair yesterday (listening to them rn) and they are my first DCA cans. When I plugged the cable in, I thought the jack was loose on the L side. but then I plugged in the right and it was the same.

As for their sound... I briefly listened to them at Canjam and was able to A/B them against the E3. I actually preferred them over the E3. The E3 was very neutral and flat. Sounded good by a bit dull IMO. The Noire X sounded more dynamic and fun. As for the Noire X, they might be a bit light in sub bass, but the bass is tight. I find the mid bass decent. Kick drums sound tight and pronounced. Treble I find pretty smooth. They arent sibilant at all. Very nice detail and vocals sound a bit forward. The most surprising thing is how good the soundstage is for a closed back. They are also super light and comfortable to wear (although if you have big dumbo ears, you might have a problem as the pad opening is on the small side).

Things I dont like aside from the wiggly connectors are how they are a fingerprint magnets. I severely dislike glued pads (its 2025, cmon!!). And I got these specifically because they fold and can be a great portable set..but the case they come in is so small and tight you cant even fit a cable in there. Kinda defeats the purpose IMO.

A pleasant suprise is that my qudelix 5k in the balanced connection seems to work ok.

You’re not on the Noir X tour, so this are your own pair?

As far as the tour unit, I found the connection to be very secure (hope it has remained so for others). It’s proprietary and needs to be twisted into place, once it is, it seemed very tight.

Btw, pls do share your sonic impressions also in the main Watercooler headphone thread, as may benefit others

 

[JerseyD]

You’re not on the Noir X tour, so this are your own pair?

As far as the tour unit, I found the connection to be very secure (hope it has remained so for others). It’s proprietary and needs to be twisted into place, once it is, it seemed very tight.

Btw, pls do share your sonic impressions also in the main Watercooler headphone thread, as may benefit others

The HiRose connectors DCA uses are unusual in that you turn the barrels to connect them, but they don’t tighten like a jar lid. They are designed to be sort of loose. It’s a push-and-turn mechanism, not like a screw thread. Hard to describe!

 

[goldwerger]

Meze POET ships out!​

(PM messages sent to those next in line)

Thanks to @Andrew DiMarcangelo for making these headphones available to the community to demo!

The package includes:

1. Headphones
2. Cable - 2.5 m braided Furukawa PCUHD copper cable with 6.3 mm jack
3. Pouch - PU Leather cable pouch
4. Storage case - high-strength ABS plastic suitcase with foam inserts

Note: these headphones work with standard 3.5mm headphone-side terminated cables.

Inside the external shipping box you will find the POET's carton packaging box, which includes a booklet, safety instructions, and storage case. The headphones, cable, and pouch are inside the storage case.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE TOUR!

Please share your impressions in the Watercooler Headphoner Edition thread!​

 

[atomLI631]

You’re not on the Noir X tour, so this are your own pair?

As far as the tour unit, I found the connection to be very secure (hope it has remained so for others). It’s proprietary and needs to be twisted into place, once it is, it seemed very tight.

Btw, pls do share your sonic impressions also in the main Watercooler headphone thread, as may benefit others

I bought my own pair. Loved what I heard at Canjam, so I decided to grab a set. I was hoping to jump on the tour to try them at home to get a real impression of them before I purchased, but alas I was too late to the party!

The connector on the headphone themselves are solid, they don't move. But when attaching the cable, there is wiggle in the connector itself. Ive talked to about 3-4 owners now of the Noire X (and one Noire XO) and they all stated they observed the same bit of wiggle. Emailed DCA and they said its totally normal.

 

[goldwerger]

The connector on the headphone themselves are solid, they don't move. But when attaching the cable, there is wiggle in the connector itself. Ive talked to about 3-4 owners now of the Noire X (and one Noire XO) and they all stated they observed the same bit of wiggle. Emailed DCA and they said its totally normal.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[emdeevee]

Meze POET ships out!​

(PM messages sent to those next in line)



Thanks to @Andrew DiMarcangelo for making these headphones available to the community to demo!

The package includes:

1. Headphones
2. Cable - 2.5 m braided Furukawa PCUHD copper cable with 6.3 mm jack
3. Pouch - PU Leather cable pouch
4. Storage case - high-strength ABS plastic suitcase with foam inserts

Note: these headphones work with standard 3.5mm headphone-side terminated cables.




Inside the external shipping box you will find the POET's carton packaging box, which includes a booklet, safety instructions, and storage case. The headphones, cable, and pouch are inside the storage case.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE TOUR!

Please share your impressions in the Watercooler Headphoner Edition thread!​

Beautiful!! Can you add me to the list ?

 

[goldwerger]

Beautiful!! Can you add me to the list ?

Done

 

[JerseyD]

Arashi arrived in fine shape. Thanks @buke9!
Can’t wait to hear them….

 

[mattiastomas]

Meze Poet's have safely arrived!