Noire X, the latest headphones from Dan Clark Audio (DCA), are now available in the UK via distributor Electromod.
Based in San Diego, USA, DCA is an artisan headphone maker. The company holds six patents, its headphones earning global acclaim for their sound, build and ergonomic qualities.
A particular DCA specialisation is closed-back headphones with planar magnetic drivers, engineered to deliver an unusually ‘open’ sound. Closed-back headphones offer reduced sound leakage and superior noise isolation, but their acoustic characteristics tend to make them sound more ‘closed in’ than open-back headphones – for that reason, open-back headphones are often considered sonically superior, albeit less practical in some environments, says DCA.
According to the manufacturer, DCA’s closed-back headphones disprove the rule, using unique engineering to deliver a “supremely open and spacious sound”.
The new closed-back Noire X headphones are a case in point. They utilise proprietary planar driver and metamaterial tuning technologies developed for DCA’s top-tier headphones like the closed-back Stealth and open-back Expanse, both of which retail at £4,100.
The Noire X – at £1,000 – walks the line between performance and price with what the brand calls “perfect balance”.
Most headphones use dynamic drivers, which combine a stiff diaphragm with a voice coil to produce sound waves through pistonic movement. In contrast, the Noire X uses planar drivers, incorporating a thin membrane immersed in a magnetic field to cause it to vibrate. Among the advantages of planar magnetic drivers are increased accuracy, reduced distortion and superior soundstaging.
For the Noire X, DCA has developed an enhanced version of its Aeon planar driver. The new driver’s 62x34mm diaphragm is significantly more rigid than its predecessor, with “superior unit-to-unit consistency”, reduced distortion, improved reliability and a smoother frequency response.
Extensive R&D investments were made to upgrade other aspects of the driver. New manufacturing processes combined with highly optimised V-Planar knurling deliver a smooth frequency response with low distortion throughout the listening range, achieving levels of detail that were previously the reserve of DCA’s top-tier headphones.
A critical addition to the Noire X is DCA’s proprietary AMTS tuning system, previously found only in the company’s top-of-the-line Stealth, Expanse, E3 and Corina headphones. AMTS uses advanced metamaterial design concepts to shape frequency response and eliminate high-frequency standing waves which cause the synthetic-sounding high frequencies heard with many headphones.
By eliminating these standing waves, Noire X delivers a balanced, nuanced and airy treble performance, free of the fatiguing artifacts that diminish the listening experience.
The Noire X’s self-tensioning headband is optimised to reduce listening fatigue by distributing pressure evenly across the listener’s head for a balanced, ‘barely there’ fit. This helps to prevent hot spots and pressure points, making the Noire X well suited for hours of immersive, strain-free listening.
The Noire X features a high-class ‘black on black’ finish, a stitched headband and a new Gorilla Glass 3 finish on the cups, which uses a thin sheet of alkali-aluminosilicate to make the glass far more scratch and damage resistant than conventional glass formulations.
The Noire X sports newly designed ear pads for a comfortable listening experience. Formed from improved, ultra-stable memory foam and wrapped in high-quality synthetic leather, the ear pads eradicate ‘foam rolling’ to ensure a more consistent fit and longer usable life.
Using Alcantara synthetic suede on the ear pad’s contact surface reduces heat and moisture build-up, ensuring cool comfort during extended listening sessions. The Noire X ear pads are replaceable and backwards compatible with DCA’s Aeon 2 Noire, AEON RT Closed and AEON 2 Closed headphones.
The Noire X offers a comprehensive range of cable terminations, including combo 6.3mm and 3.5mm tips, balanced 4.4mm and 4-pin XLR. Those seeking greater flexibility in cable length and termination can upgrade to DCA’s premium VIVO cables, which are available in multiple lengths and termination options.
These versatile cable options ensure the headphones can be paired with any amplifier, eliminating the need for costly third-party cables and optimising performance with any audio setup.
Designed and built in San Diego, California, the Noire X is now shipping to the UK and available at selected retailers, at an RRP of £1,000 inc. VAT.
The headphones come complete with a detachable cable and purpose-made travel case into which the headphones fold neatly away.