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I picked up a pair of these a few weeks ago, and I haven’t listened to anything else since. Everything Z said here is accurate and true. They’re very comfortable. They have fantastic soundstage for a closed back. They have excellent bass without muddying the rest of the sound signature. Vocals are clear and precise. High ends are distinct without being obnoxious. Currently using them on an Xduoo TA-30, and I am very happy with the setup (though, all things equal, I wish the Xduoo was balanced, but it cranks out sooooo much power already, that I can forgive it that shortcoming).
@@keithb5612 I do not, though I do have a pair of Focal Radiance. Overall, the Radiance have a slightly brighter sound, and maybe slightly more pronounced bass, though I feel the Noire’s have slightly more sound staging and width. And the Noire are more comfortable. I’ve been debating these two against one another for some time, and while the Radiance probably wins out for most tracks, I truly don’t think they’re worth the extra money. I also found the Noires don’t require specific ear placement as much as the Radiance do. I don’t know if this helps, but it’s the best I got for ya.
@@williamcatalano1762 Thanks William. Do you happen to know how the Radiance compares to the open back Focal Clear original headphones? I am also debating the Noire 2 and Radiance. Thanks
Out of all the stuff I own, they're my favorite. They just edge out my Aeolus as my "anytime any genre" headphone. The comfort is sublime as is the sound layering. I like them best with the black felt inserts.
@@adrianflo6481 No but I damp them with the inserts provided. They seem to be picky in terms of amplification though. The Noire doesn't sound right on my Mojo 2 but it sounds great from an Earmen Sparrow and a Hidizs DH80s. It's hit or miss with my desktop amps but they're all entry level. From what I've heard from other DCA owners this can be a thing.
@@dasninjastix i see. I have heard they require higher end amps. i have a SMLS m3 that is a bit too meek. But its so hard to shop for an amp with all the snake oil. Even harder when there are people who say amps and dacs do nothing.
@@ashtonlyon7922 Define "better". - In the realms of audio it's as subjective as it gets. That's what he meant. Don't blindly follow someone's review. Trust your own ears and your taste what sounds good and is worth the asking price for yourself!
@@ashtonlyon7922 Aeon 2 Noire is among the best for a Harman tuned closed back. It's small driver and weak magnets however means that it lacks dynamics. It doesn't slam as hard as a Celestee. Slightly over the budget you've got the Audesee LCD XC which is also a planar but has more slam and more bass. The only thing about Audeze is that the tuning is meh and there is an upper midrange dip, so it sounds like suffocation
It's interesting you complain about there being no Ether2 closed in this video. . . and the very next day Dan announces the closed back flagship that is supposed to be exactly what you described, "End-game closed back". So put your $4000 where your mouth is! You said you would buy it. We want to see your reaction.
Oh, if you're judging an album on never letting you get bored and changing genera multiple times as the best put together, you should definitely check out Angelic 2 The Core by Corey Feldman.
Mr Bungle - california Their other two albums are even more bizarre and schizophrenic, but california is definitely the easiest to listen to, and most enjoyable from start to finish.
Just got these after owning Fidelio X2 and Hifiman Sundara. They are amazing. Like x2 but way more detailed and clear and sound isolated. And actually portable. Wipe the floor with Sundara
DCA just announced a new $4k headphone called the Stealth that are based on the same profile as the Noire that supposedly has new technology. When will you be reviewing them? Amir has already put out a review & I've never ever heard him gush so much over a piece of equipment!
Went to our hifi local store to check these yesterday. One of the better Harman tuned I have heard. But be aware these are not dynamic and it's a big deal for me personally. I would suggest going for focal celestee for extra 100$.
The Aeon Noir has the exact same driver as the Aeon 2, just different pads and colorway, that’s it. Anyone that has an Aeon 2 closed and wants the Noire sound just needs to order the pads from Dan Clark Audio.
IF that is true and that is what was fixed on the 2021 Hifiman's then I guess we can all just sit back and wait for every headphone to have their new tuning revision in the coming months. Because I do not recall the non noire being nearly this engaging.
@@stiggles98 according to Dan Clark himself, on the thread on Head-Fi, the different tuning is literally achieved just through the new pad design - so unless you can’t stand the red color of the 2, you can get the same exact tuning of the Noire with the standard Aeon 2 Closed by just buying the new pads from DCA.
@@ZReviews that’s because the tuning *IS* different on the Noire - but it’s literally achieved by just the newly design pads that’s stock with the Noire - this is according to Dan Clark himself directly on Head-Fi. But you could get the same sound by buying those pads from DCA and putting them on the red Aeon 2 Closed.
I lol'd at 2:50 "if I was a normal human being, not whatever the fuck this is" because it's hilarious seeing all those headphones and speakers and realizing how ridiculous it really is. I am not quite that bad when it comes to headphones/speakers but as a musician my room is filled with expensive guitars and amps so I can relate in that way. When I have friends over who don't play music they look so confused as to why I "need" all of the stuff I have.
I'm not sold on the sound of these.... BUT I'd probably give these a try out of curiosity if I didn't already love my Audeze LCD-XC closed backs which kick ass
if onlt they didnt have twice the weight of these adc cans. My neck was killing me when my friend lent me his lcd2closed. I liked the sound but they gave me insane neck pain and migraines after a week of heavy usage.
@@JeyKalda Good Point. I only use the LCD-XC for short periods. An hour or two at the most because you will definitely start to feel them after a while. I'd suggest anyone looking for a closed back daily driver/all day use type headphone make comfort just as much a priority as sound. If you are wearing a headphone all day you want comfort and the headphone to not be noticable whatsoever. Lightweight, comfortable pads and fit should be a priority for an all day HP
Did your review the Aeon RT closed? Wondering since you didn’t mention them… 😅 They’re a retuned version of the OG Aeon closed, they came out after the Aeon 2 but before the Noire. 😂 They’re $499 directly from DCA. They’re also available via Drop, just rebranded as the Aeon Closed X, for $479.
@@TBc2 Have you heard the OG Aeon closed? I’m kind of with Zeos on those, a bit sterile / boring, so I’ve wondered if I should buy that Drop version that has the retuning or just bite the bullet and get the Noire.
@@TBc2 Same, I'm using the Aeon RT closed right as we speak and I thoroughly enjoy them, though they're also my first audiophile headphones, so I can't exactly compare them to others. Though I didn't buy from Drop since I've heard nothing but bad things about them as a company.
The wires are actually so nice that, even though I bought cables from HAC for my Aeon RT, I'm still using the cable it came with just because of how surprised I am from it actually being not shit.
I listened to them the other day and was shocked how good they are. They made my Sundaras sound like they were broken. I had to swap back and forth a few times just to make sure I wasn’t crazy.
Be careful with the hype. I listened to them at a local shop, and ya they've got a nice Harman target tuning. But they suffer from the same problem as all of DCA's headphones: they lack dynamics. There's just no punch. They play all the right frequencies, but it just sounds dull and boring.
@@toomanynumbers I came in blind. I didn’t know what they were when I listened to them. I had to google them after listening. I was saddened when I saw they were $900. That having been said it was only about 20 minutes of listening, so I can’t critically speak about the dynamics.
Well think I might know what my next headphone will be. Been using the Ether CX for years now. Though the pads are going bad and the caps on the cuts have gone loose. Unfortunately his warranty says no drop repairs but it didn't change the sound so been using them with loose cup caps.
@@ricardoj8860 the ether CX cups are two pieces, one that holds the driver and where you attach pads and a circular cap on the outside. After dropping them the cap popped off. It could be pushed back but never sit perfectly after that. I later got the Æon 2 closed, not the noire. Accidently blew them up though. Not the fault of the headphones, I just stupidly broke it. Will say the Æon were far more comfortable for long time use and the CX were already stellar. But until I get a new set I'll stick with my G1000s. I know those tanks won't break, just wish it was closed back since I share the room with a fridge and can hear the pipes when people take showers.
WOW..so a headphone that gives you the intimacy / depth / bass and highs of a similar priced IEM’s…are we talking NANA’s or STARLIGHT’s ?…because if you are THATS fucking AMAZING!
Looks like I am stepping up, I need a great quality headphone that only is played at home and is relaxing. I know these are well made. I bought a bunch of low budget headphones over the last few years and a few broke but mostly the pads are turning into frayed trash. Cheap headphones that have good sound have a place. I want a few headphones that I enjoy to last.
@@daveyostrow I have the Aeon Closed X. I'd treat the Aeon Closed RT(Closed X is same but made for Drop) as a budget noire. You get the same perforated pads, similar harmon curve tuning, non folding yokes, but using the Gen 1 Aeon driver.
@@jonathanluttrell1380 it’s harman not Harmon. Don’t want to be a smart ass but I’m sure you don’t want to sound like an idiot when talking about Harman curve
Hey Z, I would really like you to review the denon ah-d7200, i demoed it in a shop nearby and damn it sounds good. Closed back, it has incredible imaging (i call it even with the hd800) and at least some soundstage. The bass is maybe a bit too elevated for my taste, making them a bit darker, yet the clarity is so good. Curious what you will think about it.
DCA Stealth measurements up on ASR right now. Amir says he just had the most sublime audio experience of his life (minus the gut impact of room-pressurized bass). Needless to say, he is now a huge Dan Clark fan.
How I know that my ears are WAY DIFFERENT than Zeos. He loves the Ether CX. The Ether CX is great looking, comfortable and well built. However the Ether CX are the most boring, disappointing, dull (did I say boring), least dynamic, least punchy headphone I have heard over $500. I tried them with 7 different amps and every genre under the sun. They were only kind of good with Classical and Jazz. With everything else you would be better off with Audio Technica M50X or HE4XX or a whole bunch of way cheaper headphones. So since Zeos like these and says they are similar to CX, then I probably will not like them. I bet they sound thin AF. Thin, very thin. No body no weight.
FUCK ME! You've ruined my appetite and soured my mood for the rest of this evening and potentially I'll experience a sense of dysthymia well into the weekend.
The reviewers over at the Headphone Show said the same thing about the Noir - the bass lacks any sense of punch, not just compared to Focal headphones (the kings of punch) but in general.
Z, off topic question. I'm looking at the KEF Q100's and the Klipsch RP150M's for desk AND living room speakers. I listen to everything but metal, I don't need super-loud, and I like a balance between accurate and pleasant. Thoughts?
I am wondering if they put some new coating on these now because mine don't get any fingerprints at all when I have pretty oily hands more than most people so I am thinking they just put on a different clear coating or something in the newer batches.
My purchase was between these or the ether cx. I bought a used set of cx’s kind of regret it. I love my cans but if I can get that sound in a smaller better fitting version that transforms into a little can ball insect. I want it. So if anyone has the noire I’d trade. Would come with some extras.
Don't these have similar drivers to Fostex T50rp? At least the original Mr. Speakers used Fostex drivers. Not sure these are worth $1000 when Fostex can be had for $100 used. Value isn't there. Maybe with the Aeon RT. Not these though.
@@AlumarsX For the price? $700? Sure they may be the best closed backs. But just saying- for the value? Plus one needs an amp. I think I'd rather have the Meze 109 pro used when they're $399 used. Don't need an amp. I just feel I'd rather get some good speakers and just use decent headphones for ruining my hearing. I don't want to pay $700 to ruin my hearing.. Headphones are a necessity for me in certain instances. But I don't feel they're worth serious money. Would rather spend my money on other technology. For a professional, $700 seems wise. For a consumer, it seems a waste of one's money. Never understood people buying a Mac for $2000 when a used Mac is $300. Americans spend money like a wildfire. Europeans and certainly elsewhere drive used cars, and spend money more wiselfy. They buy used. I feel new car channels on youtube are insane asking people to spend 40k on a new car. It's insanity. So is a headphone for $1000 plus for a consumer.
@@Ben-bs4od The consumer culture is about much more than just utilitarian calculation. Modern consumption is almost always conspicuous. It's a lifestyle/fashion/image/power statement. It's the dose of dopamine. It's the chase for the non-existant ideal sound which at any given time equals the sound you haven't heard and owned before. It's about having a good reason to discuss your new buy with the other infected
Good luck finding a tube pocket amp capable of powering these. The impedance of Aeon 2 Noire is 13 ohm which means they need very high current that portable amps just can't deliver. It's a common false belief that the lower the impedance, the easier to drive. Lower impedance means lower voltage BUT higher current.
Hey Zeos, quick question. Could you help lower my bank account by choosing out of these two headphones for Gaming/Music LCD-X2021 Or Focal Clear MG? After having watched both your reviews I'm so torn between both of them help!! Also side note we all love you Chewbacca! Hope she's okay!
@@davidcoons89 Hey! Appreciate the response! The LCD-XC was also a very tempting choice. I've been spending the last few days reading on all three headphones trying to narrow it down. So far my concern with either of the LCD's is the weight/comfort compared to the Focal Clear MG. In terms of sound I also feel I'd be sacrificing too much of the "Fun" factor choosing the LCD-XC's over the other two. Another thing that has made my decision so much more difficult has been that when reading reviews for both the LCD-X 2021 and new Focal Clear MG is the imaging in both are stellar
@@razerguy98 I can def say that the clears do indeed offer more of the fun factor than the XC’s like you suggested, especially in bass dynamics. They’re both absolutely fantastic and rather detailed tho I’d give the overall edge to the XC’s in that department. They’re honestly both pretty comfortable to me and I have been absolutely shocked by this, but despite the 50% extra weight, I find the XC’s typically a little more comfortable, in part because of the sealed air pressure feeling the closed back headphone design provides, which I rather enjoy honestly. I should also offer that I’m 6’2” and 155lbs and despite having a pretty weak and small neck, the weight doesn’t bother me hardly at all as it is so well centralized on your head and isn’t sticking out far creating unnecessary awkward weight to support with your neck and shoulders. I miss the openness of the clears at times but I honestly would say despite the soundstage feeling a little more natural and airy in the clears, the XC’s have a noticeably better width and slightly better height and a depth that is on par with the clears. I’ve not heard the new Clears but from what I’ve read, they’re exactly the same driver and tuning wise..not sure where someone got the idea the new ones are any different or worse specifically..they should be exactly the same sound wise! I only stream music (hi-res lossless of course) tho, and cannot EQ drm-copyrighted music obviously so I cannot attest to how the XC’s sound with EQ, as the Apple and Spotify EQ’s are complete garbage. I’ve heard the Audeze’s do take EQ well tho if you’re willing, and I will say that when I use them on an analog-circuit bass boost on one of my amps, just an ifi zen dac v2, they handle the boosted bass remarkably well. The clears do too, on that note, but aside from perhaps a slight boost to the sub-bass, they def don’t need extra energy in the mid-bass. Let me know if I can answer anything more clearly or if ya have any other questions but otherwise, I wish ya the best with whatever route you go and hope you have many years of happy euphonic listening! Take care bud
Good morning Zeos will the xduoo xd 05 balanced be enough to push these and should I still buy an aftermarket 4.4mm balanced cable even though the 6.3 connector is 1 watt! Oh and the xduoo is just for portable use!
Off topic, but still asking: what's the best open HP for a sound stage whore, when the Sennheiser HD800/s/xx isn't an option? If possible a planar, but dynamic is fine too.
