The Californian Dan Clark Audio has managed to carve out a solid reputation in the hotly contested High End headphone market courtesy of an imaginative combination of own cutting-edge technology, excellence and innovation in the materials, characteristic aesthetics and artisanal manufacturing in the USA., the result being a range of extraordinarily musical products with the addition of an outstanding quality/price ratio. Thus we arrive at the most innovative of the brand’s proposals, the circumaural model with closed earcups Noire X, a studied update of the iconic Aeon 2 Noire, thanks to the incorporation of the revolutionary and exclusive ATMS scheme (“Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System” or “Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System, used in the elite Stealth, Expense and Corina) and a transducer improved, all presented in a packaging in which ergonomics shines with its own light.
Of the AMTS we must highlight a metamaterial based design (a heterogeneous compound of artificial elements that possess special electromagnetic characteristics) to shape the frequency response, eliminating at the same time standing waves of the upper zone that can create a harsh and artificial sound. As for the transducerit is an evolved version of the one incorporated in the Aeon in which the rigidity has been significantly increased, offering a greater consistency between units, a lower distortion, a superior reliability and a smoother overall response curve. Furthermore, the fusion of extensive optimizations in terms of research and development with advanced manufacturing processes allows us to obtain a level of detail which until now could only be found in reference headphones.
Dan Clark Audio also includes refinements very notable in their external appearance, with improved pads finished in synthetic Alcantara suede and a self-adjusting headband (through tensioning that ensures uniform pressure on the user’s head), which avoid hot and pressure points likely to cause discomfort and/or fatigue. To this we must add Gorilla Glass 3 helmetsas well as support for various types of connectors (1/4″, 3.5 mm, 4-pin XLR and 4.4 mm balanced) to ensure compatibility with an extensive range of amplifiers. A direct result of this concentrate of engineering solutions, the Noire expansive soundstagesome shocking basssome silky mids and vibrant highsqualities that make them ideal for listening to all types of musical genres for long hours. The cherry on top is an ultra-competitive price that makes them the new reference in affordable High End “classic” headphones.
