Today, we will discuss three headphones from our friends at Dan Clark Audio. This will be a fun comparison article, so grab your favorite beverage, and let’s get into it!

 This article will primarily discuss my impressions of the headphones' sound quality and which sound profile might best fit you and your preferences. I will make my audio impressions with a few different Amplifiers and DACs, such as the Ferrum Audio Wandla, ORR, Hypsos 2 stack, the Ferrum Audio ERCO, the Chord Hugo TT2, and Hugo 2, the Woo Audio WA22, and the McIntosh MHA200 headphone tube amplifier.

 If you want to know more about the tech specs of each of the headphones or to make a purchase, click on the images in this article.

Dan Clark Audio has a tremendous selection of headphones at different prices. We will focus on three of DCA’s current headphones that Dan Clark puts in the best value category: the Aeon 2 Noir closed-back headphones, the Aeon 2 Closed, and the Aeon 2 open-back headphones, which are all the same price of $899.

 All three headphones have tremendous build quality, are lightweight, and are incredibly comfortable to wear. We have covered this in past videos, and my feelings for the comfort and build of these DCA headphones have not changed. 

 All three headphones also use the same tuning pad system, which allows you to adjust the sound of each headphone without having to use EQ. For the sake of this article, we will primarily discuss the headphones without the tuning pads.

 If you could only purchase one pair of these headphones, which one should you choose? Let’s first compare the two closed-back headphones, the Aeon 2 Noire and Aeon 2 Closed. They share some similarities in sound, but they also have some noticeable differences that make each headphone unique.

 While I like both headphones, I gravitate more towards the Aeon 2 Noire for my preferences. The bass of the Noire is one reason. While it is tastefully boosted above what I consider neutral, it creates a more pleasing sound than the more neutral, tighter bass presentation of the Aeon 2 Closed.

 The Midrange of the Aeon 2 Closed sounds the more focused of the two headphones, which is excellent for instruments that fall into this range; however, vocals tend to have a bit more edge and definition, and when compared to the smoother-sounding vocals of the Noire, I gravitate towards the Noire for vocals.

 However, the Aeon 2's tuning also allows it to sound a bit wider and more open-sounding than the slightly more intimate-sounding Noire headphones. Because of this, the Aeon 2 closed may be the better choice for listeners who listen to more classical and jazz music. 

 While neither headphone sounds overly bright, and both headphones are warmer than pure neutral, I find the Aeon 2 Noire to have a smoother upper midrange and treble regions even if, on paper, the Noire measures to have more emphasis in both areas. However, this could vary based on your hearing and audio rig, as you may be more sensitive to some regions than others.

 Imaging is great from both headphones, as you would expect from Dan Clark and Planar magnetic headphones. The separation of instruments and vocals is excellent at this price.

 Detail presentation is also quite excellent at this price from both headphones.  While details tend to jump out a bit more at you when listening to the Aeon 2 Closed, the Noire presents all the same level of detail, just not quite as forcefully, which, again, I prefer.

 Timbre-wise, both headphones sound fairly natural for planar magnetic headphones, and the additional bass energy of the Noire creates a bit richer timbre and tone for instruments and vocals that I enjoy.  The Aeon 2 Open and Closed sound drier overall than the Noire.

 Both headphones sound fast and are enjoyable with many genres of music. However, I do prefer the Noire for Rock, R&B, Pop, Classic Rock, and Electronic Music and generally prefer the Aeon 2 Closed a bit more for classical and jazz, as well as some ambient trance. 

 If you are looking for beautifully made closed-back headphones for under $1000, I highly recommend you listen to both the Aeon 2 and Aeon 2 Noire with your audio rig and favorite music to see which set you prefer more.

 While the Noire is a bit V-shaped and follows closer to the Harman Curve, the Aeon 2 Closed will appeal to listeners who want a bit more definition and emphasis in the midrange, creating a more energetic overall feel.

 So, let’s talk about the Aeon 2 Open Headphones and how they compare to the other two headphones! Interestingly, when comparing the Aeon 2 Closed with the Aeon 2 Open, I actually feel the Closed version of the headphones sounds slightly more open-sounding in their presentation. 

 Listening to “So Far Away” from Dire Straits, the snare drums and cymbals are more forward and prominent, with more energy in their delivery when listening to the Aeon 2 Open.

 When listening to the Aeon 2 Open headphones, the vocals also sound a bit more intimately presented on the sound stage compared to the Aeon 2 Closed headphones. The bass sounds a bit more impactful and dynamic when listening to the Aeon 2 Closed.

While the Aeon 2 open does sound similar in many ways to the closed version, I prefer the Open version for the way notes decay. While the Closed version does sound a bit faster with quicker transients, the open version sounds a bit more natural to my ears in this regard.

 Comparing the Noire with the Aeon 2 Open, and again, my preferences lean towards the Noire headphones. I have to keep returning to the headphones' bass and the way the Noir presents these regions compared to the other two headphones.

While the Noire is far from a bass head type of headphones, how they balance their bass presentation with the rest of the headphone's frequency response makes for the most enjoyable listening experience for me. 

I also prefer the smoother-sounding delivery of the midrange and treble regions of the Noire when compared to the Aeon 2 Open.  Of course, the headphones are all reasonably transparent, and choosing a synergistic amplifier, using the included tuning pad system, or using some parametric EQ will allow you to make the sound more your own. 

For instance, I prefer the Aeon 2 Open and Closed on the tube amps I have in-house, whereas I prefer the Noire more on the solid-state amplifiers I have in-house. I am curious: which of these three headphones is your favorite and why?

I should also add while I was quite pleased with the tuning of the Aeon 2 Noire without any tuning filters, the Aeon 2 Closed and Open sounded better for my preferences with the white tuning pads, making them sound a bit smoother overall in their presentation.

I also like that the Noire sounds a bit less dry than the other two headphones, giving me a more emotional listening experience, which I always look for when listening to music.

 Stay tuned for a future video and article similar to this one on a few other DCA headphones. Also, if you are a Club DCA member and want additional savings on any DCA headphones, just let us know. We are happy to match pricing for Club members.

If you are interested in trading up your old headphones, amplifiers, or other gently used audio gear for a new set of headphones or an amplifier, check out our trade-up program, and don’t forget we will price-match other authorized dealers! 

We have some cool videos coming this year with new product announcements, so please consider subscribing to our YouTube channel today!  From $150 earphones to multi-million-dollar home audio, cinema, and automation systems, TSAV is a HiFi paradise for building the system of your dreams.

Until next time, friends, remember, let the music be your guide!