Наушники — Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire

The AEON 2 Noire is a closed-back, circumaural planar magnetic headphone from Dan Clark Audio of San Diego. It is a tuning variant of the AEON 2 Closed, with a response that the company aligns closely to the Harman target curve, gently lifting bass and treble relative to the standard closed model. The list price is USD 899.99.

Key specs that matter

The AEON 2 Noire uses a single-ended planar magnetic driver with a 62 x 34 mm diaphragm, built on the company's proprietary design. Dan Clark Audio quotes an impedance of 13 ohm and a sensitivity of about 90 dB per mW. Rated distortion is below 0.3 % THD from 20 Hz to 20 kHz and below 0.1 % from 100 Hz to 8 kHz. Channel matching is held within 2 dB of the target curve and 0.5 dB weighted between 30 Hz and 8 kHz. The maker lists a weight of 345 g.

Engineering and use context

The driver uses the patented Trueflow and V-Planar technologies, the latter a processing of the diaphragm specific to Dan Clark Audio. The baffles are carbon fibre, the earcups have a high-gloss black finish, and the frame combines titanium, aluminium and carbon fibre. The headband is made of nickel-titanium memory metal, known as Nitinol, and is fitted with a wide adjustable leather strap. A patented folding gimbal lets the cups fold for compact transport. Perforated earpads covered in Japanese synthetic protein leather are specific to this version. A tuning kit is supplied so the owner can change the damping, together with a carrying case, a certificate of authenticity and a manual. The standard cable is 2 m long, terminated in 3.5 mm with a screw-on 6.3 mm adapter, and a 4-pin XLR cable can be chosen instead. Optional VIVO cables are offered in 6.3 mm, XLR, 2.5 mm, 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm versions at extra cost.

Pairing

Given the low impedance and moderate efficiency, the AEON 2 Noire needs a source that can deliver current rather than high voltage, so a desk amplifier or a powerful portable DAC with low output impedance is a better match than a basic phone output, which may run out of current before reaching comfortable levels. The balanced XLR option makes sense only when the amplifier has a matching 4-pin output. Its closed design and folding frame suit use in shared rooms and travel.

Alternatives

The Dan Clark Audio Noire X is the newer sealed planar design, with a stiffer driver and Gorilla Glass 3 cups.