Dressed in black and built to impress, Dan Clark Audio’s Noire X closed-back planar magnetic headphones artfully balance premium sound and craftsmanship with price-conscious sensibility – given they feature much of the engineering found in the brand’s £4,100 flagship models, the closed-back Stealth and open-back Expanse.
For those not overly familiar with Dan Clark Audio, the company is based in San Diego, and has carved a name for itself with a no-nonsense approach to headphone design, holding six patents and cultivating a global following among serious music lovers.
The Noire X have been designed to provide an unusually wide and open soundstage, all while offering the practical closed-back benefits of reduced sound leakage and improved noise isolation.
The Noire X have been designed to provide an unusually wide and open soundstage…
Closed-back headphones with an open-back soul
At the heart of the Noire X is an upgraded Aeon planar magnetic driver. Unlike traditional dynamic drivers that push a rigid cone back and forth, planar drivers use an ultra-thin membrane suspended in a magnetic field. This approach typically offers faster response times, lower distortion, and far better accuracy.
In the Noire X, the 62x34mm diaphragm has been completely re-engineered for more rigidity and better consistency between units.
But the innovation doesn’t stop there. DCA’s signature V-Planar knurling, a microscopic pattern pressed into the diaphragm, smoothes frequency response across the spectrum and delivers detail retrieval that it suggests flirts with reference-class status.
Then there’s the Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System (AMTS). This mouthfiul, found in DCA’s top-tier models, tames treble and eliminates those pesky standing waves that often lead to harsh highs. What you’re left with is a refined, airy treble that remains engaging but never fatiguing.
The Noire X isn’t just about the sound though. Its black-on-black aesthetic is equal parts mysterious and elegant. Gorilla Glass 3 ear cups provide a hard-wearing, high-gloss finish that resists scratches while looking sharp. The self-tensioning headband adapts to the wearer, distributing pressure evenly to avoid discomfort.
Comfort is further enhanced by new memory foam ear pads, wrapped in high-grade synthetic leather, with Alcantara contact surfaces. These pads should stay cool and dry, even during long listening sessions – and they’re replaceable and backward compatible with previous AEON models.
The Noire X will play nicely with anything from portable digital audio players to high-end desktop headphone amps. The included cable offers both 6.3mm and 3.5mm connectors, and for the balanced audio crowd, there are 4.4mm and 4-pin XLR options too. Audiophiles seeking even more flexibility can upgrade to DCA’s premium VIVO cables, available in a range of lengths and terminations.
The Dan Clark Audio Noire X is available now in the UK through selected retailers, priced at £1,000. The headphones come with a fold-flat travel case.
The latest evolution of Sony’s open-ear true wireless buds lean into everyday wearability and offer a raft of novel convenience features. The LinkBuds Clip are designed for those that want personal audio, but would rather not shut out the world with noise cancelling technology. Featuring a funky clip-style design, multiple listening modes and a strong…
Introducing Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, the latest Bluetooth headphone from the iconic UK Hi-Fi marque. These updated flagship cans build on the foundations of the original Px8, introducing mechanical and acoustic improvements for a more stable fit and commensurately expressive sound. With high-res wireless codec support, advanced noise cancellation and luxury materials, this new…
Introducing this season’s most audacious luxury gift: a gold-plated watch box priced at €43,000. Lac Humidors, known for its high-end humidors and watch winders, describes the box as both a technical showpiece and a tongue-in-cheek answer to the age-old question of what to buy for the person who has everything. Due to the complexity of…
The Luxe Review 
Dressed in black and built to impress, Dan Clark Audio’s Noire X closed-back planar magnetic headphones artfully balance premium sound and craftsmanship with price-conscious sensibility – given they feature much of the engineering found in the brand’s £4,100 flagship models, the closed-back Stealth and open-back Expanse.
For those not overly familiar with Dan Clark Audio, the company is based in San Diego, and has carved a name for itself with a no-nonsense approach to headphone design, holding six patents and cultivating a global following among serious music lovers.
The Noire X have been designed to provide an unusually wide and open soundstage, all while offering the practical closed-back benefits of reduced sound leakage and improved noise isolation.
Closed-back headphones with an open-back soul
At the heart of the Noire X is an upgraded Aeon planar magnetic driver. Unlike traditional dynamic drivers that push a rigid cone back and forth, planar drivers use an ultra-thin membrane suspended in a magnetic field. This approach typically offers faster response times, lower distortion, and far better accuracy.
In the Noire X, the 62x34mm diaphragm has been completely re-engineered for more rigidity and better consistency between units.
But the innovation doesn’t stop there. DCA’s signature V-Planar knurling, a microscopic pattern pressed into the diaphragm, smoothes frequency response across the spectrum and delivers detail retrieval that it suggests flirts with reference-class status.
Then there’s the Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System (AMTS). This mouthfiul, found in DCA’s top-tier models, tames treble and eliminates those pesky standing waves that often lead to harsh highs. What you’re left with is a refined, airy treble that remains engaging but never fatiguing.
The Noire X isn’t just about the sound though. Its black-on-black aesthetic is equal parts mysterious and elegant. Gorilla Glass 3 ear cups provide a hard-wearing, high-gloss finish that resists scratches while looking sharp. The self-tensioning headband adapts to the wearer, distributing pressure evenly to avoid discomfort.
Comfort is further enhanced by new memory foam ear pads, wrapped in high-grade synthetic leather, with Alcantara contact surfaces. These pads should stay cool and dry, even during long listening sessions – and they’re replaceable and backward compatible with previous AEON models.
The Noire X will play nicely with anything from portable digital audio players to high-end desktop headphone amps. The included cable offers both 6.3mm and 3.5mm connectors, and for the balanced audio crowd, there are 4.4mm and 4-pin XLR options too. Audiophiles seeking even more flexibility can upgrade to DCA’s premium VIVO cables, available in a range of lengths and terminations.
The Dan Clark Audio Noire X is available now in the UK through selected retailers, priced at £1,000. The headphones come with a fold-flat travel case.
Open-ear done right: Inside Sony’s new LinkBuds Clip always-on audio earbuds
The latest evolution of Sony’s open-ear true wireless buds lean into everyday wearability and offer a raft of novel convenience features. The LinkBuds Clip are designed for those that want personal audio, but would rather not shut out the world with noise cancelling technology. Featuring a funky clip-style design, multiple listening modes and a strong…
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 review: new headphone flagship offers bigger sound, gorgeous design
Introducing Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, the latest Bluetooth headphone from the iconic UK Hi-Fi marque. These updated flagship cans build on the foundations of the original Px8, introducing mechanical and acoustic improvements for a more stable fit and commensurately expressive sound. With high-res wireless codec support, advanced noise cancellation and luxury materials, this new…
French atelier Lac Humidors unveils bespoke gold-plated watch box worth €43,000
Introducing this season’s most audacious luxury gift: a gold-plated watch box priced at €43,000. Lac Humidors, known for its high-end humidors and watch winders, describes the box as both a technical showpiece and a tongue-in-cheek answer to the age-old question of what to buy for the person who has everything. Due to the complexity of…
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