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.
JBL has announced updates to its range-topping JBL Tour One M3 headphones and JBL Tour Pro3 earbuds, which include a new classic green colourway and significant improvements in audio performance and usability. The firmware update is a refresh of its signature JBL sound curve preset, said to produce clearer, more accurate audio. The brand is…
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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.
JBL boosts performance of flagship Tour headphones and earbuds, drops new colourway
JBL has announced updates to its range-topping JBL Tour One M3 headphones and JBL Tour Pro3 earbuds, which include a new classic green colourway and significant improvements in audio performance and usability. The firmware update is a refresh of its signature JBL sound curve preset, said to produce clearer, more accurate audio. The brand is…
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We all want soft, glossy, impossibly smooth skin – and that’s the promise of a great body oil. Once reserved for luxury spa treatments, these silky formulas are now a bathroom shelf essential, delivering deep hydration while leaving skin with that just-had-a-massage glow. Packed with nourishing botanicals, antioxidant-rich oils and soothing aromatherapy blends, these newest…
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