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.
Danish design house Fritz Hansen and Japanese audio specialist Technics have joined forces on a limited-edition collaboration that ostensibly explores the relationship between light and sound. Previewed at the annual 3daysofdesign 2026 festival in Copenhagen, the partnership combines a special edition of Fritz Hansen’s KAISER idell lamp with a matching Technics turntable, both finished in…
This time out, The Luxe Review podcast lends an ear to the latest developments in personal audio. Join our AI hosts as they recap TLR’s recent headphone coverage, including a review of Sony’s new WH-1000X flagship cans, and a literal paint swatch of new colourways from JBL and Technics… Anne: The team has been covering…
The right Father’s Day gift isn’t always about extravagance, it’s about the gesture. A well-chosen gift says: I know what you love. And yes, I noticed that your favourite aftershave ran out three months ago. In this guide, we’ve done the hard work for you, scouring the shelves, scrolling the sites, and calling in a…
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.
Fritz Hansen and Technics unite light and sound in limited-edition burgundy collaboration
Danish design house Fritz Hansen and Japanese audio specialist Technics have joined forces on a limited-edition collaboration that ostensibly explores the relationship between light and sound. Previewed at the annual 3daysofdesign 2026 festival in Copenhagen, the partnership combines a special edition of Fritz Hansen’s KAISER idell lamp with a matching Technics turntable, both finished in…
The Luxe Review Podcast: These new headphones are designed to turn heads
This time out, The Luxe Review podcast lends an ear to the latest developments in personal audio. Join our AI hosts as they recap TLR’s recent headphone coverage, including a review of Sony’s new WH-1000X flagship cans, and a literal paint swatch of new colourways from JBL and Technics… Anne: The team has been covering…
61 of the best luxury Father’s Day gifts: watches, booze, fashion, experiences and tech treats
The right Father’s Day gift isn’t always about extravagance, it’s about the gesture. A well-chosen gift says: I know what you love. And yes, I noticed that your favourite aftershave ran out three months ago. In this guide, we’ve done the hard work for you, scouring the shelves, scrolling the sites, and calling in a…
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