Dan Clark Audio
Noire XO Open-Back Headphones
$1,299.00 USDFeatures
One of few open headphones that follows the Harman target curve through the entire frequency spectrum
Improved driver design for better consistency and reliability compared to prior AEON 2 headphones
Updated ear pads with reduced foam movement and Alcantara suede contact surface for enhanced comfort
Self-tensioning headband that distributes pressure evenly to prevent hot spots during long listening sessions
Significantly reduced distortion for improved clarity and smoother overall sound
Foldable design for convenient transport in the included compact carry case
Unique bass response profile comparable to closed headphones, rare for open-back designs
Expansive soundstage with precise imaging and crystal-clear layering of instruments and voices
Rich, well-balanced tone with powerful, clean bass uncommon in open designs
Video
What's in the Box?
Warranty
NOIRE XO updates Dan Clark's iconic AEON 2 open by integrating DCA’s state-of-the-art Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning SystemTM (AMTSTM) with an improved driver, all carefully wrapped in a gorgeous ergonomically-enhanced design. NOIRE XO’s dramatic black-on-black aesthetic, improved ear pads, self-adjusting headband, and beautiful open cups sumptuously hint at the numerous exciting upgrades within, all designed to maximize your listening pleasure. With NOIRE XO, DCA sets a new standard in midrange headphone performance, comfort, and value!
NOIRE XO is a unique open headphone in that it is one of very few designs that can actually track the industry standard Harman target curve. What does this mean for the listener? For starters, this is one of the very few planar magnetic headphone designs that can actually produce a truly balanced sound signature, with the powerful bass more typically associated with closed back designs. But that bass doesn’t come at the expense of soundstage and clarity!
NOIRE XO is designed around our new updated and improved NOIRE audio driver. The new driver is significantly more rigid than it’s predecessor, with superior unit to unit consistency, reduced distortion, improved reliability, and smoothed frequency response. Extensive R&D investments were made to optimize other aspects of NOIRE XO’s planar driver. New manufacturing processes combined with highly optimized V-Planar knurling deliver a remarkably smooth frequency response with low distortion throughout the listening range, achieving levels of detail heretofore found primarily in our top-of-the-line headphones. Leveraging our state-of-the-art Audio Precision 555B and B&K 5128 measurement system, we’ve carefully integrated NOIRE XO’s new driver with our patent-pending AMTS and redesigned ear pads to create an experience we’re sure you’ll never forget.
Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System
Perhaps the most important feature of NOIRE XO is the addition of DCA’s critically-acclaimed AMTS tuning system, previously found only in our top-of-the-line Stealth, Expanse, E3 and Corina headphones. Truly a revolution in acoustic engineering, AMTS uses advanced metamaterial design concepts to shape system frequency response while simultaneously eliminating high-frequency standing waves, which are responsible for the synthetic-sounding high frequencies found in all too many headphones. By eliminating these standing waves, NOIRE XO with AMTS delivers remarkably balanced, nuanced, and airy treble free of the fatiguing artifacts that diminish your listening experience.
Self-Tensioning Headband
Our self-tensioning headband reduces listening fatigue by distributing pressure evenly across your head for a balanced, barely-there fit. The uniform pressure distribution helps prevent hot-spots and pressure-points, making NOIRE XO ideal for long hours of immersive listening, free from adjustments or strain. NOIRE XO’s striking minimalist aesthetic is completed with the tone-on-tone understated NOIRE XO logo.
Luxurious Comfort with Upgraded Ear Pads
NOIRE XO includes all-new ear pads to ensure an exceptionally comfortable experience. Using Alcantara synthetic suede on the contact surface reduces heat and moisture buildup, ensuring cool comfort during extended listening sessions, even in warmer or more humid environments. In addition, the NOIRE XO Ear Pads are designed to reduce “foam rolling,” so the pads will have a longer usable life, and more consistent fit and operation. NOIRE XO Ear Pads are backwards compatible with our AEON 2 NOIRE, AEON RT Closed, and AEON 2 Closed headphones.
Enhanced Connectivity with Versatile Cable Options
NOIRE XO offers a comprehensive range of cable terminations, including combo 1/4" and 3.5mm, 4-pin XLR, and 4.4mm. For those seeking additional flexibility in cable length and termination, it’s easy to upgrade to our ultra-premium VIVO cables for more choices, including custom cable lengths. With these versatile cable options, you can pair your headphones with any amplifier, eliminating the need for costly third-party cables and ensuring you get the most out of your audio setup.
So You Ask: How Does NOIRE XO Sound?
We’ve gone all-in with NOIRE XO to deliver the most exciting possible sonic experience, regardless of price. As is our custom, we never de-feature a headphone at lower price points, instead we try to take the technology, comfort and performance of our flagship headphones and cost-reduce them to realize superior performance at lower prices. Combining our no-compromise audio performance ethic with an exciting new look and great ergonomics establishes NOIRE XO among the greatest value/performance ratio headphones in the market. Equally satisfying with all genres of music, NOIRE XO’s expansive soundstage, punchy bass, silky midrange, vibrantly smooth highs, and layers of detail will keep you engaged with your favorite music for days on end. Never fatiguing, NOIRE XO will have you revisiting your entire music library to experience your music like never before.
Specifications
- Weight
- 408g
- Impedance
- 16 ohms
- Efficiency
- ~94dB/mW
- Recommended Minimum Power
- 250mW
- Driver Type
- Planar magnetic with V-Planar knurling
- Design
- Open-back
- Ear Pad Material
- Memory foam with Alcantara suede contact surface
- Cable Connections
- VIVO-compatible for optional premium cable upgrades