Today, Marcus reviews the Dan Clark Audio NOIRE XO, the latest open-back AMTS-equipped planar magnetic headphones in the company’s AEON Series. They are priced at $1299.99.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for our honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or status. I thank Dan Clark Audio for their support.
Click here to read more about Dan Clark Audio products we have previously reviewed on Headfonics.
This article follows our latest scoring guidelines, which you can read in more detail here.
The Dan Clark Audio NOIRE XO is an excellent benchmark for open-back planar headphones at this price point.
It does things a little differently from the closed-back X, eschewing the generally high-contrast, more explosive sound of the former for a smoother, more agreeable sound signature that pairs with a far wider range of amplifiers.
As sure as there is a Dan Clark Audio closed-back headphone launched, the open-back version is never far behind. And that is precisely the case here with the closed-back NOIRE X coming out in early 2025, followed by the new NOIRE XO open-back version.
There is a price difference between the two; they are not exact matches. The NOIRE XO retails at $1299.99, which places it a rung below the E3 but a bit above the $999.99 closed-back version.
I found the NOIRE X excellent value, righting some of the faults I had from the original closed-back AEON 2 NOIRE, a pre-AMTS model launched a few years ago.
I still have the even older AEON 2 open-back in the office from 2020, so I am keen to hear how much more the NOIRE XO offers over the original, plus how it differs from all the other NOIREs currently available in this review.
Features
As with the X, the NOIRE XO is a mid-tier planar headphone, but this time it has an open-back acoustic design and incorporates DCA’s AMTS technology.
Also, consistent with the X is the improved 62mm x 34mm single-ended planar magnetic driver with the latest iteration of DCA’s V-Planar Technology, as well as the trademark lightweight design features such as the Nitinol headband, padded pressure strap, and the teardrop cup form factor.
DCA has yet to release a similar open-back version of the E3, so the next step up in the open range of headphones is the flagship EXPANSE, and truth be told, its exterior does look a little like a ‘baby EXPANSE’.
The NOIRE XO is also the first AEON open-back to include DCA’s Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System, or AMTS technology, so original AEON 2 open-back owners can put away their tuning pads if they are upgrading.
Now, I have gone through the technical side of AMTS many times before, so I will skip the inner workings of these highly programmable honeycomb wedges.
The more relevant aspect of NOIRE XO AMTS implementation is the claim that it measures almost true to the Harman Target Curve from one end of the Frequency spectrum to the other.
Perhaps more so than the NOIRE X because of the lack of closed cup resonance.
From the various measurements I have seen and been supplied with, I would say the NOIRE XO comes pretty close to achieving that goal, more so than many other competing headphones.
The NOIRE XO is slightly less efficient than the X at 16Ω over 13Ω but otherwise provides a similar sensitivity rating of SPL of 94 dB/mW. That likely means it still needs a decent amplifier to obtain an optimal performance.
Design
The NOIRE XO form factor is unmistakably AEON in size and shape, but the all black finish and recessed honeycomb open-back cup plates look like they have been drawn from the flagship EXPANSE.
It does not have quite the same frame complexity as the EXPANSE cup rings, but the aesthetic is similar and adds more character over the glossy black plates of the NOIRE X.
It also has a nice tactile feel to it when you run your fingers over the cups, and they are also much less fingerprint-friendly than the closed-back version.
The NOIRE XO’s trademark folding articulation is always an excellent feature of the DCA headphone lineup.
It still amazes me how compact these headphones can get when you fold them. I cannot think of a headphone in the market today that can reduce its size in such a dramatic manner.
And it is a silent system, meaning no flex noises or squeaks. A testimony to some of those subtle design changes first seen in the NOIRE X, such as the improved half-gimbal headband joint block, which is thicker and stronger than the older NOIRE version.
Other areas of the NOIRE XO design that have also been drawn from the flagships include the new pressure strap system, similar in many ways to the EXPANSE but just trimmed down in size.
The older AEON 2 series strap was a thin construction, perfectly functional, but with less memory retention and padding, with poorer support compared to the new version.
The NOIRE XO strap feels more premium, with a wider form factor, contoured memory foam, and a branded stitched finish on the upper. It feels firmer on the head than the older design and requires no manual adjustment to correct the fitting.
Comfort
As always with these AEON form factors, the NOIRE XO fit and comfort on my head are excellent. I have very little to complain about here, as they fit my head almost perfectly.
They are a little heavier than the NOIRE X at 408g over 385g, but it’s negligible, and I doubt you will notice a difference when they are on your head.
What you might notice, however, is the slight reduction in lateral pressure from the closed-back version. The NOIRE XO seems to have a reduced level of tension in the pressure strap, perhaps a slightly different shape to the pressure strap, giving it a looser feel on the side of my head.
I suspect the X version has tighter clamping to increase the isolation performance, which is not required with the open-back NOIRE XO. This has allowed DCA to lean back on clamping, producing an even more comfortable wearing experience.
The NOIRE XO also has the new, deeper hybrid Alcantara synthetic suede and Japanese protein leather ear pads first seen on the X. So far, they have proven to be more durable than the older AEON pads, which suffered from a bit of memory foam sag and roll over time.
They also have a wider contact surface than the older pads and provide a firmer but more comfortable feel on the side of my head for longer listening periods, sans sweat buildup.
Stock Cable
My NOIRE XO sample came with a single ‘Dummer’ cable terminated with legacy hirose connectors and a 4.4mm balanced jack.
You can also change the jack to SE or XLR depending on your preference or upgrade to the better-performing VIVO version for an additional $200-$250, depending on the length of the cable.
The NOIRE XO stock DUMMER cable is a 6-foot silver-plated OFHC with Kevlar shielding and rubber sheathing and terminated with easy-locking hirose connectors.
It is not as flashy as the VIVO’s nylon jacket finish, but it is a lightweight and durable cable. The handling control is excellent with no twisting or memory retention and zero microphonics.
Packaging & Accessories
The NOIRE XO packaging is DCA consistent and largely unchanged from the NOIRE X right down to the NOIRE branding on the front of the carry case.
The folding capability of the NOIRE XO allows DCA to produce a fairly compact box for shipping compared to the competition. That includes those dinky little carrying cases they have been refining for years now.
The NOIRE X headphones are stored in a compact zipped carry case with just enough space and no more to keep the folded headphones securely in place.
Unfortunately, there is little room for anything else, including the cable. If there were a way to integrate a cable canopy or a recessed compartment in the base of the case, that would be ideal.
Aside from some necessary protective foam layering inside the box, the NOIRE XO unboxing is frugal. You get some warranty leaflets and the cable in a velvet black pouch, and that is it.
Click on page 2 below for my sound impressions and recommended pairings.
