Dan Clark Audio’s first fully in-house headphone was the MrSpeakers ETHER Open Back Planar Magnetic Headphone, and a more appropriately named headphone was not to be found; it redefined what an open-back planar magnetic headphone could sound like and feel like and in a very real sense be. It was light, easy to drive, had a very neutral tonal balance, and an open, airy soundstage. That was followed by the Flow upgrade, which decreased distortion and improved detail and speed. Next came the MrSpeakers AEON Flow Open Headphones, which provided the same open back tonal balance of the ETHER at a considerable savings both in price and weight. This was followed by a long-awaited upgrade to the original ETHER, the MrSpeakers ETHER² Open Back Orthodynamic Headphone, which became my default casual listening headphone due to its comfort and warm sonic profile. Next up was the Dan Clark Audio AEON2 Open Headphones, which involved an improvement in driver and the introduction of the fold-up headband. Then came the flagship reference model, the Dan Clark Audio EXPANSE headphone, whose extreme detail, speed, accuracy, comfort, and soundstage make it my favorite reference open-back planar magnetic headphone to this date. But wait, there’s more, the ETHER² being a bit long in the tooth now (at least in Dan Clark Audio years), there is the New Dan Clark Audio NOIRE XO Open Back Planar Magnetic Headphone, offering an open back answer to the Dan Clark Audio NOIRE X Closed Back Planar Magnetic Headphone, and filling that mid priced reference open back slot.

The Dan Clark Audio NOIRE XO Open Back Planar Magnetic Headphone

The Dan Clark Audio NOIRE XO is an open back variant of the Dan Clark Audio NOIRE X integrating Dan Clark Audio’s state-of-the-art Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System (AMTS) with an improved driver. Featuring a dramatic black-on-black aesthetic, improved ear pads, a self-adjusting headband, and the same inner grills as the EXPANSE, the NOIRE XO is designed to set a new standard in midrange headphone performance, comfort, and value.

Dan Clark Audio designed the NOIRE XO  around an updated and improved AEON audio driver. The new driver is significantly more rigid than its 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, including a new manufacturing process combined with highly optimized V-Planar knurling to deliver a remarkably smooth frequency response with low distortion throughout the listening range.

Leveraging a state-of-the-art Audio Precision 555B and B&K 5128 measurement system, Dan Clark Audio carefully integrated the NOIRE XO’s new driver with their patent-pending AMTS and redesigned ear pads using Alcantara synthetic suede on the contact surface to reduce 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.

 This is coupled with Dan Clark Audio’s self-tensioning headband, which reduces listening fatigue by distributing pressure evenly across the listener’s head for a balanced, barely-there fit. The uniform pressure distribution helps prevent hotspots and pressure points in order to make the NOIRE XO ideal for long hours of immersive listening, free from adjustments or strain.

Dan Clark Audio offers a comprehensive range of cable terminations at the base price, including combo 1/4″ and 3.5mm tips, 4-pin XLR, and 4.4mm for the NOIRE XO and for those seeking more flexibility in cable length and termination Dan Clark Audio’s ultra-premium VIVO cables, are available in multiple lengths with multiple termination options.

“Key NOIRE XO features:

1) Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System (AMTS) for unrivaled high-frequency accuracy and resolution

2) NOIRE XO is one of the few open headphones that can follow the Harman target curve through the entire frequency spectrum. Most open-back headphones are incapable of producing the bass output expected from the Harman curve, making this technical accomplishment even more significant

3) New driver design for improved consistency and reliability vs prior generation AEON 2 headphones

4) Updated ear pads with new features to reduce foam movement within the pad, as well as an Alcantara suede surface where the ear pad rests on the head for improved comfort

5) Incorporation of our critically acclaimed self-tensioning headband

6) Reduced distortion for improved clarity and a smoother overall sound

7) Folds for convenient transport in the included compact carry case” (quoted from Dan Clark Audio)

Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System

Previously found only in their top-of-the-line STEALTH, EXPANSE, E3, and CORINA headphones,  Dan Clark Audio’s critically acclaimed AMTS tuning system 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 many headphones. By eliminating these standing waves, the NOIRE XO with AMTS is able to deliver remarkably balanced, nuanced, and airy treble free of fatiguing artifacts.

Living with the Dan Clark Audio NOIRE XO Open Back Planar Magnetic Headphone

I burned in the Dan Clark Audio NOIRE XO Open Back Planar Magnetic Headphone using the FX-Audio R07 Plus Headphone Amplifier and the Schiit Audio Gungnir 2 DAC, both of which will be subject of near future reviews and as such, I did my initial listening with this combination. In a departure from my usual habit, after a day of general listening, I began my serious tests with a track recommended by Andy Regan, mostly because I am a David Sylvian fan, and I hadn’t heard it before; “I Surrender” (“Everything And Nothing” – 16-bit/44.1 kHz – Qobuz). The soundstage was both intimate and massive. The acoustic piano was ethereal and had a Yamaha feel with quite a bit of distance between the Listener and the piano in a large room, while the electric piano said Rhodes (a little research showed the Rhodes to be Ryuichi Sakamoto).

This was so enjoyable that I followed this up with his second suggestion, Christian Kjellvander’s “About Love and Loving Again” (“About Love and Loving Again” – 16-bit/44.1 kHz – Qobuz) which turned out to be a “mostly live” recording featuring drums by Per Nordmark, keyboards by  Pelle Andersson,  with guitar and vocal provided by Christian Kjellvander. There was a immense sense of space with this recording. Cymbals gave great shimmer without spit.

Being in a mind to listen to favored artist I haven’t experienced in a while I cued up Stan Ridgway’s “Mr. Trouble” (16-bit/44.1 kHz – Qobuz). The violin and sax on “The Drowning Man” were soulful and heart-wrenching in a massive space.

Figuring it was time to scale up to the Schiit Lyr+ Tube Amp (also in for review), I selected the 24-bit/96 kHz release of “Pink Floyd at Pompeii” on Qobuz; it was like sitting on the edge of the stage, dynamic and punchy. The ring off of the ride cymbal was crisp and sustained, never blurred. The bass and the kick drum had oodles of impact.

The sub-bass on “Non Mi Lasciare” by Dario Baldan Bembo  (“70 Italia” – 16-bit/44.1 kHz) was epic, deep and articulate, unlike any open back headphone I have listened to.

At this point in time it is necessary to judge timbre and tonal balance and that can only properly be done with classical music, which for me means my favored test track “The Firebird Suite” as performed by Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra from the Telarc album “Stravinsky: The Firebird; Borodin: Music from Prince Igor” (24-bit/96 kHz vinyl rip). The opening rumble of the celli was quite palpable, as were the tympani strikes. The image was laser sharp, with each musician solidly in place and excellent separation of the performers in a vast hall. The wall reflections had depth and direction. The oboe, violin, flute, and English horn each displayed its own individual personality as they wove together in the tapestry of sound. While overall there was a warmth to the bottom end, the timbre of the individual instruments as well as the string and horn ensembles, was very realistic and natural. Speed and clarity were excellent, especially the tympani rolls and wood blocks. Even during the crescendos, the sense of individual instrumentation remained with no blurring.  And again, the dynamics were impressive.

Before I drew my conclusions, I felt I needed to do a couple of direct comparisons, the first being the Dan Clark Audio EXPANSE, and secondly the NOIRE XO’s brother the NOIRE X. For this comparison I chose my other default test track “Can-utility And The Coastliners” (“Foxtrot” – Genesis – DSD). To make things more fair, I used the Dan Clark Audio VIVO Super-Premium Headphone Cable for all three (which is available as an accessory from Dan Clark Audio). With the NOIRE XO, the soundstage was wide and three-dimensional, the triangle came through clearly, and the bass and sub-bass had great authority. Clarity was extreme without distortion, brightness, or harshness. Once again, the cymbals had epic shimmer with fantastic attack and decay. Switching to the EXPANSE, a little more power was required, Peter’s vocal was a little more intimate, and the bass presentation was a bit more robust. Interestingly, while the cymbals exhibited the same attack and decay, they were a bit more recessed into the background, and the drums seemed a little more distant. Finally, with the NOIRE X as one would expect from a closed back, everything was a bit tighter, clearer, with a much deeper bass, but not as pronounced, with a bit more presence in the midrange.

Conclusions on the Dan Clark Audio NOIRE XO Open Back Planar Magnetic Headphone

For openers, the Dan Clark Audio NOIRE XO Open Back Planar Magnetic Headphone is an apt and epic replacement for the ETHER². It provides that same fun, popish warm sound, while adding a whole layer of detail and clarity, and reaching down into sub-bass territory usually allocated to closed-back headphones. Dan Clark Audio has done it again, the NOIRE XO definitely qualifies as a must-hear mid-priced reference headphone. It always astonishes me that every time they set a new bar in headphone performance, they are later able to shatter that bar with something new that makes you wonder how you were satisfied with the old sound for so long, though admittedly, for Dan Clark Audio, it’s not all that long between revelations.

Back when I first reviewed the original AEON Open, when the ETHER C Flow and ETHER Flow were the pinnacle of headphone performance, I said that if I was just entering the market and didn’t already have the ETHER C Flow, I would buy the AEON Open and AEON Closed rather than the ETHER C Flow, because they gave 90% of the performance and offered both sonic profiles. And today I am happy to say that the same applies to the NOIRE XO and NOIRE X, if you only have a budget for one $4,000 headphone, you would be better served to buy the pair of Dan Clark Audio headphones. Of course, if you have the $8,000 budget, go for the EXPANSE and the STEALTH, they remain my top reference headphones, though I only own the EXPANSE.

Congratulations to Dan Clark Audio for another miracle performed.

Price: $1,299

Manufacturer’s Website: https://danclarkaudio.com/

Key specs:

Weight: 408gr

Efficiency: ~94dB/mW

Recommended minimum power at 16 ohms: 250mW