AEON 2 Noire Planar Closed Back Portable Audiophile Headphones with 2m Dummer 3.5mm/1/4 Inch Cable (Black)

These headphones are very good but very power hungry. You will need some kind of amp. Also, pay no more than £900 brand new for these. That's the RRP. Don't let these dodgy prices fool you.

I purchased both the Aeon 2 Noire and the Noire X about six months apart, but for some reason I’m able to post just this one review under the Aeon 2 Noire. Continue reading for the Noire X review. (Aeon 2 Noire) I’ll make this short & sweet. They sounded marginally better than my Sennheiser HD 600s which, I realize are open back. The problem is they fit so poorly. I couldn’t turn my head without the ear cups sliding. I did buy them used “like new,” so maybe that has something to do with how they fit. I found they have absolutely no clamp force. Please don’t misunderstand me, they sounded amazing. But audio quality means nothing if they’re not wearable. As far as the sound goes, I heard deep, yet controlled bass with punchy (where appropriate) percussion. Very accurate mids. They were a little too bright, but three different sets of dampening pads are included, which help counter the brightness. I settled on the thickest pads. I was also able to EQ them (they required minimal tinkering). I’ve looked over other comments and haven’t noticed other complaints about clamp force, so it may have just been a defective unit, which could explain why the original owner was unhappy with them as well. Ultimately, I returned them. Hope that helps. (Noire X) I got a brand new pair of Noire X. I paired them with an IPhone 14 Pro Max and a FiiO BTR17 DAC/Amp The BTR17 puts out 300 mw per channel when using a 4.4 mm balanced cable. The Noire X needs that power. Dan Clark Audio recommends a minimum of 250 mw per channel. Anything less and they won’t reach their potential and you’ll likely be disappointed. If you don’t already have an amp or a DAP that has sufficient power, then suck it up, do the research, and buy one. You’ll be happy you did. COMFORT They are the second-most comfortable headphones I’ve ever worn (first are the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro, which I nearly prefer to wearing nothing!). The gigantic headband on the Noire X easily distributes the 385 grams over such a massive area that you never feel the weight. I also own a pair of Sony MDR-M1, which I believe weigh a feather-like 216 grams. The Noire X feel just about as light on my head. The ear pads, which are glued on, are very soft and supple. They conform gently and nicely to your head. My ears fit completely inside without touching the cups. There is minimal, yet sufficient clamp force. It honestly feels like you’re not wearing anything. I’ve worn them for hours and never once felt fatigued or warm. SOUND I was blown away from the moment I put them on. I used the BTR17’s preset EQ and tuned them to the Harman curve. I have flip flopped between that setting and an EQ bypass, but the upper treble needed some taming. So I used preset Harman settings and then went in with a scalpel and made some minor adjustments. The upper trebleI is not nearly as out of control as it is on the Aeon 2, but it is still a little spicy. I find the sound to be razor sharp, faster and more accurate than the Aeon 2’s sound, which already sounded excellent. I’d like to address the reviewer who complained about a lack of bass. First, did you give the cans sufficient power to drive them? Next, are you used to a dynamic driver? Planars won’t hit like a dynamic driver, but they will punch when the music calls for it, and the bass you do get will be faster, sharper and not at all muddy. It’s blissfully more accurate. But if you’re used to Bose or Sony’s latest Bluetooth offering, then it will take some getting used to before you realize that what you had been listening to had bloated, turbid bass. I used Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own” to do an A/B test between my Bose QC Ultra and the Noire X. No comparison. I also used a song off of Katy Perry’s Unplugged album. If I try and post the title, which includes the word “kissed”, the review may not get published. Anyway, the song begins with a very deep string instrument. It’s a great song to test your gear. The Noire X got very low, yet handled it like a champ. I also sampled “Oh, Me” by Nirvana (Unplugged album). The Noire X resolved the very low frequencies without ever sounding muddy. The Bose, with a flat signal, sounded bloated and muddy, but, yes, they may make the Noire X initially seem like they lack bass. If you’re used to a dynamic driver, then be a little patient and give your ears some time to adjust to the Noire X and you’ll appreciate their accuracy. My daily drivers had been divided between my Sennheiser HD 490 Pro and the HD 600, neither of which are tuned bass-heavy. There’s no comparison: the Noire X sound so much better than either. The Noire X have better instrument separation, are more detailed, and just sound more refined. Going from those two Sennheiser to the Noire X is like going from a TV with 1080 resolution to 4K. I don’t know how else to describe it. BUILD QUALITY They are built like a tank. Yes, the cups are fingerprint magnets. Either use the provided microfiber cloth to clean the cups, or try to avoid touching them. My only complaint about their build is that sometimes I get frustrated trying to fold them just right so they fit into their case…I’m quibbling. If that’s the worst thing I can say about these, then what are you waiting for, get a pair while they’re still available. Seriously, if you already own the Aeon 2 Noire, then I do not think the Noire X provide enough of an upgrade to justify the expense, unless the $800-$1100 means little to you. If, however, you have neither and are undecided, then buy the Noire X—you’ll be happy you did. Happy listening! Incidentally, I’m parting with both pair of my Sennheiser headphones…I can’t think of a reason to keep them. UPDATE: 02/16/26: I was attempting to put the folded headphones into the case the wrong way, which is why I was struggling. They are meant to go in upside down, and I was putting them in right side up. Still loving them. I think I’ve reached my endgame.

(Aeon 2 Noire) These are honestly the best headphones I've ever owned. They do require an amp, and they are neutral sounding enough that your source probably matters a lot more than you're used to. Any reviewer who says they are bad likely have them hooked up directly to a PC output or phone with less than powerful output. While they are portable, I suspect most phones can't really provide the necessary quality or power without a dac/amp. Trying it with a Galaxy S10+, the sound quality was OK, but the volume had to basically be cranked up to max to get anything useful out of them. This is not a detractor to me, it was expected before purchasing, but it's worth noting that you will need to spend some money on a source, they can't magically make your bad sound output or recording sound good. And the technology they are based on requires more power than regular drivers. I've been driving them with a Schiit Fulla E (listen at my PC mostly, EDIT: now a Schiit Hel 2E, the Fulla E is in the low range of power for these*), which is modestly priced and do a decent job. Finally if you are trying to decide between the Aeon 2 vs the Noire, the only difference is the color and ear pads. The pads make a big difference in sound, but they are interchangeable and can be purchased from Dan Clark audio if you wish to change the sound. The Aeon 2 pads make the performance more up close and intimate, while the perforated Noire pads give you more clarity with a somewhat more clinical sound and wider sound stage. Finally I'm no audio expert with Golden ears, so keep that in mind, just a guy with an opinion. * Since you are thinking of spending close to $1000 on headphones, you should probably invest in a good headphone amp regardless. My gaming DAC/amps are good but I'm sure you could spend a little more and get even better sound out of the Dan Clark Aeon Noire.

not what I expected

I've ordered these headphones in "used like new" condition from Gramophone. They arrived, as promised, in perfect condition. These headphones are amazing for their price. I've tested dozens of closed headphones in $4000 budget and these beat all their competitors in the $900 budget. They still lose to the top open models (like, obviously, my HIFIMAN HE1000 v2, or even lose a little to Beyerdynamic DT 990 Premium, although I'd say they are close), but again, this is the best closed-back model I've heard in $900 budget. Balanced, reference sound, amazing, naturally sounding, detailed highs with clear separation. Not fatiguing. The bass is maybe 1db higher than reference value, which is ideal to my taste. Very highly recommended.

These headphones are incredible to listen to. Incredibly balanced, immersive sound that offers whatever you could ask for. I will say that I used the lightest level of dampening foam to take the edge off of the treble, but everyone has their personal tastes, and I know that I am very treble sensitive. Two things to consider when you buy this headphone though. Number one being the music you listen to. These are exceptionally revealing and reward you for having well-recorded music. Number two being the 13 ohm resistance rating. This is very low, but don't take that to mean that they are easy to drive. These can screw with lower end and less powerful amplifiers. I honestly forget why I love these cans on small, low power portable amplifiers, but hook it to something with a couple of watts and these things shine. Overall, if you have the source and music choice, these could easily mean you don't have to spend any more on headphones.