Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire  Headphones Review

The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire have a balanced sound profile that's tuned to the Harman over-ear target (not to be confused with the Harman In-Ear Target within our multi-curve tool). It features a more emphasized mid-bass response compared to our target, with a pronounced peak at 10kHz. The headphones come with a variety of tuning pads that can be inserted into the earpads to slightly alter the sound, but we tested our unit without any tuning pads. It's worth bearing in mind that some of the treble-range differences between different pads can be attributed to differences in placement on our testing head, but certain pads do seem to change the tuning in the mid-range.

You can also download an EQ presets folder to help tweak the headphones' frequency response to more closely resemble target curves in our Graph Tool.

These headphones have disappointing frequency response consistency. Their ability to consistently reproduce audio is highly dependent on factors like your head size, hair length, and whether you wear glasses. Glasses-wearers, in particular, will notice a substantial drop off in bass as the arms of their glasses obstruct the seal. Conversely, if your head is larger or smaller than average or you have longer hair, you'll experience a slight boost in the bass range. Audio delivery remains mostly the same between different reseats, though.

The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire have fantastic compliance to our target in the bass range. The response is flush with our target in the low- and high-bass ranges, with a slightly boosted mid-bass response that brings out the thumpy kicks in tracks like Toro y Moi's Undercurrent.

The mid-range compliance is outstanding. The response is well-aligned with our target across the entire range. Consequently, vocals sound natural and articulate, and the timbre of stringed instruments, like guitars and violas, is rich and detailed.

The treble range compliance to our target is excellent. The response is quite even across the lower part of this range, though it's on the darker side, which can help soften brash cymbals. It's worth noting that there's some mismatch between the L/R drivers in this range, though, which can cause sibilant sounds to vary in prominence between channels. There's also a sharp peak between the mid and high treble that injects quite a bit of air and brilliance into the mix, which is particularly noticeable with breathy voices, like the lead vocals in Tamaryn's Cranekiss.

The peaks and dips performance is okay. There's very little deviation from the balanced sound profile in the bass and mid-range, but some fluctuations emerge in the treble range. Some peaks and valleys in the mid-treble range are defined by a mismatch between the L/R drivers, so the upper harmonics of vocals will sound clearer in the right channel than the left. This pattern extends into the mid treble, though there's a sharp peak at around 10kHz that adds an airy quality to acoustic guitar plucks. There's an even larger peak in the high treble, but we lose sensitivity to this range over time.

The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire have a good stereo mismatch performance. There's not much in the way of frequency response mismatch in the bass and mid-range, but this changes in the treble range, where the right side becomes slightly louder. While it's not immediately noticeable with all content, more astute listeners might pick up on this. There's some slight mismatch in the phase response too, in the low-mid region, though this isn't audible in real-life audio content. Still, it's worth pointing out that driver matching is dependent on quality control, so these results could be specific to our unit.

The group delay performance is adequate. Group delay falls under the audibility threshold for the most part, resulting in transparent transients throughout the range. While there's one spike in the bass range, it's not audible in real-life content and doesn't meaningfully impact the frequency range at all.

The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire have a non-negligible amount of interaction with the pinna, which indicates some sense of distance and size when listening to recordings. Their closed-back design and driver architecture mean they struggle to create the kind of immersive sound you'd expect from a pair of angled reference monitors, though.

These headphones have an excellent harmonic distortion performance. There's no audible coloration of your audio, both at regular and elevated listening levels.

You'll need an amp to get the best out of these headphones. While their impedance is quite low, their lower sensitivity means you'll need to drive them with either an amp or DAC to ensure high volume, full-spectrum audio reproduction.

These are the settings used to test these headphones. We didn't use any of the included tuning pads during testing. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.

The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire feature distinctive almond-shaped ear cups that are somewhat of a mainstay in the manufacturer's product line. As the product name implies, this model opts for a stealthy, all-black color way that sets it apart from others in the AEON line. The closed-back ear cups are accentuated by carbon fiber accents. The headband is also constructed of titanium, which sets these headphones apart from other over-ears, both in terms of aesthetics and durability. This version also features perforated Japanese synthetic protein leather ear cups, a weight distribution strap made of the same material, and a choice of cable and connection type.

These headphones are decently comfortable, aided by their lightweight, premium construction. There's very little clamping force or pressure applied to the top of your head, and the large, teardrop ear cups have an ergonomic shape. However, the lightweight headband and featherweight design do come with some notable caveats: the weight is very unevenly distributed and can mostly be felt at the base of the ear cups. This can make for a strange sensation when wearing them, as if the headphones are constantly fighting their way upwards.

These headphones are fairly bulky and take up a fairly large surface area. That said, they can be folded into a remarkably compact shape that allows them to fit neatly into their case. In this shape, they take up more vertical space than some audiophile headphones but minimize their horizontal length.

These headphones come with an excellent hard case that's molded to perfectly fit the headphones' shape when folded. The headphones' premium construction extends to the case as well, which feels sturdy and has a nice feel to the zipper. There's not much space within the case to fit accessories, like the cable, though. Fortunately, there's a pouch included that can house any accessories.

The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire have a great build quality, utilizing durable materials for a premium feel. The headband is made from titanium with a synthetic leather headband. The ear cups are made of perforated Japanese synthetic leather, with carbon fiber baffles. The use of carbon fiber is extended to the accents on the ear cups, too, which calls to mind high-end sports cars. Our unit came with the 1/8" TRS to 4-pin DUMMER cable with "Hirose-style" connector, which feels thick and durable, with solid connection points. In terms of weak points, it's possible the headband joints could become damaged while folding inwards to fit in the case. In fact, the manual specifically mentions folding both sides at the same time to avoid damaging the headphones. There's no IP or IK rating, so it's best to avoid dropping these headphones or bringing them in contact with water or dust.

As with many audiophile headphones, the Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire aren't very stable on your head. Their lightweight design and twin-span headband frame makes for a very flexible design that allows for a lot of movement on the head. As a result, even lightly shaking your head can result in changes to the fit, which can, in turn, influence the sound.

• Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire
• Certificate of Authenticity
• Quick user guide
• Hard case
• Pouch
• Microfiber cleaning cloth
• 4x sets of tuner pads (one is on the headphones, so it's not pictured)
• 1/8" TRS to 4-pin DUMMER cable with "Hirose-style" connector (2 m/6.6 ft)
• 1/8" TRS to 1/4" TRS screw-on adapter 

These headphones do a poor job of attenuating external noise. They lack an ANC system and instead rely on their closed-back design to isolate you. While they do a better job at this than open-back headphones, they attenuate very little bass-range noise (the amplified bass range is a byproduct of our testing process and doesn't reflect their performance). They fare better when it comes to treble-range noises, though it's not quite enough to drown out a nearby conversation.

These headphones have a poor noise isolation performance in common scenarios. They struggle to attenuate throbbing aircraft engines, as well as the hubbub of a busy office. However, they fare slightly better when it comes to a busy street, tamping down on the sound of zipping cars and honking horns.

They have a mediocre leakage performance. While their closed-back design ensures that those nearby aren't totally at the mercy of whatever tunes you're blasting, there's still some leakage that's more pronounced in the mid-range. It'll also be more audible in quieter environments, like a calm co-working space.

These headphones come with a variety of cable options that you can choose from when purchasing them. Ours came with a detachable (2 m/6.6 ft) 1/8" TRS to 4-pin DUMMER cable, with a 1/4" TRS screw-on adapter, which allows it to connect to both mobile and professional end devices. The cable features a "Hirose-style" connector, which snaps to lock into the receptacle on the headphones and can be removed by sliding the boot down to unlock it.

These headphones can be plugged directly into your PC via the audio input, though you'll need to make sure your PC soundcard can provide enough power for them.

You can use these headphones with PlayStation family consoles by plugging directly into the controller, though output might be on the lower side unless you introduce an amp into your chain. Just be aware that you'll need a standalone mic if you want to communicate with your teammates.

You can connect the Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire to Xbox family consoles using the included audio cable, but you might need a headphone amp to achieve higher volume levels. There's no built-in mic, though, so you'll need to pick up a standalone mic or an aftermarket cable that includes an in-line mic.