The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire are a variant of the popular AEON 2 Closed series of headphones from the American headphone manufacturer. Sporting the brand's trademark teardrop-shaped ear cups, this variant introduces perforated Japanese synthetic protein leather earpads and a sleek, all-black finish. These planar magnetic headphones are also constructed from premium materials, like titanium, aluminum, and carbon fiber, and can be configured with a variety of different cable and connector types.
Our Verdict
The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire aren't suitable for sports and fitness. Their bulky design and twin-span headband frame mean they aren't very stable on the head and can easily fall off in motion. While they're decently comfortable, it's easy to snag the thick cable on something while running, and it can be a pain to sling the molded hard case in a gym bag.
Durable construction using premium materials.
Uneven weight distribution isn't comfortable for everyone.
Not very stable.
The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire are passable travel headphones. They aren't the most portable, but they at least fold up neatly into their case. While you won't be able to stash them in your coat pocket, the sturdy hard case can easily fit alongside your clothes in a carry-on suitcase. They're comfortable enough to wear for long periods, too, though it may take some time to adjust to their bottom-heavy feel. As with many wired audiophile headphones, there's no ANC system, so you'll have to make do with the passive attenuation provided by their closed-back design. It's enough to tamp down on some higher frequency noise, like subway chatter, but no match for the roar of an airplane engine. Depending on your preferred listening volume, you might want to pack a portable headphone amp too, to ensure these headphones get the power they need.
Durable construction using premium materials.
Uneven weight distribution isn't comfortable for everyone.
The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire aren't well-suited to office work. While they're decently comfortable, the bottom-heavy weight distribution does take some time to get used to and may not be suitable for long workdays at first. They also won't block out too much of the din of a busy office, though their closed-back design can tamp down on some idle chatter. If you like to use your work headphones for calls, the lack of an integrated mic prevents these headphones from being your go-to pair.
Durable construction using premium materials.
Uneven weight distribution isn't comfortable for everyone.
Poor frequency response consistency.
Not very stable.
The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire can't be used wirelessly.
The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire are passable for wired gaming. Their balanced sound profile follows the Harman curve closely, for a slightly exaggerated sound that can bring out footsteps while still revealing details in the high-end. Ideally, you'd want to connect them to an amp to ensure they have enough power, given their lower sensitivity. They're decently comfortable too, once you get used to the bottom-heavy design, so you can wear them for extended gaming sessions. Sadly, they're hampered by poor frequency response consistency: having a larger head, long hair, or wearing glasses can result in large deviations in bass delivery. They don't offer a particularly immersive sound either, though they're able to offer some perception of space in your game audio.
Choice of cables available at purchase.
Included tuning pads can subtly alter the sound.
Uneven weight distribution isn't comfortable for everyone.
Poor frequency response consistency.
The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire are decent for audio reproduction accuracy. They have a balanced, Harman-tuned sound that can be subtly altered using the included tuning pads. Sadly, the frequency response deviates quite a bit from their sound profile, most notably in the treble range, where some sharp peaks in the mid and high treble can introduce some extra sibilance and hiss into vocals and cymbals. The L/R drivers are mostly well-matched, though there's some frequency response mismatch in the treble region, which can subtly shift this range to the right. There's no audible harmonic distortion or audible group delay issues to speak of either. The headphones' biggest caveat is their poor frequency response consistency. If you have a normal-sized head, you'll experience consistent audio delivery, but other head sizes or features like long hair or glasses will affect the seal and consequently the bass response.
The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire are disappointing for noise isolation. Their closed-back design is capable of attenuating some treble-range sounds, but you're still at the mercy of bass and mid-range sounds, like revving engines and honking horns. This means they won't do much to isolate you from common scenarios, especially airplane cabins and noisy offices. While they don't leak as much as open-back headphones, others around you will still notice some mid-range leakage, especially in quieter environments.
The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire don't have a built-in microphone.
The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire have poor frequency response consistency. They're able to deliver audio quite consistently between reseats, but certain physical characteristics will interact with their fit to cause fluctuations in bass delivery. If you have a fairly normal-sized head, this won't affect you as much, but those with larger or smaller heads, as well as those who wear glasses or have long hair, will experience potentially substantial deviations in bass delivery.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Feb 05, 2026:
We've updated the review to mention the Fostex TH900mk2 Limited Edition in the Frequency Response Consistency box.
- Updated Aug 27, 2025: Review published.
- Updated Aug 20, 2025: Early access published.
- Updated Aug 12, 2025: Our testers have started testing this product.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire are a variant of the Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Closed, adding perforated Japanese synthetic protein leather earpads and an all-black colorway to the stock configuration (here's a picture of their label). Our unit is, as the name implies, finished in 'Black,' and there are no other color variants of this particular model.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire are closed-back planar magnetic headphones targeting the high-end audiophile market. Facing stiff competition from other manufacturers, they offer a relatively excited sound, with a boomy low-end, and a mid-treble peak calling to mind open-backs like the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO. Other closed-back planar magnetics like the Audeze LCD-S20 opt for a much darker treble with less bass, albeit at a lower price point. They're also more comfortable and deliver audio more consistently, but our unit has poor bass-range group delay. The HiFiMan Arya Stealth Magnet Version occupy a middle ground between the Dan Clark and the Audeze, with a slightly brighter treble response with some low-bass roll-off. The HiFiMan's triangular ear cups vaguely resemble the Dan Clark's but are open-back: allowing for a wider, more immersive sound that'll leak into your surroundings much more.
If you want to research a buying decision further, check out the best closed-back headphones, the best audiophile headphones, and the best headphones for music.
The FIIO FT1 are a solid budget-friendly alternative to the Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire. These closed-back, over-ears have somewhat different sound profiles: both have plenty of low-end on tap, but the Dan Clark are more excited in the treble range. While this extra treble can be good for revealing extra detail in recordings, it can also be fatiguing over long listening sessions. Despite being a fraction of the price, the FIIO perform better in many sound-related tests. They have better driver-matching, their frequency response deviates less from their sound profile, and they have a slightly more open sound. The Dan Clark are undeniably better built, though, using high-end materials like titanium and carbon fiber in their construction. Both headphones are poor choices if you wear glasses or have a larger head, due to their less-than-ideal frequency response consistency.
The Audeze LCD-S20 and the Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire are both closed-back, audiophile headphones equipped with planar magnetic drivers. Perhaps the biggest difference between them is in their frequency response. The Dan Clark have an excited sound that boosts the treble and bass ranges, while the Audeze rolls off a bit of low-end and quite a lot of treble, for a darker sound. Both headphones suffer from poor frequency response consistency, meaning they're highly sensitive to placement and anatomy, but the Audeze have better-matched drivers, and their response has fewer fluctuations from their sound profile. They're also more comfortable. The Dan Clark come with a nicer case, though, as well as tuning pads you can use to subtly alter the sound.
The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire are a good closed-back alternative to the HiFiMan Arya Stealth Magnet Version. Their respective sound profiles aren't as different as their enclosures might suggest, though the Dan Clark offer a more substantial low-end and a brighter mid-treble response. While the HiFiMan's treble range is less pronounced, it does suffer from a significant dip between the high-mid and low-treble. If you can live with the leakage and poor noise isolation that's inherent to open-back designs, the HiFiMan offer better value for audio reproduction accuracy, though, with better driver matching, fewer peaks and dips in their response, and a much better frequency response consistency.
The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire and Fostex TH900mk2 Limited Edition are both premium hi-fi enthusiast headphones. Both have a closed-back design, though the Fostex features dynamic drivers while the DCA headphones use planar dynamic ones instead. The DCA have a little more bass on tap relative to their treble, though your listening experience will depend on how well the headphones fit on your head, as they're more susceptible to frequency response consistency issues that affect bass delivery. While the DCA are more comfortable and come with a hard case, the Fostex have better build quality (though neither option is poorly constructed).
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