Introduction

Of the many, many audio brands that exist today, very few have impressed me like Dan Clark Audio has. The DCA CORINA is an electrostatic set of open-back headphones which, when paired with my Headamp BHSE amplifier, has given me hundreds of hours of joy listening to music while I work. It's still the set I reach out to most today and earned my Editor's Choice award for a reason. Then there's the DCA STEALTH which changed my mind on how closed-back planar magnetic headphones can sound. It was the first from the brand, and indeed in any headphones from anyone, to use an acoustic metamaterial tuning system (AMTS) to enable an accurate reproduction of sound similar to speakers in a well-treated room. There was no planar magnetic driver timbre or treble peaking and I even appreciated the bass shelf despite my general preference for slightly less bass. Both of these are flagship headphones that cost $4000 or more though, so there was clearly some room for DCA's patent-pending technology to trickle down into a more affordable product.


Before the STEALTH, the ETHER C Flow was Dan Clark Audio's flagship closed-back set of headphones which was analogous to the ETHER 2 open-back set. I want to say that the ETHER 2, or E2 perhaps, was what Dan and his team was aiming to update, but the R&D process led to something closer to the STEALTH to where the latest from DCA is simply called E3 to not cause any confusion. A single look at the image above confirms the DCA E3 goes for the same D-shaped ear cup design that I liked from the STEALTH as well as the Aeon Closed X. This is a closed-back set that continues the use of the AMTS technology for fine-tuning the frequency response, has the same excellent headband system and, more importantly, costs half as much as the STEALTH. The Dan Clark Audio E3 has the potential to be a real winner thus, so let's thank Headphones.com for providing a review sample to TechPowerUp as we put it to the test today in our review which begins with a look at the product specifications in the table below.

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

The Dan Clark Audio E3 ships in an impressively small box which hints towards the more compact nature of the headphones when folded for transportation. The product box is made of thick cardboard that has a smooth black base and is quite clean throughout. The brand logo is seen on the front, with a sticker on the back confirming the E3 is inside in the specific cable configuration—connector and length—chosen. The serial number of the headphones is also seen here as is another sticker that also acts as a seal, keeping the box securely closed. This particular sticker refers to the E3 as the "E3 Closed" which makes me think perhaps there is an E3 Open coming out similar to the ETHER 2 and also to ensure the STEALTH/EXPANSE duo have more affordable siblings each. Open the box to see a thick foam sheet placed on top of the contents for added protection.


There is more foam inside and we see the storage/carry case right away. The accessories are placed alongside or underneath, be it a quick start guide going over the use and maintenance of these headphones or a certificate of authenticity printed in fancy font. One of my small complaints with the DCA STEALTH is how there is no room in the carry case for the headphones cable and DCA has addressed it somewhat here with the cable now found in its own soft fabric drawstring pouch, complete with the DCA logo on the front.


The storage/carry case for the Dan Clark Audio E3 is the same compact case that shipped with the STEALTH, except of course with the E3 branding on the front in blue. This is a hard case that can be easily tossed inside a backpack knowing it will safely protect the contents inside. There is a durable, branded zipper tag associated with a self-sealing zipper for added dust and spill resistance, and the body of the case itself is molded to fit these headphones quite nicely. Opening the case shows the headphones themselves fit in snugly—hence the separate pouch for the cable—and there is a foam sheet between the headband and the frame as well as a 3D-printed block placed between the ear pads to ensure the headphones arrive in perfect condition.