Dan Clark Audio shipped the NOIRE X for review in December last year, and I spent a good amount of time just listening to it before I had to fly out of the country for CES. I was using some IEMs and a set of ANC Bluetooth headphones during my time away, and came back to realize just how much more comfortable the NOIRE X was. In fact, I would even say these have high enough passive isolation to work against droning noises in the mids—think loud talking groups of people and crying babies—too. Helping further is the part where they collapse into an easily transportable form factor, so I am actually contemplating using them on trains even if I would still want a good set of ANC headphones on planes to help cut down the cabin noise more. Thank you for attending my Ted talk on using the DCA NOIRE X in public transportation, and now we return to the actual conclusion to this review.

It seems that 2024 has been the year of the trickle down tech in consumer audio, at least if HIFIMAN and Dan Clark Audio are anything to go by. The former now has three "unveiled" open-back headphones, starting with the most expensive and going down in price all within a matter of months. DCA has been more deliberate in its approach, with the STEALTH having released in 2021 for $4000, followed by the open-back EXPANSE in 2022 and the CORINA in early 2023. The trickle down part thus began in Dec 2023 with the E3, now offering DCA's innovating AMTS-based tuning technology for $2000 while also providing a sound signature which many, to this day, maintain is the benchmark for closed-back headphones irrespective of price. A year later, we saw the NOIRE X come out at $1000—25% the cost of the STEALTH that heralded the AMTS tech—and giving you more than just a taste of what a flagship set of closed-back headphones sound like. It goes without saying then that this has only been made possible thanks to the highly successful STEALTH and E3 before, allowing DCA to scale up and develop the new drivers and AMTS designs for the AEON series of planar magnetic drivers, with the latest version used in the NOIRE X.

This means that the NOIRE X is not just a cut down STEALTH or E3, it in fact uses a completely different driver platform to begin with. The planar magnetic drivers are smaller here, as are the ear cups and pads to where the NOIRE X weighs less too. In fact, the ear pads are even fenestrated uniquely on just one of the inner surfaces, and we are well beyond the days when foam rolling was a concern with DCA ear pads. So these should not only last longer, they also conform better around the ears for a more consistent fit and seal. This adds to the overall comfort and ergonomic industrial design of the NOIRE X, whereas the smaller ear pad spacing also means any AMTS influences with your individual HRTF based on where your ears are located inside will be less of a variable too. I do wish these ear pads would get integrated on the AEON line sooner than later, as these are one of the bigger upgrades the NOIRE X has brought—AMTS being the biggest one. Then there's the part where, holding the $2000 E3 and the $1000 NOIRE X in my hands, I'd honestly pick the NOIRE X as a better looking and feeling set. Sure, the Gorilla Glass on the ear cups with the all black color scheme makes the NOIRE X not only pick up smudges and fingerprints easily but also displays them more prominently, yet the NOIRE X just looks so clean and appealing to me! Having the same headband system and collapsible frame here is a plus too. The E3 is still the better set of headphones for bass dynamics and overall smoothness, yet the NOIRE X holds up quite well to where it is a legitimate contender even at the $2000 price range, let alone the $1000 that it is priced at. It is now mid-Jan 2025 that I write this review, and the NOIRE X has already sold enough to be yet another commercial success for Dan Clark Audio. This is one of the easiest recommendations I have given to date, and I am curious to see what Dan Clark Audio comes up with next, now that it has effectively taken over the premium end of closed-back headphones.