$2k Headphone Battle. Liric Vs. E3

When it comes to high-end portable audio, there are two new contenders, the Dan Clark Audio (DCA) E3, and Meze Liric 2. But which are best headphones for portable high-end audio? It's not always clear, so I ran them through audio gear ranging from the best USB "dongle" DACs up to high-end DACs and amps.
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You can buy the DCA E3 from these links, which supports my channel:
Audio46: www.hear.audio/go/E3Audio46
You can buy the Meze Liric 2 from these links, which also supports my channel:
Meze direct: mezeaudio.com/pages/liric?aff...
APOS: www.hear.audio/go/liric2apos
Other products mentioned in the video: (Affiliate links)
Chord Hugo 2 (Audio46): www.hear.audio/go/ChordHugo2A...
Woo Audio Tube Mini (Audio46): www.hear.audio/go/TubeMiniAud...
Cayin RU6 (Audio46): www.hear.audio/go/CayinRU6Aud...
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Don't forget to read the FAQ! hear.audio/faq
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Become a member, see my reviews and product impressions in advance, and get my buying advice any time:
buymeacoffee.com/currawong
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amos.io/backup
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00:00 Introduction
03:37 Sound
09:44 EQing
11:22 Conclusion

[@Currawong]

You can buy the DCA E3 from these links, which supports my channel: Audio46: www.hear.audio/go/E3Audio46 You can buy the Meze Liric 2 from these links, which also supports my channel: Meze direct: mezeaudio.com/pages/liric?affid=19 APOS: www.hear.audio/go/liric2apos Other products mentioned in the video: (Affiliate links) Chord Hugo 2 (Audio46): www.hear.audio/go/ChordHugo2Audio46 Woo Audio Tube Mini (Audio46): www.hear.audio/go/TubeMiniAudio46 Cayin RU6 (Audio46): www.hear.audio/go/CayinRU6Audio46 ------------ Don't forget to read the FAQ! hear.audio/faq ------------ Become a member, see my reviews and product impressions in advance, and get my buying advice any time: buymeacoffee.com/currawong

[@digitalnation2876]

folding design to improve portability. low sensitivity to reduce portability.

[@harackmw]

Yea it does not make sense. Maybe they intended them for audio engineers traveling from studio to studio and not for music on the go.

[@peterlynn3190]

Without hums, err's, ahh's it's forgivable. Excellent review.

[@dystasia]

It is obvious to me that they are just reusing the true and tested design they came up with for the Aeon Flow 2 and using that as a marketing point to sell their newest headphones. I don't think the intention is to make these particular high-end headphones portable. It is just a biproduct of reusing parts. This doesn't bother me at all, but what is somewhat strange is their obsession with calling it portable in their marketing.

[@CarlosGarcia-rt5ex]

Dca E3 with a fiio q15 does the job in spades! Love this headphone for portable use!

[@bobhanuman65]

I have had great success with the WA11 and the E3 in a portable solution. They really shine with movie scores.

[@willjohnson2722]

Great review as usual

[@raphaelmeillat8527]

Would love to hear your take on ZMF’s new Bokeh closed-back headphones…

[@marc8vino]

How would the Focal Stellia's compare?

[@jeffjacobs1503]

I love my DCA E3 and it works well with my Shanling UA5 dongle amp. However, it does benefit from a bit more power and my A70 Pro drives it to perfection.

[@goldenstasgs]

What analog EQ you recommend to use with Susvara and HEkSE?

[@auroragoose3414]

I wonder how the questyle m15 would push the e3, iirc they use current mode amplification Mojo also seems like it'd be a good match 🤔

[@Reubenhater]

Anyone here knows if a fiio m11 ess can run the E3?

[@maledicti0n]

In terms of sound isolation (external noises), how would you compare the DCA Stealth to the Liric 2? I believe you had the stealths before but not sure if you still do. I have tried the HD820 and found the gorilla glass backing to really not offer much in terms of blocking outside sound. I imagine it being similar with the glass backing of the E3 but not quite as bad as the HD820. I always find myself excited when you have a video of some cans I am interested in; high quality objective reviews with no fancy influencer nonsense. Thank you!

[@stevenichols5708]

I have heard that the isolation of outside noise from the E3 is not good. Have you experienced this?

[@astifcaulkinyeras]

Fwiw I use a btr5 and btr7 dongle dac with my E3 and it sounds great on both. I only turn the volume up to about 45 indoors to get moderately loud on the btr5. Both have enough power to get the E3 uncomfortably loud.

[@revan.3994]

Any concrete recommendations for EQing the E3? ...or would you share your EQ settings (or equivalent settings for PEQs on other devices which don't have a hardware EQ)? Thanks for your very nice review, really enjoyed it!

[@Currawong]

I've been using a Schiit Lokius lately for EQ in my system. Usually if I EQ, I want more bass for certain tracks. Other than that, sometimes the 2-4 kHz region can be a bit forward for me with some headphones, so experimenting with pulling 2, 3 or 4 kHz back a bit can have interesting results.

[@user-ys1th2nb2h]

What I find really funny is that no tester has mentioned that the E3 hardly insulates at all inside and out. The E3 is actually an open one, while the Liric is a truly closed one. Try the difference ;-)

[@PixelPipes]

Having seen some other reviews, I have a prediction of how this review might go, and it probably means bad things for the Liric. EDIT: This take was more nuanced but it's pretty clear the capabilities of the E3 were viewed to be higher when scaled up with appropriate gear, meaning the Liric 2 is....less highend? I guess you could say. P.s. I'd love to see more videos of Japanese culture!

[@chungang7037]

Meze is usually about making music enjoyable, but Audiophiles are more into punishment. 😉

[@Viewer13128]

@@chungang7037 your statement might make sense if Meze's Empyrean 2 wasn't praised as a top headphone (unless you mean the empyrean 2 is punishment). luckily from what i see, they are not looking at brand and the empyrean 2 is getting a fair shake, and imo the Liric 2 and E3 are getting their fair shakes too.

[@saschamilenkovic4320]

😂​@@chungang7037

[@revan.3994]

On another note, my E3 play very nicely together with the iBasso DX260, because it has quite some power for a DAP.

[@ramlord6669]

I want something portable for traveling and office. At home I listen with open backs. So the higher gear demand of the E3 is perhaps a real deal breaker for me. Would you say, that the E3 runs well powered by a Cayin C9 though? And thank you so much! This comparison was really helpful for me 🔥🐹🔥

[@Currawong]

I wish I could have held on to the C9 for longer to test, but it should be fine. Might be worth searching for mention of it on Head-Fi in the E3 thread. There's also the Enleum HPA-23RM.

[@ramlord6669]

@@Currawong ❤

[@muhamadsyazwanfaid1739]

If I have a Mojo 2, and crazy with its EQ, which one should I get?

[@goldenstasgs]

Mojo 2 is not enough with E3.

[@SmashedITR]

I wonder which one sounds better on the Mojo 2?

[@goldenstasgs]

Liric 2. E3 requires much more power. It has low dynamic with mojo 2

[@palefaced1]

Atrium Closed and soon to be released Caldera closed.

[@zoide-777]

"Case in point" 😂😂😂

[@gregornohmayr2278]

My answer.....the DCA (Nomax)

[@rainong2029]

Wonder how many actually use dongle dac for 2k headphone?

[@astifcaulkinyeras]

I sometimes use a btr5 or btr7 with my E3. Sounds great on both.

[@aceofspades6667]

Vs ZMF caldera closed vs verite closed

[@arthurhaywood2184]

The FiiO Q7 and the Xduoo XD05 Pro will both power the E3 just fine. No need to spend 4X the money on an Enleum 23R.

[@KM-pAii]

which one is better？I'm going to buy one of them

[@NK-ol1go]

Hi, will you also be reviewing the Woo Audio Mini tube?

[@Currawong]

Yes. A bunch of reviews were delayed, including the Tube Mini.

[@Bootrosgali]

For the Meze Liric 2 then , you can say these are the best OTG headphones in the world. That is, for going on walks, commuting. They don't look silly or flashy, a major factor, and they are driven by a dongle dac.. So surely this is a major string to this headphones bow.

[@A.Dude.]

Portability in this class means absolutely ZILCH! Once received, I'm pretty sure they don't leave the premises, UNLESS it's been used like an instrument, case in which it will be transported, but size is not to be considered. A cello player will also carry his instrument and those are also not fordable...

[@Lead_Foot]

I have kind of sensitive hearing and a btr7 is just enough to be uncomfortable loud with the E3. The tube mini is enough to make it painfully loud.

[@IHearEverythingDude]

There is no contest. E3 takes it easily.

[@HungryEatNow]

KZbin is no longer for me 😂

[@tonep3168]

I’m more than happy with my DT-1770s. They give me 97% of what these headphones do for thousands less.

[@DJ_BROBOT]

Ive owned the 1770s, and that is false. All of these cans here are subjectively better than the 1770s. Anyone A/B-ing all of these would never ever say that EVER. 1770s are decent low mid-range cans, but they are not even better than the mid-range DCS or Maze offerings.