Dan Clark Audio Expanse Review | Flagship Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones

[@SP-fy7oc]

Can you please also review the DCA Ether-2 :) Thank you!

[@princeh4604]

Very well and precise review, not to long not to short that's what I'm looking for.

[@datdudeinred]

Seems like the first time in history Mr Speakers finally built a better open back than a closed back. WOW Wish it sucked ALOT less power especially considering its small carrying size. The elite is far more usable everywhere instead of just desk.

[@BloomAudio]

Yeah, I would say Elite (and Utopia) stand out in this price range in that they don't also require another $2k of amplifier to really enjoy. :)

[@datdudeinred]

@@BloomAudio Hey have you tried the ifi idsd diablo with the DCA stealth or even expanse? that with its 4w power would certainly be able to drive them right? Also try the new ifi GO bar dongle if you can. That would be such great on the go setup with stealth/expanse ofc if it powers.

[@disastrousemouse]

@@BloomAudio Utopia has too unnatural a high end (to my ears).

[@BloomAudio]

@@datdudeinred go Bar is solid for Utopia, but it really can't handle Expanse. I don't have a Diablo demo currently on hand, but spec-wise it should be perfect.

[@snmdair]

@@BloomAudio I find the Exspanse very enjoyable on my Burson Soloist 3XP/Musician Pegasus stack. 75 to 80db on medium gain with a little bit of headroom left on the volume dial, on high gain, there is plenty of headroom left. So you don't need a 2K amp to enjoy this. I did not enjoy them as much on my SMSL M400/SP400 stack. Plenty of power, but lost a noticible amount of sound stage width, depth and overall presense. I assume the A90/D90 would have the same issue since they use simular nested feedback tech. That's the main problem with Topping and SMSL in this mid-fi price range. They are so busy one upping each other on measuments getting 0.00001 better THD. From a technical standpoint they both perform above their price points, but sounds dry and clinical on some cans. I mainly use it for IEMs these days.

[@user-rj1ds2qv6o]

Hi, thank you for good review. May I ask if expanse leaks a lot? I mean, is it okay to use it at public places such as subways or company etc?

[@lordbiscuitthetossable5352]

Generally, if it's an open back headphone by the nature of it's design, it will leak sound everywhere. Basically acts like a set of quieter speakers, but speakers non-the less. So it probably isn't ok to use in either of those environments.

[@x32i77]

Can't decide between Expanse, hifiman Susvara or Warwick acoustics bravura headphone system

[@humanbass]

The Expanse is the least expensive and with a more agreeable frequency response.

[@x32i77]

@@humanbass they all have amazing frequency response

[@gibgun]

I don’t understand why they bothered with the portability considering how current hungry these are

[@gauravtyagi5900]

Do you think Violectric v280 would be able to drive it to its full potential?

[@citrusai5366]

This reply is probably a bit late, but the best bang for the buck amplifier for driving this headphone to a good level is definitely a Ferrum OOR for certain!