The world's best portable headphones! The Dan Clark Audio Stealth

[@darthdurkelthewise320]

I really like these quite a bit. I was lucky enough to spend some time with these and the Ether C/B. I think the DCA stuff is very well behaved “grown-up” hifi and I’m 50 years old! I’ll start off by stating that my preference are for ZMF bio cellulose dynamic driver headphones. I like the tad bit of warmth and driver excursion (dynamism, excitement). Although my listening impressions align mostly with yours and the set I listened to had nowhere near the time on them that Dan himself suggests, to me they sounded like a headphone still finding it’s footing (vert tight and reserved, bass backed off). The gear I used initially (SPL Phonitor x, Chord Hugo, Tidal vs Rogue/tube stage, Chord Mojo, Tidal) presented the same music a very different way. This suggests to me that these like other DCA models scale with upstream equipment although all that I used was very high quality to begin with. I’ll agree with you 100% and say that the Stealth needs and likes power and a good source. Even on the gear I used here, the Stealth still asked for higher volume. Overall the Stealth is enjoyable to me but honestly, I’d like to see DCA offer something between the AEON and the Stealth maybe around that $1,500 price range (think Arya, Clear, Radiance). Most people just can’t absorb $4-$5k headphones. And I realize that the Stealth is not aimed at “most” people… In some ways the Stealth felt like the grown up version of the Noire with a step missing in between. In the end I felt like I enjoyed the Focal Utopia more and that headphone can be had for around $3k in lightly pre-owned condition at this point. A big double edged sword for me is the headband system. While it’s a very intelligent design, the new Stealth I listened to already had some issues with the adjustment mechanism and that’s unacceptable at $4k and a weak point IMO. Really fantastic review and impressions video though and as always, I learned more by watching your video! 👍🏻

[@jimmyblues59m76]

Amos, so many reviewers just give basic subjective impressions that offer little practical value. However, your reviews always offer greater insight into the subject matter. This review in particular, was very informative, and I found it to be very useful. I have read nothing but positive reviews regarding Dan Clark's Stealth headphone. Thanks!

[@kato2395]

Very insightful review! Thank you. I learned a lot especially about how some headphones might sound different from the measurement graph. That is definitely an interesting argument about how resonance and our brain adjusting to resonance!

[@arthurhaywood2184]

I don’t own & haven’t heard the Stealth as of yet but I do own a pair of the Ether CX. Based on my experience with them, I would say that Dan Clark’s recommendation on “burn in” is fairly accurate. In fact, I’d go beyond his recommendation and say that that improvements didn’t seem to stop until about 350 hours. Bass, dynamics & soundstage came late in the process.

[@pointyfox]

That's brain and pad burn-in.

[@mikehoward9912]

Bloody brilliant show 👌 old chap. I'll buy you a pint when I get across the pond. Gratitude from Tampa Florida 🙏

[@dasninjastix]

Fantastic breakdown. I'm glad you took your time lol, I learned a ton. Really appreciate the effort ✌️

[@gaetancharbonneau3902]

I really like the music reference you use. Massive attack is always so good!

[@muggleclone]

Great review, my personal experience with them is that they are what Susvara would be if Susvara is close back. As such, they almost need Susvara level of amplification to make them sing and boy does it sing if you have competent gear to drive it.

[@Just_Pele]

Got mine. IMO, they're the evolution, or maybe revolution, of the Hifiman HE6: DENSE, black hole-like, darkness. They're like the Bugatti Chiron of headphones; luxurious materials, incredible performance, and a complete insulation around you and the music (like a sensory isolation tank just for your head). See, while most supercars (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Koenigsegg, etc.) bombard your senses with sound and fury, and I do like that, Bugatti takes the approach of giving you incredible performance inside of a cocoon of quiet comfort, relatively speaking. I had the original Abyss cans and they were just uncomfortable and heavy, like a medieval torture device for your ears, and while sound was beautifully warm and dark, it wasn't worth the discomfort. Their V1 Dianas were good, but the mids were too aggressive and there were still some comfort issues. Then, in walked the Phi and Abyss had nailed it. Neutral, silky, comfortable (enough), and incredibly resolving. They're everything I wanted from a set of open headphones... except for 2 issues: No cheap sources, they will effortlessly reveal any weaknesses in your audio chain, and mine had some QC issues and weren't as durable as you would expect for the price. However, the latter was taken care of under warranty and my replacements have been problem-free. However, I wanted some closed cans that were the same caliber, which was a very tall order. For a few years I'd been using a set of Audeze LCD-XCs and DC's own Aeon 2 Noir, going back and forth between them, depending on what genre of music I was listening to. But now there is no swapping, no compromises, the Stealths are THE closed cans I wanted, and since the Abyss 'phones kind of forced me to upgrade my audio gear and library anyway, they simply fit right in. They're a masterpiece. 👍 (With only one caveat; classic metal. I have a Hifiman Jade II rig just for that, because I've not found anything else that matches them for that genre alone. Yeah, I know... 🙄😆)

[@Izquierda]

Since you're in Japan you really should check out the Victor HA-WM90-B headphones, if you haven't already! They've become my endgame, to me they manage to feel like high end speakers rather than headphones, I just forget the sound is coming from an inch away from my ears. The comfort is incredibly good too, and all with the conveniences of closed HPs. The whole story about the wood they use is crazy too. Lastly, the bass is precise but you can feel like like you would at a concert or club. No other HP has given me that feeling (which I love), but I can see people coming from others thinking initially that it's too bassy.

[@KeithDins]

These are superb. I've owned these since they were introduced and replaced my Meze Empyrean's (before those LCD's). They are super resolving with an incredibly defined bass. I'm powering them w/Chord DAVE+Hugo M Scaler. Recently I my Hugo TT2 w/DAVE. I'm not great at audio superlatives and will say these headphones w/this rig have everything I've ever wanted. If you listen to anything symphonic or King Crimson complexities there is no smearing. Everything is just there. Grateful Dead live...like you're there. A Love Supreme was almost a new compostion to me with a dancing bass. Highly recommended.

[@gli7utubeo]

Did you consider (or try) adding an amplifier to the DAVE/M Scaler combo? Thanks.

[@DirectorsGarage]

My experience with these is identical, but I didn't stick around long enough for the bass to present itself.

[@wesspangler]

Excellent review and info. Thanks for sharing!

[@morespinach9832]

Quickly becoming my favourite audio reviewer. Loved this. So insightful. Wish you’ll also review Mark Levinson 5909

[@MatusHaw]

tt2 + mscaler + ferrum combo = i prefer Stealth over Susvara in every aspect of music except soundstage 🤓

[@TigraZ]

as always the best audio channel out there for me, enjoy this video a lot voice is recorded perfectly

[@xyanide1986]

I once listened to the open Ether Flow, they were amazing. Pretty excited to demo these at my dealer some time though I do prefer me a bigger bottom signature. Not the biggest fan of that "bungie-style" headband because it's just a mechanical point of failure at some point in time.

[@woopygoman]

I agree. Not having discrete adjustment points is a mistake, especially at this price point.

[@Anon00731]

As usual, I concur with your listening impressions. Great set of headphones but they require good gear and muy power. Great details, thanks for the information.

[@Berkanann]

Thanks, that was very educational.

[@giorgosapo4508]

I am curious as well

[@kyron42]

Finally

[@NZtechfreak]

Paradise Circus is one of my absolute faves from Massive Attack, will crack out the Phi TC for a listen when I finish watching this.

[@Bootrosgali]

I want the best audio experience for portable possible (my budget is ceiling 1500).. Focal Elegia , Aeon Noire. IDM electronic fabulousness I want to hear portable at its most amazing and wondrous. Open, spacious, leaps and bounds above BT , Sony, Apple.. I thought 820s , which are now available at 1500euro, were it until I heard all the bad things, like there is real bad hate out there.

[@MultipleInterface]

Thanks for posting this review. I think a lot of us have been waiting for this one for a while. So, I’m looking for a closed pair to run mostly in bed before going to sleep or in the office. Could you recommend these with the Hugo 2? Do they leak a lot of noice? Thanks!

[@MeteoraEra]

Why you never review zmf headphones such as verite closed etc?

[@richardsaila8073]

This is EDU-tainement. Excellent!

[@johncapone8843]

I cant wait to get these headphones to play Diablo IV when it comes out!

[@djclass005]

Interesting explanation of the damping system. It is a bit similar to the meta material system of Kef speakers. Small tubes to dampen different frequencies.

[@martink.6178]

Have you ever listened to the Focal Elegia? I was wondering how the Stealth performs compared to Focal when it comes to soundstage. Currently I can't decide between the Stealth and Expanse but if the Stealth is too close to the Elegia I would prefer the Expanse.

[@Bootrosgali]

I'm looking at Elegia,.. I can't demo but I'm sure on my smaller than average head I will get a better clamp with them. I'm looking at Noires and after watching this I'm now worried that I won't get a proper clamp with Noires seeing as its the same design as Stealth. !..

[@EazyRed]

i have, since sold them, now use the focal bathys mostly in thier dac mode 24/192, the focal Elegias are some of the worst cans ive used at that range, and personally wouldnt payu more then like 150 for em, however theyre insanely comfy. my bathys blow em out of the water and its merely 2x the price at about 650ish

[@onecolorist]

Great review!

[@Ivan_1986]

How do these stack up against LCD-XC (happens to be my favourite closed back headphones that I have heard to date)?

[@Bootrosgali]

Definelty lighter!

[@kajetan9550]

What’s the French track name? I think you’ve forgotten to put it in the description:)

[@giorgosapo4508]

Gotan Project - El Capitalismo Foráneo

[@ElvenSpellmaker]

A good example of open to closed back conversion failure is the 800s to 820 whereby closing them off makes them sound like you're in a toilet.

[@Currawong]

They didn't just close off a pair of HD800S to make them though. The problem was having to use the existing headband design which isn't suited,as well as wanting to keep the sound stage.

[@someoneacomputer1905]

Hello ! Wound you say these Stealth, Expanse, or E3 DCA hadphone are headphones that can be used to produce, mix and master recordings ? I'm looking for the perfect "middle ground" and resolving, revealing sound. Nothing hyped, nothing hidden, just the perfect truth. Only *that* equilibrium can provide me with universal translation down the line across all listeners systems. I don't have any experience with high end headphones. I used to like my Beyerdynamic DT770 a lot for mixing, and not the 880. Harman bass on the 770, recessed on the 880... This leads me to believe that I'm more a DCA guy than I am an LCD-5 guy. And which one of the three would you recommend ? I kinda like the idea of the closed headphone more, because this way I won't hear my noisy computer scream when I ask too much of its CPU. But if the Expanse is that much better, then I'l have to find an isolation booth for the computer. Thank :)

[@Currawong]

Mixing with headphones, your own ear's frequency response is going to be an issue. That being said, the least "coloured" headphones of the ones I've tried are probably the E3, though you'd want to verify that against a set of calibrated studio monitors in your own system.

[@yangtse55]

"La Revancha Del Tango" - horse-riding music, but I cycle home up the cycle track listening to that on my Koss KSC75s - I have ALWAYS cycled with music of all sorts ...annoys the crap out of my maths/physics/ exclusively classical music brother who rides a bike with tyres like O-rings - "how do you possibly match the tempo of music with the "correct" cycling cadence ?" I ride a roadified mountain bike with flat pedals and there is uneven wear on the pedal cranks. Can get a bit interesting riding with ambient music on open headphones - untangling natural sounds from the recording - and thinking I hear mechanical issues with the bike - and sometimes MISSING them !!

[@kato2395]

* takes a look at the price * *OOF*

[@phillipnunya6793]

Can anyone compare the Stealth to the Diana V2? It seems like they should sound very similar.

[@Currawong]

Try searching for "Diana" in the Stealth thread on Head-Fi. Someone there should have by now.

[@chamade166]

How would you compare these to the new XM5 as a total package? The ANC on the XM5 is like you are in your own world and they also sound impressive.

[@Currawong]

TOTALLY different world. No noise cancelling, but vastly more resolution (with good gear).

[@MrStingraybernard]

Beautiful, but not taking a loan out for headphones 😂

[@CptMark]

My only experience with DCA was with Ether2 and unfortunately, it wasn't a good one.

[@zapador]

What would be an appropriate DAC/AMP for these? I'm looking for a portable setup and was considering ideally the iFi xDSD Gryphon for its features and design, or alternatively the iFi Diablo. Would those be appropriate?

[@Currawong]

Personally I wouldn't go with less than a Hugo 2/2go unless that was too bulky. Maybe a Mojo 2?

[@zapador]

@@Currawong Thanks a lot for the reply! I did look at both the Mojo 2 and Hugo 2. The Mojo lacks Bluetooth, the Hugo is only "portable" and both have those, admittedly cool looking, colored buttons that's all form over function and I don't really like that. That's sort of what drove me in direction of the xDSD Gryphon because many seem to agree it is comparable to the Mojo 2 in terms of performance. From a purely "is it able to drive the Stealth" perspective based on the numbers alone, does the xDSD Gryphon fit the bill? I plotted the numbers into Headphonesty's headphone amp calculator and if I understood the numbers right it does. But my knowledge is admittedly very limited in this field. I do plan on getting a non-portable at home at some point but at first portability is a top priority. (And I'm genuinely sorry for being that disrespectful guy asking for advice and then rejecting it, really not my intention, but the Chords just don't work for me).

[@MRSketch09]

I wish I could afford these, OR they were MORE affordable... 4k is not a sneezing matter for headphones.

[@jarjared3522]

How well does Audio-gd gear drive the Dan Clark Stealths?

[@Currawong]

The full-sized components do excellently.

[@lonestar1664]

Are these similar to Ether C flow in sound signature, I had few DCA HPs in past and all of them have bit of a sub bass boost but never punchy like Focal or pre 2021 Audeze

[@Currawong]

Quite a bit different. They are more like the Ether C Closed if anything. These aren't quite as punchy as the other cans you mention, though they can be with the right music and amp.

[@allan5692]

Can a Schiit Jotunheim brings out 100% of this headphone potential? Thank you!

[@Currawong]

For power, yes. For resolution, no.

[@digitalnation2876]

Can I drive this with a Fiio BTR5 and use this as a portable solution?

[@Currawong]

I haven't tried it, but likely it wont get very loud.

[@chronometa]

Idk. I like the noire better than these. In terms of the top tier planars I like the abyss.

[@GadZookz]

Stephan is Everyman and we are all Stephans. 🤔

[@piotrbiedowicz1602]

Portable....😂😂😂😂😂

[@melvinch]

The structural integrity is highly questionable....

[@Currawong]

How so? If anything, they are more robustly built than many high-end headphones.

[@MrFarts4evr]

These do not look flagship $4000?! build quality?? Headphones of this expense are not meant to be portable. They look like their going to fall apart in 3 years

[@Currawong]

All the DCA (MrSpeakers) headphones I've had have been rock solid after many years. Everything that isn't cloth (or 3D printed internal parts) is metal or carbon fibre. Also, you can contact the owner of the company directly if you have a problem.

[@frederf69]

Reviewers get better one's. 4 grand! 😂😂

[@Currawong]

Actually, we often get worse ones! Sometimes I've received early production samples of headphones which had faults, and didn't sound like everyone was describing them. That being said, if a manufacturer's QC is so bad that they have significant unit variation, with everyone and their dog measuring headphones these days, we'd know pretty fast.

[@rogerhuston8287]

I found them BORING. No life whatsoever. The ampsandsound Nautilus did make them sound better (it makes everything sound better) it still couldn't save the Stealth. It has resolution, yes, but it was really flat.

[@carsdankandchicks]

I agree completely, it's incredibly dull and lifeless, tried very hard to like it. I'd literally rather listen to my Airpods Pros, not even joking. The $200 Sennheiser HD599 is a more exciting and engaging listen than these things.

[@geneg6343]

I had a chance to listen to the Stealth’s at THE SHOW (Audio show) in Long Beach last month in the headphone section. Having just bought the Denon AH-D9200 (closed back) I was interested how they compared to my Denon’s. They were at the Amps and Sound (A&S) display and I was able to listen to them on the least expensive tube amps (sorry I forgot the name of the amp). Truth be told none of the headphones I listened to including the ZMF Atticus connected to the least expensive A&S tube amps sounded good to me, they sounded dull. Until I listened to the A&S Ovation Rev 2 (Kenzie) with the ZMF’s in when the music came to life to my ears. I wish I would have listened to the Stealth’s connected to the Ovations Rev 2 maybe my opinion would have changed. I bought my Denon’s AH-D9200’s back in March of this year and just outside the return window (60 days) the right speaker stopped working. Denon has agreed to switch them out with new ones but they do not have an ETA when that will be. Today is 7 weeks since I contacted Denon and even though they have them in stock on the Denon web page for retail purchase the option to send me the Denon AH-D9200’s is not an option. I am currently looking for a new pair of closed back headphones.

[@edwinramos4910]

@@geneg6343 I know that this is technically off topic, but thanks for sharing about your experience with Denon. You've single handedly ensured that I will never buy a Denon product. There are few things worse than a company who won't back their expensive products when they fail prematurely. I hope you share your experince far and wide.

[@NA-dg3jx]

Why is it that the expensive the headphones the uglier they look?

[@midorihibiki]

I used to have an Alpha Dog headphone from Dan Clark studio and I have to admit that the driver is unstable and got broken after one year used. Never want to buy anything from this brand again. And Dan Clark releases so many headphones just couple of years period as Hifiman does. To me Dan Clark studio is not a trusted company and just want to sell as many as headphones as possible. Quality control is bad.

[@Currawong]

We're a long way past the Alpha Dogs now.

[@Mr1stcat]

Im sorry but those things aren't portable or transportable first off their 4000$!!!! imagine losing them or getting something like that stolen !?!? secondly they are known to be really difficult to drive so if a phone, DAP or dongle dac can't drive them then how are they portable !?!

[@Currawong]

You've not met enthusiasts from Hong Kong or Singapore, have you? 😂 forum.hifiguides.com/uploads/default/original/2X/c/cc084d595e5cfe744b2ee376fccb462f9b8060ca.jpeg

[@edwinramos4910]

They may not be very portable in regards to use, but they are the definition of transportable. These aren't supposed to be street headphones, or even commuting headphones. As someone who owns several different high end closed back headphones, and who transports them for indoor use while traveling, I appreciate DCA's emphasis on making high end headphone's easier to pack and carry.