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Dan Clark Audio E3 · Photo source

Dan Clark Audio E3
Photo 1 of 4

Dan Clark Audio E3 · Photo source

Dan Clark Audio

E3

Released December 2023

E3 is Dan Clark Audio's mid-range closed-back planar magnetic headphone, a redesign of the ETHER C Flow with a 5th-generation driver, AMTS and a dual-mode bass port, for listeners who want isolation at a lower price than STEALTH.

Type
Over-ear
Noise cancelling
No
Battery
–
With case
–
Best codec
Wired
Weight
455 g

What reviewers say

Reviewers agree the E3 is one of the best-tuned closed-backs, accurate yet lively and unusually open-sounding, and comfortable. Headfonics found it less sensitive than some closed-back rivals, needing more power; Audio Science Review found it slightly heavier than the Stealth and thinks it gives up something in looks, where Headfonia likes the design.

From audiosciencereview.com, headfonics.com and headfonia.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Sound

Type
Over-ear
Noise cancelling
No
Back
Closed
Impedance
27 ohms
Bluetooth codecs
None (wired)
Drivers
5th-generation single-ended v-Planar planar magnetic, 72 × 45 mm (Headfonics); Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System (AMTS); dual-mode bass port; ~90 dB/mW; distortion < 0.1% ref 80 dB white noise

Battery

Listening time (maker's claim)
No battery (wired)

Design

Weight
455 g
Headphone cable
Yes
Fit and ear tips
Over-ear, closed-back; protein-leather and vegan suede ear pads (Headfonics); self-adjusting headband suspension; Gorilla Glass 3 clad cups; folding gimbals
Works with
Detachable VIVO cable, chosen at purchase - 2 m or 3 m with 6.35 mm or XLR plug, or 1.1 m or 2 m with 2.5 mm, 4.4 mm or 3.5 mm plug
Colours
Black and blue

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Closed back isolates well
  • Folding gimbals for travel
  • Wide choice of cable plugs at purchase, including 4.4 mm and XLR

Cons

  • Heavy at 455 g
  • Low 27-ohm, ~90 dB/mW sensitivity calls for a capable amplifier
  • Maker publishes no frequency response

Closest rivals

Model
TypeNoise cancellingBatteryWith caseBest codecWeightReleased
AudezeMM-100
Over-earNo––Wired475 gApr 2023
HIFIMANANANDA NANO
Over-earNo––Wired419.6 gMay 2023
HIFIMANArya Organic
Over-earNo––Wired440 gMay 2023

Sources

  1. danclarkaudio.com/e3.html
  2. hometheaterhifi.com/press-releases/dan-clark-audio-releases-all-new-e3-closed-b…
  3. hifipig.com/dan-clark-audio-e3-closed-back-planar-headphone
  4. headfonics.com/dan-clark-audio-e3-review

Photo: danclarkaudio.com

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