I compared them with my dca steath several months ago. I think it is almost the perfect headphone. It has a closed back design but the sound leakage is noticeable higher than normal traditional designs since it has two hole for releasing bass pressure purpose.
yes, its definitely better at isolating than an open back, but you certainly would annoy other people in the room or spill onto a recording if you had it on.
This was the most amazing video I've watched this year man !! For EQing Headphone though, Do u use Linear Phase? or Mixed (Natural Phase)? or No latency?
I'd love to hear your take on the Stealth vs E3 please. I have the E3, love it, but I also heard the Stealth, and arguably fell in love more with the Stealth sound. Seemed to be the absolute best listening experience of my life. The Stealth : pure naturalness, lots of insights into details that somehow seem hidden on other headphones, like... A quite unique, ultra fine granularity somehow, & not the result of a tuning choice, more like shear speed and precision ; tuning, ultra neutral and breathtaking ; *I prefered the Stealth's bass over the E3's bass*, as I feel like it's a bit less prominent, but more truthfull and detailed, nuanced & deep, all by-products of the lower distortion of the Stealth's bass I believe... The E3 : in comparison, I find the bass a tad too much (feels boosted, unlike on the Stealth), and a bit less fast & defined (monochromic) , and sometimes, I find the high mids and trebles a bit agressive. But it's by far the best headphones I've used in my studio-life. I don't listen to my monitors much anymore, I prefer the E3 (and they are PSI A21M... So that says something). Until now I was rocking DT770 so the jump in quality is drastic. I still love the DT770 though, for they are really really well tuned and I can mix on them with good translation. To me : Stealth = ATC/Genelec ; E3 = KRK/Dynaudio ? It's the bass that's way different in my opinion. I wonder what you think, empirically about these two. And would it make sense to have both the E3 and the Stealth ? One for production (E3), one for mix & master (Stealth) ? Cheers mate (btw I had reached you via the website and the sale team, and you answered me months ago about my question regarding the E3, saying upfront the E3 was the best production headphones, and you sealed the deal really, because IMO you're the best headphone reviewer on CZcams, so thank you ! You were *so* right !) xxxxx
The Harmann curve represents the response of FLAT speakers in a room. The bass increase is caused by frequencies bouncing of the walls. This happens to be the response most people prefer too.
The harman curve for headphones includes adjustment from a base curve by user preference on bass and treble controls, it’s why the bass and treble regions of the curve changed between the curves generated from the 2013, 2015 and 2018 studies.
Great review! About the cross feed feature on the headphone amp - is there any practical different between using an amp with that built in vs using a plugin (eg Goodhertz Canopener)? Also how good are they at blocking outside sounds? Not expecting anything anywhere near ANC levels but are they considerably better than say the LCD-X?
Crossfeed on the amp normally means you can run a car monitor chain, the standard setting on can opener is great if you don't mind the plugin. Yes, Better isolation than lcd-x, but it's not it's greatest feature.
Why not Audeze LCD-XC for closed back comparison/alternative? That is designed for mixing and is cheaper than E3. I love my LCDX (new 2021+)and for me it would be out of the XC and E3 for a closed back
I cover this around 15:30. I love the XC, it’s in my opinion, a better headphone than the X, certainly tonally. However, it’s a third heavier than the E3 and you really can feel it after a while and the sub does seem slightly uneven when you play tones. I would say that for soundstage and detail on the E3 are the winner from the two and for tonal balance, it’s definitely the E3 for me, I like where the sub sits, I do like to tweak the EQ on the xc in the lower mid and to move the ear gain region back up. The XC feels like a great closed back headphone, the E3 sounds like a great open back headphones. Theres some new Dekoni vegan replacement pads for the LCD range which may well work well to help it with the slight tonal issues, I will have test with them when they come into stock.
@@ScanProAudioTVI commented before I saw that part haha but thanks for clarifying. Comfort and weight are for sure great benefits for long sessions. And openness/soundstage for a closed back sounds great. It sounds like the E3 bleeds/doesn’t isolate great though? Which is funny that they’re more portable; I know some producers who use lcdxc as portables even working on music in cafes and airports haha
Just got my E3s. They put my Arya Stealth and D9200 to shame. The E3 is an incredible headphone. Works great on RME ADI-2 DAC FS. Gotta try the Qudelix T71. How much headroom does it leave?
@@sproket343 It's hard for me to imagine that it can be significantly better than an Arya Stealth. I would love to test the E3 as well. i i would be grateful if you could briefly explain what exactly makes the E3 better than the Arya Stealth? :)
@@b.z9940 I tried E3 in Amsterdam, have a review of Stealth in my channel. E3 was simply competing with 5k open backs in that store and smoked everything out it was such and experience i regret not buying it... Arya Stealth is meh compared to E3.
@@coardtech I'm just wondering if the price justifies it and if it can really be significantly better... Personally, I don't want to spend more than €1000 on headphones. Under €1000, I haven't found anything better than the Arya Stealth and I've tried a lot of headphones.
If I EQ the MM500, It’s fairly close for detail, but there is one huge difference and that is the treble region on the MM500 is naturally more recessed and it doesn’t have the sub shelf. Because of the treble difference, the E3 feels more detailed.
I'll go out on a limb and say I prefer the tonal balance of the E3, I definitely need to Eq the HP2. however, the comfort of the HP2 is amazing and the fit is customisable, that's a huge plus point as you can't EQ clamping force! . The transient detail is great on HP2, but it is also great on the E3.
I currently use an LCD-4z and i'm interested in the technology and comments i've seen in relation to the DCA Expanse. Have you heard this model by any chance?
Whilst I did like the expanse, the stereo presentation on these is slightly more forward feeling than encompassing, which is what I felt with the expanse. that's not to say its a bad headphone, it is excellent, but I prefer the E3 to the expanse for studio work.
Apologies for that, though you can have some confidence that I’ve gone first on it, I’ve bought these with my own money for the permanent collection at home - Tom
I wonder how these compare to the Audeze Mx4 for mixing and mastering. I can only save for either of them
I compared them with my dca steath several months ago. I think it is almost the perfect headphone. It has a closed back design but the sound leakage is noticeable higher than normal traditional designs since it has two hole for releasing bass pressure purpose.
yes, its definitely better at isolating than an open back, but you certainly would annoy other people in the room or spill onto a recording if you had it on.
This was the most amazing video I've watched this year man !!
For EQing Headphone though, Do u use Linear Phase? or Mixed (Natural Phase)? or No latency?
I normally use natural phase on pro-q, unless i'm really wanting to keep the latency down.
@@ScanProAudioTV this video, especially the "Target Curves" part, was extraordinarily good and informative.
I rly appreciate ur videos. cheers man
Great video. Thank you very much.
It's the best closed-back ever for sure.. It's amazing really what DCA did here ! Lyric 2 or Z1R are ridiculous compared to E3.
I'd love to hear your take on the Stealth vs E3 please. I have the E3, love it, but I also heard the Stealth, and arguably fell in love more with the Stealth sound. Seemed to be the absolute best listening experience of my life.
The Stealth : pure naturalness, lots of insights into details that somehow seem hidden on other headphones, like... A quite unique, ultra fine granularity somehow, & not the result of a tuning choice, more like shear speed and precision ; tuning, ultra neutral and breathtaking ; *I prefered the Stealth's bass over the E3's bass*, as I feel like it's a bit less prominent, but more truthfull and detailed, nuanced & deep, all by-products of the lower distortion of the Stealth's bass I believe...
The E3 : in comparison, I find the bass a tad too much (feels boosted, unlike on the Stealth), and a bit less fast & defined (monochromic) , and sometimes, I find the high mids and trebles a bit agressive. But it's by far the best headphones I've used in my studio-life. I don't listen to my monitors much anymore, I prefer the E3 (and they are PSI A21M... So that says something). Until now I was rocking DT770 so the jump in quality is drastic. I still love the DT770 though, for they are really really well tuned and I can mix on them with good translation.
To me : Stealth = ATC/Genelec ; E3 = KRK/Dynaudio ? It's the bass that's way different in my opinion.
I wonder what you think, empirically about these two. And would it make sense to have both the E3 and the Stealth ? One for production (E3), one for mix & master (Stealth) ? Cheers mate (btw I had reached you via the website and the sale team, and you answered me months ago about my question regarding the E3, saying upfront the E3 was the best production headphones, and you sealed the deal really, because IMO you're the best headphone reviewer on CZcams, so thank you ! You were *so* right !) xxxxx
The Harmann curve represents the response of FLAT speakers in a room. The bass increase is caused by frequencies bouncing of the walls. This happens to be the response most people prefer too.
The harman curve for headphones includes adjustment from a base curve by user preference on bass and treble controls, it’s why the bass and treble regions of the curve changed between the curves generated from the 2013, 2015 and 2018 studies.
please give us your insight on the ndh30 and the Sennheiser 490 pro
Just got myself a Topping A30 Pro. Just saying up for the Headphones ahahaha
Great review! About the cross feed feature on the headphone amp - is there any practical different between using an amp with that built in vs using a plugin (eg Goodhertz Canopener)?
Also how good are they at blocking outside sounds? Not expecting anything anywhere near ANC levels but are they considerably better than say the LCD-X?
Crossfeed on the amp normally means you can run a car monitor chain, the standard setting on can opener is great if you don't mind the plugin.
Yes, Better isolation than lcd-x, but it's not it's greatest feature.
@@ScanProAudioTV Good to know! What do you mean by a car monitor chain? I'm fairly new to a lot of this terminology :)
@@Malwensound
Apologies, autocorrect strikes again
CLEAN monitor chain, without processing.
For those who don't want to spend 2.5k on headphones, I can recommend the Hifiman Arya Stealth
Why not Audeze LCD-XC for closed back comparison/alternative? That is designed for mixing and is cheaper than E3. I love my LCDX (new 2021+)and for me it would be out of the XC and E3 for a closed back
I cover this around 15:30.
I love the XC, it’s in my opinion, a better headphone than the X, certainly tonally.
However, it’s a third heavier than the E3 and you really can feel it after a while and the sub does seem slightly uneven when you play tones. I would say that for soundstage and detail on the E3 are the winner from the two and for tonal balance, it’s definitely the E3 for me, I like where the sub sits, I do like to tweak the EQ on the xc in the lower mid and to move the ear gain region back up.
The XC feels like a great closed back headphone, the E3 sounds like a great open back headphones.
Theres some new Dekoni vegan replacement pads for the LCD range which may well work well to help it with the slight tonal issues, I will have test with them when they come into stock.
@@ScanProAudioTVI commented before I saw that part haha but thanks for clarifying. Comfort and weight are for sure great benefits for long sessions. And openness/soundstage for a closed back sounds great.
It sounds like the E3 bleeds/doesn’t isolate great though? Which is funny that they’re more portable; I know some producers who use lcdxc as portables even working on music in cafes and airports haha
Just got my E3s. They put my Arya Stealth and D9200 to shame. The E3 is an incredible headphone. Works great on RME ADI-2 DAC FS. Gotta try the Qudelix T71. How much headroom does it leave?
Bought the T71. It drives the E3 like a champ in balanced mode. 2W of output.
@@sproket343 It's hard for me to imagine that it can be significantly better than an Arya Stealth.
I would love to test the E3 as well. i
i would be grateful if you could briefly explain what exactly makes the E3 better than the Arya Stealth? :)
@@b.z9940 I tried E3 in Amsterdam, have a review of Stealth in my channel. E3 was simply competing with 5k open backs in that store and smoked everything out it was such and experience i regret not buying it... Arya Stealth is meh compared to E3.
@@coardtech I'm just wondering if the price justifies it and if it can really be significantly better... Personally, I don't want to spend more than €1000 on headphones.
Under €1000, I haven't found anything better than the Arya Stealth and I've tried a lot of headphones.
@@b.z9940 unless you need better build, comfort, portability etc. And have access to eq, no need. Arya is superb
Between the E3 vs MM-500 which gives more detail and sound stage?
If I EQ the MM500, It’s fairly close for detail, but there is one huge difference and that is the treble region on the MM500 is naturally more recessed and it doesn’t have the sub shelf. Because of the treble difference, the E3 feels more detailed.
@@ScanProAudioTV Thanks!
Do you think the Motu M2 will be enough to power them?
No, absolutely not. The motu M2 has 32mw at 32 Ohms, you want about 20 times that!
Get a Topping e2x2 instead.
Needs a comparison with Heddphone Two!
It's far superior... trust me !
@@tamieu Which is superior? Heddphone 2 or Dan clark E3?
I'll go out on a limb and say I prefer the tonal balance of the E3, I definitely need to Eq the HP2. however, the comfort of the HP2 is amazing and the fit is customisable, that's a huge plus point as you can't EQ clamping force! . The transient detail is great on HP2, but it is also great on the E3.
I currently use an LCD-4z and i'm interested in the technology and comments i've seen in relation to the DCA Expanse.
Have you heard this model by any chance?
Whilst I did like the expanse, the stereo presentation on these is slightly more forward feeling than encompassing, which is what I felt with the expanse. that's not to say its a bad headphone, it is excellent, but I prefer the E3 to the expanse for studio work.
2k5 euros...it hurts lol
Great review, you've definitely made my wallet sweat
Apologies for that, though you can have some confidence that I’ve gone first on it, I’ve bought these with my own money for the permanent collection at home - Tom