Dan Clark is a remarkable guy. What started as a tiny cottage business offering modified Fostex headphones under the “Mr. Speakers” brand has turned into one of the leading high-end headphone companies in the world and none of his competitors can afford to take him lightly anymore. The Head-Fi community can be a polarizing place but almost everyone is probably counting down the hours to CanJam SoCal 2022 which is almost here. The Dan Clark Audio Expanse and Meze Audio 109 Pro are going to be the talk of the show.
I think most of us were somewhat surprised when the Dan Clark Audio Stealth was released because the market for closed back headphones at the very top has always been dramatically smaller than the market for open back models — most of the innovation resides in that category and it was surprising to see someone release a very expensive new closed back with innovative new technology.
But Dan has always been rather unpredictable and he certainly marches to his own drummer. He’s never been a follower and his support of the community for over a decade has built a large customer base and enormous loyalty.
The flip side of the DCA Stealth is that we can see the trickle-down effect already in motion with the Dan Clark Audio Expanse; which is not to say that the new headphone is just an open-back version of the Stealth just because the two models have similar design features.
If the Dan Clark Audio Expanse breaks new ground, it will be because of the lessons learned from the development of the Stealth.
The Skinny
The industrial design features of the Dan Clark Audio Expanse are quite striking, but all of that “innovation” isn’t just for show. Dan Clark is very aware that there is an open competition to see who can design the lightest open back full-sized planar headphone; the decision to build the Expanse out of aluminum and titanium with an improved level of structural strength was certainly a challenge but DCA has created a 418 gram headphone that will feel very comfortable on your head.
The gimbals are an updated and upgraded version of the technology used in the Aeon Series and that also makes the Expanse easier to fold up and travel with.
How many $4,000 headphones can boast that?
The synthetic leather used for the pads and headband help improve comfort and the folding design helps minimize the space the Expanse takes in a carry-on or purse. A case is provided to protect the headphones while traveling or in storage as well.
The outer grill was not just a cosmetic design decision; it was designed using generative design principles to be a focal point but also near sonically invisible.
Dan Clark has invested a lot of time and money into his patented driver technology; the Expanse features a new 76mm x 51mm fourth generation planar magnetic driver and DCA’s Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System.
The drivers are 20% larger than those found in the Ether 2 Series but are reported to be both lighter and faster than their older counterparts. They are also more closely matched as a new diaphragm tensioning system has helped improve matching to ± 0.25dB (weighted) across the entire audible spectrum.
This new system of driver matching helps improve imaging and balance while DCA’s v-Planar technology has reduced THD to a remarkable 0.03%.
The new driver has better low end extension and more detail than any previous DCA planar magnetic headphone.
In addition to the driver tuning, DCA utilizes its patent-pending Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System (AMTS). This is a physical device that sits between the transducer and the ear and is a conglomerate of wave guides, diffusion control, and Helmholtz resonators that help improve sound quality.
Some elements act to reduce standing wave formation while others act as filters to shape the sound that reaches the ear. DCA says the result is “high frequencies are rendered with a refreshingly smooth, accurate, and detailed delivery across all genres.”
We look forward to comparing the Dan Clark Audio Expanse to the Meze ELITE and Audeze LCD-5 in a “King of the Ring” planar shoot-out later this year.
The Dan Clark Audio Expanse Headphones will retail for $3,995.95 USD and can already be ordered on their website.
For more information: danclarkaudio.com/expanse.html
ORT
September 15, 2022 at 11:07 am
The question must be axed: So hey. Where’s the “Dan Clark 5” headphone?
I met the gentleman once at the first Schiit event and while we are diametrically opposed in a very important way, his company makes nice stuff. But really, they need to lighten up and make something truly affordable and that will appeal to the base that actually has money to spend but within limits. The dread and totally eeeeevile “Boomers”. No. Not the hamburger place, the old people. The ones that survived the stupid ’60s with their brain cells intact and did not go into “teaching”. Many of us are now on fixed incomes so we must be frugal. I say if you make it, we will spend our inCOME.
“The Dan Clark 5”.
U B Welcome. “n” sheit.
ORT The Blue Meanie
El Posto Scripto – No. I did not proof read this as I am tired from not sleeping, ergo errors abound.
Via con huevos, mi amigos y amigas! ‘y’ mierda.