Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Headphones - Open Back Version

The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Open is the open-back version of the crown jewel of DCA’s AEON line: a planar magnetic headphone with an all-new driver built on the technology of DCA’s flagship ETHER 2, and a patented folding gimbal that packs it into a case half the size of the AEON RT’s. It shares the ergonomic teardrop shape of the AEON RT but is a completely new design, lighter and more comfortable, with more bass, a bigger soundstage and realistic dynamics. It is designed, built and tested in San Diego.

An ETHER 2-based driver

Every DCA planar headphone uses a 100% proprietary driver, designed in-house. For the AEON 2, Dan Clark and his team took what they learned designing the ETHER 2 and redesigned the 62 × 34mm single-ended planar driver from the ground up:

• The driver structure is flipped 180 degrees, so the magnets and flow structures no longer sit between the diaphragm and your ear.
• Second-generation TrueFlow (patented) improves airflow through the motor, for more detail, dynamics, bass extension and soundstage; the flow elements are now a single construction, with no air gaps.
• Precision-machined flow structures replace injection-moulded parts.
• Patented V-Planar processing textures the diaphragm for better low-frequency performance and stability, improving bass and lowering distortion.
• Better driver damping gives more resolution, dynamics and a smoother frequency response, and the efficient transducer keeps weight down by using smaller magnets.

The new voicing gives the Open a leaner lower midrange, and a much larger soundstage, presenting visceral bass, transparent mids and fine detail up top, with the music placed further “out of your head”. Distortion is under 0.3% from 20Hz to 20kHz and 0.1% from 100Hz to 8kHz, and drivers are matched to within 0.5dB.

Light, strong and comfortable

Most light headphones are mainly plastic. DCA built the AEON 2’s headband and baffle from carbon fibre, aluminium and titanium instead, with a nickel-titanium (Nitinol) memory-metal headband, so it weighs only about 321g yet is built to last. The earpads are Japanese synthetic protein leather.

Folds to travel

The original AEON’s case was bulky. For the AEON 2, DCA designed a folding mechanism that also improves the clamping, fit and structural integrity of the headphone, and a form-fitting case that holds the cable too and takes half the space in your bag, small enough to fit even a large handbag.

Good to know

• Open-back headphones let sound in and out, so they are best at home or somewhere quiet.
• For the closed-back version, see the AEON 2 Closed.
• In the box: AEON 2 Open, 2m cable, tuning (filter) kit, compact carry case, certificate of authenticity and user guide.
• Protected by DCA patents D855579 (teardrop shape and hingeless headband), 10178459 (multi-layer damping) and 10631098 (TrueFlow).