Short answer: the Focal Elear. Both are rated 3.3/5 for sound quality (#146 and #143 of 216 over-ear headphones), and the Focal Elear costs $880 against $899 for the Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
The case for the Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire: Bass is well controlled, with sub-bass within 0.3 dB of target and a gentle 1.9 dB lift from 60 to 200 Hz that adds warmth. The tradeoff: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz sits about 3.8 dB under target, and a 10.5 dB dip near 9.9 kHz dulls cymbals and sibilance.
The case for the Focal Elear: The open back gives a spacious, airy presentation, and the 40 mm dynamic driver offers 104 dB per mW sensitivity. The catch: Presence at 3 to 6 kHz is about 5.3 dB under and treble at 6 to 10 kHz about 6.1 dB under, with a 9 dB dip near 7.2 kHz, so detail and cymbals sound dull.
Buy the Focal Elear. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $19 less than the Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire | Focal Elear | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $899.00 | $880.00 |
| Ranked | #143 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #146 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 67 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 66 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.49 dB standard deviation | 2.77 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.06 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.90 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.9 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 27 Hz (-5.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Open |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 13 ohms | 80 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 92 dB/mW | 104 dB SPL/mW |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Weight | - | 1 lbs (450 g) |
| Frequency Response | - | 5Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire compares with other leading options:
- Denon AH-D7200 vs Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire
- Audeze LCD-2 vs Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire
- Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire vs Audeze LCD-GX
- Focal Elear vs Audeze LCD-GX
- Audeze LCD-2 vs Focal Elear
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire: $899.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Bass is well controlled, with sub-bass within 0.3 dB of target and a gentle 1.9 dB lift from 60 to 200 Hz that adds warmth. The planar driver is a closed-back design that isolates from room noise. Mids from 200 Hz to 3 kHz stay within about 1 dB of target, so vocals stay natural.
Cons: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz sits about 3.8 dB under target, and a 10.5 dB dip near 9.9 kHz dulls cymbals and sibilance. A 3.6 dB peak near 5.5 kHz can add some edge to vocals and brass. At 13 ohms and 92 dB per mW it is the hardest to drive in this group and benefits from a proper headphone amp, and the Focal Elear has the same rating. See headphone amps and DACs with enough power to drive it.
Full Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.49 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 67 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 13 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 92 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.06 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +0.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 108 Hz | -3.5 dB | 0.79 |
| Peak | 7,952 Hz | +3.8 dB | 1.01 |
| Peak | 3,620 Hz | +4.7 dB | 1.74 |
| Peak | 5,424 Hz | -7.1 dB | 2.66 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,189 Hz | -1.8 dB | 3.03 |
| Peak | 300 Hz | -1.1 dB | 1.30 |
| Peak | 183 Hz | +1.6 dB | 3.08 |
| Peak | 1,976 Hz | +1.4 dB | 2.98 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Focal Elear: $880.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The open back gives a spacious, airy presentation, and the 40 mm dynamic driver offers 104 dB per mW sensitivity. Mids from 200 Hz to 3 kHz stay within about 0.6 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. Bass from 60 to 200 Hz is within 1 dB of target.
Cons: Presence at 3 to 6 kHz is about 5.3 dB under and treble at 6 to 10 kHz about 6.1 dB under, with a 9 dB dip near 7.2 kHz, so detail and cymbals sound dull. Sub-bass is about 5.3 dB light, losing rumble. At 80 ohms and 450 g with an open back that leaks sound, it suits quiet home use, and the Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire matches its rating at a lower price.
Full Focal Elear review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.77 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 66 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 80 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 104 dB SPL/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 27 Hz (-5.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.90 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 1 lbs (450 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.6 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 89 Hz | -4.0 dB | 0.30 |
| Peak | 8,570 Hz | +4.6 dB | 1.63 |
| Peak | 4,461 Hz | +6.2 dB | 3.05 |
| Peak | 1,228 Hz | -2.4 dB | 1.79 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,156 Hz | +1.5 dB | 4.18 |
| Peak | 2,859 Hz | -1.0 dB | 3.87 |
| Peak | 6,120 Hz | -1.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 7,146 Hz | +2.1 dB | 5.93 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons