The Dan Clark Audio E3 ranks #1 out of 134 total Over-Ear Headphones for sound quality. See all Headphones rankings for every top pick.
Brand: Dan Clark Audio
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#1 Dan Clark Audio E3: $2,179.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: In oratory1990’s measurement it earns a preference score of 101, with response held within about 1 dB of the Harman target from sub-bass through the upper mids. Bass from 20 to 200 Hz sits less than 1 dB above target, so kick drums and bass guitar have full weight without bloom. A 27 ohm impedance and 90 dB/mW sensitivity are easy enough for a decent headphone amp, and the closed back keeps sound in and outside noise down.
Cons: The upper treble is uneven, with a 5.6 dB dip near 9.9 kHz followed by a 5 dB peak near 11.9 kHz, which can make cymbals and sibilance sound slightly uneven. At 455 g it is heavy for long sessions, and planar drivers at this sensitivity perform best from a proper amp rather than a phone.
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.05 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 101 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 27 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 90 dB/mW |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.04 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 1 lbs (455 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -1.0 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 | -0.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,224 Hz | +1.1 dB | 0.87 |
| Peak | 2,683 Hz | -2.0 dB | 3.34 |
| Peak | 471 Hz | -0.6 dB | 2.01 |
| Peak | 91 Hz | -0.5 dB | 2.36 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 167 Hz | +0.8 dB | 2.72 |
| Peak | 3,979 Hz | -0.6 dB | 4.28 |
| Peak | 5,845 Hz | -1.1 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 112 Hz | -0.3 dB | 2.53 |
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