DC Audio, previously known as MrSpeakers, just launched their new 899$ Aeon 2 headphones. The successor to the acclaimed Aeon. Will this one be as popular?
Disclaimer: The Aeon 2 was kindly provided by DC Audio free of charge. I only had to pay for the import costs. DC Audio is not affiliated with Headfonia and not a site advertiser. Many thanks for the generosity and opportunity.
About Dan Clark Audio:
DC Audio – Dan Clark Audio – formerly known as MrSpeakers, is one of the few companies that started out doing modifications to existing products, namely the Fostex T50RP. Mike has reviewed this special headphone back in 2012.
With the gaining popularity of their Mad Dog headphones, MrSpeakers has financed their own Research and Development department and to manufacture their own planar magnetic drivers.
Dan Clark has been in the audio scene for a long time, working in various fields, from retail to development. Dan’s products have always been passion-driven, he wanted to build headphones that excel in audio quality, but won’t break a certain price. His mindset is, that there can be great sounding headphones at any price point.
Now, just a few days ago on November 1st 2019, MrSpeakers has announced that they are rebranding themselves to DC Audio. With this transition to a new name, they also introduced a new and affordable headphone – the Aeon 2. Yes, the successor to their Aeon headphones.
DC Audio Aeon 2
About Aeon 2:
The Aeon 2 is the all new portable planar-magnetic headphone by DC Audio. Dan Clark and his team have developed a folding mechanism, which makes the Aeon 2 even smaller to put into your backpack. Aeon 2 is the follow up model of the Aeon, which was released late January 2017.
Their press release states, that they have taken what they learned from designing the Ether 2 and managed to upgrade the performance of the Aeon 2 with that. They have put in completely redesigned drivers with 180° flipped structure to remove flow structures and magnets from the signal path.
Other updates include streamlined flow elements that are converted to a single construction. Higher precision machined flow structures and superior driver damping. Which, according to them, resulted in improved resolution and frequency response.
The Aeon 2 comes, just like its predecessor, in closed and open form. We have received the closed back version for this review and will take a good look at its performance.
Aeon 2 is available through DC Audio’s online store or from one of their many retailers world-wide. One pair of them will set you back 899 USD.
DC Audio Aeon 2
Package:
My Aeon 2 arrived a few weeks prior to the launch and did not come with full retail packaging. I only received a hard-shell carrying case, the Aeon 2 and of course a cable. I got two different versions of the cable. A 4 pin XLR balanced and a 3.5 mm single ended cable.
I know from my previous Ether 2 review, that there shouldn’t be much else in the package though. The only thing missing in comparison is a cardboard box.
The review goes on after the jump!
audio power
I do not doubt that the sound reproduction must be excptionnel. However the design is really not attractive!
Mike
I think the opposite. The design and physical build is fine, but the sound is far from exceptional. The sound is not good at all, I would say it is just slightly better than “terrible”. And I’ve tried almost every single amplifier.
rocko
A review of the new model by someone who has never heard the old model and does no comparisons. Thanks for nothing.
Sp12er
This is suppossed to be a portable Fullsize but there’s only 1/4 portable source tested…
I know reviewers doesn’t want to review a product based on a limited capacity of their other gears… But still…
Alright.
Linus
Hi Sp12er,
thanks for your comment.
Well, there are two portables in there. The Hugo2 and the PAW 6000. And as per the review, the Aeon 2 sure does get loud enough with those, but they are not the best source for them in my opinion. The Aeon 2 is best with desktop gear.
Hope that helps.
Spie
@Linus, if this ain’t one of the better portable headphones out there currently (due to requiring more power to bring out full potential), what are in your opinion some of the better headphones you’d recommend to use with a portable player (ex: I use SP1000M) to take to work for example in a bag?
(I wouldn’t be using them for a walk around the neighbourhood for example)
Linus
Hi Spie,
thanks for your comment.
I really liked the Audioquest Nightowl back when I auditioned it. It’s easy to drive and it sounds good. Also it’s very comfy.
Other than that, the Meze 99 Classics is superb too.
Yeah, these would be my recommendations.
Hope that helps!
Mike
I bought and returned the Aeon 2 Closed, can’t recommend it all. There are better alternatives at equal or lower price points.
Gabriel Richmond
I know this is months later, but in that case, what would you recommend? I own the Aeon 2s and adore them, and would absolutely love to buy more headphones that compare well or outpace the Aeon 2s. I’m a college student without a personal listening space per se, so closed-back was a must for me going into this purchase, but once I get out and into a place of my own, I would really love to try more headphones of every sort. What would your recommendations be?
Nate
Mike, have you tried their Aeon Drop X Closed version?
If so, what do you think?
Mark
Hi, on the last page, you show a BLACK Aeon 2.
I have never seen that color before. I find the red model the most hideous headphone I have ever seen, so I am hugely interested in that black version. Can you share some information about it? Thanks!
Matty Graham
It looks like it’s a black+white photo Mark, they’re only available in red.