Dan Clark Audio Launches the Noire XO: A Groundbreaking Addition to the Noire Series
By HiFi Editorial24 February 2026
Key Highlights
Dan Clark Audio's Noire XO offers an open-back design with advanced planar magnetic technology and a $1,299 price point.
Features proprietary AMTS and V-Planar Knurling for enhanced detail, imaging, and tonal balance.
Lightweight, folding design with synthetic Alcantara ear pads for comfort and durability during long listening sessions.
Dan Clark Audio has introduced the Noire XO, an open-back addition to its highly regarded Noire series. Designed as a counterpart to the closed-back Noire X headphones, the Noire XO promises a fresh take on planar magnetic technology with optimized engineering for audiophiles seeking precise sound reproduction.
These open-back headphones are built upon the foundation of the Noire X but aim to deliver a distinctive sonic experience. Leveraging design elements from DCA's flagship Expanse model, the Noire XO blends high-level performance with a more accessible price tag, making them a noteworthy option at $1,299 (£1,300 / €1,525 / AU$2,699). Dan Clark Audio emphasizes the extensive re-evaluation and retuning of the existing Noire X design for an open-back architecture rather than simply modifying the earcup construction. This approach ensures the new model achieves broader spatial performance while offering clarity and nuance akin to their closed-back sibling.
