I think that's just the photo. They seem externally pretty symmetrical.

I got an Aeon X Closed, overseas I might add, and the right channel is like -15dB right out the box. Luckily Drop handled it wonderfully. So I was wondering what is the general consensus about Dan Clark Audio headphone's quality and longevity? I've had close to 30 Hifiman headphones myself or sold on with warranties and had only one case needing replacement. Anecdotal of course, but just makes me think.

Likely due to professional use cases which translate well enough to consumer needs. The sound quality from my anecdotal experience is meaningfully improved when moving from 32ohm to 80ohm, a bit from 80ohms to 250ohms and mostly inperceivably from 250ohms to 600ohms. The reason would be the difference in voice coil mass and density and at least makes intuitive sense. The unit variation is also very notable with those models and matters much more.

Ares II was high on my list since the price is not so extravagant and many sing it's praises. Need to read more.

None of the options I'm considering are available here for testing. Not even to buy used really.

Yeah, that's more or less my assumption as well.

I can hear differences in some filters, but I don't find them better or worse in any usually just different. If it is so that purposeful coloration is the only way high end DACs offer something soundwise then that makes sense. Like Naim power amps etc have a very distinct sound which works pretty well regardless of genre if a tight, punchy, energetic sound is what one is after. If some R2R DACs offer filters that artificially, but functionally improve separation, soundstage etc without being a detriment in most music then I wouldn't mind trying that out.

Yeah, that's my expectation as well.

I haven't heard them and that's a bit much for a blind buy, but I'm getting an LCD-5 soon which is close to that price range. My expectation is that a $100 Topping E30 does essentially everything worthwhile soundwise, but I'm interested in being sure. Some Chord stuff in the thousands of dollars I like less than some cheap stuff as well. We'll see if I find any motivation to get the DAC. Seems not for now.

Well DAC chips yes, but those can of course be implemented very poorly or very well. A good $50 dongle DAC seems indistinguishable from the cheap Toppings etc which measure far better than most TOTL DACs and the JDS Element.

Yeah, I have both, but with high end I mean something like $1000 and above for just the DAC.

Yeah, I'm getting an LCD-5 soonish most likely, but I'm mainly interested in having experience with the difference and knowing if there's anything meaningful there. I already know that it's mostly pointless to go past the well measuring $100-150 DACs up to $500, but whether TOTL could add something interests me. Like I prefer HE6se V2 over almost all headphones 4-8 times it's price, but an LCD-5 is damn nice at 10 times the price.

I mean all bluetooth audio devices have a DAC built it already. A desktop DAC is different. Likely mixing any external dacs or amps with BT devices will only make them worse since they usually have internal DSP without which they'd lose all purposeful tuning.

I have 40+ headphones, dozen dacs and amps etc, but the high end dac side of things I have little experience with.

I mean there is a DAC somewhere unless you somehow use them fully analog.

Let's just say that I've spent my time there and I'm good.

I won't.

What better investment.

Not really, but still.

Noted. Might actually be something I could use as well.

A valuable thing at that point.

Yeah, LCD-2 Closed is the best closed back I've heard so far. XC was pretty bad without EQ imo, but with EQ might be fantastic. I'll make reviews on all of them when I get to it ;)

I got those and an E-MU Teak coming soon as well. We'll see how much I like them. Got a D7200 which is good, but maybe not as special as I'd like.

The bass, when EQ'd, on the LCD-X is this heavy deep big club kind of sound that doesn't particularly lack detail, but is a bit slower than could be. The HE6se V2 doesn't lose in any aspect and it's extremely fast and detailed. The best I've heard. In many ways better than LCD-5 which has gorgeous and effortless, but not as technical bass.

Those should be Crin's next collab tbh.

LCD-X is easily my favourite of the big four (HD800s, Clear, Arya), but only when EQ'd (Oratory1990's preset). Best value and the only one that can do serious bass and have least weaknesses left after EQ. That said I prefer HE6se V2 over them.