Dan Clark Audio Stealth Planar Closed-Back Headphones - Open-Box
Open Box
Open-box items are final sale and cannot be returned. Open-box items are returned units or demo units that have been cleaned, inspected and tested by our team.
Open Box
Open-box items are final sale and cannot be returned. Open-box items are returned units or demo units that have been cleaned, inspected and tested by our team.
After 4 years in development, the Dan Clark Audio Stealth Flagship closed-back planar magnetic headphones are now available!
Four years in the making, our flagship Stealth sets a new standard in headphone performance and ergonomics. Featuring Dan Clark Audio’s all-new 4th generation planar magnetic driver and breakthrough Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System, Stealth delivers a stunningly smooth presentation to bring new life and enjoyment to all your favorite music.
And we didn’t stop at improving the sound; we also redesigned our headband to deliver a big step up in both ergonomics and comfort!
Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System (AMTS)
All headphones are subject to standing waves in the higher frequencies, and these can make treble sound harsh, fatiguing, or synthetic.
AMTS is DCA’s patent-pending solution to this perennial problem. AMTS is an inline device placed between the transducer and ear. It integrates waveguides, diffusion control, quarter-wave, and Helmholtz resonators into one compact structure.
Diffusion elements system reduce some standing wave formation while resonators act as both precision and broad filters to smooth and shape the frequency response, reducing the amplitude of response peaks and troughs from the midrange through the highest frequencies.
The upshot is AMTS greatly reduces standing waves so high frequencies are rendered with a refreshingly smooth, accurate, and detailed delivery across all genres. OK, bad recordings are still bad, we’re not magicians!
Stealth's all-new 4th generation planar-magnetic driver delivers the smoothest, richest, and most detailed experience we could create. Stealth’s driver is 20% larger than the E2 driver and uses our patented v-Planar technology to reduce THD and improve low frequency extension.
But we didn’t stop there! Diaphragm tension is set on an all-new system for a more uniform and consistent tension, lower distortion, and better driver matching, while FEA and CFD optimized motor structures increase driver force uniformity and smooth acoustic paths to reduce distortion.
Stealth Redefines "Detail"
Stealth’s all-new planer driver delivers incredibly low distortion throughout the listening range with levels of detail heretofore found primarily in the top-of-the-line electrostatics. Unlike many headphones where “detail” is created through exaggerated high-frequency energy, Stealth’s AMTS delivers industry-leading resolution free from the fatiguing emphasis on the top register users may be used to.
Together, our 4th-generation motor and AMTS deliver a sonic performance best described as “effortless." From a delicately plucked string to the most intense dynamics of an orchestra, or the weight and attack of a kick drum to the overtones a decay of a crash cymbal, Stealth delivers an amazing balance of delicacy, nuance, and slam that will have you reaching for all your favorite recordings, and maybe staying up a bit too late.
And then there’s the soundstage; Stealth is all enveloping and can compete with even the finest open headphones in depth, width, and imaging.
It’s that effortless sense of space and instrument placement that lets Stealth “disappear” so you can simply relax into your musical experience. Everything, the headphones, the equipment, and yes, your daily stresses, just fall away.
Stealth Mechanical Design Innovations
“We set out to make Stealth a real design statement,” said Dan Clark, Founder and CEO. “Made of stylish matte-black leather, carbon fiber, and machined aluminum, Stealth design takes its cues from Stealth aircraft and is finished to levels you’d expect in the finest of luxury cars.”
The top grade black leather headband features fine red stitching to create a quilted head-strap that’s not only gorgeous but is also functional and comfortable. The elegant embroidered Stealth logo adds a dash of color to Stealth’s all-black aesthetic.
Gone are the mechanical sliders for fit adjustment; we’ve designed a stable yet comfortable “self-adjusting suspension system” that seats the headphone just right, with no muss or fuss.
Dan Clark Audio makes some of the lightest headphones in the world and Stealth is no exception; at just 418g it’s one of the lightest super-premium headphones on the market.
Together our new vegan suede and "leather" ear pads, self-adjusting suspension, and lightweight chassis make Stealth so comfy you can just ignore it and "vanish into your music.”
If it's Not Comfortable, Game Over
Dan has often said if the headphone is not physically comfortable enough to wear for extended listening sessions then the design is flawed. That’s why comfort is a top priority, and that’s why Dan Clark Audio has produced some of the lightest and most comfortable headphones in the industry, from the ultralight 280g Ether 2 to the groundbreaking ergonomics of the Aeon series.
The ergonomic and stylish outline of Stealth’s ear cups is a natural extension of Aeon 2 ergonomics, albeit they are larger. For storage or travel we incorporated Aeon 2’s elegant folding gimbal structure into Stealth, neatly folding it into a compact custom-molded case that’s small and easy to stow.
Stealth Key Features and Benefits:
Patent-pending Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System (AMTS) delivers unprecedented high-frequency detail and clarity for the ultimate in smoothness, tone, and detail retrieval
All-new 4th generation v-Planar driver with our largest planar diaphragm to date, delivering exceptional dynamics with vanishingly low distortion for a natural and “easy” listen
Improved driver tensioning system creates a driver with incredible consistency across units
FEA and CFD optimized motor structure increases driver motor-force uniformity and smoothes acoustic flow
All-new auto-adjusting suspended strap design makes Stealth hassle-free to wear
Pre-formed ergonomic strap design spreads weight evenly across the head for incredibly comfortable extended listening
Strap quilting improves comfort and reduces heat buildup
Composite synthetic suede and protein-leather pads offer a sung fit with minimal clamp, with a pleasant touch on the skin
Carbon / aluminum bonded cup design yields maximum stiffness with minimum weight
Folding gimbals allow Stealth to be packed in a compact case for safe and easy transport
Stealth is designed and built by hand in San Diego, California, and is backed by quality and support you can count on
Refund Policy
When Taron and Andrew Lissimore started headphones.com, they wanted to create the headphone store they wished existed. As headphone enthusiasts, they dreamed of a store with 365-day returns.
So they decided they were going to try to make 365-day returns work - no matter how ridiculous it sounded to their friends.
Years later, they're still doing it, and their friends still think they're crazy.
So take some time to get to know your new gear. We want you to enjoy your purchase for years, not just a few weeks. If you're not satisfied, you can return items in like-new condition for up to 365 days.
Returns
Returns process
Returning is easy - Start by filling out this form https://returns.headphones.com/. Please include your serial number and a detailed reason for your return. If you do not provide a return reason, your return may be rejected.
When your return is accepted, an instant store credit will be sent along with a return label. You can use the instant credit to make another purchase right away. If you prefer a refund to your original payment method, we will process the refund to your original payment method once your item has been received and inspected by our team. The inspection process can take up to 5-7 business days.
Once you have received your return label, you have 7 business days to drop off your return. If your return has not been dropped off at the courier within 7 days, an additional 30% restocking fee will apply. If your return is not dropped off within 30 days, your return will no longer be accepted.
To avoid additional restocking fees, your item must be in like-new condition with its original packaging. It must also include all original accessories and manuals. Please add a larger shipping box to protect the original packaging during shipping. The cost of the return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Return eligibility
Your item must be in like-new condition with its original packaging, accessories and manuals. Please use a shipping box to protect the original packaging during shipping.
The following items are not eligible for returns:
Sale or discounted items,
Final sale items
Special order items
Open-box items
Price-matched items
Accessories, such as ear pads and ear tips (for hygienic reasons)
These items are still covered by the manufacturer's warranty, where applicable.}
Cryptocurrency
If you paid with cryptocurrency, we will refund you either (1) the exact amount of cryptocurrency used to make the purchase or (2) the original USD purchase amount at our discretion.
Restocking Fees
All items have a base restocking fee of 10%. Return shipping costs are deducted from your refund. There is no grace period on restocking fees and they apply from day 1 to day 365.
The following additional restocking fees apply to the items listed below:
In-Ear Headphones +5%
Affirm Financing +5%
Missing Accessories or original packaging +15%
Products with batteries +5%
Earwax or Dirty headphones +25%
Return of more than 2 items in a calendar year +25%
Failure to ship item within 7 days of receiving return label +30%
Cancellations
All Affirm financing orders have a 5% cancellation fee.
For all other payment methods, your first cancellation is free. Subsequent cancellations have a 5% cancellation fee. We understand that sometimes life happens and an order needs to be cancelled, but we pay a non-refundable payment processing fee for each transaction.
Special order items are non-cancellable and non-returnable. Special order items may ship earlier or later than the estimated shipping window and this will not be accepted as grounds for cancellation.
Policy Abuse
In order to provide a 365-day return policy, we need to take abuse seriously.
We reserve the right to refuse orders from customers we believe have abused, or will abuse, our return policy, at our discretion. This includes customers who spread returns across multiple accounts.
We made our return policy to help you find gear you feel great about for a long time. Most people use it exactly as intended. We don't want the handful of people who attempt to abuse our policy to ruin it for everyone else.