“We set out to make Stealth a real design statement, made of stylish matte-black leather, carbon fiber, and machined aluminum. The design takes cues from Stealth aircraft and is finished to levels you’d expect in the finest of luxury cars.”
– Dan Clark, Founder and CEO
STEALTH is Dan Clark Audio’s flagship headphone, and its striking matte black and red design offers a teaser of its stunningly smooth, rich and spacious sound. STEALTH is a closed-back headphone that delivers great isolation, while our proprietary Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System (AMTS) works with our all-new 4th generation driver to create a huge, wide-open soundstage. STEALTH features a self-adjusting headband and an emphasis on ergonomics that make extended listening comfortable. This is our most exciting project to-date, with novel technology never before seen on any audio market - ready to dive in?
Introducing Dan Clark Audio’s all-new Stealth closed-back headphone. Four years in the making, Stealth sets a new standard in headphone performance and ergonomics. Featuring an 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 favourite music.
And we didn’t stop at improving the sound; we also redesigned our headband to deliver a big step up in ergonomics and comfort!
Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System(AMTS)
All headphones are subject to high-frequency standing waves which can make the treble sound harsh, fatiguing, or synthetic.
AMTS is a patent-pending inline device placed between the transducer and ear. It integrates waveguides, diffusion control, quarter-wave, and Helmholtz resonators into one compact structure.
Diffusion reduces some standing wave formation while resonators act as both precision and broad filters to smooth and shape the frequency response, smoothing the sound from the midrange through the highest frequencies.
AMTS renders high frequencies 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. It 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! The diaphragm is made on an all-new system for a more uniform and consistent tension, lower distortion, and better matching.
Stealth Redefines "Detail"
Stealth’s planar 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 resolution free from the fatiguing emphasis on the top register users may be used to.
Stealth's 4th-generation driver and AMTS deliver an amazing balance of delicacy, nuance, and slam that will have you reaching for all your favourite 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
Stealth takes its design cues from stealth aircraft and is finished to levels you’d expect in the finest of luxury cars.
The leather headband's fine red stitching creates a quilted head-strap that’s not only gorgeous but is also functional and comfortable. The embroidered Stealth logo adds a dash of colour to Stealth’s all-black aesthetic.
Gone are the mechanical sliders for fit adjustment; we’ve designed a “self-adjusting suspension system” that seats the headphone just right, with no muss or fuss.
If it's Not Comfortable,Game Over
If a headphone is not comfortable enough to wear for extended listening the design is flawed.
Stealth's ergonomic and stylish ear cups is a natural extension of Aeon 2 ergonomics with a more comfy fit and softer ear pads. Stealth weighs in at just 415g making it one of the lightest super-premium headphones on the market.
Throw in Stealth's new vegan suede and "leather" ear pads, self-adjusting suspension, and Stealth is so comfy you can just ignore it and "vanish into your music.”
Finally, for storage or travel, we incorporated our elegant folding gimbal into Stealth, folding it into a compact 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 delivers incredible consistency across units
All-new auto-adjusting suspended strap gives Stealth a perfect fit, every time
Pre-formed ergonomic strap 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
The Evolution of Dan Clark Audio Design
Dan Clark Audio’s design goal is to never compromise on sound, comfort, or aesthetics. Stealth is our ultimate statement and embodies everything we’ve learned since our inception.
We hope you enjoy it, and invite you to take a listen to the all-new Stealth, and vanish into the music!
Performance
Driver: 72mm x 50mm single-ended planar magnetic
Driver matching: 0.25db weighted 20-10,000Hz
THD: less than 0.03% 20-20KHz, ref. 1KHz at 94dB
Headband: Nickle-Titanium
Baffle: Carbon Fiber
Ear Pads: Synthetic Suede and Leather
In The Box
Stealth Headphone
Carrying Case
VIVO cable
Certificate of authenticity
Manual
“…the Holy Grail of closed headphones.”
Jude// August 19 2021
Dan Clark Audio Stealth Review, Interview, Measurements
Having built their business on designing and manufacturing moderately priced high-end headphones, it was only a matter of time before Dan Clark Audio would stage an assault on the higher end of the high-end market. Today's the day that happens, with the launch of the Dan Clark Audio Stealth. Key to the all-new Stealth's sound is a patent-pending innovation called AMTS.
