Closing D7000 evaluate: big planar magnetic over-ear headphones that, when correctly pushed, deserve their big price-tag
Closing D7000: Two-minute evaluate
It goes with out saying that $3499 / £2999 / AU$5899 is an terrible lot of cash to think about spending on a pair of wired over-ear headphones – and but you’re virtually spoiled for selection right here, as our greatest wired headphones information proves. What units the D7000 aside, although, is that Closing Audio has gone to city the place the know-how of planar magnetic headphones is anxious, and consequently has a reasonably compelling story to inform.
It’s developed one thing it calls an ‘air movie damping system’ to beat the low-frequency limitations of the planar magnetic driver know-how. It’s created a ‘pinna-aligned diffuser’ to beat the variations within the form of the human ear. It’s gone as far as to construct its personal manufacturing and meeting jigs to be able to preserve the whole development course of in-house and beneath its management. It isn’t a stretch to say that Closing’s must get the science of bringing sound to your ears good borders on obsessive.
The D7000 is much from probably the most cooperative headphone this form of cash should buy, so that you’ll must spend extra – on a headphone amplifier with a good bit of grunt. However if you happen to’re in a position to drive the D7000 successfully, there’s a lot to take pleasure in concerning the sound.
Closing D7000 evaluate: Value & launch date
- Launched February 27, 2024
- Priced $3499 / £2999 / AU$5899
The Closing Audio D7000 are that can be purchased now, and have been because the finish of February 2024. A worth of $3499 / £2999 / AU$5899 lets the corporate will not be messing round with this mannequin, and it additionally lets that options from the likes of Focal (see the Could-launch Azurys), Grado (see our Grado Hemp evaluate) and Meze Audio (that may be the Meze Audio Liric) are firmly in Closing Audio’s sights.
Closing D7000 evaluate: Specs
| Kind | Wired over-ear |
| Drivers | Planar magnetic |
| Weight | 437g |
| Cable size | 3m |
| Sensitivity | 89dB/wM |
| Impedance | 50Ω |
Closing D7000 evaluate: Options
- ‘Pinna-Aligned Diffuser’
- ‘Air Movie Damping System’
- Not the best headphones to drive
Wired headphones seldom bristle with options – and the Closing Audio D7000 are not any completely different in that they’ve what they should get the job completed and nothing else. However it’s honest to say that Closing Audio has utilized itself to those options rigorously.
As an illustration, the corporate has addressed the inherent issues planar magnetic drivers have in producing correctly low frequencies by creating one thing it calls an ‘Air Movie Damping System’. If you happen to play at important quantity, the motion of the diaphragm when it’s delivering bass data might be exaggerated to the purpose that it contacts the magnets which can be driving it – which clearly is undesirable. Closing Audio suggests {that a}) each different planar magnetic design consequently doesn’t dig as deep into the frequency vary as is right, and b) it has solved the difficulty.
A essentially sophisticated system involving perforated metallic shields suspended on both facet of the diaphragm creates a layer of air between the diaphragm and its magnets – it acts as a braking system and permits the diaphragm to generate the specified low frequencies with out the hazard of contact with the magnets round it. The diaphragm itself is skinny and light-weight even by prevailing requirements, and has a super-thin spiral-pattern aluminum coil etched onto it.
The opposite main characteristic right here is the ‘Pinna-Aligned Diffuser’. The idea of acoustic adjustment through diffusion has been gaining traction for a while – however Closing Audio feels it has recognized, and subsequently solved, an essential problem: the form of the wearer’s pinna. The pinna (the form of the outer ear) clearly varies broadly from individual to individual, and it may considerably have an effect on a headphone listening expertise. Closing Audio’s listening assessments, utilizing each actual dwell ears and simulations, have resulted in a diffuser form that’s, in response to the corporate, optimum for each listener whatever the form of their pinna.
The motive force association has resulted in a headphone with an impedance of 50Ω and sensitivity of 89dB/mW – this interprets to ‘fairly tough to drive’. It appears possible that anybody spending the thick finish of three grand on a pair of headphones will not be going to attach them on to a laptop computer headphone socket or one thing like that – however equally, these numbers recommend a sturdy headphone amp shall be a necessity.
The quantity of oomph that’s more likely to be required to drive the D7000 makes the equipped cable appear barely odd. It’s three meters lengthy, for starters, which is much from probably the most sensible size, and is terminated in an unbalanced 6.3mm jack – which isn’t probably the most useful (or premium) choice. At this form of cash it’s not unreasonable to count on a wide range of cables, in a wide range of lengths, with a wide range of terminations – a 4.4mm balanced jack, as an example, would assist the headphone amp into which it’s plugged cope with the fairly difficult load the D7000 current.
Closing D7000 evaluate: Sound high quality
- Great powers of perception and evaluation
- Open, organized and completely plausible sound
- May fairly simply be extra dynamic
In some ways, the sound the Closing Audio D7000 make is approaching supreme – or, not less than, it’s for somebody with related sonic priorities to mine. If you happen to admire excessive element ranges, properly impartial tonality, a superbly balanced frequency response and a giant, well-organized soundstage, then we’ve one thing in widespread. And also you’ll little question benefit from the D7000 as a lot as I do.
A giant 24bit/96kHz FLAC file of Weyes Blood’s Grapevine is precisely the form of factor the Closing Audio excel at coping with. Their fastidiously judged tonality provides a contact of heat to the acoustic devices and the staggeringly direct and informative midrange, and their response from the underside of the frequency vary to the highest is impressively even. The arduous work Closing Audio has completed in an effort to liberate dynamic driver-type ranges of bass extension and substance from the planar magnetic association has no doubt paid off; the D7000 dig respectably deep and hit with dedication. They is probably not the punchiest headphones this form of cash should buy, however they’re actually no slouches.
The highest of the frequency vary is open and ethereal, however greater than sufficient substance to keep away from sounding in any manner skinny or arduous. And with the impeccable vocal, they reveal actual midrange constancy and positivity – there’s an infinite quantity of element, each broad and wonderful, extracted and contextualized. The D7000 talk by means of the midrange in probably the most eloquent and expressive method, and singers sound direct and characterful consequently.
The soundstage these headphones can generate is extraordinarily large and respectively deep, so even a recording as comparatively complicated as Stevie Marvel’s He’s Misstra Know-It-All (as a DSD64 file) sounds organized and coherent – even the format of the drum package is totally specific. And this recording demonstrates that what the D7000 lack in outright low-frequency affect, they make up for in management – rhythmic expression is at all times convincing.
Up so far, the Closing Audio mix evaluation with leisure in a most agreeable method. They’re enjoyable to take heed to, musical of their method, and have so many pertinent observations to make concerning the trivialities of recordings that every pay attention is a little bit voyage of discovery.
The one important disadvantage is a relative lack of dynamism. Whereas they’re very attentive to the low-key dynamics of harmonic variation, the D7000 aren’t all that inclined to actually lean in when the going will get intense or huge shifts in quantity happen. That’s not a lot of a problem with the recordings I’ve talked about up to now, as a result of they each provide very well mannered will increase in assault – however while you ask the Closing Audio to ship one thing alongside the strains of My Bloody Valentine’s Feed Me With Your Kiss as a 24bit/96kHz FLAC file, they’ll sound barely undemonstrative. The D7000 are both unwilling or unable to correctly monitor the variations in depth with correct dedication, and they’re barely in need of the form of headroom that permit important distance between the quietest and loudest moments within the recording.
Closing D7000 evaluate: Design
- 437g
- Washi’ cloth for headband and earpads
- Aluminum/magnesium alloy housing
‘Large’ appears nearly as good a phrase as any to start out with. The Closing Audio D7000 aren’t outrageously heavy at 437g, they keep snug by means of lengthy listening classes because of the supplies used of their development and their cautious hanger association… however they nonetheless really feel huge as a result of, nicely, they’re. Or, not less than, their earcups and earpads are. If you happen to’re blessed with a smaller-than-average head, there’s a superb likelihood the D7000 will show to be fairly extra headphone than you’re snug with.
Closing Audio has designed the D7000 to be as repairable and serviceable as attainable and that’s to be counseled. These tiny uncovered screw-heads inform their very own story – virtually each a part of these headphones might be eliminated if required. So {hardware} upgrades are attainable, as is substitute or restore. In different phrases, the D7000 ought to final you a really very long time. This is only one benefit derived from Closing Audio’s insistence on conducting the whole manufacturing course of in-house – even to the purpose that it’s designed and constructed its personal meeting jigs and measurement jigs to be able to guarantee the standard of construct and end is precisely the way it desires it to be.
The earcup housings are produced from machined aluminum/magnesium alloy, which helps preserve weight down, they usually really feel simply nearly as good as they appear (so long as you’re wonderful with black – it’s the one choice the place end is anxious). They alter on the scarf utilizing a reasonably rudimentary ‘friction pole’ association, however that does not less than imply the arms don’t flare out from the facet of the climate’s head all that far.
Closing Audio has used a lightweight, breathable cloth for the masking of the scarf and earpads. It’s derived from ‘washi’, a standard Japanese paper – and in addition to providing good moisture management, lightness of construct and wonderful sturdiness, we’ll all be happy to be taught it additionally has wonderful anti-bacterial and odor eliminating properties.
Closing D7000 evaluate: Worth
- Nicely constructed; distinctive consideration to supplies used
- Requires good amplification – and costly regardless
If you happen to’ve learn this far then the D7000 are very nicely constructed and completed, utilizing high-quality supplies. You’ll know they use some fairly progressive applied sciences to be able to do their factor, and also you’ll know their modular development ought to imply they final for years. You’ll know that in just about each respect besides dynamic response, they’re a profoundly pleasant pay attention – so long as you will have amplification able to driving them effectively. And also you’ll additionally know they’re certainly not your solely selection if you wish to spend huge on some new headphones…
Ought to I purchase the Closing D7000?
| Part | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Options | Proprietary options in a planar magnetic design | 4.5/5 |
| Sound high quality | Unimaginable element and perception; minor shortfall by way of dynamic depth | 4/5 |
| Design | Gentle in weight, however nonetheless, these cups are big | 4.5/5 |
| Worth | There’s quite a bit to have fun – however you will in all probability want a brand new amp | 4/5 |
Purchase them if…
Do not buy them if…
Closing D7000 evaluate: Additionally think about
| Closing D7000 | Meze Audio Liric 2 | Focal Stellia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $3499 / £2999 / AU$5899 | $2,000 / £1899 / approx. AU$3,690 | $3,000 / £2,899 / approx. AU$5,629 |
| Drivers | Planar magnetic, closed-back | Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array MZ4 | 40mm pure Beryllium ‘M’-shaped dome |
| Weight | 437g | 427g | 435g |
| Cable size | 3m | Not listed | 3m |
| Impedance | 50Ω | 61 Ω | 35Ω |
| Sensitivity | 89dB/wM | 100dB SPL @ 1 kHz, 1 mW | Not said |
How I examined the Closing D7000
- Related to an iFi iDSD Diablo 2 headphone amplifier
- With a wide range of digital audio file varieties and sizes
- For nicely over a working week
My reference amplifier (a Naim Uniti Star) has a 3.5mm headphone socket – and so all my testing was completed utilizing a (massively succesful) iFi iDSD Diablo 2 headphone amplifier linked through UBS-C to an Apple MacBook Professional loaded with Colibri software program to be able to play correct high-resolution content material. I listened to much less information-rich stuff too, after all, and to music of each fashion and style. And I did this for nicely over a working week, as a result of frankly it was no form of hardship in any respect…
