The Dan Clark Audio VOCE is a multi-award-winning electrostatic headphone with impeccable sonic performance and top-notch sound quality. This pair of high-end headphones come with a hefty price tag and is the very first electrostatic headphone designed by the company. By looking at the accolades the VOCE has garnered, it seems Dan Clark Audio did a great job on their 1st try.
For such premium headphones, you certainly want to match the Dan Clark Audio VOCE with a DAC of equal caliber. It is important to learn more about the sonic characteristics of the VOCE electrostatic headphone and also about your own D/A converter requirements. With a better understanding of VOCE, it will be easier to find a matching DAC.
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Sonic Characteristics of Dan Clark Audio VOCE
On first look, you can immediately tell the Dan Clark Audio VOCE is an extraordinary pair of headphones and seems poised to dish out incredible sound quality with its 88mm drivers. The size of the VOCE may seem heavy but in actual fact, it is not as the electrostatic headphone only weighs 330g. The all-metal construction may also seem like the Dan Clark Audio VOCE is uncomfortable to wear. Fortunately, these electrostatic headphones feel very comfortable when wearing them and you won’t feel your head being tightly pressured.
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This is an open-back design electrostatic headphone and it will be wise to listen to them inside a quiet room. The Dan Clark Audio VOCE should not be used outdoors since the noise isolation capabilities won’t be able to block off environmental noises. Needless to say, the sound from your music playbacks will leak out as well. One of the most impressive feats of the VOCE electrostatic headphone will be the ability to reach down to 6Hz bass extension. We certainly expect a powerful and articulate bass performance coming from the Dan Clark Audio VOCE.
The bass reproduction is not as impactful as other high-end headphones of a similar price range, especially in the midbass area. The bass quality is still incredibly high as the Dan Clark Audio VOCE could effortlessly produce subsonic low-ends without much roll-off. There are plenty of bass details, not to mention, the low ends are also textured and clean. Dan Clark Audio VOCE bass performance is agile and taut, never overbearing nor overshadowing the upper registers. Bass fanatics may find the low-end performance a little lightweight.
As the bass response works hand in hand with the rest of the frequencies, the overall clarity is superb and doesn’t sound highlighted as well. The smooth music delivery is easy on the ears and we didn’t find the Dan Clark Audio VOCE sound harsh at any time. The electrostatic headphone is capable of projecting a large and spacious soundstage which immediately captivated us. Along with its immaculate stereo imaging and separation, each musician is precisely where they should be and they are highly defined. Even though the soundstage is very spacious but it still sounds natural.
We are surprised at how forgiving the Dan Clark Audio VOCE can get and the headphones sounded calm. If you are looking for a pair of headphones that could produce full-range sound quality with a relaxing delivery, the Dan Clark Audio VOCE will certainly be an ideal choice for you. They would be amazing for almost all music genres if only the VOCE have a bit more enthusiasm and punch. It is recommended to audition the Dan Clark Audio VOCE first before spending so much money on them. We have prepared a list of the best DACs which you can choose to match with your Dan Clark Audio VOCE electrostatic headphones. Please have a look at them below.
Best Matching DACs for Dan Clark Audio VOCE Electrostatic Headphones
The multi-award-winning Chord Hugo 2 will certainly be a worthy match with your Dan Clark Audio VOCE. The music handling and control of the Hugo 2 DAC are simply superb along with its wide dynamic range, this Chord D/A converter can deliver an energetic sonic performance when it is called for. Chord Hugo 2’s high-resolution music presentation will work nicely with the Dan Clark Audio VOCE electrostatic headphones, bringing out more details without sounding clinical or harsh. We highly recommend having an audition with them together.
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The Audiolab M-DAC+ is one of the top high-end DACs to partner up with the Dan Clark Audio VOCE. This award-winning D/A converter has a well-balanced music presentation where it could add a bit more attack to your electrostatic headphones. The M-DAC+ amazing stereo imaging and staging will complement the VOCE headphones really well. It will also help to dig out more music details and subtleties which will be great for analytical audio enthusiasts.
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Schiit Audio Yggdrasil is another high-end DAC that will match well with the Dan Clark Audio VOCE electrostatic headphones. Yggdrasil has similar sonic characteristics as the VOCE where it can deliver a calming and laid-back music presentation, allowing you to relax and simply enjoy listening to your favorite tunes. The articulate bass performance of the Schiit Audio Yggdrasil DAC will provide a slightly faster transient and give the low ends a bit more body. The overall sound reproduction of the Yggdrasil D/A converter is realistic and natural too.
More Details on Schiit Audio Yggdrasil at Schiit Website
If you need a high-quality DAC that is extremely compact and portable, then perhaps the AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt will be the one for you. It is a USB-DAC where you can easily keep it inside your pocket. The AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt may be small but it doesn’t compromise the sound quality. The USB DAC wide soundstage will fit well with Dan Clark Audio VOCE and the high level of clarity allow us to hear more music details clearly. Cobalt dynamic control and music handling will help ignite some sparks.
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Chord Qutest is another exceptional DAC designed and made by the coveted Chord Electronics, the award-winning sonic performance of this D/A converter will pair well with the Dan Clark Audio VOCE electrostatic headphones. The level of clarity and details the Qutest adds to the music delivery help to make each musician sound more distinct. The Chord Qutest is also capable of wide dynamic swings and brings out the emotional energy of the music. Allowing you to enjoy highly detailed and engaging music presentations.
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For headphone enthusiasts who are looking for a DAC which can decode MQA and doesn’t break the bank. You might want to take a look at the Topping D90. This is a D/A converter with a plethora of features where it also supports up to 32-bit/768kHz and DSD512 resolutions. Another notable feature of the D90 will be the Bluetooth 5.0 connection as it can achieve HD transmission. With so many features and a sane price point, the Topping D90 will be a good match with your Dan Clark Audio VOCE electrostatic headphones.
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To Sum It Up
All these DACs listed here are definitely worthy of your time and consideration. You might want to pick at least two from the list and audition them side-by-side together with your own Dan Clark Audio VOCE electrostatic headphones. This will make it easier to find out which DAC will perform better when partnered with your VOCE electrostatic headphones. If you are unable to find the DAC you are interested in then feel free to use this list as a reference.
