Expanse
- Driver
- Planar magnetic
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Weight
- 418 g
- List
- $4,499.99
The open-back partner to the Stealth, with the same Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System and the largest v-Planar driver Dan Clark Audio has made. The chassis is aluminium and titanium with a carbon fibre baffle.
Where to buy
List $4,499.99
- Audio46In stock online$4,499
- Headphones.comIn stock online$4,499.99
- Moon AudioIn stock online$4,499.99
Retailer prices checked 2026-10-21. We may earn a commission on purchases. How this works
Title block
- Maker
- Dan Clark Audio
- Model
- Expanse
- Made in
- United States
- Released
- 2022
- Transducer
- Planar magnetic
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Driver
- 76 mm x 51 mm
- Weight
- 418 g
- Impedance
- 26 ohms
- Sensitivity
- ~90 dB/mW
- Frequency response
- Not published
- List price
- $4,499.99 USD
Drive requirements
Match an amplifier in the synergy calculator| Level | Power | Voltage | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 dB | 10.0 mW | 0.51 V | 19.6 mA |
| 110 dB | 100 mW | 1.61 V | 62.0 mA |
| 120 dB | 1000 mW | 5.10 V | 196 mA |
Most headroom at 110 dB
- ampsandsound Bigger Ben (Rev 3, 2026)+23.2 dB
- HeadAmp GS-X mk2+19.2 dB
- Woo Audio WA33 (2nd generation)+19.1 dB
Rated 90 dB/mW into 26 ohms. Estimated from published amplifier output.
Assembly drawing
Parts
- 1HeadbandNickel-titanium band, quilted black leather strap, self-adjusting suspension
- 2YokeFolding gimbals carried over from AEON 2; per-part materials not published
- 3GrilleOpen grille with pattern from generative-design math functions; material not published
- 4Ear cupAluminum and titanium chassis; carbon fiber baffle
- 5Magnet arrayNot published
- 6Diaphragm4th-generation v-Planar diaphragm, DCA's largest to date; material not published
- 7EarpadsComposite synthetic suede and protein leather; fill not published
Schematic planar magnetic assembly, annotated with the Dan Clark Audio Expanse’s published materials. Not to scale.
Engineering notes
- Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System (AMTS, patent pending): inline device between transducer and ear combining waveguides, diffusion control, quarter-wave and Helmholtz resonators
- 4th-generation single-ended planar magnetic driver, 76 x 51 mm, with revised driver tensioning system
- FEA and CFD optimized motor structure
- Self-adjusting suspended strap replaces mechanical sliders; folding gimbals allow a compact travel case
Design language
Engineered minimalism: a grille pattern generated from mathematical functions, teardrop cups and a nickel-titanium band.
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