Dunu Titan 1
 
Dunu may not be a recognizable name in audio amongst the mainstream masses in the United States, but they absolutely should be. Based in Taiwan and China, Dunu has been making exceptionally good In Ear Monitors for some time now. The powerhouse DN-1000 along with the more refined DN-2000 have blown away and satisfied many who have tried them. Dunu’s combination of high quality materials, a plethora of accessories, and top notch sound quality have solidified them as a major player for audio enthusiasts.
The Titan 1 is a bit of a shocker. Being a single dynamic driver, I did not think the Titan 1 would ever approach the quality of the DN-1000 and DN-2000. This IEM wasn’t even remotely on my radar, as newer doubles (dynamic and hybrid) and triple hybrids have been released or will be soon. A single dynamic driver at around $100 couldn’t possibly keep up with these… or could it?
In this case, not only does the Titan 1 keep up… it sounds better than many multiple driver in ears, for $100! The SQ comes shockingly close to the DN-2000 as well, and in some areas, I feel the Titan is better.
 
Specifications:

1. Driver: 13mm Titanium Diaphragm Dynamic Driver
2. Impedance: 16Ω
3. Sensitivity: 90+- 2dB
4. Reproduction Frequency: 10Hz-20kHz
5. Weight: 18g

 
Build Quality: 

1. Semi open, ported metal alloy shell
2. Aesthetically pleasing, strong build
3. Titanium coated diaphragm
4. Tweed + plastic coated non microphonic cable
5.  

The Titan 1 can easily be mistaken as an earbud at first glance. The 13mm driver is housed inside a sturdy circular metal casing which sits quite comfortably and firmly in my ears. The casing is ported both in the back and in the front, creating a semi-open sound. Isolation is not the Titan 1’s strong suit, and if played loud enough, others around you will notice and hear your music.
The cable is half rope like toward the bottom, half plastic up towards the ears. Microphonics are near nonexistent, and the cable feels strong enough to take a commuter or athletes beating.
 
Accessories:

1. Carrying case
2. 9 pairs of eartips (S/M/L)
3. 3.5mm to 6.3mm gold adapter 
4.  

Dunu never seems to disappoint here. The carrying case holds several different types of eartips which change the sound a bit, ear size dependent. The quality of the tips are quite good, although my favorite to use were M sized JVC Spiral Dot tips, by far.
 
Sound Quality:

1. Exceptionally clear. Sounds more like a BA/dynamic hybrid.
2. Slightly enhanced bass. Slight V signature
3. Can be a bit bright at certain high frequencies. Certain tips solve this
4. Huge soundstage. Better than the DN-2000 here.

 
Titanium diaphragms are not new in the audio world. Klipsch uses titanium diaphragms in their compression drivers, and anyone who has listened to a Klipsch speaker knows it can be exceptionally clear and powerful, yet at times piercingly bright. In my custom built speakers, I had a choice between Titanium and Polyimide, and I went with the polyimide diaphragm since the Titanium was too harsh.
 
I was afraid the Titan 1 would suffer the same fate… great clarity, but insufferably bright. Thankfully, this isn’t the case.
The Titan 1 is EXCEPTIONALLY clear, not just for a single dynamic, but for earphones in general. Every note, every detail shines right through the mix. All of the instruments and sounds from complicated Thrash Metal progressions to pop vocal ballads are presented with near absolute clarity.
Bass is slightly north of neutral, especially in the midbass. While not bassy by any means, there is a slight boost here compared to the more neutral DN-2000. With some slight EQ and Bass Boost, a thicker, pleasing bass becomes available.
 
The mids may be slightly recessed, but much less so than you may perceive. Nothing is lost in the mix, although it is noticeable that the low and high end get a slight boost over them. No frequencies bleed over into the mids, which is one of the main ingredients of the Titan’s clarity.
 
Highs were a bit troublesome at first. With the default tips, some high frequencies were noticeably sibilant and piercing out of the box. This is what I was afraid of with the Titanium. At this point, I decided to burn in the driver a bit and find new tips to try.
 
I had a revelation based on my DN-2000 experience. I found the DN-2000 to also be a bit too bright with highs… until I added Comply foam tips. After that, I loved the DN-2000.
It turns out that the Titan 1 also reacts favorably to Comply tips, and even more so with JVC Spiral Dot tips (medium size). These tips smooth out the peaks that I find harsh without removing any of the detail. While the highs are still boosted a bit, they remain engaging and non-fatiguing.
 
The soundstage. Huge. Throw on a live concert, and the sound envelops you.
 
All of this from a $100 IEM. Fantastic.
 
Thoughts:
 
It’s only February, and the Titan 1 may be the biggest surprise and value of 2015. Earphones under $300 rarely do all the things right that the Titan 1 does, and the Titan 1 does them for ~$100. Buy them.
 
Thanks to Vivian @ Dunu for the review unit.

SYUN ME-1
 
SYUN is a relatively new brand out of China with an apparently well known (in China) acoustic tuning staff behind it. The ME-1 is the current flagship, and it is an impressive debut.
 
Specifications: 

1. Driver unit: 9.8 mm dynamic driver 
2. Rated Impedance: 30 Ohm 
3. Sensitivity: 120 dB/mW 
4. Frequency response: 15Hz- 22KHz 
5. Plug: 3.5mm gold plated plug
6. Cable: 1.20 mm TPU cable

 
Build Quality: 

1. Attractive, flashy design 
2. Sturdy, light

 
With its shiny gold metallic coated housing, a quick visual of the ME-1 is striking. A large grilled vent in the back allows a semi-open sound with good isolation. The housing is small and should fit in most ears without any issues. The cable has little to no microphonics, but it is more of a standard wire look and subdued compared to the housing.
 
Accessories:

1. 3 pairs of silicon tips (S,M,L)
2. Velvet Bag

 
For a $100 IEM, this is a bit disappointing. The silicone tips are standard issue and not much better than what you would get from cheaper IEMS. The Hifiman RE-400 came with an abundance of tips at this price in comparison. The lack of accessories makes it seem like less of a value, but then again most enthusiasts have their own special sets of tips they enjoy. I’m all for cutting back fluff in order to lower the buying price, so I hope that’s what SYUN went for here.
 
Sound Quality:

1. Mostly analytical, flat sound
2. Can be a bit thin for bass lovers
3. Vocals shine
4. Big soundstage
5. Benefits greatly from an amp

 
The ME-1 can be best described as a dynamic earphone that sounds like a single balanced armature one. The sound kept reminding me of the MeElectronics A161P BA, but at a more refined level.
 
The sound is very analytical, which is unusual from a single dynamic driver. Those who like a thick, deep, driving bass will not find it here, as the sound signature remains relatively flat throughout. It does take EQ well, so a good 30% bass boost is possible (and pleasing).
 
The tuning is centered on excellent vocal performance. Clarity and soundstage are above average and validate the ~$100 price point. The wide soundstage is very reminiscent of the Havi B3 Pro 1’s, although not quite at its level.
 
The flat sound is both a pro and a con. Highs can seem to be a bit much at times, which is the same problem I had with the A161P. Unlike the A161P, a bass boost can be applied to smooth things out without ruining the sound. EDM and bass oriented music can sound a bit thin as well without that boost. If you loved the A161P, you’ll love the ME-1 as well.
 
The ME-1 is also a bit hard to drive. Out of a smartphone they are just barely passable. With a small or solid amp, the extra power allows the ME-1 to be driven properly to its full capability.
 
Thoughts:
 
I love transparent, analytical sound with the ability to add bass boost as needed without distortion. The ME-1 does this, and does it well. If you like this kind of sound, the SYUN is worth a buy. Recommended.
 
The SYUN ME-1 can be found at lendmeurears.com
http://www.lendmeurears.com/syun-me-1/
 
I'd like to thank Lendmeurears for providing me the sample for review.

HZSound EP-001
 
HZSound is a new IEM company out of China which recently launched their first IEM, the EP-001. There has been an explosion of excellent new audio gear coming out of China in the past year or so, and HZSound makes a strong introduction with the affordable yet nicely tuned EP-001. For ~$25, you get an above average selection of accessories, and a clear balanced sound that tilts towards some bass enhancement.
 
Build Quality:
The ringed alloy exterior shell gives a nice appearance to the design. The cable isn’t groundbreaking in design or quality, but it doesn’t make much noise. Although the shell may seem big, I was able to fit them securely in my ear quite easily. Although light in weight, the EP-001 feels (and sounds) like a higher quality IEM than the price suggests.
 
Accessories: 

1. 1X hardcase 
2. 1X 3.5 mm to 6.5mm adaptor 
3. 3 pairs of single flange tips  (S,M,L)
4. 1 pair of biflange tips
5. 1 pair of foam tips 
6. 1 carbiner 
7. 1X watertight case 

 
Specification

1. Driver: 12.5mm CCAW dynamic drivers
2. Frequency Range: 20-20, 000 Hz 
3. Impedance: 16 Ohm 
4. Sensitivity: 100 dB 
5. Distortion: <1%
6. Plug: 3.5mm stereo, gold-plated 
7. Cable: 1.2m 

 
The entire package was very well done. The case and 4 types of tips provided (memory foam tips as well) are normally not found often in this price range, and they’re a welcome addition. None of the tips provided the best sound quality however…
 
Sound Quality:
 
Surprisingly clear and better balanced than the Xiaomi Pistons (also ~$25). The EP is very tip dependent however.
Wide bore tips made treble sound harsh. Memory foam ruined detail. The other tips didn’t cut it either. It wasn’t until I tried Heir type narrow bore silicone tips that the sound rounded itself out nicely. Bass is boosted but pleasing. Mids and vocals remain at the forefront and clear, albeit slightly recessed. Midrange and treble remain smooth and non-fatiguing. Treble does drop off in extension somewhat, but not as much as most bass enhanced sets.
 
Thoughts:
For their first outing, HZSound did a great job with the EP-001. It should definitely get some recognition as a solid budget choice. I’m looking forward to more quality designs from HZSound in the future.
 
The HZSound EP-001 can be found at Lendmeurears.com. Thanks to them for the review unit!
http://www.lendmeurears.com/hz-ep001/

Fiio's new X1 is an excellent low cost entry for those looking for better audio quality than what their current smartphones are capable of.

 

I must admit, I am not a fan of DAPs. Even the nicest, most expensive DAPs still don't have the capabilities of most mid range smartphones (touch screen, downloadable programs/album art, wifi transfers, etc). I would be very hesitant to spend $300+ to have none of those features available to me in a separate audio player. This is where the $100 X1 comes in. The DAC and amp inside the player ends up providing very good sound quality at a very affordable price. Here are my impressions of the X1 in the week that I had it. 

 

 

Build Quality:

 

Top notch for the price. The aluminum alloy chassis has a premium feel to it. It feels nice and solid in your hand, and the provided silicone skin and screen protector help prevent possible damage. The click wheel turns easily, and the buttons respond fluidly to touch.

 

Features:

 

-192kHz/24bit playback from just about every useful audio file type (FLAC, ALAC, MP3, OGG).

 

This is a major feature that most audio players ~$100 simply don’t have. This allows high quality playback from sources such as HDTracks with zero issues.

 

-A good (but not great) quality DAC and amp.

 

The DAC and amp used in the X1 (PCM 5142 + ISL28291) are better than your average DAC found in smartphones, but they still fall short to many of the higher level DACs (SABRE) out there by quite a margin. This combo simply doesn’t have the detail and resolution found in higher quality DAPs (X5), but it is better than what $100 normally gets you.

 

-Up to 128GB of SD card storage

 

Huge feature. Any respectable DAP should be using consumer friendly expandable SD card storage.

 

-Line Output

 

Another huge feature. This allows an external amp to pick up where the X1 lacks, which allows more demanding headphones (or speakers) to use the X1 as a source.

 

Ease of Use:

 

This is where the X1 stumbles a bit for me. With touch screen smartphones being such a large part of our lives now, having to use a scroll wheel feels like a time warp back to 2005. While it is easy to navigate through the Fiio UI, there were far too many times I missed the convenience of tapping where I wanted to be in a track.

 

Sound Quality:

 

The overall sound signature of the X1 surprised me with how flat it was. Normally I love a good flat signature, but bass levels actually seemed lower than flat, and with less extension. For bass heavy consumer earphones, this works out pretty well in cleaning up the bass bloat present. For higher quality neutral signature IEMs, it sucks the life out them. EQ ended up being a must in order to bring back sufficient levels of pleasurable bass. Luckily the Fiio EQ works pretty well, but more power hungry IEMs won’t do well off of the internal amp with a large bass boost.

 

Detail retrieval was a noticeable step up from a Moto G that I used in comparison.  

 

Final Thoughts:

 

The Moto G vs. X1 got me thinking… which would be better, a standalone DAP, or a cheap smartphone with a USB DAC/amp attached? With the release of Android 5.0 Lollipop, most android phones now support USB DACs. I was finally able to use my Geek Out 1000 off of my Oneplus One the other day, and the results were fantastic.

 

The X1 is a nice unit that will work very well for most people. For me, while it was nice to try, I vastly preferred the interface of my smartphone and ease of use to run Spotify and Google Play Music (two major things missing from the X1).

 

My suggestion: Now with both Apple and Android supporting USB DACs, the time is now to make a compact, affordable, high quality, easily connectable 192/24 USB DAC/AMP for smartphones and anything else with USB. Separate devices with less features don’t make much sense anymore to me, and I don’t feel I’m alone in this.

 

 

FW 1.0 was used during the review duration.

 

Thanks goes to Joe @ Fiio for providing the X1 for review.

My first quality IEM purchase was the Hifiman RE-400 when they first came out. I was used to low end Skullcandy sets at the time, and I really wanted to see what "reference sound" sounded like for a reasonable price of under $100. At the time, I felt anything above that price was absurd for me to purchase.
 
From the first listen, the RE-400 showed me what quality sounded like. I was hooked. It started my headphone/earphone addiction that continues to this day, and I have Hifiman and Head-Fi to thank for that. I didn't think there would be a higher ranked, better sounding IEM for the price for a long time... until I heard the Havi.
 
The Havi B3 Pro 1 is my favorite in ear monitor, and has been for a very long time. It has quite a bit of a storied history however, as the product would not exist anymore today if Head-Fi members had not requested Havi to re-release what is now called the B3 Pro1.
 
Inititally, Havi offered two versions of the B3, the "Enhanced" version, which was basically trying to mimic a bass heavy, consumer directed Beats sound (which sounded poor), and the "Professional Version", which is now called the Pro 1. The Pro version promised near transparent, balanced sound with lifelike vocals and a pristine soundstage. Audiophile oriented IEMs just do not exist for $45, which is what the initial promo price was. I was very intrigued and took a chance on ordering them through Taobao.com (A huge chinese marketplace). Havi was a brand new company at the time, and there was no information about them or the B3 whatsoever. There was no other way to purchase them either, it had to be done through a forwarding service (I use Mistertao.com) and shipped to me from overseas.
 
When I received them and listened for the first time, the experience was jaw dropping. They easily bested the RE-400, and they bested the KEF M200, a $200 IEM which was all the rage at the time. The clarity, imaging, soundstage.. I had not experienced anything like it. $45 bought me a balanced, neutral, reference sound quality dual dynamic akin to $200+ IEMs. I found a gem, and everyone needed to know about it. A few other people were lucky to experience them as well, but then something awful happened.
 
Havi discontinued the Pro version, without warning. The only models available were the "Enhanced" and "Pro 2" version. The Pro 2 was not an upgrade however. It turned into another bass heavy tuned version which could not match the Pro 1, but was better than the Enhanced version. Pro 2 was just another run of the mill V shaped $60 earphone.
 
Luckily, Head-Fi members and those who could interact with the company begged and pleaded for the return of the Pro 1. After a good 4+ month hiatus, Havi brought them back. Almost a year later, this IEM ranks amongst the best value/performance buys of all time.
 
Design:
Yes, the design borrows heavily from the Sennheiser IE80, but the tempered glass casing and four wire tangle free flat cord offer a classy touch. The four parallel wire approach was mentioned as a first in IEMs (as well as the tempered glass). The casing is a small, square plastic case similar to what the Xiaomi Piston comes in. Looks great, and would make a stellar gift.
 
Initially, the accessories were just the plastic case and some mediocre tips. Now, you get a carry bag, carry case, and a lot of good quality tips.
 
Comfort:
The right tips make all the difference. If I do not use Sennheiser double flange type tips or Sony Hybrids, the Havi does not seem comfortable to me, nor does it seal well. With them, it fits very well. They can be worn over or under ear with no issue, and I often sleep with them on.
 
Isolation:
It keeps the busy noise of NYC and commuting out of my head. Mission accomplished.
 
Sound:
Incredible. I've preferred it's signature to Flagship IEMs such as the Dunu DN-2000. While the Dunu is technically a little more capable and has a bit more clarity, it does not have some of the things the Havi does, which at $300 vs $45 is unacceptable to me as a value conscious audiophile.
 
The Pro1 signature is dead flat.. balanced.. neutral. Nothing in the frequency range overpowers another. There is no bloat, no piercing highs, no sibilance... just pure, transparent excellence.
 
The main feature it has which I believe is near world class, is it's soundstage and imaging. Simply put, the soundstage envelops you completely, and you can pinpoint each instrument or effect from its exact location in your ears. It's kinda freakish, and it has to be heard to be believed. I can pinpoint everything in a mix, something people spend hundreds to thousands of dollars on equipment to be able to do. It is on par in that effect to Planar Magnetic headphones like the HE-500 (which I also sold off and no longer have). The Havi isn't going anywhere.
 
There is one caveat to all this. The Havi MUST be amped to sound good. It absorbs power like no other. A simple smartphone or laptop headphone jack will no be able to drive them. Luckily, there are several low cost amps out there now like the Topping NX1 which can drive the Havi perfectly. On a high quality source, the Havi scales incredibly well.
 
All of this, for $45 (now $60). Insanity. Instant GOAT status, and it is still widely unknown. I vastly prefer these to other major budget gems as of late like the Ostry KC06/KC06A, Tenore, Xiaomi Piston, Vsonic VSD3S, etc etc...
 
If you love music, you owe it to yourself to try these.
 
 

The LH Labs Geek Out had a lot to live up to. A good 7+ months ago, the Geek Out started as a concept. This concept was to bring a high quality audio experience into a small and affordable device. Light Harmonic already created and sold the Da Vinci DAC, an award winning $20,000+ DAC, but they wanted to take a chance and bring a more affordable device to the masses.
 
Kickstarter crowdfunding was used to successfully fund into the project. As an "investor" into the Geek Out, I felt connected with the project. I and the other backers wanted it to succeed. We offered advice that changed the device into a better one over time. We told LH Labs what we wanted, and they listened. I got in as an early backer, and got an incredible deal on an incredible device. I kick myself for not getting in earlier and getting an even bigger discount. Even at retail, the Geek Out is still a steal.
 
I have the Silver Geek Out 1000, and this sucker is powerful. It is easily as powerful as my 1000mW Aune T1. The GO is being powered from USB alone, where the T1 has a giant power supply that needs to be plugged in. The Geek Out also happens to support 96khz+ and DSD, which the T1 can't do. The GO also sounds much better, and does it for the same price.
 
The device itself is smaller than a deck of cards, is lightweight, and has a beautiful aluminum shell. A LED alignment shows you physically on the device what bitrate your music is being played in. The two outputs offer different resistance modes 0.47ohm and 47ohm, which can be used simultaneously, or to better match your equipment. The GO is so powerful, that I normally run it on the 47ohm line out most of the time. Although I no longer have it, I'm sure the GO 1000 could easily support the HE-500 and most other demanding headphones as well.
 
Sound quality is stunning. "I'm hearing things I never heard before" is so cliche in an audio review, but it is 100% true here. Soundstage, imaging, bass tightness, clarity, power, a black background, impact... it's all there in spades. I find it more enjoyable than my old Audio-GD 11.32 unit, which was no slouch in sound, and was $350+.
 
The GO also has this unique ability to "change" the sound signature of some headphones, yet it doesn't color the sound and remains neutral. Let me try to explain this, because it might not make sense at first. Some headphones that I have previously found "a little hollow" or not as enjoyable as I liked, now seem to have come alive and gotten better. Maybe it is from the increased detail this DAC gives, but it can really throw you off guard and question your opinions of your headphone and speaker gear through older DACs and amps. I think that's awesome, and its an intangible quality that wasn't expected.
 
Setup on Windows 8.1 was quick and easy. The LH Control Panel is simple and shows you basic info and volume control. Foobar2000 and the LH ASIO driver played with no issues.
 
I was unable to get the GO working on my Cyanogenmod 11 Nexus 5 Android Phone with USB Audio Player Pro however, which was disappointing. I connected the GO via a USB OTG Y cable, and provided it external battery power with 2.1A. It powered the device, but neither CM11 nor UAPP was able to initialize it. Hopefully this can be fixed or added in the future. My Aune T1 worked flawlessly with CM11 and UAPP. The GO would be the ultimate DAC/Amp for me if it could work off my Nexus too.
 
I'm blown away by the GO. It draws me in, and makes me want to listen to my music more. Mission accomplished LH. Well done, and thank you. Keep bringing this quality and pricing around, and I will continue to purchase them.
 
Just buy one already. I'm really excited at what the Geek Pulse and Geek Wave will bring when they arrive now.