My preferred sound signature: A bit bass heavy, forward mids, and neutral treble. Love high detailed and clear sound.


*All critical listening is done using a Chord Mojo*


64 Audio is a great family run company with a rich history. 64 Audio is unsurprisingly named after the year 1964, “a pinnacle year for Rock music”, after which “music going forward would never be the same”. 64 Audio writes that “everything about that special year (1964) was life changing, and it left an indelible mark on everyone who lived it or later learned of it. 64 Audio’s sole focus is making that same mark when it comes to personal audio”. And after hearing the U18 and the Fourté, I think 64 is on track and accomplishing their “sole focus”. I personally think 64 Audio is somewhat overlooked in the audiophile world today, and I do believe they deserve much more attention. While I was not head over-heels crazy for their current U-Series (which is supposedly going to get a “makeover” soon), the U18 and the Fourté blew me away at CanJam SoCal. So much so that I quickly got myself one of each to review. My Fourté review can be found here: (link will be added when Fourté review goes live). This is my review of the 64 Audio U18 Tzar.


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This unit was not provided to me for free, and I had purchased the unit. In every review I write, I put forth my completely honest and non-biased opinion. If I do not like something, I will say so in plain english.


That being said, I would like to thank Lisa, Bogdan, Chris, Roman, and Vlad at 64 Audio for putting up with my incessant questions/nagging, and for helping me afford this unit.


Manufacturer Website: 64 Audio

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The U18 Tzar is the world’s first 18 driver IEM. Yes, you read that correctly, 18 drivers per side, which means 36 drivers total. While more drivers does not always equate to a better IEM, it is unquestionable that you can hear the difference between any other multi-driver IEM and the U18 Tzar in terms of detail (which I will elaborate upon later). The U18t has 8 low BAs, 8 mid BAs, 1 mid-high BA, and 1 tia high driver. For those of you not familiar with the tia driver, it is a patented tubeless driver from 64 Audio. Essentially, the tia driver on the U18 pumps sound into a chamber located in the nozzle of the IEM, which is then released along with the rest of the sound, into your ear. The best example I can give is that your living room is the shell of the IEM, and the tia drivers are like the specifically placed speakers in the living room. The tia driver produces incredibly smooth, open, extended, and airy highs. It is almost impossible to put into words the difference between the sound of a tia driver and a regular BA driver, but there is zero question in my mind that the tia driver will play a major role in the future of the IEM industry. The U18’s housing is made of aluminum and the faceplate is made of acid-burned copper. While there are varying opinions of the look of the U18, I find it is pretty gorgeous. But looks of course do not affect the sound of the IEM.










ACCESSORIES AND PACKAGING
Packaging is big. With minimal accessories, 64 does not give you too much. The accessories provided are just enough. 3 sets of Isolation Comply Memory Foam Tips of different sizes are included along with 3 more sets of different sized silicon tips. A product manual and a warranty card are included along with the headphones of course. The best part of the accessories is the 64 Audio case. It is small enough to fit in your pocket, and is amazingly designed. With a cable wrap, and specific little cubbies to but the IEMs themselves, the case is sure to protect your investment. Equipped with a small packet of silica gel in the case, your IEMs will not be damaged by moisture. The case also holds a classic cleaning tool, a shirt clip, and a storage spot for 2 sets of Apex modules. The U18 also comes with both sets of Apex modules: the M15 and M20.









SOUND

*Quick Note: 64 Audio tunes the U18 Tzar using Comply T-500 isolation tips. Thusly, to hear the U18 at their best, you should have the Comply tips on. With silicon tips, the U18 sounds super bright, and not as enjoyable as when Comply tips are on them.*


Wow. Just wow. The entire frequency range sounds realistic. The sound quality of these IEMs are so good that I actually really do feel as if I am at a personal concert, with the artist singing directly to me. The entire signature is pretty flat, with no one frequency range really being emphasized.


Bass: Bass on these IEMs is incredible. Which is good, because with 8 BA’s pumping out the bass, you would expect nothing less. Bass is super textured and detailed all throughout the bass range. There is a fantastically textured sub-bass rumble, coupled with the well textured mid and upper bass range. As I listen to these IEMs, I hear new details in the bass lines of my music that are not clearly audible on other TOTL IEMs. Because the bass is so clean, textured and detailed throughout the entire frequency range, male vocals and lower background vocal harmonies are incredible. The kick drum thump is actually textured and distinguishable in music, which is super incredible. Bass on these IEMs is neutral, and, for my taste, I am left wanting a bit more. However, after a “brain burn-in”, the bass is at the perfect level. When needed, the bass is present and clear and textured, but it does not overshadow the highs or mids.


Mids: Vocals are a clear focal point on the U18. Both male and female vocals are very clear, textured, and scarily realistic. I feel as if I am being serenaded by Sinatra, and receiving my own personal concert from Michael Bublé. The emphasis on vocals is due to the lower and middle-mids being forward, but much like with the bass, lower and middle-mids do not overpower the rest of the mids or highs. The best example of how clean and textured the mids are on the U18 are the horn lines. Trumpet is so realistic, with a ton of texture. I feel as if I am in a room surrounded by horns. Because of this level of texture and realism, upper female vocals are also super realistic.


Treble: Tia is the future of IEMs. There is zero question in my mind of this fact. In an 18 driver IEM with only 1 high driver, one might expect the highs to be recessed, muddy, and to lack detail. This could not be farther from the truth. Highs on this IEM are most detailed, textured, and realistic sounding I have ever heard. The tia driver sits in the nozzle, meaning it delivers highs directly into your ear. This is part of the reason why the highs are not overshadowed, but in fact, somehow perfectly balanced in the signature (when using Comply tips to which the U18 was tuned). One can rarely talk about truly textured highs, but in the U18, no one can deny the level of texture of the highs. The crash and sizzle of the cymbals is clear and textured. You can hear the vibrato of the sizzle of the cymbals, something I have never heard this clearly on any other IEM. Shakers are easily distinguishable and the snare is gorgeous. You can hear the vibrato and the different frequencies of the triangle. Of course there is zero sibilance. Reading and hearing about the U18 Tzar, I was skeptical about the decision to have only 1 driver out of 18 strictly dedicated to highs (there is a mid-high driver in addition to the tia high), but all my skepticism was quickly quieted after listening for about 30 seconds.


I am beyond impressed with the U18’s sound. The signature is essentially flat throughout the entire spectrum, and yet each instrument is easily picked out. Although non-fatiguing, the U18 is still super energetic, and feels almost as if everything is forward. Each frequency range shines, and each instrument is given the opportunity to shine. I will say it again: tia is the future of IEMs. That being said, I am glad the tia high was included in the U18 Tzar.


DETAIL

There is a major debate in the audiophile community: “does more drivers equate to a better IEM?”. In my general experience, more drivers generally means better IEM, but there are of course exceptions (such as most of Ken’s Campfire Audio lineup, and a few others). There is zero question that the 18 driver U18 has the most detail of any IEM I have ever heard. It is the 18 drivers that equate to that level of detail, even though the U18 is only a four-way crossover. Because the U18 is a four-way crossover IEM, it allows many drivers to be producing sound for the same frequency range, meaning that there is a ton of detail. As I said previously, I am hearing new aspects of my music in the bass range. The background vocals (which mainly fall into the lower-mid range) are the most detailed I have ever heard. Highs are textured and super detailed. Also keep in mind that in addition to the entire frequency range being incredibly detailed, it is also incredibly textured. I am not missing any detail, nor any texture. Instrumental separation is something else. I have never ever heard separation to this level. Every single detail, instrument, or even really subtle hand tapping comes out clearly and distinguishably. Again, it is the 18 drivers of the U18 that really make it possible to accomplish this level of separation, which is the argument for more drivers.


SOUNDSTAGE

The soundstage on the U18 is very interesting. It is incredibly long and wide, and above average for height. It is the combination of instrumental separation and soundstage that play heavily into the U18 sounding so realistic. Of course, soundstage will be elaborated upon during comparisons.


ISOLATION, COMFORT, AND FIT

Isolation on the U18 is actually really good, which is surprising due to the APEX system installed, which essentially gives the IEM a more natural, open, and bigger sound by releasing pressure from the IEM. When music is playing, no sounds get through, and I am only left with my thoughts and music, which is the way it should be. The U18 is very light, and surprisingly compact for an IEM with 18 drivers in it. Additionally, the I have no problems with the fit, as the U18 fits comfortably into the ear and sits nicely. With some IEMs, I can adjust the fit and get a different sound due to ill fit. I can not do this on the U18. Because of how light and how well the U18 really fits, I have no comfort issues with the U18, and can enjoy long listening sessions. The only potential issue I have come across is their premium cable. Depending on how the IEMs are worn, the braided portion of the cable can rub against your skin, irritating the area of contact.


COMPARISONS

Vs Noble Audio Katana

Instantly you can tell the sound quality on the Katana is much worse than that of the U18. The U18 has much more textured mids, highs, and vocals. The U18 also is much better detailed than the Katana. The U18 is much more neutral and sounds more natural. The soundstage on the Katana is wider and longer than that of the U18. We come to the question about price: with the U18 priced $1000 USD higher than the Katana, is it worth the extra cash? Undoubtedly. In my opinion, the U18 makes a mockery of the Katana. The Katana is a worth opponent to the U18, but it just does not compare in terms of sound quality or detail. The only place it has a leg up on the U18 is soundstage. Fit is better on the U18 as well. It’s actually quite shocking how much clearer the U18 is when directly compared to the Katana. The Katana does have a bit more sub bass rumble than the U18, and is for sure considered colored when compared to the U18.



Vs Campfire Audio Andromeda

I have chosen to compare these 2 IEMs as they are both praised for their highs due to their technology. With the Andromeda in my ear now, I can tell sound quality is much worse than that of the U18 in almost ever aspect. The highs are comparable, but in the end, it is very clear that the highs from the tia driver in the U18 are much clearer, more textured, and better than that of the Andromeda. As for the rest of the frequency range, there is no competition: the U18 destroys the Andromeda. Where this comparison gets tricky is in pricing. The U18 comes in at $2999 USD, while the Andromeda comes in at $1099 USD. Is the U18 worth $1900 USD more? In my opinion, it undoubtedly is. I do have to give major props to Ken at Campfire for creating such an amazing IEM as such a great price though. While the Andromeda is by no means a bad IEM, it is just outdone in every way by the U18. I am yet to write my review of the Andromeda, but it will undoubtedly be very positive, as I really do like the Andromeda. The fact that I so strongly prefer the U18 over the Andromeda shows how amazing the U18 is. In terms of detail, the U18 kills the Andromeda. I can sit here for another 20 minutes writing about how the two compare, but instead I’ll just say this: if you think of a category and want to compare the two, in every category but price, the U18 is better.



Vs 64 Audio Tia Fourté

Right off the bat, you can notice a major shape difference between the two. The U18’s body fits into the curvature of your ear, while the Fourté does not fit as tightly. The Fourté has a thicker body, surprising, as it also has 14 less drivers than the U18. The nozzle on the Fourté is longer as well. The sound quality on the Fourté is not quite as good as the U18. The Fourté is not as neutral as the U18, being a bit darker. With there being more bass on the Fourté, it is clear the U18 is the less colored of the two. With both having the tia high driver, highs are incredibly on both. Instrumental separation and detail on the U18 is better, however, the soundstage of the Fourté is incredibly large, and sounds almost like full surround sound speakers do. I am lacking that full surround sound on the U18, but I have never heard it quite like I am on the Fourté. I attribute this full soundstage to the 4 tia drivers that pump out the music of the Fourté. The vocals are clearer/more realistic on the U18. Overall the Fourté is a more musical choice, while the U18 is a neutral analytical choice. While I did put money up for both units, I will not be selling either one. I can’t pick a favorite; they are just so different from each other. Honestly, you have to pick for yourself. As always, try to hear before you purchase.




SUMMARY

While many can’t validate spending this kind of money for an IEM, I believe 64 Audio’s asking price is pretty fair. I would love to see 64 Audio produce a U18 in a cheaper housing, and selling it for cheaper for an alternative look (and briefly talked to Chris about this at CanJam). With almost every aspect of these IEMs being perfect, I had to get super nit picky in terms of finding something negative about the U18. If you are looking for an end of game IEM, the U18 might be the answer to your search.

My preferred sound signature: A bit bass heavy, forward mids, and neutral treble. Love high detailed and clear sound.


A quick side note: I have long been a fan of Dunu. The 2000Js are one of my favorite IEMs for their price. I am incredibly excited to be able to share my opinion on the new Dunu DK-3001s.

The DK-3001 are quad-driver hybrid IEMs: 1 13 mm dynamic driver that handles bass, and 3 balanced armature drivers that handle the rest. On their website, Dunu lists the frequency range at 5 Hz-40 KHz. The IEMs are with “high precision engineering designed S316 stainless housing decrease harmonic resonance to ensure the high definition sound and durability” (from Dunu’s website, which does not have the best translation).

Manufacturer Website: Dunu-Topsound










ACCESSORIES AND PACKAGING
For the release of the DK-3001, Dunu revamped their packaging with an all new look. The box now looks cleaner, better, and more professional. It’s a fresh and welcomed change. On the accessories front: “Wow!”. Dunu does not skimp out on spending their money getting the best accessories to include with the 3001. 1 set of medium Comply Memory Foam Isolation tips, a multi-pack of 4 SpinFit tips of various sizes, and 7 more sets of various generic silicon tips as well. Airline adapter and shirt clip are included. The 3001s come with a small portable Pelican carrying case, which is very sturdy and airtight, meaning the 3001s will be well protected. They also come with an extra balanced cable, which is super convenient.










SOUND
The DK-3001 has the classic Dunu sound with a more balanced signature, and better sound quality and detail than the previous Dunu headphones.

[size=medium]Bass: You can immediately tell that these IEMs have a huge bass presence when needed. It is not an overwhelming bass boom, but it sure is present, and can sometimes overpower the mids and treble. The bass is pounded out by a 13 mm Dynamic Driver. There are some ups and downs to this: the bass is thumping and really present, but it is not as clear and concise as it would be if it were emitted by a Balance Armature. That being said, the bass is far from muddy. The bass on the 3001 is clean and detailed, just not as clean and detailed as a Balanced Armature would emit. If you like bass presence, and a good thumping lower end to your music when it is needed, the 3001s sure deliver.[/size]

Mids: The first thing I notice about the mids is that the lower mids are way too laid back, so I am missing out on some detail there (such as some harmonies in background vocals). Upper mids have a forward presentation, which makes them great for male and female vocals. Upper mids are so sweet and musical. The mids have their opportunity to shine on songs that are not super bass heavy. Overall, the mids have a clear and accurate sound, could just use a more forward presentation of the lower mids.

Treble: Treble is sweet and present. Upper treble is a bit more laid back in the signature, but perfectly to my liking and does not really need any artificial adjusting. I would like to see more detail on the treble though, as some of the high hats and cymbal clashes roll off too quickly. Much like in the lower mids, some intricate detail is lost in the treble range as the treble is sometimes overpowered by the mids and bass. I also feel as though the treble lacks some airiness. Even though treble is laid back in the signature of the 3001s, I would love to see more detail and airiness in the treble.

DETAIL
Overall, the 3001s have great background detail. Because of the laid back lower mid, some detail is lost there (as previously stated). Some of the intricate details in the treble range are lost as well. It is really easy to pick out different instruments and parts while listening to the 3001s (good instrumental separation), which makes the detail even better. Each instrument is given their chance to shine, no matter if it is the bass guitar riff or the soaring violin line.

SOUNDSTAGE
The soundstage is not horrible, but what you would expect on an IEM. It is nothing special, just about average. It is narrower than most other IEMs, about average length, and is slightly above average height.

ISOLATION AND FIT
Finding the right fit for isolation is a bit difficult on these, and until you do find the right fit, you will not be able to experience the true capabilities of the 3001. However, because of all the ear-tips Dunu includes with the 3001 (see "ACCESSORIES AND PACKAGING[size=medium]" section), it should not be too difficult to find the right tip for you.[/size] Fit is very dependent on the angle at which you wear the IEM (which can vary in a vary small range of numbers), and also on the ear-tips themselves. I ended up buying large Comply™ Memory Foam tips, and inserted them at an angle that provided me with full isolation. Once the correct tip and wearing angle is found, isolation is pretty good, and you can truly experience the 3001s.

COMFORT
My problem with Dunu IEMs has always been comfort. I'm incredibly sad to say that this has not changed in the 3001s. The rough edges of the 3001s can rub/push against the inner folds of the ear, causing discomfort for longer listening sessions when worn a certain way. There is a protruding square rounded edge that comes out of the IEMs on the side opposite the nozzle, which is supposed to help hold the IEM in place, but what it truly does is make the IEM uncomfortable to wear as that protruding section is pushed against your ear. Also, the protruding square sometimes fails to keep the IEM tightly held against the ear, as after a decently long while, the back end of the IEM will slip out of the ear (not the nozzle itself, isolation is maintained when the back end slips out). This protruding square failure could be solely based on the shape of my ear, but this is something I have experienced. You get used to the slight agitation/pain after a little while wearing them, but when you adjust them, you notice the pain all over again. If you can get past the slight hurdle of slight discomfort, there is no doubt you will enjoy the sound of the 3001s.



COMPARISONS
Vs Dunu DN-2000J
[size=medium]For those of you who had the opportunity to try the 2000Js, I would describe the 3001s as the older, more mature, brother of the 2000Js. The 3001 is more neutral. The 2000J has harshness in the high-hats and highs in general (which turned a lot of audiophiles off from the 2000J), which is not present in the 3001s. Swapping between the two, the 2000J has less detail overall, and worse sound quality. The mids are more laid back on the 2000J than on the 3001. The bass on the 3001 beats the bass on the 2000J; The bass on the 3001 is clearer, cleaner, and more present. I would say the 3001 has more bass than the 2000J. Overall, the 3001 is smoother, more neutral, more detailed, and has better sound quality than the 2000J.[/size]

Vs Noble Audio Dulce Bass
While the Dulce Bass beats the 3001s in detail and clarity in the bass range, the 3001 has a much warmer presentation of the mids and highs. The Dulce Bass has a much larger sound stage than the 3001 in every aspect (length, width, and height). If you end up buying a 3001 over a Dulce Bass, you will be sacrificing soundstage size and a bit of detail for a more “neutral” sound with better clarity with more present mids and highs.

SUMMARY
I can not voice how impressed I am with these IEMs. I let an audiophile friend take a quick listen to the 3001s, and they named them "the best IEM I have ever heard". Dunu has created another worthy flagship product. While compared to some of the other upper end stuff the 3001 lacks a bit of detail and clarity, but overall, the neutral sound with great instrumental and frequency separation competes with other TOTLs out there. I would love to see Dunu make a 6-9 driver model, with more detail and better sound quality than their previous IEMs, but regardless, I can’t wait to see what Dunu has for us next.

My preferred sound signature:  A bit bass heavy, forward mids, and neutral treble.  Love high detailed and clear sound.
 
SOUND
These headphones are named Dulce Bass (Sweet Bass) by Noble, who knows exactly how to name products.  There is no more appropriate name for this IEM...

Bass:  Bass is so clean, clear, quick, and detailed.  It is the clear and clean bass you get from BAs and would expect from a IEM named "Sweet Bass".  While they are tuned towards the lower end, I don't find them to be too bass heavy to the point where I would EQ down the bass.  It is a headphone made for bass heads, but at the same time, can be enjoyed by almost any audiophile looking for something with a little bit more low end presence.
 
Mids:  The mids are a bit recessed, and slightly overpowered by the bass.  For my personal taste, I would like mids to be more forward.  They just lack a bit of presence in the signature of the Dulce Basses, and are too recessed for my taste.

Treble: I would love to see more treble on these IEMs, which is surprising as I am incredibly treble sensitive.  I can find myself sometimes adding more treble into the mix as I feel like the treble is missing in the balance.  Don't get me wrong, the treble is present and commanding when needed, just a bit too laid back for my taste.  The treble lacks a bit of airiness, but that is to be expected in a bass tuned IEM.  Like the mids, the treble lacks detail and is recessed.
 
 
*It is important to keep in mind that the Dulce Bass are intended to be for lovers of a more bass heavy/forward sound.  So a laid back presentation of the treble and mid range should be expected*
 
SOUNDSTAGE
The soundstage really grabs your attention when you first put these on.  The soundstage is better than any other IEM I have heard before, with it just sounding big.  It does not sound like a full on over-ear headphone, but is really big for an IEM.  Let me put it like this:  the soundstage is big enough to produce a really realistic echo in vocals that are meant to actually echo.
 
DETAIL
These IEMs provide really great background detail.  It can sometimes be hard to distinguish and pick out different instrumentals and vocal lines in the upper-mid and treble range, but overall, the detail is there.  Some of the more subtle detail does get lost sometimes (as it is overpowered by the thumping bass).

ACCESSORIES
Everything you would need is included with the Dulce Bass's, and not much more.  A waterproof Pelican case, multiple ear-tips to try to find the right fit (which is difficult and is talked about later in the review), a classic cleaning tool, a "velvet" carrying pouch, and a "super stylish" Noble Audio sticker.  The packaging is minimalistic, and the IEMs themselves come with the bare essentials.  There is nothing I am missing in terms of accessories.  If there was 1 thing I could change about the accessories, it is the little "velvet" carrying pouch.  It is meant for everyday carry, and is functional, but it is really crappy in terms of the carry pouches...

ISOLATION AND FIT
This is where a lot of people have a problem with Noble's universal line: finding the right fit.  I actually was able to buy my Dulce Bass's for cheap as the seller could not find the right fit and was fed up with it.  When I bought them, I thought "How hard can it be to find the right tips?".  The answer to my question was apparent almost immediately: harder than one might expect.  After playing with all of the included sets of silicon tips and the foam tips, and still not finding the right fit, I took to my infamous "Drawer of Comply Memory Foam Tips".  After trying to find the right size/model Comply Tip, I came across the T-600 size, and it fits on the IEMs perfectly.  I am still using the T-600 Isolation Series size large and they provide the perfect fit.  With the T-600 Comply Tips, the IEMs are pretty comfortable and you can almost forget they are on.  That being said, the isolation is still not perfect.  There are some situations out in public where I will have difficulty hearing the full detailed sound of the Dulce Bass, but there is no problem at home alone.  Once you find the correct fit for you, the Dulce Bass's sound pretty incredible.

COMFORT
Like I said, with the correct fit, these are pretty comfortable.  They are not too heavy.  However, they are kinda bulky, and a bit awkward to wear.  For long term listening sessions, there is really no pain in the ears, and I can almost forget they are on.  For getting a good fit and good isolation, you need to shape the moldable portion of the cable super tight to your ear, which can lead to discomfort for some.  This portion does not rub against the ear, it is just its presence that can be slightly annoying.
 
COMPARISONS
Vs Earsonics SM64
Very different IEMs.  The mids on the SM64 kick the crap out of the mids on the Dulce Bass because of their forward and detailed sound.  In almost every other aspect, including soundstage, detail, and sound quality, the Dulce Bass kills the SM64.
 
Vs Dunu DK-3001
The 3001 is another bass heavy IEM.  What I like about the 3001 is that there is no compromise of presence of mids or treble.  However, that being said, the Dulce Bass beats the 3001 on the bass front.  Listening to the two, it becomes incredibly apparent the difference between BAs and Dynamic Drivers for bass.  BAs are much more clean and detailed, but often lack that chest bumping thump.  This is not the case on the Dulce Bass.  All the chest thumping you want is present in a clear and organized presentation.  The bass produced by a 13 mm dynamic driver on the 3001 sounds a bit distorted and kinda dirty compared to the bass produced by the BA of the Dulce Bass.
 
SUMMARY
These IEMs are meant for a lover of bass heavy sound.  I would love to see a bit more spending to make the packaging more exciting and maybe spruce up the included accessories.  While the mids and treble are not directly compromised in terms of sound quality, it is clear that these are tuned towards the lower end.  If you are considering buying these, read the following quote from Noble's website:

Dulce Bass (“sweet bass”) is our most bass-heavy configuration designed to deliver visceral low-end response uncharacteristic of balanced armature pieces. A bass-lover’s dream come true, Dulce Bass offers a refined audiophile take on electronic and bass-heavy music.

Click to expand...

This description hits the nail on the head (especially talking about the "visceral low-end response uncharacteristic of balanced armature").  While other styles of music (such as more contemporary stuff, and some acoustic stuff) sounds good on these, you can tell they were designed with bass-heavy electronic music in mind.

Wow is the first word that popped into my mind after putting on these IEMs.  Dunu has outdone themselves again.
 
SOUND
These are quite possibly the best IEMs I have ever listened to.  These tiny triple drivers have made me consider selling my Sennheiser HD600s on multiple occasions.  The soundstage is far better than the average IEM soundstage, which is definitely helped by the 10mm dynamic driver.

Bass:  Bass is so clean, clear, and detailed.  It may be a tad bass heavy for some, but nothing a bit of EQ can not fix.  They execute every bass line I’ve tried on them beautifully and truly remind me of the bass on the HD600s.  But what else is new, Dunu’s headphones all have amazing bass capabilities.

Treble:  Out of the box, the treble was way to harsh for me, making it a bit painful to listen too.  After messing with my EQ settings, everything was perfectly balanced.  After breaking them in a bit, the treble became less harsh, and now sounds perfect.  As these are triple driver IEMs, the 10mm dynamic driver is pumping out bass, while 2 balance armatures pump out the mid and highs.  As a result, you can truly hear things in your music that you have never heard before.  The treble is clean and astonishingly excellent.  It handles soaring violin lines and high hats perfectly now that they are broken in.

ACCESSORIES
Dunu did not hold back on packing their nice packaging full of earbuds and filters.  There are 9 different pairs of silicon tips, and 3 different medium sized Comply Memory Foam tips in the Isolation, Isolation Pro, and Comfort style.  The travel carrying case is absolutely gorgeous, and completely protects the headphones.  Also comes with an airline adapter, 3.5 to 6.5 jack converter, and a myriad of different sound filters to modify the sound signature.  These also come with a bunch of different “slide on” accessories to securing the headphones in the ear.

ISOLATION
When the Comply Memory Foam tips are on them, and music is playing, these have the best isolation I have ever heard.  I would compare the isolation level to my Bose QC20is (which have ANC, the best ANC I have ever heard).

COMFORT
This is the only section that I have a problem with.  These are not very comfortable for long use.  Because of the “slide on” accessories (which are necessary to provide the high level of isolation), the 2000Js can be uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time.  Most of the time however, it is uncomfortable at first, and then I just forget they are on.  When I take them off, some of the inner folds of my ear are sore, but this soreness can be quickly massaged away.
 
MY RECOMMENDATIONS TO DUNU
As I have said, the only problem I have with these IEMs are the comfort and fit.  The Titan 5’s perfectly fit in the ear canal, so I’d love to see this headphone updated in the future with a better body that would make them more comfortable.  Honestly, thats the only complaint I have.  I would not change anything else (except maybe adding a removable cable).  Great job.
 
SUMMARY
These IEMs are incredibly impressive.  Their sound quality is worth way more than the $215 I paid for them.  Great for all types of music, really inexpensive for what they are, I’d recommend any headphone lover to grab a pair of these.  In the future, I might actually pop these on to jam out over my HD600s, but who knows.  Im excited to see what else Dunu will come out with.