DUNU Falcon-C

Link to my review and measurement index thread where one can also find a full review overview, more information about myself as well as my general-ish audio and review manifesto: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/956208/

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I only give full stars. My ranking/scoring system does not necessarily follow the norm and is about as follows:

5 stars: The product is very good and received the "highly recommended" award from me.

4 stars: The product is very good and received the "recommended" award from me.

3 stars: The product is good/very good, but not outstanding/special enough to get any of my two awards. ["Thumbs Up"]

2 stars: The product is only about average or even somewhat below that and somewhat flawed/flawed in some areas. [neither "Thumbs Up" nor "Thumbs Down"]

1 star: The product is bad/severely flawed to outright bad. ["Thumbs Down"]

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DUNU Falcon-C


Source:

Review sample.


Miscellaneous:

The unboxing experience with many accessories is nice, as is the large ear tip selection.

The carrying case’s lid unfortunately fits somewhat too loosely and may unintentionally come off easily, in addition to appearing too thin to be considered premium.

I really like the design.
High build quality.

High quality cable but also slightly rubbery.





Sound:

Largest included SpinFit ear tips.

Tonality:

Bright/edgy or v-shaped, depending on whether the front cavity vent is blocked or not.

For what it is worth, at first, the ear tips that I used were the largest included grey silicone tips – the dark grey ones with blue stem just didn’t want to provide a nice and easy seal for my ear anatomy. Then and for all comparisons, I however switched over to the included SpinFit tips, even though I personally generally don’t like them, but in case of the DUNU they reduce the somewhat sharp treble edge a bit to my ears.

The Falcon-Cs’ sound is quite fit- and insertion depth-dependant – depending on fit and insertion depth, especially their treble output might vary rather noticeably. Especially the latter is affected quite a bit depending on individually different insertion depth, wherefore the in-ears might show a tendency to sound edgy and sharp in some ears and only moderately bright in others. In my ears and with my ear anatomy, the first is rather the case.

Depending on one’s individual ear anatomy, the small front cavity vent might remain either free (which results in a mild bass boost of ca. 5 dB compared to in-ears that have a nearly diffuse-field flat bass, such as the Etymotic ER4SR/ER-4S) or will be completely blocked. A sub-bass difference of ca. +6 dB (to total up to a bass boost of ca. 11 dB) compared to a fully open vent would be the case with a blocked front vent, with the sub-bass being the strongest area – in my ears, the vent remains rather free, and what I am hearing is a boost of ca. 7 dB, mainly taking place in the upper bass and midbass, with the sub-bass being slightly behind in quantity but not lacking either.
This elevation stays nicely out of the vocal range and fundamental range wherefore the Falcon-C are no thick or full sounding in-ears, which is because the elevation starts to climb at 500 Hz and reaches its climax right below 100 Hz.

Mids are, which is nice, on the flat and neutral side, although they aren’t the closest in the mix due to having lesser quantity compared to the bass and highs in the presence range, but they also do not necessarily appear hollow or thin as it can be the case with in-ears that are on the brighter side in the highs. Yes, voices are rendered with fairly correct but rather relaxed timbre, and the Falcon-C avoid the 3 kHz upper midrange glare/presence range forwardness that some of DUNU’s other models have.

Not exactly the same is what I would say about the treble – it is generally on the brighter side, and while it isn’t necessarily intrusively peaky, it can come across as a edgy due to a forward 6 kHz range, as well as emphasised 8 kHz, 12.5 kHz and 16 kHz, the latter two obviously being in a less important area (although that 12.5 kHz lift definitely adds audible air and subtle super treble extension and glare to the sonic presentation).
Out of these, the 8 kHz lift is unproblematic, but the 6 kHz emphasis is definitely a bit too pronounced and therefore introduces some sharpness and an unnatural edge to the sound.
While the sound is perhaps not exactly unpleasant, treble-sensitive people should certainly look elsewhere, and the treble presentation, especially cymbals, gains a somewhat unnaturally metallic and sharp edge due to that elevation, which ultimately leads to an unrefined appearing treble presentation.

Frequency Response:



Etymotic ER-4S-Compensation (free Vent)

That’s pretty much how I perceive the sound in my ears, with the actual super treble elevation however being milder and the upper treble peak being perhaps a little less extreme, although not by much.



Etymotic ER-4S-Compensation (blocked Vent)



InEar ProPhile 8-Compensation (free Vent)



InEar ProPhile 8-Compensation (blocked Vent)



Effect of Blocking the small Front Cavity Vent

Resolution:

The Falcon-C deliver about just what one would expect from technically capable dynamic driver in-ears in this price range – a pretty tight, clean and fast bass for dynamic driver standards, a detailed midrange with good speech intelligibility, a well-separated and detailed treble and precise instrument separation.
Unfortunately though, the tuning with the too early and too string treble peak doesn’t really fit in.

There isn’t any area that really lacks behind the rest, and the details appear distributed quite evenly, and not much surprisingly for single-driver in-ears, the Falcon-C sound coherent.

Given that the Titan series in-ears however already performed exceptionally well for dynamic driver in-ears at their price point, the Falcon-C don’t have much room for further technical improvements and only appear slightly tighter in the lows in comparison and have got just a small edge in terms of midrange details – on the whole, their level of detail retrieval is quite similar.

Soundstage:

The imaginary room the Falcon-C present is quite spacious and appears open – not as much as the Titan 1, but still a bit more than the Titan 5.

Therefore the stage’s width definitely subjectively exceeds the base between my ears, with some spatial depth as well, although the general soundstage seems rather oval, almost elliptical, than circular.

Instrument separation is precise and clean and just as good as on the Titan series in-ears while it doesn’t fully reach the level of good multi-BA in-ears.

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Comparisons:

DUNU Titan 5:

The Titan 5s’ sound, especially bass and warmth, will also depend on individual ear anatomy and by how much its vent is covered. Unlike with the Falcon-C, I am one of those people who are lucky and get a good fit and seal with them, with rather covered but not fully blocked vents, hence the sound doesn’t lack bass or warmth and isn’t overly thin despite having bright highs.

That said, the Titan 5 are a bit more elevated in the bass, especially with the stronger sub-bass emphasis. The also have got a bit more body and warmth in the lower fundamental range to my ears.
High upper mids are more linear and neutral on the Falcon-C whereas they are a bit lifted on the Titan 5.
While the Titan 5 are actually even brighter in the highs, their treble appears less edgy and slightly smoother to my ears, perhaps because of them having more lower midrange body.

In direct comparison, the bass appears slightly tighter on the Falcon-C, which is likely due to the Titan 5 having more presence in the lower fundamental range. Speed and control are similarly good and neither of the in-ears have problems handling complex and fast bass lines.
Both resolve and separate equally well in the highs.
In the mids, both are rather close, but to my ears the Falcon-C are just a notch above the Titan 5 when it comes to small midrange and vocal details.

Both have got a rather comparable soundstage to my ears with the Falcon-Cs’ sounding just slightly more open. None of them match the Titan 1s’ large and open sounding soundstage, though.

iBasso IT01 (first Generation with non-replaceable Nozzle Filters):

The IT01 have got the stronger bass and sub-bass elevation, with a warmer lower fundamental range lift.
Midrange timbre is comparable with the IT01 having just a little more openness in the upper mids.
The IT01 are also a bit on the brighter side in the highs, however they are more linear and less intrusive here and therefore audibly a good bit more realistic in the middle treble in comparison, and they lack the 6 kHz stridency the DUNU have (while being a bit too forward around 5 kHz).

Bass speed, tightness and control are equally good on both in-ears.
When it comes to minute midrange details, the DUNU are just slightly ahead.
Treble separation on the other hand is a bit cleaner on the iBasso in comparison.

The DUNU have got the somewhat more open, wider soundstage to my ears while the IT01 have got a bit more spatial depth.
In terms of separation and imaging, the IT01 is slightly more precise.

Sennheiser IE 800:

The IE 800 are more boosted and warmer in the bass than the Falcon-C, with the more pronounced sub-bass, and have got the somewhat more forward, thicker sounding lower fundamental range.
Midrange timbre is comparable between the two in-ears.
Where they differ though is the highs – the Falcon-C are bright and a splashy in the middle highs, an area where the IE 800 are relaxed, whereas the Sennheiser are tuned for a bright and splashy upper treble presentation, which is definitely a tuning that is much less intrusive, unnatural and edgy compared to a mid-treble elevation such as the one that can be found on the DUNU.

The Sennheiser seem slightly softer in the bass in comparison, while having just a tad more control with fast and complex tracks.
In the mids and highs, the Sennheiser are minimally ahead when it comes to minute details, but the difference is ultimately rather small.

The Sennheisers’ soundstage appears even a bit wider to my ears, however with less depth. Separation is quite similar.





Conclusion:

Nice design and build quality with decent technical performance for dynamic driver in-ears, however the unnatural, peaky treble tuning with its too early and too strong peaks without enough lower midrange counterweight ruins the presentation quite a bit, especially with excellently tuned and at least similarly well dynamic driver in-ears from Etymotic or Moondrop existing as alternatives.


Photos:

Dunu Falcon C - Flies high, strikes hard

Dunu is one of the most popular, fastest-growing Chinese brand that's been showing a steady success with their products. My experience with Dunu was mainly related to their hybrid models - DN2002 and DK3001. DN2002 had an outstanding performance while DK3001 was even better, for both sound and fit. Then last year I stumbled across a teaser from Dunu, revealing the Falcon-C. As a DD fanboy, I just had to give it a shot. Falcon-C is so far their flagship DD IEM beyond the Titan series and retailed for $219.99.







Packaging

Falcon-C comes in with a pretty nice looking box and we could see it's qualified for the JP Hi-Res standard. Inside there, it contains the earphone itself, a metal carrying case, 3 pairs of normal eartips, 3 pairs of shorter eartips, 4 pairs of spinfit eartips, 6.3mm adapter, airplane adapter, and some paperwork. I like that they've even included Spinfits for default as well as other shapes of silicon tips.







Earpieces

Falcon-C is equipped with a single 9mm CNT dynamic driver with a sturdy housing entirely made of liquid metal. Its shape takes a similar approach as Campfire Audio, though I can see they've derived this look from their previous models like DK3001 or so. The earpieces has a MMCX termination and Dunu claim that these were customized to provide a steadier, stronger grip when attached with the cable. Still compatible with the ordinary MMCX cables, of course. Dunu has been pushing black as their main color which is also the same case for the Falcon-C. A matte black color with its grainy texture brings a gentle yet premium feeling to it.







Cable

Cables are made of 4 braid with 6N SPC (Silver-Plated Copper). Cable has quite a nice feeling to it and is pretty smooth. Plugs and splitters are all made of metal and overall well built. There's an earguide made of shrink tube without the metal rod, providing a better fit. Another part that I'd like to point out is that they've also done some upgrades on the cable's mmcx connectors as well. They've used the 2nd generation connectors, which almost look identical to the ordinary ones but has a significantly stronger grip than the normal ones. Also these don't turn around by itself, so lesser chance to worn out the MMCX contact area and a more secure attachment.







Sound impressions: Bass

Bass feels elastic and punches with adequate weight to it. Reverbs are highlighted only with a light touch and keeps the overall sound clean. Ultra lows are neat, doing a pretty good job pulling up the bass existence with good thickness though doesn't pop out aggressively. It also maintains a good balance between bass solidity and smoothness which results into an organic, tightly controlled thud. It gives me an impression that Falcon-C puts more attention on the sub-bass, keeping the sound weighty but doesn't take the main role of the overall sound. Feels manly but has a gentle touch with good stability.







Sound impressions: Mids/highs, etc.

Falcon-C's tuning that pops out the most would be in the mids. It has a pretty interesting yet attractive tuning where it feels like multiple layers are stacked up, resulting a transparent and super light weight feeling but doesn't really feel empty - mids are quite rich and full, in fact. Vocals take a small step forward from other frequencies but not drastically. I much appreciate Falcon-C for being able to keep the mids full without making the atmosphere stuffy at all. The temperature feels just about neutral but has a pinch of shiny feeling on the upper mids, making the sound to be refreshing and airy enough. Falcon-C goes for a neutral thickness on the mids and well represents both male / female vocals. My only minor complaint for the Falcon-C would be the texture getting a tad grainy on the upper mids. Though stay tuned for the below section where I talk about eartip/cable matching, since this could be resolved quite easily. Overall mids flow up with decent stability and did a fairly good job trimming the sibilance area.

Treble takes a small step back with lesser quantity but doesn't struggle expressing the details and reverbs in the highs. It flies swiftly and light, approaches in a soft manner with a crystalline texture. so it's quite comfortable to listen while keeping the crispy details. Staging is decent or above average, well stretching out both horizontally and vertically. For my taste I would prefer more depth, but I believe it was for the sake of good balance. Separation and imaging is also up to standard, presenting the sound accurate yet natural.







Eartips & Cable matching

Falcon-C is quite sensitive to eartip/cable matching, so I recommend to roll these around to find the good matching that works for you. Matching with a proper OCC cable (usually bass enhancing ones) will resolve the grainy bits on the upper mids - which is why I highly recommend trying out other cables. For eartips, Final E-Type eartips will add more body to the bass as well as thicker density. I usually prefer JVC Spiral Dots but this would make the upper frequencies a bit harsh so I would stick with eartips with normal sized bores. Rhapsodio E-Pro eartips are also a good choice, naturally bringing the mids closer while boosting the headroom size.







Verdicts

I always found it welcoming when audio brands come up with good performing single DD IEMs. Falcon-C is a solid performer equipped with quality sound quality and components. I've purchased this IEM expecting a certain level of performance, and it surely lived up to my satisfaction. Also tried their previous Titan series (1/3/5) only for a short session and I could say Falcon-C performs significantly better than those. Will keep my fingers crossed to see how Dunu will pursue their DD lineups even further.

For some reason even though I live in Hong Kong, I had never tried DUNU products until I went to LA and attended CanJam. I immediately spotted the uniquely named DUNU Falcon C and tried it, happily finding another extremely tasteful mid priced product.

When I talked to the folks at the DUNU booth, they explained to me that they used to be an OEM company, producing audio products for other companies. Eventually, they realized that they had the experience and expertise to design and make their own products, and so DUNU was formed.

I had seen the DUNU Falcon-C on several sites and was quite curious about it, not only due to its sleek design, but because DUNU products have always been quite well regarded on HeadFi. The DUNU reps also noted that it was one of their more popular products – I was not surprised by this due to its very accessible price.

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We would like to thank DUNU for sending this unit for review. Accessible Audio is and always will give our honest and independent opinion on all the products we review. The DUNU Falcon-C can be bought for 220USD!
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Contents
1.Specs
2.Packaging & Accessories
3.Design & Ergonomics
4.Detailed Sound Review
5.Comparison
6.Measurements
7.Summary

Specifications
Product Type Wired In-ear
Driver Type 9mm carbon nano-tube dynamic driver
Frequency Response 10 – 40 kHz
Sensitivity 108+/-3dB/mW
Impedance 16 Ω
Cable 1.2 m MMCX Detachable cable
Weight 28g
Connector 3.5mm Gold plated

Packaging & Accessories
Although the packaging is quite spartan, with really only just the IEMs, the cables, and a small carrying case. the Falcon-C comes with a generous set of accessories all of which are hidden inside the carrying case. There is a good selection of tips with different fit and different sounds perfect for anyone who needs to tip roll to get that perfect audio listening experience.




There are 8 blue tube tips for a balanced sound, 6 clear tips for bright sound, and a set of SpinFits as well which can emphasize bass slightly. SpinFits don’t come cheap, and they’re consistently one of the most popular and comfortable tips in the audiophile community so it’s always nice when they’re packaged with products. In addition to the tips, there is an airplane audio plug adapter as well as a 1/4″ jack adapter.



Design & Ergonomics
The Falcon-C is a very well designed IEM – it uses high quality materials in all parts of the product and has a very an ergonomic design.

Starting from the bottom up, the 3.5mm jack is a custom L-shaped jack made out of a smooth hard plastic which matches the aesthetic of the smooth metal in other parts of the IEM. A soft plastic strain relief extends out of it the body of the plug. My favourite detail here is the subtle glossy red stripe which can only be seen on the underside.



DUNU was also generous with the cable, supplying a very sexy and premium feeling 4-braided, silver plated copper 6N OCC, gunmetal coloured cable complete with a metal Y-cinch, memory wire, terminating with colour coded MMCX connectors. I had a positive experience with this cable, as it is moderately stiff enough to feel very sturdy and not be extremely prone to tangling, but not so stiff that it causes microphonic noise.



Similar to Campfire Audio’s IEMs, the DUNU Falcon-C shells are also made of a liquid metal material, finished off with a sleek matte finish. It all looks and feels very premium in addition to being solidly built. Unlike Campfire’s designs though, DUNU has in my opinion and experience, done a better job of ergonomics as it fits much more securely. The nozzle length is a little shorter and manageable, and the shells don’t stick out and wobble as much. The form is also a little rounder and fitting for the ears, making it an overall comfortable experience. It is quite compact and lightweight compared to many IEMs these days, so I would definitely recommend the Falcon-C to people with smaller ears.



On the interior face of the shells is a big metallic mesh for what I assume is venting, accompanied by another small vent hole at the base of the nozzle. If you are worried about the level of isolation being compromised, the Falcon-C isolates surprisingly well for a design with so much venting.

Detailed Sound Analysis
I think I pretty much fell in love with the Falcon-C within the first 30 seconds of trying it at CanJam SoCal; with a price tag of 220USD, it undoubtedly gives greater quality than its price would reveal. The DUNU Falcon-C’s sound signature has wonderfully extended highs, neutral mids, with a tight, punchy, natural sounding bass. Its soundstage is also wide and spacious sounding, with a moderate amount of height to match. In terms of its tone, it definitely has the warmth of a dynamic driver sound, stemming not from a massive bass, but from what seems to me like a good dose of even-order harmonic distortion. I love the amount of control and resolution it exhibits; so much that using the Falcon-C daily to review it did not make me miss my significantly more expensive daily drivers much.



The DUNU Falcon-C is armed with 9mm CNT (carbon nanotube) dynamic drivers which perform superbly throughout the frequencies, and one of the highlights is the level of high frequency extension. This was the thing that really caught my attention when I first tried the DUNU Falcon-C. The high frequency details sound ultra crisp and refined without being too harsh, something that’s rather uncharacteristic for dynamic drivers. This is because getting well extended highs without introducing sibilance requires a high quality dynamic driver, and at this mid-range price point, it was something that I certainly did not expect it to do so well. What this means in very broad terms, is that there is a certain amount of rigidity to the dynamic driver that allows it to vibrate with enough control to produce a high quality, undistorted sound.



With the blue tube tips, the DUNU Falcon-C takes on a brighter, wide open sound as they allow the highs to shine unfettered. Whether this is desirable will depend on your personal preferences. For me, although I enjoyed the soaring high frequency extension with the blue tubed tips, after having used it for a while I did find the highs a little too hot for my liking and so settled with for SpinFits instead, which tempered the highs but also moderately boosted bass impact and quantity. Even with the SpinFits softening the high frequencies, the Falcon-C gives an addictive crisp treble extension that helps extend the soundstage, and reveal small details of airiness in vocals and hi-hats twinkling in the background.

The treble is not the only notable characteristic of the Falcon-C. It’s bass frequencies are also very noteworthy. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the most bass impact I would give it around a 6-7. It is not so boosted that I would call the it V-shaped, since it is a very agile, taut bass with a luscious amount of subbass, and certainly makes music sound lively and engaging if you are into bass. I found it to be very well controlled, giving not just tight impact but also tonally warm and detailed.



The gentle transition to the mids is also a welcome change to the recent trend of boosted 1-3kHz mid-high frequencies which pushes vocals and instruments to the forefront. The Falcon-C’s mids seem to be positioned very neutrally to me, neither sounding very recessed or overexposed. Percussive attack is quite evident, but not the most prominent.

The Falcon-C certainly excels as a 220USD IEM, running a tight ship with its agile bass, neutral mids and brilliant highs along with a considerable amount of resolution to the entire frequency range. Despite having such a well resolved sound, unfairly compared to the TOTL offerings, it does lack slightly in terms of layering and resolution. However, the value for money with the DUNU Falcon-C is just so great – it is definitely on my recommended IEMs list for sure.

Comparisons
1More Quad Driver

Both are very strong IEMs in the 200USD price range. The 1More Quad Driver is much warmer in the bass with a boomier bass, and is a little slower and laidback while the DUNU Falcon-C is more engaging and not shy about have a more strident high frequency. I would put them on equal footing, and choosing a winner would be highly dependent on sound signature taste.

Massdrop Plus IEM

The Massdrop Plus is certainly a very strong contender with a slightly higher price tag. It would be hard for me to choose between these two IEMs. While the MDP seems to exhibit a cleaner sound, it does have a tinge of mechanical-ness of balanced armatures. The DUNU Falcon-C excels in its own way on the opposite end of the spectrum with its dynamic driver warmth and natural sound. The MDP also has a bit of mid-high frequency boost while the Falcon-C’s mids are a little more neutral. I might give the edge to the MDP, but it does have a higher price tag.

Campfire Audio Lyra II

If I had to compare it to another IEM, I would say its sound reminds me very much of the Campfire Audio Lyra II, and in fact it does so in both its sound and its looks. Even the drive diameters are similar; the Lyra II’s is 8.5mm while the Falcon-C’s is 9mm. Of course, with its price tag of 699USD (599USD now?) the Campfire Audio Lyra II is generally better resolved in its sound, but the sound signatures are very similar to me, with the Lyra II having more presence region boost while the Falcon-C is more neutral. Dare I say at some moments though, the Falcon-C’s highs seemed a little more controlled than the Lyra II’s.

If you are looking for a nice single dynamic driver with a somewhat bright treble range and tight bass but can’t afford the Lyra, I would really highly recommend the Falcon-C here as it comes at around a third of the price.

Measurements


With the Vibro Veritas, we can see that the DUNU Falcon-C measures very well in terms of frequency response. With quite a flat, neutral bass to mid range, you get that nice solid low end, and the obvious spike in the 6-7kHz region that gives it that characteristic treble extension. The slight dip in 2-5kHz region also reflects the slightly laidback character as it doesn’t have a huge boost to the presence region.

Summary
Pros

-Great value
-Lovely well controlled sound with tight bass and gorgeous highs
-Ergonomic fit
-Sleek design
-Well resolved, transparent sound

Cons

-The highs can be harsh at some moments with some music

DUNU has a significant history in producing multi driver, hybrid IEM's, which I am very fond of, because of their amazing sound and quality vs price ratio.
I have already shown my love for the DN-2002 and DK-3001, among my absolute favourite IEM's ever.
The biggest complaint I have been reading about them, has been the size and comfort: to house their complex combinations of drivers, DUNU had to make some compromises in the size of the housing, which is a bit heavy for the ears of some people. I usually tame comfort issues by using comply foam tips, which are much more comfortable than silicon tips; still, smaller in-ear monitors are generally more comfortable, regardless of the tips used.



The new DUNU Falcon-C is a single dynamic driver In-Ear Monitor, which borrows from the sound signature of the DK-3001, while making the design simpler in order to achieve a smaller and ergonomic earphone.

As its bigger brothers, the Falcon-C has a removable cable. In the past I wrote that I would have prefered a better connector for the removable cable of DUNU's (and other producers') earphones, it's finally been upgraded.

<strong>Sound Quality</strong>

The Falcon-C is a powerful sounding IEM, energic, slightly U-shaped, but tonally intense.
It has high speed, fast decays, and the capability to be toe-tapping, involving, using the bass-vs-treble balance as a mean to add up to the sense of pacing.
Just like its bigger brother (the DUNU DK-3001), it's a "special" U-shaped frequency response, meaning that the powerful bass and extended highs are not burdening the midrange, which is actually very vivid and makes vocals full, never recessed.



Compared to the DUNU DK-3001 (which more than twice as expensive), the Falcon C has similar musical flow and balance between ranges of frequencies, but the DK-3001 have more control in the higher frequencies (slightly tilted, but never sibilant) and clearer layer separation.
The Falcon-C is slightly tilted in the upper midrange to middle treble, so that vividness is also accompanied by some sibilance in certain cases. Certain cymbals, especially on poorly recorded music, as well as certain singers with very sharp "s", can sound a bit too hot. This issue was more noticeable before burn in, but got much more controlled after 40-50 hours of listening.
Compared to other neutral, bright sounding IEM's, like Etymotic ER4, the Falcon-C sound more realistic, have similarly rendered treble, and have fuller, more natural bass, perhaps less deep in frequencies than ER4, but overall more tuneful with the rest of the music.

The soundstage of the Falcon-C is intimate, and in tune with the midrange vividness, making it especially tuned for rock, metal, jazz and generally music played by small groups. Classical music would take advantage of larger sounding headphones, which would render better the spatial localization of large orchestras.



<strong>Conclusion</strong>

The DUNU Falcon-C is a very comfortable IEM, that feels small in the ear, and have very appreciable sonic qualities. It's realistic sounding, fast, detailed, ideal for several music genres. It takes obvious inspiration from the sound signature of the DK-3001. While not being quite up there in overall sound quality (the DK-3001 is a giant, and is much better than severall over 1k Euro headphones), it's much more "portable", comfortable, and never causes phisical discomfort. The removable cable is very good, the new MCX connector is sturdier than the one used before, promising much longer durability.
I would advice it to everybody that doesn't listen mainly to poor recordings prone to sibilance, like rock from the 60s/70s: it's, for all other purposes, a very convincing portable headphone for the go, and in the 200$ price range, it offers several desirable qualities for a very reasonable price

Dunu Falcon-C - Clear, Vivid, Personal

Dunu Falcon-C is a new model made by the Chinese company Dunu, and it comes at a sweet price spot and with a sound that promises to give us a new insight into music. We're going to look into how it sounds and how it compares to DK-3001 in today's review.




Introduction

We looked into Dunu DK-3001 a while ago, and we were left with a rather positive overall impression, as it sounded amazingly good, being one of the best IEMs of 2017, regardless of the price range. Even so, DK-3001 wasn't quite that comfortable for everybody, but it still beared the quality of Dunu, with excellent overall built quality and with an excellent set of accessories, along with a great price tag, so we are more than eager to see what Dunu has been up to and if they managed to improve their comfort with the newly released Falcon-C.

It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with Dunu, I am not receiving any incentive for this review or to sweeten things out. This review is not sponsored nor has been paid for by Dunu or anyone else. I'd like to thank Dunu for providing the sample for the review. The sample was provided along with Dunu's request for an honest and unbiased review. This review will be as objective as it is humanly possible, and it reflects my personal experience with Dunu Falcon-C. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it, the purpose of this review is to help those interested in Dunu Falcon-C find their next music companion.



About me

https://audiophile-heaven.blogspot.ro/p/about.html



Packaging

First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:















It is very easy to notice that Falcon-C is made by Dunu, like its bigger brother, as it comes once again in an elegant, sleek and beautifully designed package, along with a large number of accessories and tips.

Falcon-C comes in a nicely silvery wrapper cardboard box in which you can find a black hard cardboard box, which comes with a Dunu seal. Inside this, you can find the IEM bodies seated in a hard foam cutout, with their carrying box seated right beneath the IEMs themselves.

Dunu went for a different carry box this time, instead of the pelican plastic box, this time Falcon-C coming in a metal rectangular carrying box, similar to what HIFIMAN offers with their RE2000 and with what iBasso offers with IT-01, but in a more square shape.

Falcon-C also comes packaged with one detachable cable, and a large number of tips, including our favorite, Spinfit tips.

All in all, the package contents is good enough to warrant their price range, and there are IEMs priced much higher that come with less accessories. Even so, there are also IEMs priced lower that come with more accessories, like FiiO F9Pro coming with balanced cables as well, but we'd like to remind that the SpinFit tips included in the package are a rather important aspect of Dunu Falcon-C, as we found ourselves using those tips even with expensive Top Of The Line IEMs, like HiFiMAN RE2000.



What to look in when purchasing an entry-level IEM

https://audiophile-heaven.blogspot.ro/p/what-to-lookl.html



Technical Specifications







Build Quality/Aesthetics/Fit/Comfort

Starting with this point, Falcon-C starts to become quite different from DK-3001 made by Dunu.

The build quality, while just has good, has became something else entirely with Falcon-C, which are made to be ergonomic. They look pretty awesome, in an industrial style, with a more aggressive outer appearance, but the most important aspect with Falcon-C is their fit, which this time gets a golden rating from us, they simply fit in almost every ear they were tried with, and they feel quite comfortable even after being worn for a longer period of time.





The design is semi-open to open this time, so the isolation isn't the most important aspect of Falcon-C, but they isolate well enough so that we could take a fun walk through the noisy streets of Bucharest without an issue.

The wearing style is limited to over-the-ear, but we feel like this might be for the better as there is no microphonic noise, and no issue to talk about. The MMCX connectors are very strong and we feel confident in saying that those won't fail with Falcon-C, the whole IEM being very solid and feeling quite nice.

The large number of tips included, and especially the SpinFit tips included help with Falcon-C's fit as well, making it a very comfortable and pleasing IEM to own.



Sound Quality

The overall sonic signature of Falcon-C is somewhat similar to DK-3001, but with some changes. The general tuning is slightly V-shaped tuning, with the bass and the treble enhanced by a little bit, with a very revealing overall signature, and with a bit of an emphasis around the 6-8kHz area, giving an ever so stronger sound to cymbal crashes.



The sonic abilities of Falcon-C are most impressive, and they can come very close to their bigger sibling, DK-3001, although Falcon-C has a slightly stronger overall treble, and maybe a slightly less revealing overall sound.

The soundstage is slightly more intimate this time, introducing a more personal relationship with the music and, along with the stronger treble and bass, making the music quite a bit more engaging and enhancing the levels of vividness Falcon-C has.

The bass is deep and goes down low, provides good impact and rumble, and has a natural decay, being revealing enough to show a good amount of textures with many songs which had a more intricate recording. The punch and slam is quite good, and the overall bass feels deep and natural.

The midrange is slightly recessed, but provides an excellent amount of insight to the music, the PRaT and ADSR characteristics of Falcon-C being able to reveal very fine textures in certain songs, like those of Mindless Self Indulgence. Female voices feel emotional and emphatic while male voices come through with good depth and strength.

The treble is a little hot around the 6-8kHz area, with some emphasis on the metallic tinge of a cymbal crash, but this only makes metal music and rock more vivid, along with giving acoustic music a really nice sense of realism for things like the bite of an acoustic guitar.

All in all, the sonic signature of Falcon-C is energetic and upbeat, and they are not a smooth nor a relaxing IEM, being an excellent pairing for Rock, Metal, Pop, Electronic and other upbeat music.



Soundstage

The soundstage of Falcon-C is on the more intimate side of things, bringing the music and the musical scene closer to the listener, giving a really nice sense of intimacy along with a raw, direct feeling to the music. Along with their rather energetic signature, the sonic environment is perfect for rock and metal, providing a really nice sense of energy and artistic expression, everything feeling explosive, and providing a very impressive approach. Classical music combined with metal, like the songs of Haggard also work very well, Falcon-C's soundstage being good at bringing the little orchestra instruments closer to the listener.



PRaT / ADSR

The PRaT and ADSR characteristics of Falcon-C are quite impressive as well. The finer nuances in instrument's textures are well revealed by the energetic IEM, and things such as the textures of a trumpet are expressed vividly.



Portable Usage

This is a point where Falcon-C was interesting to test as DK-3001, while good, wasn't quite the most portable IEM for everybody as some people mentioned some comfort issues. Falcon-C, on the other hand, is so comfortable that I have been wearing it for days in a row while out and about, without feeling any kind of discomfort, being comfortable. The included spinfit tips, which I've also been using with other IEMs, even with flagships, do their job amazingly well, and at times, I come to realise how amazing of an achievement the partnership between Dunu and Spinfit is, as Spinfit tips really help with comfort for every single IEM I've tried them with.

The other thing I've noticed is that although Falcon-C is quite open in its design, with a little vent on the inner side, they still isolate the outside noise quite well, as I've been able to take walks through my hometown of Campulung (been on a little vacation here), even walking on the main street where all the traffic is, and still being able to enjoy the music to the fullest. I have to admit though, I have done those tests on louder volumes. On another note, Falcon-C doesn't leak sound quite that much, and I've been able to listen to music in the same room as my girl without any issue.

Falcon-C is easy to drive and they aren't really prone to hiss, although they don't really change that much with different sources either, being quite enjoyable even from a typical smartphone.



Comparisons

This is the part everyone's been waiting for, and we promise to make most of it!















Dunu Falcon-C vs Dunu DK-3001 - Probably the most important comparison there, Falcon-C is very capable and holds its ground nicely when compared to the mighty DK-3001. The difference in detail is there, but Falcon-C is able to hold its ground. Most notable, DK-3001 has an edge in naturalness and clarity, but the comfort is worlds apart on falcon-C, which is a really comfortable IEM, where DK-3001 was a little less comfy for some users. The number of accessories included with each is amazing by itself, both DK-3001 and Falcon-C coming with a wide range of tips and other interesting accessories, but DK-3001 comes with both a single ended cable, and a Balanced cable, where DK-3001 comes only with a single ended cable. The cable quality is great on both, but for Falcon-C, the ergonomics of the cable feel one step forward, as DK-3001 had solid ear hooks parts, where it needed to take the shape of the ear, where Falcon-C has a flexible part in that area, resulting in better overall fit and comfort. The tuning is slightly different as DK-3001 was less V-shaped, where Falcon-C has more treble and a little thicker bass, with a slowe bass and a slightly more treble around the 7-8 kHz area. The price difference is not quite that small, but each of Dunu's offerings feel priced well for their abilities, and as many people loved DK-3001 for their incredible sound and overall quality at that price, Falcon-C is even more impressive at its price.

Dunu Falcon-C vs FiiO F9Pro - Many of Falcon-C's competitors will come from China as many new Chinese companies tend to create amazing little IEMs with excellent performance and price ratio, like F9Pro from fiiO. F9Pro is slightly cheaper than Falcon-C in price, but this doesn't mean that it has any lower quality, as both f9Pro and Falcon-C come with an amazing array of accessories. F9Pro has two cables bundled in the package, along with a better carrying case, which is exactly the same case as the one we found on DK-3001, where Falcon-C has a better tip selection as it includes spinfit tips, which is one of our favorites. F9Pro and Falcon-C are both golden in their comfort, and both excel at offering a very detailed sound. Both have a similar tuning, but Falcon-C has slightly more bass impact, and a thicker overall sound. They seem to appeal to slightly different publics, but both are instant favorites for each of their price, F9Pro having the balanced cable, while Falcon-C having the tips which are quite impressive on each.

Dunu Falcon-C vs Sennheiser M2 IEBT - This comparison has been added mostly because the price of the two is similar, but there are some basic differences between Falcon-C and M2 IEBT. The first difference, and maybe the most obvious one, is that M2 IEBT is a bluetooth IEM, while falcon-C is a wired IEM with detachable cables. M2 IEBT sports a much stronger V/U - shaped sound with a stronger treble, stronger and slower bass, more raw impact and a more distant midrange. Falcon-C comes through as more balanced and as a wider-case scenario IEM, but it doesn't have bluetooth like M2IEBT. The tip selection is with a greater number on Falcon-C, but a comparison between the cables is not possible. M2 IEBT sports APT-X, while Falcon-C can take advantage of any DAP's power it is connected to. Those two are very different products with very different sounds.

Dunu Falcon-C vs Oriveti New Primacy - This is a very interesting comparison because we really liked ONP and it was a great IEM on its own right. The first difference is in fit and comfort, and while for some people driver flex isn't quite a big deal, ONP has a fair amount of it, while Falcon-C has none, resulting in a better comfort for Falcon-C. The sound is different, with ONP having a quicker bass, a less elevated bass, a more natural sounding midrange, and a smoother treble with a more natural tone to it, while having a slightly smaller soundstage than Falcon-C, while Falcon-C has more instrument separation, a more direct and raw sound, with a stronger bass, more bass impact, more treble, more pronounced treble and slightly more recessed midrange. Both are good IEMs, both have detachable cables, both come with a good selection of tips and with similar carry boxes, but Falcon-C comes with spinfit tips which also add to their improved comfort. Both are good value IEMs, with different sound, which makes us lean towards feeling that they are intended for different publics.



Recommended Pairings

While testing the pairing abilities of Falcon-C, we found out that while they scale well with better sources in clarity and detail revealing abilities, they are not quite the most source dependent IEM out there, a bit like how IE800 from sennheiser isn't quite that source dependent. Usage of a single dynamic Driver might have a big impact on this, and the bright side is that Falcon-C works well with anything, from a typical smartphone or tablet, up to the best audiophile DAPs out there.





Falcon-C + Hifiman Megamini - Megamini is an interesting pairing for Falcon-C, providing them with an excellent amount of life and detail, a great amount of power and vividness, with no apparent drawback. The minimalist nature of Megamini is the biggest factor to consider when going for it, but at its 100$ price point, it really doesn't disappoint.

Falcon-C + Cayin N5ii - Cayin N5ii is an amazing DAP to combine with Falcon-C as it provides an excellent overall sound, with a good amount of dynamics, a clear and vivid presentation, and with a good amount of details, along with excellent other abilities, like streaming abilities and a good battery life. Falcon-C sounds a bit brighter with N5ii than with other DAPs we paired it with, but we liked this pairing quite a lot, working well for rock and metal music.

Falcon-C + Opus #1s - #1s is a strong-sounding DAP with a very forward overall sound and good instrument separation. It clearly has power to spare when driving Falcon-C, and it provides them with a vivid approach. Punk and metal sounds very nice with this pairing, and the biggest deciding factor when going for Opus #1s is that #1s comes with no streaming abilities and it is a more basic touchscreen DAP, which does one thing, but does it well, play music from its mSD cards.



Value and Conclusion

First, we should remind the price of Falcon-C, which is quite pocket-friendly at only 220 USD at the moment of writing this review. At this price, it has very little competitors, direct or otherwise, as very few IEMs come with the same amount of accessories, build quality, and support, along with the same sonic abilities as Falcon-C.



Starting with the overall package, with Falcon-C you get a nice package, with a wide selection of tips, including Spinfit Tips, which are some of our favorites since we tested DK-3001, along with a nice metal carrying case, and a very nice-looking MMCX cable. The quality of the cable is very good, and what is actually the best part is the ergonomics of it.

Both the cable and the IEMs have excellent overall ergonomics, with a very stable fit, excellent long-hours wearing comfort, and with a good amount of isolation and little sonic leakage although Falcon-C seems to be somewhat open in their design.

The sound sure is a lively one, with a strong, impactful and deep bass, with a natural decay and overall speed, with a slightly recessed meringue with excellent clarity and texture / revealing abilities, and with an energetic treble that proves to be an good friend with rock, acoustic and metal music.

All in all, Falcon-C is a lovely IEM for their asking price of 220$, and the comfort alone makes them one of our top choices at this price, the spinfit tips part of the package being a very important part of the Dunu Package in our minds. If you're a rock and acoustic music listener, and if you're budget conscious when selecting a IEM, be sure to take a look into Dunu Falcon-C, as you might find a real love with Dunu's latest offering.


I hope my review is helpful to you!



Stay safe and remember to always have fun while listening to music!


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Once again, a new Dunu in-ear set, and this time not in the hybrid drivers’ setup fashion. Instead, this new Falcon-C model is the current dynamic flagship and features a full range single driver of Carbon Nano-tubes diaphragm, which is a completely new take for the Dunu Topsound company. It doesn’t stop just there in a new driver, but with a brand new shell material and design, and unlike the last hybrids models it sits on a more attractive price bracket. So, how this new flagship performs…

Falcon-C page 1, page 2

Specifications

• Driver: 9mm Single Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) dynamic
• Shell material: Liquid Metal
• Frequency: 10 Hz ~ 40 kHz
• Impedance: 16Ω
• Sensitivity: 108±3dB
• Cable: Silver-plated copper wire (6N OCC), 3.5mm gold-plated
• Weight: 28g

Price (MSRP): U$D 219

Similarly to the previous Dunu products, the Falcon-C arrives in a hassle free package that consists of an outer paper cover with a flashy metal color theme and the black thicker inner box. While it may not look as classy as the DN-2002 and DN-3001 packages, it is as good as with the older DN-1000 and DN-2000 presentation. As usual, the Dunu accessory pack is very complete as it arrives with a large selection of eartips, case and adapters. There are no Comply Foam tips this time, but 3 packs of different eartips including the standard Spinfit CP-100 options.

Design

The design and build quality level have always been one of the strongest characteristics of the Dunu earphones, and the Falcon-C is no exception and also presents a whole new design. While the hybrid IEM models have all used stainless steel for their shells, the Falcon-C is made entirely of “liquid metal” alloy which boosts some nice improvements above other metal options. It’s a good sign to see a company implementing new high quality materials for their now lower priced models instead of reserving that just for the top models. Better or not, the “liquid metal” has its own merits. For instance, the surface is more resistant to scratches and also doesn't show the ‘cold’ metal feel to the skin, it’s also smoother and a lighter in weight.

The included cable is of good quality, too, and has a more custom cable look on it with the four tightly twisted strands. It results more comfortable than the DK-3001 stock cables as it doesn’t carry the long memory wire on it and the fixed earguides (made of simple heatshrink tubes) are soft enough. The only downside is the more springy behavior and the strong memory effect it shows even after some days of use, and maybe also the rubbery surface on the outer coating. Apart from that, it is a good cable on its own, low in microphonics and easy to handle. The Falcon-C cable is also of standard MMCX, but the plugs have a very strong connection to the earpieces, similar to the DK-3001 cables but with a different ‘lock’ feature. If anything, the usual attached cable wrap is now missing.
Yet, the most positive part on the Falcon-C lies on the whole new shell form factor. Finally, we can see a well thought design that has a nice ergonomic shape and makes it the most comfortable earphone within the whole Dunu’s line, and also among many universal IEMs. The previous Titan 1 model was also quite comfortable despite the large dynamic driver inside and still I found the current Falcon dynamic flagship to be even more comfortable. The nozzle has certain angle towards the earcanal, and while the shell design doesn’t allow a too deep fit, the level of isolation is really good.


Sound

Main sources: xDuoo X10, Aune M1s, Lotoo PAW Pico, Hidizs AP200; Headamp Pico Slim.

It’s been a while since Dunu released a single dynamic driver earphone. Though the very first models were a mix of single dynamic and single BA, the real deal began with the Titan line, starting from the Titan 1 with its open design and nicely tuned Titanium coated driver, full of details and very airy that gain a very high feedback. However, the main downside was the lack of isolation due the half-ear shell.
While the Falcon-C consists of a smaller 9mm diameter it is also the first company model that introduces the Carbon Nano-Tube (CNT) type of driver. It is certainly not something new, as we’ve already found those drivers within the large brand such as JVC and Audio-Technica with the FXD and CKN70 models. However, those were using a smaller micro-driver unit inside ~6mm, and while did show some strengths of the CNT type, they also had some limitations due the more compact driver. Right from the start, I’d say the Falcon-C has some similarities to those previous models but more in the Dunu fashion found on the Titan series.

As most IEMs the Falcon-C is somewhat dependent on the eartips used. While the SpinFit provided the easier fit and seal, I found the sound to be more likeable with the narrow tips, and much better with the more open grey tips. However, the nozzle didn’t hold very well the grey tips, so I opted for similar eartips with an open bore for the more impressive sonic results. The good thing of the Falcon-C is that the nozzle is of more standard width and has the lip at the top, making tip-rolling much easier.
A certain period of burn-in seems to play well for the CNT drivers, and so it is with the Dunu Falcon. The differences are not really major, but it takes some time to reach the best balance from lows to highs. Overall, the first thing to notice on the Falcon-C is the great balance and correct weight from lower bass notes to the upper treble. It shows the certain Dunu sound with some warmth on it, though in the lean and cooler tonality when compared to their hybrids models.

Right from the start, the bass strikes with great quality. It has very good depth and high speed and great control for busier tracks yet punchy all the way up to the mid-bass. Quantity-wise it is above of being neutral, but far from overwhelming, presenting wide lively presentation with the right amount for most genres that still prevents the Falcon from sounding particularly thin as the Titan 1 was. The DN-2000 is probably the strongest in mid-bass strength, and even the quad hybrid DN-2002 sounds even fuller and thicker trough the lows next to the Falcon-C.

The whole midrange is mostly neutral, both in position next to the lows and highs as it cannot be considered recessed nor too forward, and also in tonality as it doesn’t carry too much warmth but fails to be cold or thin. Not only it remains very clean from any mid-bass obstruction, but also has a very strong sense of transparency. The instruments balance and coherence is excellent, though will sound leaner next to the warm and thicker sounding DN-2000, but the Falcon-C wins in separation and speed. For vocals, lower ones (male) sound less pronounced and thinner in texture against to the upper and female vocals, though there is some extra energy and lack of sweetness toward the female voices.
In occasions the Falcon-C can emphasize some sibilance, though it is not as sharp as the previous Titan 1 and DN-1000, or more v-shaped sounding sets like the RHA MA750 or Echobox X1. Personally, I found the three Dunu IEMs, Falcon-C, DN-2000 and DN-2002 similarly matched for voices and overall midrange, each of them with their strengths and weaknesses, staying behind the pricier DK-3001 upper model.

As for the treble, here’s where the CNT driver material is easily noticed. The highs are definitely towards the brighter tone, from the lower treble up to the upper extension, which is very effortless and well extended in a natural texture. The Falcon-C is a quite revealing earphone and not too forgiving. The treble needs some break-in time to settle down, though it still remains above neutral in terms of quantities and can be energetic with more aggressive tracks. The micro-detail, is excellent and more than the ~$200 tag would suggest. The presentation is very airy and open with a wide stage effect and good imaging. The DK-3001 still surpasses in this regard but for a fraction of the current flagship price, the Falcon-C undoubtedly stands out on its own as the Dunu dynamic flagship.


Value

Priced just a bit above the $200 range, the new Dunu Falcon-C definitely deserves the ‘flagship’ tag from a well regarded company and makes an excellent contender among the so many new IEMs around. Like any Dunu release, the Falcon-C also has the upper hand in terms of build quality and now a brand new so comfortable design. More importantly, the sound quality is really good, well balanced and full in detail. It’s nice to see that Dunu don’t just keep the best material or design for just the upper models but can make a product that stands out on its own even among every previous earphone of the company. Again, well done, Dunu!

Dunu Topsound is a chinese company quite famous in the audiophile community. My first experience with this brand was their Dunu Titan 1, that was fantastic for its price range and right now is still one of my favourite IEM under 100 USD. Today I am going to review their new dynamic flagship: Dunu Falcon-C, but first, would like to introduce the philosophy and history of this company:

“ With advanced technology and hi-end equipments, DUNU desires to be able to provide our products for Hi-Fi embracers. Delicate means extremely quality demanding on product process, from every little component to product manufacturing. DUNU has complete production line and equipments, including precise equipments, B&K frequency machine, IMD sputter, CNC machine, anechoic room, etc. Concerning design of product, DUNU also devotes to create unique outer appearance and balance in all sound frequency.

Utmost is not only the expectation on products, but also the pursuit of an Earphone Manufacturer. The founder of DUNU, himself, has years experience in OEM/ODM earphone products in which many worldwide famous earphone Brands are included. However, in order to create the most enjoyable earphone on his own, DUNU’s president establishes the brand “DUNU” and implants many hi-end equipments and hires talented employees. From then on, DUNU takes the lead in developing the first Chinese made metal earphone, developing 5.8mm Driver unit and produce the very first Chinese Balance Armature Earphone, in 2014 DUNU release China first triple driver Dynamic and Balance Armature Hybrid earphone, All these preparation are to step on the world stage and to challenge renowned earphone brands. The ultimate goal of DUNU is to provide worldwide HI-FI embracers our earphone products, with Delicate Sensation, Unique Design & Utmost Quality”.

New Falcon-C model shows an advanced CNT diaphragm drivers, with new enlarged MMCX plug and a new silver-plated copper 6n OCC wire.

Dunu C-Falcon unit was sent me as a sample , I am not affiliated with the company and all observations and opinions will be only my own. Would like to thanks Vivian and Dunu team for sending me this unit giving me the opportunity to experience such an innovative product.


LINK OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.dunu-topsound.com/

LINK FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/DUNU.FANS/



PACKAGING:

Packaging is rich with a lot of accessories. First of all, you can find a lot of eartips of high premium quality. Very compliment Dunu for these features. For universal models eartips are very important for the sound: they can change the overall reproduction, for example changing bass response or soundstage; so eartips like the sources are very important for the final result. In the box you can find: transparent gray tips, blue-tube tips and SpinFit ones. I tried many and at the end tips with blue bore not only gave me the better fit, but overall a more natural reproduction with great and lively vocals. In the box you can find one protective plastic case, the IEM and various instructions with warranty card and an airline adaptor. I don’t know why Dunu doesn’t give shirt clip like in the other models in catalogue.

Build quality is excellent and really surprised me: new Falcon-c shows a “new liquid metal jacket with its non-grain boundary is three times stronger than stainless steel and has an excellent acoustic character that restrains harmonic resonance to achieve a firm and more coherent sound”.

The IEM is very comfortable and lightweight and thanks to the MMCX angle I was able to listen to my music for many hours without any fatigue. The carry case is a bit small so has enough room inside for only the IEM. The new high quality cable with enlarged MMCX plug and a new silver-plated copper 6n OCC wire has great build quality and never noticed any microphonics issues.

In terms of comfort i found C-Falcon perfect and thanks to its rounded shape and small structure I never found any annoyance or fit problems.

Isolation is quite good, but not one of the best: Falcon makes a good job in blocking outside noise, but in noisy environments like metro, bus you could find some problems.


SOUND:

All my sound consideration has been made after 100 hours of burn in as suggested by Dunu company, with different DAPs such as Opus1s, fiio x3, x5, iFi Nano Idsd black label and my iphone 6 too.

Overall this IEM offers a v-shaped sound sig. Voices are a bit laid back but offers a good amount of details, for example in Lana Del Rey “Tomorrow Never Come” you can hear all the sensuality of this singer. With male vocals I found a lack of body in certain tracks, but with female voices this IEM can bring all the delicacy and sensuality typical of a female voice.

Highs are very clean and detailed . They are refined and you can find a lot of sparkles, you will get an extended treble response but without harshness and sibilance issues, indeed, i could be able to listen to this IEM and never find any listening fatigue. I don’t understand why some says highs on C-Falcon are harsh. I did notice this thing with cold sources or with my iPhone 6, but with a warmer source like Opus 1s or iFi Nano I found a more controlled sound with good amount of sparkles and bass.

Bass of this IEM is just perfect, I would say it was just tuned with an “audiophile bass”: it is not one of the strongest, but is really fast, with great impact and decay. You will get a good amount of mid-bass that will give just a touch of warmth, but will never cover mid frequencies. If you loved bass of the previous Dunu dynamic model: Titan 1; new Falcon will offer you the same quality, plus a more mature and controlled bass response.

Dynamic is very good, maybe not one of the best, but for the price tag is more than average. With my iPhone 6 I found dynamic a bit “anemic”, so I really suggest you to invest in a DAP or DAC/AMP in order to unleash the full potential of this IEM.

Soundstage is very good with a coherent sense of space both in width and depth, you will not get a “speaker-like” soundstage, but a natural and coherent one. I found the soundstage a bit narrower and a bit less holographic than Dunu Titan 1.

With its low impedance is quite easy to drive, you can drive easily with your Smartphone, but obviously with a good DAP you get an overall better sound, with better dynamic and a stronger bass response.



COMPARISON:

C-FALCON VS PERIODIC AUDIO Ti: these two IEMs share a V-shaped sound signature. Dunu has a better build quality and more premium feel, with detachable cable and is more ergonomic. Falcon has better bass response that is very fast and intricate with excellent decay. Voices are a bit recessed on both these two IEMs, but Ti make a good job with both male and female voices. On the other side Falcon makes an excellent job with female voices, but with male ones can lack of body. Soundstage on Falcon is wider than Ti, but Periodic Audio IEM has more depth. Both of these IEMs are quite easy to drive, maybe Ti needs more power to really shine.


C-FALCON VS Ibasso IT01: iBasso IEM has a more fun sound sig. with stronger bass and more sparkles. On the other side Dunu IEM shows a more mature sound with a more controlled bass and a bit less recessed voices. Soundstage on IT01 is wider, but Falcon has a more natural and coherent extension.

Falcon costs more or less twice, but you have to consider that has better build quality and a more premium feel. Plus with Falcon you will get better quality ear-tips.


C-FALCON VS ORIVETI NEW PRIMACY: ORIVETI has a more warm and romantic sound with more focus on voices. Primacy has more mid-bass quantity and a less detailed sound reproduction. On the other side Falcon has a more “audiophile” bass response with good impact and great speed and decay.

New Primacy has wider soundstage, but C-Falcon has more depth.


C-FALCON VS TITAN 1: it’s quite interesting to compare these two Dunu models. Titan 1 has a more v-shaped sound with more bass impact and more sparkles. Voices are more recessed on Titan 1. On the other side C-Falcon shows a more mature sound with more detailed voices and less listening fatigue. Soundstage on Titan 1 is wider with a more holographic feel thanks to the five bores in the shell.



PAIRING:

FALCON WITH OPUS 1S: Falcon has a great synergy with this DAP: bass gets more body with more rumble. Male voices acquire more body and fullness. Highs are less in evidence and this thing can help to reduce harshness and so listening fatigue. With Opus 1s soundstage is quite wide with a good instrument separation. I can drive quite easily Falcon with high gain at 80 volume level.


FALCON WITH IPHONE 6 + AUDIRECT WHISTLE: thanks to this small DAC/AMP voices have more body and presence. Soundstage is not as wide as in Opus 1s. Audirect whistle will help a lot to reduce any hiss problems.


FALCON WITH IPHONE 6: my Iphone can drive quite easily C-Falcon with wide soundstage, but voices are too thin and lacks body, Plus with my iPhone i noticed more harshness on top-end frequencies.


BASS: 8.6

MIDS: 8.4

HIGHS: 8.5

FINAL RATING: 8.5

DUNU Falcon C Review: Carbon Nano Tunes
DUNU is an established brand on the audiophile block. Under its belt DUNU has some very well received IEMs, many of which set new standards of audio quality. Yet the hands of the R&D department at DUNU do not lay idle, as they have brought us something new an innovative: the Falcon C. It does away with the traditional DUNU approach to IEMs, sporting a “liquid metal” ergonomic shell, a brand new dynamic driver, and a set of upgraded MMCX connectors. These are some compelling marketing points, but do they translate into compelling buying factors?

You can find the DUNU Falcon C on sale on Penon Audio for $220 here.

Disclaimer: This unit was provided to me free of charge for review purposes. I am not affiliated with DUNU beyond this review. These words reflect my true, unaltered, opinion about the product.

Preference and Bias: Before reading a review, it is worth mentioning that there is no way for a reviewer to objectively pass judgment on the enjoy-ability of a product: such a thing is inherently subjective. Therefore, I find it necessary for you to read and understand what I take a natural liking to and how that might affect my rating of a product.

My ideal sound signature would be an extended sub-bass with a leveled, but textured, mid-bass. The mids should be slightly less pronounced than the treble, but still ahead of the bass. I prefer a more bright upper range.

Source: The Falcon C was powered like so:

HTC U11 -> USB-C adapter -> earphones

or

Hidizs AP100 3.5mm out -> FiiO A5 3.5mm out -> earphones

or

HiFiMAN SuperMini -> earphones

or

PC optical out -> HiFiMe SPDIF 9018 Sabre DAC 3.5mm out -> earphones

All music was served as MP3 @320Kbps or as FLAC.

Sound Signature
Initial Impressions:

The Falcon makes use of a single dynamic driver. Its diaphragm is made from carbon nano-tubes. This is a fairly novel material, and to my knowledge there aren’t too many other drivers like this out there. I loaded up my DAP plugged in the Falcon C, and from the very first song I heard through it I was thoroughly impressed. It has a bright, but full-bodied, sound signature with fast and natural attacks and decays. The Falcon C wowed me with its detail retrieval and sonic placement, immediately working its way up my “favorite dynamic IEM” list.

The treble is the most noticeable aspect of the Falcon C’s personality, followed closely by the bass. Just below the bass are the mids, which are fairly evenly represented, and have a natural timbre.

Treble: Songs used: In One Ear, Midnight City, Outlands, Satisfy

The treble extension on the Falcon C is nothing short of commendable. It does a very good job reaching far into the upper register and is tonally very even and measured, not coming across as overblown or too hot.

Treble is quick quick as well. This gifts the Falcon C a laudable textural range in the upper register. I am particularly impressed with the Falcon C’s recreation of high hats, modulated synths, and string instruments.

Speaking of high hats and speed, the separation of these instruments is among the best I’ve ever heard from a dynamic-driver IEM. You can really tell over the course of In One Ear.

That said, the Falcon C did exhibit minor sharpness. This only affected me on certain source configurations and only at higher volumes.

Mids: Songs used: Flagpole Sitta, Jacked Up, I Am The Highway, Dreams

I found that the Falcon C consistently maintained a near-perfect balance between a “neutral” and “fun” mid-range. While I can’t say it was perfectly reference, I can say that I never heard any strange coloration or uneven emphasis. In fact I found that guitars and pianos both sounded quite lifelike in my tests of live recordings, something my IEMs seldom achieve.

But the Falcon C’s mid-range excels in another way: it is neither too thick nor too flat: it is nearly completely transparent in timbre. I can’t praise this sonic approach enough. I don’t want to hear the preferences of the engineer who drew up my IEM, I want to hear the music I’m listening to.

Both male and female vocals were above-average in terms of intelligibility. The Falcon C weights male vocals well but has a preference for female vocals. They are portrayed with a kind of sweetness that just makes you want to turn the volume up!

Bass: Songs used: Moth, Gold Dust, In For The Kill (Skream Remix), War Pigs (Celldweller Remix)

Bass was my main concern with the Falcon C coming into this review. The bar was set pretty high for it by the outstanding Cappuccino Mk. II, but the Falcon C did not back down from the challenge. Bass response is definitely more metered, but it is not stingy or lacking.

Gold Dust’s drops were palpable, full of impact and had a really nice wetness to them that I often must forgo when listening to BA IEMs. While the bass doesn’t envelope you the way it might on a set of basshead headphones, I found the Falcon C to perform well enough to meet my preferences.

The Falcon C has almost the same amount of sub-bass as it does mid-bass, which makes for a really good visceral feeling when it reaches down into the 100Hz–50Hz range. It never bleeds over into the mids nor masks them and always retained a high level of solidity. A great bass performer all around.

Packaging / Unboxing

Build
Construction Quality


The Falcon C’s driver housings are made from a material that DUNU refers to as “liquid metal”. This is the same material that the uber-expensive IEMs made by Campfire Audio use. Really it’s just metal that has been injected into a mold, much like ABS is, but don’t tell them I told you that.


All marketing aside, this extrusive processes yeilds some pretty good looking, and solid feeling, IEM shells. The individual plates from which the driver housings are made are all immaculate and the panel separation gap puts the likes of RHA to shame.


You can also find some pretty huge vents on the inside face of the Falcon C. They’re made from a perforated polished metal that contrasts very well with the otherwise dark housings.


There’s a fairly long nozzle which is capped off by a durable debris filter made from the same material as the vents.


The MMCX connectors are completely flush with their portion of the shell and have no flex or mobility within it. The cables I have tested have all sealed very well to the Falcon C and have not have excessive amounts of rotation.


The Falcon C’s stock cable is durable and well constructed. It is made from four individually-insulated copper wires, each of which is coated in a black translucent plastic.


The MMCX connectors are placed inside a durable, 45 degree-angled, housing. Connected to that are the rubber earguides which seem to not be prone to any form of kinking (as I tried very hard to get it to rupture or deform). I’m actually quite happy with these are I find that they are usually the first part of my cable that goes bad.


The stock cable is terminated with a right-angled 3.5mm jack. It is housed in plastic with a red metallic circle placed just above the jack for stylistic purposes. There is ample stress relief so I’m not too concerned about the longevity of that connection.



The Falcon C has an optional balanced 2.5mm silver cable. It is well built and visually attractive. The silver cable caught a lot of eyes in the cafe where I often tested it.




The silver cable works well with my DAPs, and has caused me no problems. It definitely has a more premium feeling, as the Y-splitter and jack housing are both made from a well-finished metal, most likely aluminum.

Comfort

The Falcon C bucks the trend of previous DUNU flagships; it’s not an uncomfortable brute like many of its siblings. In fact, it is among some of the most comfortable metal earphones I’ve ever worn. Using the included Spinfits it almost completely disappears into my ears and was very comfortable during my extended listening sessions.

Accessories

DUNU equipped the Falcon C well with accessories. Inside the box you will find:

• 1x airline adapter
• 1x 1.4in jack adapter
• 3x pairs of silicone eartips
• 4x pairs of Spinfit eartips
• 3x pairs of extra solid-core silicone eartips
• 1x hard carrying case

The carrying case is quite good, if not a bit over-branded. Unlike some other cases where all I needed to do was strip off some plastic or some paint to get rid of a particularly aggressive branding scheme, DUNU actually pressed their logo into the metal. I would not have a problem with this if they hadn’t chosen to press their website’s URL into it too. That’s not cool, and I don’t want to pay over $200 for my IEM’s case to advertise someone else’s website. It’s just a tacky, you know?

Summary
The Falcon C makes use of some very cool technology and is among the very first IEMs to ever make use of a carbon nano-tube diaphragm. Given the novel nature of such a material, I am shocked as to how free from flaws the Falcon C is. For its solid construction, attractive design, excellent comfort, and impressive sonic performance, I give the Falcon C a hearty recommendation

Introduction:

Is it a Bird? Is it a Plane? Well, actually yes, it sort of is a bird – a falcon, more specifically the new DUNU Falcon-C dynamic driver in-ear that is supposed to be the company’s reasonably priced dynamic driver flagship.



DUNU’s Titan series in-ears are already really good products on the technical level and in terms of price-performance-ratio – so how will their latest creation fare in comparison? This is what this exact review will clarify.


Full disclosure:
I was given a free sample of the DUNU Falcon-C for the purpose of an honest, unbiased test and review without any restrictions or requirements, no matter how it would turn out, and have treated it exactly like I have treated all of the other in-ears that I personally possess.


Technical Specifications:

MSRP: $219
Drivers per Side: 1
Type of Driver: dynamic (carbon nano-tube, 9 mm)
Frequency Range: 10 Hz – 40 kHz
Impedance: 16 Ohms
Sensitivity: 108 dB (+/- 3 dB)
Cable Length: 1.2 m
Weight: 28 g


Delivery Content:

The eagle Falcon-C has landed!

The plastic-covered cardboard wrapper is designed in shiny silver-grey colour and contains some information about the in-ear and what it’s made of.

The actual packaging has got a magnetically attached lid, which will probably appear familiar to you if you’ve already owned several of DUNU’s in-ears, just like the Max Barsky promo on the inside of yonder lid that we’ve seen before as well.

Inside, one will find an airplane adapter, a 6.3 to 3.5 mm adapter, the in-ear itself, as well as four pairs of dark grey silicone tips with blue stem, three pairs of grey silicone tips, and last but not least four pairs of SpinFit tips.
No foam tips are included though, which I personally, as someone who doesn’t use or like foam tips with in-ears at all anyway, find a little sad given that the Falcon-C is DUNU’s most expensive dynamic driver in-ear to date.


Looks, Feels, Build Quality:

There seems to be a thing with Asian dynamic driver in-ears’ storage cases – just like the iBasso IT01’s, the Falcon-C’s is nicely bolstered and protective on the inside, however the lid on the unit I received fits a bit too loosely and might come off unintentionally.
In addition, I think that the metal used for DUNU’s tin box is just a bit too thin. Frankly, I fully prefer the Titan series’ plastic carrying case.



The included cable is of high quality – below the metallic y-splitter with rubber chin-slider, it consists of four twisted conductors wherefore you won’t find any solder joint in the y-splitter.
It’s a premium cable with good strain relief. It does have a bit of a slight rubbery-ness to it, however it is super flexible and soft. And its MMCX plugs are nicely tight and don’t rotate unintentionally.
Something I am quite happy about is that DUNU’s signature cable tie isn’t permanent but can be removed on the Falcon-C.



The Falcon-C itself is quite a stunner as well – its black amorphous metal coating (also known as liquid metal) shells are uniquely designed and, at least in my opinion, pretty beautiful. And when I first saw its design without knowing the final retail price, I genuinely thought that it would turn out to be a more expensive in-ear.
Build quality is excellent, and on the inside of the shells we can find a tiny front cavity vent as well as a larger and mesh-covered rear cavity vent of the single dynamic driver (in my opinion, the Falcon-C would have looked even nicer if that mesh grille covering the rear cavity vent was black instead of silver).


Comfort, Isolation:

Since the shells mostly lack any sharp edges or corners and are rather ergonomically designed, most people should get a good and comfortable fit with the Falcon-C, which is the case with my large ears anyway.

The cable has got pre-shaped ear guides that however don’t contain any memory wire, so they automatically adjust to one’s unique ear shape.
Wearing the Falcon-C with the cables down would be possible by swapping the sides and using a different cable without ear guides/memory wire if that is your thing and you prefer that style over the more professional, standard wearing style with the cables around the ears that improves fit and reduces microphonics, wherefore almost all stage musicians wear their monitors that way.

Noise isolation is rather average, probably a tad better, which was to be expected given DUNU’s latest dynamic driver in-ear is vented.


Sound:

My main sources for listening were the iBasso DX200 (AMP2 module) and HiFime 9018d.

At first, the ear tips that I used were the largest included grey silicone tips – the dark grey ones with blue stem just didn’t want to provide a nice and easy seal for my ear anatomy. Then and for all comparisons, I however switched over to the included SpinFit tips, even though I personally generally don’t like them, but in case of the DUNU they reduce the somewhat sharp treble edge a bit to my ears.

Frequency response measurements can be found here: […]

Spoiler

The measurements were performed with my Vibro Labs Veritas coupler.
Below is the information about the measurements with that coupler:

Please note that my measurements weren't recorded with professional equipment but with my Vibro Veritas coupler that was pseudo-calibrated to more or less match a real IEC 711 coupler’s response with applied diffuse-field target, hence the results shouldn’t be regarded as absolute values but rather as a rough visualisation.
Especially at 3, 6 and 9 kHz, there are sometimes greater deviations from professional plots – but for a general, rough comparison between various in-ears and a rough idea of how they sound, the results are sufficient, and in the mids and lows, they are even (very) accurate.


effect of included ear tips (yellow/untitled = included SpinFit)



effect of blocking the front cavity vent



vs other models

Tonality:

The Falcon-C’s sound is quite fit- and insertion depth-dependant – depending on fit and insertion depth, especially its treble output might vary rather noticeably. Especially the latter is affected quite a bit depending on individually different insertion depth, wherefore the in-ear might sound tendentially edgy and sharp in some ears and only moderately bright in others. In my ears and with my ear anatomy, the first is rather the case.

Depending on your individual ear anatomy, the small front cavity vent might remain either free (= a mild bass boost of ca. 5 dB compared to an in-ear that has a diffuse-field flat bass, such as the Etymotic ER4SR/S, would be the case then) or will be completely blocked. A sub-bass difference of ca. +6 dB (= a bass boost of ca. 11 dB in relation to an in-ear that has a diffuse-field flat bass, such as the Etymotic ER4SR/S) compared to a fully open vent would be the case with a blocked front vent, with the sub-bass being the strongest area – in my ears, the vent remains rather free, and what I am hearing is a boost of ca. 7 dB compared to an in-ear that is diffuse-field flat bass, such as the Etymotic ER4SR/S, and it mainly takes part in the upper and midbass, with the sub-bass being slightly behind in quantity but not lacking either.
This elevation stays nicely out of the vocal range and fundamental range wherefore the Falcon-C is no thick or full sounding in-ear, which is because the elevation starts climbing at 500 Hz and reaches its climax right below 100 Hz, wherefore it, as just mentioned, stays nicely out of the midrange.

Mids are, which is nice, on the flat and neutral side, although they aren’t the closest in the mix due to having lesser quantity compared to the bass and highs, but they also do not appear hollow or thin as it can be the case with in-ears that are on the brighter side in the highs. Yes, voices are rendered with correct timbre, as it is desired and expected from a higher-end in-ear, and the Falcon-C avoids the 3 kHz upper midrange glare/presence range forwardness that some of DUNU’s other models have – in fact, the in-ear is even very slightly relaxed here.

Not exactly the same is what I would say about the treble – it is generally on the brighter side, and while it isn’t really peaky, it can come across as a bit edgy due to a forward 6 kHz range, as well as emphasised 8 kHz, 12.5 kHz and 16 kHz, the latter two obviously being in a less important area (although that 12.5 kHz lift adds air and subtle super treble extension and glare to the sonic presentation). Of these, the 8 kHz lift is unproblematic, but the 6 kHz emphasis is a bit too pronounced and therefore introduces some sharpness.
While the sound isn’t exactly unpleasant, treble-sensitive people should certainly look elsewhere, and the treble presentation, especially cymbals, gains a slightly unnaturally metallic and somewhat sharp edge due to that elevation.

- - -

So all in all, one could say that the DUNU Falcon-C has got a brightness- and clarity-oriented, balanced v-shape, which is no surprise and kind of represents DUNU’s house sound, however its 6 kHz elevation can be a bit too strong and adds more edginess and a bit more unnaturalness to the treble (mainly cymbals) than how the sound should be and compared to what I would expect to find above $200. Reducing that 6 kHz lift leads to an audibly better treble timbre with still plenty of glare and splashiness, but clearly lessened edginess.
So the general tuning is done well for most parts, but that middle treble 6 kHz lift is just somewhat too much and almost twice as loud as it should be using the grey or blue stem silicone tips that come included. It works with some tracks, but most recordings with cymbals suffer a bit from an edgy/metallic hi-hat timbre that is not like this in real life.

However, there is one thing that improves the tonal tuning – treble realism becomes audibly better with the included SpinFit tips (that I actually generally don’t like much, but whatever, they work rather well with the Falcon-C) to my ears since they reduce the glare to some degree by reducing treble quantity a bit (but using them also leads to a bit more forward upper mids), but the 6 kHz range is still a bit too forward and not yet perfect with them, although noticeably tamed compared to the other included tips. Yes, I definitely recommend the Falcon-C with the included SpinFit tips when it comes to tonality since they reduce edginess in this case. It still sounds somewhat too strident though if there’s too much treble action going on at the same time, so those tips won’t cure the 6 kHz lift completely but will still tame it a bit.

Resolution:

The Falcon-C delivers just what you want from a technically capable dynamic driver in-ear at this price point – a pretty tight, clean and fast bass for dynamic driver standards, a detailed midrange with good speech intelligibility, a well-separated and detailed treble (unless you are really sensitive to highs, the DUNU can still pull off its emphasis due to the good treble resolution) and sharp, precise instrument separation.
Here’s not much to describe, the Falcon-C just delivers and doesn’t really show technical flaws.

There isn’t any area that really lacks behind the rest, and the details appear distributed quite evenly, and not much surprisingly for a single-driver in-ear, the Falcon-C sounds coherent.

Given that the Titan series in-ears however already performed exceptionally well for dynamic driver in-ears at their price point, the Falcon-C doesn’t have much room for further technical improvements and only appears slightly tighter in the lows in comparison and has got just a small edge in terms of midrange details – on the whole, their resolution is however quite similar.

Soundstage:

The imaginary room the Falcon-C presents is quite spacious and appears open – not fully as much as the Titan 1, but a bit more than the Titan 5 that was already really good in this regard.

So there is plenty of width that early exceeds the base between my ears, with some spatial depth as well, however the general soundstage seems rather oval than circular.

Instrument separation is precise and clean and just as good as on the Titan series in-ears while it doesn’t fully reach the level of good multi-BA in-ears.

---------

In Comparison with other In-Ears:

DUNU Titan 5:

The Titan 5’s sound, especially bass and warmth, will also depend on individual ear anatomy and by how much its vent is covered. I am one of those people who are lucky and get a good fit and seal with it, with rather covered but not fully blocked vents, hence the sound doesn’t lack bass or warmth and isn’t thin despite having bright highs.

Given how both in-ears are sitting in my ears, the Titan 5 is a bit more elevated in the bass, especially with the stronger sub-bass emphasis. It has also got a bit more body and warmth in the lower fundamental range as well to my ears.
High upper mids are more linear and neutral on the Falcon-C whereas they are a bit lifted on the Titan 5.
While the Titan 5 is actually brighter in the highs, its treble appears less edgy and slightly smoother in comparison to my ears.

Bass appears slightly tighter on the Falcon-C, which is likely due to the Titan 5 having more presence in the lower fundamental range. Speed and control are namely similarly good and neither of the in-ears has problems handling complex and fast bass lines.
Both resolve and separate equally well in the highs.
In the mids, both are rather close, but to my ears the Falcon-C is a notch above the Titan 5 when it comes to small midrange and vocal details.

Both have got a rather comparable soundstage to my ears with the Falcon-C’s sounding just slightly more open. Separation appears to be slightly cleaner on the Falcon-C.

- - -

The Falcon-C isn’t a revolution, which wasn’t really what I expected anyway given the Titan 5’s already really good basis. It is just tuned a bit more balanced in comparison, with slightly improved midrange resolution and instrument separation/spatial cleanness. It’s more like a small evolution than a revolution.

iBasso IT01:

The IT01 has got the stronger bass and sub-bass elevation, with the warmer lower fundamental range.
Midrange timbre is comparable with the IT01 having just a little more openness in the upper mids.
The IT01 is also a bit on the brighter side in the highs, however it is more linear here and therefore audibly somewhat more realistic in the middle treble in comparison, and it lacks the 6 kHz stridency the DUNU has.

Bass speed, tightness and control are equally good on both in-ears.
When it comes to minute midrange details, the DUNU is slightly ahead.
Treble separation on the other hand is a bit cleaner on the iBasso in comparison.

The DUNU has got the somewhat more open, wider soundstage while the IT01 has got a bit more spatial depth. In terms of separation and imaging, the IT01 is slightly more precise.

- - -

The point is: both in-ears deliver really high technical performance for dynamic driver in-ears at their respective price points and are quite close overall. The IT01 however ultimately wins when it comes to treble realism, since it’s also bright here, but not as strident.

Sennheiser IE 800:

The IE 800 is stronger and warmer in the bass than the Falcon-C, with the more pronounced sub-bass, and has got somewhat more forward lower fundamental range.
Midrange timbre is comparable between the two in-ears.
Where they differ though is the highs – the Falcon-C is bright and a bit splashy in the middle highs where the IE 800 is relaxed, whereas the Sennheiser is bright and splashy in the upper highs (and here, it is noticeably brighter and splashier – however not edgier, albeit splashier and less realistic with cymbals in terms of timbre; the Sennheiser has timbre “issues” in the upper highs around 9-ish kHz, whereas the DUNU in the middle highs around 6-ish kHz. Using the Titan-C with the included SpinFit tips, I would give the DUNU a little more points when it comes to treble realism).

The Sennheiser seems slightly softer in the bass in comparison, while having just a tad more control with fast and complex tracks.
In the mids and highs, the Sennheiser is minimally ahead when it comes to minute details, but the difference is that small that one can say “indeed, technically well-performing dynamic driver in-ears in the more ‘reasonable’ price range have definitely improved when it comes to price-performance-ratio in the past few years”.

The Sennheiser’s soundstage appears even a bit wider to my ears, however with less depth. Separation is quite similar.

- - -

The IE 800 is a technically well-performing dynamic driver in-ear – despite probably appearing a bit “dated” to some people, its technical delivery doesn’t get worse over the years and the development in dynamic driver in-ears isn’t improving either, let’s be honest and face it. However, we definitely do see several really well-performing in-ears popping up at price levels of $200 and even below that are very close to the IE 800’s performance – and the Falcon-C is one of those. While ultimately still being minimally behind the Sennheiser when it comes to minute midrange details, the DUNU comes with a removable cable that is of higher quality than the Sennheiser’s, and its treble, while definitely not perfect due to the 6 kHz lift, is overall a little less splashy than the IE 800’s.


Conclusion:

When it comes to price-performance-ratio for dynamic driver in-ears, DUNU’s Falcon-C simply delivers. It sounds detailed, tight, clean, controlled and fast, just like you want a great dynamic driver in-ear to perform. It is also spacious and nicely open sounding.



While it is definitely a technically convincing in-ear with great build and a unique, beautiful design, it doesn’t come without its unique flaws though – its 6 kHz elevation is, even with the included SpinFit tips, for example just a bit too strong and creates a treble timbre that isn’t perfect but rather strident, and something you probably don’t want in an in-ear costing more than $200, especially if you are treble-sensitive, and the included carrying/storage case isn’t as great as one would probably wish for an in-ear that is called dynamic driver flagship by the company.

I won't make this review really big, if you want more details about the box, unpack impressions and other stuff like that, there already are few really good and in-depth reviews, done by other head-fiers. I'll try to summarize most subjective things — audio and other personal impressions.
First of all, I'd like to thank Dunu for providing me a review sample in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

So, brief part: package and accessories set: really good. Nice box, lots of tips, great storage box. The only question is — why the hell Max Barskih on the inner part of the box? Did he once save Dunu's director favorite pet? I don't see other explanation.
Build and comfort. Hallelujah, at last Dunu found someone with regular ears to test earphones. DK-3001 was a big step in comfort's direction, but Falcon C is a salvation for all the pain we've got trying to fit DN-2002. Well, maybe I'm painting the devil blacker than he is.

Falcon C is made of "liquid metal" (marketing name for some really hard metal alloys) that gives them both durability and good sonic qualities. Previously, "liquid metal" was used by Campfire Audio, but now you can simultaneously enjoy both progress in the creation of materials and warm feeling of having your two kidneys in place.
IEM bodies are sleek, slim and fit into ears really nicely, providing above the average sound isolation (anyway, in planes or subways you'll need something even better isolating). Cable is replaceable, Dunu used regular MMCX connectors of good quality, they aren't too loose and aren't too firm. The cable itself is also nice, it's made of high purity silver plated copper, it's soft, nicely braided, has almost zero microphonic (thanks to soft earhooks near the connectors). It can tangle sometimes, but it won't take too much time to fix that. I will really miss that Dunu's ribber thing, used for winding that is used now widely by FiiO (did they bought all that rubber tongues from Dunu?), but cable's quality reduces my regrets almost to zero.
Oups, look like I didn't keep my promise to be brief… Well, let's move on to the sound part.

Probably I'll prove myself being Captain Obvious, but this IEMs are very tip dependent, so you'll need to spend some time, trying different options. I usually prefer SpinFits' comfort, but this time they won't be good enough for me sonically, so I've had to stick with regular single flange tips.
I gave Falcons about 72 hours of burn-in, but noticeable sound changes were only at the early beginning of this process.

The first thing you'll notice in this IEMs — it's the bass. Luckily, it's not because of its domination, but because of quality. Subjectively speaking, for me, it's the best lows in sub $500 range. It's perfectly balanced in terms of quantity, goes deep, has good control and combines both punch and weight with a small tilt towards the last one. Of course, Falcon C has great texturing and building melody's foundation. When necessary, lows are dominating with confidence, other times they stand in their place.
Mids are traditional for modern models with slightly V-shaped signature. They have a good level of detalization (for dynamic driver model), but not dives into thin and unnatural sound that some armatures offer. Upper mids are accented a little bit, from one hand it gives a great sense of presence to vocal, especially female, from another hand, this accent in rare cases makes upper mids sound too thin. The imaginary stage is pretty spacious, bigger than average in width and about average in depth, but with perfect layering and instruments separation, giving IEMs representation great sense of spaciousness.

Treble is elevated a little bit, so for treble-sensitive persons, this model can sound too bright, but for me, highs here don't cross the "too much" line. Treble has the good level of details, nice attacks and extended decays, so treble here sounds "reach" and effective. Of course, Falcons lacks treble layering of expensive TOTL IEMs, but for their price range, it's totally expectable. So, "for its price", highs here are really nice, not as great as lows, but anyway good.
The review won't be complete without few quick comparisons, so here they are.

MEEAudio Pinnacle P1 Actually, both models justify their names. Pinnacles are aimed to highs, offering an uncompromised treble extension, Falcons dive to lows, offering great bass. So, choosing between this two models are really straightforward.

iBasso IT03 Good hybrid model for those, who prefer more neutral and technical representation. If we'll skip ergonomics (some people have fit problems with IT03) and speak only about sound, Falcon C have more natural lows, and IT03 offers more resolving mids (it's BAs anyway).

Dunu DN-2002 And yet another case, when we'll pass on ergonomics comparison, as Falcon C will be the absolute winner in terms of comfort. Sonically, those two models are really different too. Dunu's Hybrid model makes the accent on mids, with a bit recessed bass and treble, while Falcon C vice-versa has lowered mids.
So, it's time for some conclusion. I've really liked this IEMs, and if you are a fan of good lows, I can really recommend you to pay a close attention to them. Also, I suppose that Dunu will release hybrid model with this driver for lows and few armatures for mud and treble, and that'll be a really TOTL model.

The DUNU Falcon-C and the new Carbon Nano-Tube Driver



Disclaimer:

First of all, a big thanks to Vivian from DUNU for providing me a free sample of the Falcon-C for this review. I am not affiliated with DUNU beyond this review and these words reflect my true, unaltered opinions about the product.

About DUNU:

DUNU was originally an OEM/ODM manufacturer established in 1994 and focuses on development, manufacture and marketing of professional earphone and ear bud products. DUNU’s manufacturing plant is located in Dong Guan City, Guangdong, China.

Official Website of DUNU (click here)

The Price:
The MSRP price for the DUNU Falcon-C can is around 219,00 USD.

Purchase Link


Package and Accessories:

The DUNU Falcon-C comes in a nice packed black paper box with a silver colored protective cover that shows the illustration of the IEM itself. This box contains the IEM itself and the following accessories;

• DUNU Falcon-C IEM
• 10 sets of Eartips
• 3.5mm Female to 6.5mm Male Adapter
• 3.5mm Female to 2-pin Flight Adapter
• Carry Box
• Shirt Clip
• Warrant Card & Manual

The DUNU branded black carrying box is made of metal (I think aluminum) and has a nice looking elegant design. Inside the box is a velvet coating that is a nice detail, because this coating will avoid any possible scratched to your IEM.



Cable:

The 4 braided and handcrafted stock cable of the DUNU Falcon-C is made of high purity Silver Plated Copper (SPC) and has MMCX connectors. The cable itself is very well made and the plastic coating is avoiding any microphonic effects.



The male and female MMCX connectors of the Falcon-C are the best MMCX connectors I've seen so far. It sits perfect like a 2pin connector and is not loose like on other IEM’s I have tested before. The right connector has a red marking while the left connector is completely black.




The cable has a gold plated, right angled 3.5mm TRS headphone plug that looks and feels very resistant. The memory wire is made of a shrink tube coating that is comfy.



There is also a Y-Splitter (made of metal) and Chin Slider (made of plastic), that are both in black color. The Y-splitter has the classic DUNU brand logo printed on them.



Design and Build Quality:

The Falcon-C is relative small and has a very ergonomic design. The housing is according to DUNU made of liquid metal. This liquid metal material and its non-grain boundary would 3 times stronger than stainless steel, which should give an excellent acoustic character that would retrains harmonic resonance to archive a firm and more coherent sound.

Indeed, the Falcon-C looks and feels rock solid and the black colored shell has a nice appearance.

There is a grill at the inner surface that has no effect to the sound and according to my experience it looks like only an aesthetic choice. There is also small bass vent near the nozzle of the monitor.



Fit, Comfort and Isolation:

The DUNU Falcon-C has an ergonomic design and is comfortable to wear. The fit and seal is relative good but not the best when I compare it to IEM’s with a semicustom design language like the HiFi Boy OS V3 or Ibasso IT03. The isolation of the Falcon-C is above average.



Technical Specifications:

Driver Type: 9mm Carbon Nano-tube Driver
Frequency Response: 10 – 40 KHz
Sound Pressure Level: 108+/-3dB
Impedance: 16 Ohm
Connector Type: MMCX Connectors
Cable Material: 6N Silver Plated Cooper Wire
Plug Size: 3.5mm Gold Plated
Chord Length: 1.2m
Weight: 28g


Drivability (Impedance):

The DUNU Falcon-C has an impedance of 16 ohm and is easy to drive. This makes it ideal for all type of portable Digital Audio Players (DAP’s). Even my Samsung Galaxy S8 could push the Falcon-C to very loud volume levels.



Sources:

Albums & tracks used for this review:

Alboran Trio’s – Cinque Lunghissimi Minuti (Tidal Hi-Fi)
Otto Liebert & Luna Negra – Up Close “Album” (DSF) – Binaural Recording
LP (Laura Pergolizzi) – Lost On You (Tidal HiFi)
Emmanuel Pahud (Claude Debussy) – Syrinx (Apple Music)
Melody Gardot – Who Will Comfort Me (Flac 16bit/44kHz)
Aretha Franklin – I Say a Little Prayer (Apple Music)
Bryan Adams – MTV Unplugged Version Album (Tidal Hi-Fi)
Queen – Greatest Hits Vol. II (Apple Music)
GoGo Penguin’s – Muration (Flac 16bit/44kHz)
Lazarus A.D. – The Onslaught (ALAC)
Opeth – Damnation (Tidal Hi-Fi)
Daft Punk – Get Lucky (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
Bro Safari, UFO! – Animal (Tidal Hi-Fi)
Lorde – Royals (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean (DSF)
Yosi Horikawa – Bubbles (Flac 16bit/44kHz)


In Ear Monitor : DUNU Falcon-C, HiFi BOY OS V3, Whizzer A15
DAP/DAC : Cayin N5II, Aune M2 Pro, Chord Mojo, Zishan Z2, Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus



Sound Analysis and Comparisons:

This DUNU Falcon-C review is written by me after an intensive burn-in process of 180 hours. The sound characteristic of the Falcon-C changes drastically with every tips selection that I will mention in this review. I have used the Spinfit silicone tips due this review that is a nice Bonus from DUNU to its consumers.

Sound Signature and Tonality:

DUNU Falcon-C is an IEM with a V-shaped sound signature. The tonality of the Falcon-C is on the warmer side due a slightly bass presence.



The frequencies:

One of the first things I have noticed about the frequency region of the DUNU Falcon-C, was the very well controlled bass that hits quite hard when called upon.

I hate IEM’s with to much boomy bass and a muffled presentation, luckily the Falcon-C is not one of this IEM’s. DUNU did a good job by tuning the lows of the Falcon-C relative balanced and not too dominant.

The sub-bass region around 20-50 kHz goes deep and rumbles with a nice and natural decay. The EDM song “Animal” of the group “Bro Safari, UFO! shows me, how deep the sub bass of an IEM can reach in to my ears and the Falcon-C does this job very well. Maybe bass heads won’t be satisfied with the bass amount, but this is a matter of personal preference.

The bass, especially around 60 – 220 kHz is capable of being very articulate and full sounding at the same time and it has also great texture without overpowering the whole sound spectrum.

The legendary performance of Bryan Adams – MTV Unplugged Album Version is a good reference Album for testing the bass guitar presentation of any IEM. The DUNU Falcon-C excels very well in this area with its overall smooth presentation.

Due the V-shaped sound signature, the Falcon-C has a little bit recessed midrange presentation. Don’t get me wrong, the vocal and instrument presentation of this IEM is quite detailed. Vocals, especially female vocals like Laura Pergolizzi (LP), Melody Gardot, Diana Krall etc. have a nice sense of emotion. I must admit, that the detail retrieval is really good for an IEM with a single dynamic driver.

Laura Pergolizzi’s life performance in the song “Lost On You” is a good example to shows us, that the DUNU Falcon-C performs very well with some Female Vocals and even with a soprano level voice.

Maybe some people will prefer an even more emotional vocal presentation, but this is also a matter of personal preference.

The upper midrange area of the Falcon-C had some sibilance and harshness problems at the very beginning (the first 20-30 hours), which almost completely disappeared after a burn-in period of 100-120 hours.

The Dunu Falcon-C has a relative bright sounding top end with some nice crispy treble and a quite good extension. My ears are quite sensitive to overpowered treble levels. The Falcon-C is bright but has not the sort of upper treble response that could fatigue your ears after some long listening periods.

For example: Emmanuel Pahud’s (Claude Debussy) – Syrinx side flute (transverse flute) performance has some nice sparkle and sounds quite realistic. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to say that the Falcon-C has the detail level of a Oriolus Forsteni (that nearly costs twice the price), but it performs very well, even better than some higher priced IEM's I have listened before.

Regarding to speed, the Falcon-C is not the fastest IEM with its 9mm single dynamic driver, but has enough speed to excel in some complex tracks like GoGo Penguin’s – Muration (an epic contrabass performance) or even Lazarus A.D.’s epic song “The Onslaught”.



Soundstage and Imaging:

The soundstage of the Falcon-C is relative wide and airy and the depth is above average. There is a nice sense of space in some instrument intensive tracks like GoGo Pengin’s – Fanfares or Lazarus A.D’s – The Onslaught that gives you a nice imaging of the performance itself.

Choosing the right tips:

The bass character of the Falcon-C is tips dependent. When I use the transparent gray tips the sub bass, especially the mid bass amount is more noticeable than these of blue tube tips. That means that the gray tip is adding an additional mid-bass hump.

But when I select the Spinfit tips, the bass rumble is strong like on the gray tips, but it adds additional clarity to the midrange that I have lost with the gray tips.

When I chose the blue tube tips, the sub- and mid-bass amount goes down, but the upper midrange and the top end is more present than before.




Some Comparisons:

Vs. Whizzer A15 Pro (125 USD):

As I mentioned in some of my previous reviews, the Whizzer A15 Pro is a fantastic IEM regarding to its price to performance in the categories build quality, accessory package and sound quality.

Design, Fit & Build Quality:
Both IEM’s have a great build quality and share a black metal housing. The main difference is the material they use; the A15 Pro has an aluminum housing while the Falcon-C is made of liquid metal that is according to DUNU 3 times stronger than steel.

The Falcon-C has the upper hand when it comes to fit and ergonomics. The shell of the A15Pro is small but not as comfy as the DUNU, that makes the Falcon-C to the better choice if you listen to music for long hours.

The sound:
When we compare both for the sound I can say that Falcon-C has a relative warmer tuning compared to the A15 Pro. The DUNU Falcon-C has also the better bass response; speed and decay than the relative neutral or better say, bass-shy A15 Pro.

The A15 Pro sounds more clinical at the midrange but is missing the emotion that the Falcon-C is presenting with male and especially female vocals. The Instrument separation is on par, or even slightly better on the A15 Pro. The Falcon-C and the A15 Pro have bright sounding top end and both are well controlled in this area. The DUNU Falcon-C has more upper treble sparkle.

The detail level of both IEM’s is good, but I like the DUNU’s presentation more because it sounds not as cold as the A15 Pro, that is otherwise a great performer.

The A15 Pro has a wider soundstage while the difference is not too much. But there is no doubt that the DUNU has the better depth and imaging.


Vs. HiFi BOY OS V3 (199 USD)

HiFi BOY is a relative new company in the Hi-Fi arena that has released its first IEM at the market these days, the OS V3.

Design, Fit & Build Quality:
The HiFi BOY OS V3 and the DUNU Falcon-C sharing different design languages. The OS V3 has a semicustom housing made of medical grade resin, while the Falcon-C has metal shell with a more industrial look.

Both are comfortable to wear but the overall isolation of the OS V3 is a step above of the Falcon-C. Both are well made, but the DUNU Falcon-C look more solid to my eyes due the metal construction. The DUNU has also the upper hand in accessory quality and quantity.

The sound:
The first noticeable difference about the Falcon-C is that it has more sub-bass quantity and extension than the OS V3. The sub bass goes lower and the bass of the Flacon-C hits harder when it called for. The bass the OS V3 is smoother and more linear than those of the Falcon-C.

The OS V3 and the Falcon-C have a V shaped sound signature, but the OS V3 has more forward vocals than the Falcon-C. The main difference between this two IEM’s is the midrange clarity. The Falcon-C sounds cleaner because of the upper midrange presence. The OS V3 sound a bit grainy, and not as live like as the Falcon-C.

When it comes to vocal presentation, I think that male vocals sounding more realistic with the OS V3, while female vocals soundings delicious with the Falcon-C. The detail level of both IEM’s is nearly identical and above there price league.

The DUNU Falcon-C has more treble presence and upper treble sparkle, which gives as result a brighter sound presentation then those of the OS V3. I think that the HiFi BOY OS V3 sounds more engaging on this frequency range, while the Falcon-C is more energetic and has additional micro detail.

The soundstage of both IEM’s is not monstrous, but they are performing very well for there price category. The HiFi BOY OS V3 has a slightly wider presentation, while the Falcon-C wins in depth and imaging. Both IEM’s have an airy and engaging presentation.


Conclusion:

The DUNU Falcon-C is a well build IEM with lots of accessories, which has a nice sound tuning that is suitable for many genres, from Pop to Jazz or even Metal music. But you should note that the single dynamic (Carbon Nano-Tube) driver needs time to show its true potential, so a burn-in of at least 150 Hours is a must have.

All-in all great job done DUNU!




Pros and Cons:

+ Genre friendly tuning & detailed sound
+ Solid build quality
+ Lot’s of accessories
+ Nice Stock Cable

- Needs lot of burn-in
- The upper midrange needs more presence

This review was originally posted on "Moonstar Reviews" :
https://moonstarreviews.net

The Falcon C comes in a metallic silver cardboard sleeve, which slides out to reveal a matte-black folding box secured by a magnetic latch. Upon opening the box, you are presented with the IEMs themselves and the metal carrying case. The metal carrying case itself is not very pocketable due to its height and rigidity, but is a nice addition included with the overall package. The convex aluminum surface is somewhat thin and compressible, pressing down on it will cause it to go flat and spring back once pressure is released. It is internally lined with a thin felt surface, and closes by a seemingly snap-lock system.

Within the metal case are the Falcon C's accessories. You get a 3.5mm to 6.3mm adapter, flight adapter, and a plethora of tips. There are 3 pairs (S/M/L) of the default blue-core 'bass' tips (medium bore), 3 pairs (S/M/L) translucent-grey 'clarity' tips (wider bore), and 4 pairs of (XS-L) Spinfit tips. The IEMs themselves also come with a pair of medium blue-core tips installed, so there are a total of 11 pairs of tips included in the box (impressive)!

The Dunu Falcon C is very well put together. It sports an attractive, dark and sleek design that looks great -- it is undoubtedly the first Dunu IEM that has caught my eye. The housing material is formed with 'liquid metal', perhaps similar to that of the Campfire Vega / Dorado / Lyra II line -- it is smooth and cool to the touch, feeling very premium regardless of its asking price. The housings are coated in a dark-grey shade, with a hint of metallic tinge beneath the surface. The metal shells are surprisingly hefty, but not to the point that they are noticeably heavy in the ear. I applaud the design of the Falcon C, as it is both pleasing to look at and comfortable to use.
The housing is ergonomically shaped, reminiscent of a curved and smoothed teardrop. Once I was able to find the correct tips, they fit very securely without any discomfort. The angled MMCX connectors are also a great help to this. The design sits flush with my ears, I would go as far as to say these are sleepable IEMs.

On the proximal side of the housing, there are a few visible seams that are apparent. They aren't rough or unrefined however, as the housings remain entirely comfortable. There is also a large driver venting, covered in a flat silver sheet with perforations. Left-right indicators are clearly legible and engraved into the surface.

The Falcon C's cable is a mixed bag for me. It is a good-looking cable, shaded in dark brown with the internal wiring subtly glimmering from beneath the sleeving. It is also soft and quiet, reducing cable noise to a bare minimum. The ~45 degree angled MMCX connectors are great for ergonomics and pair well with the housing design. However, it is not without its issues. The cable itself is fairly springy, it tends to create funky loops when dangling between your ears and DAP/phone pocket (it is caused by rotation / mild twisting of the cable). Additionally, the material has a 'sticky' rubber texture, tending to grab onto the things it touches -- specifically clothing and itself. When the cable has mild tangles or loops, you can't really run your fingers through the wire to sift out the kinks; with the Falcon C's stock cable, you have to pick the wire tangles apart carefully as the rubber tends to grip to itself.



The Falcon C is v-shaped in tonality, with excellent resolution and clarity. Lower midrange sits behind in the mix, creating a spacious and clear sound with above average imaging. Bass is enhanced with a favor towards midbass; upper midrange rises gently carrying momentum noticeably into the lower treble, which extends gently beyond into the upper treble.


The Falcon C's bass is one of its stronger assets. Subbass extends deep, though the lowest registers aren't as pronounced, still rumbling with authority. Midbass is impressively impactful and agile; speed is definitely above average, resulting in a relatively tight and technically apt presentation. Bass presentation will never come off as slow or syrupy. Bass is also fairly dynamic, it does not come off as one-noted or 'wooly' in texture like some other dynamic IEMs (an issue I felt to be present with the Pinnacle P1/X). In terms of quantity, the bass is undoubtedly lifted above neutral. Falcon C's bass quantity will likely please many low frequency lovers, but might not have enough for the most diehard bassheads.


Midrange is usually tricky to get right, as my ears are more sensitive to noticing quirks and mishaps in the mids. Being an overall v-shaped IEM, the Falcon C's lower midrange is slightly subdued in relation to its neighboring bass and upper midrange frequencies. Upper midrange is lifted gently with excellent texture and resolution, though may come off as slightly steely at times. Female vocals are stand out as airy and detailed in a track, while male vocals have a clear biting edge but less body. This trait presents itself as a double-edged sword, resulting in a slight occasional metallic timbre associated with vocals.

Update: After many many hours of using the Falcon C, and giving it a fair chance with tip rolling, the midrange sounds quite a bit more natural than I first remember. The artificial metallic timbre is less noticeable, though still present on certain tracks. Updated from 4.0 to 4.5 stars.


Falcon C's lower treble carries its momentum from the lifted upper midrange, with noticeable emphasis on its lower treble. For this reason alone, I would not recommend the Falcon C to those who are sensitive to treble; it really dances on the borderline to sibilance for me. However, it offers fantastic clarity throughout its treble presentation, without any noticeable or substantial dips / valleys. Resolution is nothing short of impressive, especially in its price bracket. Extension into the high frequencies is not lacking -- it presents itself with an above-average sense of spaciousness / airiness and sufficient sparkle.

The Dunu Falcon C is a beautifully designed universal IEM, sporting a v-shaped tonality (leaning towards bright) with excellent resolution and extension in both directions. Build quality feels premium in both quality and aesthetics, its metal shells coated in a dark matte-grey and detachable MMCX cables reassuring durability. Bass is impactful and quick, with fantastic treble detail and extension. Falcon C's Achilles heel is within its occasionally energetic upper midrange, lending itself to come off as unnatural. But for those looking for a premium IEM with impressive bass and treble performance in this price bracket, it becomes seriously hard to rival the Dunu Falcon C in its strengths.

Introduction

Dunu is a Chinese company established in 1994. They specialize in the production of in-ear monitors (IEMs) and earbuds. The Titan and DN series are very well-received. Dunu’s last product release was the DK-3001. Recently, they have released a new product in the Falcon-C. I would like to thank Dunu for the review unit of Falcon-C. At the moment, you can purchase the Falcon-C from https://penonaudio.com/dunu-falcon-c.html .



Specifications

• Driver: 9mm carbon nano-tube
• Frequency Response: 10-40kHz
• Sound Pressure Level: 108 +/- 3dB
• Impedance: 16 ohm

Unboxing & Accessories

The Falcon-C comes in a black package that has a silver protective cover. On the cover, there are the brand name, image of the iem, model name, description, high resolution audio logo and SpinFit logo. On the back of the cover, there are descriptions of the components in the package. After opening the package, you can see the iem and a carrying box. Inside the carrying case, there are 3 packs of silicone tips, flight adapter and headphone adapter. At the bottom of package, there are warranty card and instruction manual. There is no lacking in accessories.





IEM Build & Design

The Falcon-C is made of liquid metal and there is a smooth surface to it. On the faceplate of each side, there is the brand name printed on it. The shell has a nice gunmetal grey color. On the inside of the iem, there are L & R markings on the left and right side respectively. There is a vent near the marking for both sides and near the nozzle too. The nozzle is slightly angled with metal mesh. The iem utilizes customised enlarged MMCX plug to ensure stability as well as ensuring compatibility with other MMCX cables. The Falcon-C has an ergonomic design with a comfortable fit. The build quality is good.









Cable Build & Design

The cable has a 4 core braided design and it is made of silver plated copper (6N OCC). It has MMCX angled connectors. Each connector has an opaque black housing. There are L & R markings on the left and right side respectively. In addition, there is a black and red stripe on the left and right connector respectively for differentiation too. There is a memory wire section whereby the cable is being enclosed in a transparent heat-shrink tube. The chin slider and y-splitter are black in colour with the brand name printed on them. Lastly, the jack is 3.5mm gold plated right angled with strain relief.



Sound Analysis

Lows

The Falcon-C has moderate sub-bass quantity and it is extended with great depth. The sub-bass reproduction is delightful. The rumble is quick with a smooth touch. Each bass note is being articulated precisely. There is good tightness and control. Bass decay is pacey and there is a very engaging performance. There is good dynamics with sufficient punch. The mid-bass has moderate quantity to it and the slam is not hard hitting. Bass texture is moderately smooth. The bass does not have a visceral impact but it takes on a lively approach with clinical attack.

Mids

The midrange is slightly recessed. There is a good level of transparency with cleanliness. It does not operate in a thick and lush manner. The lower mids has a moderate amount of body and male vocals are being expressed in a pleasant way. The upper mids has great forwardness to it and it benefits female vocals. Female vocals are presented with intimacy and there is a strong engagement. There is finesse and the control on the vocals prevents it from being shouty. The details retrieval is excellent with good definition.

Highs

The treble has a great extension and it is bright. There is no sibilance and harshness. The Falcon-C is able to extend the treble to a certain extent and it showcases good technicality. The crisp is moderate with sparkle. This elevates the engagement. The amount of air rendered is good and gives a nicer airy presentation. The treble is expressed well with definition and it gives a detailed listening experience.

Soundstage

The soundstage has a rather natural expansion in its width. The magnitude is quite good and it gives an open feel to it. The depth has a moderate amount of space and it does not feel close in. Vocals and instruments positioning is precise. There is minimal congestion.



Comparisons

Dunu Falcon-C vs Mee Audio Pinnacle P1

The Falcon-C has more sub-bass than the P1 with a greater extension. Its sub-bass reproduction is able to deliver more kick and it is able to create an impactful performance. The mid-bass on the Falcon-C has more body with a stronger slam. Bass decay on the Falcon-C is more pacey and the agility helps to elevate the overall engagement. Bass texture on both is smooth. Each bass note on both is expressed with a clean hit but there is more authority with the Falcon-C. Rumble on the Falcon-C is quicker. The lower mids of the Falcon-C has more body than the P1 and it sounds fuller. Male vocals are better expressed on the Falcon-C. The upper mids on the Falcon-C is more forward and female vocals sound engaging. Details retrieval on both is similar. Moving on to the treble section, P1 has the edge for the crisp and sparkle. Falcon-C takes on a smoother approach. Treble on both is detailed. The amount of air rendered on the Falcon-C has a greater amount for an airier presentation. Lastly, the width on both has similar magnitude and P1 has the slightly better depth.

Dunu Falcon-C vs iBasso IT03

The Falcon-C has less sub-bass quantity than the IT03. The IT03 is able to extend its sub-bass deeper and there is more punch. The engagement level on the IT03 is higher. The mid-bass on the Falcon-C has slightly more quantity than the IT03 but the slam on the IT03 is more powerful. Bass decay on the IT03 is quicker but Falcon-C is not very far behind. The Falcon-C has a smoother bass texture. Each bass note on the IT03 is expressed with authority. The lower mids on the Falcon-C has more quantity and it is able to tackle male vocals better. The upper mids on both are quite forward but the Falcon-C has the edge with its finesse. Vocals are presented with more intimacy on the Falcon-C. The treble on the IT03 is slightly more extended with extra air and sparkle. On the other hand, the Falcon-C treble is less bright and there is control. Lastly, the Falcon-C has a more natural expansion while the magnitude for the IT03 is greater. The depth of IT03 is slightly better.

Dunu Falcon-C vs Hifiman RE800

The Falcon-C has more sub-bass quantity than the RE800 and the RE800 extends with a greater depth. There is a quicker rumble to the RE800 and decay is more pacey. Bass texture on the Falcon-C is smoother. The mid-bass on both has moderate quantity and the slam on the RE800 is expressed more cleanly. The lower mids of the Falcon-C has slightly more quantity with great texture. The upper mids of the RE800 has extra forwardness and it sounds cleaner with crisp. The midrange definition on the RE800 is better. The treble on both is well extended but the RE800 has the advantage with more air and sparkle rendered. The Falcon-C presents its treble with additional smoothness. The treble articulation on both is accurate and they demonstrate good details retrieval. The RE800 has slightly more technicality. Lastly, the Falcon-C expands it stage with a very realistic feel. The RE800 has the better magnitude and depth with more space rendered.

Conclusion

The Falcon-C is a bright v-shaped sounding iem with a lively sub-bass reproduction and clean extended treble. It is able to produce a detailed yet engaging sound. Moreover, it has a solid construction with a great cable to pair with it. The overall packaging is impressive with plenty of accessories. The Falcon-C is a wonderful product from Dunu.



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