Impressions - DUNU 2.5mm
Balanced Upgrade Cable (SHOCS2401)
Specifications
Wire: UP-OCC 7N Copper & OCC Silver
Cable: 4-core (24 AWG)
Plug: Japanese Oyaide 2.5mm TRRS - Also available in 3.5mm
TRRS and TRS
Length: 1.2m
Price: ~U$D 195
Design
Like any Dunu product, this upgrade cable has an excellent
build quality, finish and properly chosen materials. The balanced 2.5mm plug is
an original Oyaide plug of tough quality and yet compact and lightweight. It
has a strong connection to either the player or adapter in use. The y-split is
also metal (apparently aluminum) with the usual ‘Dunu’ writing on it. The cable
slider consists of a very simple short rubber tube; nothing premium looking,
but works fine. The upper part of the cable has fixed earguides made of long
heatshrink tubes tightly attached to the twisted cable. They have a strict
fixed over-ear fit, and while there’s no memory wire (unlike the stock cable of
the DK-3001), they are soft and easy to fit around the ears. The MMCX plug are
metal too, and as the cable is meant for the new DK-3001 in-ear, the connectors
feature the same special split that provides a very strong fit and connection
to the earpieces regardless the IEM used as long as it has MMCX standard sockets.
As for the main cable part, it consists of four wire cores which
are separated in two pairs; each pair tightly twisted, and then twisted again
to form the whole cable. The internal wire material is of good quality, mixing two
different type of wires OCC copper and silver 26AWG, making it a ‘hybrid’ cable
as well.
The outer covering is rather thick and very solid but behaves
very well when moving around. However, due the cable material (wire) it may
start to show some discoloration effect after a rather short period of regular
use. Probably a typical oxidation effect that doesn’t affect the sonic
performance or the ergonomics of the cable, but something that should be taking
in count for an aftermarket upgrade cable, at least at this price point.
The only thing that’d be lacking is the usual Dunu cable
wrap, which was always very useful when storing the earphones.
Sound Impressions
The cable was tested both with 2.5mm balanced output DAPs
like the Aune M1s and Lotoo PAW5000, and various other sources with 3.5mm
output using the extra adapter for 2.5mm to 3.5mm.
Main impressions are based on the own Dunu’s DK-3001, as this
cable is mainly made for this IEM model, and compared to the included stock
cables (both 3.5mm and 2.5mm). For further impressions the Dunu upgrade cable
was also tried with other IEM sets, and also compared with some aftermarket
cables.
Using the both cable wires, Copper and Silver (pure, not
silver-plated), the Dunu cable approaches to take advantage of the wires
characteristics. From other copper cables, the sound tends to be slightly
warmer and fuller on the lower end, with a smoother texture, while the silver
brings higher detail and effortlessness to the upper regions. This is not a
universal rule as the real results depend on the implementations and quality of
the materials, cable impedance, and obviously the source in use.
First of all, paired with the DK-3001 IEM, and on the single
mode (with extra adapter), there’re some hearable improvements on the overall
sound performance. The included cable on the DK-3001 is already of very good
quality, so differences may be less noticed. The signature and capabilities of
the DK-3001 are kept the same, though the sound gains better extension and more
natural timbre. There is also a little gain in bass presence with a better
rounded texture. Midrange is fuller, slightly warmer and richer too. The
tonality feels more natural and the sound is more effortless on the whole.
A similar effect was noticed with the Oriveti New Primacy (Triple Hybrid), where the sound was cleaner through the midrange
and fuller on the lows. Gain in the treble and overall detail is less obvious
as the Primacy has a smoother signature.
With multi-BA sets, like the popular Westone UM 20 and 30 Pro
and, much less known, the 3RM from 1216.ears (detail oriented 3-BA in-ear) they
gain a weightier bass and midrange response. Treble is more effortless on both,
though the smoother effect is more favorable to the brighter, reference tuned
3RM, whereas the both UM sounded too smooth for their ‘stage’ tuning.
However, as recommended by Dunu, the best performance is
obtained on the balanced mode. The Aune M1s balanced output has strong
improvements over its single-ended output, and the results with the Dunu
DK-3001 are impressive. The stage is much bigger with excellent extension. It
already has a wider effect, but the depth and height are even greater. Bass is
very resolving, tight, fast and dynamic. Better air and separation through the
midrange, with a more natural texture and improved tonality. With the stock
cable there is a minor more artificial timbre and less dynamics.
Compared to the recently released MEE Audio cable, also with
2.5mm balanced termination, the presentation of the sound is less colored and
smoother and a bit more laid-back overall; similar to other silver-plated
copper cables I’ve tried. Expectedly, the differences are easier to notice on
the balanced output. On the MeeAudio
cable the bass sounds less free and extended, mids a bit flatter and highs
calmer. With the Dunu cable brings a more airy and open sound with large stage;
especially with the DK-3001 where its more open design takes the advantage of
the balanced output.
Next to the Linum Super BAX G2 cable, with the Dunu cable (single
output 3.5mm only) sound is richer and fuller in texture and more energetic. On
the other hand, the Linum higher cable gives a much more neutral tonality,
where the bass is softer and midrange a tad cooler and leaner.
Lastly, against the more expensive the PlusSound X series,
and with also a similar hybrid wire type (copper + silver). The PS I have is
3.5mm single ended and does have the upper hand over the Dunu when used with
the adapter. However, on its balanced mode, the Dunu can hold its ground pretty
well vs. the twice priced PS hybrid wire. The PS is richer and stronger on the
lows, with a more sense of musicality trough the mids. The balanced Dunu has a
more open presentation and the greater right-left channel separation gives a
more surrounding feel. Again, not a fair comparison as I cannot test the
balanced capabilities of the PS option.