ZETTAI AUDIO: DUNU DK-3001 Pro

Review – DUNU DK-3001 Pro

Specifications

Driver(s):
Bass: 13 mm Dynamic Driver with Dual-Sided Beryllium Coating
Mids/Highs: Custom-Spec Knowles Balanced Armature Drivers
Ultra highs: Custom-Spec Knowles Dual Balanced Armature Driver
Frequency response: 5 Hz - 40 kHz
Sensitivity: 112 ± 2 dB
THD: < 0.5% @ 1 kHz
Weight: 16g
Housing material: 316 Stainless Steel CNC Machined
Wire: High-Purity (OCC) Copper
Cable length: 1.2 mm
Cable connector: Patented Catch-Hold® MMCX Connector
Plug connector: Patented DUNU Quick-Switch Modular Plug System

Price: U$469.

The box presentation is very impressive. A larger box than any of the previous Dunu earphones with everything properly organized. The upper layer holds the DK-3001 Pro earphones along with the four available plugs. Underneath are the leather green colored case, 3 pairs of Spinfit CP360 tips, a 6.3mm adapter, a brush and a small box with extra tips, airplane adapter and silicone rings to act as ‘spacers’ for the nozzle when trying different tips. The leather case is nice if a bit flashy and has enough space to hold the earphones with an extra inner elastic pocket. It is not the most compact case to carry around, larger than a regular wallet, but nonetheless is of good quality.

Design

The DK-3001 Pro follows the similar design introduced with the original 3001 and same tough build quality. With the DN-2002 the stainless steel material upgraded to 316F and was also used on the 3001. I don’t know how impressive and better can the much pricier DK-4001 be, but as any Dunu product build quality here is as always top notch. The steel material is thick and super solid, and also heavy for such small earphones. ‘Liquid metal’ of the Falcon-C was lighter, but for their own reasons they decided not to use them here again. The general shape and size of the earpieces may maintains the DK-3001 model, but like on the DK-4001 it has been improved to a smoother more rounded finish, fixing some obvious comfort issues. Inside the metal shells are five drivers, a hybrid setup of a large 13mm dynamic beryllium driver for low frequencies and 4 Knowles balanced armature drivers, apparently specifically customized for the Dunu tuning, a dual BA driver for mids and highs, and a smaller tweeter dual BA for ultra-highs. All packed in a compact shell.

Nozzle has been noticeable improved. It is longer but also wider, and more importantly, adds a lip to hold the ear tips properly. It provides a deeper, more secure fit. There are two vents, one on the inner side and the other on the outer. From the included ear tips selection the gray tips fit very easy along the whole nozzle length. The single red-core tips are more generic ones and are much tighter to fit on the nozzle. The Spinfit are the CP360 model, which were designed primarily for True-wireless earphones, so quite surprising they are included for the DK-3001 Pro which have a much wider nozzle when the CP100 and CP145 fit better.

The more rounded finish was done mainly on the inner side of the earpieces smoothing all the previous sharp edges on the DK3001. As result, the ‘Pro’ is noticeable more comfortable than the 2002 and 3001 – still not as great as the Falcon-C, and really wished they could implement a more ergonomic design. Isolation hasn’t improved and is about average or below with any of the silicone ear tips.

The cable is a whole innovation for Dunu. It is a 4-core OCC copper wire in a thin and soft shiny outer jacket. It is quite better and refined than the own Dunu previous ‘upgrade’ cables. It is lightweight and very soft and looks nice too combined with the all black matte painted housings. The lower part is softly braided with the four wires, while the upper half right and left sides are twisted. There are thin heatshrunk tubes attached at the end of the cable to give a more natural over-ear wearing.

The main feature of the cable here is the modular plug system, “Quick switching connector” as Dunu may call it. It is not own Dunu idea actually as we’ve seen it on the Dita Audio cables, but Dunu have implemented it in their own design. The main connector has four pins inside which connect to any of the audio plugs, and so you won’t need any extra adapter all the cables plugs are included, standard 3.5mm, and 3 balanced 3.5mm, 2.5mm and 4.4mm (Okay, maybe are missing the more dedicated XLR pin cables, but that is too much to ask). On the shells side, the cable uses MMCX connectors with the same 4-split design as the DK-3001 cables that provide a more solid connection and are also difficult to detach – now officially called ‘Catch-Hold’ if you prefer. The y-split and all plugs are well protected with aluminum gunmetal covers.

Sound Quality

Sources: iBasso DX220 & AMP9, DX160; HiBy R6 Pro & R5; Shanling M5s; FiiO M6 & M5; Oriolus BA300s.

The sound on the DK-3001 Pro is very different than the previous hybrids of Dunu (DK-4001 aside), from the DN-1000 up to the original DK-3001. Each newer model proved to be differently tuned offering certain improvements, but all of them (and could include the single CNT Falcon-C) presented a lively, more or less v-shaped sound. Taking the first DK-3001 as reference then the ‘Pro’ is more an opposite kind of sound rather than an ‘upgrade’ tag may suggest. In fact, naming this as 3001 is misleading if we consider it stands for the 3BA + 1D setup, when the 3001 Pro is a 4BA + 1D like the 4001 pricier model.

Anyway, the DK-3001 Pro is another example that Dunu can well implement both driver techs into a coherent and harmonic sounding single earphone. ‘Balanced’ may not be the first word that would describe the sound here. Instead, the 3001 Pro is tuned for a more midrange-centered signature with good amount of lows and highs to maintain a good overall balance, just not highlighted as in v-shaped earphones. So far it is the most natural sounding earphone from Dunu.

The dynamic driver used for lows gives more quality over quantity. The bass is certainly more than neutral but does not have that common mid-bass lift that any of the other Dunu IEMs had or other mid-tier competitors. It is still not lacking in body or texture because it has a warm tilt that gives enough fullness and weight to notes. The sub-bass has fair extension but it is even behind the mid-bass in quantity and impact; kind of unexpected considering the hybrid drivers’ setup and even a large 13mm dynamic driver. The control is very good and the lower power helps for more accuracy and layering, though is a bit dense with average speed. It may sound less ‘fun’ but then also very clean, and in exchange it is more versatile when pairing with different sources.

Midrange is the main attraction of the DK-3001 Pro, and of the most balanced at this price. It is forward and very rich, not too thick and just a bit colored. There is no bass bleed just some sense of warmth, remaining very clear and articulated. Very equally weighted from low mids to upper the range. Instruments have mostly a neutral positioning, while vocals tend to stand out more forward taking more attention; they have sweet texture with emotion. It is not the totally smooth or liquid midrange, there is some sibilance, yet offers a very natural timbre and coherence around this price tag.

Treble continues the same forwardness from the upper mids, being focused on the lower-treble region and then smoothing down towards the upper range – it well mirrors the bass presentation where the mid-bass is more pronounced and sub-bass more reserved. The DK-3001 Pro is not a bright earphone per se like the IT04, qdc Fusion, RE-2000 or the own Dunu Falcon, and so is more forgiving, relaxed and less splashy. Treble quality, on the other hand, is really good – it has very natural texture for balanced armature units and good layering and treble dynamics. Extension is still limited but is quite open and effortless.

Soundstage is decent just a bit more than average. Width and depth are equal but do not extend very far, missing the out of head feel. It still is airy and detailed, but considering the more open-design IEM of the shells I was expecting a greater staging than the original 3001 if called a ‘Pro’ version and the long ~3 years from its release. Going balanced in either 2.5mm or 4.4mm mode helps a little bit in extension but soundstage does not improve that much. Even out of the DX220 it still feels limited, and while something like the Oriolus BA300s tube amp can help a bit more, the changes are not that significant to justify carrying the extra amplifier.

Comparisons

DK-3001 (3BA & 1D)

The original non-Pro version is more lively, v-shaped sounding. Bass is much greater, especially in the mid-bass being more forward and powerful, thicker in texture and less tight, but then has more of a ‘fun’ factor. Midrange is more distant, thinner, and not as balanced and coherent, with less body in the low-mid and highlighting the upper-mid. Treble is brighter, more energetic but can show a touch of sibilance than the ‘Pro’ which has a better and natural treble quality.

iBasso IT04 (3BA & 1D)

Like the above DK-3001 the IT04 is also v-shaped, but differently presented and differs from the 3001 Pro even more. It is warmer and much greater in bass quantities, but also more balanced between sub and mid bass, more bodied and has greater extension. The IT04 is thicker on low-midrange, more weighted and dense for instruments and more body for male vocals, while upper-midrange is cooler. Treble quality is close, though the IT04 has more treble energy and is more even through the whole upper range. DK3001 Pro still stands out in more natural treble timbre. Soundstage is a win for IT04. It is wide and deeper, more extended and can really shine when using on balanced output.

qdc Fusion (4BA & 1D)

The Fusion is also a hybrid 5-drivers model. Drivers’ size and type are different on the Fusion but both have 2 BA for mids, 2 for highs (3001 Pro is actually a 2BA mid/high and 2BA for ultra-high) and a dedicated dynamic for lows. Both IEMs have very even sound from bass, midrange and treble but differ in their tonality and texture. The DK-3001 Pro is thick and smoother, whereas the Fusion is linear and cleaner. Fusion is more extended in the bass, very effortless and very dynamic, where the 3001 Pro is more focused on the mid-bass; not too much in quantities, especially if compared to the above IT04, but it is slower and more dense. Bass speed is also higher on the Fusion. Midrange balance is similar, although the DK-3001 Pro can be more vocal centered with its sweeter texture. Treble in the Fusion is brighter and a bit sharp. Soundstage is similar in width, but Fusion has more depth, with more air and 3D presentation.

final B1 (1BA & 1D)

The B1 is something between the DK-3001 and 3001 Pro. The B1 has greater bass than the 3001 Pro, but less than the original 3001. Bass extension is a bit better on the B1 despite a smaller dynamic driver (6.4mm vs 13mm). Midrange is very similar too, though the B1 is thicker and richer but a bit less forward, being more balanced with bass and treble. Like the 3001 Pro, the B1 gives good texture to vocals, even sweeter. The B1 has more treble quantity and also can show more sibilance. Soundstage is very close on both earphones, if just the B1 a bit wider, although the DK-3001 Pro has a more impressive natural treble. The Dunu has the better value for $100~200 less than the B1 and arrives in a very complete package.