Have you heard the DUNU DK-3001 Hybrid 4 Way In-Ear? – Headphone Review

So far 2017 is turning out to be quite a year for in-ear headphones. Some of the top dogs like Audio Technica and Sennheiser have already revealed some brand new ground breaking IEMs and many new manufacturers are pulling out the stops with some great new headphones. Dunu is one of those companies that have impressed audiophiles with their exclusive selection of in-ear headphones and one of the latest is the Dunu DK-3001 In-Ear Headphone with triple balanced armatures. But with a price point of under $500 is the DK-3001 worth the scratch?

DUNU DK-3001 Hybrid 4-Way Earphone Review

IN THE BOX

You get a lot with the Dunu DK-3001. From eartips to cables and case you’re totally covered for everything you could possibly need to make this a perfectly fitting IEM with extras included. Here’s a list of everything you get.

1 set of Dunu DK-3001 earphones
2 detachable MMCX cables with 3.5mm connector
1 hard case for storage and transporting
4 sets of SpinFit eartips
1 set of Comply medium foam eartips
6 sets of standard silicone eartips
1 shirt clip
1 airplane adapter
1 1/8″ to 1/4″ adapter

Design / Style / Durability

The design of the Dunu DK-3001 in-ear headphone is solid. From earphone to wire, the DK-3001 feels like a product that will last a long time. The over-ear MMCX cable is easy to mold into the perfect position and is much more ergonomic than other brands that I’ve tried. The stainless steel housing is light years above the precarious and breakable plastic housings from some other top brands. Overall the DK-3001 in-ear headphone is a strong earphone made with quality materials that won’t disappoint.

SOUND

The main feature of the Dunu DK-3001 is the hybrid driver technology. Dunu has combined both balanced armature and dynamic drivers in order to master both the low and high frequencies. This is because dynamic drivers tend to handle low frequencies best and balanced armatures are exceptional at mids and highs. Each earphone contains 3 balanced armatures for the mids and high frequencies and 1 (13mm) dynamic driver to push the bass frequencies.

The Dunu DK-3001 earphone claims a frequency range of 15Hz to 40kHz at 13 Ohms. For the most part this spec feels pretty accurate. The bass kicks in the 100Hz to 250Hz and sub-bass frequencies were there but not overpowering the rest of the music. However, I found that mids are where the Dunu DK-3001 earphone shines. As for the clarity of the 250Hz – 4kHz… it’s stunning. Sometimes headphone manufacturers get a little to ambitious in trying to improve the bass or high frequencies that the mids suffer and get lost in the mix. That’s definitely not the case here. And the high frequencies are pretty spectacular. The 4kHz to about 30kHz are clear and present. Although I didn’t get a sense of frequencies above that I honestly wasn’t missing it. Most headphones that claim frequencies up to the 40kHz range tend to be boosted a little to much on the high-end for me so it was nice to listen to an earphone that has a rather flat frequency response.

Sound pressure levels were great. The 13 Ohm impedance opened this earphone up for premium volume even from a low output device like a smartphone. According to the specifications it can push up to 110dB. That sounds about right. I definitely didn’t feel the urge to grab an amplifier.

SUMMARY

In review of the Dunu DK-3001 in-ear headphone I’m surprised and impressed with this relatively unknown brand. From the durability of the earphone itself to the features and included accessories this IEM is a home-run. The hybrid combination of dynamic and balanced drivers make the Dunu DK-3001 an interesting an possibly ground-breaking in-ear headphone that pack a serious punch in just the right places sonically. At just under $500 the DK-3001 is sure to be serious competition for some of the top brands because it’s equal in durability and costs less than many high end models with similar specs. You can find grab these headphones at the best price when you use discount code “majorhifi” at checkout on Audio46. These earphones are also available at a competitive price from authorized retailers on Amazon.

SPECIFICATIONS

Drivers Dynamic(13mm)*1
Balanced Armature*3
Frequency range 5 Hz-40 KHz
Impedance 13Ω
Sensitivity 110±2dB
Connections 3.5mm Gold-plated
Cable 1.2m
Weight 31g