Dunu Titan 5 Review

I’ve been hearing some good things about the Dunu Titan 5.  So today, when a pair landed on my review desk, I was more than eager to tear into them and see what kind of sound they’re packing.  From the packaging to the design, it’s clear that these earphones have been thought-out.  But is the final product worth the $139 price tag?

Dunu Titan 5 Review

Beneath folds of cardboard and plastic, I find the Titan 5, as well as a carrying case, 1/4” stereo adapter, five extra pairs of ear tips, a cable clip, a hard-shell carrying case, and some literature on the earphones.

Holding it in my hands, it this headphone appears well made.  The cable, while not thick, still seems durable.  Even if it isn’t, the detachable design of the earpieces – relying on an MMCX connection – puts my mind at ease.

Perhaps a tad bit garish, the silver earpieces are perfectly fine once they’re in my ears – where the overall comfort takes hold and makes you forget you’re even wired up.  Maybe I’ll blame this on the slight angling, or the overall ergonomic fit, or those comfortable tips, but I have to give credit where credit is due – these are some comfortable little devils.

Specs

Frequency Range:  10-40,000 Hz
Impedance:  32 ohms
Sound Pressure Level (SPL):  108±2 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD):  NA

As we can see from the specs above, the frequency range offers a little more detail in the low end, and a considerable amount more in the high end.  The nominal impedance of 32 ohms is perfect for portable devices like a smartphone, or the FiiO X5 II that I used for this review.  Volume is decent, and while Dunu doesn’t put a number on the distortion for this model, I’d predict that it’s low – somewhere around <0.25% or <0.2%.

Low End

Detailed, but with a somewhat restrained bass, the low end of the Titan 5 is neither too relaxed nor too powerful.  Good control and contrast results in a clean, almost immaculate sound.

Mids

The midrange, in contrast, may play host to the slightest bit of compression.  While not a glaring concern, it’s still noticeable.  While instrumentation doesn’t seem to suffer from this flaw, male vocals do seem affected – sounding somewhat strained or squashed amidst the rest of the music.

High End

Here is where the real show begins.  With a plenty of detail in the high end, it’s  plain to see where this Dunu really shines.  Bright but never piercing or uncomfortable, the Titan 5 renders anything with strings almost perfectly.  Female vocals remain smooth, but the real spectacle is those strings.

Soundstage

Plenty of depth but only a rough sense of placement prevent the soundstage from being truly great.  However, the depth in and of itself will still impress many listeners, and further enhances those tracks that rely on stringed instruments.

Other Observations

The sound is mellow.   It’s a very different sound than what I usually get from a pair of headphones at this price.  To be entirely honest, they sound a lot like my Jays Q-Jays, but at less than half the price, they’re definitely the more budget-minded option.  The Jays have a similar relaxed-but-detailed sound that made them an excellent choice for my listening tastes.  The Dunu Titan 5 seems to be cut from the same cloth.

I’m also surprised about the comfort.  During any given listening session, there is usually at least one point where the earphones become unbearably uncomfortable or at least fall out of my ears.  Neither has happened yet with the Titan 5, and if it weren’t for the music that’s pumping out of them, I’d  be liable to forget I’m even wearing them.

Recommendations

For those seeking more bass, the older Beyerdynamic iDX 160 iE will offer a more intense low end.  Certain Audio Technica SolidBass models might also offer a similar experience.  However, neither the Beyerdynamic nor the Audio Technica models will offer the same level of build quality – with that highly-convenient MMCX connection.

Models from Shure and Westone might come close, but certainly can’t provide the same level of detail and build quality.  Really, though, the Titan 5 doesn’t have much competition – it’s a niche headphone with a niche sound.  Some folks are going to love it, and some folks are going to hate it.

Personally, I’m a fan of the sound, and I have to recommend it for anyone else who has longed for more detail from their earphones.  Those who are looking for an even more-detailed sound would do well to consider the Q-Jays, but again, these earphones cost twice as much as the Titan 5.

Final Analysis

The Dunu Titan 5 is an impressive earphone with plenty to offer the discerning listener.  While bassheads won’t be drinking the cool aid any time soon, the rest of us can revel in the detailed notes and ample soundstage –  made all the sweeter by a design that promises to hold up no matter how much abuse you put it through.

You can find these buds for the best price at:

Audio 46 (Use our promo code, “majorhifi” to get a 10% discount)