I bought this as a gift to my sister on her birthday. She lent it to me for a while so that I can test it to see how it is like.

Delivery:
I really have to applaud Lendmeurears for their wonderful service. Having bought from them before I am pretty impressed. Furthermore delivery was really quick, for my order arrived within two days (for I live in Singapore), to be honest I was expecting 3 to 4 days for handling and sorting in the delivery centre.

Packaging:
Reallyy beautiful and good looking packaging. Dunu is the best one I have seen so far for a China based company, but this comes close. From the package you can see the GR99 in its full glory along with a generous selection of tips.

Contents:
I have to say at this price range, the accessories provided are pretty substantial. 8 pairs of tips (including one on the unit itself), shirt clip and soft cloth bag. Do wish there are bi-flanges though.

Design:
I think this is a great looking in ear. Though looking like a typical straight barrel, the blue and red rings allow it to look great. At the same time, the design is well thought out. There are coloured rings for easy identification of left and right. Also, the raised part on the right allows one to identify left and right in the dark.

Microphonics:
Not very much to be honest. Shirt clip migh reduce it, and wearing it over the ear would eliminate it completely.

Build quality:
While fit and finish is good, there are lack of strain reliefs. Also the y-cord does seem to be a weak point.

Isolation:
Being a vented in ear (with a really large grille at the rear), do not expect it to isolate really well. Sure it would work pretty well on the bus, but probably not in much noisier places.

Sound:
Now on to the most important part. Reviewing from a general consumer's point of view, I used devices normally used by the general consumer, source being my phone, HTC Desire Z (aka T-mobile G2). Music used are typically Asian pop songs, in 320kbps MP3.

Starting with the bass, from inital impressions we can tell that the GR99 has a bass driven sound. Bass has good body and is impactful. It has good texture and a good amount of quantity and quality. Being a listener biased towards the middle to upper end, it might seem too bassy or even boomy, but to be honest, it is not enough to call it a truly basshead earphone.

Mids are slightly recessed, but are not clouded by the bass. It has good detail, and I think a general consumer will be pleased. Guitar riffs sounded brilliant on the GR99.

There is a bit of sparkle but treble is rolled off towards the upper end. There is no sibilance detected so it is hardly fatiguing at all.

Soundstage is slightly above average. Positioning and separation is good for its class.

Conclusion:
At 35SGD, this is good value for money, for good sound with looks to match. I believe this is the ideal for a consumer oriented earphone with consumer oriented sound and looks to match. This should be the earphone that comes into the minds of everyone instead of the counterfeit beats being seen so commonly in streets today.

This earphone is suited for the general consumer who is looking for the "wow" factor at a budget price. There are other options too like the Dunu Trident, but this will be my choice when it comes to the perfect combination of design and sound quality. It also makes a great and affordable gift for friends and family.

I am writing this in the perspective of the general consumer who does not use an amplifier and with mediocre sources such as the computer. Also, this review will try to cover as many genres as possible to show how the IEM covers each genre.
 
Packaging
 

 
The packaging is very professionally done. I think it really shows the class of the product. It gives the Ares a high class feel, and makes you feel it is worth much more than you paid for.

The outer cover slips out to reveal a black inner box with the word DUNU in front. This adds to the high class feel of the product.
 

 
The box is held closed with the use of magnets, which is quite cool, as it is easy to open. Opening up the packaging, you can see the Ares along with the with the glossy clamshell case. The presentation reminds me of a necklace in a jewelry box. The presentation is just high class from start to finish.
 
Underneath the plastic covering is where the other accessories are kept.
 
Accessories
 

 
What you first get is 7 pairs of tips. 1 of the tips is attached to the Ares itself. There are 3 pairs of narrow tips in S/M/L, another 3 pairs of wide tips, again in S/M/L. In addition, there is a pair of bi-flanges as well. Well, there are many tips included, which is good. However, sometimes I just wish that they have included a few pairs of foam tips as well.
 
In addition, there are 3 IEM cases inside as well. The first one is the glossy clamshell case. The glossy clamshell case is just beautiful. The second case is a faux leather drawstring case. This case reminds me of the faux leather case that comes with the Koss PortaPro, only smaller. The final case is a velvet case with magnetic metal buttons. This case is also pretty classy to me, though not as classy as the glossy clamshell case to me. I think three cases for one single IEM is a bit excessive, but for the price, quite good having three cases for your personal use.
 
Design
The first time I saw it in a picture, it really looked like a more rounded copy of the Monster Turbine Pro Gold. However, looking at it in person, the Ares really looks beautiful. It is made of metal and feels nicely polished, shining brightly under the lights. Red and blue rings in the middle of the Ares make it easy to identify left or right. It might be more difficult to identify in the dark, but who wears IEMs in the dark anyway?
 
The L/R splitter is made of metal, a departure from the plastic I see in many IEMs.
The cable slider is also made of metal, and flush with the splitter. I would say it is a really classy implementation by DUNU.
 
There is a cable tie between the splitter and the jack. This cable tie allows users to tie their Ares more neatly for storage without searching around for things to fasten them together. I feel this is a great innovation in DUNU’s part.
 
The 3.5mm jack at the end is angled at 45 degrees. I feel this design brings the best of both worlds from the straight 3.5mm and 90 degree 3.5mm jack, offering flush insertion of the IEM into some recessed earphone jacks while offering some of the compactness of the 90 degree jack. I like this implementation, but overall I still prefer Soundmagic’s implementation of the 90 degree jack.
 
Build quality
Build quality is excellent. There are hardly any loose parts, and the whole IEM itself looks solid. I am unsure whether the gold layer on the IEM itself will last, but overall I feel the Ares will be able withstand some abuse and last a few years.
 
Comfort and microphonics
The Ares is made of metal, so it feels heavier than most other IEMs. When wearing cord down, you can feel the weight of the metal pulling down the IEM, so it is not as comfortable. Microphonics are also there when worn cord down.

Wearing cord up, over the ear is much more comfortable. The weight of the IEM does not feel like it is pulling down the IEM anymore. Microphonics are almost gone when cord up. Personally I find cord up to be much more comfortable.
 
Isolation
Because this uses a Balanced Armature transducer, there are no visible vents around. This means that it should be more isolating than most dynamics around. Isolation is great, since the tips can be inserted quite deeply, but do not expect Etymotic-like isolation. My favorite tips would be bi-flanges since it gives me a better seal, especially when worn over the ears.
 
Sound
Now come the most important part, the sound of the Ares.
For testing, I would use a computer with integrated sound to show what a general user has to expect. The music used will be 320kbps MP3, FLAC or WAV.
 
The bass rolls off slightly at the extreme end. The bass is quick and punchy. Bass speed is faster than dynamics but slower than some armatures. Overall, it is not a bass heavy IEM for bassheads, but bass should be sufficient for most people.
 
The midrange offers good clarity and resolves a good amount of detail. Mids are slightly forward; however it is slightly less forward than the PL-30. It is slightly warm but less warm next to more bass heavy sets.
 
The treble also rolls off slightly at the extreme end. It is presented in a more laid back manner, not harsh and sibilant on most tracks.
 
Soundstage is about average, with good width and average depth, with some air. It works well with lighter tracks, but might become slightly congested on more dense tracks.
 
Now the sound of the Ares will be tested on various types of genres, mainly ballad-like slow songs, Asian Pop, American Pop, Rock, Metal, Contemporary R&B, Electronic, Trance, Classical and Country.
 
Ballad-like slow songs
Music used: Good Person by T-ara
It is not weird that I started with an Asian song, for I am Asian myself. This song is a mainly vocal song, with a sad piano progression as the main instrumental behind.
The slightly mid-forward signature allows the vocals to stand out quite well. The vocals are warm and have a good body to it. The instruments are a bit closer than a more mid-forward IEM, say a PL-50.
 
Asian Pop
Music used: Goodbye Baby by Miss A
This is a typical K-Pop song, but it is well-produced, thanks to Park Jin Young who also produced songs for American artistes such as Will Smith, Mase and Cassie. This song is mainly pop with rapping elements in between.
The mid-forward signature of the Ares allows vocals to be presented strongly. Bass in this song is quick and punchy, and does not have the rumble found in most dynamic based IEMs.
 
American Pop
Music used: Baby by Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber has a large share of both fans and anti-fans. However, I think this song would be a good gauge of a typical American Pop song today.
I think the mid-forward signature works well with his vocals, providing a good amount of body and clarity. The bass is quick and punchy, though I feel the bass is slightly slower than other armature based IEMs. Ludacris’ rap is great as well; the IEM makes his rap sound clear and quick. The instrumental is brought slightly forward as well.
 
Rock
Music used: The Pretender by Foo Fighters
This music has a good amount of guitar riffs and drum beats, coupled with a powerful voice. It should be a good gauge of how rock songs will perform on the Ares.
I would say Rock is not a strong suite for the Ares. The instruments are brought quite forward, a bit too forward to my liking I would say. There is also a problem of congestion, as the tracks become denser the Ares starts to become more congested. Otherwise, drum kicks are good and instrumentals provide a good amount of power.
 
Metal
Music used: The Only by Static X
This song is loud, coupled with heavy guitar riffs and solos, drum beats and synthesizers. I believe this to be a good gauge for a metal song.
Like rock, metal is also not a strong suite of the Ares. The mid-forward signature does bring out the vocals, but also brought forward the instrumentals. The problem of congestion is also seen here. However, like metal, drum kicks are still quite good and the guitar riffs do have a good amount of power to it.
 
Contemporary R&B
Music used: Confessions Part II by Usher
I think Usher’s voice is slick here, one of the best R&B voices I come to enjoy.
The voice is presented very smoothly and clearly, warm with a good amount of body. I think the sound signature works well with R&B songs like these. Instrumentals do not creep too far forward here. Bass is quick on impact, without affecting the smoothness of the mids.
 
Electronic
Music used: Kalimba by Mr Scruff
This is the sample music from Windows 7. This music has a good mix of electronic beats along with symphonic tunes.
This sounds good on the Ares. The symphonic tunes are warm and have good body, sounding full and powerful. The electronic parts are detailed and clear. Bass is quick and not too impactful or overbearing.
 
Trance
Music used: Urban Train by Tiesto
I think Tiesto is one of the best trance DJs in the early 2000s. Urban Train is one of the nice works by Tiesto.
The instrumentals have good amount of detail, sounding powerful. Instruments are slightly forward. Bass has some impact here but it is quick, though not as quick as the dynamics.
 
Classical
Music used: Symphony 40 in G Minor by Mozart
I think this piece is familiar to many, one of Mozart’s better known works.
The Ares work great on the Ares as well. The string instruments sound full and have a hint of warmness to it. The music is clear and detailed yet smooth. I would say the Ares does really well at Classical.
 
Country
Music used: Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus
Billy Ray Cyrus is one of the people who spread country music worldwide.
The Ares presents his voices smoothly. The drum kicks are great and the guitar riffs are not too overpowering.
 
Best with: Less congested genres like Ballads, Pop and Classical
Not so good with: More congested genres like Rock and Metal
 
Conclusion
While providing decent sound for its price, I believe there are other choices out there with better sound, like the Meelec A151. Much of its value lies in the packaging, the build quality and some of the innovations in the Ares. It is a good choice for people who would like a slightly warm mids with a good amount of clarity. The Ares are for you if you want a decent, slightly warm IEM with great build quality.

Packaging:
Packaging is nice... great for display. Opening the flap in the front shows the frequency of these IEMs, but not representative of what you would hear. I think the package should make a good gift for your loved ones.
 
Content:
7 pairs of tips... amazing at the price I bought it... 37SGD (about 31USD). A pair of earhooks, which are very useful for keeping the IEMs at the back of the ear. Hard case which really protects the IEMs from damage. The shirt clip attached to the IEM also prevents microphonics.
 
Design:
Really a small IEM, not like the exceedingly large Altec Lansing UHP336. The design is not the conventional straight barrel I usually see, but the over the ear design which I find it to be quite comfortable. the red and blue strain reliefs make it easy to identify left and right. The curves of the strain reliefs make it easy to wear the IEMs in the dark. To be honest, my only gripe is the bass knobs, which I feel will get loose with use.
 
Comfort:
It is the first time I wore an over-the-ear IEM. At first I am not used to wearing it, but after a while it became more comfortable. Sometimes I don't even feel it inside my ear. It also seldom fall out of the ear.
 
Isolation:
I use bi-flanges provided to obtain a better seal and block out greater outside noise. Isolation is not very great, but should be sufficient most of the time.
 
Sound:
Sound is just great for the price. Very different from the mainstream offerings, which usually has very (I mean very) heavy bass and recessed mids and highs.
 
Bass is tight and punchy, not boomy like mainstream sets. The bass they brought out is just sufficient. The knob at the side of the IEM adjusts the bass, with one being the clear bass setting and one being the deep bass setting. Adjusting to the deep bass setting makes the sound slightly warmer, which is the way I liked it.
 
If I were to say what is the best thing about the sound of the PL-30, I would say it is the mids. The mids are slightly forward, giving more prominence to the vocals. I like how the way the vocals are put out. The voices are warm (especially on deep bass setting) and full-bodied.
 
Treble is not sibilant or anything, lacking sparkle. It feel it is more laid back. The treble does not sound harsh at all.
 
Soundstage is just, wide. I like the soundstage, it does not make you feel like the song is playing in your head. It is more headphone like, but closer. The soundstage is also quite airy as well. I think it has one of the best soundstage for an IEM below 100SGD
 
Conclusion:
A great IEM for the price. Good amount of accessories, great egronomics and great sound and soundstage to match. I would say those who like a more balanced sound should look at this. People who like a neutral sound that is slightly warm can take a look at this too.

Went to buy them at the suggestion of my friends. I could not believe how long this headphone was produced, 24 years and counting!
 
Would like to talk about the design first. Having a retro style look, it sure looks ugly to me at first, but I loved it when I saw it in person. Perhaps it might turn a few heads around when you wear it outside, but well, who cares? The folding mechanism is quite cool and makes the PortaPro a really portable headphone.
 
Comfort is amazing, the ComfortZone pads take away pressure from the ears and allow me to wear it hours at a time. The pad is adjustable to different levels of comfort and the headband is adjustable as well. However, my hair catches on the clips easily, which can be slightly irritating.
 
The sound was great. Bass is very punchy and extends quite deep down the frequency curve. Mids are not overwhelmed by the bass and can stand up on its own. Treble is not sibilant but lacks sparkle. The soundstage is amazing, very immersive. When used in games it provides a very immersive feeling as well.
 
My friends are all impressed with these headphones and are considering to purchase one as well. Apparently the sound signature fits the general listeners out there and also the comfort is amazing for an open headphone.

I bought this because it was cheap at that point of time, and I am interested in trying out a balanced armature IEM.
 
Initially, wearing was difficult, and it took quite a while for me to get a proper fitting. Once I got a good fitting, I was blown by the sound. The lows are impactful, more so than the PL-30 I had, while maintaining tightness and accuracy. The mids flow smoothly and carried the voice of the singers really well. The treble is nice and crisp, with almost no sibilance at all.
 
However, all was not to be, as my UHP336 broke a day later. I heard similar cases of my friends' UHP336 IEMs breaking as well. I wish I was able to exchange this for a new one, but unfortunately it had reached its end of life and so I am unable to exchange for it anymore.