Introduction
 
JVC is a company of inventors. They are well known for unique audio technologies like a speaker made of carbon  implemented on JVC HA-FXC51 and the first vertical dual-dynamic drivers planted on the HA-FXT90, which I happen to own.
 
I love the FXT90 for its aggressive and upfront sound. However at the same the FXT90 can be fatiguing after a while and I wished the FXT90 successor could be smoother and pump more bass. Then enter the FXZ100/200, the world's first TRIPLE dynamic drivers earphone. It is basically an FXT90 hooked with a third driver, a kelton sub-woofer, in the rear.  Its initial release shook up the audio community back in 2013; however now, no one has really talked about it. It did not gain much popularity as I would expect and no audio companies have followed JVC's technology either.  As an earphone collector and enthusiast,  I am eager to discover what the triple-dynamics-driver technology would offer!
 

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The Sound
 

 
I chose the JVC HA-FXZ200 and I am impressed with its performance. In fact, It is the sound signature I wish its predecessor, FXT90, could be. Though the FXZ200 has a big woofer on the back of the earphone, FXZ200 does not sound like a "bass-head" monster - I consider it more as an "audiophile" bass-head grade earphone that leans toward balanced yet warmish signature.

The FXZ200 signature completely differs to its predecessor. While the FXT90 is energetic, edgy and intimate, the FXZ200 is warm, smooth, and bassy earphone with wider soundstage and good spatial location.
 

 
Note on source:
I use mainly on Sansa Clip Sport at this time because my Clip Zip has dying out and its buttons become less responsive - yet the Zip has been discontinued long time ago. I also use JVC's spiral dots tips for better seal and comfort as the spiral dots are firmer than the stock tips. Furthermore I do not use any equalizer and the volume is set on "normal" setting. The earphone had been burned for 40-50 hours with bassdrive archive and I found the bass tightened up and overall sound became more balanced and less veiled.
 
The FXZ200 is the least sensitive earphone I have and needs twice or triple more volume than others to sound best.  This review took four months to make as I spent greater length comparing the FXZ200 to other earphones in order to assess its sound signature in general. Furthermore please take my words with a grain of salt.

Songs I listened and enjoyed with FXZ200 - you're welcome to try these and hope you'll like it!

 

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Bass

At first I thought the rear woofer would exaggerate mid-bass boost, but I was wrong - I find the bass of FXZ200 sounds rather special. It is deep, deliciously textured, and elevated while retaining its tightness. It offers great bass details without being overwhelmingly boomy nor interfering the other spectrums. The bass is so well separated it makes bass guitar and bass drum sound more fleshed out and full-bodied without decaying too slow, which I like to hear from metal / rock songs. The FXZ200 lays rich bass foundation on Dream Theater's live concert to convey extravagant performance. John Myung's bass plucks and notes are easily evident in Dream Theater's The Great Debate. The FXZ200 is capable of delivering clean and punchy beats without drowning the vocals in F.I.L.O by Nujabes 
 
Overall FXZ200 gives plenty bass that would satisfy general listener without turning up the volume nor adjusting an equalizer to "feel the bass". However bass-heads would not find a skull-crushing or teeth-rattling bass either.
 
Midrange

The midrange can be said as being neutral - the FXZ200 does not have a recessed nor thin-sounding midrange like its previous lineups, where all have strong emphasis on either treble or bass, or both. Instead it has smooth, warm tonality, and sweet sounding vocals presented in Superfly's Kagayaku Tsuki No Yo Ni and Nirgilis's Dreaming Shout - this characteristic reminds me of the Westone's W4 signature. The FXZ200 easily delivers natural and clear vocals without any sharpness or unevenness.
 
The FXZ200 midrange is similar to the FXT90 where instruments have more presence than vocals. Vocals are placed at a distance from a listener to convey more realistic stage performance - imagine if you were sitting in the farther seat from the stage. Furthermore its tonality strikes a good balance of being thick and thin notes - this is unlike in other JVC's lineups where female vocalists may sound too pitchy or shouty while male vocalists sound veiled or too distant. I find the midrange is FXZ200 another strength because it is refined and offers enjoyable full sound that eventually gives euphonic feeling.
 
Treble

Moving up to the treble, the FXZ200 again maintains it at neutral level without any hints of sibilance and harshness. However it lacks of sparkle and lively highs that other JVC lineups have. It sounds rather dark (polite may be a good term) but this signature works well for easy listening experience. It shares similar characteristic like the FXT90 where it does not have strong emphasis on upper-mid or lower-treble peaks like percussion crashes and tizzy notes. However the FXZ200 proves that its treble is much more gentle and realistic sounding while retaining good treble presence. Songs that are deemed fatiguing became more pleasant with the FXZ200. I guarantee one can crank the volume up without hitting the upper-mid/lower-treble tolerance wall.
 
Listeners may find FXZ200 lacks in airiness and upper-end extension as cymbal do not deliver enough crash and guitar pitch sounds rather blunted. This signature however makes it sounds soothing and less distorted; yet, one can crank up the volume without hitting treble tolerance too quick. Its weakness is compensated by greater details on lower end.
 
Soundstage

Lastly, it offers a wide soundstage while retaining good imaging (or spatial location) of its predecessor, the FXT90. The lesser upfront mid and edgy treble largely contribute to a bigger soundstage and distance while its separated bass give excellent depth. The JVC did a great job on tuning the woofer - it gives ample bass that does not interfere with midrange and treble. As the result, it does not suffer on congestion like in many bass-head earphones - one good example is the Yamaha's EPH-M200 which I reviewed a while ago. However it does not have holographic soundstage due to lack of airiness (like sparkles) and transparency of hybrid earphones like the Dunu DN-2000 or Sony's XBA-A3 though.
 

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Comparison:
 

 
Next I added the comparison of the FXZ200 sound signature to other JVC's lineups I have.
 
FX102 (stock tips) - $20
 

 
The FX102 pumps a gargantuan, rumbling, and impactful bass. I often indulge its boomy bass when listening to metal and live concerts. The FX102 significantly offers more bass than the FXZ200 but compared to it, the FX102 bass is distracting as it tends to overshadow the midrange and treble.  Yet it does not have the same tightness as the FXZ200;therefore, it sounds sloppier and unbalanced. The bass of FX102 makes the beats in F.I.L.O by Nujabes dominate the overall track and the vocal sunk within the pile of bass dumps.
 
Furthermore FX102 treble has more sparkle in order to improve its details retrieval. But its gets piercing when played at louder volume while the FXZ200 retains its smoothness. The midrange of FX102, on the other hand, sounds rather rough and unrefined compared to the FXZ200. Also the FX102 lacks of  spatial location and wide soundstage that FXZ200 has; instead, the FX102 sounds more "blended" and two-dimensional.
 
My main complain is as shown in the image above. The FX102 has sharp ridges on the side of the earphone and they often hurt my ear conchas. The previous model, the FX101, does not have such ridges. I do not know why in the world JVC would add such painful features on earphone (maybe for gripping?) but those must be gone in the FX103. If one enjoys the FX102 with its big and pumping bass -  and has no problem with the sharp ridges - one would not find the same bass from the FXZ200.
 

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FXC51 (with Meelec's single flange) - $30
 

 
While the FX102 can be bass-heads' delight, the cheaper and miniscule FXC51 is JVC's detail monster. It offers better treble extension and sparkles; yet it has better space and instrument separation than the FXZ200, possibly because of its recessed midrange and airy treble. The FXC51 bass is tighter and somewhat punchy but of course it offers less bass quantity. The less boomy FXZ200 sounds boomier compared to the FXC51.
 
However my gripes are that the FXC51 is thin-sounding and its treble can be ear-splittingly harsh at some tracks, like BuzzG's  かくれんぼ for example . It tends to intensify lower treble/upper mid section like the treble crashes and "tssh" notes; yet, female vocals gets too pitchy as well while male vocals sound recessed.
 

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FXD80 (with EPH-100's stock tips, small-medium sized) - $60
 

 
The FXD80 shares similar sound signature like the FXC51; however, the former adds more mid-bass quantity and V-shaped signature than the latter. Yet the FXD80 still retains that recessed midrange and thin treble of its predecessor. However I find the FXD80 competes the FXZ200 quite well when fitted with Yamaha's EPH-100 stock tips. The FXD80 sounds much more enveloping and engaging, making the FXZ200 sounds congested when compared to it. The bass has good combinations of being impactful and vibrant. While the tips makes its tonality sound more organic, it improves its treble to produce more airs and details without being overly sibilant and sharp. I believe the bigger bore yet improved seal of the EPH-100 tips makes it sound spacious and separate instruments more apart.
 
Honestly the FXD80 may offer better sound quality than the FXZ200 at one-third of the price; however, the FXD80 has been discontinued around 2014 and been replaced with a newer model, FXH30, which may have different sound signature. Furthermore its price has been skyrocketing - I purchased FXD80 for 60 bucks back in 2013 and now it costs around $150 in 2016. Yet Yamaha does not sell spare tips for EPH-100 so the only way of getting EPH-100 stock tips is either by buying the earphone itself or buying unused pairs from another head-fiers.
 

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FXT90 (with Spiral dots, medium sized) - $90
 

 
The FXT90 and the FXZ200 have two contrasting signatures. The FXT90 has energetic treble, upfront midrange, and punchy mid-bass while the FXZ200 has gentler treble, lush midrange, and elevated bass.The FXT90 sounds lively and somewhat harsh while the FXZ200 sounds warm and smooth.
 
However both share similar characteristics of bass, midrange, and treble. These two do not have rumbling and boomy bass; instead they have the same punchy and tight bass. However FXZ200 bass is much more elevated and well-separated while retaining the same tightness. Yet both have treble that avoids emphasis on upper-mid/ lower treble but the FXZ200 treble is much tuned down in order to prevent harshness. While FXZ200 is similar to the FXT90 where it focuses more on instruments than vocals, the FXZ200 sounds lush and smoother. I find the vocal of FXT90's is more upfront; yet, guitars have more distorted and gritty tonality which results in more aggressive and livelier characteristic.
 
The main difference is that the FXT90 sounds more intimate, or closed-in, while the FXZ200 sounds more spacious and offers wider soundstage. Bottom line, FXZ200 is the bassier (and smoother) version of FXT90. If one finds the FXT90 sounds too bright, one will be happy with the smooth treble Those who seeks a more aggressive or analytical version of FXT90 will not find it on this earphone.
 

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JVC HA-FX750 ( spiral dots, medium sized) - $200
 

 
The FX750 is one of four JVC's high-end wood series and I find its main uniqueness is its realistic tonality that is free of distortion, which is perfectly described by a Head-fier Inks. The FXZ200 treble can be considered smooth; however, its tonality feels somewhat rougher when compared to the FX750. The wooden earphone sounds very refined and offers better treble details and sparkles that are free of sibilance.  Yet, it delivers more vibrant and stronger bass than the FXZ200 while both retain warmish and full-sounding midrange. The FX750 is significantly more articulate and open-sounding that resembles to an earbud, despite of the highly exaggerated mid-bass boost and boomier bass. Hence the FX750 is the most spacious earphone I have listened so far - no earphones can deliver a realistic soundspace like the FX750, not even the hybrids.
 
However, the FX750 suffers from lack of isolation due to its open-back design - it is heavily vented as there are three small vents in front and one big vent on the rear.  The isolation is so suboptimal I can hear myself typing this review while listening to the FX750. Although I really dig into its big and enveloping bass, It does not retain the same bass tightness nor balanced signature like the FXZ200 - I find the FX750 bass gets overwhelming in some bass-heavy tracks. Furthermore the FX750 midrange is more recessed than the FXZ200; possibly its midrange recession gives a more spacious and articulate space. Regardless most listeners and bass-heads would be impressed by the FX750's spaciousness and vivid tonality but only if they would use it in quiet places. 
 

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Additional comparisons:
 
Klipsch X10  (with stock tips, medium sized) - $80
 

 
The X10 and the FXZ200 have similar sound signature where both have prominent and well-detailed bass, neutral mid, and tamed treble. However the X10 sounds far compressed while it tends to distort when played at higher volume, or similar volume like the FXZ200. It does not have spaciousness, separation, and layered composition that the FXZ200 has; hence, the X10 suffers from congestion and lack of realism - in another word, the X10 sounds more blended-in.
 
Though both midrange and trebles are maintained at neutral level, the X10 does not good job on those as its midrange sounds grainier and its treble lacks of refinement or gentleness. The cymbals on Insomnium's the one who waits drowns the guitars out and cymbal crashes leaves uneven peaks throughout the songs - on FXZ200 the cymbals shimmer gently with good crispiness while guitars and vocals have more presence.
 

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Yamaha EPH-100 ( with stock tips, small-medium sized) - $150
 

 
The EPH-100 has been my old-time favorite since 2012 and none hardly have a similar signature like it. The tiny Yammy prevails by delivering bigger sound and more dynamics, making the FXZ200 sounds shy compared to it. The EPH-100 sounds more musical because it offers deeper and reverberating bass; yet it offers airier treble that adds spacious soundstage. Both earphones have similar lush midrange but the FXZ200 sounds more balanced while the EPH-100 is somewhat recessed due to its strong bass and slightly elevated treble. Also the EPH-100 has a slight emphasis on lower treble/upper mid which make percussion and tizzy notes more present. In the end I enjoy the FXZ200 more because it is more euphonic and easy to listen while the EPH-100's treble can be bothering in some songs presenting heavy cymbals or hi-hats notes.
 
However my main concern with the EPH-100 is its durability. The earphone is sensitive to moisture so  those who have wet ears may experience frequent muted driver on one side of the earphone. Worse, I experienced dying driver primarily on the left side after prolonged listening, which I believe the driver itself gets fatigued. Though this problem can be solved by magnetizing the driver with the other one side, my EPH-100 has been back from dead for six times so I hardly can recommend its durability to anyone.
 
Furthermore, getting EPH-100 has been proven more difficult than it was in 2012 because there are plenty of EPH-100 fakes, or fake-baits, that cost much cheaper than the original price (around $40-60). The earphones usually comes in a plastic bag instead of original packaging. Yet their stock tips are flimsy like a plastic wrapper while the real one is thick and stiff . I have heard some individuals got fakes from Amazon.com so buyers need to do some research and purchase only from authorized sellers.
 

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Sony XBA-A3 ( with stock tips, medium sized) - $300
 

 
If one thinks the FXZ200 is huge, the hybridized Sony XBA-A3 is even bigger and more protruding! On the other hand the A3 impresses me with fuller and spacious sounding signature that is similar - and improved - to my favorite EPH-100 where it delivers even deeper and more reverberating bass that is well separated from other spectrums. The A3 adds richer and more natural notes that make the FXZ200 sounds thinner when compared to it. Up to the treble, the BA tweeter offers greater upper clarity, sparkles, and airs that lead to an enveloping and holographic soundstage. The A3 also has excellent instrument separation and better imagery which may be contributed by its hybrid configuration.
 
Although the A3 treble sounds clearer, I find it has strong emphasis on percussions and tizzy notes; such peaks can be sharp and hot at some cymbal-heavy songs. My ears give up on the first ten seconds of Yellowcard's Two Weeks from Twenty where repetitive cymbals gets unevenly prominent and fatiguing on the A3 while the FXZ200 maintains balanced yet enjoyable presentation throughout the song. As a treble-sensitive listener, I tend to reach the upper-mid/lower treble tolerance quickly on the A3 while the smoother treble of FXZ200 allows me to safely crank up the volume for more immersive experience - and shortly to prevent ear damages! Lastly the A3 offers less isolation than the FXZ200 which makes the A3 less suitable for outdoor and gym use. As the result I tend to lean toward the FXZ200 due to its forgiving sound signature yet better isolation for everyday use.
 

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Design / Size / Cable
 

 
The FXZ200 is definitely humongous by earphone standard - the aforementioned images explain how big the earphone is compared to other JVC line-ups. The rear "Kelton" woofer takes half of the housing; yet, it protrudes from my ears - therefore this earphone is not suitable for sleeping nor wearing a beanie on. I find the elongated housing can be dangerous as it can harm my ears when I nudge into some objects. However the protrusion works well because it helps me grip the end of the earphone when inserting or taking earphone off without accidentally pulling the cables out of my ear.
 

 
Aside of the size and protrusion, the earphone is moderately heavy, weighting 5.5 gram per one side of earphone - this is possibly contributed to the brass implemented on the rear woofer, exclusively on FXZ200. Thankfully the earphone does not feel weighty once worn; yet it is not as heavy as the DN-2000.  Furthermore it is solidly made and never feels cheap nor plasticky. It does not make wind noises either, possibly because the vents are located on the posterior side, as shown in image above. *note, FXT90 weights 3.8 g, DN-2000 - 6.5g,  EPH-100 - 2.7g
 

 
On the other hand, my only main complain is the cable - it does not have suppleness like its predecessor. Instead, the FXZ200 has thick and stiff cable combined with a big (and gaudy) plastic hanging at the center of the cable with "Live Beat" etched on it. I thought it would be nice if the plastic was a remote. Yet it has a straight plug instead of 90-degree plug of FXT90; this is very unlikely for an earphone that cost $150+ and perpendicular plug is a must to prevent plug stresses especially when being pressed inside one's pocket.
 

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Comfort / Isolation
 
As fitting is critical, I find the FXZ200 is quite comfortable despite of its bulky size. The angled nozzle and the spiral dot tips help maintain good seals but this design allows for straight-down wearing only. The included JVC cable clipper helps stabilize the cable. Without it, I can feel the weight of the earphone and the thick cable tugging down my ear; therefore, having the cable clipper is a MUST for the FXZ200.
 
The FXZ200 is one of few earphones that I would bring for workout. Two main reasons are that the earphone maintains good seal throughout my training yet it does not create suction-effect or pressures inside my ear whenever I take deep breaths or grunt during my lifts. Yet it does not produce driver-flex  or "clicking noise" like in most dynamic earphones either. The FXZ200 is excellent for cardio exercises like stationary bikes, the Elliptical and the Stairmaster but I cannot recommend these for running or jogging as noises from footsteps can be bothersome.
 
On the other hand the isolation is excellent, just like any other good isolating earphones in my collection. I have driven my car with this earphone on without a problem - I confess that I did not hear an ambulance passing by when driving. Also I could not hear someone called me when I was doing house chores until my sister threw an object at me; therefore, it passes noise isolation test. I guarantee The FXZ200 easily isolates crowd noises at a mall and a gym; however, its isolation is not powerful enough to block freeway noises and Dyson vacuum cleaners.
 

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Closing remarks
 
Although FXZ200 design may look oversized for some, it is actually a good all-rounder that combines comfortable fit, solid build, and high isolation. The FXZ200 delivers the most balanced sound signature when compared to its JVC brethrens where they have strong emphasis on either bass or treble, or both with noticeable peaks or harshness. One may assume that the FXZ200 may be improvement to its previous lineups. However I do not find the FXZ200 as an upgrade as each JVC lineups is tailored for each individual preference, for example, bass-heads, detail-oriented, V-shaped, realism,etc. The FXZ200 itself is gifted with one unique signature geared for those who prefer more refinement yet wish to enjoy good-rounded bass that does not overwhelm, warmish tonality, and non-offending presentation. On the side note, this is an excellent choice for listeners who enjoy full-bodied and prominent bass guitar notes without being sloppy-sounding nor distracting.
 
When compared to its competitor at its price range or more expensive ones, the FXZ200 may lack of explosiveness despite of having three dynamic drivers per earphone side. But those drivers are tuned to produce friendlier and likeable sound signature none like others. The FXZ200 does not demonstrate any potential flaws like its competitors where they compromise their design or isolation for better sound quality yet show evident unevenness or sibilance in favor of clarity and wow-factors.
 
Aside from its thick and stiff cable, cumbersome "LiveBeat" plastic, and exclusive availability in Japan, I can confidently award four and a half stars on the FXZ200 because its forgiving sound signature yet good fitting factor and isolation that makes it an excellent earphones for everyday use. More importantly its sound signature suits well with every songs no matter how bad or harsh the recordings are. As the Spiral dots works best with the FXZ200, I wish the JVC would include their spiral-dots ear tips in their lineups. Yet I look forward for JVC's creation in revamping the FXZ100/200 into a more compact design without compromising its sound signature.
 
Thank you for reading and I am outta here!

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Introduction

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Hello head-fiers! Now, you’re going to read a review of a spectacular earphone named Dunu DN-2000! It’s a hybridized earphone consisting of two Balanced Armature (BA) drivers and a 10 mm dynamic driver; although the driver configuration isn’t specifically described in their main website, I assume it has one TWFK (or two-in-one BA) driver that covers the treble and mid-range and a dynamic driver as the woofer. Hybrid earphone was considered a breakthrough in earphone technology back in 2012 and the famous one I know was the AKG K3003 which was my main coveted hybrid earphone but sadly its price was bloody expensive, costing at $1300, for such little piece. As I waited in hope that the price of AKG K3003 would drop to at least $300 (laugh as you may), recently many Asian-based companies like Dunu, T-Peos, and Sony have stepped up into the hybrid technology and thankfully, many affordable yet exceptional hybrids have been released. I finally had the opportunity to own my first ever hybrid-based earphones yet Dunu's top-tier earphone named DN-2000. Although it is still expensive ($300), it does sound really good as most head-fiers say and honestly its performance exceeds my expectation for the price I paid!
 
Before I begin, I am sure some people know what is good with the hybrid but for those who are new, the hybrid combines the main strength that the BA and dynamic driver have while covering the weaknesses that the two drivers possess. For example, BA drivers provide excellent details and accuracy but its frequency bandwidth is limited and tends to have roll-off on certain regions, like the bottom-end, so for people who are used to listen to dynamic-based earphone or beginners might find the bass extremely lacking in single-BA driver ones. Even in multi-BA earphones, though they have their own separate driver dedicated for woofer, the bass impact never be as equal as the dynamic because they tend to be tight, short-decayed, or less boomy - I believe the BA bass is engineered for accuracy than being lively. As with the hybrid’s, the woofer configuration of dynamic driver complements the inadequate bass of BA driver with impactful bass which gives overall fun and excitement while maintaining excellent detail and accuracy.

Although the addition of impactful-thumping-wub-wub bass may sound tasty for some, I've ventured through many reviews that most hybrid earphones tend to have a V-shaped signature which means they have strong emphasis on treble and bass, leaving the mid somewhat recessed. Yet, they are likely to have bright tonality and have emphasis on peaky treble, which may be a big problem for treble-sensitive listeners. For example, some can have recessed mid and peaky treble like Atomic Floyd’s superdarts titanium ¹ . Some can have sibilant and nasal midrange yet piercing treble like H-300 ^2,3. For first- hybrid owners or beginners, it is recommended to pick the one that is more balanced that does not have nasty-crash-rustic treble but still pleasantly bright with clear midrange and impactful bass. I am lucky that the one I picked, DN-2000, definitely sounds great without offending my ears! But anyway, let's get on the review - I've got lots of things to say about this earphone.
 

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The Package

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Observe: the Dunu DN-2000 package. It is understated, simple, and bold. But it is somewhat bland;  If customers were walking down the store and see this, they wouldn’t be attracted to it but hey, it is a diamond buried within a rock – let the earphone speaks for its value instead of the package design. 
 

 
Although the box appears little plain, it is actually well-made and feel solid. There's a magnetized flap and once opened behold, the hidden gem behind the simple black box: it's DN-2000! On the left flap, there is a direction of how to wear the earphone; also it tells you how to put the “Secure Fit” ring into the earphone nozzle, which will be discussed. Interestingly, there’s a frequency graph describing how the “secure fit” ring could affect the overall sound. But some texts are still written in Chinese. 
 

 
As I take the covering on the right side, the earphone is beautifully placed in the black foam and shows the end of the housings with engraved letter "D", and below is the carrying case where the included accessories are put.
 
 

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The Carrying Case and Accessories.

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First is the carrying case. What I like is that the case is light, spacious, and solid. What I don't like is that the case is little too big to be put into a pocket; yet, it does not have a zipper for a secure storage. Regardless, the lid fits very firmly and will not likely to open up spontaneously. However, the "pull-out" type lid can be little difficult to be removed and may be a hassle because once opened, all the contents may burst out from the case. This will not become a problem if one opens the lid carefully or puts each contents into a designated plastic bag as shown in the right, but do bring the needed accessories or else there will be no space left to put for the earphones!
 
 

 
Image above shows the comparison of Dunu case to Westone's in center and Audio Technica IM03's in the bottom (on left image). Based on the size and practical use, the Westone's is my most favorite because it is small, can be fitted to a pocket effortlessly, and has a zipper. The Audio Technica is bigger yet bulky but it can hold up to 2-3 earphones, and rather be put into a bag than a pocket, but still is my favorite because of the zipper. The Dunu's, for me, is rather be used as a storage to hold all the accessories.
 

 
Next is the included accessories, plenty of stuff I might say! Dunu throws four different ear-tips and bunch other stuff but since this section has been reviewed by others in details ^4,5, I will be discussing the most important ones which are the "secure fit" rings and the ear-tips. 
 

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The rings

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The "secure fit" ring set comes in three different color: silver, blue, and red. The silver has the shortest length while the reds are the longest.  All rings come in two pairs so it's good that there's a replacement if one loses a pair of ring.  Each can be inserted into the nozzle of earphone in order to extend the length of nozzle. The ring allows users to customize the depth of insertion for proper fitting and adjust the sound to one's taste.
 
As I tried all the rings, the silver ones provide the best fit, most balanced sound, yet the least peaky treble of all. I noticed that the longer the ring, the wider perceived soundstage, but the mid can be sibilant. Regardless, the depth of ear canal varies among persons so it is important to try around with the rings first until you find the fit and the sound you like best. Beware that the longer the tips, the more likely for the ear tips to fall out! Yet, all the rings do not stay securely so they can easily fall from the nozzle as well.    
 

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The ear tips

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Aside of the ring, Dunu provides four different ear-tips. The package describes the name of each ear-tips, except the bi-flange one, and specifies how the tips affect the overall sound.  In the left is the bi-flange, the center is the 2K dark silicone tips, and the right is the 1K clear silicone tips (note: the one in the image is the large one because I am using the medium sized tips). The last one is the foam tips but it wasn't included in the picture. 
 
As I have tried all, here are my thoughts:
 

1. The bi-flange has the smallest bore of all - one can see it from the image above. Also, I couldn't get a decent fit with it.
2. The clear and the dark tips have nearly equal bore diameter; yet, I cannot find big differences of sound between the two.
3. The dark tips are more rigid and stiffer - the sound is little brighter with these. In my ears they fit and seal too tight for my liking.
4. The clear tips are the softest of all - it's the first ear tips attached to the earphone; yet, the clear tips fit best to my ears.
5. The foam has same diameter and has material similar to the Comply-tips.

 
Above all, the clear ones are my main preferred ear tips because they are soft yet very comfortable.  The clear tips disappear within my ear canal though I can still feel the weight of the housing (which will be discussed later) and they do not produce much ear pressure like the others. Furthermore, it has the most bass and smoother sound for my liking and it is the only tips I can use for over-the-ear wearing. On the other hand, this is what I like the most from the Dunu's: there is no need for tip-rolling nor buying ear-tips from another brand in case if the fit of the stock tips was unsatisfying. This is rare because most of my earphones, except Yamaha EPH-100,  required quite some time for tip-rolling which was frustrating. As with the Dunu, the included tips are sufficient for everyone to get good fit and seal.

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The Earphone: Appearance, Cable, and Build Quality

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Meet the earphone itself, the DN-2000! The housing follows a straight-barrel design and a straight nozzle; yet, I am surprised how small it is for a multi-driver earphone. Such simplicity allows the earphone to be worn without hassle nor continuous adjustment. The diameter and length of the nozzle is just right and never be too small and short (like Westone W4) nor too long (like in ATH's IM70). The cable is made from rubberized material with a chin slider and a cable wrapper. However, the cable is not remove-able and does not have remote control, but it is good so that the earphone can be worn over-the-ear. The cable jack is reinforced with strong strain relief and ends with 90 degree fashion. As one can see from the image above, I use a cable clipper from a different brand (The Dunu's clipper is used for the W4).
 

Furthermore, the cable is very light and supple - as supple as a shoe laces I might say. It glides over-the-ear effortlessly without putting a pressure on the top of the ears and never be microphonic. If you happen to own earphones like Carbo basso, JVC's FXT90, FXD80, or Xiaomi's Piston 2, you will understand the flexibility that those cables have. For four months of use, the cable has not shown any memory effect nor stiffen overtime. Finally, the cable never shows any "springy effect" where the cable resists to loop and springs out from one's ears when worn over-the-ear, which I experienced in VSonic's GR07 cable. Because of the suppleness, it is prone to tangle!
 

 
The housing of the earphone demonstrates the quality of what top-tier earphone should be - it has a luxurious finish and smooth touch. It is made from a metal and overall housing is solidly made. None of the ridges or edges are sharp; yet, the silver ridges of the back housing shine under a light. However, it has one major problem: it is the heaviest earphone in my collection - it is even heavier than the heavy V-Moda Vibrato. The weight problem can be greatly reduced by wearing over the ear but the main problem is that the weight, combined with the supple cable, causes the earphone to fall easily from one's hand leaving a dent to the housing, if one was careless. Lastly, the housing is prone to scratches and oily smudges so it needs careful handling and daily cleaning. So, get yourself an eyeglasses cleaner cloth for a daily maintenance. Do not leave the earphones dangling because the housing will smash one another and creates more scratches and dents - hold the earphones upon your palms.
 

 
Above image shows a dent caused when the earphone fell about 10 cm from my hand into a hard granite table. This happened in three months after I first own it. I cannot imagine what would happen if the earphone fell from my standing height (5.6 ft or 170.6 cm) into the floor. I wish it could have an earphone silicone casing, like a cell-phone casing, to protect it from dents, but having that would be ridiculous and unthinkable.
 

 
Furthermore, the attached yet "patented" cable wrapper is a huge plus so one can neatly store the earphone after use as shown in the image above. I always have a habit of wrapping the cable around after use and put it into my pocket or a carrying case. The wrapper prevents the cable from getting tangled when stored. The wrapper slides along the cable but I never find it bothering; however, the wrapper cannot be removed from the cable unless if one cuts the cable (who the heck gonna do that!!). 
 

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Size: How Small is the DN-2000?

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Honestly, I have to say that it is relatively small for a hybridized earphone. I am impressed that Dunu designers manage to cram the complex three-configuration of dynamic and two BA drivers into a small straight barrel shape while other hybrids earphones tend to be bulky and have bizarre designs; one famous example is the "Frankensteinic" shape of Sony's Hybrids lineups. Yet compared to other multi-drivers earphones I have, the Dunu's is also smaller than them too, the only earphones that are smaller are Yamaha EPH-100 and Klipsch X10. The following images demonstrate size comparison of DN-2000 to variety earphones like W4, IM70, IM03, FXT90, Piston, EPH-100, and Klipsch X10 - hopefully these will give an idea for those who own the mentioned earphones.
 

 
One can see that the IM03 and the IM70 are surely larger and wider than the Dunu, considering that they have multi-drivers set up too. 
 

 
The W4 appears little bit bigger than the Dunu but the design of  W4 allows to sit flush on my ears concha though it requires lots of trial-and-errors to get comfortable fit.
 

 
The FXT90 is about as equal as the Dunu - quite impressive for a dual-dynamic driver. Dunu has the cylindrical shape while the FXT90 has vertical housing with angled nozzle. 
 

 
The Dunu has evolved from the Piston! They do have similar size and shape but the only different is the weight - the Piston is far lighter than the Dunu.
 

 
The only smaller earphone in mind is the Yamaha EPH-100. But both still share similarities: straight barrel housing with strain relief that is perpendicular to the housing - this allows for easier to loop over the ear  and comfortable over-the-ear wearing. 
 

 
Also, the Klipsch X10 is so much smaller than the Dunu. But I hate how the cable came out in curving fashion so wearing over-the-ear is difficult ( if I did that, I'd look like Mickey Mouse).
 

 
For last comparison, the size of the Dunu is just as equal as coins displayed above, only little bit bigger than a penny.
 

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Comfort and Isolation - Important elements in an earphone!

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I immediately wore the earphone over-the-ear when I first got it  and did not even bother with the fins and the ear-guide hook. Overall, the fit is less fussy thank to the small sized, straight cylindrical shape, and supple cable. With the right ring and ear-tips combination, which are the silver ring and clear silicone 1K tips, the comfort is excellent - I could wear the earphone up to 2-3 hours without being fatigued. The clear ear-tips is so soft  it does not create much pressure inside my ears. The housing stay seated in the ear concha and never hit the tragus. Yet, the end-housing ridges do not irritate nor bother the ears as far as I concern. Furthermore, I use the included clipper so the cable can glide along my ears without touching the surface of top ear.  But, the weight of the housing is still bothersome and it requires little adjustment in insertion until it reaches to a sweet spot.  
 
Isolation is just great. I drive around and commute while using this earphone ( don't try this!) and road noises are greatly reduced. Its isolation easily blocks most noise from Dyson vacuum cleaner, TV, people conversation, annoying songs and grunts at a gym; yet, the isolation allows me to listen songs on low volume without external noise interference. But its isolation never be as equal as the Shure's olive tips though. Lastly, I haven't tested its isolation on a plane but will report when I did.
 
The Dunu sits and seals just fine when I walk around, cycling, and do stairmaster and eliptical. The Dunu still retains a secure seal even when running and jogging, but the noise transmitted from hard floor and asphalt still can be heard and bothersome - this problem is common for all earphones I used except headphones. The seal becomes a problem when performing exercises that require lying down like bench press and intensive sit-up. Also, whenever I make face expression,  grind my teeth, or grunting from a heavy lifting and pull-ups, the seal can be off too. Above all, I'd use the Dunu for a stationary cardio-exercise but I wouldn't recommend using it as a main workout earphone because the seal can be off when performing strenuous exercises. Yet, the housing durability can be a major concern because it's prone to scratches and dents. Lastly, the housing protrudes little bit but it never produces wind noises. But I cannot use this when sleeping in side posture.
 


 
Note:
During the course of listening, all of my observation is derived primarily from one source: Sansa Clip zip (non-rockboxed). I don't use any amps nor equalization at all as I prefer the natural, unmodified sound of earphones. All my music files are 320kbps and some are FLAC files. 
. 
I find that the earphone is easily driven. Most songs can be played loudly enough on 1 to 2 volume bar under 'normal volume' setting in Sansa clip zip.  So one needs to be careful when using these with non-sensitive volume bar like the Samsung S5, where the loud difference between bar is very big. Although I find no hisses in the Sansa, I actually do hear them from Samsung S5, especially when a song nearly ends. I preferably listening the Dunu from the Sansa clip because it has better volume handling. The earphones have been burned for about 1-2 days and I find the peaky treble has mellowed out and no change with the bass, but still adequately bright. Speaking of the treble and brightness, it could have been that my ears have gotten used with it since I have this for four months.

*In the following section, I have included songs from Youtube.com to give better understanding of DN-2000 sound characteristic; however, I am afraid the quality may differ from the one I listen from my Sansa, which are in 320kbps and FLAC. So if one curious and wishes to have the same quality I listened to, I'd be happily to provide them upon request.
 

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The Core of the Review: The Sound!

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In general, the Dunu DN-2000 has a balanced sound, in \/\/ fashion. It has great extension on both high and low frequencies with slight emphasis on the lowest end and upper end. Yet,  it has clear and bright midrange without being too forward nor thick. The treble carries good shimmers without  introducing peaky-shrilly sound of the lower-treble register. Soundstage, separation, and transparency are the main strengths: it is really huge with excellent depth and wide; yet, transparency and musical layering are exceptional.
 
Bass
It is surprising that the bass of the DN-2000 differs than most conventional dynamics. While I expected the bass of DN-2000 would be boomy,  it is actually clean, free of bloats, and has good texture in the sub-bass - like the bass notes and picks, which I love for most rock and metal songs. Compared to Yamaha EPH-100, it does not have much of mid-bass, which give overall rumble and bass body, and never be boomy. The bass mainly focuses on the sub-bass region with slight emphasis on lowest end but still carries good body and impact. At first listen I thought the bass is slightly lacking and wish it could be little more boomy, but later on I realized the bass is rather be high-quality because it extends very low, focuses on being detailed,  and rumbles when a song calls for. Importantly, the bass quantity is adequate and never be too lacking
.
In order to understand the Dunu's bass, let's take a quick listen on Japanese metal band Galneryus's The Ironhearted Flag Vol.1, in which their latest album consisting re-played songs from their old albums. However, all the songs sound very boomy and the bass is overly dominating compared to the old songs. One example is "The Rebel Flag"; in this track, the Dunu manages to balance the overall song by clearing up the bass fogginess and clarifying the lower notes. Even in Amon Amarth's  Where Death Seems To Dwell (Viking Metal), the double bass pedal hits very hard and has clear texture to it. Somehow when the fast pedal kicks in, the notes are too strong that my ears gave up in the middle of the song! Furthermore, I find the bass still adequate in Hiroyuki ODA's Ionosphere (trance) and Kaskade's Eyes - the bass is tight and definitely reaches deep but I wish it could have little more "oomph". Overall, the Dunu bass is mature and is between of being fun and analytic: clean, precise, free of boominess, and never sound too loose. I would not even consider Dunu's bass as being "bass-head"; it has been engineered for those who seek a balance and finesse.
 
Mid
One strength of the DN-2000 is the mid - it is bright and slightly forwarded but it never be too thick nor bloated, which is quite a feat.  Yet, the mid is very clear and never be sibilant. The vocal and instruments are presented with excellent clarity - I am surprised that I can finally pick up the lyrics in many songs! Also, both male and female vocal are equally good and never be shouty, but I wish the mid could be a little more lush so it would have sweetness in vocals. The best part is that the guitar instrument carries good energy and "wow-ness", which is similar to the JVC's FXT90, but the Dunu does it without being too edgy nor gritty. Some noteworthy tracks that demonstrate Dunu's mid strength are One OK Rock - Wherever You Are,  Supercell - The Bravery, and BuzzG - She and 西へ行く 
 
Highs/treble
As DN-2000 is considered being a bright earphone, I was skeptic that the treble would be hot, have emphasis on peaky highs, and introduce shrilly cymbals. Boy, I was wrong. I learn that a bright earphone doesn't necessarily mean the treble would be piercing. As a treble-sensitive, I never find the treble to be offensive; it is actually airy and pleasant. Most importantly, it never be too sibilant. The treble carries good brilliance and shimmers without being shrilly nor too peaky. Cymbal sounds are pronounced in detail without being too splashy, or I could say the cymbal sound little smooth and soft. 
 
Furthermore the treble never be bothersome in some tracks that have repetitive "ts-ts-ts" sound, for example in 40m's Kotae and Gareth Emery's Exposure. Importantly, the Dunu handles the cymbals very well in a polished manner especially in Insomnium's The Only One Who Waits where the cymbals can be very splashy when listened with a wrong earphone. The Dunu manages to avoid treble harshness probably because it has slight emphasis on the mid, which gives instrument clarity, while leaving the lower-treble unaffected. Again, the DN-2000 treble is another strength because it is relatively smooth, polished, detailed, and carries good brilliance and energy without being blazingly hot. 
 
Soundstage, imaging, and separation
The soundstage, imaging, and separation of DN-2000 are phenomenal - I believe they are Dunu's main strengths. Actually, I was very shocked how good they are at first listen. It sounds very spacious with excellent depth and width. The head-room is enveloping and has excellent 3-Dness, image yourself  being surrounded by a song played in a concert hall. There is a "distance" between each instruments which make overall presentation sounds realistic. Furthermore, instruments separation and imaging are stunning, they are very transparent and have great musical layers so I can distinguish one instrument to another, for example, difference between bass pedals and bass guitar plucks are recognizable. Lastly, stereophonic position is very noticeable. Vocals are clearly placed along the stage and never be drown within instruments. Yet, instruments have correct right and left positioning and never fall too centered in space.
 
To be honest, all songs sound very expansive with this and all never sound be congested nor intimate. One special song came in mind is Muse's Knights of Cydonia in a FLAC file, where it feels like being in a cinema, everything just creeps around my head (and out of my ears), and instruments separations and placement are easily distinguished. Lastly, BuzzG's Shiwa feat.Neko worth a listen too ( I have the better version, which is sung by Ryo).
 

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QUICK COMPARSIONS: Dunu DN-2000 versus ______
 
Audio Technica ATH-IM03 with Sony Hybrid tips and Lunashop's cloth cable, for the better fit and seal - $300, not including the Sony tips and lunashop cable
 

1. The IM03 is absolutely larger than DN-2000, but the IM03 is far lighter and sits flush on my ears.
2. The  lunashop cable is significantly more supple than the Dunu, but it's more prone to tangle.
3. Both bass are similar in which they are tight, focused on sub-bass, and have less mid-bass presence. However, the Dunu has more sub-bass quantity and has better rumbles and texture.
4. The Dunu has more energy and more delicate (free of bothering peaks).
5. Compared to the Dunu, the IM03 mid is more recessed. drier, and less lush. Vocal sounds more distant and instruments are less fleshed out.
6. IM03 has tendency of being sibilant. The lower-treble / upper mid like "Ts-ts-ts" and cymbal crash have more presence. I notice the cymbal sounds splashy and lack of definition in Insomnium's The only one who waits. The cymbal crashes linger longer, my God. The treble of Dunu is far more polished, refined, and quicker decay than the IM03.
7. Tonality, the IM03 sounds darker than the Dunu, with peaks included
8. The IM03 soundstage is good but the Dunu's stretches out more and has better 3Dness, depth, and width. 
9. No competition, the Dunu has better transparency and layering.

 
Westone W4 with star silicone tips medium - $345
 

1. The W4 is lighter and absolutely has better comfort but the fit can be finicky.
2. The cable of W4 is frustrating - it hardens overtime and stiffens, making harder to loop over my ears. This happens on the 2nd warranty too.
3. Overall sound is warmer, more delicate, and less energetic than the Dunu. The Dunu has the "Wow" factors while the W4 doesn't. 
4. The W4 has more mid-bass than being sub-bass, which is somewhat rolled-off. Thanks to the mid-bass, it has more bass body  than the Dunu. Also, the bass of W4 is unique; it has pleasant body and buttery smooth and yummy impact. 
5. The W4 mid is more lush than the Dunu; however, the mid is more veiled or recessed, I think. Instruments and vocals are  less "upfront " than the Dunu, but still instruments and vocals are presented in good clarity. Female vocals sound captivating, sweeter, and more lush with the W4. I prefer W4 for a good vocal.
6. It has peaks in the lower-treble regions, sounding a little metallic and tingling. But it never be too offensive, only if not played too loud. It can be bothersome in some tracks with repetitive cymbals.
7. W4 sound less spacious, but still above the average. Again, the Dunu wins in transparency.

 
 
Yamaha EPH-100. unmodified. Uses stock tips. Three years straight favorites - $150
 

1. The EPH-100 wins in comfort department: small, non-obstructive, and faaaar lighter.
2. EPH-100's overall sound is far more fun because the bass is simply tasty - deep, impactful, and lots of bass. Yet, EPH-100 treble is smoother and the mid is far less energetic. In other word, EPH-100 is simply warm sounding earphone that is friendly and easy to the ears. 
3. The EPH-100 can be played loudly, louder than the Dunu without hurting my ears - probably the mid is less forward and my ears handle bass better than other freqs. 
4. EPH-100 has far boomier, deeper, and more impactful bass. It still has good texture, decays realistically, and never bleed to other frequencies. Yet the bass never be overly-dominating like its successor, EPH-M200, which I reviewed last time. The Dunu's bass is lacking compared to the EPH-100, however the Dunu has better bass clarity than the EPH-100, or tight I might say.
5. One of the earphones I can safely use when I want to listen a "God-speed-fast-kicking-double-bass-pedals" without causing my ears to bleed.
6. The mid is clear and it's not recessed nor forward. The vocal and instrument sound more distant than the Dunu and less "in-your-face". EPH-100's guitar instruments lack of the bite and edges compared to Dunu. 
7. The treble is less brighter but has that small presence of low-treble / upper-mid. Still, the treble is far smoother and less hotter than DN-2000, yet less detailed too. Importantly, it never sound too peaky nor metallic.
8. The soundstage of EPH-100 rivals the DN-2000. The EPH-100 has better depth probably because EPH-100 has more bass impact and quantity. The separation is nearly as good as the Dunu.
9. One main problem with EPH-100 is its speaker durability. The speakers are prone of getting clogged with sweat. Yet after listening for a long time in about two hours, one side of the speaker, left side, have died out  for four times, in which one side has reduced to 90% of the normal volume. However, the speaker resurrected on its own after waiting for a while, or being magnetized- possibly the speaker is prone of being fatigued and needed to rest.

 
 
JVC HA-FXT90 - unmodified. Uses stock tips. -$70
 

1. The FXT90 needs some time to get used with the fit and comfort is just okay. It requires shallow fitting. Yet, required long time for burn-in to soften that edgy treble, in about +200 hours. It has tendency to have driver flex.
2. The Dunu cable has similar suppleness of FXT90's. 
3. The FXT90's bass is punchy but somewhat lacking in rumble compared to the DN-2000. The FXT90 has little more emphasis on the mid-bass but its sub-bass is less present than the DN-2000.  I prefer the DN-2000 bass to the FXT90. Surprisingly, the Dunu has more bass impact than the FXT90.
4. The mid feels more recessed with the FXT90. Though both has good liveliness and energy on guitar instruments, the FXT90 sounds little too harsh and edgier than the DN-2000 (noticeable when played loudly). Vocals are simply drier (especially in female singers) and more distant-sounding. It's tonality is less lush too. Both never sound sibilant.
5. The treble of FXT90 is similar to the Dunu in which peaky cymbals are attenuated. However, it is less extended. The treble is bright but not as "pleasantly bright" as the Dunu. The treble is less refined and harsher in FXT90, in my opinion.  
6. FXT90 soundstage is average and not as expansive as the Dunu but the depth and height are good. The FXT90 retains excellent musical separation but the Dunu has far better 3D presentation.
7. The FXT90 isolation is poorer than the Dunu.

 
 
***Note: I could go on comparing more earphones all night but to put into words, none of my collections could rival the soundstage, separation, and transparency of the DN-2000. Also it is possible that the DN-2000 is the only hybrid (yet nicely tuned) earphone I have, so it has its own unique quality. If one wishes to hear more about comparison, you could look under my user profile which lists all earphones I have. I'd be happily to compare some for you.
 

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Conclusion:

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Dunu DN-2000 is the first hybrid earphone I have and truthfully it is one heck remarkable earphone. The cable, the build quality, and the sound justify what a $300+ earphone should be. The cable is very supple and light; yet it can be looped over the ears easily. The housing is made solidly from a metal and never feel cheap. However, the main concern of the earphone is the weight though the Dunu provides extensive kits for comfortable wear like the ring, fins, and ear-tips selection. For me, the weight will not be a much problem if it is worn over-the-ear. More importantly, the included tips are sufficient for everyone to get good fit and seal, which is a huge plus so one would not need to spend time tip-rolling.
 
Overall, its sound is very balanced across the spectrum. It has adequate bass body that never be lacking, clear midrange, bright tonality, and brilliant treble that never be harsh. Although its sound falls between the analytic and fun quality, it still retains that "wow" factors and liveliness; which is quite a feat. The clarity, soundstage, transparency, and musical separation are absolutely phenomenal -  they are completely different than any earphones I own. The sound continually impresses me in a long run because it just sounds great with every genres I threw at.The Dunu DN-2000 demonstrates that a good sounding earphone does not necessarily need a load of bass but it needs a good balance among the frequencies.
 
The DN-2000 receives my strong recommendation for anyone who is seeking for a hybrid earphone. It is a worth investment for beginners, treble-sensitive listeners, and even the bass-heads who are welcome to hear refined and mature sound. Yet, the Dunu is a worthy earphone for those who want to experience a spacious sounding earphone; however, those who prefer intimate, closed sounding, or dark signature may opt for DN-2000.  Lastly, I would not recommend it as a main exercise earphone because of the weight and its high tendency to scratches and dents. The earphone is good when used for main stroll, daily housework, and stationary cardio workout like the bike and elliptical.
 
Although the DN-2000 is considered a top-tier earphone, a new Dunu DN-2000J will be released in this year 2015 and I am eager to hear how the DN-2000 successor will sound! An upgrade of an already fantastic earphone. The limit of the sound quality is truly endless.
 
Thanks for reading, and tune in next time!
 
 
 
 
Reference:
 
1. Williams, Andrew. “Atomic Floyd Superdarts Titanium review”. Trusted Review. Dec 2014. http://www.trustedreviews.com/atomic-floyd-superdarts-titanium-review

2. Lin0003. “An Excellent but flawed IEM”. Head-fi.org. May 2014. http://www.head-fi.org/products/t-peos-h-300-3-way-hybrid/reviews/11077

3. D_marc0. “T-PEOS H-300 Review: The Could've Been...”. D marc0's Journal: My Head-fi Journey. Head-fi.org. April 2014. http://www.head-fi.org/t/694003/d-marc0s-journal-my-head-fi-journey-new-sennheiser-urbanite-xl-review/300#post_10430476

4. Djvkool. "Looking for Mr Perfect? Please meet Mr DUNU DN-2000". Head-fi.org. May 2014.http://www.head-fi.org/products/dunu-dn-2000-hybrid-3-way-earphone/reviews/11005

5. Thatonenoob. " [Poor Man Reviews] Dunu's DN-2000 ". Head-fi.org. Oct 2014. http://www.head-fi.org/products/dunu-dn-2000-hybrid-3-way-earphone/reviews/11768

Hello fellow Head-fiers!. This is my first review in Head-fi, but before I begin, I'd like to give a brief introduction about me. I'm an average individual who loves listening to almost wide range of music genres from classic to rock, except current pop, rap, and hip-hop, but I mainly listen to songs as long as they sound good! I primarily listen to metal and rock; but recently, I've gotten interested to Japanese's rock (J-rock) , and some J-pop. Besides, collecting earphones is also one of my recent hobbies thank to head-fi.org!  Either good or bad, I keep them and I treat them with fatherly love. But I would like to share my thanks to Amazon.com  for selling earphones cheaper than retail price and influential reviewers like lJokerl, Thebeatsguy, Earphonia, thatonenoob, ClieOs, and Mark2410 that have done organized and comprehensive writings (I wish I could write as good as them!); yet, their reviews help me choose best earphones that  are worthy of my collection. You could see numbers of earphones I have under my profile and most of my favorite earphones are mainly derived from their reviews . 
 
A lot of my friends  and relatives thought my hobby is a weird one but I thought it's similar to having numbers of shoes or clothes that suit one's fashion style; yet, one wouldn't want to wear same shoe/clothes every day.  It's fascinating to own variety of earphones because each of them has unique sound signature; yet, each has certain beauty and quality that can be appreciated. More importantly, they keep me out from getting bored of music because of listening solely just to one earphone and I need music to keep me through daily tasks. What interested me the most is that earphone technology has improved significantly since I begin my earphone hobby since 2012 and plenty of new earphones, successors, and competitors have emerged, so as an earphone enthusiast, I'd love to try 'em out! Yet, their release is beyond our grasp and has outpaced our knowledge of earphones, which is written in reviews. Somehow, many people are unsure about the performance of the new earphones and I believe most of them are eager to hear the reviews first before buying them. Therefore, I hope this article would be informative and serves as a reference of a certain earphone. If I made a mistake especially about technical quality like sound,  please fix me up since I'm not sound analyst but casual listener! I also hope that I could learn  and grow within Head-fi as well.
 

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Introduction:

Before I discovered Head-fi, EPH-100 was one of my first earphones and I consider it as the best earphone I've had.  I wrote my first-ever review in the amazon.com though I think it's more about my happy reaction than a proper review.  Although I paid $150 ( now it's cheaper),  EPH-100 gets full marks in all category: sound, spaciousness, comfort, isolation, and ease of use. Honestly, few of my collections could rival or none could have the sound that similar to the EPH-100. One earphone in mind is Carbo Basso which shares similar deep bass, satisfying mid, and spacious sound but the high could be somewhat gritty when played at high volume. Yet, its tonality is not as natural; yet, the comfort isn't as the same. Once I discovered head-fi, I found that most fellows agree that EPH-100 is one heck remarkable earphone. As earphone technology advancing in 2014,  I was worried that Yamaha hadn't created any EPH-100 successors and many big companies like Westone, JVC, and Audio Technica have upgraded their arsenals. 

By the end of 2014, my prayer had been answered as the new Yamaha EPH-M100 and M200 were released; however, they have an half-earbud shape that are completely different to their predecessor. The design appear to disfavor over-the-ear wearing as I love to; nonetheless, I still eager to try it out since I'm a Yamaha fanboy!. Yet there a was sale went on in the end of December '14 selling it for $100. It was $50 cheaper than its predecessor and for its successor, it's definitely a good news. I chose the EPH-M200 because they have the beta-titanium technology that allows the nozzle to flex so it is said it would conform with the ear canal for maximum comfort. Yet, this feature similar to the Gr07 mk.II featuring  rotate-able nozzle to 360' degrees  but the M200 is one of the few I know that follows this; yet, it's bendable so definitely good news!! During that time, there was not much published reviews about it in head-fi but only brief impressions; regardless, the purpose of this review is to determine whether EPH-M200 is an upgrade of EPH-100 or not. So I purchased. 
 
The Package:
They arrived and they came in beautifully presented box instead of that rigid clamshell hard-to-be-opened plastic box of EPH-100, which is good so I can keep the box as part of my collections as well. They're far easier to open as well! I chose the black one because it's conservative, look professional, and won't look too flashy for public use.
 

 
 
Next, the Yammy is beautifully placed. Them earphones shine and luscious! 
 
 

 
The accessories:

 I like the hard-case of the M200s  while the EPH-100's case is somewhat mushy. It also includes the quality check approval to proves that this unit is 100% functional and legitimate. It includes the ear tips ranging from XS, S, M(attached),L, and XL, just like the wide size of eartips of EPH-100, and a biggie plug connector which I don't use. Overall, the EPH-M200 provide similar idea of accessories like the 100s except the M200 includes that small quality check paper.
 

 
 
Build quality and look:

The physical look of earphones when taken out (sorry, forgot the 3.5mm connector) but it's 90' degree angled. It does have the half-earbud design so wearing over-the-ear is surely impossible. It appears it doesn't have stress relief as the cable just stick out from the housing without rubering; yet, they're made in shiny plastic and matte (on the grey part) but wish that It could've made from aluminum, just like that EPH-100. 
 


Compared with the EPH-100, my Goodness,everything is humongous! The housing and  the remote are bigger than housing of EPH-100, but it's light so it shouldn't be a problem. The cable is not supported with cable cinch; yet it doesn't have the memory characteristic of EPH-100. It is not as smooth as the 100s but somewhat stiffer and wavy. Least, it's not flat cable but has cylindrical type.
 
 

 
 
Lastly the fit. 

Sadly, it can only be worn down due to half-earbud design and it can be microphonic. It is worsened by the huge and gaudy remote on the right side that tends to swing whenever I move or turn my head. Yet, it's not supported with a cable cinch to reduce microphonic so the only way to reduce the noise is by attaching earphone clipper or tug it inside the clothes. Besides, the comfort is hit-and-miss. It fits comfortably at first;  but later on, the fit feels weird because the huge circular housing sits right in the external acoustic meatus (left image), a location surrounding the ear hole ; therefore, I tend to adjust the fit for every 15 minutes. Half of the times it inserts perfectly, but most of the times the fitting can be bothersome. I also note that the b-titanium tube isn't as flexible as advertised; to me, it's stiff and bends for about 0.1-0.3mm above the parallel line.  Otherwise, It seals greatly but it doesn't isolate as much as the EPH-100 because the nozzle is shorter and the housing design prevents from getting deeper fit. Overall, I don't quite like the fit and I wish it could've been a straight barrel design instead, like the EPH-100, so less finicky fit. 
 
 

 
 
Note:

During the course of listening, all of my observation is derived primarily from one source: Sansa Clip zip (non-rockboxed). I don't use any amps nor equalization at all as I prefer the natural sound of earphones in order to understand its beauty and strength. All my music files are 320kbps and some are FLAC files. I used the earphones in my daily tasks to see if it's bothersome or not. I also tested its isolation when at home, driving my car, and commuting for 1-2 hours.  If one desire to know what songs / albums I listened with the M200, I'd be happily to list 'em.
 

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The meat of review: sound.

Overall, the EPH-M200 has boosted, textured, and tactile bass, forwarded mid, overly smoothened treble , lack of sparkle, and intimate soundstage.  
 
Bass
One aspect that struck me the most was obviously the bass: it's big, reaching deeper to sub-bass region and its bass is well-rendered. It doesn't bleed to the mid, in my opinion. Listening to recorded live music, like in rock/metal concert can be very exciting with these, as I find all my live albums are somewhat bass-shy and addition bass gives the fun and live factor. Any tracks that lack of bass depth can be improved with these. I like how the sound of bass guitar is emphasized in metal songs with these - it gives me the head-banging feeling! Its quantity is even more than the EPH-100 too, and I can safely say the M200 can be called the bass-head earphone. But, the bass can be tad over-dominating and boomy when listening to bass-heavy tracks. Yet, the bass is slow and not tight; listening to fast-beating technos, trance, or any metal tracks with rapid double-bass pedals can be fatiguing.
 
Treble
Aside of the impressive bass, the treble is very smooth, lacks of sparkle and never be sibilant. It differs where the EPH-100 has the sparkle that can be bit bothering when it comes to cymbal heavy or repetitively  "tz-tz" tracks. This is  good for treble-sensitive listeners like myself; however, the treble is overly smoothened, making overall sound dark and dull. Cymbals can be difficult to be heard and songs with lack of sparkle can be lifeless. 
 
Mid
The mid also differs from EPH-100. While the 100s sounds thin and dry, the M200 sounds fuller and forward. However, instrumental sounds very thick and vocal sound can be nasal at some times. Yet, overall sound can be too shouty. Some songs can be too congested because of the boosted bass. Yet, I find that my ears are sensitive with forwarded mids; therefore, the mid often can be fatiguing. It's not because of my preference; typically, humans are sensitive to middle frequency ¹, ² and I was one them. 
 
Soundstage
As the result of forwarded mid, the soundstage becomes intimate. Vocal definitely sounds centered right in the middle of one's head but its placement can be confusing. Somehow, the vocal sings from the right side but not the left side. For a bigger speaker, 15mm driver, implemented in the M200, it can be surprising that the soundstage can be so small. As the diameter of the driver gets bigger, the more spacious the soundstage should be expected, like comparing a headphone to an earphone. But, the head-room of this earphone is spherical and small; imagine all bands cramped inside your brain and the space is limited to the size of one's head. Yet, the 3D-ness is nearly non-existent because of the dull treble that lacks of sparkle. It doesn't have the transparency of EPH-100 but instead it sounds bloated and concentrated. This leads to obscurity in distinguish instrument location too: most of the times the bass-dominating side of earphone, like left side, can be louder than the right side. Often, the treble side which often come from right side can sound too quiet. Overall, I find the soundstage of M200 is its weakest point and disappointed that it doesn't retain the 3D-ness and spaciousness that its predecessor, EPH-100, has.
 
Lastly, I note that the earphone is easily driven. It plays really loud with only 1 to 1.5 volume bar under 'normal volume' setting in Sansa clip zip.  So one needs to be careful when using these with non-sensitive volume bar like the Samsung S5, where the loud difference between bar is very big. I also note no hisses from my sansa as well. The earphones have been burned for about 2-3 days and I find no change with the sound. The bass did not mellowed out, the mid was still forwarded, and the soundstage still sound intimate and congested.
 

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Conclusion:
Overall, EPH-M200 is a big-bass, thick-mid, and smooth-treble earphone but I'm disappointed with the dark, congested, and bloated sound signature combined the poor soundstage that lacks of space and proper spatial location, especially for the given price, $100 - it was on sale so the value would go back to the retail price in future.  I could say M200 works as side-grade of EPH-100 as the M200 sounds nearly the opposite to EPH-100. But truthfully, M200 is more like a downgrade because it misses one important components of its predecessor: soundstage and 3D-ness. It is tuned toward youth generation and those who seek for bassier version of EPH-100 and if one find its treble can be bothersome, this can be a good choice. Its smoothened treble may apply to treble-sensitive listener too. However, it's hard to recommend these as the fit can be bothersome and its soundstage is too intimate; yet, 3D-ness is nearly non-existent. Lastly, the beta-titanium nozzle is too rigid and doesn't bend as much as the advertised. EPH-M200 can be impressive at first - like the bass and the smooth, fun sound factor - but it turns sour after long-term listening. I struggled to get used with the sound but my ears gave up because I cannot stand forwarded mid and intimate signature. I returned it back to Amazon.com in the following 14 days, making it the 1st earphone I've returned because it is fatiguing.
 
The overall impression and its comparison to EPH-100 are summarized in the following table:
 
 
 

Thanks for reading!
 
 
Reference:
1. Smith, Steven, W. Audio Processing. The Scientist and Engineer's Guide toDigital Signal Processing,. n.d. 2011. web. 17 Jan. 15.  http://www.dspguide.com/ch22/1.htm
2. Erede, Steven.  The Human Ear - Hearing, Sound Intensity and Loudness level.  University of Illinois. 2014. web.17 Jan.2015.https://courses.physics.illinois.edu/phys406/lecture_notes/p406pom_lecture_notes/p406pom_lect5.pdf