DUNU DN-2000J

EZE99

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Crystal clear audio, clean+detailed bass.
Cons: Treble is a bit harsh at first, not super comfortable.
Wow is the first word that popped into my mind after putting on these IEMs.  Dunu has outdone themselves again.
 
SOUND
These are quite possibly the best IEMs I have ever listened to.  These tiny triple drivers have made me consider selling my Sennheiser HD600s on multiple occasions.  The soundstage is far better than the average IEM soundstage, which is definitely helped by the 10mm dynamic driver.

Bass:  Bass is so clean, clear, and detailed.  It may be a tad bass heavy for some, but nothing a bit of EQ can not fix.  They execute every bass line I’ve tried on them beautifully and truly remind me of the bass on the HD600s.  But what else is new, Dunu’s headphones all have amazing bass capabilities.

Treble:  Out of the box, the treble was way to harsh for me, making it a bit painful to listen too.  After messing with my EQ settings, everything was perfectly balanced.  After breaking them in a bit, the treble became less harsh, and now sounds perfect.  As these are triple driver IEMs, the 10mm dynamic driver is pumping out bass, while 2 balance armatures pump out the mid and highs.  As a result, you can truly hear things in your music that you have never heard before.  The treble is clean and astonishingly excellent.  It handles soaring violin lines and high hats perfectly now that they are broken in.

ACCESSORIES

Dunu did not hold back on packing their nice packaging full of earbuds and filters.  There are 9 different pairs of silicon tips, and 3 different medium sized Comply Memory Foam tips in the Isolation, Isolation Pro, and Comfort style.  The travel carrying case is absolutely gorgeous, and completely protects the headphones.  Also comes with an airline adapter, 3.5 to 6.5 jack converter, and a myriad of different sound filters to modify the sound signature.  These also come with a bunch of different “slide on” accessories to securing the headphones in the ear.

ISOLATION

When the Comply Memory Foam tips are on them, and music is playing, these have the best isolation I have ever heard.  I would compare the isolation level to my Bose QC20is (which have ANC, the best ANC I have ever heard).

COMFORT

This is the only section that I have a problem with.  These are not very comfortable for long use.  Because of the “slide on” accessories (which are necessary to provide the high level of isolation), the 2000Js can be uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time.  Most of the time however, it is uncomfortable at first, and then I just forget they are on.  When I take them off, some of the inner folds of my ear are sore, but this soreness can be quickly massaged away.
 
MY RECOMMENDATIONS TO DUNU
As I have said, the only problem I have with these IEMs are the comfort and fit.  The Titan 5’s perfectly fit in the ear canal, so I’d love to see this headphone updated in the future with a better body that would make them more comfortable.  Honestly, thats the only complaint I have.  I would not change anything else (except maybe adding a removable cable).  Great job.
 
SUMMARY
These IEMs are incredibly impressive.  Their sound quality is worth way more than the $215 I paid for them.  Great for all types of music, really inexpensive for what they are, I’d recommend any headphone lover to grab a pair of these.  In the future, I might actually pop these on to jam out over my HD600s, but who knows.  Im excited to see what else Dunu will come out with.
  • Like
Reactions: wdetterman

earfonia

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Excellent level of detail retrieval and transparency, Superb quality bass, Realistic 3D holographic imaging.
Cons: Fitting of the Silicone eartip to the nozzle doesn't have enough grip, not tight enough.
A very big thanks to DUNU for the DN-2000J review sample! I've been a great fan of DUNU hybrid IEMs since I bought DN-1000 and DN-2000, and reviewed them some time ago. It took me almost a year to complete this review due to unforeseen high workload.
 
http://www.dunu-topsound.com/DN-2000J.html
 
01P1060430.jpg
 
 
DN-2000J is a hybrid IEM, in the same family as DN-1000 and DN-2000. It has one dynamic driver and two BA drivers per channel. One special note, the dynamic driver seems to be quite special, the diaphragm is made of liquid crystal composite with Titanium coating, and it performs remarkably well in DN-2000J.
Having similar model number and housing design as the DN-2000, one common question is whether the DN-2000J is an improved version of DN-2000. In my opinion, yes, an improvement, but not a replacement. DN-2000J does improve certain design features of DN-2000, such as the knurled nozzle to hold the eartips tighter, slightly thicker cable that feels stronger and more durable, and improved detail and transparency in the sound quality department. But DN-2000J in my opinion doesn't replace DN-2000 due to the rather different tonality. With more treble emphasize than DN-2000, DN-2000J is generally brighter than DN-2000. And might be a little too bright for some people. DN-2000 tonality to my ears sounds very linear, very good balance from bass to treble. Probably a little lacking on the upper treble coverage, but to my ears, DN-2000 is one rare IEM with very linear tonality, especially on the bass to upper mid region. DN-2000J tonality might not sound as 'pleasing' as DN-2000 and has shifted more towards analytical sonic character. For those who like the DN-2000 tonality (like me), the analytical nature of DN-2000J might not be considered as an improvement over DN-2000, and might prefer the DN-2000 tonality instead. But for those who prefer a more transparent sonic signature, DN-2000J superb transparency and clarity are certainly a very welcome improvement.
 
02P1060511.jpg
 
 
 

Summary:

 
  1. An excellent monitoring IEM with good accuracy, superb transparency, clarity, dynamic, and detail retrieval capability.
  2. Neutral-analytical sound signature and highly revealing. Definitely not for those looking for smooth-warm sound signature, and probably not for vocal lovers as well. DN-2000 is the better option for those looking for a more pleasing smooth-warm signature while still having pretty good transparency.
  3. To get the best sonic character to match individual preference, testing all the sound tuning options like eartips, bass ring, and DNK rings, is a must.
  4. Bass ring is recommended to bring the bass level to a more realistic level (~6 dB boost).
  5. Excellent bass quality, reach very low, fast, detailed, and very rich in texture. Probably the best bass quality in this price category.
  6. With bass ring, the tonality is mildly V shape with more emphasize on the treble.
  7. Best paired with neutral to warm sounding amplifiers or players.
  8. Might not be the best choice for Pop recordings, but definitely one of the best IEM for classical, binaural, and other distant miking recordings, as well as Pro Audio applications.
  9. An improvement, but not a replacement of DN-2000.
 
 
 

Pros:

  1. Technically excellent IEM, very revealing with excellent level of detail retrieval and transparency.
  2. Excellent coherency between all the 3 drivers.
  3. Excellent 3D holographic imaging.
  4. Superb bass quality.
  5. Sound tuning option with bass ring, DNK rings, and various eartips.
  6. Easy to drive and not much affected to different value of amplifier output impedance from 0 to 10 ohms.
  7. Generous accessories.
 

Cons:

  1. Tonality probably a little bright for those who prefer warm sonic character.
  2. Though the knurled nozzle has better grip for the silicone eartips as compared to the smooth nozzle of DN-2000, but still need to be improved further, as occasionally eartip still left stuck in ear canal when unplug the IEM.
 

Suggestions for Improvements:

  1. Eartips fitting, especially the Silicone eartips.
  2. Detachable cable.
 
03P1060414.jpg
 
 
 
 
From my observation, though there are many various personal preferences on sound signature and tonality, I observed that there are 2 major groups of user, the 'Sounds good' and the 'Sounds right'. The first group, the 'Sounds good', are those looking for a more pleasing sound signature. It doesn't really matter if the sonic character is a little coloured, not very detailed, or less accurate, as long as overall sonic character sounds good and pleasing, matches to their personal preferences. The second group, the 'Sounds right', prefer detailed, transparent, and accurate sonic character that reasonably close to life performance, even though the sonic character might be unforgiving for less than stellar recordings. If the older DN-2000 probably sits in between the 'Sounds good' and the 'Sounds right', DUNU DN-2000J is clearly more suitable for the later.
 
100% early responses that I got from friends when I asked them about DN-2000J, are quite similar. They all said it is quite bright sounding. Some said that the tonality is simply too bright to their liking. Unfortunately that's quite true when I tried it out of the box, not a very positive first impression. But, thanks to DUNU, they provide bass ring adjustment that will cover the front bass port of DN-2000J when used, and will increase the bass response of DN-2000J by around 6 dB (about twice). Personally I prefer to use the bass ring for a more linear, more balance and less bright tonality. A few friends tried again with bass ring and the feedback was more positive. I think if DUNU put the bass ring as the standard setup from factory, general perception of DN-2000J will be different. Many friends that tried DN-2000J at local shops, never tried it with the bass ring. Once it sounded too bright to them, they simply lost interest of DN-2000J and don't bother to try the tonal adjustment that provided as standard accessories by DUNU. My suggestion to DUNU, probably it is better to put the bass ring as default setup from the factory, for the reason that people are generally have more tolerance to higher level of bass than higher level of treble. It is a pity if some people might avoid DN-2000J due to the rather hot treble at first impression. First impression is very important, therefore in my opinion, to put the bass ring as default factory setup is a better marketing approach.
 
04P1320647.jpg
The left earphone showing nozzle with Bass Ring and DNK Ring. On the right, the very small bass port shown at the base part of the nozzle.
 
 
DN-2000J transparency and the level of perceived detail are in the category of high-end IEM, and have been improved from DN-2000. What amazed me most is the coherency between drivers and the level of detail and texture across the audio spectrum, from sub bass to upper treble. Something I consider rare for multi driver IEM. Starting from DN-1000 where I can notice a slight different sonic signature between the lower frequency region served by the dynamic driver and the upper frequency region served by the BA drivers, DUNU has kept improving the coherency between the drivers in their IEMs. DN-2000 drivers coherency is better than DN-1000, and I'm glad to say that DN-2000J drivers coherency is probably one of the best I've ever heard. It is quite seamless across the frequency spectrum. The sonic signature between the bass region and the upper frequency region is very coherent. The Titanium coated dynamic driver truly delivers high quality bass. Bass is fast, tight, reaches low, and beautifully textured. And the sonic character of the dynamic driver matches nicely the sonic character of the BA drivers.
 
Tonality is tunable to some degree. Out of the box with the stock grey eartips, without bass and DNK rings, DN-2000J sounds smooth bright. Treble is moderately emphasize, and generally a little too bright for modern genres, but good for classical and audiophile recordings, especially those stereo recordings that recorded with distant miking stereo technique. Most obvious tuning is the bass ring that close the bass port near the nozzle, and boost the bass around 6 dB. But please take note, the bass ring will cause some mild driver flex. Without bass ring there is no driver flex. DNK rings adjusts the treble part in a subtle way. And eartips also affect the tonality to some degree. To try the combination of all of them is highly recommended to get the best sonic character that suit individual preference. My best recipe for DN-2000J is: Bass ring + the stock DUNU translucent grey silicone eartips, medium + red DNK ring.
 
05P1320663.jpg
 
 
Though probably the treble takes the most attention at first, but DN-2000J bass is actually what I consider the best performance of DN-2000J. It is surely one of the best IEM in the bass department. I'm not talking of bass quantity here, but bass quality. Quantity wise, without bass ring, to me it is on the low side, a bit too low to what I consider as realistic bass level, but not yet anaemic. With bass ring, the bass level is just nice for my preference. The bass reaches very low to sub bass, super tight, fast, very detailed, and very rich in texture. Using bass ring, the bass has good body and punch as well. Simply 5 stars bass quality!
 
DN-2000J grew on me. From 'Uurgh the treble is bright!' to 'Wow! This is really a very capable and accurate IEM!'. Honestly, after using it for a few months, I really like DN-2000J, and admire its capability. It is one of the most transparent and accurate IEM I've ever tried. It has the level of transparency, detail, and texture way better than many other IEMs in this category, and not only in this price category, but also competing well with some higher priced IEMs I've tried. But please take note, DN-2000J might not suitable as a 'general all-rounder' IEM. It is very revealing with some emphasize on the treble, so recording flaws on less than stellar recordings will be revealed bluntly. Though DN-2000J is not really my favourite IEM for Pop music, but it is really an amazing IEM for classical, binaural, and audiophile recordings that recorded with aim to achieve natural tonality and stereo imaging. Some of my audiophile albums with distant miking recording technique sound best on DN-2000J. For example, audiophile albums like the '8 Ensembles in 1 Bit', many of Chesky recordings and the famous Chesky binaural album, 'Dr. Chesky's Sensational, Fantastic, and Simply Amazing Binaural Sound Show', so far DN-2000J has been my IEM of choice for those recordings. Those albums sound more realistic and lively on DN-2000J as compared to my other IEMs.
 
06P1320658.jpg
 
 
I have both Sennheiser HD800 and Beyerdynamic T1 that beside for music listening, I also use them occasionally for recording and mixing due to their analytical character. Somehow DN-2000J sonic character reminds me of those two flagships headphones, and in my opinion DN-2000J has enough transparency and accuracy to be used for recording and mixing as well. Therefore I called DN-2000J, 'DUNU Reference Monitor'.
 
 
 
 

Build Quality

As mentioned earlier, after having it for about 1 year, my only complaint is the Silicone eartip fitting to the nozzle that is not tight enough and sometime the eartip left stuck in my ear canal when unplugging the IEM. Besides that the build quality is pretty good, and it has been proven to be quite durable so far, though I won't recommend using it for exercise.
 
07P1320652.jpg
Some scratches on the metal housing after about 1 year of use.
 
 
 
 

Gear Pairings

DN-2000J is easy to drive, and at the same time can take some high output and get very loud without getting easily distorted. I got wonderful pairings with many of my gears such as Onkyo DP-X1, Chord Mojo, the old Centrance DACport with 10 ohms output impedance, as well as the newer Centrance DACport Slim, and some other gears. It also pairs wonderfully with my AT-HA22TUBE tube amp. The analytic sounding ifi micro iDSD headphone output is in my opinion not a very good option for DN-2000J. Fiio X3 2nd generation that pairs wonderfully with DN-2000 unfortunately doesn't pair well with DN-2000J either. Rule of thumb for DN-2000J, avoid analytical sounding amp or player, and pair it with neutral to smooth warm sounding gears and it will sing.
 
08P1060441aw.jpg
 
 
Driven by first generation of AK100 with 20 ohms output impedance, DN-2000J still sounds reasonable natural. Bass level drop with higher impedance, so overall tonality gets a little brighter on AK100, compared to other player with low (less than 1 ohm) output impedance. Bass level probably drop around 3 dB on AK100, quite noticeable, but overall tonality still quite natural. I prefer the bass level with low output impedance player. Based on experience, the safe range of amplifier output impedance for DN-2000J is I would say 0 - 10 ohms.
 
09P1070034.jpg
 
 
 


Comparisons

10P1230884.jpg
 
 
DN-1000, DN-2000, and DN-2000J offer some sound tuning using different eartips and DNK rings. The setup that sound best for me are:
DUNU DN-1000: JVC EP-FX8M-B, medium eartips.
DUNU DN-2000: The stock DUNU translucent grey silicone eartips (2K Tips), medium + silver DNK ring.
DUNU DN-2000J:  Bass ring + the stock DUNU translucent grey silicone eartips, medium + red DNK ring.
 
More coverage of DN-1000 and DN-2000 can be read here:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/727286/review-and-comparison-of-dunu-dn-1000-dn-2000-jvc-ha-fx850
 
 
 

DN-1000

Though I really like the fun and lively sounding of DN-1000 especially using the JVC EP-FX8M-B eartips, I have to admit that DN-2000J is clearly superior to DN-1000, especially in coherency and transparency department. Coherency, detail, and transparency are clearly better on DN-2000J and worth the price different between them. DN-2000J bass is much better, faster with better detail and texture. DN-2000J also has better upper treble extension that makes it sounds more transparent with better 3D imaging as compared to DN-1000. Using the JVC eartips DN-1000 treble does sound slightly smoother and more ear friendly than DN-2000J, but the wider and more holographic imaging of DN-2000J gives a different, more realistic listening experience. Value wise, they are 5 stars in their own price category.
 
 
 

DN-2000

DN-2000 will still be my reference for linear tonality, as tonality wise it sounds a little more linear than DN-2000J. But on the other aspects like coherency, dynamic, clarity and detail retrieval, DN-2000J is clearly better than DN-2000. DN-2000J has better upper treble extension, sounds brighter and more transparent than DN-2000. Bass detail and texture also have been improved on DN-2000J. While DN-2000 sounds smoother with a little touch of warmness, with softer and a more ear friendly treble. I really like them both almost equally. When I'm travelling light with Fiio X3ii, DN-2000 goes with me. When I need a more detailed and transparent IEM during recordings or to audition and testing gears, DN-2000J is my IEM of choice. When I'm listening to Pop and vocal, DN-2000 sounds friendlier to my ears, while for classical DN-2000J breaths more air with better holographic imaging.
 
11P1160794.jpg
 
 
 

1964 Ears V3

Besides DN-2000, 1964 Ears V3 is another reference IEM of mine that to my ears sounds 'balanced'. Kind of another variant of DN-2000 with better bass and dynamic, and sounds livelier than DN-2000. V3 is less analytical and less bright than DN-2000J, and closer to DN-2000 tonality. V3 has very good detail retrieval without sounding analytical. Transparency wise, DN-2000J is better than V3, so some recordings that benefit from transparent sound signature like the few albums mentioned earlier, sound more realistic and more holographic on DN-2000J. While the fuller, beefier, and slightly warmer signature of V3 sounds nicer on vocal and pop recordings. When looking for transparency and high detail retrieval capability for pro audio monitoring, or listening to classical I tend to pick DN-2000J. While when I want to enjoy vocal and some other closed miking recordings, V3 or DN-2000 are usually my preferred IEMs. On volume setting, V3 is more sensitive than both DN-2000 and DN-2000J, and requires less volume to get similar loudness. And as expected from the less bright tonality and higher sensitivity, V3 is easier to match with almost any gears that I have. It adapts very well from analytical sounding players or amps to the warmer sounding ones. While DN-2000J doesn't go very well with analytical sounding players or amps. So while DN-2000J excels in transparency and holographic imaging, but it is more polarized towards certain type of recordings mentioned earlier, and Pro Audio monitoring applications. While 1964 Ears V3 is in my opinion a better all-rounder for music listening, especially for modern genres with closed miking recordings.
 
12P1320669.jpg
 
 
 
 

Measurements

I don't have standard IEM measurement equipment, and I found IEM frequency measurement to be rather complicated. I use USB measurement microphone, MiniDSP UMIK-1 and a DIY acoustic coupler that I made from heat shrink tubing. 
 
13P1190905.jpg
 
14P1190910.jpg
 
 
So far from some testing I’ve done, I observed the following:
1. The length and volume of the acoustic coupler affects the upper treble response. Longer acoustic coupler will create unnecessary treble peaks above 10 kHz.
2. Room temperature affects the bass response. Similar measurement done in 25 degree Celsius and 31 degree Celsius room temperature consistently showing around 6 dB differences in bass response. Bass response is higher in lower room temperature.
3. Level of loudness during measurement affects the smoothness of the overall frequency response. Generally measurement done in louder volume showing smoother frequency response.
4. The equipment that I use doesn't seem to be accurate for the upper treble region, therefore only useful for up to around 9 kHz. Measurement result from 9 kHz onward can be ignored.
 
I suggest to always read IEM frequency response measurement result in the context of the measurement environment, as they are mostly useful only as comparison to other IEMs that are measured in the same measurement environment using the same equipment. So please take note that all the frequency response measurement shown here is not a standard measurement, therefore cannot be used for comparison with other measurement. This measurement is only to show comparison of estimated frequency response of the IEMs that were measured in the same environment using the same equipment.
 
The following measurement for DN-2000J was done in an air conditioned room, at around 24 degree Celsius room temperature. I used the short DIY acoustic coupler that gives around 4-5 mm distant between the tip of the silicone eartip to the microphone. The program I use for measurement is the famous Room EQ Wizard, REW v5.14. I measured left channel and right channel multiple times, take 3 most consistent measurements for each channel, apply Psychoacoustic smoothing, and then average the result.
 
 
The following is the frequency response measurement for the Left and Right channel, without and with Bass ring. Both Left and Right channels have pretty good consistency, and there is no audible difference between the Left and Right channel.
 
15DN-2000JLRNoBassRing.png
 
16DN-2000JLRBassRing.png
 
 
The following is comparison of DN-2000J frequency response (average FR from Left and Right channels measurements) with DN-2000. We can see higher treble response that explains the brighter tonality of DN-2000J.
 
17DN-2000JNoBRDN-2000.png
DN-2000J without Bass ring (Yellow), in comparison to DN-2000 (Orange).
 
 
18DN-2000JDN-2000.png
DN-2000J with Bass ring (Blue), in comparison to DN-2000 (Orange).
 

Measurement at 60 Hz shown that the Bass ring boost the bass area by around 6 dB.
 
19DN-2000JBassRing.png
DN-2000J bass response comparison, with (Blue) and without bass ring (Yellow)
 
 
 
DN-2000J to me is a keeper. It is probably not an IEM that impressed me at first try, but it does grow on me, and the more I use it the more I impress by its capability. Now it is my favourite IEM for listening to classical, instrumental, and binaural recordings. It is also the IEM that goes with me for Pro Audio activities. Kudos to DUNU!
 
 
 

Specifications:
Drivers: Dynamic (10mm) + 2x Balanced Armature
Frequency range: 4 Hz-40 KHz
Impedance: 8O
Sensitivity: 112±2dB
Connections: 3.5mm Gold-plated
Cable: 1.2m
Weight: 21.8g
 
20P1060417.jpg
 
21P1060420.jpg
 
 
I apologize for the incomplete Silicone eartips shown in the picture below. Somehow I misplaced the Silicone eartips and I couldn’t find them during picture taking. Please check accessories picture from other reviews for all the Silicone eartips that come with DN-2000J.
22P1320666.jpg
 
23P1060424.jpg
 
 
 

Earphones / IEMs:
DUNU DN-1000
DUNU DN-2000
DUNU DN-2000J
1965 Ears V3
 
DAPs, DACs, & Headphone Amplifiers:
Astell&Kern AK100
Audio-Technica AT-HA22TUBE
Chord Mojo
Fiio X3 2nd gen
iBasso DX90
ifi micro iDSD (firmware 4.06)
Onkyo DP-X1
Superlux HA3D
 
Measurement Microphone:
MiniDSP UMIK-1
 
Some recordings used in this review:
2416Albums-A1000px.jpg
EasyEnemy
EasyEnemy
Does anyone knows how is DN-2000j in comparison to ATH-IM03? Please kindly share with me. Thank you.
tacit
tacit
Thank you very much for the great review and sound advice! It helped me greatly and now I actually use suggested configuration.
harry501501
harry501501
I know this is an old review but it's one of the best I've ever read. As someone with both the 1000 and 2000 and with the chance at getting the 2000 j cheap it's a great help. I won't be buying them as they're most likely too bright for me, but I appreciate the advice here,it's helped make my decision so thanks
Pros: Wow. Dazzlingly spectacular presentation. Hyper dazzling treble.
Cons: See Pro’s
DUNU DN-2000J Quick Review by mark2410
 
Thanks to DUNU for the sample.
 
Full review here http://www.head-fi.org/t/811833/dunu-dn-2000j-review-by-mark2410
 
Brief:  DUNU’s new treble king.
 
Price :  £225 or US$349
 
Specifications:  Driver: Liquid crystal composite Titanium dynamic*1, Balanced armature*2, Frequency response: 4Hz-40KHz, Sensitivity: 102±2dB, Impedance: 8Ω, Plug Size: 3.5mm gold plated, Cable length: 1.2mm, Weight: 21.8g
 
Accessories:  10 sets of Eartips, 3 pairs of Comply foam eartips, 1 pair of Earhook, 3.5mm Female to 6.5mm Male Adapter, 3.5mm Female to 2-pin Male Adapter, Aluminium alloy box, 8 pairs of  adjust ring, 4 pairs of fitting rubber, 1 pair of protective rubber ring, Shirt Clip
 
Build Quality:  The exact same high stand we’ve come to expect from DUNU, first class.
 
Isolation:  For having a dynamic in them not bad, they are perfectly fine for on a bus, walking out and about sorta stuff.  Tube commutes and flight I’d give a skip unless I had nothing else.  Still as ever they are easily enough to make yourself roadkill if you fail to remember and use your eyes near traffic.
 
Comfort/Fit:  For the most part good.  I’m still not taken with the little sticky out bit that every so often would stab my ear when inserting them.  I wish they would just remove it but anyway, it wasn’t really a big issue.  In actual use they were fine and as comfy as every other normal round IEM. 
 
Aesthetics:  Not bad. I like the bare metal silvered nature but for some reason I wasn’t loving them.  I’m normally a sucker for bare metal but these I was a little indifferent to.  They look not bad, nothing special visually.
 
Sound:  These from the first instant you hear them you’ll discover a terrifying new level of detail that you may not have realised existed.  Wow are these baby’s detail cannons or what.  Side by side with their close siblings, the DN-2000, these are they but with treble steroids.  Oh lordy are these treble happy.  It’s not to say that the bass isn’t there nor that it isn’t extremely capable because it is as are the mids.  The bass is light, gently and lightly sculpted and wise you can push it, force it to roar it’s not its natural inclination.  Its bass is a paragon of neutrality and precision.  The mids too, they are very capable.  Lacking a bit of breadth, they want to narrow, focus things up and launch it out at in one narrowly focused beam.  Beam like that of a laser, so clean cutting, so perfectly focused and precise.  Full of soul and flavour?  Na not so much.  These are more about the crystal clear and cuttingly sharp presentation than silly wishy washy things like soul or comfort.  Spectacularly detailed of course but it wants to over focus and power project that clarity.  The treble too it likes to show you just how skilful it can be, it wants to show off and dazzle you, like a lead crystal decanter exploding before you.  It’s a seriously dazzlingly wow presentation.
 
Value:  DUNU have always been great value and while upper end stuff experiences diminishing returns you get what you pay for and more.
 
Pro’s:  Wow.  Dazzlingly spectacular presentation.  Hyper dazzling treble.
 
Cons:  See Pro’s
anqallyt
anqallyt
anqallyt
Its funny how the same ear bud can sound different. The ear is a finely crafted part of the body. I have zero fatigue with these and find the bass is very present and deep but the mids are laid back. It is track dependent. Some songs the vocals are harsh but most  are stellar. I will see how it is after 100 hours. My ie80's were a huge let down before 100 hour burn in. These for the price do a lot more. The comfort is top notch and these will be my portable ear buds. I got custom tips for my Westones and well let's not go there. My worry is if I take them off will I break them. I am convinced universal IEMS are tuned for in conjunction with their stems if you extend them ie... ear tips you change the sound. Another topic... DN-2000J's are top notch.great
EasyEnemy
EasyEnemy
Does anyone knows how is DN-2000j in comparison to ATH-IM03? Please kindly share with me. Thank you.

djvkool

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: SQ, Accessories, Build
Cons: Nothing really stands out...
INTRO
 
2000J-7.jpg
 
First of all, a big THANK YOU to Vivian from Dunu for providing the review unit. It is much appreciated, and my humble ears are feeling so incredibly honoured to be included as one of the reviewers
I would take the opportunity to apologise to Vivian as well for the delay in publishing the review, I was one of the first few members who were sent with the review unit, but unfortunately due to many unforeseen family issues, I wasn’t able to finish the review until now.
 
This is the third triple hybrid IEM from Dunu, and it is currently the top of the line model from Dunu. The previous 2 triple hybrids are the DN-1000 (which was the game changer in the triple-driver hybrid technology back in the days), and the DN-2000, which I like very much, and was my go to IEM for a long time, until I receive this review sample
 
Technical Specifications
  1. Driver:         10mm Titanium Coated Dynamic & Dual-Balanced Armature Drivers
  2. Frequency Range: 4hz – 4khz
  3. Impedance:     8Ω
  4. Sensitivity:      102dB
  5. Weight:         21.8g
  6. Plug:           3.5mm stereo, gold-plated (MP3, iPod, iPhone & iPad Supported)
  7. Cable:          1.2 m
 
My expectation was advertently high because of three things; one, Dunu’s excellent track record in the past, and for the pure and simple fact that almost every single product they released thus far have been nothing short of excellence; two, 1000 was breathtaking, then 2000 was even better (YMMV), therefore 2000J should be better, if the trend continues; and three, the knowledge that Dunu is the master of hybrids.
 
With many excellent offering lately from different manufacturers, the 2000J does have a lot of competition, and being priced across the top end of the market, there is no doubt that people will have somewhat big expectations. How will it perform, and will it satisfy the enthusiast and audiophiles? How does it compare to some of the competitors in the market.
 
Perhaps, I would say that the excellent Fidue A83 would be its direct competitor, how does it compare against A83? As I have both unit, I will do a special comparison below, as well as comparing the 2000J to my other current favourite, the UE900. As a bit of bonus at the end which I have just added this week, a short paragraph of comparison between the 2000J, and my new favourite, the ADEL U12
 
2000j-4.jpg
 
The components that I used for this review are as follows
  1. iPod Classic
  2. Fiio X5 DAP
  3. XDuoo X3
  4. Desktop (through Aune T1)
  5. MacBook Air (straight out, and through Dragonfly)
  6. Spotify (highest quality streaming), 320k MP3’s, 16/44 and 24/96 FLAC’s
  7. Tidal (FLAC streaming)
 
Packaging and accessories
 
2000J-1.jpg
 
The packaging of 2000J is similar to the packaging of the other Dunu IEM’s since 2013. You get a book style box, with a clear plastic over the display area that shows the box, the unit, and the silicone tips.
 
2000J-2.jpg
 
In terms of accessories, historically Dunu never holds back, and the same story applies here. Tips wise, there are 10 pairs of silicone tips, and 3 pairs of genuine Comply foam tips. Besides the tips, you also get 6 pairs of the famous Dunu spacer rings, 2 pairs of bass spacer rings, 4 pairs of fins, and an earhook. Finally, there are also 3.5mm to 6.5mm adapter, an airline adapter, and a shirt clip.
 
The case is very good, it is literally the same case to the 900 and 2000. Could be a little bit tacky for some people, but I actually like it. The only downside of the case is the fact that it is too tight, therefore could be hard to pull open
 
Build Quaility, Isolation, and Comfort
 
2000J-9.jpg
 
The body is barrel type, pretty much the same as the original 2000, and quite similar to the 1000, expect not as heavy/solid
 
2000J-8.jpg
 
The cable is PVC-type, which is smooth but solid and tangle free at the same time
 
2000J-11.jpg
 
Comfort is as good as the 1000, 900, and 2000. Barrel-type body is pretty much my favourite style of housing, as I have a large and deep canal, sometimes can be hard for an IEM to stay in my ear, especially if it is one of them ergonomic style body (like Noble IEMs for example, sublime sounding, but the housing is too small, always have hard times staying in my ear). With barrel-type body, as long as the tips fits snuggly, I can pretty much adjust the depth, even use it while sleeping on my side, without any problem whatsoever.
 
2000J-10.jpg
 
 
SOUND QUALITY
 
A quick note here before we go on to the sound, historically I like using large-bore tips whenever possible, mainly because of the bigger soundstage, and enhanced bass effect to some extent. The same applies here, for the purpose of this review, I am using UE TF10’s large silicone, as well as the stock silicone tips. Comply foam tips works too, but I feel that using Comply takes away little bit of clarity/sparkle from the sound
 
The general sound signature is balanced, little bit on the bright side, with amazing details and clarity. As always, the ideal sound to any individual’s ear may depends on the bore size of the tips, the type of tips (silicone, foam), and the depth of insertion. The most important thing here is to get a seal that is as close to perfect as possible, I have tried combinations of tips with different bore size and length, each one gave me some different sound, but I finally settled on the large TF10’s silicone with a large bore.
 
Bass
 
Without the bass rings, the bass is around the neutral level, at the same time, it possesses an incredible speed and extension, basically one of the quickest, if not the quickest, dynamic-driver bass that I have ever heard.
 
Listening to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ Downtown, and Cowboy Boots, I was expecting a rather anaemic bass response, due to the neutral level of the bass, but what I experienced is actually quite the opposite. At the start of Downtown, the bass kicks in with an incredible impact, then the rumble follows on and it seems to go forever. Same story with Cowboy Boots
 
With the bass ring in place, it lifts the impact of the bass by about 1.5x to 2x the normal level, the sub-bass level increase by about the same value, and slightly thicker in texture. To be honest, my preference lies on the ring-less version
 
Midrange
 
The midrange is neither forward nor recessed, detailed, a little on the bright side, especially in the upper midrange, and airy. Good example to showcase the midrange is War’s City, Country, City, at the start of the track where the guitar strums from the left side, you can hear how accurate the projection is, just perfection. Further on in the track, there are a lot of instrument playing at the same time, there is never any moment that any instrument get lost, or congested in the presentation. They are all projected to perfection, with some of the best imaging that I ever heard. I would recommend that you listen to this track, especially if you have 2000J with you
 
Alabama Shakes - Don’t Wanna Fight is an excellent track to test 2000J’s ability in the lower midrange area, just like the above, everything is sublime. Not one moment that Britanny Howard’s lower tone voice feels lost in the congestion of all the instrument
 
Sia – Chandelier is my go to track to test the ability of the upper midrange, and again, 2000J shines bright here. Even when she belts out the big note starting from 0:32, the projection is clean, accurate, and absolutely free of distortion. I have come across many IEM which failed with this tune, Sia has a unique voice that sometimes can be hard to project, especially when she belts out the big note
 
Treble
 
The treble is bright, energetic, with an excellent clarity, and just like the all the previous Dunu’s IEM, this area is where the importance of a good tips, and the benefit of the spacer rings are relevant. Historically, smaller bore tips tend to be much more sibilance prone than the large bore counterparts. Hence why I always stick to large bore tips, and the silver spacer with all of Dunu’s IEM since the 1000. This combination gives me the perfect balance between brightness, sparkle, and clarity without being sibilant
 
Cold Chisel – Flame Trees is my go to track to test sibilance, and with 2000J, Barnesy sounds as good as ever. Very much sibilant-free while maintaining the crisp edge when he belts out the bid notes.
 
Overall Presentation
 
Soundstage is pretty spacious, very much similar to the original 2000. It is not as expansive nor as 3D as the 1000, or Havi for example.
 
Transparency and separation are excellent, pretty much showcased in the track City, Country, City by War as discussed above, you can pretty much pin point what instrument are playing and the location in your head stage pretty much
 
Imaging is rather good, though it is not the best, I found that Altone’s hybrid generally have better imaging, but again, in the context of the overall presentation, it’s all balanced out.
 
2000j-5.jpg
 
COMPARISON TO OTHER IEM
 
Fidue A83 (Triple Hybrid)
 
The showdown of 2 excellent triple hybrids here, and the two that are directly competing with each other in the market. They both are similarly priced, and somewhat similar in general presentation.
 
Let’s start off with the bottom end. Impact wise, they are similar, but because of the warmth, A83 sounds like the bass packs a bit more punch. Next to A83, 2000J’s bass sounds leaner, but definitely a little quicker, and has a slightly better extension, though not as hard hitting
 
In the midrange, this is where it gets interesting. A83 is well known for its transparency, so much so that it is rather unforgiving to bad recordings. In general 2000J’s midrange has a bit more sparkle, especially in the upper midrange area, and although it is not as transparent as A83, it can be a benefit in the way of the fact that it is much more forgiving on bad recordings (and let’s face it, in the times when online streamers are incredibly popular, a more forgiving IEM is perhaps more desirable, and that is exactly the case here with 2000J)
 
Treble wise they have similar traits, a little on the bright side, sparkly, and rather energetic. However, listening a bit closer shows that A83’s treble is perhaps a touch more forward in comparison, and, just like the midrange, it is also more transparent than the 2000J
 
Ultimate Ears UE900 (Quad-BA)
 
Two, totally different driver setup here, in a way, perhaps it’s not a good comparison. But these two are 2 of my 3 favourites at the moment (the other being Adel U12 which I am comparing with below). Also, they are somewhat on the same price level, thus compete in the same market
 
Straight off the bat, the biggest difference between the 2 is the overall warmth of the sound; UE900 is warmer, and in general has a thicker sound, whereas 2000J sounds leaner and colder in comparison. UE900 is also ‘louder’ in general (ie. 70% loudness in volume for 2000J roughly outputs at the same level as UE900 on 55% loudness in volume on my LG G3 phone)
 
Bass wise, UE900 has the typical armature-bass; quick, and hard hitting. In comparison, 2000J’s bass sounds light, and smaller impact, but while it gives out on the impact, in terms of depth and extension, UE900 is nowhere near 2000J.
 
Midrange wise, they are totally different. 2000J’s midrange sounds absolutely smooth, sweet, lean, and clear in comparison to UE900’s thicker and warmer midrange. That’s not to say that one is better/worse than the other, depending on one’s personal preference at the end of the day. Vocal wise, UE900’s vocal is slightly more forward than 2000J’s
 
Treble, both of them somewhat possess a similar trait. Both are sparkly, crisp, with good extension. The biggest difference is that 2000J is notably brighter than UE900, and therefore, more prone to sibilance.
 
ADEL U12 (Twelve-armatures)
 
On paper, this may seems to be a mismatch, but in reality, 2000J managed to holds out its own in certain area. Price wise, I purchased the U12 from Adel’s Kickstarter campaign last year, so in reality the price difference between the 2 isn’t that far apart. Just to clarify here, Adel U12 is a 3-way, 12-BA drivers, with configuration of 4/4/4. My version of U12 is the ‘upgraded-from-Ambient’ version auto-module in place (the manual module version you can control the size of the vent).
 
Let’s start with the bass, next to U12, 2000J’as bass sounds light and lean, where it trumps the U12 is the extension. We all know that armature bass, as good as it is, will struggle to match dynamic bass’ extension, as well as the sub bass. Don’t get me wrong, U12 has an amazing bass, impact and speed wise, but when it comes to sub-bass and extension, it doesn’t come anywhere near 2000J.
 
Moving on to the midrange, U12 has that smooth and lush midrange, 2000J sounds a little dull in comparison, here we can definitely hear the difference between 1 vs 4 armature drivers. It is not all doom and gloom however, where 2000J manages to hold its own is in the upper midrange, and the airiness. U12’s upper midrange sounds a little flat in comparison to 2000J’s which has more sparkle and energy, as well as being more airy.
 
Treble wise, it is similar to the midrange. 2000J’s is brighter and has more sparkle, though at the same time it is more prone to sibilance. U12’s treble is smoother and sounds a bit more laid back, but it is very much free of sibilance
 
2000J-6.jpg
 
 
CONCLUSION
 
There you have it, it is not every day that you encounter something this good, yet again Dunu has manufactured and produced something that is worthy of being a flagship product
Mark my word, and I say this without any doubt whatsoever, that 2000J is what perfection sounds like (YMMV). Definitely an upgrade from the original 2000, and better than anything I have heard around its price point.
 
There are several new offering from Dunu next year in the hybrid department, from 2+1 up to 4+1, and to be honest it will be very interesting to see how Dunu can improve from 2000J, and if they can, they will no doubt have another world-beater product. They’ve been successful on improving the excellent original 2000 with the 2000J, so there won’t be any reason to doubt Dunu to improve 2000J and make something better
 
Well done Dunu
 
2000J-3.jpg

d marc0

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Excellent Bass response, Great Midrange, well thought of accessories, high-end sound for a mid-range price!
Cons: Lower treble emphasis can be too bright for some when using the wrong tips.
DUNU DN-2000 Review
 
 
DSC_0262.jpg
 
 
DUNU’s popularity ran in parallel with the emergence of the mid-tier hybrid IEM's in response to the AKG K3003 hype. At first it was a tight competition between DUNU's DN1000 and T-PEOS' H200; both gaining their own respective fans. At the time I was riding on the T-PEOS bandwagon because I was fairly impressed with the bass and mid-range tuning. Fast forward to present day, DUNU has proven that a high regard for customer feedback coupled with relentless research & development can put you at the top. DUNU has earned the respect of the Head-fi community and that includes mine as well. I am now a fan of DUNU products and is even solidified with the release of the Titan 1 and DN-2000j.
 
In the past, having owned the DN-1000  and then reviewed the DN-2000 made me keep track of DUNU's direction. It was evident that this company is dedicated in improving their products with every model they come up with. The DN-2000j is the culmination of the company's take on customer feedback and application of new technologies to bring DUNU at the top of its game that is now comparable to highly regarded brands and their flagship offerings. Let's see what DUNU has done to earn my respect...
 
 
 
SETUP:  FiiO X3 2nd Gen > JDS Labs C5D
               iPod Touch 5th Gen > JDS Labs C5D
               16/44 FLAC and ALAC
 
TEST TRACKS:     
              Dr. Chesky’s Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disc
              Dream Theater - Greatest Hit (…and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs)
              Earth, Wind and Fire - Greatest Hits
              Pantera - Cowboys From Hell
              Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
              Live - Throwing Copper
              Taylor Swift - 1989
              Jewel - Greatest Hits
    
                       
_DSC4349.jpg
 
 
 
 
ACCESSORIES
 
Just like the previous DUNU flagships, the DN-2000j includes a wide assortment of accessories to help improve the fit, comfort, and sound. This is probably the most well thought of packaging I've ever seen from a portable audio company with one clear goal in mind: user experience - a testament of DUNU's dedication to customer satisfaction! Like most flagship IEMs in the market, these include the standard DUNU hard case, shirt clip, airline adapter, and a quarter inch adapter. What sets this particular flagship from the rest is as follows:
 
DSC_0256.jpg
 
The immense variety of tips ensures a perfect seal for whatever shape and size of ear canal the user has. The best part of it all, 3 pairs of genuine Comply tips are included... how good is that! There is a pair of ear hooks that can be installed for those who prefer wearing the IEMs with the cables running over their ears. In addition to that, rubber fins can be attached on the earpieces for a more secure fit. I personally did not use the fins nor the ear hooks because the IEMs already fit securely in my ears. But for other users, their fitment may vary so the added attachments may come in handy.
 
While DUNU thought carefully of the fit and comfort, they did not neglect the integrity of the DN-2000j's build and finish. Also included is a pair of rubber rings/covers to protect the rear of the IEMs. These will absorb any impact that my scratch or dent the nice silver finish of the ear pieces. I did however find that they don't sit securely when the IEMs are handled roughly. The rings get easily detached with the right amount of pressure but for its purpose, it may still prove useful when storing these IEMs in pockets or soft pouches.
 
DSC_0260.jpg
 
One would normally think that DUNU has provided enough... but wait, there's more! The DN-2000j comes with metal sound adjustment rings that goes on the nozzles to extend the insertion depth of the tips. There is an information booklet that explains the changes in sound when these rings are installed. I honestly think there are minute changes in the sound but because a lot of factors come into play, it's best to leave this to the user to find whether or not they need them installed. Personally, I use the blue rings but it's more for the insertion depth than the sound. Another bonus that makes an upfront noticeable difference in sound are the white bass rings. These rings can be installed just over the base of the nozzles where they can block the bass ports. Doing so will increase the sub bass quantity substantially and is very handy for those who love their SUB BASS! For my preference, the stock configuration has the perfect bass quantity. But who knows... I might find them useful someday to get that added rumble!
 
As you can see, there's only a handful of companies out there that come close to DUNU's packaging. So good on you DUNU!
 
DSC_0258.jpg
 
 
BASS
 
Like I said in my first impressions on the DN-2000j thread (1), the bass is perfect for my preference. I know "perfect" is a strong word and shouldn't be tossed around Head-fi but there's really no other word I can use to describe what I hear and feel about this. I used to "LOVE" boosted bass but my experience in this hobby has changed my preference. I have realised that a near neutral sound signature with slight emphasis or recess here and there is the most enjoyable for low volume listening in a quiet environment. Thus, a well extended bass response with a very slight warmth or mid bass boost is my choice of BASS and the DN-2000j is just that - perfect! What impresses me the most is despite the near neutral bass tuning, the speed, depth, and texture are so good in maintaining a natural sound. All these great characteristics result in a realistic bass reproduction thanks to the titanium coated dynamic driver. Metal Heads rejoice, these IEM's produce realistic sounding double bass kicks that never get washed out by bass guitar lines. Pantera's Domination on the the Cowboys From Hell album sounds glorious on these. Listening to Earth, Wind and Fire I was expecting a dull presentation from the neutral bass tuning of the DN-2000j because the recordings inherently have weak bass in the mix. The DN-2000j was able to overcome this and exhibited how resolving the bass drivers are. Not only did the EWF album sound enjoyable, the need to boost the bass on these tracks are no longer needed!
 

MIDS
 
The midrange is tuned just right and in line with the lower end frequency with a slight emphasis in the upper midrange. Others felt that the lower midrange is recessed but I honestly don't feel the same. Maybe if a listener concentrates on the lower treble which is boosted then the perception bias leans toward the treble making the listener think that the lower midrange is recessed. Using test tracks where vocals, acoustic guitar, and piano are the main focus, the DN-2000j will present the midrange just right. Not dry nor wet but enough to get the right lushness or emotion from the sound. Jewel's rendition of the classic Somewhere Over The Rainbow is a great test track for midrange presence and the DN-2000j delivers with flying colours!  Vocals both male and female shine with amazing clarity and transparency but more so in the case of female vocals thanks to the slight emphasis in the upper midrange. Timbre is quite natural especially in the case of Piano and Acoustic guitar. Distorted guitars sound a little bit edgy in the upper midrange so poorly mastered punk, grunge, and alternative rock are not as desirable. With such transparency, this capable hybrid makes it easier for the listener to instantly notice flaws in the mixing and mastering of the tracks.
 
 
HIGHS
 
This is where most of the questions lie... the treble tuning of the DN-2000j is quite polarising to different listeners due to the emphasis in the lower treble. To some it can be too bright while others find it great for detail retrieval, clarity, resolution. So let's dissect this and get the good bits out of the way... Micro-detail is excellent and there is almost no trace of grainy texture even at high volume levels. Clarity and detail are some of the very best I've heard from an IEM. Treble extension is great although I've heard better so it may sound airy but there's still an area for improvement.
 
There is an emphasis in the lower treble which can be good or bad. It's great for well mastered recordings but terrible for poorly mastered tracks especially when they were mixed to sound bright. Sibilance is an issue especially when using inappropriate tips and insertion methods. VERY IMPORTANT--The intensity of sibilance will depend on your tips, seal, and depth of insertion. I believe that Comply T500 tips coupled with deep insertion are effective in reducing this sibilance to a point where it is non-existent. I was originally hesitant in using foam tips because from experience I always find them to attenuate treble energy far too much resulting to this "veil" even on bright IEMs and that really bothers me. At first I thought this was also the case with the DN-2000j but after an extended period of listening, the foam tips actually attenuate just enough treble energy to not affect the clarity and transparency.
 
With Comply T500 tips I find the lower treble just a little bit too emphasised, enough to affect the timbre of high pitched instruments. Cymbals can sound a bit thinner than usual and can sometimes come across sounding a bit distant. The later can project an illusion of airiness and spaciousness which is a good thing. Although the lower treble emphasis is effectively attenuated by the foam tips, I still believe this configuration for the DN-2000j can be improved upon.
 
 
DSC_0255.jpg
 
 

IMAGING AND SOUNDSTAGE
 
The soundstage is wide and quite similar to the DN-2000 which is a good thing. It's not the best in the IEM mid-tier category but definitely better than most out there. The headstage is not as 3D-like as the DN-1000 but I still find the presentation to be accurate with good spacing between instruments. One thing to take note: this is highly dependent on the track and how it was mixed or mastered. So if the track calls for it, instruments are well placed in the DN-2000j's presentation resulting into a pleasurable and non-congested musical experience.
 
 
_DSC4336.jpg
 
 
 
CONCLUSION: After spending quite a bit time with the DN-2000j, I can truly say that it is worthy of its flagship badge. The competitive pricing that DUNU has introduced matched with the DN-2000j's excellent performance that can easily stand against top-of-the-line IEMs priced well above its category puts this company ahead of the competition. If you are looking for an IEM that performs like a top-of-the-line flagship but won't cost a fortune, look no further. This IEM may require a bit of work to reduce the lower treble emphasis but like what they all say: "Patience is a virtue". If you have the patience in finding the right tips, the right amount of listening volume, and maybe a bit of mod in the long run... the DN-2000j will more than satisfy your needs. Not only that, it is also more than capable to make you experience what a top-of-the-line IEM sounds like.
 
Special thanks to Dunu, @djvkool, and @H20Fidelity for making this review happen.
d marc0
d marc0
@Aero Dynamik  yes, if you've been using them for a while the brain burn sets in. To a trained new listener, he'll definitely notice the lower treble emphasis. Thanks!
 
@meringo  I try to stay away from the whole fixed or detachable cable dispute because it's really more of a preference than a need. Maybe to those who use mainly aftermarket cables to change the sonic character this will be detrimental but on the other hand quite a number of users don't believe in them.
 
I believe detachable cables are a nice addition but are not a requirement as long as the build quality of the stock fixed cable is good just like the DN-2000j's. I've already discussed this with a number of members in the past and I still stand by my reasoning that detachable cables may only add another point of failure. History suggests, people have had so many problems with detachable mechanisms because of poor implementation. In the case of the DN-2000j, I honestly feel a detachable cable will more likely be a point of failure because of the weight of the IEMs. If they were lighter like plastic moulded IEMs then it could probably work.
 
If you're after a detachable cable, worry not... DUNU has already taken that into consideration:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/744083/dunu-titan-series-1-1es-3-5-ti-coated-diaphragm-half-in-ear-earphones
flinkenick
flinkenick
It's good that you included what other people are downsides, to provide a complete picture
Arsalan
Arsalan
I need Help!
DUNU DN-2000j, Sennheiser IE800, Ultrasone IQ or RHA T20?
Thanks
 

HiFiChris

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: resolution, soundstage, Audeze LCD-X-like bass texture & body, humongous amount of accessories, build quality
Cons: high voices can be a tad to bright, bass could be a tiny bit more arid (though speed is excellent), L/R markers hard to see (you get used to it quick)
Preamble:

Before I start with my review, I’d like to thank Vivian from DUNU-Topsound for providing me with a sample of the DN-2000J for my evaluation.
My review reflects my actual honest opinion and is written as unbiased as possible.
Please note that I am not affiliated with DUNU-Topsound in any way.

Founded in February 1994 originally as OEM manufacturer, the Chinese company DUNU has developed in the past few years and launched many in audiophile circles highly appreciated IEMs, whereof the DN-2000J is the company’s current flagship model with three driver units (2x BA, 1x dynamic; three-way crossover design). There will be more products launched in the near future, which were announced not long ago (I’ve also reported about them on my German audio and headphone blog). Some of them will presumably even displace the DN-2000J as flagship.


Technical Specifications:

Transducers: 1x dynamic (10 mm), 2x Balanced Armature
Acoustic Ways: 3
Frequency Response: 4 Hz – 40 kHz
SPL: 102 +/- 2 dB
Impedance: 8 Ohms
Plug: 3.5 mm gold-plated
Cord Length: 1.2 m
Weight: 21,8 g


About Hybrid In-Ears:

As you can read from the technical specifications, the DN-2000J is a little different from most In-Ears and doesn’t only use dynamic or Balanced Armature transducers, but combines both in one shell.

Most In-Ears use dynamic transducers for audio playback which have the advantage of covering the whole audible spectrum and achieving a strong bass emphasis without much effort. Valuable dynamic drivers are often said to have a more bodied and musical bass that has a more soft impact and decay and lacks of the analytical character that BA transducers are known for. On the downside, in contrast to headphones with other driver principles, dynamic transducers often have a lower resolution.
Higher-priced and professional IEMs mostly use Balanced Armature transducers, which usually have got a higher resolution than dynamic drivers, are faster, more precise and have got the better high-level stability, which is important for stage musicians that often require higher than average listening levels. On the downside, it is quite hard to cover the whole audible spectrum with just a single BA transducer and strongly emphasised bass is only possible with multiple or big drivers. Some people also find In-Ears with BA transducers to sound too analytical, clinical or cold (in several active years in a German audio community where I wrote multiple reviews, gave dozens of purchase advice and help, from time to time I heard people that got into BA earphones for the first time using these attributes for describing BA earphones, especially their lower frequencies).

Hybrid IEMs unite the positive aspects of both driver principles and use one dynamic transducer for lows reproduction and at least one BA driver for covering mids and highs, wherefore the often as “musical” described bass character remains and the BA transducers add resolution and precision to the mids and highs – and that’s what the DN-2000J does with its technology. It is addressed to those people who perceive the clinically-fast character of BA transducers as unnatural, but want to keep the mids’ and highs’ resolution, speed and precision.


Delivery Content:

DUNU’s current flagship model comes in a plain, modern black package that shows a picture of the IEMs on its front. On the back, there are small pictures of the rough frequency response (which deviates from my perception in the treble), the included accessories, the IEMs and the used components. On the sides are the technical specifications in multiple languages as well as some information about the cable that has got four cores and hollow tubes.
Folding the magnetically clamped front lid up with the loop, one will find a description of the DN-2000J in Chinese and English on the left and a small plastic window with the IEMs behind it next to a labelled picture of one side of the IEMs on the right. Folding up that side with another loop, one will find the large amount of includes accessories which I haven’t seen from any other manufacturer in that quantity.
Besides the IEMs, the following accessories come includes: an airplane adapter, a 6.35 to 3.5 mm adapter, two pairs of large silicone fins, two pairs of small silicone fins, one pair of white silicone protectors, a shirt clip, one pair of ear guides, a spacious premium carrying case, paper stuff, six pairs of three different colour-coded spacer rings, two pairs of silicone subbass rings along with a small frequency response chart, three pairs of white silicone tips (actually four, as one pair of medium-sized tips is already installed), three pairs of grey silicone tips, three pairs of grey silicone tips with sponge inlays underneath the flange and last but not least three different medium-sized Comply Foam tips (T-500, TS-500, TX-500).
 

P1020743.jpg P1020744.jpg
 
 ​
P1020746.jpg P1020747.jpg
 
 ​
P1020748.jpg P1020749.jpg
 
 ​
P1020750.jpg P1020751.jpg
 
 ​
P1020752.jpg P1020753.jpg



Looks, Feels, Build Quality:

The DN-2000J’s premium quality metal housings are relatively small, wherefore the IEMs should fit most people. The housings have got a small hook for attaching the silicone fins, but the left/right indicators are relatively small, wherefore coloured applications on the cables close to the bodies would have been reasonable.
The nozzle has got a tiny vent on its stem and grooves that make the tips sit very firmly and prevent them from falling off, even when the spacer rings are installed.
Although the cable is fixed and not replaceable, it seems very sturdy and durable, is very flexible as well as soft and has got excellent strain relief. The y-split, chin slider and angled connector are made of black metal; the latter has got the serial number engraved.
Close to the 3.5 mm connector is a cable management tool that helps rolling up the cable and keeping it in its position. It is actually quite nice, but I personally don’t find it necessary at all and would have liked to see it being removable without damaging it, just like the one that comes with the Fidue A73.
I really like the sturdy metal carrying case, as it is spacious enough to contain the IEMs, some accessories and a tiny DAP, like for example the SanDisk Sansa Clip Zip, but yet small enough to not appear bulky. On its upper side are a reflective, gold-coloured “DUNU”-badge and right underneath a small lasered model name. On the bottom, there is “www.dunu-topsound.com” link stamped in.
 

P1020756.jpg P1020758.jpg
 
 ​
P1020759.jpg P1020766.jpg

 

 
Comfort, Isolation:

For me, the included silicone fins didn’t improve the anyway excellent fit and comfort, wherefore I didn’t use them.
Due to its shape, the DN-2000J can be worn both the “regular way” with the cables straight down or around the ears, whereby the latter is very comfortable and even possible to achieve without using the silicone ear guides when laying down due to the chin slider. In my ears, the IEMs sit very securely and comfy, with microphonics being very low.
Just as with my other IEMs, I prefer to wear the DUNU with the cables over the ears, as it improves fit, comfort and reduces microphonics.

Noise isolation is clearly better than with vented dynamic IEMs, but a bit lower than with fully closed models. Locking the tiny vent by using the subbass rings, isolation improves a bit.
Overall, I see the DN-2000J’s isolation somewhat behind the Logitech UE900, and therefore still pretty good.


Sound:

DUNU suggests a burn-in period of about 200 hours, wherefore I played noise, sine and music files for continuous seven days. This suggestion mainly refers to the titan-coated woofer.

My evaluation was mainly made with the iBasso DX90 and LH Labs Geek Out IEM 100; music files that were played were stored as FLACs, Hi-Res material and quality MP3s.

The following impressions were written based on listening with the large grey silicone tips without sponge inlays and without any spacers or subbass rings.

Tonality:

The description on the IEMs’ package actually reflects the DN-200J’s sonic characteristics very well: “the bass is powerful yet elastic, full bodied but without any muddiness. The midrange is sweet and delicate, clean and clear while remains rich and not grainy. The treble has excellent extension and transient to reproduce all the micro-detail and sparkle without over-brightness.
As you can read from between the lines, the IEM’s sound signature is rather of the engaging, but simultaneously tempered kind and describes a somewhat v-shaped sound signature, therefore emphasised lows and treble.
Lows are emphasised by about 5 dB and mainly concentrate on midbass, but aren’t exaggerated. Towards subbass, level decreases a little; upper bass and fundamental area are also emphasised with an emphasis that goes up into the upper middle root range but doesn’t affect the lower mids.
Talking about the mids: in my ears, they’re pretty much tonally correct, but high voices are rather slightly on the bright side, like with some other IEMs (I think of the Fidue A73 and Ultimate Ears Triple.Fi 10, although the DUNU’s mids are definitely less bright than the UE’s, but a little brighter than the Fidue’s).
Presence area is a little recessed, but not too much, wherefore the DUNU sounds neither strained, nor slightly veiled, but just right (unlike the Logitech UE900 and Westone W4R which sound a bit veiled due to their rather strong presence area/middle highs recession).
Level starts increasing again in the middle highs and has got a rather broad-banded peak at 7 kHz, but it isn’t annoying or piercing because the peak is not steep and highs have got a high resolution, although sometimes being slightly artificial.
Something pleasant is that treble extension is very good without much roll-off and is present even at 16 kHz, which is pretty good for BA transducers.

Tuning Options:

As already described earlier on, DUNU includes plenty of accessories, including multiple parts that have a moderate influence on sound:

Ear Tips:

Three different kinds of ear tips come included, namely white and grey silicone tips as well as additional grey silicone tips that have got some spongy material underneath their single flange.
I get the brightest treble with the white silicone tips; the regular grey tips slightly reduce high frequencies. Treble is even a slight tad less with the grey tips that have got some spongy material behind the flange.
 ​

P1020765.jpg



Subbass Ring:

The white silicone subbass rings are pulled on the nozzle when the eartips are removed and cover the small reflex port (= vent), wherefore isolation increases a bit, but still remains below the UE900’s. When these silicone rings are installed, midbass slightly increases and becomes more voluminous along with a more prominent subbass. Lows’ quality in my ears remains on the same high level with and without the subbass rings.

Coloured Spacer Rings:

The coloured spacers have to be installed before the ear tips. The red rings create 2 mm more distance between the nozzle’s stem and the eartip, the blue ones 1.5 and the silver ones 1.2.
I could solely hear a difference with the red spacer rings which shift the treble peak about 500 Hz lower. Switching back and forth between the silver, blue and no spacers, I couldn’t hear any considerable or reproducible difference.

Resolution:

Resolution is one of the DN-2000J’s major strengths, and the IEMs by the way have got a seamlessly coherent transition between the three transducers.
The IEMs’ detail resolution is on a very high level and from what I perceive somewhere between the UE900’s and Westone W4R’s, whereby the latter is in my opinion one of the best resolving universal IEMs below $1000 – as you see, the DUNU is playing on a very high technical level.
Midrange is very detailed and sounds authentic, with a very high speech and voice intelligibility. The DN-2000J reveals singers’ variations very well and nice.
Although highs are obviously emphasised, they don’t really seem really unnatural or harsh/sharp/piercing in any way, as they are very high resolving, with a lot of details and sparkle.
Let’s continue with the dynamic bass transducer: its overall character kind of goes in the same direction as my Audeze LCD-X, which means that lows are very detailed, sound natural and have got a gorgeous, seizable and tactile body. Impact is very quick and dry, though decay is slightly on the soft side, but without appearing muddy, sluggish or slow even with fast music. Not to be misunderstood: even with very fast double-bass attacks, the lows remain punchy, controlled and are miles away from sounding softened or muddy.
DN-2000J’s speed is comparable with the InEar StageDiver SD-2 with its vented BA woofer which is also rather on the soft side in terms of decay, just as the Audeze LCD-X.

Soundstage:

Soundstage and spaciousness are two of the DUNU’s greatest strength and top notch. DN-2000J’s spaciousness is as easy-going, roomily and effortless as the UERM’s, which means that there are no real perceptible borders to the sides and that the soundstage varies in expansion, depending on the track.
Lateral expansion as well as depth are very well and extensively marked, but luckily don’t sound artificially stretched.
Instrument placement on the imaginary stage is very precise and instruments have got a very good separation from each other, without bleeding into each other. Also layering is very homogeneous and without any gaps.
Hats off, that’s pretty nice.

Short Comparison with the Fidue A73, a lower-priced Hybrid IEM:

Based on my previous cross-comparisons with other fully BA-based IEMs, it wasn’t much surprising that the DUNU outperforms the essentially cheaper Fidue.
Their tonality differs quite a bit. The Fidue has got a 1-2 dB stronger bass emphasis with less treble accentuation and tonally less bright and therefore slightly more correct mids.
Fidue’s bass has got the faster impact and is a bit drier, but in contrast to the DUNU has got the inferior body and sounds even a bit blunt when being directly compared. DUNU’s lows are quite a bit more detailed, with the better and more vivid body. Generally speaking, the DUNU is audibly higher resolving with a higher richness of details.
Soundstage presentation is clearly better on the DN-2000J, with a more precise instrument placement and separation.
Though, as the DUNU can compete with very good fully BA-based IEMs, I was more or less expecting this result.


Conclusion:

With the DN-2000J, DUNU has constructed a to civilised fun tuned hybrid IEM that is on a very high technical level and almost plays in the league of a Westone W4/W4R/W40.
The dynamic bass transducer generates a vibrant, bodied low-range that doesn’t sound any clinical and is not exaggerated. Personally, the lows could only sometimes be just a shade faster, but that, subjectively speaking, also goes for the StageDiver SD-2 and LCD-X, but that’s just personal preference and I know many people who love those earphones and headphones especially for this. Be that as it is, lows aren’t really slow at all – my hearing is just used to the sound of fast BA transducers, and I actually find the DN-2000J’s compromise between body and speed to be purely felicitous, as lows are in addition very detailed.
Overall sound with resolution, precision, bass and soundstage is by all means definitely worth of being a flagship.
The only moderate criticism I have is that mids and therefore voices are just a bit too bright in my ears - sometimes to the extent of being somewhat too thin.
Along with the pristine build quality and the valuable, soft cable, the sheer amount of included accessories and the individual sound tuning abilities, the DUNU DN-2000J represents an upmarket overall package with excellent sound.
 

P1020757.jpg P1020760.jpg
 ​
P1020761.jpg P1020762.jpg
 ​
P1020763.jpg P1020764.jpg

HiFiChris
HiFiChris
@Arsalan 
 
Using the stock silicone tips with all three:
 
Overall technical level: IE 800 > DN-2000J >> T20

Amount of bass: T20 >> IE 800 > DN-2000J (> w/ bass rings and >> w/o)
 
Amount of overall treble/brightness: DN-2000J > IE 800 > T20

Midrange colouration (least to most): IE 800 < T20 < DN-2000J (leaner and brighter side)

Soundstage width: IE 800 > DN-2000J > T20

Soundstage depth: DN-2000J > T20 > IE 800

Cable/build: DN-2000J > T20 > IE 800

 
Personal preference: IE 800 > DN-2000J > T20  (would probably be the 2kJ if the mids were less bright at times)
Arsalan
Arsalan
Thank you very much :)
What about Ultrasone IQ?
HiFiChris
HiFiChris
@Arsalan
 
You're welcome. :wink:

NI don't know about the Ultrasone. Don't own it, have never heard it.
Pros: World class clarity, Speed and extension in both directions, Tons of accessories, Many options for a customized fit and sound
Cons: Can be bright and thin for some people (in stock form), Driver flex with installed bass rings
At the time of the review, the DUNU DN200J was was on sale at CTC Audio’s website for $349 USD. Here is a link to their listing of the product:
20150927_082359.jpg
http://www.ctcaudio.com/products/dunu-dn-2000j-triple-driver-hybrid-earphones
 
Introduction
DUNU is at it again…and again… and again…
 
What I’m referring to is their relentless pursuit of perfection. DUNU is on a roll. I think it started with the DN900, their first hybrid in ear monitor. It was decent but not perfect from the short time I had to listen to them and reading impressions. Then along came the DN1000. This was my first DUNU purchase (obviously not my last) at a time where few in-ear monitors could rival the fidelity and tuning as popular as my beloved VSONIC GR07BE. To this day the two earphones (who I feel rival each other in sound quality) sit very high on my list of preferred in-ear monitors. These earphones were released a couple years ago, which goes to show you how good the DN1000 is. It is still very relevant and popular with the Head-Fi community. I’m still hearing people talking about their pleasure with their recent purchase of these.
 
With the success of the DN-1000 you would figure that DUNU would let the hype subside and sales to slow down to make way for a new flagship. NOPE! Earlier this year DUNU released the DN2000, the new flagship with an improved bass response and more neutral tuning. DUNU introduced a new fin system (which got mixed reviews) and an improved accessories package. Although owning the DN2000 has eluded me, I’ve heard it and I’ll say it’s excellent. I’ve also had the pleasure of sampling the Titan, a single driver titanium diaphragm dynamic that is downright awesomesauce!
 
So at this point you have to think this is it, right? NO WAY! Six months after the release of the DN2000, along comes the DN2000J, a tweaked version of the DN2000 with improved fidelity. Today we will be covering them with a review. I would like to thank Jeremy at CTC for providing a “try it before you buy it” opportunity with these. Needless to say, I bought them!
 
Oh, and by the way, it hasn’t stopped there. There is already discussion of TWO new versions of the Titan, and also a FOUR and FIVE driver hybrid in the making! Slow down DUNU! Just kidding, keep the amazing products coming!
 
Disclaimer
I was given an opportunity to review the DUNU DN2000J  in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I am in no way affiliated with DUNU.
 
My Background
I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…
 
There’s something about quality DAPs, DACs, Amplifiers and Earphones that intrigues me, especially if they can be had for low prices. I will buy the $5 to $500 earphone that looks promising, in hopes that I will discover that one new gem that can compete with the big names in this industry. If you look at my Head-Fi profile you will see that I have purchased MANY different headphones and earphones, ranging from from dirt cheap to higher end products. For me, this hobby is more about getting great price to performance ratio from a product, and have a variety of different gears with varying builds and sound to mix and match. With personal audio gear, we tend to pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that just because a headphone has a higher price tag, it doesn’t mean that it has superior build and sound quality.
 
I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me the “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different builds and sound signatures as long as they are ergonomic, and the sound is pleasing to the ear. It is my pleasure to share my experiences with audio products and make recommendations based gear I have owned and used.
 
REVIEW
20150927_081602.jpg
The DN2000J comes in a black package with white lettering reminiscent of their other high end products. The front of the package has a nice close up of the earphone housings along with the product name and description. The first thing to jump out at me is the “Hi-Res Audio” badge located at the upper left portion of the box. If you aren’t quite sure what Hi-Res Audio products are, here is a link explaining it:
 
http://www.digitaltrends.com/music/high-resolution-audio-everything-you-need-to-know/
 
So basically, they cover a very wide frequency range and are geared to be used in a High Resolution set up.
20150927_081613.jpg
The Back of the package revealed more about the product’s features and accessories, along with a DN2000J frequency graph. The sides of the box showed product specifications and information about the updated cable. More on that in a bit.
20150927_081659.jpg
Opening the box revealed a description of what DUNU has done differently as compared to the DN2000, upgrading the driver and extending the response to 40kHz and earning the “Hi-Res” title. Opening another cardboard flap revealed the back of the earphones and a selection of tips along with a case so exquisite looking you would think it was holding top secret military weaponry inside of it.
 
Specifications and Accesories
 
Tech Specs:
Type: In-Ear Monitor (IEM)
Driver: Dynamic (10mm)*1, Dual Balanced Armature (triple-driver)
SPL: 102+/-2dB
Impedance: 8Ω
Hi-Res Frequency Response: 4Hz-40KHz
Noise Attenuation: 26dB
Plug: 3.5mm Gold-Plated
Cable: 1.2m
Weight: 22g
Warranty: 1-year Manufacturer
20150927_093213.jpg
Accessories:
3 - Pairs clear silicone tips
3 - Pairs black silicone tips
3 - Pairs bi-flange silicone tips
3 - Pairs foam tips
6 - Pairs aluminum spacers
1 - Shirt clip
1 - 3.5mm to 6.5mm adapter
1 - 3.5mm to 2-pin Airline adapter
1 - Cleaning cloth
1 - Pair ear hooks
1 - Soft carrying pouch
1 - Crushproof aluminum case
 
The accessories package is insane. DUNU provides enough stuff to mix and match until you find a near perfect application for your preferences.
20150927_081929.jpg
The DN2000J comes equipped with a larger than normal metal case featuring the product name. The case is somewhat difficult to open at first. I suppose this will loosen up a bit over time. The inside of the case is lined in a felt material. It is honestly the most luxurious case I’ve ever come across.
20150927_082641.jpg
The package includes some translucent white rings that can optionally be applied to the outer ring of the back of the earphone housing. It serves two purposes. It protects the outer ring of the housing from dings (the aluminum housing seems soft enough that a drop on a hard surface would cause damage). It also creates a better grip at where it contacts the ear as compared to the metal shell.
20150927_084130.jpg20150927_083100.jpg
The DN2000J has a metal tab on each housing. The tabs are designed to work with silicone wing/fin attachments that create another point of contact with the ear. I also noticed that the wings/fins helped controlled cable microphonics as well.
20150927_083356.jpg
There are red, silver and blue metal rings can be placed on the nozzle to control the amount of space between the drivers, nozzles, tips, and the ears of the user, creating minor variances in the sound of the earphone. Just like the DN1000, I didn’t find this to be a very effective application and sound changes weren’t very significant. I found the sound of the DN2000J to be just as good without the rings as with them.
20150927_082158.jpg
A set of “Bass Rings” comes included in the package. These are silicone rings designed to cover a small bass port where the nozzole meets the housing. When used the DN2000J get a slight lift in sub bass presence. I prefer the sound of the DN2000J with the bass ring. While it provides a slight lift, resolution and speed are both still phenomenal, and I don’t sense them being wooly or boomy at all.
20150927_083746.jpg
The DN2000J package includes some pretty unique ear guides with a patented looping system that prevents the all too common problem of the cable dislodging from them.
20150927_084833.jpg
Also included, you will get a standard airline adapter, ¼ inch jack, and shirt clip.
20150927_084725.jpg
The DN2000J has THIRTEEN sets of tips. This included silicone tips in a frosted white or gray, foam filled hybrid silicone tips Comply Foam TX500 tips (not pictured). All variances in tips are offered in three sizes (S,M,L)

 
Housings
20150927_143421.jpg
The Housings are constructed of lightweight aluminum. They are of average size and have slots for wing/fin accessories to be applied. The nozzle is slightly larger and wider than normal, making tip rolling beyond the prepackaged tips a bit of a challenge getting them to fit. There is a very small vent where the nozzle meets the housing. The strain relief where the cable meets the housing is short, simple and effective. The only negative aspect to the housing design I can see is the metal seems to be a bit on the softer side as compared to the DN1000, making it prone to dings and dents if mishandled.
 
Cable, Y-Split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs
20150927_143647.jpg
The cable appears to be of the same build and quality as previous DUNU models. It's a flexible black rubber material that has very little spring and no memory. As indicated on the side of the box, the DN200J’s cables leading to the right and left housing are hollowed out, reducing the amount of microphonics. DUNU also claims to use a four core cable to improve overall fidelity. I find the cable to be a perfect length for an in-ear monitor.
 
The Y-split is a black jacketed metal. There is a very useful chin slider that works very well.
 
The Cable jack is a metal jacketed black housing on a ninety degree gold plated plug.
 
Strain Reliefs are short but adequate, with a very nicely done strain relief at the cable jack. There is no strain relief at the top of the Y-split, but the cable cinch operates as effective strain relief all things considered.
 
Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics, Isolation
I find the ergonomics to be very good. Considering the variances of people’s ear anatomy, I can imagine some people possibly having an issue with some of the edges of the DN2000j housing. The good news is that there are so many accessories that come in the package there’s a wing/fin/ring that can help negate this problem.
 
 
The DN2000j fits my ear like most standard short barreled housings do. I really enjoy the fit when worn over the ear, but under the ear works great as well. All of you considering upgrading from the DN1000, one big plus is that this new model is much lighter than the DN1000 housing, making it much easier to wear without losing a seal or falling out.
20150927_143953.jpg20150927_143927.jpg
Microphonics when worn down are better than average from what I can tell. They are pretty much eliminated when looped over the ear.
 
Functionality
The DN2000J is a plug and play device. There are no microphone or remote options. DUNU designs this one to be about one thing only, sound quality!
 
Sound Review & Materials
 
I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justic for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
 
Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to asses and break down the gear’s response.
 
Source Selection
These are some very sensitive earphones. I can’t turn these things up halfway on a smartphone before they are incredibly loud. Use low gain with your portable sources, and be careful not to plug them into high powered sources to prevent an impedance mismatch.
 
I feel like the DN2000J really pairs well with a warmer source. I really enjoyed listening to these with my Fiio E18 and Shanling H3.
 
Because the DN2000J is such a high fidelity earphone, they will be brutally honest with poor recordings. Feed these things high quality music files through a good portable device and you will be rewarded.
 
Sound Signature
The DN2000J is already heralded as a great offering, drawing comparisons from some who have gone as far as saying the DN2000J is like the AKG K3003’s little brother, offering a level of fidelity almost on par with the AKG flagship (in case you don’t know about it, the K3003 sells for  around $1000-$1250). Pretty impressive for a $350 USD earphone. The speed in terms of attack and decay at every frequency is world class.
 
There is an open and airy presence to the DN2000J that is addictive. In stock form, you will get a tuning more on the thin and detailed side, and with a crisp top end that doesn’t shy away from the highest of highs. In stock form (without the bass rings) I found the DN2000J to be superbly detailed and crisp, but a bit thin and overly bright up top for my preference. Even at moderate volumes I got too many harshly pronunciations of the letters S and T.
 
With the bass rings installed, a slight boost in bass presence brought the lower end up a bit and more in line with the treble for my preference, making it a very enjoyable listening experience with good dynamics, while great speed and response. Sibilance and harshness seemed more tolerable to my ears. One thing to be aware of is that if you do use the bass rings, driver flex can be an issue. Just make sure to be careful and avoid stuffing them in your ears.

 
Bass
Without bass rings- Bass tones have a level of extension and speed that I’ve seldom if ever heard. Usually when a bass tone digs deep things can get just a touch sloppy. With the DN2000J I get NONE of this. It’s not in any way forward or boosted. In fact, it might be farthest back in the mix compared to the other frequencies. What is so special is that the DN2000J hits every note with a level of resolution that is almost too good to be true. Being a hybrid design, I hear no transition from dynamic to armature drivers. It's a seamless transition that is flawless from what I hear.
 
With bass rings- Bass follows along the lines of the the ringless tuning, but with just a touch more sub bass presence and added level of dynamics that I slightly prefer over the ringless tuning. Everyone who has heard these will probably agree that the term “bass rings” shouldn’t be considered in the same sense as other earphones. This ring doesn’t make them “bassy” earphones. It adds enough low frequency presence to cater to anyone like myself who finds the stock tuning to be a little bit too thin and bright for what I look for in an earphone.
 
Midrange
Midrange is in great balance, and with a very open and airy presence. There are micro details for days, and separation is superb. Male and female vocals are not overdone or spiked at any range aside from the occasional sibilant S or T. This happens more often with poor recording or at louder volumes. The DN2000J puts on a clinic in terms of clarity. There are times I’m covering a product and I have my wife listen to them for a song or two and ask her what she thinks about them. When I had her listen to the DN2000J, after thirty seconds of listening, she popped them out of her ears and said “these are the clearest sounding earphones you’ve ever had me listen to.”
 
If you want world class crystal clarity, the DN2000J has it, and I find this to be their best attribute.
 
Treble
Treble was a mixed bag for me. In stock form and without the bass rings treble tuning in combination with the rest of the spectrum gave me an impression of them being overly bright and butchering already sibilant music recordings. Adding the bass rings added warmth to the overall tuning and gave me a new appreciation of the DN200J treble. With them installed, the treble seems very resolving and crisp without being overdone. Your mileage may vary.
 
Soundstage and Imaging
Soundstage is pretty big because of the almost limitless extension on both ends and airy presence. Imaging is better than average due to it’s impressive clarity and separation of sounds. You can pick each and every instrument and voice and follow it specifically without losing any fidelity.
 
Comparisons
 
Sony XBA-H3 ($250 to $350 USD on many sites)
I don’t know if you could take two earphones with the same driver configuration and make them sound more different. The H3 is much bassier and has nowhere near the level of driver speed and clarity. Mid bass tones are more forward and unresolving. The overall presentation is more weighted and relaxed in upper frequencies. The H3 is more genre specific with it’s tuning. While I usually prefer a tuning with more warmth and weight, the DN2000J is so precise and clear I catch myself reaching for them much more often than the H3.
 
The accessories package on both are fantastic, and I can’t pick one over the other. The two detachable cables (one with a mic/remote, one without) is a nice touch with the H3, and their silicone and foam hybrid and silicone tips are probably the best universal tips you can get your hands on. Still the epic metal case of the DN2000J, along with adjustable fittings and tuning rings makes the DN2000J no slouch.

 
DUNU DN1000 ($165 to $200 USD on many sites)
The DN1000 is the old flagship from DUNU. Comparing the two, the DN1000 shows it’s age in comparison. It’s still a great earphone don’t get me wrong, but the DN2000J has a level of clarity, airy and openness through it’s midrange that the DN1000 can’t achieve. The DN1000 will cater more to those who prefer a more forward bass response.
 
The DN2000J is also slightly brighter than the DN1000J up top, but with an added level of resolution. Sound quality and clarity goes to the new DN2000J.
 
As far as build quality is concerned, I give a slight advantage to the DN1000. I prefer the stainless steel polished housing of the DN1000. Although they are heavier, they are also built like a tank and less prone to dents and dings. I also like the more discreet and sleek sixty degree plug of the DN1000. The case of the DN1000 is more pocket friendly, albeit less fancy.

 
Conclusion
If I get into a conversation with someone who says “I don’t understand why someone would spend hundreds of dollars on an earphone” I’m going to grab a Hi-Res DAP and my DN2000J and show them why. The DN2000j takes clarity in all frequencies to another level.

Thanks for reading and happy listening!
mikek200
mikek200
Outstanding Review
I enjoyed it so much,it looks like my next purchase
Any possibility,of a comparison to the Titan1? ,which I own,and love
 
Thanks,
Mike
Arsalan
Arsalan
Hi, I need help and a complete answer for the following question:
How is the DUNU DN 2000j compared to Sennheiser IE 800?
Thanks
Arsalan
Arsalan
I need Help!
DUNU DN-2000j, Sennheiser IE800, Ultrasone IQ or RHA T20?
​Thanks
 

twister6

twister6 Reviews
Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: hi-res revealing sound, quality build and finish, a ton of accessories with sound customization options
Cons: sound might be too “revealing” for some, low impedance (hissing with powerful sources), non-removable cable, hard to open case

 
Before I start my review, I would like to Thank DUNU for providing me with a Review sample in exchange for my honest opinion.
 
A direct link to a product page is: http://www.dunu-topsound.com/DN-2000J.html
 

 
It's rare to see a company releasing an update to their popular flagship headphone model a year after its initial introduction.  I’m not talking about refresh with cosmetic changes or an upgrade with incremental model number.  This is a serious update (the same model number, adding suffix "J") with a newly developed wide-bandwidth dynamic driver (going up to 40kHz to meet hi-res requirements) and redesigned smaller lightweight shell.  To me it says a lot about the company when I see them being obsessed about their flagship IEM, striving to improve the quality and the performance, and implementing changes based on their customer feedback.  I didn’t have a chance to listen to their original DN-2000, thus can’t compare it, so this is going to be the first time I’m testing and reviewing a hybrid IEM from DUNU.  Here is what I found.
 
Having previously reviewed their Titan 1 IEM, I found a lot of similarities in the packaging, though that didn’t take away from how much I was impressed with all the detailed info printed on the box: from high res images on the top of the magnetic flip cover to a complete spec with all the driver and housing and accessory details on the back and the sides, including pictures and description.  You can definitely learn a lot about the product even before opening the box, and DUNU even included a frequency response graph to give you an idea about sound tuning.
 
But the “story” continuous when you turn the cover open to reveal DN2kJ under another flip cover in a clear display window, and a lot of additional info with details about the product and the philosophy behind the design.  With another flip cover out of the way, you will find DN2kJ like two shinning jewelries in a gift box setting, a number of eartips, and a premium case with the rest of the accessories inside.
 
Unboxing.
 
dunu.dn2000j-01_zpslglsmgnz.jpg   dunu.dn2000j-02_zpsmb8d2ekc.jpg
 
 
dunu.dn2000j-03_zpslxwfeyaz.jpg   dunu.dn2000j-04_zps5jxyeve7.jpg
 
 
dunu.dn2000j-05_zpsaaimlvwa.jpg   dunu.dn2000j-06_zpsrd9iljyp.jpg
 
 
dunu.dn2000j-07_zpszknjtays.jpg
 
Before I even start talking about accessories, let me just say that I have never seen that many before with any other pair of headphones I reviewed in the past.  And what makes it more appealing, a lot of these accessories are not just "quantity" fillers, but actually quality original accessories I would like to talk more about in details.  It’s all a matter of a personal opinion if you find them useful or not, but I do appreciate the effort and all the available options to fine tune a sound to your liking.
 
Starting with eartips, you get 3 sets of quality silicone tips, each one in S/M/L sizes and all with a medium bore opening.  One set is white silicone while another one is in gray, and if you are not looking close enough you will miss that a third gray set actually has a foam inside of the cap.  Never seen such “mod” before, and it helps with making an eartip cap stiffer to improve a seal in comparison to the same eartip without foam insert.  I would have loved to see instead of white silicone set another set with a narrow bore opening, just something different for sound-shaping during tip rolling.  Also included were 3 sets of medium size genuine Comply tips in different types (T-500, Ts-500, and Tx-500).  DUNU is very proud of including Comply Tips and even mentioned about it specifically on the cover of their packaging.
 
You also get 1/4” adapter, an airplane travel adapter, and a shirt clip for the cable.  These particular accessories are not at the top of my list, but some might find it useful.  Furthermore, you will find a large metallic case for headphone storage.  The case is sturdy with a good level of crush protection, but it’s too bulky for a portable use and not easy to open since you need to use both hands to pull it apart which often results in headphones and other accessories flying out.  I would be very careful opening this case and never do it up in the air, only over some surface.  Personally, I’m staying away from this case.
 
Moving along, you get custom earhooks for over ear cable fitment – another example of original slim design, not like generic ebay stuff under a dollar.  You can also find two sets of different fins for a more secure fitment (each one comes with a spare).  Unlike some cheap generic fins you’ll find with sports IEMs, these one are quality custom fins that go over the hook on the side of the shell – another original design element.  Also, you will find a set of silicone rings which at first I didn't know where/how to apply until I realized they go on the back, protecting the edge of the shell.  Maybe it’s overkill, but DUNU thought of every possible angle how to make fitment of their DN2kJ more comfortable.
 
Some of these accessories are intended not just for comfort but also for sound shaping.  We are all familiar with “tip rolling” while going through variety of eartips to find the best fit/seal which affects the sound.  Here you get a new way to fine tune your sound in addition to tip rolling.  It’s very common to control amount of bass by closing one of the air vents in IEM.  With a pinhole vent at the base of the nozzle, DUNU provides a silicone ring to cover that vent in order to increase bass quantity.  That trick really works and you get a nice sub-bass boost, but as an artifact you also get a noticeable driver flex (a pop when you insert IEMs in your ear) since valve is closed and there is no path for the air to escape.  Considering DUNU included this "bass-boost" ring as an option, I'm sure they consider this driver flex not to affect reliability of the driver covered under warranty.  Personally, I prefer a natural bass rather than enhancement not intended by the original design.
 
Last but not least, you have a selection of 3 sets of color coded spacer rings that go on the nozzle to extend a sound path by shifting eartips placement.  More distance between the driver and the eardrum introduces a little bit more space in sound depth which I was actually able to sense after a careful listening.  So it was definitely not a gimmick, but I do want to admit that extra space sounds a bit artificial to my ears, like someone just added a bit of a reverb to a sound.  Btw, considering DN2kJ has a nozzle with a series of grooves, there was no issue with eartips staying secure on it, even when they were not all the way in due to spacer rings.
 
Accessories.
 
dunu.dn2000j-08_zpsixnjgkqd.jpg   dunu.dn2000j-09_zps1nhsl4nf.jpg
 
 
dunu.dn2000j-10_zpskvseebtz.jpg   dunu.dn2000j-11_zpsmqavu3ex.jpg
 
 
dunu.dn2000j-12_zps7aljhr2r.jpg   dunu.dn2000j-13_zps6y9xqo31.jpg
 
 
dunu.dn2000j-14_zpsnoutcoks.jpg   dunu.dn2000j-15_zpsbomt84wt.jpg
 
When it comes to a design, DN2kJ definitely looks and feels like a premium high quality product.  Starting with a cable and specifically the plug, you will find DUNU’s signature right angle gold plated connector with a sturdy grip metal housing and sufficient strain relief.  Also, you will find their traditional cable tie in a form of a rubber flap that works great to keep your cable neatly wrapped when not in use.  Y-splitter is trim and has a nice strain relief on a common side and a slide out chin-slider on the split side.  When not in use, it neatly slides into the metal capsule of y-splitter.  Another interesting thing about the cable in the section above the splitter is the hallowed out wires.  You can actually feel that cable jacket is not very tight around the wires, creating this hallow space to help reduce the microphonics when cable rubs against your cloth.  I find it to be quite an effective solution.
 
Cable attachment to the shell goes through a short but sturdy strain relief that has a bump on the Left side to distinguish it in the dark.  Also keep in mind that due to a built in hooks for the fins (which also have L/R label on them), shells are not exactly symmetrical and I use that for L/R id as well.  Shells are made out of stainless and aluminum materials with a very sturdy build and a nice finish.  As DUNU pointed out, they worked hard on improving the ergonomics from the original DN2k release, and this “J” update is shorter and lighter, to the point where you don’t even need fins for a secure fitment, though I personally prefer to have them on.  I already mentioned about vent at the base of the nozzle and also about nozzle itself having step-grooves for a better grip with an eartip core.
 
Design.
 
dunu.dn2000j-16_zpsb7amxryf.jpg   dunu.dn2000j-17_zpseltruebq.jpg
 
 
dunu.dn2000j-18_zpsfua1veow.jpg   dunu.dn2000j-19_zpsswg3vnsx.jpg
 
 
dunu.dn2000j-20_zpsg0yb8jwk.jpg   dunu.dn2000j-21_zpsiq5i0q75.jpg
 
 
dunu.dn2000j-22_zpsnpg0jvpk.jpg   dunu.dn2000j-23_zpskbezhezx.jpg
 
 
dunu.dn2000j-25_zpsmsb4ljth.jpg
 
DN2kJ fitment worked for me both wire down and wire up, and either way it felt very comfortable.  Usually people with glasses prefer wire down, which is more traditional and makes it easy to take IEMs in and out of your ears.  With wire up over your ear you don’t even need an earhook due to flexibility of the cable.  But with a wire over your ears and the fin - your fitment is super secure to use DN2kJ while exercising or other activities where you move a lot and would worry that these 22g nuggets might fall out of your ears.
 
Fitment.
 
dunu.dn2000j-26_zps8962v2tc.jpg   dunu.dn2000j-27_zpsff2dvouh.jpg
 
The big question now: do these DN2kJ sound as good as they look?  They absolutely do shine if you prefer a neutral BRIGHT tonality with analytical level of detail retrieval and a touch of mid-forward sound signature!  Tip selection is very important because there is a very fine borderline where sound can get a bit harsh with wide bore tips.  Even some of the narrow bore tips couldn't resolve this issue for me until I switched to foam eartips.  That extra level of seal, thanks to foam eartips, was able to smooth out a top end just enough to take a few steps back from a sibilance borderline.  It doesn't make a sound less detailed or takes away the brightness, it just smoothes out a few upper frequency peaks, just enough to make high frequency sound more pleasant to my ears, though YMMV.
 
The layering and separation is typical for a bright detailed sound where you can easily distinguish every instrument and vocals with a nice layering effect in-between.  A sound is clean, vivid, airy, and spacious, with soundstage having above average depth and width.  Even so the soundstage is not exactly 3D, the imaging has a good 3D placement of instruments and vocals in space.  This is something you won't find when dealing with warm/smooth sound signature IEMs.
 
Low end has a rather impressive extension down to a velvety sub-bass rumble, perfectly balanced with a punchy fast mid-bass where you get a high quality bass slam without exaggerated quantity.  Low end is not exaggerated or enhanced, but the bass is still present and compliments nicely the rest of the frequency range.  Mid-bass separation from lower mids is surgically clean.  Bass feels tight with a fast attack and fast decay, very articulate.  Reminds me a bit of Titan performance and that is not a coincidence since DN2kJ introduces a new titanium dynamic driver.
 
Lower mids are lean and more on a neutral thinner side, while upper mids take up more focus, making sound signature a little mid-forward. If you prefer your sound with a warm smooth body, DN2kJ is not for you. It's all about accuracy, speed, and balance with analytical sound quality.  Vocals sound very clean and detailed, but not as organic due to thinner lower mids.  With some tracks it can even get a bit hot, but never harsh or artificial.
 
Treble has a very impressive extension, very clean, crisp, and snappy.  With my foam eartips, I don't hear any sibilance, just a very clean and detailed airy sound.  40kHz "high-res" audio extension is impressive on a paper, though I'm not sure who can even hear that high.
 
I know that sound description could be very subjective thing, and for some people it’s easier to understand a sound signature as a relative comparison to some other popular IEMs, especially to other competitive hybrids.
 
- DN2kJ vs A83: A83 has a lot stronger mid-bass punch, very similar mids, though mids do feel more intimate; also A83 doesn't have the same level of treble extension.  In comparison, DN feels more neutral/balanced, while A83 definitely stands out with a bigger low end impact.  Also, A83 sound is wider while DN is deeper.
 
- DN2kJ vs A350: A350 has a lot more bass bloat, with low end feeling looser, lower mids are similar while upper mids a little more piercing and pushed slightly back, not as smooth.  Treble has almost as good extension but it sounds a bit harsher.  Soundstage is a little wider, depth is the same.
 
- DN2kJ vs A200: A200 has a stronger low end, similar lower mids, but upper mids are harsher and you will find treble to be more sibilant.  In comparison A200 sound is more v-shaped and brighter/vivid in upper frequencies, while DN is more neutral and smoother (!!!) in comparison.
 
- DN2kJ vs A73: A73 low end has more weight with a higher quantity in comparison, especially mid-bass punch.  Lower mids are thicker and warmer and add more to a body of a sound.  Also, A73 upper mids are warmer and smoother, and a touch less forward.  Treble doesn't have the same extension, but still bright, snappy, and crisp.  Soundstage is very similar.  In general, A73 is warmer with a bigger bass impact, while DN is leaner, more revealing, and more neutral.
 
dunu.dn2000j-24_zpsxzbdfxtv.jpg
 
Another very important thing to keep in mind, with a low impedance of 8 ohms it will be very important to pair up DN2kJ with a right source to make them shine.  Testing with DAPs in my review collection, here is what I found.
 
- N6 - excellent pair up with a bright neutral airy spacious sound.
 
- QA360 - bass is tighter and a little more detailed, but also upper mids become a little harsher.
 
- AK120ii - bass is the same as N6, but upper mids/treble is a touch brighter/harsher.
 
- X5ii - excellent pair up with a bright neutral spacious sound, a touch less smoother upper mids (<N6).
 
- Note 4 - good pair up, neutral bright, but mids pushed a little more forward and bass is not as articulate.
 
For those planning to use DN2kJ with an external portable amp, here are a few of the test results running them with some of my amps from Line Out of Cayin N6.
 
- C5 - hissing (in low gain even at min volume), excellent with bass boost (more body), sound is thin/digital, very analytical and harsher than N6 alone.
 
- E12A - dead quiet (no hissing), with bass boost only a sub-bass gets affected, not as much body, sound is similar to N6 output, not as harsh as C5.
 
- HA-2 (amp) - hissing (in low gain, but not as much as C5), bass boost is more in mid-bass; sound is as harsh as using C5, maybe a tiny bit better.
 
Also, with my Note 4, there was no hissing, and it was actually a good pair up, with mids pushed a little more forward, and output being not as harsh as with C5 and HA-2, but on a level of E12A and N6.  Adding HA-2 to Note 4 - hissing (but low level), switching between lo/hi gain produces the same amount of hissing, here bass-boost adds more body, sound is not as harsh, very resolving, probably the best pair up I heard so far.  The transparent smooth characteristic of HA-2 helps DN2kJ to retain details and makes sound a bit smoother at the top.
 
Conclusion.
 
There is no doubt, DUNU DN2kJ looks premium, feels premium, comes with a premium set of unique sound shaping accessories, and has a very distinct clean premium sound.  After the burn in (I typically run 100hrs with my headphones), I was still on the fence if I do or don't like the revealing sound signature of these hybrid IEMs.  I do like a warmer fuller body sound with a little more bass impact, but every time I switched to another pair of headphones - I caught myself reaching out back for DN2kJ because I was missing that extra resolution in my sound, it was THAT addictive!!!  I wouldn't say these new DUNU hybrids are going to replace or to make me forget about my other warmer/smoother IEMs, but I can tell you with certainty DN2000J going to set a new standard bar for me evaluating any future neutral-bright signature IEMs.
ezekiel77
ezekiel77
Great review. I know exactly what you mean when you miss the details after switching back to warmer earphones. I would suggest trying the FLC8. To me it had incredible detail in the mids and highs, with just enough bass to support it. An amazingly balanced sound. It's also very flexible with the tuning ports and nozzles.
flippant1
flippant1
Also a big fan of your reviews! How would you compare the 2000J with the 1000. I enjoy the 1000 with its punchy bass up to mid volume where I find the bass a bit over the top. I prefer the GR07BE for higher volume. My main source is an iPhone 6. Any words of comparison are appreciated!
mikek200
mikek200
Twister,
An outstanding review,and because of your input,and detailed impressions,I went ahead and ordered the DN2000J's.
I have been a member of Head-fi for about 4-5 years,and never,have I read such a thorough review.
By the BY,I jt,s got delivery on the Titan's-1,and the 2KJ's ,will be here tomorrow nigh
 
I tip my hat to you,Twister,a fantastic job ,-wish all the reviews were this good-Many Thanks,
Mike

avitron142

500+ Head-Fier
Pros: Analytical Sound, Resolution, Build Quality, Comfort, Isolation, Detail, Soundstage, and Instrument Separation.
Cons: No detachable cable, Somewhat bright.
Introduction:

IEM’s have always been the little brother to full-sized headphones. Always have, and many believe always will be. But many companies are taking strides to close that gap, or at the very least providing something truly unique to the IEM market. DUNU is on the forefront of those companies; their DN-2000 and Titan 1’s have been widely praised on the IEM market for their build quality, and more importantly, their sound. IEM companies have to struggle with not only the sound tuning, but also with the small size allotted to them as expectations for IEM sizes grow demandingly small. DUNU is no exception, and although I do not envy the demands that are made of them, I do envy the results.

Why does this matter? Because above all things, it’s comforting to know a company you’re buying from knows its mistakes and is willing to learn to avoid more. A company that’s willing to learn from its customers is one I’d feel most comfortable to rely on.

So what’s the DN-2000J? I’m not sure whether to regard it as a large revision over the DN-2000 or an entirely new beast altogether. I think it deserves to be recognized as both. The DN-2000J looks similar to its predecessor, with a few improvements. While I’ve heard of DUNU applying titanium to the diaphragm of the DN-2000J to improve sound, the main difference I was interested in was the reduction in size compared to the DN-2000. Indeed, looking at pictures of both, I can say that DUNU succeeded in provided a small package in an even more compact shell – something that should not be taken lightly, given how hard it is to meet size demands.

Other differences include an upgrade to the wiring of the cable, which besides for sound benefits, allows it to be easily terminated to a balanced output with just a soldering job, something that’s a definite hit for those who want to use it for the new flagship players, and know the benefits of a balanced output.

Okay! Now we got that out of the way… but wait! There’s more –

I am in no way affiliated or work for DUNU-Topsound. For this review, I’ve received the DN-2000J as a review sample courtesy of DUNU. Despite that, this review is my honest and (attempt at) objective opinion towards the DN-2000J. Of course, all reviews are subjective by nature, so feel free to have a feel differently about anything I'll say in this review. Enjoy!

Packaging:

Boxing and such usually isn’t my thing, but for those that can appreciate a good boxing, the DN-2000J definitely brings a nice amount to the table. It comes in a sturdy black box that doesn’t feel at all cheap - definitely a good start. On the back of the box it has a few details about the DN-2000J, as well as its accessories.

P1000810.jpgP1000813.jpgP1000820.jpg

When you open the front flap though, you get a much more detailed explanation of the DN-2000J in both Chinese and English – a great way to give people something to read about the product they bought without having to search for it online. Opening the second flap, you get a view of the DN-2000J, the carrying case, and some of the many tips it comes with.

DUNU did not neglect the boxing at all – I don’t care much for packaging in general, but good boxing sends a message to the buyers that “hey, we care.” It’s nice to see that here, and it’s something to keep in mind.

P1000825.jpgP1000840.jpgP1000823.jpgP1000830.jpgP1000843.jpg

Accessories:

The DN-2000J comes with a great deal of accessories – definitely something for every buyer here. First off – the tips. There’s 6 pairs of regular black silicone tips – 2 pairs of small, medium, and large, respectively. Then there’s 3 pairs of white silicone tips, small, medium, and large again (plus a pair of medium-sized white silicon tips that came on the DN-2000J).

I could not find any differences between these tips, either in nozzle size or in build, so I think it’s safe to assume that the other pairs are spares, not different types of tips to go crazy over (“am I using the right ones? Perhaps the nozzle size of this one will give me more soundstage…” etc.). The tips themselves are of better quality than your average tips; the feel more solid and less flimsy than normal tips, which lends a hand to the isolation aspect of the DN-2000J, as well as comfort and fit. More on these two later, so stay tuned.

P1000872.jpgP1000874.jpgP1000876.jpg

In addition, DUNU provides you with 3 sets of Comply foam tips, models T-500, Tx-500, and Ts-500. In English, the first pair is the standard Comply eartips for isolation, the next is a pair even more geared for isolation (Isolation Plus), and the last is modeled for comfort. Each can be quite expensive on their own, so it’s nice that DUNU decided to be all-inclusive here and include them for the customers.

P1000850.jpgP1000855.jpgP1000863.jpgP1000868.jpg

The DN-2000J comes with a metal case, which is velvet on the inside. The case is sturdy and solid aplenty, and has plenty of room for both the IEM’s and the plethora of accessories it provides. The one thing I would think about for the future though would be the size of the case. While bigger cases cost more, and provide more room for accessories, I find the DN-2000J’s case to be a bit on the larger side, and isn’t one I could put in my pocket; only in my jacket/coat pockets and backpack. A lot of customers are more on-the-go though, so if there was one tip I could give here, it would be to perhaps provide a smaller, even cheaper, case just for the IEM’s themselves for people who don’t want to use larger cases. Other than that, I have no gripes here.

Then there are the accessories for your ear – ear hooks, and two different types of stability fins (to help keep the DN-2000J in your ear). There’s one pair of ear hooks, and two pairs of each type of fin. The fins feel sturdy, but I’ve gotten a great fit without the fins, so I don’t personally use them. But when I did try them I understood how they help keep the IEM in your ears; definitely a good move for those who have trouble with IEM fits. The ear hooks are great for those who want the DN-2000J around the ear, instead of being worn down – these need no introduction, as it’s a no-brainer for what they do.

P1000887.jpgP1000886.jpgP1000889.jpg

Then there are the tuning rings – two pairs of rubber bass rings, and 3 other types of tuning rings (2 pairs of each, color coded for each type). Each type has a different width, and can be placed to determine how far the tips are (on the nozzle) from the housing. While I didn’t personally test the sound differences between them, I can definitely say these will come in handy in decided how long they should be for your ears – people with larger ears may want the tips sitting further away from the general housing, while people with smaller ears, like mine, would probably want the thinner tuning rings or none at all.

The bass rings could be used for (obviously) more bass, and (not so obviously) more isolation, but I found that the DN-2000J has enough of both for my tastes to warrant the disuse of the bass rings. However, when I tried them, I did notice an increase in bass, as well as in isolation.

Along with the tuning rings are the rear IEM covers, to prevent scratching of the housing, better grip, and possibly for preventing irritation to the ear (by having rubber touch the back of your inner ear, rather than the metal of the housing). However, I found that the rubber covers make the DN-2000J a little too bulky for my tastes, so for personal use I keep them off the IEM. Why is this in the same section as the tuning rings? Because I was an idiot and initially thought that these were tuning rings as well, so the pictures have them together. I should have read the manual, ja?
biggrin.gif


P1000891.jpgP1000892.jpgP1000894.jpg
First Picture: Color coded rings on the left (for spacing), Bass rings in the middle, and IEM rear covers on the right.

Finally, for the last group of accessories, you get a 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter, a shirt clip to reduce microphonics, an airplane 2-pin adapter, and a cable tie, for lack of a better word. To me, the airplane adapter is unnecessary, but the cable cinch is a lot more useful than people might think. Gone are the days when keeping cables wrapped was a pain – the cable cinch makes that a - okay fine, I won’t make the pun.
wink.gif


P1000906.jpgP1000925.jpg

Overall, the DN-2000J comes with a profusion of accessories – I can’t find anything more I would want here. DUNU did a great job on this one, and besides for the questionable size of the metal case provided, I’m happy with what they’ve done.

Build Quality & Design:

The housing of the DN-2000J is solid metal, just like its predecessor. The back of the shell has the DUNU logo, which is a nice touch, and on the shell itself, there is a small protrusion for the fins. Also on these are the L/R signs, although an unintended benefit is that it’s easy as pie to tell which one is left and which one is right – whenever you see/feel the protrusion facing towards you, you know the earpiece is facing the right way. It’s as simple as that, and now I don’t even need the L/R markings. It’s brilliant, and an effective way to tell the left/right from each other, even without much light. Kudos to DUNU on this one.

Moving on, the next point of interest is the connection between the cable and the shell. The stress relief there is a small, rubber piece that more of a sturdiness to the connection than looks may seem to indicate. It’s small, but provides ample stress relief so that you don’t tear the cable near the housing. A firm wiggle test seemed to confirm this as well. However, at this price range, I would expect a detachable cable, because accidents do happen. If not, then I would hope there would be a big and rough stress relief piece to calm customers. People new to DUNU may take a look at the connector and decide right there that they won’t buy the product, because it looks like it could break easily. While DUNU’s small connector is sturdy enough to confirm that it won’t, I would keep in mind that many potential customers can’t actually feel how strong it is before buying it. Although DUNU’s secret formula included non-detachable cables, since so many companies have implemented a detachable cable, I would perhaps give thought to the possibility of providing one in the future, especially given the price. If not, then implementing a stronger & bigger stress relief near the housing would be a great idea. However, the stress relief is ample, despite the looks of it being weak.

Next is the cable itself. Before the Y-split, it is on the thinker side and sturdy, without being springy, a hallmark of a good wire. After the Y-split, it’s thinner, probably so that it doesn’t feel too bulky when you wear it. Either way, the wire on both sides is of high quality. The only request I would have for this would be to provide a braided cable, like the one found on the Titan 1’s. The fact that they didn’t implement it for the new DN-2000J is a bit of a bummer, as I really liked the braided cable on the Titan 1. If they would have used it for north of the Y-split, they probably could have eliminated most of the microphonics as well, as I’ll get to later. Either way, if a braided cable can be put on the newer DN-2000J’s from now on, it would provide a lot of benefits, in my opinion.

The Y-split itself is made out of metal, and has ample stress relief leading up to it. Despite its build, it is actually quite light, so it doesn’t weigh down the earphone too much. Printed on it is the model name, and it has a great feel to it overall.

The 3.5mm jack is right-angled, and – surprise! – it’s also built out of metal. I haven’t seen too many metal jack housings (for lack of a better phrase) so this really shows build quality to me. There’s a large amount of stress relief leading up to it – no breakage worries there. The right angled jack is definitely more useful than a regular jack with music players and phones, as it lies parallel to the device, eliminated many potential bending accidents.

Overall, the jack is solid, as well as the rest of the build. DUNU has been well known for their products’ build quality, and this is no exception. The DN-2000J is one of the sturdier IEM’s I’ve handled, and doesn’t leave much to be desired. However, I would love, if possible, for there to be a detachable cable in the future; to me that would give ample stress relief (no pun intended) to buyers who are worried about breakage. The design is brilliant, especially given the L/R protrusions, and the housing makes the DN-2000J look really classy – even non-headphone gurus can tell from the looks that it’s a well-priced item.

P1000948.jpg
P1000933.jpg
P1000943.jpg
P1000947.jpg
P1020019.jpgP1020018.jpgP1000928.jpg
P1000930.jpg
P1000919.jpg

Fit & Comfort:

The comfort factor is excellent straight out of the box – I wore these for over an hour straight and had no problems whatsoever. In fact, these are so good, after a few minutes I forgot these were in my ears altogether. Part of this success may be attributed to the quality of the tips – as I mentioned before, even the silicone tips provided were of high quality, and are much less flimsy than your standard tips. Due to the firmness of these tips, once they’re in your ears, they create a snug fit that is very comfortable. Using the Comply tips instead can also be very comfortable, if you like foam better. Worn straight down, the back of the housing, although it is metal, did not create any comfort issues for me whatsoever. If blind tested, I would not be able to tell that the housing is metal. I dunno how they did this, but it deserves a very enthusiastic and slightly confused thumbs up from me. Using the DN-2000J over the ear also produced very comfortable results; the DN-2000J’s performance in this department is excellent, and I’m not even sure how much better than this it can get conceptually.

The fit is also excellent, due to all that I’ve mentioned above. It is important to note the since everyone’s ears are different, your results may vary. In the off chance that the standard fit is not good enough for your tastes, the included fins and ear hooks make it very easy to give DUNU a nod of approval for the fit of these.

Isolation:

Going back to the tips, their high quality blocks out sound quite efficiently; I asked one of my friends to talk to me so I could gauge how good these were in isolating sound, and with no music on, I got very cross with my friend that he wasn’t willing to talk to me. –Only he was, and since I couldn’t hear him I was convinced that he wasn’t. Point made; and although I can’t guarantee these specific results for everybody, the isolation on the DN-2000J is quite good for an IEM.

However, if you find the standard isolation isn’t enough for your busy environment, the Comply foam tips (especially the “isolation plus” model) can definitely help improve on the good isolation it already provides. I personally found the regular tips to provide more than enough isolation for me, and I’m not one for foam tips, so I didn’t bother testing the Comply tips, but Comply is one of the biggest and highest rated manufacturers for quality isolation foam tips, so I wouldn’t expect anything less. Another way to boost isolation would be to use the bass rings, but it will have an effect on the sound, so if you want the bass boost, and also would like the added isolation benefit, great. Otherwise, you should be able to find good isolation without them.

Overall, a great IEM for a busy environment, as these isolate quite well, in my opinion. Bass rings or not, there’s enough opportunities through tips (to improve on the already good isolation) to satisfy most customers.

Microphonics:

There are some microphonics when worn down, however, this only occurs when tapping the cable north of the Y-split. The main cable produces no microphonics when tapped or otherwise rustled. The noise can be eliminated altogether when worn over the ear, with or without the hooks DUNU provides. However, I am somewhat disappointed that there are microphonics when worn in the standard fashion. This is a problem central to most IEM’s, though, so it’s not something I could specifically fault the DN-2000J on. In addition, the DN-2000J comes with a shirt clip, which is supposed to be a great solution for reducing microphonics. However, since the problem lies north of the Y-split, I’m not sure how effective the shirt clip would be in solving this ancient problem.

If DUNU could implement a braided cable on the future DN-2000J’s, like one that is on the Titan 1’s (with the addition of the cable being braided also north of the Y-split), I think this problem could be almost entirely eliminated, even when not using the shirt clip. This is more of a suggestion than a con though; I’m not even sure if the science behind the braided cable would help here, or whether it’s an easy thing to implement. This is just an idea, and a quasi-idea one at that.

Sound:

The DN-2000J leans toward the analytical side of things, rather than taking a more “musical” approach. The V-shaped nature of the headphone though makes it very interesting, though; the result is a slightly fun but comprehensive sound that is incredibly detailed throughout. I’ve never heard this combination before, and actually originally thought it was inherently paradoxical, but after listening to it for the first time, I’m definitely opting for this combination over completely analytical or a totally “fun” sound; this falls right into my need for a combination of a cohesive/musical sound, and at the same time, a detailed and accurate presentation. While it is near-impossible in my opinion to fully keep the characteristics of both, the DN-2000J manages to grab the best of both worlds in my opinion.

As a semi-disclaimer, I would like to say that although I’m not a big fan of burn-in, I believe that the DN-2000J are one of the few that truly sounds better after a few hours of burn-in than out of the box. I don’t think this is due to being used to the signature either; I made sure to only listen to the DN-2000J for less than 10 minutes out of the box (while taking careful notes during that time), leave it overnight with some burn-in tracks, and take another analysis the next day. Today (which is the next day), I’ve found there to be a few small changes that make a big difference in the long run. Out of the box, it had bright highs (albeit not Beyerdynamic-bright, but still bright enough to be uncomfortable to sensitive ears) and the bass was a bit too unnaturally large. The most noticeable changes were that the bass and highs seem more tamed. But more of that in the rest of the section.

For the non-skeptics of burn-in, DUNU recommends 100 hours for the DN-2000J to be fully burned-in, so to speak. I was only able to put a few hours on these, for the sake of publishing this review in a timely manner. So it is definitely not at its optimal state, but I think it’s close enough that I can do this section with confidence
I originally tried using the Shozy Alien with the DN-2000J, and felt it wasn’t a good match; the sound signatures of the two clashed, as well as there being more hiss than I liked. Listening to the pairing now, it sounds much better than it originally did, which leads me to the conclusion that burn-in is indeed a big help to the DN-2000J, although it could always be my mind playing tricks on me.

In the end, I used my Cowon J3 for listening tests, as it’s a pretty capable DAP as well. Amplification is for a separate section later, so stay tuned!

Bass/Lows: The control the DN-2000J has here is very remarkable; the bass is very tight while still having a punchy impact. It is also very textured and detailed, which came as a surprise given the slight boost the DN-2000J has in the bass regions. The bass as a whole is slightly elevated, less so now than out of the box. I would like to note though that the elevation feels natural, rather than artificial, and that it is not elevated by much. Rather than having a “bump,” I feel that these are steady throughout the bass region, and that the lower region alone seems perfectly balanced, and almost flat on its own, so to speak.

This is why I was surprised with the control this IEM wields on the bass. Anything less than amazing texture here would automatically leave me with the impression that the DN-2000J is bloated, given the slight elevation. However, I’m finishing this section please with the bass performance – slightly elevated to give it more “oomph,” but outstanding nonetheless.

Midrange/Vocals: Acoustics sound great; piano and guitars are what I listen to most often, and performance-wise the DN-2000J does a great job. Guitars are detailed well, albeit just slightly laid back, and the pianos sound natural. For the great performances of the DN-2000J, I think this may be its weakest link; acoustics sound great, but doesn’t have the “amazing” edge the rest of the frequency has going for this IEM. Vocals also are very detailed, and are less laid back than the acoustics, but it isn’t as in-your-face as other IEM’s.

Personally, I’m a big fan of this, as not everyone wants such forward vocals; the DN-2000J does great in this regard. Keep in mind though that the DN-2000J isn’t a vocal-centric headphone. It does justice to them as an IEM, but doesn’t focus only on them; the vocals become more as a part of the entire frequency than as the front-and-center of the song.

Due to its analytical nature, I believe this is something that is inevitable, but you’ll either love it or hate it, depending on your tastes and whether you prefer a more analytical and “correct” sound vs. a musical one. Some may find certain songs sounding slightly “thinner” than what they’re used to in this regard, but as someone who doesn’t listen to vocals very often, I can say that in my opinion, it sits between “laid back” and “forward,” although I’m not sure what term to use for that. I think I may be taking that last sentence from someone I heard a while back, although who I’m quoting unfortunately I do not know.

Even though the vocals aren’t exactly forward more than anything else, the cohesiveness of people singing with the other music in the background is truly impressive. That really goes a long way in helping the midrange overall.

Highs/Drums: The DN-2000J is a bit bright here, less so than out of the box, but still (what I would call) between semi-bright and bright. Highs have a satisfying “snap”, and an attack that isn’t often seen, while staying very detailed – more so than the rest of the frequency, in my opinion. Be aware, though, that any tracks that are already somewhat bright will have that revealed and forwarded by the DN-2000J; if you want a resolving IEM for your bright music, I would look elsewhere. However, barring that, the highs are slightly forwards, due to the “attack” it has. This may result in people with sensitive ears having to lower the volume by certain song – which then have to be raised again by songs without naturally bright highs. Violins are slightly less forward than the drums – I don’t exactly want those in my face so often, so I’m glad the exactly way they are.

However, if these things aren’t a problem for you, you’re in for some really refined highs; the only comparison I could here is to a really, really juicy steak, versus a dried piece of meat. The highs here are the juicy steaks, obviously.

Clarity: The DN-2000J is taking strides towards bridging the gap in clarity between IEM’s and over-head headphones – more specifically, the dreaded “veil” sound many find in IEM’s. While it doesn’t completely get rid of it, it is better than any other IEM in this price range I’ve tried – and if what I’m hearing could be relied upon, steps over the previous DN-2000 in this regard. The “air” I’ll elaborate on in the next mini-section also helps in this regard.

Soundstage: The DN-2000J has an “airiness”, and feels much less claustrophobic than other IEM’s I’ve tried. The sound is spacious, and the presentation very 3D-like. If you want more of a sense of space to your music, this IEM is straight up your alley. One of the strongest points of the DN-2000J (along with separation, imaging, etc.), the soundstage is really an improvement over other IEM’s. The refined highs definitely add to this. I think it’s more wide than tall, but this is just speculation on my part.

Separation: I’ve never heard instrument separation this good for any other IEM’s I’ve tried; not even in the same league. Each instrument, while being cohesive with each other, is easily distinguishable. It gives you the impression not of a muddy IEM, but a truly capable analytical headphone.

I wasn’t even keeping this in mind before I started my listening tests, because, you know, IEM’s sound more like a wall of sound. A detailed, textured, wall of sound, but a wall of sound nonetheless compared to competent over ear (especially open-back) headphones.

Not here. It was the first thing that hit me when I started listening to the DN-2000J, and something I want anybody reading this review to keep in mind. It’s been a stereotype with IEM’s, but the DN-2000J sure does a lot to distinguish itself from the rest of the lot in this regard. The soundstage and imaging (mentioned next) definitely lends a hand here, but still a phenomenal feat nonetheless.

Imaging: Imaging is good for an IEM. As mentioned earlier, the sound is 3D-like, and provides a good sense of where everything is. Over-ear headphones will still be better in this regard, but for an IEM, it does a good job.

Detail: Another one of the elite benefits of the DN-2000J. Throughout all the frequency range (lows, mids, and highs), the detail is especially good, but really has a slight upper hand in the higher regions. Keep in mind the contrast between the highs and the rest is “very good” and “even better,” so the detail retrieval throughout gets a thumbs up from me from every part of the spectrum.

Frequency Range: I took a quick glance at the specs and was surprised to see that the response goes all the way from 4 Hz to 40 Khz, a considerably larger range than what headphones usually produce. I did some listening tests, and with the volume raised, I definitely felt/heard it producing sound from the 15 Hz range and up; that’s where my frequency testing tracks start from lol. So I give credit to DUNU for having the frequency response extended more than the original DN-2000’s. Yes, DUNU, that isn’t going to go unappreciated. Well done there.

Frequency Shape: The DN-2000J would be closer to V-shaped than anything else I could describe. With a linear boost to the bass, and a somewhat bright treble, the midrange takes a bit of a back seat here, although I wouldn’t call it laid back.

Coherency & Flow: While being analytical, it still stays quite cohesive, especially after burn-in. Not leading class compared to top-notch over ear headphones, but probably as good as it can get while being an analytical IEM. I have no gripes here.

Overall Tonality/Balance: Despite being V-shaped, the DN-2000J is very balanced, without any frequency drowning out the others. No part of the sound seems artificial or unnaturally boosted in any way. The DN-2000J forgoes the warm sound many IEM manufacturers have gone for, and instead decided to take on the analytical and technical side of sound. It wouldn’t be correct for me to say that’s it’s laid back, though, just not particularly forwarded.

Hiss: The DN-2000J hisses quite loudly with my Shozy Alien player, which leads me to believe that it is quite sensitive, and prone to hiss. Something to keep in mind, depending on what source component you generally use.

Genre Recommendation: Music that is one-dimensional or vocal-centric may not seem to do great with these IEM’s, although those two will do great as well, if you’re looking for a more analytical sound.

To get more to the point, genres matter less here than the type of music listener you are. If you’re the analytical one, paying attention to detail, but also likes to get in the groove, the DN-2000J is a perfect choice. People who like a very musical presentation might not be totally happy with this IEM, although the V-shaped signature provides something to those as well. To those who are completely devoted to analytical sound, the DN-2000J is much better than most of the IEM’s out there in the analytical sense (in my opinion), so it’s definitely something you should try out.

Sound Summary: The DN-2000J definitely brings quite a bit to the table. Extremely detailed, precise, and wide sound is the game DUNU plays. Although the midrange is not as forwarded due to the frequency’s V-shaped nature, nothing is left behind.

Although I would love to continue to praise the DN-2000J, I think that about sums it up. DUNU’s product here is definitely topsound (you knew that was coming).

Seriously though, the DN-2000J’s sound is quite analytical, and excels at what it set out to do, so it more than earned its price tag. While it may not seem as impressive out of the box, over a short amount of time you may find, like me, the sound of the DN-2000J to be unique and completely addictive.

Amplification:

While it sounds better with amplification in my experience (the Meier Corda HA-2), it’s definitely not needed. With an impedance of only 8 ohms, this is one of the easiest IEM’s to drive. Although there is a slight improvement to my ears, amplification here is more to help your source player bring out the nice details rather than for the DN-2000J to be driven better.

How much of a benefit in sound you’ll get from amplification is dependent on what your rig is, but I can say with surety that you’ll be fine without one, provided that your source component is capable enough to produce the sound you want on its own.

Value & Conclusion:

The DN-2000J is definitely not a cheap IEM. However, it does more than enough to justify its price. The sound quality of the DN-2000J is like fine wine; the more time you spend with it, the more you appreciate what it has to offer.

The difference between non-summit-fi IEM’s and over ear headphones has been a hard one to bridge. Many companies have simply given up, and are of the opinion that it’ll never change. However, DUNU’s new offering makes breakthroughs in this price range – you simply cannot get a more 3D-like, airy, and balanced sound for the price, from what I’ve seen. No, the asking price of $350 is definitely not cheap, but is it a worthwhile investment? Yes, in my opinion, and more. The fact that this IEM tried going head-to-head with the K3003, an IEM 3 times the price, shows a level of quality that DUNU’s willing to push the limits here.

Disregarding its somewhat bright presentation, the DN-2000J stays quite balanced. As an overall IEM, it does an amzing job at what it set out to do. The DN-2000J has enough detail and separation for anyone’s analytical tastes, and complemented by outstanding build quality and accessories for all types, the DN-2000J makes a very compelling case for a long term, well-tuned IEM.

Hi-Res indeed; DUNU has done well on this one. I'd like to express a huge thanks to DUNU for sending me this review sample; it is truly a great IEM and I will enjoy it for as long as it lasts.

- Avishai Zitron

P1020021.jpg
avitron142
avitron142
The 2000J doesn't seem the place to go to revel in bass, so probably not. It has a very analytical signature, and benefits those who like that type of sound. I never tried the 1000, so I can't help you there. Sorry :frowning2:
flippant1
flippant1
Thanks for your reply. Thing is I am not looking for a bass dominated IEM. That's wat I loved about the GR07BE and disliked on the RHA-750 that muddy sub-bass that rolled into the mids and make overstated the bass. The reviews are ambiguous one saying "Bass on the DN-2000J is simply incredible and probably its crowning achievement. It gains traction like the GT-R’s near unflappable launch control..." I want a controlled bass but don't want a totally flat sound. That is what is so endearing with the DN-1000. The music sounds live. I suppose it's so subjective it's impossible to fully describe but I saw your inventory- Is it more similar in signature to a Titan 1 or a Hifiman HE-400S or a Shure 215 SE? Thanks for your time and patience.
flippant1
flippant1
Sorry- I meant the Hifiman RE-400 - something you don't have for comparieson so I gues the question may be moot or is it close the the Titan or Shure?
Pros: Innovative design and excellent build quality, wonderful SQ – balance, clarity, cohesion, copious accessory range
Cons: Very low output impedance may trouble some sources
dn2kj42.jpg
For larger views of any of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images
[size=24.5699996948242px]INTRODUCTION[/size]
My introduction to DUNU Topsound (18 months ago) was with their triple hybrid DN-1000, which rapidly became a hit with Head-Fi buyers, and was one of the first triple hybrid IEMs to show that top quality could be achieved at an affordable price. Since then DUNU has been a consistent performer, releasing a string of very good IEMs, including the extremely well regarded Titan, and of course their flagship (triple hybrid) DN-2000.
 
I’ve used this before in my other reviews – and I think it serves as a good reminder of who DUNU is, and where they come from, so please excuse me if I state again …..
 
DUNU Topsound was established in 1994 originally as an OEM supplier to other companies. Since then they have developed their own branded line of high quality earphones, and gone from strength to strength (IMO) with each release.  They currently have their manufacturing plant in China and head office in Taiwan. They now have more than 100 employees, and market their product range all over the world.
 
The name DUNU is simply an acronym of the principle design points that the company strives to implement in their product range
  1. Delicate
  2. UNique
  3. Utmost
 
Here is a quote from their website, which really does give an insight into what drives the company:
 
“With advanced technology and hi-end equipments, DUNU desires to be able to provide Delicate, Unique & Utmost products for Hi-Fi embracers. Delicate means extremely quality demanding on product process, from every little component to product manufacturing. DUNU has complete production line and equipments, including precise equipments, B&K frequency machine, IMD sputter, CNC machine, anechoic room, etc. Concerning design of product, DUNU also devotes to create unique outer appearance and balance in all sound frequency.
 
Utmost is not only the expectation on products, but also the pursuit of an Earphone Manufacturer. The founder of DUNU, himself, has years of experience in OEM/ODM earphone products in which many worldwide famous earphone Brands are included. However, in order to create the most enjoyable earphone on his own, DUNU’s president establishes the brand “DUNU” and implants many hi-end equipments and hires talented employees. From then on, DUNU takes the lead in developing the first Chinese made metal earphone, developing 5.8mm Driver unit and produce the very first Chinese Balance Armature Earphone, in 2014 DUNU release China first triple driver Dynamic and Balance Armature Hybrid earphone, All these preparation are to step on the world stage and to challenge renowned earphone brands. The ultimate goal of DUNU is to provide worldwide HI-FI embracers our Delicate, Unique & Utmost earphone products.”
 
DUNU’s full product catalogue can be found at http://www.dunu-topsound.com/product.html - and their products are supplied through their own storefront (globally) on Amazon.

 
The DN-2000J I’m reviewing today is an update and planned improvement on their original DN-2000 (which I reviewed previously), and comes in as both an update to the original DN-2000, and a logical series of improvements to replace it as their new top IEM.
 
The DN-2000J arrived to me two weeks ago, and I’ve been using them every day as my portable IEMs – so I’ve clocked up at least 50-60 hours listening time with them so far.  Although I’m not a personal proponent of burn-in, I was advised by Vivian that their engineers recommend 100-200 hours burn-in.  So even though it goes against my nature, from first receiving the DN-2000J, I subjected them to over 40 hours continuous burn-in over the first two days. So in total these have had near enough to 100 hours on them when I started my critical evaluation.
 
Read on to find out my personal thoughts on the DUNU DN-2000J and what improvements they’ve made over the DN-2000.
 
DISCLAIMER
 
I was provided the DUNU DN-2000J as a review unit from DUNU Topsound. I am in no way affiliated with DUNU - and this review is my honest opinion of the DN-2000J.
 
PREAMBLE - 'ABOUT ME'.   (or a base-line for interpreting my thoughts and bias)
 
I'm a 48 year old music lover.  I don't say audiophile – I just love my music.  Over the last couple of years, I have slowly changed from cheaper listening set-ups to my current set-up.  I vary my listening from portable (Fiio X5, X3ii, X1 and iPhone 5S + now the X5ii) to my desk-top's set-up (PC > coax > NFB-12 > LD MKIV > HP – and now the iFi iDSD).  I’ve recently been using it at work with the DAPs just listed, or PC into a Fiio E17K Alpen2. My main full sized headphones at the time of writing are the Beyer T1 and Sennheiser HD600.  Most of my portable listening is done with IEMs - and up till now it has mainly been with the Fidue A83, Dunu Titan, Trinity Delta and Altone200. A full list of the gear I have owned (past and present is listed in my Head-Fi profile).
 
I have very eclectic music tastes listening to a variety from classical/opera and jazz, to grunge and general rock.   I listen to a lot of blues, jazz, folk music, classic rock, indie and alternative rock.  I am particularly fond of female vocals.  I generally tend toward cans that are relatively neutral/balanced, but I do have a fondness for clarity, and suspect I might have slight ‘treble-head’ preferences.  I am not treble sensitive (at all), and in the past have really enjoyed headphones like the K701, SR325i, and of course the T1 and DT880.
 
I have extensively tested myself (abx) and I find aac256 or higher to be completely transparent.  I do use exclusively redbook 16/44.1 if space is not an issue.  All of my music is legally purchased (mostly CD – the rest FLAC purchased on-line).
 
I tend to be sceptical about audiophile ‘claims’, don’t generally believe in burn-in, have never heard a difference with different cables, and would rather test myself blind on perceived differences.  I am not a ‘golden eared listener’.  I suffer from mild tinnitus, and at 48, my hearing is less than perfect.
 
For the purposes of this review - I used the DUNU DN-2000J straight from the headphone-out socket of my iPhone 5S, X5i and ii, X3ii, X1 and also from the Fiio E17K when at work.  I did not generally further amp them (I did test them with my E17K, E11K and iDSD), as IMO they do not benefit greatly from additional amplification (YMMV and it may depend on your source).  In the time I have spent with the DN-2000J, I have noticed no change to the overall sonic presentation (break-in) over close to 100 hours.
 
This is a purely subjective review - my gear, my ears, and my experience.  Please take it all with a grain of salt - especially if it does not match your own experience.
 
MY LIST OF SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS FROM THE ORIGINAL DN-2000
 
I thought I’d list these in advance, and then see how they’ve been addressed in this new (and updated model).  My original review for the DN-2000 can be found here (http://www.head-fi.org/products/dunu-dn-2000-hybrid-3-way-earphone/reviews/12548).
  1. Refinement in body size for fit and comfort
  2. Change the nozzle to allow for better grip of ear-tips (my suggestion was actually to have tuning filters instead of the rings)
  3. More sparkle in the overall tuning
 

THE REVIEW

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES
 
The DUNU DN-2000J arrived in an approximately 175mm x 150mm x 55mm retail box.  The box is all in black with white text, and “screams” high-quality product to me.  It has a simple picture of the DN-2000J on the front and accessory, contact, and specification information on the back and sides.
 
[size=inherit]dn2kj01.jpg[/size]
dn2kj02.jpg[size=inherit]dn2kj03.jpg[/size]
Retail box main cover
Retail box rear
Retail box side view (profile)
 
The box opens “book style” to show the DN-2000J through a window, and on the opened covers there is some information about the evolution of the DN-2000J (in English and Chinese). Opening the final flap reveals a holder with some of the tips, the DN-2000J in their full glory, and a large aluminium carry case.
 
dn2kj04.jpgdn2kj05.jpg[size=inherit]dn2kj06.jpg[/size]
Opening initial flap
Opening 2nd flap
The DUNU aluminium carry case
 

The carry case is the same as used on the original DN-2000.  It is approximately 115 x 75 x 40mm, really solid, and on opening – very spacious (plenty of room for the DN-2000J and your choice of accessories.  Because of the size of the carry case, it isn’t really pocketable (trousers or jeans), but it would be ideal for a bag or casual jacket pocket.  For most of the last week I’ve actually been using a softer Altone pouch – simply so they are easier to carry in my pocket.
 
 
dn2kj07.jpgdn2kj08.jpg[size=inherit]dn2kj11.jpg[/size]
Inside the carry case
Documentation - manual, warranty card & Comply guide
Comprehensive accessory range
 

The actual range of accessories is copious and very good quality (it’s just one of the things I love about DUNU’s products), and includes:
  1. 4 pairs of white silicone tips
  2. 6 pairs of charcoal/grey silicone tips
  3. 1 pair  of medium T500, T500x and Ts500 genuine Comply tips
  4. 1 pair of earhooks
  5. 3.5mm Female to 6.5mm Male Adapter
  6. 3.5mm Female to 2-pin Male Adapter (airline adaptor)
  7. Aluminum alloy box
  8. 6 pairs of metal adjustment rings (2 of each red, blue and silver)
  9. 4 pairs of rubber fitting ‘fins’
  10. 1 Shirt Clip
  11. 1 pair of rear “protection covers”
  12. 2 pairs of base adjustment rings
  13. Foldout paper manual
  14. Maintenance and warranty card.
 
dn2kj12.jpgdn2kj13.jpg[size=inherit]dn2kj20.jpg[/size]
Interior of the carry case
Comply tips and silicone tips
The full tip selection included
 

The changes from the original DN-2000 are the omission of the bi-flange tips, inclusion of more Comply tip options, extra set of charcoal/grey silicone tips, and the addition of the rear protection covers and bass tuning rings.
 
dn2kj19.jpgdn2kj18.jpgdn2kj17.jpg
Clip, airline adaptor and 3.5-6.3mm adaptor
Ear guides
Rear IEM covers
 

Once again a very comprehensive and well thought out accessory range.  If there was one thing I’d add, it would be a small soft zippered carry pouch – more suitable for pants pocket use.
 
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
 
(From DUNU’s packaging / website)
Type
Triple driver hybrid IEM (inner ear monitor)
Drivers
1 x 10mm titanium coated dynamic and 2 x balanced armature drivers
Frequency Range
4 Hz – 40 Khz
Impedance
8 ohm
Sensitivity
102 dB (+/-2 dB)
Jack
3.5mm gold plated (right angled)
Cable
1.2m, fixed
Weight
21.8g
IEM Shell
Steel and aluminium alloy – cartridge style
 
FREQUENCY GRAPH
 
At the time of writing, I don’t think there have been any measurements of the frequency response of the DN-2000J, but I’m sure this will happen in the coming weeks.  I know tomscy2000 was getting his pair measured, so I’m looking forward to seeing how they look.  In the meantime, I’ve included the graph they show on their packaging, plus also some quick measurements I’ve taken of my DN-2000J using a calibrated SPL meter, and test tones.
 

 
The measurements were taken using the meter’s A weighting
Hz
30 Hz
40 Hz
60 Hz
80 Hz
100 Hz
150 Hz
200 Hz
300 Hz
400 Hz
500 Hz
600 Hz
700 Hz
800 Hz
dB
42.2
44.0
49.8
54.8
58.5
64.2
67.7
71.9
74.6
76.4
77.6
78.6
79.3
Hz
1 kHz
2 kHz
3 kHz
4 kHz
5 kHz
6 kHz
7 kHz
8 kHz
10 kHz
12 kHz
14 kHz
16 kHz
20 kHz
dB
80.2
84.1
86.9
85.0
87.7
85.2
84.2
76.7
67.2
57.5
48.7
45.4
42.0
 
As far as actual audibility goes, I could hear the tones easily at 30 Hz, but below 25 Hz I was struggling.  Increasing the volume for the 20Hz tone showed me the DN-2000J was producing sound at 20 Hz – I know this was more my limitation than the earphones.
 
As far as subjective listening goes – what I’m hearing is a really nice smooth mid-range with reasonably linear elevated bass (maybe very slightly elevated) – but it feels natural rather than lacking balance.  Vocal range is very clear, and these are definitely brighter than the original DN-2000 - but not excessively so.
 
BUILD & DESIGN
 
The DUNU DN-2000J, like the entire range of DUNU products I’ve reviewed previously, is incredibly well built and finished. The outer shell is a matte/brushed silver colour. The overall shape is similar to its sibling – the DN-1000, and almost identical to the DN-2000.  This time however, the body is very slightly smaller in diameter (about 0.5mm), and 2mm shorter in overall length (18mm from the base to the tip of the nozzle). The nozzle remains approximately 8mm in length, and is 5mm wide, and has a fine mesh cover. It still has no lip (to accommodate the tuning rings), but I’m pleased to advise that DUNU have added knurling to the nozzle – which has improved the grip on tips.  This was one of my critiques with the original DN-2000 (tips sliding off and staying lodged in my ears) – and I’m very pleased to advise that the knurling has definitely solved my issues with tips staying put.
 
dn2kj24.jpgdn2kj25.jpg[size=inherit]dn2kj27.jpg[/size]
Stainless knurled nozzle and aluminium alloy body
clip for the ear guides
Rear of the 2000J with DUNU's logo
 

On the back plate is DUNU’s trademark logo. L&R markings are small and located on the protruding attachments to add the stability fins. On the nozzle “collar” – very close to the main body is a bass vent/port.
 
There is good strain relief at the cable exit, and on the left ear-piece relief is a small raised bump (which can be very easily felt) which indicates very quickly that you are holding the left ear piece.  Great for easy identification in low light, or for anyone who is vision impaired. Top marks DUNU.
 
dn2kj32.jpgdn2kj28.jpg[size=inherit]dn2kj31.jpg[/size]
Mesh nozzle cover
Rear protection cover fitted
Protection cover and matching tips :)
 

At the side of each body is a small protruding clip, to which you can attached a small silicone “fin” for added stability when worn cable down.  More on this later in the review.
 
The cable has a very smooth PVC outer sheath which exhibits pretty low microphonics (none when worn cable over-ear), and which just doesn’t seem to tangle.  According to DUNU, another change to the cable is four separate cores – so reterminating to balanced should be a simple matter of simply changing and resoldering the jack.
 
The Y split is rigid, metal, sturdy and very practical.  Dunu’s design choice with the Y split is one I’ve always liked.  There is enough weight in it to keep the cable pulling down slightly, but yet it’s not overly heavy or bulky.  The top section of it also detaches to become the chin slider.  The design is simple, elegant, and works incredibly well. There is ample strain relief at the southern end of the Y split, and the 1.2m cable terminates at a right angled, very well built jack – gold plated, and with excellent strain relief.
 
[size=inherit]dn2kj22.jpg[/size]
dn2kj23.jpgdn2kj21.jpg
Jack and cable tidy
Y split and cinch
The nicely coiled DN-2000J
 

The other brilliant design element in the cable is the inclusion of the 'on-cable' cinch (or rubber cable tidy) – the same as used on most of their releases now.  This is a really simple mechanism that is unobtrusive - but means that whenever it's time to store the IEMs, the cable is always tidily looped.  This remains one of the most simple, yet practical, methods of cable ties I have ever seen.
I can’t really fault the overall design or build quality. Once again, a huge amount of thought has gone into the DN-2000J, and I really do find it essentially faultless.
 
FIT / COMFORT / ISOLATION
 
I have one ear canal slightly different to the other one (my right is very slightly smaller) - so I tend to find that usually single silicon flanges don't fit overly well. But there is such a large selection of tips accompanying the DN-2000J that there should be something to fit most people.  I really like that DUNU have included genuine Comply tips (3 options) – and these would normally be my go-tos, but because of the knurling this time, I decided to try some different options.
 
dn2kj33.jpgdn2kj34.jpg[size=inherit]dn2kj35.jpg[/size]
Spin-fit tips
Spiral dots (too large and slid off stems)
Ostry blue silicones
 

I tried the stock tips, spin-fits, Ostry black and blue silicones, and some spiral dots (these were the only ones that did not fit well – too large in stem – and would slide off). Although it was a pretty tight fit, my trusty Sony Isolation tips fit perfectly (quite an effort to get them on), and they do not budge.  They also give me near perfect comfort and isolation – so these have become my tips of choice.
Either worn over ear, or cable down, the DN-2000J fit flush with my outer ear, and are definitely OK to lie down with. The slight reduction in girth and length of the main body has also made a surprising difference for me with comfort. I found the original DN-2000 uncomfortable for long listening – but the new DN-2000J have been extremely comfortable, and I have already managed to sleep on at least one occasion with the 2000J intact, and no soreness or irritation on waking.
 
dn2kj36.jpgdn2kj16.jpg[size=inherit]dn2kj30.jpg[/size]
My preferred Sony Isolation tips
Stability fins
Short stability fin in place
 

The fins from the original DN-2000 design are back, and again they work really well to improve stability if wearing them cable down.  They tuck inside the antihelix and help stabilise the DN-2000J inside your ear.  This worked wonderfully for me with the original DN-2000, and fit again is very good with the newer model. In my preferred cable up position – removing the fins does allow the metal clip to be exposed, but as I alluded to earlier, there isn’t the same level of discomfort I originally experienced with the original design.
 
Isolation is once again above average for a hybrid, and if you use the bass adjustment ring (silicone ring to block the port), this can be enhanced even more (albeit with an effect on tuning).  So at this point, we should probably look at what those tuning options are.
 
TUNING OPTIONS WITH THE DN2000J
 
Like the DN-1000, and DN-2000 before it, the 2000J comes with 3 different tuning rings (spacers) to adjust where the tips sit on the nozzle.  This will have an effect on insertion depth, and essentially gives 4 different options – silver, blue, red or none at all – as each is a slightly different width.
 
I tried different settings and different tips - and whilst I like the idea (it definitely has tweaking options for the enthusiasts here), I wonder really how effective it is.  After trying all of the different rings, and eventually removing them all together - to be honest I found that any change in frequency response (for me) was marginal and I doubt I could tell one from another in a proper blind test.  It's also likely that the marginal change in width between rings would be nullified by the actual change in fit each time you use them (ie I guarantee that my insertion depth with the same rings will be different almost every time I use them). However – for others these may very well be useful, and may indeed net results in the ability to tune to your preference.
 
dn2kj14.jpgdn2kj15.jpg[size=inherit]dn2kj26.jpg[/size]
Tuning rings
Bass rings
Port that the bass rings cover - on the collar of the nozzle
 

What is different this time though is the inclusion of two pairs of clear silicone bass rings.  These slide over the nozzle to sit on the collar of the nozzle housing, adjacent to the main housing, and essentially cover the bass port/vent. The effect is noticeable, and (for me anyway) there were 3 changes:
  • Sub bass quantity increased subtly – personally I don’t think the DN-2000J needs it, but some may like the effect.
  • Isolation slightly improves
  • On insertion – with the bass rings in place – I immediately started getting driver flex, and with a really good seal, some vacuum issues (ie swallowing could cause internal pressure flex). This will vary depending on the seal you achieve – with the Sony Isolation tips, my seal is almost perfect.
 
So plenty of tuning options, and it’s nice to see DUNU continuing with the innovation.  Again – my suggestion for an ultimate model would still be detachable tuning filters/nozzles.  Maybe for another evolution?
 
SOUND QUALITY
 
The following is what I hear from the DUNU DN-2000J.  YMMV – and probably will – as my tastes are likely different to yours (read the preamble I gave earlier for a baseline).  Most of the testing at this point (unless otherwise stated) was done with my Fiio X3ii as source, no EQ, and Sony Isolation silicone tips with the cable worn over ear. I used the X3ii simply because I haven’t had as long (yet) with the X5ii, and I wanted to be sure of my sonic descriptions. The X3ii also has a low 0.2 ohm headphone output – which is ideally suited to the 8 ohm impedance of the DN-2000J.
 
For the record – on most tracks, the volume level on the X3ii was around 28-33/120 (on low gain) which was giving me around an average SPL around 70-75 dB and peaks at around 80dB.
Tracks used were across a variety of genres – and can be viewed in this list http://www.head-fi.org/a/brookos-test-tracks.
 
Thoughts on General Signature
 
When I first listened to the DN-2000J, I wasn’t “wowed” by the signature.  My first immediate thought was that “this is a definite improvement on the DN-2000”, but it wasn’t an OMG moment. Instead, as I’ve used them more over the last two weeks, I’ve become more and more impressed with the overall balance and tonality. To me this is a sign of a really good IEM – and more often than not, an indicator of a real keeper.
 
If I was to describe the signature in a few words/phrases – I’d choose the words “balanced”, “smooth and clear” mid-range, and enough upper end clarity to give contrast without overdoing things.
For me, the first thing that I’ve noticed (apart from the better clarity) is the really nice coherence between bass, midrange and treble. The bass has a very slight emphasis, but to me it sounds more natural than overly enhanced. There is also a slight peak around 3kHz for vocal clarity, and another small one at 5 kHz.  So far I haven’t encountered any real sibilance – the upper mids and lower treble are present enough to give some very good detail, but not overdone or splashy (with my chosen music anyway).
 
Overall Detail / Clarity
 
For this I always use both Steely Dan’s “Gaucho” and Dire Strait’s “Sultans of Swing” as there is a lot of micro detail in both tracks, and the recording quality for both is excellent.
 
With Gaucho, the sax intro is very smooth sounding and really well balanced with the vocals.  Bass guitar is present in the background, but it’s not overpowering anything. Cymbals and snares are coming through clearly, and the overall impression is one of almost perfect balance.  Everything just “belongs”.
 
Switching to Sultans of Swing, and this time detail is raised a notch, and the speed of the driver tuning and combination comes into play. Finer details are once very present – but also not overstated. The bass guitar is once again in perfect balance, and Knopfler’s voice has brilliant balance and tone. Knopfler’s guitar also has just enough edge to give contrast.
 
These opening two tracks really show case the balance the DN-2000J is capable of. The contrast and detail is effortless.
 
Sound-stage & Imaging
 
For this I used Amber Rubarth’s binaural recording “Tundra”.  I use this because it’s a pretty simple way to get comparative data on sound-stage.
 
It’s usually difficult to get a reasonable stage size from an inner ear monitor.  The stage is often quite small / close – with an average impression of space.  The DN-2000J actually has a reasonably spacious stage for an in-ear monitor. It’s intimate enough to be engaging, but shows enough distance with this track to be slightly “out of head”.  Imaging is really good – very precise, and also showing excellent speed and timbre with the drums.
 
I also used Loreena McKennitt’s “Dante’s Prayer” and this was a track truly made for the 2000J. The tonality of this IEM is really good – and highlights once again the overall balance.  Cello and piano timbre and tone is extremely good (as are the imaging and directional cues). Loreena’s vocals are intimate and forward, but they aren’t dark at all – and with some IEM’s this can be an issue. The added clarity with the updated model just really works.
 
In this track, the applause at the end is so well presented that with some headphones (HD600) I can actually close my eyes and imagine myself in the crowd.  With the DN-2000J, I’m in the venue, but falls marginally short of real connection with the audience.  I can’t complain though – few IEMs achieve total immersion with this track.
 
The last track I tried was Amanda Marshall’s “Let It Rain” which is recorded with an almost holographic feel – which can be very intoxicating with the right IEM.  The DN-2000J is absolutely captivating with this track – perfect balance between vocals and instruments.
 
Bass Quality and Quantity
 
Most triple hybrids I’ve tried have tended to have the dynamic driver swing more towards having the bass either very prominent, or at least a reasonable V shape overall. This was particularly so with the DN-1000 and Altone-200, slightly more balanced (still V shaped though) with the A83, and to a lesser extent the DN-2000.  The DN-2000J is the first hybrid I’ve tried where the bass feels really nicely balanced with the overall spectrum, and the quality and texture of the bass is its real strongpoint.
 
Amongst my test tracks, one of the first tracks I go to is Muddy Waters by Mark Lanegan.  This blues rock track is quite dark and brooding anyway, and tends to expose drivers that are a little loose or too mid-bass oriented. The 2000J was brilliant with this track – no massive over-decay present, but still maintained the depth in the sub-bass. Mark’s voice had the desired gravel and melancholy tonality which I know is present on the track, and the kick drum was perfect.  Not too boomy, great impact – just really clean, and high quality bass.
 
Next track was to test the depth of the sub-bass, so I switched to Lorde’s “Royals” – and once again the DN-2000J  Titan delivered with consummate ease. Again there is no noticeable bloom from the kick drum (at least none that isn’t already in the recording), and more importantly the bass guitar is reaching really low.  Ella’s vocals still come through clear and clean. A brilliantly contrasting track – and the better for the clarity and quality of the overall bass.
 
Female Vocals
 
Anyone following my reviews will know that around 60-65% of my music revolves around female vocals – be it jazz, pop, rock, electronic, or even opera.  I’m an unabashed fan.  For me personally, the sign of a successful IEM is how successfully it conveys emotion and timbre with my female vocalists. Other IEMs I’ve owned in the past had sometimes struggled with some of the artists I like – and this includes IEM’s like Shure’s SE535 LE (upper-mids on the SE535 LE were too forward/fatiguing with some tracks).
 
One of the issues I had with the DN-2000 was that it didn’t quite have the brightness in the vocal range for my preferences. The DN-2000J seemed to have corrected this, so it was time to critically test it.
 
My early litmus test is usually queuing Agnes Obel – as some of her recordings can become quite strident or shouty if the mids aren’t quite right.  The DN-2000J was just beautiful, clean, clear, sweet – and when the cello kicked in ……. breath-taking. Definitely not as bright as the Altone – but the balance is wonderful.
 
I then proceeded to play my usual medley of my other tracks from artists including London Grammar (Hannhs’s vocals were haunting), Christina Perri , Gabriella Cilmi (smooth and sweet), Feist (the contrast between her vocals and the hard hitting bass was very good),  Florence and the Machine, Norah Jones and many others.
 
The lingering thoughts as I switched from track to track was again that the cohesion of bass, vocals and treble was simply outstanding. I think one of the DN-2000Js strengths with female vocals is the ability to convey a slightly deeper pitch (Norah) effortlessly, then ramp it up further with a higher pitched voice such as Lianne La Havas.
 
Male Vocals
 
At the other end of the scale sits a lot of my rock tracks. 
 
I already knew I was in for a treat with the DN-2000J as it had consistently proved its versatility with my female vocalists. The continued theme here was the overall quality of the bass – there when needed, with good bass impact – clear vocals, and enough bite and crunch from guitars to tie everything together. The balance between upper and lower mid-range works really well too, and the Dn-2000J is effortless in its presentation of deeper male voices. Dynamics in older tracks (10CC / Jethro Tull) were brilliant, and the transition from cymbals, bells and guitar to the depth of low bass had me enthralled in some of the classics which on other IEMs are occasionally lifeless.
 
Harder rock from Alter Bridge and Breaking Benjamin gave the DN-2000J absolutely no issues with speed or overloading the drivers, and the overall clarity and ability to distinguish finer details (even in complex passages) is a testament to how well the drivers have been combined. Acoustic rock was also brilliant – and it was hard to tear myself away from both Seether (unplugged), and also Nils Lofgren during the critical listening tests.  The bite of the guitar, combined with the clarity of vocals – really captivating.
 
Time for my litmus test – Pearl Jam. This is close to perfection for me. Detail. Contrast. Cohesion. Clarity. But best of all the timbre and tone of Vedder’s vocals.  This may be as good as I have heard with an IEM to date.
 
Genre Specific Notes (brief this time)
 
Again for tracks, albums, artists – please refer to this list:  http://www.head-fi.org/a/brookos-test-tracks
 
Rock – Covered this one above with male vocals.  In a word excellent.
 
Alt Rock – The key to this genre for me is a combination of balance, clarity and dynamic contrast.  Too much bass and it lacks contrast.  Too little and there is no life.  Pink Floyd’s “Money” had no issues with the perfect mix – clear vocals, great dynamic contrast, and the saxophone had great pitch and tone – but smooth and engaging. Switching to PT’s Trains – and it is pure pleasure to listen to.  I love Wilson’s vocals, and the quality of the recording is incredible.  The best though – is the bass.  Clean, clear, fast, dynamic – it really is a standout feature of the DN-2000J.
 
Jazz / Blues / Bluegrass – I switched things up a bit this time and used Portico Quartet’s “Steepless” instead of “Ruins” (actually I listened to both – ended up queuing the whole album). Needless to say the overall balance of the DN-2000J is very good with Jazz.  Again it’s the dynamic presentation, balance and clarity that really makes this a great IEM with this genre. Miles was no exception either – especially the contrast between trumpet and double bass.  There is good separation of instruments as well.  I’m reminded again and again how well the DN-2000J images, and there is even a good sense of space portrayed. I ended with some local Jazz/Funk (Sola Rosa) and this track with the DUNU’s is just toe tapping, head nodding pure joy.  Really dynamic – and again that contrast between brass and bass is brilliant.
 
Onto Blues, and Beth Hart’s “Lifts You Up” was a really good listening experience.  IEMs with an overly bright upper end tend to make this bright recording overly harsh and glary. The DN-2000J has this uncanny knack of presenting vocals with really good clarity – but stopping short of sibilance. With Bonamassa, the guitar is the star of the show – smoother than IEM’s like the A83 or DUNU’s own Titan. As I become more and more accustomed to the DN-2000J’s own special signature, I’m enjoying more and more the smoothness combined with the clarity – and the vocal presentation, that to me is where the real magic happens.
 
Rap / EDM / Pop / Indie – I usually start with Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” and it was very good – clear, dynamic, and the bass had good impact. One of the things that the DN-2000J does really well is present bass when it’s in the recording, but only when it’s there. It’s been surprising too, because just when I expect the bass to be a little lighter or weaker, it ends up surprising me with its intensity.  This really is a capable dynamic driver!
 
With Electronic / EDM – as you’d expect from my comments so far, this is an IEM that is truly impressive with electronic music. There is plenty of impact and clarity with the bass – but it is the sheer speed and quality that I think is the key. It didn’t matter whether I played Little Dragon, Lindsay Stirling, or even The Flashbulb – the right amount of bass each time, but also crystal clear and dynamic contrasts with other instruments or vocals.
 
With straight Pop – the first thing that struck me playing Adele was the tonality of the piano and the way it perfectly matched the wonderful vocals and ebb and flow of the string section.  Again that overall balance and cohesion. Coldplay, the Cranberries, it didn’t matter what I played – the DN-2000J tuning just kept delivering.  And with Indie, I listened first to band of Horses and then Wildlight.  With many Indie tracks being a bit brighter, any IEM with roughness in the treble can quickly be exposed (sound harsh), but the DN-2000J proved to be smooth and effortless – and once again (with Wildlight’s “Dawn Too Flight”), the presentation of Ayla’s vocals is completely mesmerising.
 
AMPLIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
 
The DN-2000J doesn’t need amplification for overall volume – but because of its high sensitivity and very low impedance, if you have a source with an output impedance of anything over 1 ohm, you may want to consider an amp to correct the output impedance mismatch.  All of my sources ar pretty low OI – with the X1 at just under 2 ohms being the highest I own.  Even with the X1, I didn’t really have any issues and didn’t notice any huge frequency changes.  Something to be aware of anyway.
 
With my iPhone 5S around 30-35% volume is more than enough with most tracks, and the Fiios are generally at around 30/120. I did try the DN-2000J with both the E11K and E17K, but neither amp seemed to be adding anything to my listening set-up other than some unwanted bulk.
 
RESPONSE TO EQ?
 
I cannot honestly see why anyone would want to EQ these. I have no doubt they will respond accordingly – but nothing I could add in the form of EQ could possibly make them any better than they already are.
 
COMPARISON OTHER IEMS
 
dn2kj37.jpg
 
These comparisons were all done with the X3ii – and volume matched using a calibrated SPL meter and fixed 1kHz test tone first.
 
Here are my very subjective thoughts:
 
  • DN-2000J vs Altone-200

    dn2kj38.jpg The Altone sounds almost distant, and very thin (particularly with male vocals) compared to the 2000J.  Altone is a lot more V shaped, and bass is very noticeable. Altone is quite a bit brighter – but the DN-2000J sounds both cleaner, clearer and smoother.
  • DN-2000J vs Trinity Delta

    dn2kj39.jpg These two are a lot closer with overall balance.  Bass on both is very similar in overall balance, with the Delta being slightly looser – whereas the DN-2000J has more speed. The Delta’s pitch is slightly higher with female vocals and slightly thinner overall with male vocals.  Both are very clean and clear.
  • DN-2000J vs Fidue A83

    dn2kj40.jpg This was always going to be the big one.  The presentations are really different.  The A83 are definitely more V shaped with heavier bass impact, and overall a more vivid vocal presentation.  The DN-2000J sound a lot more relaxed, a lot more natural, and have a lot more balance.  The A83 are a more strident in the upper mids (something I hadn’t really noticed before), whereas the DN-2000J is still clear, but not as peaky, and not quite as forward.  I definitely prefer the quality of the bass on the DN2000J – on the same tracks it actually makes the A83 seem a little loose and thumpy. I still enjoy both – but I think side-by-side, for longer term listening, the DN-2000J would now take my top spot.
     
  • DN1000 vs DN2000J

    dn2kj47.jpg
    The DN1000 is immediately noticeable as a lot bassier, both sub and mid-bass.  Still quite nice detail with the treble.  Very much a V shaped presentation, but vocals (especially male vocals have good presence).  Female vocals are tonally darker than I prefer. The DN2000J in comparison is a lot more balanced in the bass, and comparing the two you immediately notice the additional brightness.  Male vocals aren't quite as pronounced, but female vocals (for my preferences) are just about perfect.  There is very good overall balance, but a brightish tilt to the overall signature. The bass quantity might be back a little on the 2000J, but I prefer the more agile and better textured bass of the 2000J.
     
  • DN2000 vs DN2000J

    dn2kj46.jpg
    Coming straight from the 2000J, you immediately notice the missing brightness with the DN-2000 - especially with female vocals.  The DN-2000 almost sounds dark, and I really had to let my ears rest for a while before continuing. DN2000's bass is a lot stronger, but also very good quality.  Mid range has really good cohesion, with slightly more emphasis on lower mids.  Male vocals are really good and the sense of balance right throughout is one of the DN-2000's strong-points.  I can see why some people would see the DN-2000 as an end game IEM.  But for me, my personal preference is for a slightly brighter upper mid-range, and I do find this lacking on the DN-2000.  Switching back to the 2000J (especially with female vocals) is like lifting a curtain for me.  I know it's simply a matter of preference - but the 2000J is simply tonally brilliant with its slightly brighter signature.  I'm still getting no real sibilance.  Bass is definitely lighter than the DN-2000, but I don't feel as though I'm missing anything.  Oh - and the DN-2000J is definitely more comfortable than both of the other DUNUs 
    wink.gif

I took my SPL meter and measured all 3 DUNUs and then comparatively graphed them.  I used C weighting for the measurements, and a series of test tones.  Each IEM was calibrated at 1kHz first before measuring.  The measurements were then put into a conversion and graphing spreadsheet so I could present some real numbers and graph them.  The graph is below.  It is a bit smoothed, but should hopefully give you an idea of the measured differences.
 
compgraph.png
 
 
Conclusion - while my preference still remains the DN-2000J, I am reminded again just how good the DN-2000 and DN-1000 are.  DUNU really knocked it out of the park with all 3 IMO.
 
dn2kj45.jpg
 

DUNU DN-2000J – SUMMARY

From the little snippets tomscy2000 had been releasing during the development of the DUNU DN-2000J, I could tell there was going to be something special about this release.  And when DUNU delayed the release to retune the drivers, it was clear that they wanted to get these exactly right.
 
The DUNU DN-2000J is an incredibly well designed, well built, and beautifully balanced sounding hybrid IEM. For me, its overall balance and cohesion make it a natural all-rounder for multiple genres.
Perhaps its strongest point though is the speed and clarity of its sonic presentation, and this is most apparent when comparing its bass quality to other similar hybrid IEMs.
 
The DN-2000J comes with a premium accessory package, and innovations in fit, tuning and overall design which continually set benchmarks which other companies will struggle to match at the price point which it is being offered at.
 
Vivian has told me that the RRP will be USD 349, and the actual launch date is around 10th June. At this price, the DN-2000J is not a cheap IEM – but for those looking at a single long term premium IEM, these are definitely worth the money being asked IMHO.
 
A common summary question I ask myself is would I buy these, and would I recommend them to friends or family.  The answer is a definite yes.
 
At this price point, the DUNU DN-2000J would be the best IEM tuning I have personally heard to date.
 
Once again I’d like to thank Vivian at DUNU for giving me this wonderful opportunity. It has been an absolute privilege reviewing these IEMs.
 
RECOMMENDATIONS TO DUNU
 
Vivian – please thank your engineers for me. That is the only recommendation I have.
 
dn2kj41.jpg
Brooko
Brooko
Maybe try Twister6 - I think he has heard both. 
Intensecure
Intensecure
Hope you still have these and can compare with the LZ A4 that you are reviewing, which I look forwards to. Very good review, I love hybrids.
Brooko
Brooko
Yep - I sure can.  If work quiets down a little bit, I'll eb able to catch up on the reviews I have waiting.

tomscy2000

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Top-Tier Bass Control & Texture, Very Detailed/Resolving, Great Set of Accessories, Improved in Nearly Every Way Over Predecessor
Cons: Love-or-Hate TWFK Treble, Very Sensitive to Hiss & DC Offset, Extremely Low Impedance (between 6 to 12 ohms across the audible band)
 

Note: Review was done with a sample provided by DUNU-Topsound.
For a more complete picture, please visit the dedicated thread for the DUNU DN-2000J (here).
 
The DN-2000J is a classically U-shaped earphone, with a sound signature that sounds most similar to a mixture between the AKG K3003 with Reference filters and High Boost filters, tending toward an analytical, detail-filled, and exacting nature. DUNU has long professed a desire to create an earphone that matches or outperforms the K3003, and has released a couple of well-regarded and affordable hybrid IEMs in the DN-1000 and DN-2000 over the last couple of years.
 
With the DN-2000J, originally created for the Japanese market as a more peppy and more petite version of the DN-2000, they've managed to create their best hybrid earphone yet, and manages to emulate the essence of its target AKG K3003 while preserving its unique identity and lineage from the DN-2000.
 
Perhaps owing to its custom-spec TWFK driver, the AKG K3003 manages to take the edge off some of the harshness in the treble region a little better than does the DN-2000J, but the DN-2000J comes close to the K3003 in spite of the price difference. Harshness between 8.5-10 kHz is controlled in the retail version over the prototypes, but can still be grating to treble-sensitive individuals, especially with silicone tips. Due to the slightly less refined nature of the DN-2000J's treble, Comply foam tips such as the included Ts-500 are recommended for long-term listening. However, as individual preferences vary, users will need to experiment between different tips to find their most preferred sonic experience.
 
The DN-2000J possesses very slightly more warmth but yet is very slightly less forward in presentation for the midrange than is the K3003. The two are remarkably similar in this area, however, and possess a similar degree of forward projection for vocals. Thus, potential buyers should be aware that the DN-2000J is not an especially intimate IEM, but is rather neutrally-positioned in sound space --- neither forward nor overtly laid-back. Its U-shaped nature does implicitly mean that the bass and treble will ever so slightly sit ever so proud of the midrange, making the DN-2000J most suitable for low-volume, Fletcher-Munson compensated listening.
 
In terms of bass, while there is some natural bass roll-off, the DN-2000J possesses some of the most capable, naturally-textured, yet extremely well-controlled bass response around. Apropos this writer's opinion, the DN-2000J's bass performance is top-tier amongst universal IEMs, able to go toe-to-toe with products like the Shure SE846, Sony XBA-Z5, and others --- and managing to outstrip its role model, the K3003, in performance.
 
With this kind of performance, the DN-2000J is a clear winner at $349 USD --- it improves on the performance of its predecessor the DN-2000 (itself a well-regarded IEM), and is of the top tier for sound quality in universal IEMs. Its weaknesses are predicated largely upon its reliance on the polarizing TWFK driver for the mids and highs, as well as its general sound signature tending toward the analytical. Individuals looking for this type of sound, however, will be delighted by the DN-2000J. DUNU deserves a resounding round of applause for a job well done.
tomscy2000
tomscy2000
@landroni, the 2000J and the 846 are two very different beasts.
 
The 846 was revolutionary for BA-based IEMs in that it had a great woofer design; however, a BA is still a BA, and it does exhibit more distortion overall (if you can hear it; I've trained myself to do so, but normally, people won't notice it offhand), especially in the bass region. In that vein, the 2000J has one of the most resolving and detailed woofers ever in an in-ear, bar none. I've even heard the Dita Answer (and its higher end Truth edition), and it doesn't top the 2000J in bass control and resolution.
 
When it comes to the midrange, the 2000J is less forward in soundstage placement, but it will have more clarity, as it does have less lower midrange presence and more upper midrange presence. If you enjoy forward, thicker midrange presentations, the 846 is more suitable.
 
In the treble, the 846 is far smoother, even with treble filters. However, it lacks bandwidth (because of its tubing design). Historically, Shure has never concentrated on treble extension (the SE530/535 is famed, or infamous, for having roll-off highs) and while the 846 is not terrible on that front, it does have roll-off. Contrarily, the 2000J has quite good treble extension, at the expense of treble smoothness. Most people would probably go for the 846's treble, but the reality is that the 2000J's treble response in different ears is based largely upon a good fit and fit depth. The amount of remaining volume within the ear canal not plugged up by an IEM contributes highly to resonance on treble frequencies, and with a TWFK-centric design such as the 2000J, the treble will range from "acceptably sparkly" for some people, to "pain-inducingly bright" for others. YMMV.
landroni
landroni
Thank you so much for this exhaustive diff!

I've heard some pretty remarkable things about the SE846 (from people who have tried pretty much all flagships out there, from ATH-W1000 to Stax), along the lines of "best headphones/IEMs I've heard". Among the things highlighted were supreme "midrange clarity and detail retrieval", "hands down the best quality, detailed and authoritative bass", "zero bloat and fast decay of bass notes".

While it is clear that the two have (subtle) differences in terms of audio signature, as far as flagships go do they operate in the same league when considering overall performance? I am trying to understand whether the 2000J cuts it as a budget flagship-quality product comparable in performance to much pricier competitors (e.g. Shures and Nobles)...
Arsalan
Arsalan
Hi, I need help and a complete answer for the following question:
How is the DUNU DN 2000j compared to Sennheiser IE 800?
Thanks
Back
Top