DUNU is an inspiration in the world of earphones, a company having come out of relative obscurity and gained a name for itself with its value-packed, trend-setting IEMs, notably the TITAN 1, that compete with products costing hundreds more from manufacturers with decades in the industry. DUNU's product line is the sort of David and Goliath story that is the win-win that we all long for because it drives competition and lowers pricing, it forces the old guard to stay on their toes and up their game, and it makes for sweeping reviews and active discussions.
 
But between every battle, there are skirmishes, for every tock on the clock, there is a tick, and following every major breakthrough, there are subtle improvements. Along these lines, DUNU's TITAN 5 is a minor collection of tweaks to an already phenomenal product, the TITAN 1, making for an instant easily recommendable successor.
 
For starters, the same build quality you knew and loved about the original TITAN 1 is here to stay with added improvements that in no way detract from former glory. The same polished and utilitarian, rigid and rugged stainless steel housings now feature detactable cables making cable replacements and upgrades a snap.
 
The TITAN 5's spectular sound quality, also the hallmark of the TITAN 1, is both an upgrade and yet also a side-grade. While its familar-and-yet-improved sound eliminates and straightens out the very slight aberrations and edginess of its predecessor, the TITAN 5's sound signature is warmer and more musical. This is the IEM equivalent of the HD 650 coming from the HD 600.
 
In particular, you will notice smoother, less forced transitions from bass to midrange to treble resulting in a more natural, unified sound as a whole. Dynamics and detail stand out because, for example, the heft of a bassdrum kick is followed by its hum and rattle in its drum casing without jarring distortion and undue emphasis.
 
If I were to nitpick, the upper bass does bleed ever so slightly into the midrange. In head-to-head comparisons, even my Denon AH-D5000 that has a penchant for bass impact is less obtrusive--but the Denons are not bass monsters as some reviewers historically miscategorized them. The uppermost treble could do with a teeny bit extra shine and sparkle to make the projection of vocals more airy and the outlines of instruments more discernible. But the overall sound is so close to perfect that there is still excellent bite and definition for everyone but the most sizzle thirsting of treble heads and detail mongers.
 
Make no mistake: the TITAN 5 has not taken a step back but is TITANIC compared to the likes of competing products from Etymotic, Shure, and Ultimate Ear and many others. The TITAN 5 delivers the TITAN 1's performance and craftsmanship with much appreciated tweaks from top to bottom. If you are looking for the new king of the TITAN line, the TITAN 5 now bears the price-performance crown, punching well above its weight better than ever.
 
Thank you to DUNU, especially Vivian, for the opportunity to review this unrivaled product. Setbacks, including health and family struggles, tried my patience and likely yours as I worked to produce this review. I look forward to the bright and promising future of IEMs thanks to DUNU's untiring pursuit of immersive audio from fetching earphones.

Introduction

Keeping the Nano-titanium drivers, Dunu intends to pack all the “Titan-Goodness” into a better isolating package, with the Titan 3 and Titan 5.
Despite the grand response the Titan 1 garnered, a common complaint is the lack of isolation in its semi-vented/open nature. Dunu has taken criticisms to heart and went back to the drawing board to address that issue as well as various others that had surfaced since. Lets find out how they did!




Below I have included a video review to supplement my written portion, I will also include a link to my Dunu Titan 1, and 3 review for better reference for readers. (Skip to the sound section of the Dunu 5 review, for relative comparisons)
Titan 1 Review:http://www.head-fi.org/products/dunu-titan-1-titanium-coated-diaphragm-earphones/reviews/13302
Titan 3 Review: http://www.head-fi.org/products/dunu-titan-3/reviews/15085
Disclaimer- I would like to thank Dunu (for providing me with the Titan 5 and Titan 3) to review as well as my peers in the Dunu Titan thread, for arranging for the Titan 3 and 5 for the Demo Tour!


Accessories:
Dunu includes a variety of goodies with the Titan 5. There is 3 pairs of the Sony silicone hybrids (black, color-coded tips), 3 pairs Red and Grey Silicone, a shirt clip and a ¼ inch adapter.
Of course one of the biggest additions is the inclusion of the silicone fin guards, providing a rubber bumper guard against the edge of the housing and the concha of your ear. (Simply put, it helps in terms of comfort).
To protect the earphones, included is a hard shell plastic carrying case that snaps shut for safe storage. The case is nicely made but I would like it if it was a few cm thicker (to compensate for the bigger earpieces, with the detachable cables), and for better clearance for the cable (so it doesn’t crimp when closing it). (or swap to a round semi-hard zippered carrying case).
Overall: 8.5/10 (Dunu has taken out the 3 pairs of the black silicone tips found in the Titan 1)




Design:
Keeping the Half- Earbud/ half in ear design that many including myself enjoyed, allows more room for the engineers at Dunu to make way for the large titanium coated drivers. The simple, yet flawless chrome housing is something to be admired. The only way to differentiating between the Titan 3 and the 5 is the on the Logo of the earpieces (labeled 3, and 5 respectively).
Overall: 8.5/10


Build Quality:
Dunu has clearly been listening the feedback from their consumers, through the implementation of the detachable mmcx cables. It’s quite hard to seamlessly integrate a practical and durable detachable cable, especially with mmcx connectors (it seems Dunu fall on the good side), as it did not suffer from sound cutting in and out when the cable spins. The cables are very well made and Dunu did away with the fabric portion of the cable that’s found on the Titan 1. With plentiful reinforcement in high stress joints, the Titan 5s exude the luxurious feel of a premium product found much higher then what it price indicates.
Overall: 9.5/10


Comfort:
The shallow fit half earbud/in ear fit, will easily garner many fans looking for a comfort of a silicone/foam eartip, while ensuring the slipper-like fit of traditional earbuds. That’s said the housing is on the larger side and those with smaller ears may not find the titans to be very comfortable considering the slight edge around the body of the earpieces. (Dunu addressed this issue with the silicone fin guards included in each Titan 3, and 5 package.
Overall: 8.5/10 (smoothing out the edges and providing the silicone fin guards helped)


Isolation:
While it’s an improvement over the Semi-open Titan 1s, the Titan 5s won’t be nearly enough for those seeking isolation comparable to the likes of Shure or Westone
Overall: 6.5/10


Sound:
Having the opportunity to listen to the entire Titan line up, has allowed me to better understand what demographic and what sound Dunu is targeting with each respective Titan.

The Quick Skinny
Titan 1: Open, spacious, Thinner, Edgy upper mids
Titan 3: More Balanced, fuller midforward sound, with a splash of Brightness
Titan 5: Tastefully bassy, fun sound (without the bloat), take the Titan 3 + a slight bump in the bass and treble

Titan 5 Breakdown:
The Titan 5 caters more towards those seeking a bit more punch in the low end, while still maintaining the clean, crisp sound the Titans are known for. The Titan 5 definitely has the broadest appeal of the Titans. It’s the smooth talker and fun baby brother. If I had to pick one Titan to serve me on daily basis, the 5s would definitely be my pick.
For this review I used the included sony hybrids: I found the Titan 5 was less picky with the tip selection.

Bass:
With a strong but tastefully “meaty” bass, the Titan 5s has a nice taste of the “fun” without sacrificing the detail and depth. They have deeper, harder hitting bass with a more robust punchy midbass, making it the most well rounded Titan, a good companion to help drown out some of the shuffling and rumbling environmental sounds.

Midrange:
The midrange is slightly recessed, relative to the Titans 3. However, in the grand scheme of things, it’s more similar in quality to my VSONIC GR07BE’s midrange, except a bit warmer in comparison. While the 5s will not immediately grab your attention with its clarity like the Titan 1, 3 would, I feel the 5s have the widest appeal. With the nice sense of warmth in the lower mids male vocals, have a nice body and fullness, making the preferable for those that find the GR07BE to be a bit dry. On the other end, the upper midrange is more forward, with an emphasis female vocals in the Titan family, like the Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande by easing off in this “rather sensitive area”.

Treble:
A sparkly treble, makes Titan 5s fun to listen to, while still project nice detail, without being “aggressive” or “in your face”. I was quite content with its balance of detail and fun. Also, I felt the treble extended slightly farther and imaging slightly better and wider than the Titan 3s.
Overall: 9.3/10

Comparing to the Titan 5 to the Titan 1
It seems to be better at portraying depth then the Titan 1, with deeper and more authority in the bass. While the Titan 1 is more open and spacious, it also seems a bit flat in its presentation. Packing more heat in the bass helps the Titan 5 better cut through ambient noise.

Comparing the Titan 5 to the Titan 3
The Titan 5 I believe has a wider (and safer) appeal for a multitude of users and genres, while I feel the Titan 3 to have more of a “niche” tuning, which may be bit unforgiving for some users (especially those that come from warmer and darker sound signatures). The 5s, has wider and slightly better imaging compared to the 3s.

Comparing the Titan 5s with the Vsonic Gr07BE
The Titan 5s have a thicker, more pungent bass, making the bass more satisfying in when the bass drops. The GR07BE has a drier leaner but more natural sounding midrange, making the Titan 5 sound a bit unnatural. Treble-wise, the Titan 5s take the edge off the mid treble compared to the GR07BE. The GR07BE has more texture and detailed and wider sounding.

The Titan 5s are bit more efficient than the GR07BE

All in all those looking for a slightly smoother and bassier alternative to the Gr07BE should take a serious look at the Titan 5s, especially since they feature detachable cables, and a more premium build (those shiny earpieces).

Note**Tape mod
For fun I decided use the “tape mod”: by using scotch tape to tape the rear vent (by the nozzle) making the bass very solid and visceral making it and overall warmer sound. I felt this began tipping the balance towards the bass a bit too far, in my opinion.
As stated in my Titan 3 review, you can experiment with the how big or small to poke the hole in the tape, to adjust the level of dampening and bass.

Of course the isolation improved with this modification, and best of all its cheap and reversible! note- the potential for driver flex does increase due to the lack of venting

In conclusion:
The Titan 1 will turn heads with its impressive holographic and spacious imaging. The Titan 3 draws you in with its impressive clarity and its clean, “scalpel-like” midrange. The Titan 5 I feel has a good mix of what makes the Titans great, fun, clean, while still sounding decently spacious.
Highly recommended! The Titan 5 is right in my wheelhouse, with a fun, yet detailed sound, they shot right to the top as one of my favorite earphones to date.

Possible feedback
- A possible tuning change Dunu can implement is maybe taking off maybe 2-3 dB off the upper mid-lower treble, just to smooth out the potential of harshness.
The case is nicely made but I would like it if it was a few cm thicker (to compensate for the bigger earpieces, with the detachable cables), and for better clearance for the cable (so it doesn’t crimp the cable when closing it). (or swap to a round semi-hard zippered carrying case).

Overall: 50.8/60= 85%

---

INTRO:-
 
 DUNU as we all know is one of the most consumer friendly brands around. Initially they were not there with top of the line earphones. But with DN-1000, DN-2000 and Titan-1 they just blasted into the scene with a bang and since then they have set the benchmark for others.
 
 Following the success of Titan-1 DUNU decided to extend the Titan line up with Titan 3, 5 and ES. Titan 3 being the one with mid in focus and 5 being the one with everything in balance are priced exactly same at $139 and ES the cheaper version of the original Titan is priced $60. Titan-3 and 5 are Hi-fi certified too.
 
 Here are some links:-
 http://penonaudio.com/DUNU-TITAN5
http://www.lendmeurears.com/dunu-titan-5/
http://www.amazon.com/DUNU-Dunu-Titan-5/dp/B0186UZR76
 
What I have here is the Titan-5, the one which is supposed to be the balanced one, uses the same 13mm titanium diaphragm driver as the original titan( Titan-3 too has the same driver). What has changed is the cable, its detachable now (Titan-3 too). Visually it looks more or less like the original titan but there are some cosmetic changes. Sound characteristics have changed enough for Titan-5 to stand out as a Titan on its OWN facing completion from R3, GR-07, fidue A73 and other earphones.
 
 Before we start let me tell you something about me. I like it balance. No problem with V-shaped sound till it’s has enough details, a bigger stage and good layering does wonders for me. And not much bothered about bass till it is fast, but i prefer more sub bass, I will forgive everything if its got pace and mids and highs are not ignored. I love spark with my highs, balanced will do too, I won’t kill for spark but spark is what makes an earphone sound alive, too much will kill the cat and too less will kill the cat too. I don’t like to play around EQs but I have mine applied.
 
Before all, I would like to thank Vivian and DUNU for this sample unit. And would like to apologize for this delay!!

---

 
 
 
 

---

ACCESSORIES ERGONOMICS AND MISCELLANEOUS:-
 
  Titan-1 comes with 9 pair of tips, Titan-5 has 6 pairs, sony style and red core type tips in 3 sizes missing the wide bore ones, enough for most of us. 5 has the exact hard carry case, cable clip is there too in addition to that there is a pair of earpiece wings that helps with fitment, thanks to these, unlike the original, 5 doesn’t fall out easily, even you can take this for a run and still it won’t fall. There is a cable tie too keep the earphone from tangling. There is a 3.5mm to quarter inch converter as usual.
 
 This time around Titan-5 has removable cable, if you think your earphone will sound better with some other cable, go ahead swap it, or change it if the cable gives up on you!! It has the most common MMCX type connectors. An awesome feature most people were asking for, I must admit. Cable is different though. It’s not externally braided anymore, all rubber, but its good, one of the best I must say (with wings). Not bouncy, microphonics is low. Cable tangles a bit but not badly. There is chin/cable slider too.
 
 Ergonomically Titan-5 is marginally better than original. Nothing to complain about, this time 5 isnt as prone to fall out as 1 was. Full metal body means it’s slightly heavy but not much. This time we have only one air vent. Back of the earpiece is bigger and longer to accommodate the connector. Back plate has a brushed metal design with 5 written on it, neat never the less.
 
 It’s comfortable to wear, no irritations at all.
 
 Isolation is better than the original but still not better than average. It’s good for a half in-ear though.
 
 This time DUNU haven’t left any stone unturned when it comes to features. Its loaded with everything people complained 1 was missing. Can’t ask for much can you? I can!! Comply tips!! One pair, medium, Please, do.

---

 
 

---

SOUND QUALITY:-
 
  Let me start by confirming that Titan-5 has been burnt in for more than 180 hours. I have used my J3+E5 as the primary source, and Zenfone 2 or Redmi 1s at times, both have impressive control and SQ. And I would like to confirm that it doesn’t need an amplifier to perform to the mark, your mobile device can drive it easily. But amplifying helps with improvement is stage size and layering. Amp it if you can, its good otherwise.
 
 Unlike the 1, 5 doesn’t have an “on your face” kind of signature, its laid back, smoother, calmer and doesn’t bite from the word go which is a good thing for those who wanted the original to be a bit less aggressive.
 
 It’s a really neutral sounding earphone, not much warm, slightly dark and mildly bright at times. Sonically its not comparable to re-400 or the original titan, but its comparable to R3 and IM-70.
 And for your info, I have used Brainwavz style black tips at times, but for this review I have used red core tips. Both sound similar.

---

 
 
 

---

Let’s start with Bass:-
 
 DUNU says it’s the balanced but to me its bassy. Some people complained about 1’s bass, here you go, eat it now, not lean anymore, its meaty and full. Bass has plenty of impact and ready to pounce when asked for. It doesn’t move much air and slam is slightly lacking when compared to bass head earphone. Yes, I own bassy earphones too, XB90EX, Hisound crystal and ckx-9 to name some.
 
 Extension is better than original, 5 has better sub bass too but again mid bass takes the center stage. Bass in general is not as fast as I like but not bad for general users. Slightly better decay will do well. Bass sounds slightly loose and wooly, bass lovers will like it for sure. . You will hear every bass note, drums, bass guitars, it’s there but slightly lacks accuracy and will instantly grab your attention.
 
 Even when bass is slightly over done and feels slightly off, even when it feels like bleeding a bit, its composed enough. All I can say is Titan-5’s bass is engaging and full, will suit pop music better and average consumers will like it.
 
Analytical listeners and serious audiophiles will find this bass slightly bothering, slightly, not much.
 
Mid range:-
 
 Plenty have changed here when compared to Titan-1. Titan-5 is not exactly V shaped, but still slightly. Yes its bass is over done but doesn’t overwhelm vocals, tuba, sax, piano or other instruments.
 Mid range is not sharp any more, its smoother and soothing, doesn’t bite like the original but still has similar details, notes are thicker hence won’t cut deep. Thicker notes make 5 sound slightly less detailed. I am neither impressed nor disappointed with this mid. It complements the whole signature, it just lacks the precision of the original.
 
  Lower vocal notes are thicker, not dark, slightly warm at lower region, which makes male vocals slower and poised at times, if not as excellent and cohesive as female vocals, its still sounds good. Female vocals sound precise and to the point, now this is the thing done close to perfection with exact amount of thickness and energy.
 
 Another good thing is its texture and finish, not a single hint of grain or sluggishness (which is tiny case with 1). Best thing is, it patches some harshness and make instruments sound smooth and pleasing even when the track has some distortion, simply put, Titan-5 has little to no distortion. There are no audible dips while transacting from lower to upper mid and that makes it fluent and effortless.
 
  Overall mid range have better body, slightly less clarity and micro detailing, better timber, when compared with original. 5 is not the reveling kind, it’s mid is more of pleasing type with fatigueless signature.
 
  It has bigger stage when compared to other IEMs and better shaped when compared to the original. It’s nicely rounded and evenly spread with nice width height and depth.
 
Highs:-
 
 I have to admit, when compared to Titan-1, Titan-5’s highs are not as energetic and slightly boring. It still has enough presence with cymbals, trumpets and violins. If you found the original doing a bit too much up top, Titan-5 will suit you.
 
 Highs are nicely balanced. Extension is good. Lower highs are not much emphasized, not splashy. If you are worried about sibilance, let me tell you it is nowhere to be found. Not even close. Can be slightly bothering with rock and heavy metal if you are sensitive to spark but, its fine, really.
 
 Layering, separation, instrument placement, everything is up to the mark. Has nice transparency too.

---

CONCLUSION:-
 
 It’s a new titan with plenty of changes. Cosmetic changes are,

• New detachable cables with rubber coating all the way.
• Lesser air vents
• Comes with lesser tips. ( missing the wide bore ones)
• Ships with earpiece wings for stability.

  Sound wise:-

• It has bigger and deeper bass.
• Overall signature is thicker and smoother.
• Sonically it is less exciting.

 
 All in all Titan-5 is a crowd pleaser. Those who didn’t like leaner and sharper Titan-1 will like this for sure. It is meaty and full bodied.
 
 When compared to other in this price range, it just hangs in the middle, not excellent at anything, not bad at anything. Over all I will prefer it over IM-70, Brainwavz S5 and even R3, but I won’t pick it over the original or RE-400.
 
 That’s it from me guys.
 Enjoy your music. Cheers.

---

 
 
 

---

Dunu Titan 5 Review

First of all, I’d like to thank Dunu for sending me a sample of the Titan 5 to review. I’m quite familiar with Dunu as a brand and I’ve heard many of their higher end offerings including the DN-1000 and DN-2000. A while ago, I reviewed the Titan 1, which I found to be an IEM which punched well above its price bracket and truly outshone other IEMs in the same price range. The Titan 5 is a higher end model in the same line and the two IEMs share numerous similarities.
 

 
Given the fact that I enjoyed the Titan 5 so much, I really looked forward to trying out the Titan 5. The 5, like the 1, utilises a single dynamic driver in a style which is rather reminiscent of an earbud. Given the fact that they look almost identical to the Titan 5, I expected a similar Dunu house sound and that is just about what I got.
 
The pricing of the Dunu Titan 5 is $195SGD from LendMeUrEars or around $140USD at the time of writing and is priced just a little bit above the Titan 1. It is, however, cheaper than the DN-1000 and under half the price of the DN-2000.
 
**Disclaimer** These were provided to me for free in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
 
 

Unboxing & Accessories

The Titan 5 comes with a very similar package to the Titan 1, it does a very good job with protecting the earphones, and provides you with all the relevant information and details. Overall, the packaging looks excellent.
 
There aren’t that many things that come with the Titan 5, but it comes with most of the necessary accessories. There are 6 sets of tips, a standard 3.5mm to ¼ inch adapter, a pair of stabilisers, a cable clip and a case. The case is the same one that the Titan 1 uses, which is a relief. I did not enjoy the DN-900 and DN-2000 cases at all. It does its job and protects the IEMs well. The tips were a bit of a letdown, they felt a little flimsy and none of them really sealed very well. I used some aftermarket “Heir” tips (grey and red). The wings or stabilisers worked very well, maybe a tad big for my small ears, but they did their job and the IEMs didn’t even come close to falling off.
 

 

Design, Isolation & Cable

The Titan 5 is based very heavily on the Titan 1 design and both are built very well. With the housing constructed primarily of steel, the IEMs feel very solid and looks great too. One of the best upgrades the Titan 5 has is the addition of a removable cable. This way you are able to simply buy another cable if the cable breaks rather than sending it in for repair. Comfort is good, without the wings I wore them for hours with minimal discomfort. With the wings, however, they became significantly less comfortable, but they were much more stable in my ear. They can be worn both straight down and over the ear, though it is a little bit hard to keep them over the ears. The Titan 5 feels like a truly high end a very well built product.
 
The isolation is a little better than the almost non-existent isolation on the Titan 1, but it is nowhere near impressive. These look like earbuds and hardly isolate any better than regular earbuds. The vents and very shallow seal means that it is very easy for sound to get in. I’d say that it is only a good idea to use them inside where there is not a lot of noise.
 
The cable is good, and pretty much the same as every other Dunu cable I have used. The strain reliefs are rather well built and do their job. The cable is perhaps a little thin, but this also means that it is very flexible. The cable is around 1.2m long and come with a slider above the y-split, which is a relief. This makes wearing the IEM over the ear much easier. The plug feels pretty solid and I didn’t experience any cuts outs at all, something that happens sometimes with IEMs which have a removable cable. Microphonics is also very good, both worn up and down.
 
 

Testing Gear

Most of my testing was done on the D14-P5 with PS, but I also gave it a run with DX80 and an iPhone 6. All of the devices and combinations drove the IEM sufficiently, it isn’t an overly demanding IEM, but I did feel like the performance improved appreciably when the IEM was amped very simply on the IP6. The best combination was expectedly the iBasso stack, but they sounded almost as good on the DX80. With amping, the bass seems to be punchier and hits harder. The overall sound is more controlled and smooth. I would recommend pairing the Titan 5 with a DAP or with a cheap amp.
 
 

Sound Quality

Given how impressed I have been with every single one of Dunu’s IEMs that I have tried, I had no reason to suspect otherwise with the Titan 1. The Titan 1 took the spot of my favourite budget IEM and given the low pricing of the Titan 5, it replaces the Titan 1 in that spot for me. The Titan 5 is a truly impressive IEM when it comes to sound quality and is perhaps the best performer when it comes to price/performance that I have heard.
 

 

Bass

Generally, I have found Dunu IEMs to be somewhat V shaped with an emphasised bass and the Titan 5 is no different. The bass is definitely the highlight for me, it is perfectly balanced, not too much and not too light. The bass is punchy and energetic; it manages to have very good impact while staying very fast. There is no bloat whatsoever. The detail of the bass is extremely impressive, not just for an IEM of this price range, but for higher end IEMs as well. The bass is controlled well and at no time did I feel like it got too much. The mid-bass was emphasised more than the sub-bass, which I actually found to be rather neutral. Bass extension was very good and I didn’t feel like the bass rolled off at the lower registers. The sub-bass was quite flat – not emphasised, but no early roll off either. Rumble is good, but it isn’t for bassheads who like to hear an emphasised sub-bass, you won’t find it here. The tone of the bass is one of the most well balanced without sacrificing overall clarity that I have heard in an IEM.
 
 

Midrange

The midrange is undoubtedly pulled back a little but I wouldn’t exactly call it recessed. It has the same tone that I love from the Titan 1, but it improves on it in terms of clarity. There is a sense of realism while still being somewhat analytical. Yes, they were definitely pulled back a little, but I didn’t feel like this bothered me at all. It really shines on female vocals, where it sounds very sweet and extremely clear. There is a little bit of an upper midrange boost and this means that vocals sound crystal clear. Male vocals sound a little sharper than I would usually like, but it wasn’t too bad. Instruments sounded clear and generally had a natural timbre to them, but with pianos I found the Titan 5 to be a little thinner than I usually like. Stringed instruments sounded very natural and realistic while being very detailed, more so than the Titan 1. A small issue I had was minor vocal sibilance on higher volumes. Despite the midrange being a little pulled back, I found them to be very impressive, which excellent detail and realism.
 
 

Treble

The treble feels more upfront than the Titan 1, which I find to be a good thing. Gone in the mid treble dip and this is instead replaced by an upper treble boost. Extension is better on the Titan 5 and I felt like the treble was quite smooth with no significant peaks, but it is definitely on the brighter side of neutral. Something I realised was that it is more refined than the slightly grainy treble of the Titan 1. Treble detail is excellent and it really shines with cymbals. They have just the right amount of sparkle and a good decay. The treble was not harsh at all, and I didn’t feel like there was any sibilance at all, even at high volumes. Something I have to pick on is how they present the micro details. They presented some minute details in the treble that I really wasn’t expecting to here, from a soft bell to a guitar string. The treble is wonderfully balanced and extends beautifully. While I wouldn’t exactly call his bright, it is very clean and detailed without being harsh.
 

 

Soundstage & Imaging

The Titan 1 really surprised me with just how large the soundstage was and for the price, I had never heard anything like it before. The Titan 5 has a similar soundstage to the Titan 1. Together, they are two of the best IEMs in regards to soundstage under $200 by quite a margin. The vents and earbud design probably has something to do with this. The large soundstage does come with a horrendous isolation though. It is perhaps even larger than the DN-2000. The width and height is impressive, but what is even more so is the depth, or more specifically, how the Titan 5 presents the depth of the stage. The stage has a very 3D feel to it and is something nothing I have heard (other than the Titan 1) does in this price range.
 
The imaging is equally as impressive and here is it even better than the Titan 1. It is very precise and it presents a sense of space very well. Instruments and where they were was very sharp and the layering is all awesome. I think that the Titan 5 is maybe even better than the DN-2000 in this area.
 
 

Separation, Detail & Clarity

The separation improves on the Titan 1, but it still falls a little short of multi BA IEMs in this price range. The single dynamic driver of the Titan 5 isn’t as good in this area as multiple BA drivers. It handles most tracks with ease, but on some busier passages, the music starts to be a little more congested. It isn’t too bad at any time, but it is worth mentioning that it doesn’t do quite as well as other top contenders here.
 
The Titan 5 is the most detailed IEM under $200 that I have personally tried. I think that this is pretty clear to me, not much comes close. It is much more detailed than the Titan 1 because of the more open treble. It isn’t one of those analytical IEMs however; it’s far from that actually. I’d actually say that the Titan 5 is one of the more fun IEMs that I have heard, it combines energy with detail for a very convincing package.
 
The Titan 5 excels in clarity due to the slightly accentuated upper midrange and upper treble. Instruments sound very clear as do voices. This is mostly a positive, but in some instances, this can mean that the sound is not quite as realistic as I would have liked.
 

 

Summary

I wrote that the Titan 1 was the most perfect sounding IEM at its price and now the Titan 5 is, IMO, superior at a slightly higher price. Nothing comes close to it at its price point. However, this does not mean that this will necessarily be the choice for everyone. With an IEM, noise isolation is important to many people and unfortunately, the superior sound of the Titan 5 is met with a terrible isolation. When choosing an IEM in this price range, the Titan 5 is my first recommendation by far purely based on sound quality, but of course, you have to consider how important isolation is to you because this trade-off means that you will be limited as to where you can actually use this. 
 
As always, thanks for reading this review and I hoped it helped. And just a note, the photos are taken from Google, if you own any of them and want me to take them down send me a message. 

At the time of the review, the Titan 5 in-ear monitor was was on sale on Penon Audio’s website. Here is a link to their listing of the product:
 
http://penonaudio.com/DUNU-TITAN5%20?search=titan%205
 
Note: I reviewed the Titan 3 and Titan 5 at the same time. The beginning of the the reviews are nearly identical with grammatical edits to match the product to the corresponding review. They are nearly identical products in terms of build and packaging. If you have read the other review, you might want to skip straight to the sound impressions.
 
Introduction
Almost a year ago, the original Dunu Titan 1 was released. It was an all metal housing earphone with a unique design and fabulous sound. I gave the original Titan 1 a five star review. When I heard that there would be a successor to this beast of an earphone, I knew I had to try it.
 
Disclaimer
I was given an opportunity to review the Titan 3 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

The Titan 5 came in a box that follows the same theme as the original Titan 1 earphone, sporting a black box with white letters. The front of the box has the name of the product and picture of the housings and cable along with the “Hi-Res” logo on the upper right hand corner.
 

The back of the box featured pictures and descriptions of the detachable cable, titanium diaphragm driver and housings along with the accessories.
 

 

The left side of the box displayed specifications in six different languages (including English). The right side displayed the Dunu logo and slogan (delicate, unique & utmost)
 
Specifications and Accesories
 
Specification

Model No: TITAN 5

Type: Dynamic(13mm)

Frequency response: 10Hz-40KHz

Impedance: 32Ω

Plug size: 3.5mm Gold-plated

Cord length: 1.2m

Weight: 24g

Accessories

DUNU TITAN 5 Earphone

6 pairs of silicone eartips

Shirt clip

3.5mm to 6.5mm adapter

Carrying case

1 pair of fitting rubber


The entire Titan lineup comes with a great selection of tips, including my personal favorite Sony-like silicone tips. If those don’t work there is also slightly more rigid pair of black/red silicone tips as well. Also included are a pair of silicone fins that fit over the Titan housing, helping the earphone sit more securely in the ear.
 
Housings

The Titan 5 features metal housings that are very solid and reminiscent of the original. The main difference I noticed is that there is far less in terms of driver venting holes on the inside of the driver. The housing shape is a hybrid design with traits from both earbud and an in-ear monitors.

The outside of the housings displays the number five etched into the metal shell.
 
Cable, Y-Split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs

The cable is an exclusive detachable MMCX style jack that connects at the bottom of the housing. The cable has a flexible black cable with very little spring and virtually no memory, same as many of Dunu’s other cables. I really enjoy the type of cables they use, and am glad they continue to use this type. The Y-split is a black metal jacketed housing with a chin slider that fits flush with the Y-split. The Dunu logo is painted on the Y-split jacket. The cable jack is a ninety degree gold plated 3.5mm jack. The black metal plating on the jack has a specific serial number painted on it. Strain relief is excellent at the jack. There is strain relief where the cable meets the MMCX connectors. There is no strain relief at the Y-split. Something Dunu does that I really appreciate is the added cable winder accessory at the lower end of the cable. This helps keep My earphones neat and untangled when winding/unwinding them.

 
Functionality
The Titan is meant for music enjoyment. there are no microphones or remotes to take away from the high fidelity experience
 
Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics, Isolation
My original gripe about the original Titan earphone was that it didn’t support an over ear fit without swapping the channels. Dunu addressed this by offering the exclusive detachable MMCX cables. The first thing I did was swap channels on the titan and go over the ear, which is my preferred way of wearing just about every in-ear monitor.
 
Just like the original Titan, the under the ear fit is phenomenal. the earbud-like disc shape in combination with metal nozzle sets up for a snug and comfortable fit.
 
Microphonics are much better than average when worn down, and eliminated when worn over the ear. Isolation on the Titan 3 is better than the original, but still somewhat mediocre as compared to the average in-ear monitor.

 
Sound Review
I did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-G3 with the latest firmware for portable and smartphone use, and either my Shanling H3 or Sony Walkman F806/Cayin C5 amplifier for a high fidelity portable use. For desktop use I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a HIFIMEDIY Sabre ES9023 USB DAC/Bravo Audio Ocean Tube amplifier with a Mullard 12AU7 tube for higher impedance, and a Fiio E18 USB DAC & Amplifier in both high and low gain. Both were run at 24 bit, 96000 Hz. I also tested them with other DAPs and amplifiers as well. I used Google Music downloaded in its highest download quality (320 KBPS) and I also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.
 
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
The Titan 5 is relatively easy to drive at 32 Ohms and can be driven by just about anything that plays music and has a 3.5 mm plug. They are a high resolution earphone that doesn’t shy away from upper midrange and treble frequencies. Their bass forward signature will make them somewhat forgiving with poorly recorded music, but will also upscale well with better files and sources. I didn’t see any particular benefit from using amplification or a more powerful source. Feed them some high bitrate files and higher quality recordings through a more neutral and high fidelity source and you will be rewarded with some impressive sound quality.
 
Sound Signature
These are the V-signature out of the group. Despite the consumer friendly approach in tuning, they are fabulous thanks to their high level of resolution. They pack a meaty bass, timbre rich lower midrange and crisp and an up front treble response. They don’t shy away from some sibilant sounds, but the crisp upper frequencies work well in combination with the rich and slightly boosted lower tones.
 
There’s a richness to their tuning that makes them work well with almost every genre. What I honestly heard is a bass boosted Titan 3. Looking at graphs online, it made even more sense what I was hearing. The treble response of the Titan 3 and Titan 5 is pretty much identical, with the Titan 5 packing boost in the bass and lower midrange (most likely just different venting on the same titanium driver).
 
Bass
The Titan 5 is far and away the bass champion of the Titan family. The bass is a robust and dynamic bass that is pretty well rounded. The Titan 5 bass isn’t necessarily the cleanest and tightest bass you will hear, but the authoritative presentation packs just enough resolution to be incredibly entertaining. It’s subwoofer bass to my ears with a good amount of punch and rumble. The driver will dig deep enough for listeners to realize they are missing some of these low notes with other earphones.
 
Midrange
The mids are slightly recessed and for the most part midrange takes a step back from other frequencies. Although this is the case the midrange isn’t far enough back for me to say that they are necessarily lacking. The forward bass carries into the lower midrange, giving them a warmer feel to instruments and vocals. The Titan 5 goes from a musical and Timbre rich lower midrange and finishes with an aggressive upper midrange. The Titan 5 could get a little shouty at times. Although having a lifted upper midrange and treble area, one thing to note is that the Titan 5 seems perceptually less harsh because of their forward lower frequencies.
 
Treble
The top end of the the sound doesn’t shy away from a crisply pronounced letter S or T, but for the most part the Titan 5 does it tastefully. The Titan 5 will butcher already sibilant recordings, just be aware of this.
 
With the treble tuned where it is, there is a nice crisp finish that helps create a nice sense of space. The treble extends pretty well and makes acoustic music and live performances sound great. Cymbal crashes and treble sounds for the most part have very fast attack and decay.  
 
Soundstage and Imaging
The forward bass response in combination with an aggressive upper midrange and treble gives the a better than average, but intimate soundstage. I really enjoyed the high resolution. The V-signature does a great job keeping the signature very musical and entertaining.
 
Comparisons
How could I not compare the this guy to it’s brothers?
 
Titan 1 ($100 to $135 USD on many sites)
The original Titan was one of my first five star reviews. Although there were some things about them I don’t feel were absolutely perfect, there was no denying their phenomenal sound quality. To this day the Titan 1 is still heavily used in my rotation of preferred in-ear monitors.
 
Both models have nearly identical packaging and accessories. They feature almost identical builds, with the main exception being the detachable cables of the new model and decrease in the number of venting holes on the inside of the driver. In terms of build and accessories, a very slight advantage goes to the Titan 5 because I’m able to swap channels and go over the ear with the channels reversed.
 
The Titan 5 sets itself apart from the original titan by being an edgier and less neutral tuning. On the end of each side of the frequency range the Titan 5 continues to extends and lifts from where the Titan 1 stops. This can be great, but also at times more fatiguing to my ears. While there were times when the Titan 1 would make things seem more natural and enjoyable to listen to, the bass and timbre the Titan 5 added an oomph that the Titan 1 couldn’t achieve. The Titan 5 is definitely the more Hi-Fi of the two.

 
Titan 3 ($135 USD on many sites)
The Titan 3 seems the most neutral and midcentric of the Titans from what I heard. They feature a somewhat linear and extended bass presence, which carries into a nicely balanced and natural sounding midrange. The upper midrange and treble has a few decibel lift that helps accentuate vocals and give the sound a nice amount of forward presence.
 
Build and accessories is a tie because it is pretty much identical.
 
Comparing versions 3 and 5, I can understand why Dunu would offer both models at the same time. They are completely different approaches. The Titan 3 is more linear and balanced. Titan 5 has a much more boosted lower frequency response. Treble responses on both are nearly identical.
 
The boosted bass of the Titan 5 puts more low end warmth on midrange tones. One thing I do appreciate with the Titan 5 is how the added bass and warmth helps take the focus off of the crisp treble, making them perceptually less fatiguing. The Forward bass response of the Titan 5 also set up much better for modern genres of music.
 
If I’m jamming Mumford and Sons, or Adele, or anything that features vocals I’m reaching for the Titan 3. If I’m jamming some Skrillex, Macklemore, or just about any modern genre of music I’m reaching for the Titan 5. If I’m going to be listening to a bunch of different music and with no particular genre, I will probably go with the Titan 1.
 
Conclusion
The Titan 5 is the party animal of the bunch. The bass comes out to play with an authoritative and robust rumble that is complimented with an equally forward upper midrange and treble that gives them a crisp and extended feel. It is a high fidelity earphone that will appeal to a large audience of people looking to upgrade to a higher level of resolution while maintaining a fun V-signature. It falls into a sweet spot as a basshead meets audiophile. For the price they are a value and a top pick for people looking for a higher caliber earphone.   
 

 
Thanks for reading and happy listening!

I’m no reviewer, but I thought I would share some of my views on my newly acquired DUNU Titan 5. My previous IEM’s had been the DUNU DN1000’s which I was very happy with even though it had a few minor flaws.
 
I decided to get myself a new pair of IEM’s since my DUNU DN1000’s cable looked like it was on its way out, with bare copper showing at the point where the two cables joined to make one. I had been very happy with the DN1000’s and started reading reviews on the T1, T3 and T5’s. The bass prominent T5’s seemed to be the ones for me as they would be my daily companions at work. At home I mainly have my Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro’s sitting on my head. So it made sense for me to pick these up. I also love my RS1i’s which I mainly use when listening to serious music and no one is at home. My music tastes vary from Blues Rock to Classical to Jazz to Dubstep. At work I mainly listen to Podcasts and occasionally music.
In the box
 
Opening the box it came with the usual bits and pieces you would expect these days with decent IEM’s. The one thing that did stand out for me was the ear piece stabilizers. A first for me. Inspecting the IEM’s the first thing I notice was the cable was much more supple that my DN1000’s. No more trying to straighten the cables on a cold day before use - Yay. The cables are detachable and seemed quite loose. I must admit that these are my first pair that has this feature, so maybe this is normal. The ear pieces looked pretty well build with a few design improvements which was another plus. The Rubber tips always seemed to slip off my DN1000’s. The T5 design seems far superior. The only difference is that they are more bulky and ever so slightly heavier than my DN1000.
The fit is also much more secure and I found them quite comfortable at first, but after about 4 hours of continued use my ears ached a little. I fitted the stabilizers as some have indicated that this has helped and it did to some degree for me. I’ll have to experiment to see what I need to do to make it more comfortable. I understand that we all have different shapes and size ears and it must be difficult to get that “universal” fit.
 
The Sound
 
The first time I fired these up directly from my iPod I was actually surprised at the sound. The first thing that came in to my mind was a top heavy body builder. The Bass and sub bass was just what I wanted and maybe a little more. Fast with good presence, but not overly done. The bass never distorts and give a deep rich sound. The mids seemed a bit thin and the highs was verging on sibilant. But after a few hours everything settled down and became much more enjoyable (balanced). The mids filled out and the highs lost the “sparklyness”.
I have recently hooked these up to my Audiolab MDAC and I was blown away by the improvement in all areas. WOW
 
I urge readers of this review to rather read other reviewers impressions of the sound as I’m not all that good at articulating these impressions very well.
What I can say is that I really am enjoying these. It’s a definite upgrade from my DN1000. It a little bass colored, but that’s what I love about them. I give them a BIG two thumbs up!

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to check out the Titan 5, one of two new additions to Dunu's Titan lineup. I want to thank @nmatheis for starting the Canadian leg of the Titan tour, and for @hakushondaimao for getting this awesome iem over to me for the week. Let's kick this off!
 
Back when the Titan 1 was first announced, my ears perked up and I took notice; half in-ear design, large titanium coated 13mm driver, from a company with a great reputation, and a well-rounded accessory kit. It looked like a winner. Once reviews started rolling in it was clear Dunu had struck gold once again. I scooped up a pair during a Massdrop push earlier this year and they instantly became one of my favorite earphones.
 

---

---

 
Build, Accessories, Comfort:
 
As with the Titan 1, Dunu provides Titan 5 buyers with a slew of high quality accessories. Upon opening the smartly designed package you are greeted by the Titan housings and the first of many accessories; some Heir style red-cored tips (s/m/l) and one of Dunu's stellar hard cases. Inside the case you find most of the remaining accessories; a 3.5 to 6.3 mm gold-plated adapter, an additional set of Sony Hybrid tips, and the newest addition to the Titan arsenal, silicone earguides! A shirt clip comes pre-installed on the cable. One thing Dunu has always done well is provide a generous amount of accessories with their earphones, and the Titan series does not disappoint. You are sure to find a tip to fit your ear, and once you do, sweetness ensues.
 
Build quality is excellent, just as it was on the original Titan. The housings are crafted from aluminum and feature a shallow fit, half in-ear design. The Titan 1 has 11 pin-hole vents on the underside of the housing and one above where the cable attaches. This sacrificed isolation for soundstage but was arguably worth it for the airy and spacious sound. The new Titans give up some of that obscene soundstage (the 5 less so than the 3) to improve isolation and as a result are more conservative in their ventilation. There are only two pin-hole vents, one on the underside facing your ear and one above where the cable attaches.
 
The Titan 5 is a bit bulkier and heavier than the Titan 1, but Dunu listened to their fans to give what many wanted from the Titan 1. The Titan 5 features a detachable cable with a modified MMCX connector. As a necessary evil to accommodate this feature the top section of the housing is fair bit thicker, thought you could argue this is a plus since it gives you a nice handhold with which to grab the earphone. Now that there are detachable cables, you can wear them cable over ear without having to swap channels, even though I did anyways. These were a loaner so I didn't feel comfortable detaching the cables...just in case. Overall comfort has improved in my opinion, despite the extra weight. This is due to a very subtle but welcome change to the housing. The Titan 1 was a little sharp around the edges and had a tendency to irritate the ears of some owners. Run your finger across the new Titans and you will find these edges have been rounded off. Hopefully this minor change carries over to the Titan 1.
 
While overall I feel they are a well-designed product, there are a couple things to mention. First, I'm a little bummed out that Dunu ditched the colored rings on the housing. While it's very easy to differentiate the channels due to the very nature of the design, being color-coded made at-a-glance channel recognition immediate. Plus, it looked nice. Second, I'm not so keen on the cable choice. I like that it has been thickened above the y-split and is now more plush, but it is no longer cloth between the y-split and straight jack. While normally I'm not a huge fan of a partial cloth cable, Dunu did a great job with it on the the Titan 1 and I'm a little disappointed it didn't carry over to the 3 and 5. At least the cable is still well-relieved. I'm looking forward to see what Dunu's upgraded cables bring to the table in the near future.
 

---

---

 
Sound Quality:
 
Gear used: HTC One M8 with Topping NX1
Tips: Sony Hybrid (L)
 
Some specifications for those who like to know.
 

1. Driver: 13mm dynamic
2. Stainless steel housing
3. Frequency response: 10Hz-40KHz
4. Sound pressure level: 108 ± 2dB
5. Impedance: 32Ω

 
Having access to the entire Titan lineup for the purposes of this review was very handy for putting each model into perspective with one another.
 
I found the Titan 5 to offer up a warm and smooth v-shape. They are very polite and inoffensive, usually. On some tracks I found them them a little peaky, bordering on uncomfortable (such as on Arkade's CID "Like This") but this was an exception. This came as a bit of a surprise since I'm generally not overly sensitive to treble-heavy iems and didn't run into this problem with the Titan 3. Maybe it's because I had the mid-forward Titan 3 on hand for direct comparison, but mids on the Titan 5 came across as pretty recessed. It's one of the few earphones I would used the word "scooped" to describe. I found myself constantly raising the volume to bring vocals up to a listenable level. Despite the changes to the design that greatly improved isolation, the soundstage on the Titan 5 is still very spacious, second to the Titan 1. I found the Titan 1 was a little vague when it came to imaging and accuracy (esp. compared to the FXH30). The Titan 5 felt significantly improved in these aspects.
 
The 5 really just seemed to lack any sense of energy and urgency, and as a result I wanted to swap over to the Titan 1 or 3 anytime they were in use. Their rumbling bass line was just to prevalent at all times. Output from the NX1 helped a bit, but something was still missing. They are a great sounding earphone, no doubt, but they just didn't click with me.
 
Vs. Titan 1
 
The Titan 5 dials back the mids, boosts the bass, and adds a welcome dose of refinement across the entire spectrum. I found the Titan 5 to be a heavier sounding earphone, and as a result not quite as snappy as the Titan 1. They are certainly more forgiving of lower quality files however, and with a combination of boosted bass and improved isolation are easily the better of the two for mobile use.
 
Vs. Titan 3
 
The Titan 3 concentrates it's energy and shoves it through your ear canal. The Titan 5 disperses this energy across a rumbling bassline and delivers it in smooth waves to your brain. While I prefer the Titan 3's more aggressive presentation, it's hard to argue against the Titan 5 being the more relaxed, comfortable, and versatile listen. While the Titan 3 is easier to drive from the average smartphone, the added bass of the Titan 5 makes them the best of the Titans for mobile use.
 
Overall Thoughts:
 
While I liked the Titan 5 and can see them garnering a solid fan bass, they just weren't the Titan for me. They offer up a very smooth and refined sound, I love the way they present bass, and they maintain most of the spaciousness of the Titan 1. They just come across as a little safe, and dare I say dull, compared to their Titan 1 and Titan 3 stablemates. Awesome earphone, just not the Titan for me.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 

---

 
Some Test Albums:
 
BT - This Binary Universe
The Uncluded - Hokey Fright (definitely an experience)
Supertramp - Crime of the Century
Evil Nine - They Live
Aesop Rock - Daylight EP
Gramatik - The Edge of Reason
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
King Crimson - Red
Warlock - Triumph and Agony
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
Hail Mary Mallon - Are You Gonna Eat That?
Rob Sonic - Alice in Thunderdome

Preamble:

Founded in February 1994 originally as an OEM manufacturer, the Chinese company DUNU has developed in the past few years and launched many in audiophile circles highly appreciated IEMs, whereof the Titan 1, an in-ear with semi-open design that reminds me more or less of an “earbud with a nozzle”, was one of their most appreciated and discussed in-ears in the last time.
After the successful Titan 1, the Titan 3 and Titan 5 have been added to DUNU’s “Titan”-range. They are not meant to replace the original Titan 1, but rather as alternatives in the product range, featuring a different tonality and other features, like for example replaceable cables with MMCX connectors.

This review (including comparisons with the Titan 1 as well as Titan 3) concentrates on the Titan 5 and is the third part of my Titan-review-series.
Before I go on, I also want to give a huge thanks to DUNU-Topsound and their Vivian for sending me a Titan 5 to check out in exchange for my honest opinion.


Technical Specifications:

Price: ~ $135
Driver type: dynamic, 13 mm, titanium-coated
Frequency response: 10 H – 40 kHz
Sensitivity: 108 dB (+/- 2 dB)
Impedance: 32 Ohms
Cable length: 1.2 m


Delivery Content:

Typically for DUNU, the Titan 5’s delivery content is quite good, although not as impressive as with their more expensive models.

The packaging is valuable, sturdy and designed in the typical DUNU-style. The front shows a large picture of the in-ears, the back gives information about the delivery content with corresponding little pictures and more information about the in-ears. The left side features the technical specifications in various languages; the right has got a strap for opening the magnetic lid and features the words that DUNU stands for: “Delicate Unique & Utmost”.
On the inside, the left side of the upper side’s lid describes the assets of the titanium coating and briefly describes the in-ears’ sound signature. On the right side, there is an introduction of a musician called Max Barsky as well as a small translucent plastic screen with the in-ears behind.
With the help of another strap, this side can be opened up as well and reveals the in-ears as well as a warranty card, a really nice carrying case (more about that later on), a cable clip, a 6.35 to 3.5 mm adapter as well as two different styles of silicone tips (one type less than the Titan 1) in three different sizes (among are the pre-installed Sony-like hybrid silicone tips and hybrid silicone tips with red stem). Therefore, the consumer can chose his preferred style of tips that also have a slight impact on the overall sound signature. As a new accessory, two soft white silicone hooks also come included.
 

---

---

Looks, Feels, Build Quality:

The silver-coloured, CNC-milled and triple-polished in-ear bodies are made of stainless steel, feature a premium build quality, have got classical “L” plus “R” side markers as well as DUNU letterings. As a very convenient feature, the “faceplates” feature the number “5”.
Apart from the sound outlet holes in the nozzle, I count only one additional vent in the body (in contrast to the Titan 1’s 12).
Contrary to the Titan 1, Titan 5’s bodies are not colour-coded (the circular rings are just dark grey), which has a simple reason: the Titan 5 (as well as Titan 3) have got replaceable cables with MMCX connectors, wherefore the bodies can be swapped if one wants to wear the in-ears with the cables over the ears.
For the price range, user-replaceable cables are a really nice feature and fortunately don’t increase the overall price much.

The L-shaped 3.5 mm connector which contains the serial number as well as the y-split with the “DUNU” lettering and the chin-slider are made of black metal.
As opposed to the Titan 1, Titan 5’s cable is not cloth-coated below the y-split, which I see as a benefit (it can’t fray), although it doesn’t look as cool/special.
Of course, the Titan 5 also features DUNU’s unique, patent-pending cable management tool that eases rolling off the cable and keeping it in that shape.

With a gentle press on the button of the nice carrying case, the lid snaps open. The bottom on the outside has got a rubber mat that is skid-proof on most surfaces. The lower half of the case’s inside is bolstered with rubber, but the upper is unfortunately not and has only got a hard plastic surface.
 

---

---

Comfort, Isolation:

By swapping the sides of the cable connectors, the in-ears can now also be worn correctly with the cables around the ears.

The in-ears are best worn like earbuds with the cables straight down, which works out quite nice, however people with very small auricles may have fit issues, which is definitely no problem for me who has quite large conchas, wherefore the in-ears sit very comfy in my ears. Once the chin-slider is moved up, microphonics are lowered and not too present.
By swapping the sides, it is also possible to wear the Titan 5 correct-sided with the cables over the ears, which was not possible with the Titan 1. Personally, just like with the Titan 1, I prefer to wear the Titan 3 like earbuds (straight down insertion), but with guiding the cable around my ears then. Just like with the classical over-the-ear style, microphonics disappear then.
New included accessories are the soft silicone hooks that can just be pulled over the in-ear bodies and guarantee for a more secure fit.

As the in-ear bodies are pretty much closed, isolation is audibly stronger than the Titan 1’s, but still lower than mediocre. Additionally, the Titan 5 also isolates slightly more than the Titan 3 in my ears.


Sound:

Although I don’t believe much (if at all) in burn-in of in-ears, I have fully burnt the Titan 3 in before listening, just as it is recommended for them.
My main source devices were the iBasso DX80 and DX90 as well as the HiFime 9018d. Music material was mainly stored as FLAC and WAV files, but I also used some 320 kBps cbr MP3 files.

The following sound impressions were written down based on listening with the red-core hybrid tips, as they subjectively offered the best sound quality for me.

Tonality:

The Titan 5 is DUNU’s bassiest in-ear out of their Titan series and kind of follows the Titan 1’s rather gently v-shaped tonality, but adds a little more bass and a more even, less emphasised treble.
The whole lows are (compared to a strictly flat IEM like the Etymotic ER-4S) emphasised by circa 9 dB. The elevation reaches from the deepest sub-bass at 20 Hz (yeah, the Titan 5 has some really nice “cellar-rumble”) to about 160 Hz. From there on, level evenly decreases to 500 Hz where it becomes neutral. The emphasis really solely concentrates only on the bass and a bit the lower and lower middle root tone range and commendably stays out of the other fundamental range frequencies or mids.
Speaking of the mids, they are free of any emphasis or coloration (voices are tonally correct in my ears) and the presence area is also not really lowered.
Just like the Titan 3’s, Titan 5’s treble starts evenly rising from 3 kHz on and has got a broad-banded emphasis at 6 and 7 kHz. At 8 and 9 kHz, level is a bit less present, but more than the Titan 3 in this area. In the super-treble, I hear a peak both at 12.5 and 14 kHz; overall treble extension is really good.

On a personal, subjective side-note: the bass is quite strong, but really fast as well as well made, as it does not really bleed into the fundamental tone range and doesn’t make the sound unnecessarily “phat” or warm, but also mainly concentrates on the “real” bass. Solely looking at the lows, there is a very strong resemblance to the Triple.Fi 10’s bass (however both have got a different tuning especially in the treble where the Triple.Fi 10 follows more the route of a “classical” v-shape with recessed middle as well as lower and emphasised upper highs).

Tuning Options:

Just as with most of DUNU’s in-ears, the Titan 5 comes with various ear-tips that shape the sound more or less obviously.
Compared to the red-cored hybrid tips, the “Sony”-style hybrid tips with black silicone have got the minimally brighter treble and upper mids in my ears, but don’t differ in the other areas.

Resolution:

Just like the Titan 1 and Titan 3, the Titan 5 has got a really good resolution and is definitely among the best in-ears in its price range.
The bass is free of any softness and surprisingly fast, punchy, precise, arid and controlled for a dynamic driver, with an excellent transient response. Even towards sub-bass, nothing softens. Due to the stronger emphasis, the bass is only minimally softer than the Titan 3’s or Titan 1’s, but really just very slightly. Lows are still really fast, controlled and are not strained or overchallenged at the slightest. Despite the speed, the bass body is really nice and somehow gives a teaser of how the DN-2000J’s lows sound (although the Titan 5 surely does not reach its light-footedness, details and texture, but does an excellent job on its own).
The treble is really differentiated, detailed and is better done than the Titan 1’s: the Titan 5’s (and Titan 3’s) high frequencies sound more refined, more natural.
With the Titan 1 as well as Titan 3, there is one thing that slightly bothers me about the mids: on their own, the mids are high-resolving and precise, but compared to the lows and highs, their resolution very slightly lacks behind, although the segmentation is quite even and the Titan 5’s resolution distribution is a tad more even than the Titan 1’s. It is a bit like with the Logitech UE900: the mids’ resolution is really not bad at all, but the bass and treble are a bit better in this regard, wherefore the mids appear a little bit excluded in comparison, but are very precise on their own (but the treble and bass seem to reveal a tad more details). However, this difference between the mids’ and treble’s/bass’ resolution is even less present on the Titan 5 (only about the thickness of a razorblade) and out of the three Titans, the Titan 5 has got the most cohesive resolution (although the Titan 3 is also slightly better in the mids than the Titan 1, but the Titan 5 does even a tad better, probably due to different dampening in the bodies). It’s not that the other two Titans are bad resolving in the mids (the difference between the three is minor), but the Titan 5 is just a tad more refined and detailed with voices in my ears.

Soundstage:

I think it was clear that the Titan 5 wouldn’t span such a large soundstage as the Titan 1 beforehand, as the bodies are less open. However, the Titan 5’s spatial presentation is, from what I perceive, definitely larger than average, both in terms of width and depth. The soundstage of the Titan 5 also appears a bit larger than the Titan 3’s, especially in terms of spatial depth.
The depth-to-width-ratio is very balanced, with a perfect balance between depth and width in my ears.
Instrument separation, -placement and layering are really good as well as precise and the soundstage never appears congested.

---------

vs. Titan 3:
The Titan 5 sounds thicker, as it has got the more elevated bass and lower fundamentals. Titan 5’s and Titan 3’s treble are quite similar, however the Titan 5 has got more upper highs, wherefore I personally find it better suited for Rock music.
Regarding resolution, they are quite identical: both have got fast, punchy and arid lows (though the Titan 5’s bass is a very tiny bit less arid due to the stronger emphasis), detailed, well-separated treble and have got a mids’ resolution that is very good but very slightly lacks behind the bass’ and highs’, however it is even more unobtrusive with the Titan 5.
In my ears, the Titan 5 has got the slightly larger soundstage and sounds a tad more open, with the stronger spatial depth, however both are not as large/open sounding as the Titan 1.

vs. Titan 1:
The Titan 5 adds about 2 or 3 more dB in the lows and is quasi the more refined version of the Titan 1, with a more detailed treble and the minimally better midrange resolution.
Just as also with the Titan 3, Titan 5’s treble is more even than Titan 1’s and therefore appears more natural and better refined.
In terms of resolution, they are quite identical: both have got fast, punchy and arid lows (the Titan 1’s are however minimally more arid), detailed, well-separated treble and have got a midrange resolution that is very good but very slightly lacks behind the bass’ and highs’, however this is hardly audible with the Titan 5.
Due to its semi-open design, the Titan 1 has got the larger soundstage, but the Titan 5 does not sound congested either and generates an imaginary soundstage that is larger than just average, has got a precise instrument placement as well as layering.


Conclusion:
The Titan 5 is a very convincing in-ear and in my ears a “Titan 1 reloaded”: besides the exchangeable cables, the overall tuning was also improved – the Titan 5 sounds a bit bassier (but just as fast and arid), but at the same time has the more natural, more even treble, and DUNU also got rid of the nylon-coated cable that could fray over time. Although the soundstage is smaller, it is still larger than average and precise.
In short, just like the other two Titan in-ears, the Titan 5 is overall very convincing and (like the Titan 3) does some things a tad better than the Titan 1.
Overall, it scores easy 5 out of 5 stars.

DUNU Titan 5

"Return of the Titan"
 
 
It’s been a while since I’ve come across another DUNU product. I did have short stints with the DN-1000 and the Alpha 1 but the Titan 5 was my first proper time since the Titan 1. The Titan 1 was one of those really unique products that stood out in the market for a few reasons; not just exceptional sound quality but design and innovation. Since then, DUNU have released 3 new products based on this initial innovative design of the Titan 1: these are the Titan 1es a budget option, and the Titan 3 & 5 which are, from what I would gather, the true successors of the Titan 1. I’ve not heard the 1es or the 3 so cannot comment on their signature, but the Titan 5 really does take this innovative design into a new direction, which to me is a real winner.
The “Titan” name comes from the use of a Titanium coated dynamic drivers which are touted to have “high power handling, for its exceptional clarity, fast transients, deep reaching bass, sweet and emotional vocals, as well as the delicate and smooth treble extension”. While that those sound very impressive, it’s not too farfetched.
The Titan 5 has now gotten the “Hi-Res Audio” certification if that means anything to you.
 

A little about the Dunu Titan 5

More info at the Dunu website: http://www.dunu-topsound.com/TITAN5.html
 

 

Conclusion

Coming back and rereading my Titan 1 review did bring a lot of nostalgia which made the experience with the Titan 5 all that much more special to me. The Titan 5 really takes the success and innovation of the Titan 1 and makes it better in almost every way. Is the Titan 5 a real successor to the Titan 1? I would say yes with a ‘but’. I think that the Titan 1 is still a very unique and splendid IEM and should be sold alongside the Titan 5 for years to come. I find myself losing myself in the music with the Titan 5 more than what I did with the Titan 1 and this is what gives it the edge above its predecessor, and for that I give the Titan 5 a well deserved 5 stars along it's older brother.
Great job to DUNU for another great product and I’m very excited to experience you upcoming line-up of hybrid IEMs in 2016.
 
Cheers!
 
 

 

Introduction:
 
Most of you reading this review know of DUNU’s products already, so I’ll keep this short. DUNU has been making IEM’s (in ear monitors – basically in ear headphones) for a while, and their products have been absolutely fantastic every time. While the word “fantastic” and “great” have been overused in many reviews (even when the product is just alright), DUNU separates itself from the rest of the crowd with the sound quality and ease of use of the headphones they provide.
 
The last two of DUNU’s headphones I reviewed, the Titan 1 and current flagship DN-2000J, absolutely smashed it out of the park. The DN-2000J, for one, was technically capable of a lot more than the price suggested, and coming in to the review, I really wasn’t expecting that level of sound quality. Coupled with great fit/comfort, good isolation, and nice build quality, the DN-2000J was more than a winner for me.
 
The Titan 1 had a much lower price tag, but still surprised me with its usability and its smooth, open sound. Due to the Titan 1’s half-open design, soundstage was much larger than other IEM’s, at the expense of some isolation. However, this proved to me that DUNU was willing to be creative, and try something new. Even in relatively unexplored territory, they still managed to do really well.
 
The Titan 1 received a lot of great feedback from reviewers, and its unique shape was a success when it came to fit and comfort. Keeping that in mind, the Titan 3 and Titan 5 are the same exact shape, resting on the central part of your ear instead of inside your ear canal. The Titan 3 and Titan 5 also aimed to improve isolation, which unavoidably wasn’t so great on the Titan 1. The last physical change was the inclusion of removable cables on the Titan 3 and 5, which is new to Dunu IEM’s – while the build quality of their previous headphones were excellent, some people were worried that the cable might break, so Dunu responded by making them removable as well.
 
One thing is for certain – Dunu pays a lot of attention at the criticism they receive, and uses it to make the next product better. Although many companies do this to varying degrees, I haven’t seen too many of them really go the extra mile to please their customers – Dunu’s inclusion of removable cables was something I didn’t think I would see (because of the enormous amount of work involved), and the improvement in isolation was great to see too. It’s obvious Dunu is willing to do whatever they can to make it work – and even go out of their comfort zone to get things done.
 
Packaging:
 
The Titan 5’s comes in the same type of box as the Titan 1 and Titan 3. The box itself is of a stealthy black color, which also feels well made. It opens with a magnetic flap, and has more information in both English and Chinese about the Titan 5’s specific attributes. Unlike other headphone boxes, Dunu’s are entirely reusable, and are an efficient way to store your headphones if you wish. On the back, like the Titan 1’s box, it says a few things about the Titan 5’s, as well as the accessories it comes with. Opening up the second flap, we see the Titan 5, some of the ear tips, and the carrying case.
 
Dunu hasn’t changed the packaging much, if any at all. However, in my opinion, they don’t need to. The reusable box, build quality, and large amount of information about the Titan 5 on the inside of the first flap, make it a winner for me every time. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? 
 
-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
 
Accessories:
 
The accessories that come with the Titan 5 are slightly different than those of the Titan 1. Here’s the breakdown:
 
Let’s start with the tips. Like the Titan 1, there’s 3 pairs of translucent gray tips (small, medium, and large), and 3 pairs of Sony Hybrid-like tips. Unlike the Titan 1 though, the Titan 5 does not come with tips with a larger nozzle size. Personally, I prefer the regular nozzle size, so to me, this isn’t much of a loss.
 
I noted by the Titan 1 that despite the wide arrangements of tips, I would have like either some bi/tri-flanged tips, or a pair of Comply foam ear tips. The only differences I noticed between the two sets was their aesthetics and cap firmness.
 
Again, though, for future products, I would love to see bi-flange and tri-flange tips, or foam tips, instead of only silicone eartips. Although some customers have their preferred tips on hand, many don’t, and providing a wider variety of tips would go a long way. Many companies have also started including foam and bi-flanged tips, so soon it may very well become the standard.
 
One new accessory I’m very happy about is the set of ear stabilizers – they will come in handy for those who feel that IEM’s always fall out of their ears. However, as I’ll soon say in the fit/comfort section, the fit of the Titan 5 is as good as they come, so I doubt you’ll even need to use them. Great that they’re there though, and definitely a step in the right direction. There’s also the standard shirt clip and 6.35mm headphone jack converter, which was uncluded with the T1 as well.
 
The case is the same as the one that comes with the Titan 1 – it’s made of plastic, and small enough to be pocket able. It’s a clasp-operated case, but I usually end up leaning towards zipper cases. Zipper cases seem to last a lot longer in my experiences, and clasp-operated cases have a tendency to pop open, which makes it easy to lose what’s inside if you’re not careful – especially on the bus or train, where movement isn’t as stable.. While DUNU got the size and form factor right, and I applaud them for that, like I said last time, I’d recommend to make it even better in the future by providing a zipper case instead.
 
-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
 
Build Quality & Design:
 
The Titan 5’s housing is constructed from metal, although it seems a little different than metal housing of the Titan 1. They are both very well made, though the Titan 5 is more polished than the Titan 1. One thing I noticed is that the Titan 5 is longer than the T1, probably due to the removable cable. The T5 still stays quite light, although it is heavier than the T1. When worn, the extra weight isn’t noticeable - the only time you would realize the difference is when carrying the T5.
 
Another difference between the two is the amount of vents on the inside of the housing. The T1, as you know, has a half-open design, which results in a larger soundstage, among other things. The secret to this was the large number of vents not only on the nozzle, but on the housing as well. The T5 only has one vent on the inner-side of the shell – resulting in a conventional design, increasing soundstage, and decreasing sound leakage by a large amount.
 
The T5 has a “5” on the back of the shell – which is the only distinction between the Titan 3 and Titan 5. While the implementation of the number is good, I sort of wish that the number font was a bit less cheesy; the font is similar to those used by Nascar, and I do think that a straight font, un-italicized, would look much better. Again, it’s a preference sort of thing, and I have a feeling most people won’t be too worried about this, so such a small thing shouldn’t be such a big deal.
 
Moving on to the connectors, it’s much sturdier than I thought it would be. I spent a nice amount of time with the Westone W40, which costs about four times the price of the T5, and I was always worried about the connector breaking from being loose. With the T5, it doesn’t budge – something I’m extremely happy about. There is also a nice amount of strain relief, which is something that may not be necessary but is well appreciated. For their first time with removable cables, it seems DUNU did a great job on the build quality of this one.
 
The T5 sports a MMCX connector, although I’m pretty sure they achieved the connector strength by using a slightly longer connector length. Although I haven’t tried any other cables with it, it might be a pain to find an after-market cable that fits the Titan, due to the non-universal connector on the T5.
 
The cable itself is well-made – not springy, but it doesn’t feel cheap either. It feels a little bit stronger than the T1 cable, but the differences are slight and it’s tough to tell which one is actually better. Later on, I’ll briefly discuss the microphonics, and the lack of a woven cable greatly contributes towards the success the T5 has in that category.
 
They Y-split is made of metal, and is jet black, unlike the T1’s sliver Y-split. It also appears to be even better made than the one on the T1 – and the T1 already was great in that aspect. There’s a nice stress relief leading up to the split, and overall it seems well done – it really adds to both the design aesthetics and build quality. The T5 has a right-angled 3.5mm jack just like the T1 – the jack is extremely well made, like its predecessor’s, and there is, again, a really good amount of stress relief. The only difference between the jacks on the two models is the color – the T5 sports a more classy black, while the T1’s jack is silver.
 
So all in all, the T5 definitely improves on the T1 when it comes to design, and the removable cable is a lovely addition too. I just wish Dunu could have made the connector as a standard MMCX model, so most after-market cables would fit. As it stands though, the connector is extremely solid, much more so than those of other headphones I’ve tried. The design of the T5 is also much classier, with the slight exception of the number font on the back of the shell. The T5 also leaves out the red/blue color-coded bands I liked so much with the T1. Why they left them out, I’m not sure – it gave the T1 a different look that always felt unique. Without them, the earpieces look a little… generic to me. Other than that small caveat, though, it looks really great. Dunu really did a great job here.
 
-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
 
Fit & Comfort:
 
Here in the U.S., we have a saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Dunu clearly went this route – the comfort and fit of the T5 is as great as the T1, which, if you haven’t tried the predecessor, is very, very good. The fit of the Titan series is relaxed, and unobtrusive – only the tip sits in your ear canal, while the rest sits on the outer ear. The fit is more shallow than other IEM’s I’ve tried, which makes long-term listening easy for me, but does have only average isolation as the cost.
 
The ear stabilizers provide even better fit for those who feel the fit is too shallow. For those who were wondering, the T5 works well both regularly worn, and over the ear; the stabilizers work both ways. You do have to switch earpieces to achieve the over-the-ear fit though, and some (like me) are a stickler for L/R sounds coming the way they are supposed to. However, it’s a nice option, and it does stay comfortable for me both ways.
 
The comfort is also as great as the T1’s. Because of the shallow fit, my ears have a little more “breathing room”, without sound leaking out . The T5 doesn’t have any foam or bi-flange tips, and I hope they can be included in future models. The default tips are quite comfortable though, and I’m happy with them.
 
Microphonics:
 
Another step up from the T1 is the microphonics – I cannot hear any noise whatsoever when tapping below the Y-split, and even above the Y-split there is very minimal noise – ranking the T5 as one of the best IEM’s I’ve tried for negligible microphonics. One of my chief complaints of the T1 was the above-average microphonics – the T5 went in the complete opposite direction, making it a great workout or running IEM. With the included shirt clip, there is even less noise. I’ve never had an IEM excel so much in this category.
 
Sound:
 
So, the sound. The T3 and T5 mainly differ in this respect; the T5 went for a more bass-beefy signature, for those who listen to EDM, Rock, or a variety of other genres that benefit from a good extended bass.
 
Before I go any further, I’d like to point out that I’ve listen to both of these amazing IEM’s for about 3 weeks now – for those complaining about reviewers spending too little time with samples before they write on them. I’d like to say that my opinion on the T5’s sound has, in fact, stayed the same over the course of these few weeks, so I’m not sure what “brain burn-in” I was supposed to have. Regardless, I thought I should put it out there.
 
Bass is heavier than neutral on the T5. Neutral lovers will probably find it a bit too unbalanced, so it’s important coming into this review that the T5 was not meant for the analytical or classical listeners. The bass is geared to those leaning towards the “basshead” category, although some average Joe like me (who hasn’t had too much basshead training) also appreciates the lower end on bassy songs. Elevated bass, yes, but not enough to take over the rest of the frequency.
 
However, I would not call these a balanced IEM in the true sense of the word. The bass does not bleed into the mids, and clarity is surprisingly good for a bass oriented IEM, but balanced these are not. In all honestly though, the fun signature this IEM provides is something I do like on a daily basis with many songs I listen to.
 
Mids are nice, vocals sound a bit “compressed” of sorts. If you’re a vocal fanatic, you’re probably reading the wrong review – the T3 is the model that excels with that category. However, for the sound signature, the T5 does pretty well with most vocals. The compression I talked earlier is probably due to the slight U-shaped signature of the T5, but the clarity isn’t as compromised as recessed. The vocals are slightly fatiguing to me, and I wouldn’t use these as my main vocal IEM. Mids other than vocals (piano and guitar, for example) are nice, although also slightly recessed and a bit fatiguing. Guitars get a bit too much help from the lower end, at least more than I’m used to.
 
Highs aren’t bright to me actually. Lindsey Stirling’s songs are surprisingly a bit tamer than I expected. I don’t think there is enough “air” in the highs to make it bright. This causes the T5 to lean to a *slightly* darker type of sound, although they aren’t anywhere near enough for me to call it dark in good conscience. Flutes follow the same pattern, neutral except for the slight lack of airiness.
 
Because of this, I’m not sure which category to place it in. They aren’t U or V-shaped, as the highs aren’t elevated, but are leaning towards a bassy and slightly darker signature.
 
Detail is much better than other bass oriented IEM’s I’ve tried for the mids and highs. The amount of the detail in the bass is also very decent, but it takes a bit of a backseat to the quantity.
 
Clarity is really, really good for this type of headphone – if you’re wondering why a bass IEM has such a price tag, know that the quality of the sound is not compromised by the sound signature. The clarity helps a nice amount with that.
 
So overall, if you know what sound signature the T5 is going for ahead of buying it, and like the particular said signature, you’re in for a really good bass-oriented IEM that excels with many more genres than it’s geared for. Even classical music and vocals, which I thought it would do horribly with, are very enjoyable, even with the opposite type of sound signature. If you have a preference for songs that have a nice bass amount, the T5 will excel for you. And for when you’re not listening to heavy metal, and decide to listen to Bach and Beethoven, the T5 doesn’t compromise as much as you would think.
 
Recommendations:
 
- The inclusion of the stabilizers in the accessories is very welcome. I do wish there were more different types of ear tips though, specifically a pair of foam and bi-flange ones.
 
- The connector seems somewhat different than the standard one. I understand this makes it much stronger, and I’m surprised by the stability of the connectors. Really, well done – I can’t emphasize this enough. If you can find a way to do this with the standard MMCX connector, it would be even better – this way, replacing the cable would be relatively painless.
 
- I’m not sure why the red/blue bands were removed. I personally like them, and feel without them, the IEM feels a bit generic. I understand Brooko thinks this is a smart move, but I’d have to disagree (?), for over the ear, just keep in mind to switch the colors. If this was done to keep down budget costs, I completely understand, and it’s in no way a deal breaker. No sweat on this one.
 
- If you could un-italicize the “5” on the back of the IEM, I think it would look even better, and more official. This is only my opinion though, and just a recommendation.
 
- A zipper case, instead of a clasp-operated one, would be fantastic. The ones Brainwavz uses is a great example, and much more useful to me.
 
- Maybe an extra cable to be included? This is definitely not necessary, but would be so appreciated by consumers, I can’t help but to add it in.
 
Conclusion:
 
“Is the Titan 5 a step up from the T1?” many of you are probably asking. And the answer is yes. Besides for the sturdy removable cable, which already makes it a worthy upgrade, the sound signature, for those looking for that general curve, is among the best I’ve heard, and definitely the best in this price range. The amount of detail is also upped from the T1, due to the closed design, as well as the isolation.
 
I do think that at ~$120, the T5 is at a very competitive price point. However, it excels at its sound signature, and is a solid choice for an overall blend of great characteristics. Build Quality? Check, in full force. Fit and Comfort? Absolutely fantastic. Micorphonics? Near to none. The sound? Great with many genres, excels at quite a few.
 
So yes, it’s very much worth the money in my opinion. DUNU is great at making sure there are no flaws, and I really have to nitpick before I can complain about the “5” on the back of the headphone – that’s how good they end up being. Most IEM’s you’ll hear of have a tendency to have a “it’s great, but…” - the T5 has no real “but”. End of story.
 
So that’s it! The Titan 5 is a really awesome headphone, and I really enjoyed reviewing it. While I didn’t have to buy it, I’m sure those who do won’t be disappointed. Enjoy!
 

INTRODUCTION

My introduction to DUNU Topsound (almost two years 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 exceptional DN2000J, and extremely well regarded Titan.

I’ve used this introduction 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.

After the unprecedented success of the Titan T1, DUNU have spent the time listening to customer feedback and improving the new Titan series, and this has culminated in the release of the Titan 1es (budget version), T3 and T5. The review today is of the T5.

The Titans arrived to me almost six weeks ago, and unfortunately due to my review schedule, I didn’t really get a chance to put them fully through their paces until the last three weeks. In that time though, I have clocked up many hours (at least 60+). Read on to find my thoughts on the Titan T5, and why I think DUNU have yet another winner on their hands.

DISCLAIMER

I was provided the DUNU Titan T5 as a review unit from DUNU Topsound. I am in no way affiliated with DUNU - and this review is my subjective opinion of the Titan T5.

PREAMBLE - 'ABOUT ME'. (or a base-line for interpreting my thoughts and bias)

Over the last month I’ve used the T5 out of practically every source I have available – including my iPhone 5S, Fiio X1, X3,ii, X5, X5ii, X7, M3, Luxury & Precision L5 Pro and L&P5. For the purposes of this review however – I’ve used Titan T5 mainly from the X3ii and E17K. In the time I’ve been using the T5, I haven’t noticed any sonic change. And as you’ll read later in the review – although I tried them from various amplifiers – the T5 are perfect for use straight out of the headphone sockets of most DAPs – and that includes the very tiny Fiio M3.

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.

THE REVIEW

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES

The DUNU Titan T5 arrived in the now very familiar DUNU Titan book style retail box – measuring approximately 170mm x 130mm x 50mm retail box. I’ve been impressed with their presentation of their recent IEMs and the T5 is no exception. The immediate thought you get when you see the packaging is “premium”. On the front of the box you get a simple picture of the Titan 5s (complete with an illustration of the detachable cable), and on the rear an explanation of the box contents and main features of the T5. On the sides DUNU lists specifications in six languages. One notable addition to the front of the box now is the “Hi-Res Audio” logo which certifies that a product meets the Hi-Res Audio standards (must have transducer frequency performance to at least 40 kHz). While this means little in practical terms to the listener – it does reinforce that DUNU is serious about standards.


The box opens “book style” to show the IEMs, and on the inside cover gives some more information about build material and the manufacturing process. Opening a second inner cover exposes the carry case, some of the tips, and also the Titans themselves. The actual retail box is extremely well made, and very solid.



The carry case is a very good one for an IEM, and IMO an improvement on their metal boxes (used in the DN-1000 / DN-2000). It is a sturdy moulded plastic rectangular hinged lid box (with nicely rounded pocket-safe corners) measuring approximately 90mm long, 65mm wide and 23mm deep. It has a catch/lock to keep it closed, and has a matt exterior on the rear and sides, and shinier plastic top (personally I’d prefer matt all around – better for both scratches and finger prints). The only thing missing with the case is no internal pockets for spare tips etc – but I’m OK with that considering how pocket friendly and sturdy it is. I really like this case.



The accessory pack includes 2 different varieties of silicone tips (in S,M,L) – including some that look very close to the Sony hybrid type design, a 3.5-6.3mm adaptor, shirt clip, and warranty card. Also to be included with the accessories in future is a set of silicone ear stabilisers.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

(From DUNU’s packaging / website)
I’ve listed below the T5 specifications, and because I know the three will be compared, I’ve also listed specifications for the original Titan 1 and new Titan 3 as well.


FREQUENCY GRAPH

The graphs below are generated by a new measuring system I’m using – the Vibro Veritas coupler and ARTA software. I don’t have the calibration 100% correct yet – but the graphs I am getting are relatively close to Innerfidelity’s raw data (on other earphones), and I think are “close enough” to get a reasonable idea of the frequency response for the Titan 5. My aim is still to eventually construct a pre-set compensation curve so that I can get the graphs more consistent with calibrated curves.






Later in the review, and perhaps of more use, I’ll comparatively graph the T1, T3 and T5.

What I’m hearing (subjective)

1. Quick, clean and well extended bass which is in very good balance to the overall signature
2. Clean coherent mid-range with slight recession in the lower mid-range, and elevation in the vocal presence area (2-3 kHz)
3. Clean and extended lower treble which falls short of sibilance (for me) yet remains quite bright and has very good clarity.

BUILD & DESIGN

The Titan 5, like its older sibling (T1) appears to be extremely well made with a polished stainless outer shell – very reminiscent of an earbud type shape – but with an angled nozzle designed to take an IEM tip and provide some measure of isolation. The circular part of the body is 15mm in diameter, and designed to snugly in your ear with, the rear of the Titan shell against your antihelix, and the front underneath your tragus, with the nozzle angled forward into the ear canal. The nozzles are approximately 50mm long, have a generous lip, and have a pinhole mesh type of opening with 7 holes to allow the sound into your ear.



However, the T5 departs from the T1 in a number of ways. First up, there is just a single vent/port for the dynamic driver compared to the T1’s 11 hole vented underside. Secondly, the body of the T5 is taller than the T1 (approx. 14mm vs 11mm), so protrudes slightly further, and lastly, the T5 has a removable cable system where the T1 cable was fixed. This time there is no red ring or blue ring around the IEM body (I’ll explain why in a second).

The removable cable on the T5 uses an MMCX connector, and is quite firm, and from my time with them so far, is one of the better MMCX implementations I’ve seen. I’ve been a bit cautious with the MMCX connector system since the issues I had with cut-out on my A83 – but thankfully so far this has not been the case with the T5. One of the differences between the T5’s MMCX connector and the connectors on the Shure series is that the T5 male connector appears to be slightly longer (about 1mm). This does make it more secure – but means that The T5 cable won’t fit the A83, and also common after-market cables won’t fit the T5 (I’ve tried with both the Shure SE series cable and also the standard cable from the new Trinity Atlas). But the good thing is that the T5 cable is beautifully made – supply, with low microphonics, and a firm connection.



The other great thing about the cable is that for those who prefer cable up (my preference), then you simply swap ear-pieces. And this is why it’s smart for DUNU not to use the coloured bands. You choose an orientation which suits you, and then the actual normal fit of the earphones will let you know which is which (left and right). If you ever lose track of which is which though, there is a small “L” or “R” on each earphone body, and also on the cable connectors.

So a welcome change from the T1, and the cable is also different in that the cloth covered mesh (below the Y split) is gone and replaced by DUNUs satiny rubber coated finish – both above and below the Y split. The Y-split is the usual DUNU cylindrical metal tube with the top piece sliding off to form a cinch. The plug is a right angled gold plated 3.5mm plug, and is designed to be very friendly for portable devices. No issues with my 5S with fitted case. The cable shows good flexibility, with no signs of kinking, and has excellent strain relief at all the required major points (plug, Y-split and IEM body).



The cable carries DUNU’s usual innovation with the rubber cable tie attached to the cable. When not in use it sits unobtrusively close to the plug (I never notice it). When you’ve finished listening to the Titans, simply carefully coil the cable and use the tie. Simple, elegant, brilliant. I’ve loved this all DUNU’s IEMs.



I cannot fault a single thing with the DUNU build – it just all makes sense, and is executed brilliantly.

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. This is often even more of an issue with shallow fitting IEMs – and the Titan 5 is a shallow fitting IEM. But both types of included single silicone large tips fit me perfectly – and I think this is the stabilisers at work (I’ll get to them shortly).

I also tried Spin-fit (perfect nozzle fitting, but for me no seal), Ostry black or blue (tuning) tips (perfect seal), Spiral Dots (again perfect nozzle fitting, but for me so seal), and comply T200s (perfect fit and seal). But with the T5s I still use Sony Isolation tips for day-to-day use which continually give me best combination of fit, seal, comfort and durability (they are a silicone tip with inner foam). It is a credit to Dunu's design that such a variety of tips fit well without coming off the nozzle



One of the things DUNU are now including with the Titan series are some ear stabilisers – which are a soft silicon fin which fits over the body of the Titan, with the fin pointing upward, and allowing it to be locked under your antihelix. They work brilliantly, are very comfortable, and effectively lock the T5 in place, and work with both orientations (cable up or down). I can do strenuous exercise with the stabilisers in place, and the Titans never come loose (the same fins work with the T1 and T3). My only critique of the stabilisers is that because they are so soft, almost every time I take the T5 out of my ear, the stabilisers come off the shiny body. It isn’t a big issue, as they are easy to get back on, but a more rigid “harness” with a softer fin would alleviate the issue (I don’t know if this is possible – but worth mentioning).



Worn both over ear or straight down, they aren’t quite flush, protruding maybe a millimetre or two at most, but are still quite comfortable to lie down with – I have no problems sleeping with them intact. YMMV depending on your outer ear size.

Isolation is average to below average for external noise coming in, and I wouldn’t use these in a high noise environment. They do well enough to isolate with music playing – but are not high isolators. Where the improvement is over the Titan T1 though is in their passive attenuation of sound coming from them. They are now a lot more isolating, and I’d have no issues wearing these in a library at moderate volume (I couldn’t say the same about the T1).
So great fit, very comfortable, reasonable isolation – how do they sound?

SOUND QUALITY

The following is what I hear from the DUNU Titan T5. 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 up. For the record – on most tracks, the volume level on the X5 was around 40/120 (C weighted) which was giving me around an average SPL around 75 dB and peaks at around 80-82dB.



Driver matching was excellent – as can be seen from the graph.

Tracks used were across a variety of genres – and can be viewed in this list http://www.head-fi.org/a/brookos-test-tracks.


Initial Thoughts
When I received the T3 and T5 from DUNU, I listened to both for about half an hour (T3 first and T5 second) and my initial reaction was that the while both sounded beautifully clear, the T5 was a bit bassy / v-shaped. But as time went on (past the first week), I found myself listening to the T3 less, and concentrating more and more on the T5. While I still think the T3 is a very good IEM – the T5 is the far superior one IMO, and I’m so pleased now that I didn’t try and write the review within a week of getting them (simply because my thoughts have changed so much in the last month). I sometimes think that the curse of the modern reviewer is that we try to push too many reviews out in too short a time-span, and we don’t allow enough time for the signature to be properly understood.

Thoughts on General Signature
If I was to now describe the signature in a few words/phrases – I’d choose the word balanced, with an upper mid-range emphasis, beautifully clear, and an intimate rather than spacious vocal presentation.
The Titan 5 in a short time has become one of my favourite IEMs, and reminds me a little of Trinity’s Delta, but with less quantity (yet more articulate and faster) bass, and a little brighter / clearer top end. But it is closer and more akin to the signature of the DUNU DN2000J (you’ll see why in the comparisons).

The T5 has really impactful, but also quick and well textured bass that is never too boomy, but extends really well, and is only there when called for (does not dominate). The mid-range is the type of mid-range I absolutely love – maybe a little thin (comparatively) on lower mids, but has a peak in the 2-3 kHz (vocal presence area) and again at around 6 kHz – which falls mainly short of sibilance for me (related to listening volume) but lends a sweetness to female vocals which I absolutely adore.

Overall Detail / Clarity
Tracks used: “Gaucho”, “Sultans of Swing”

The clarity is stunning on both tracks, but more than that, the balance is also really good. Bass guitar is present and supplies a good constant backdrop without overpowering. Vocals are up front, but mesh nicely with piano, guitar, and brass. Finer details are excellent – easy to discern, but not spot-lit. Cymbals in particular are brilliant because I can hear the decay, and it’s not splashy or overdone. Knopflers vocals in Sultans don’t sound weak, and guitar has good edge or crunch. The micro detail is really good. I could listen to this presentation for hours.

Sound-stage & Imaging
Tracks used: “Tundra”, “Dante’s Prayer”, “Let it Rain”

Amber Rubarth’s binaural track was up first, and the imaging is amazingly good and very precise. Stage is definitely not overly expansive, and more intimate than wide or deep – but it doesn’t feel under-done or constricted. Overall stage is perhaps right at the peripheral edge of my head space.

Next was “Dante’s Prayer” and although I’ve known for a while now how good these are, it wasn’t until I started critically listening that I realised how good. The first thing to hit was how good the piano sounded (full and natural), and then the cello hit and the goosebumps started. To cap it off Loreena started singing and the captivation was complete. Again imaging is the strength here (pin-point), and the size of stage is intimate, but still well-articulated (very good separation and sense of individual instruments). One of the reasons I use this track is for a particular point at the end of the performance when the last note dies, and the applause starts. With my HD600s, I’m in the crowd, and this has also happened occasionally with IEMs. With the T5 I’m in the crowd - jazz club rather than the arena it’s actually recorded in – but immersive, and that is what I treasure more.

I finished with Amanda Marshall’s “Let It Rain” for two reasons – it has been miked to give a holographic feel (and the T5 renders this perfectly), and it’s a good track to test sibilance (I know it is in the recording). At my listening levels, the sibilance is pretty much unnoticeable – but with increased volume it starts to rear its head. So if you are a high volume listener, then it is something to take note of (although an EQ cut at 6kHz should clean it up).

Bass Quality and Quantity
Tracks used: “Bleeding Muddy Waters”, “Royals”

Mark Lanegan’s track is first up. This blues rock track is quite dark and brooding – but is a good test of bass bleed and also male vocals. The T5’s bass is just effortless with this track – good impact without being over emphasised – and no sign of bleed. Mark’s vocals are perhaps a little on the thin side, and I guess this is the trade-off with having such a good upper mid-range. For all that though, I can still hear the “gravel” in Mark’s voice and the track remains really enjoyable.

“Royals” is my sub-bass impact test – and the T5 again was just wonderful – enough low rumble to show the impressive extension, but again the balance is impressive, and it is the quality and speed of the bass which is really impressing me. Ella’s vocals are sweet and crystal clear, and mesh brilliantly with the energy and impact of the low bass. Really impressive.

Female Vocals
Tracks used: “Aventine”, “Strong”, “For You”, “The Bad In Each Other”, “Howl”, “Safer”, “Light as a Feather”

By now you already know what I’m going to say here, so I’ll shorten it a bit. In a word “euphonic”, and for my tastes, perfect. Aventine was first up, and Agnes Obel can be slightly strident if the vocal mix is a little out. The way the T5 presents this track is as good as I’ve heard it. The cello is deep, rich and captivating, and in contrast with her vocals, you have a combination I could listen to for hours.

I’m also aware that the T5’s upper mid-range is quite forward which has in the past brought fatigue to me with earphones like Shure’s SE535, but this is definitely not fatiguing (even after some hours).

Next was London Grammar, and again Hannah’s vocals were haunting in their presentation – this is as close to perfection with female vocals as I’ve heard.

And this was the repeated theme with every female vocalist I tried. Standouts for dynamics were Feist and FaTM – the combination of bass impact and vocal “beauty” (I honestly can’t describe it another way) were breath-taking. But even slower tracks like Cilmi’s “Safer” or anything by Norah were equally as captivating. I should stop now because I know I’m gushing – but for me they really are that good.


Male Vocals
Tracks used: “Away From the Sun”, “Art for Art’s Sake”, “Broken Wings”, “Diary of Jayne”, “Hotel California”, “Keith Don’t Go”, “EWBTCIAST”

The continued theme here was good bass impact, clear vocals, and nicely balanced guitars and other instruments. And for the most part the T5 delivered Rock brilliantly – but …….

Male vocals are definitely a little thinner, and this is the cost of having such a perfect mid-range for female vocalists. What I like with the T5 is the dynamic contrast and clarity – especially with the overall impact from drums, mid-range bite of guitar, and upper detail from cymbals. It makes for a great listen. But Todd’s voice (3 Doors Down) definitely doesn’t have the same depth as when listening to it on my U6. It still sounds very good – but there is a difference and it should be noted.

Older classic rock (10CC, Eagles, Nils Lofgren) was also very listenable and one of the strengths of the T5 is presentation of guitar – especially acoustic. Saying that though, faster music is definitely no issue for the T5, and even Breaking Benjamin’s ‘wall of sound’ with “Diary of Jayne” came nowhere near overwhelming the T5’s drivers.

My litmus test is always Pearl Jam – if Vedder sounds good to me, then they’ve passed my personal test. And the presentation is really good – the emotion and timbre is captured nicely. I’d still like just a little more depth, but I’m not willing to trade that for the default female vocalist presentation, and I can always EQ slightly anyway.

So brilliant for female vocals, but just a little thin for male vocals (still enjoyable though) – what about specific genres?

Genre Specific Notes
Again for tracks, albums, artists – please refer to this list: http://www.head-fi.org/a/brookos-test-tracks

Alt Rock – Really good for both Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree, and the slightly higher pitch of Wilson’s vocals really suited the T5 well. What I like is the level of detail they are delivering, and this is really apparent with Pink Floyd’s “Money” – too often the detail on this track can be lost, especially with too much bass. The overall balance is what really makes the T5 shine.

Jazz / Blues / Bluegrass – If you haven’t checked out Portico Quartet, you should. They play a fusion of jazz and electronic, and their track “Ruins” is usually a first stop for me when genre testing a new IEM. The T5 is wonderful with this track – a perfect mix of double-bass, sax, and cymbals. Sometimes I’d like a little more space in the presentation, but for low volume listening, there aren’t too many better. Key attributes once again are clarity, contrast, and a sense of dynamism. Bonamassa was another one to shine with the T5 – it renders guitar brilliantly, and does a pretty good job with Joe’s almost husky vocals too.

Hip-hop / EDM / Trance – This is where the T5 shows some additional strength, and the bass (which most of the time is perfectly balanced) suddenly shows some extra depth and impact. It is still articulate, quick, and textured – but now there is a visceral quality with it. Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” is crystal clear, but still portrays the sort of impact that should make most bass-heads happy. Likewise Little Dragon and also Lindsay Stirling show similar qualities, and it’s amazing how the T5 can be so well balanced for one track – and then when extra bass is called for in the track, it just stands and delivers. I really enjoyed a bit of Trance with AVB, and especially when it was coupled with female vocals.

Indie – I’ve been listening to a lot of Indie music lately – Band of Horses, Wildlight, Yesper (my collections seems to be growing at an alarming rate actually) – and the T5 (like the T1s) are IMO an Indie lover’s dream – or at least this Indie lover’s preferred sound anyway. Wildlight especially (Dawn To Flight) was incredible.

Classical / Opera – Strings were wonderful, and I was enjoying Mutter’s rendition of Vivaldi’s 4 Seasons so much I actually ended up listening to the entire recording. Kempffs rendition of Moonlight Sonata was very good, but didn’t quite convey the overall timbre as well as I’ve heard. Netrebko and Garanca rendition of Lakme’s Flower Duet was a standout, but once again Pavarotti (while good) wasn’t quite there.

AMPLIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

The Titan T5 is easily driven out of a smartphone or DAP, and although on my iPhone 5S I’m sitting around 45%, and in the 40-50/120 range on the Fiio, there is still plenty of headroom left, and the T5 never feels as though it is lacking.



I also volume matched and compared X3ii vs X3ii + E17K, and there was no discernible audible difference in dynamic presentation – so I think it is pretty safe to say that extra amping won’t be necessary. Based on the specs alone (32 ohm and 108dB SPL), straight out of the headphone out of most sources should be more than enough. Even Fiio’s new M3 sounds wonderful as a source.

RESPONSE TO EQ?

I wouldn’t be one to change this too much as I love the default sound, but I revisited some of my male vocalists and applied some subtle alterations in the lower mid-range, and reduction in the upper mid-range, and the T5 responded well. With such a clear signature, they are reasonably easy to apply EQ to, and seem to respond well to some tweaking.

QUICK COMPARISONS

I’ve measured all 3 Titans, and outlined my subjective thoughts on their tuning below. To perform the comparisons, I used a calibrated SPL meter, and matched each with a 1 kHz test tone, and then used a splitter plus volume attenuator so that I could fast switch and know that each was precisely volume matched.



Titan 5 vs Titan 1
Quite similar sounding with very similar bass presentation. T5 mid-range is a little more forward and this gives the feeling that the T1 has a little more soundstage. Mid-range is also very similar, but the T5 carries overall detail a little further. T5 has more articulation (or apparent detail) with cymbals, and also reaches just a bit lower with sub-bass. Build is similar, but the T5 has better isolation, replaceable cables, and can be worn cable up. My preference T5. The T1 requires comparatively more power, and is approximately 3.5 dB lower in volume is played at the same source level.

Titan 5 vs Titan 3
This time the difference is more stark. The T3 is a lot leaner, and also seems more forward in the vocals (this may be because of the lower bass volume). And the biggest change is in the bass, and comparatively the T3 is almost anaemic. It does give the T3 a lot more mid-range emphasis, but unfortunately for my tastes this isn’t a good point. The overall balance just seems to be missing, and when fast switching, the T3 just tends to sound slightly tinny. Build is essentially the same. T3 is easier to drive and at the same source volume, the difference is just a shade under 4dB. My preference is very much the T5, and I’d actually also take the T1 over the T3.



Titan 5 vs Trinity Delta (gun-metal filter)
I chose to compare these two as they are very similarly priced, and are comparable in overall quality. The Delta is harder to drive, and at the same source level is ~ 5.5 dB less than the T5. The Delta has a bigger bass response and sounds richer, and thicker than the T5. The T5 comparatively sounds quicker and cleaner. Both have quite forward vocals, but in this case, the Delta is even more forward than the T5 which sounds almost relaxed comparatively. Both have stellar builds & the main feature difference is the Delta’s filter tuning system vs the T5’s removable cables. Both are wonderful earphones and in this case the Delta is just a little warmer and fuller – but my preference would be slightly favouring the T5’s overall presentation.

Titan 5 vs DN2000J
I chose this comparison because although there is a big difference in price, the two sound quite alike. The DN2000J are slightly easier to drive, and at the same source level there is a difference of ~ 3dB. Both have very similar bass delivery both in quantity and speed. The DN2000J has a slightly thicker and richer mid-range, and to me probably has the best overall balance of all the IEMs I’ve listed above. The T5 is slightly brighter and slightly leaner, but the two signatures are closer than contrasting. For anyone wanting to know roughly how the DN2000J sounds, or vice-versa, the T5 is a good indicator. My preference ultimately would be the 2000J for everything except comfort – the T5 is simply a joy to wear.

DUNU TITAN 5 - SUMMARY

The DUNU Titan 5 is an incredibly well designed, well built, and well executed IEM. It is relatively well balanced in frequency range, and has exceptional clarity for its price range. Some may feel that the overall presentation is slightly V shaped, and I can live with the assessment too – but for me there is more overall balance there than colouration. There is definitely an emphasis on the upper mid-range, and this take precedence over the lower mid-range a little. For female vocals it is among the best I have heard, but the downside of this is that male vocals can be a little thin comparatively.

The addition of the removable cables has been executed well and allows me to wear them in my favoured cable up position.

The Titan 5 will likely suit:

1. Fans of a balanced or very slightly V shaped sonic presentation
2. People who value clarity
3. Fans of a euphonic presentation of female vocals

The Titan 5 may not suit anyone who:

1. Requires very high isolation
2. Prefers a darker, warmer, smoother presentation, or is treble sensitive
3. Has a mainly male vocal oriented library, and likes deeper timbre and tone

At a current RRP of USD 135, the Titan 5 represents incredible value in my opinion, and despite having higher end IEMs including the Adel U6, DN2000J, and q-Jays, I will continue to use these regularly. At this price point they are an easy 5. One of the best IEMs I’ve heard all year.

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 resounding yes.

Once again I’d like to thank Vivian at DUNU for giving me this wonderful opportunity to review their Titan range.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO DUNU

It really is hard to recommend any changes – as I think you have really hit the target with the T5. My only requests would be to perhaps think about releasing an iPhone compliant cable (volume & track controls) as an add-on option, and also to see if the stabiliser bodies could be made just a little firmer.

t

Dunu's teaser for the forthcoming Titan 5.

 

*****UPDATED MID-NOVEMBER WITH PICS & THOUGHTS ON THE NEW EAR STABILIZERS*****
 

INTRODUCTION

I'm going to let you in on a secret: I never tried the original Dunu TITAN 1. Why? The many excellent reviews were balanced out by reports of weak bass and aggressive highs. These discrepancies made me leery of trying them. But when I saw Fiio sponsor a tour for the EX1 (basically a Fiio-branded TITAN 1 - LINK to review), I signed up. Here was my chance to hear one of the most hyped IEM of 2015. If I didn't like it, no worries. If I did like it, maybe I'd end up buying it. Either way, I'd find out if the hype was deserved. Okay, okay. I'm not talking about the TITAN 5, you say. You're right. This is the convoluted back story into how I stumbled into reviewing the TITAN 5 (T5 from here on out).
 
So, to pick up where I left off... 
 
With Dunu on my mind, I stumbled on a thread (LINK) announcing Dunu's new hybrids. I'm a previous DN-1000 owner and hybrid believer, so when I saw the announcement I contacted Vivian at Dunu and asked if I could get some review loaners to review and then tour in the US & Canada. Those of you who know me, know I love to tour the gear I get for review. It's a great way to let some of my fellow Head-Fi members try out new gear before they commit to buying it. They can also share their experience with the Head-Fi community. It's been a lot of fun so far. Anyways, Vivian told me that while the new hybrids were still in pre-production mode, she could send me the new T3 and T5 for review. Since I was getting the Fiio EX1 in for review, I thought it would be a lot of fun to get the new T3 & T5 in at the same time and see what I thought of them. So I told Vivian yes, and here we are.
 
Here's some information about DUNU from their Brand Story page:
 
DUNU: Delicate, Unique & Utmost

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 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 Website: LINK.
 
Dedicated Dunu TITAN thread: LINK.
 
 

DISCLAIMER

There is no financial incentive from Dunu for writing this review.  I am in no way affiliated with Dunu, and this is my honest opinion of the TITAN 5.  I would like to thank Dunu for giving me a chance to test drive and tour the TITAN 5, and I hope my feedback proves useful for my fellow Head-Fi members as well as for Dunu.
 
 

ABOUT ME

I'm a 43 year old father who loves music.  While I listen mostly to electronic and metal these days, I do listen to a wide variety of music - from electronic (Autechre, Boards of Canada) to modern/minimalist composition (John Cage, Philip Glass) to alternative rock (Flaming Lips, Radiohead) to jazz (John Coltrane and Miles Davis) to metal (Behemoth, King Diamond) to classic rock (Eagles, Rush).  
 
I'm primarily a portable audio enthusiast. My portable music journey started with the venerable Sony Cassette Walkman and then progressed to portable CD players, minidisc recorders (still have my Sharp DR7), and finally on to DAPs like the Rio Karma, iRiver IHP-1xx, iPod 5.5, iPhones, and the newer crop of DAPs from Fiio and iBasso.
 
Being a portable audio enthusiast, I typically listen with IEMs but am enjoying listening with full-size headphones more and more and tend to like u-shaped sound signatures, although I break out v-shaped IEM & HP from time to time for fun.
 
As with a lot of people my age, I've got some hearing issues.  I've got mild tinnitus and suffer from allergies, which can affect hearing in my right ear.  I'll admit it, I'm not blessed with a pair of golden ears.  That said, I've been listening to portable gear for a long time and feel confident in assessing audio gear - just wanted to be transparent up front.


 
 
SPECS

1. Driver: 13mm titanium coated dynamic
2. Frequency Response: 10Hz-40KHz
3. SPL: 108±2dB
4. Impedance: 32Ω
5. Plug: 3.5mm Gold-plated L-plug
6. Cord Length: 1.2m
7. Weight: 24g

 
 

PACKAGING & ACCESSORIES

I'll let the packaging speak for itself. It's essentially the same as the TITAN 1, so if you've seen that you'll know what to expect.
 
Front

 
 
 
Inside (This is a great opportunity for you to exercise your imagination and pretend that this is the T5 box)

 
Carry case

 
Tips

 
Ear Stablizers

 
Not pictured: Shirt clip + 1/8" plug adapter.
 
So you get the T5, Heir and Hybrid style tips in S, M, and L, the hard carry case, a shirt clip, and an 1/8" plug adapter. Not bad. I'll say right now that I'm not a fan of Heir style tips. They always seem to slip out of my ear canals. The Hybrid style tips are grippier and stay put in my ears much better, so that's what I gravitated towards. While the hard case works very well with the EX1, the T5's housings are just a bit too big to allow the case to close properly. There were many times where I had to reposition the T5 in order to get the lid to snap shut. I'd suggest Dunu include a slightly taller case in the future. Just another 5mm would make all the difference and wouldn't add too much bulk. I didn't try the shirt clip with T5, but I've used the same clip with my DN-1000, and it works just fine.
 
 
 

BUILD & ERGONOMICS

The T5 are a half in-ear design, which allows them to include a large driver without compromising on comfort. I'll walk through the various design and ergonomic features of the T5 in pictorial format below.
 
Here's an view of the T5's inner face. 

 
It's a nice all-metal design. My only comfort concern can be seen in this picture. The seam where the front and back housing meet, while not overtly sharp, does tend to end up digging into my ears a bit during long listening sessions. It doesn't bother me during shorter listening sessions and is really only an issue during longer sessions. It's not a major issue, but I thought I'd mention it. My thought is that it digs in due to the heavier housings, as this wasn't an issue with the EX1. Vivian did let me know that I'll be receiving an additional accessory to make the T5 even more comfortable. It should arrive soon, and I'll update this review as needed with pics and my thoughts on the new accessory.
 
TITAN + Ear Stabilizers


So here's the mysterious "comfort accessory". They're soft silicone ear stabilizers, and they work a treat! As mentioned above, I found the newer TITANs to dig into my ears after a while. With the ear stabilizers in place, this was alleviated and I could wear them comfortably for extended periods. And not only do they work for the TITAN 3 & TITAN 5, they've also been confirmed to work with TITAN 1 with no vent hole blockage. So if you're an interested TITAN 1 owner, contact DUNU and let them know!
 
T5 vs. EX1

 
Those of you familiar with the T1 (or EX1) are looking at that picture, thinking where did all the vent holes go? Yup, Dunu eliminated most of the vent holes with the T5, and it's definitely noticeable in the soundstage department. While T5 has a nice (if conventional) soundstage, it lacks the open, airy sound that made the originals really stand out from the crowd. A couple more things I'd like to point out in the picture above are the brushed metal inner housing and color coding on the original. I'd love it if the entire housing was brushed metal. I much prefer the more subdued, less reflective aesthetics of brushed metal. I'd also love to see the color coding carried over to the T5 but with less candy-like colors - a nice dark red for right and black for left would be classy and useful, since the L/R identifiers are very low contrast. 
 
Detachable cables

 
Dunu designed the T5 with detachable cables. This means you don't need to worry so much about them shorting out, since Dunu will offer replacements (and compatible upgrade cables designed for their new hybrids). It also means the housing and strain reliefs needed to be bigger to accommodate the connectors and caused a 33% weight increase over the originals. As mentioned above, this did lead to  some discomfort issues for me over time, but I'm hoping Dunu's new accessory will help abate that issue. A bonus is that you can now wear them over ear without inverting channels. Since they're a chiral / handed / sided design, you just need to swap L/R channels if you want to wear them over ear. Incidentally, the connectors are very similar to VSONIC's VSD series connectors. I tried to swap them, but they didn't quite fit and I didn't want to force them. Dunu's implementation is much better in my opinion, being quite easy to remove and connect whereas VSONIC's connectors often got stuck and had many reports of cutting out over time. I've been listening to the T5 for quite a while now and have had absolutely no issues with the connectors. I'm looking forward to what Dunu's upgrade cables bring to the table.   
 
 
To illustrate the difference size, here are some pictures. Fiio EX1 on top. T3 & T5 on bottom.


 
Y-splitter and chin slider

 
3.5mm L-plug

 
Dunu's awesome cable management feature. Wish all my IEM had this!

 
Here's what T5 look like worn down vs. over ear. 

 
While they're designed to be worn down, they can be worn over ear fairly easily - although I'd again reiterate that the original's smaller strain reliefs made over ear wear even more comfortable.
 
To sum up: I like the overall design / build but question the need for detachable cables. It seems IEM manufacturers caught detachable cable fever recently. Quite honestly, I'd take the smaller housing and strain reliefs and associated lighter weight of the original any day. EX1 disappeared in my ears much better than the new design. That said, I'm sure the detachable cable will be attractive to many prospective buyers who've also caught detachable cable fever. Beyond that, the vent hole redesign leaves me wondering what T5's tuning would sound like with the open, airy soundstage of the originals, which I suspect leaving in the numerous vent holes would've retained. Perhaps in the next iteration...
 
 
SOUND
I'm going to keep this section simple. There are more reviews coming soon. So if this isn't detailed enough or doesn't answer all your questions, just hold on and I'm sure one of those will answer your questions. You can always hit up the TITAN thread, where those of us who've gotten early access have been describing their experience. In particular, I'd suggest you start on page 150 with this post (LINK). There's some good discussion and FR graphs after that which will help you decide which TITAN is right for you.
 
I mainly listen to experimental electronic and metal and use those genres to evaluate HP & IEM. During my time with the T5, I mainly used them with the Fiio X5, Shanling M3 DAP (LINK to review), and the newly released Shanling M2 I have in for testing and US tour (LINK to the M2 thread I started). 
 
 
I know a lot of people are asking themselves how the new TITANs differentiate themselves from the original beyond the physical redesign. Reviews from people I trust (EXAMPLE) indicate that T1 and EX1 sound identical, so the EX1 will be my T1 surrogate for this review. As mentioned above, I'm going to keep it simple with some notes I took while listening to my Fiio X5.

 
Fiio EX1
It's the hardest to drive, has the worst isolation, but has the most unique sound. Regarding driving power, a comfortable listening level in a quiet rom was 35 on Low Gain out of my X5. That actually indicates to me that the X5 isn't actually hard to drive - just harder to drive than the other TITANs. To get an initial sense of isolation, I snapped my fingers by my ears while music was playing. The snaps were dulled but still clearly audible. Later I listened to them while walking in my neighborhood, and while they were definitely less isolating than my other IEM it wasn't night and day. It certainly wasn't egregious, and I clearly had a better sense of environmental awareness. Soundstage was open and airy for an IEM at any price point. I was quite impressed with the holographic sound. It actually reminded me a bit of my HiFiMan HE400 in this respect.  Not the same mind you but reminiscent nonetheless. The basic sound signature is a u-curve. Bass is relatively flat with just enough mid-bass emphasis to add a bit of punch - definitely neither weak nor boomy. Mids are neutral and clear but are a bit lacking in sweetness and emotion. The upper end is a bit edgy but didn't verge into sibilant territory for me and is something I could easily be happy with. 
 
Quite honestly, the EX1 exceeded my expectations, pushing a lot of the right buttons for me. Soundstage was fantastic, providing a very holographic listening experience. Bass was deep enough for a satisfying listen with electronic music but also fast enough to keep up with the rapid fire kick drums oft employed in metal music. Mids were definitely the weak point but were present enough not to call EX1 recessed. They're the aspect of EX1 most ripe for improvement. While the upper end was a touch harsh, it wasn't as aggressive as I was expecting and provided a good level of detail without veering into fatiguing territory. I see what the hype was about now. EX1 sounds nice!
 
Ok, now we have our baseline. How do the new TITANs compare?

Dunu TITAN 3
T3 are the easiest to drive of the bunch. To get a comparable volume, I was able to turn my X5's volume down to 28 while listening in a quiet room. Isolation is on par with typical dynamic IEM. I could barely hear my fingers snapping when music was playing and environmental noise in my neighborhood was mostly blocked. Soundstage is much more conventional. Gone is the original's very open, airy almost holographic sound. T3's sound signature is just on the warm side of neutral. Bass sounds similar to the EX1's but a bit flatter. Nonetheless, it was still satisfying with a wide range of music. The key difference is the mids, which are more present vs. EX1. Whereas the EX1's mids were neutral, the T3 brings them forward - especially the upper mids. This makes female vocals pop. Those of you who know me know I'm a big Bjork fan and routinely use her Biophila album when testing new IEM. T3 were hands-down the best of the TITANs for bringing out the best in Bjork's voice. EX1 and T5 were still satisfying but failed to convey the same emotional presence the T3 did. Similar to the low end, the T3's upper end sounds similar to EX1 but takes the edge off. If you thought the originals were a bit on the harsh side, T3 should solve that issue for you.
 
 
Dunu TITAN 5
T5 are just a bit harder to drive than T3. To get a comparable volume, I had to turn my X5's volume up to 30 while listening in a quiet room. Isolation is identical to T3, so on par with typical dynamic IEM. Soundstage is still quite conventional, but I found the soundstage larger vs. T3. And just like the T3, you'll be missing the original's open, airy sound. T5's sound signature is a mild v-shape. Bass is the star of the show. It's more prominent than the other TITANs but is well-done - not loose or boomy. The mids are neutral and remind me of the EX1, whereas the upper end is quite reminiscent of the T3. Revisiting Bjork for a minute - where T3 really made Bjork's voice pop, the T5 made the bass drops more satisfying. But when switching to The Eagles, I found the T5's bass made the bass guitar more prominent than I was used to. EX1 and T3 feel truer to the music in this respect.
 
TLDR

1. T3 takes the general EX1 sound, adds in more prominent mids (especially upper mids), more refined upper end, and better isolation. It also brings a much more conventional soundstage.
2. T5 takes the general EX1 sound but adds in more prominent bass, more refined upper end, and better isolation. It also brings a much more conventional soundstage but not as much of a compromise as T3.

 
 
SUMMARY
So what do I think of the TITAN lineup? Well, first of all I'm going to admit that I'm saddened that it took me this long to hear the originals. The EX1 are a superb IEM. Sure they've got a few flaws, but their open, airy soundstage and well-balanced sound signature more than make up for the small amount of harshness up top. They're also a very comfortable IEM. Hearing the T3 & T5 makes me confident in saying that Dunu's made a good case for product differentiation in the TITAN lineup. I could see people gravitating towards the different models based on their sound signature, soundstage, and isolation preferences. Personally, I gravitate towards EX1 for it's open, airy sound and T3 for improving the original's sound with improved mids. While I like the T5 and think it's a solid IEM, it just doesn't call out to me like the others do.
 
What did I feel could be improved? I'd love to see what the T3 & T5 would sound like with the same tuning but additional vent holes to give them a more open soundstage - even at the expense of decreased isolation. I also question the validity of using detachable cables, which adds complexity, added weight, and larger housings. This resulted in he new TITANs being less comfortable than the originals for me. I'd also like to see a thicker carry case, as the larger housing make it difficult to close which wasn't a problem with the EX1. Beyond that, I think all three TITANs are great IEM. It's just a matter of choosing which suits your needs.
 
EDIT: As noted above, the new ear stabilizer work very well to alleviate the minor comfort issues I was experiencing. Good job being proactive, DUNU!
 
I'd like to give a hearty thanks to Vivian at Dunu for giving me the chance to review and tour the TITAN 3 and TITAN 5. I really enjoyed my time with them. Be on the lookout for a US & Canada tour opportunity!