Tipsy Dunmer
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Introduction
Dunmer is the new product from Tipsy, a Chinese company created in 2016. Dunmer is Tipsy's entry in Budget IEMs arena where it will face fierce competition with a variety of dual and Single driver earpieces. At a first glance, Dunmer looks like a decent IEM with charismatic looks, feel and beautiful design. The faceplate is of shiny black-grayish color with resin coating that gives it a silky appearance. It has the brand-name Tipsy written over it in silver with a rather horror-show kind of font and reminds of the Dunmer (Dark Elves) in The Elder Scrolls. It is equipped with a 9.2mm graphene diaphragm double dynamic magnetic circuit /double cavity patented structure. The curvature and shape are smooth and provide a comfortable fit. It has a 2-pin connector with 8-Core SPC stock cable that's standard for an IEM of this range now a days. It also comes with a nice old-school faux leather pouch.
Disclaimer:
I have received Tipsy Dunmer as part of review circle sent from the brand itself in exchange of honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my own listening and my sources and is based on my experience with IEMs of similar hardware configurations and price range.
Sources:
For this review the unit has been paired to Cayin N5ii and LG V30+
Highs:
The treble response is very sharp in Tipsy Dunmer. Overall, the treble presentation is towards laid back signature and at ultra-high frequencies gets rolled off giving Dunmer rather a darkish but fun sound signature. Its more of a non-fatiguing earpiece. The highs never get sibilant irrespective of which kind of music is played on it. Only drawback here is that at times it feels that the treble is bit metallic sounding.
Mids:
Mids of Tipsy Dunmer are slightly recessed, the texture and tonality are good although and are presented in a relaxing manner. Female vocals sound bit better than the male vocals as of the elevated treble. Mids are not at all muffled in any perspective and have a good overall detailing. Mids I would say have been placed in a neutral manner neither they feel recessed nor forward, and somehow there is a gap in upper mid region which makes this IEM quite relaxing.
Lows:
Tipsy has taken good care of Bass with this IEM, the lower and mid bass both shines very well and are enough to fill in the cravings of any bass head. Sometimes it does feels that the mid bass is overpowering the lower mids but mostly its in a controlled manner only. The bass actually compliments the elevated highs and together it gives a very fun sound signature. The Sub bass on other hand is quite controlled and refined.
Detailing/Imaging/Soundstage:
The dynamics, micro detailing and soundstage are very good as per price point of view. I would say that the imaging is above average and quite accurate along with nice width and depth. The instrument separation is again adequate; its nothing out of the world but still better than most of other IEMs in this price range. The detailing is decent as well and adequate for a fun listening experience.
Final Verdict:
Tipsy Dunmer is definitely an IEM for a beginner audiophile who wants to enjoy the magic of a single dynamic driver. Both Bass and Treble response are sharp and complements each other giving an overall fun sound signature. The texture and detailing are also top notch as per price point of view. So if you want to enjoy sound of single DD in a budget and have a craving for a fun bass signature then Tipsy Dunmer is the one for you.
Dunmer is the new product from Tipsy, a Chinese company created in 2016. Dunmer is Tipsy's entry in Budget IEMs arena where it will face fierce competition with a variety of dual and Single driver earpieces. At a first glance, Dunmer looks like a decent IEM with charismatic looks, feel and beautiful design. The faceplate is of shiny black-grayish color with resin coating that gives it a silky appearance. It has the brand-name Tipsy written over it in silver with a rather horror-show kind of font and reminds of the Dunmer (Dark Elves) in The Elder Scrolls. It is equipped with a 9.2mm graphene diaphragm double dynamic magnetic circuit /double cavity patented structure. The curvature and shape are smooth and provide a comfortable fit. It has a 2-pin connector with 8-Core SPC stock cable that's standard for an IEM of this range now a days. It also comes with a nice old-school faux leather pouch.
Disclaimer:
I have received Tipsy Dunmer as part of review circle sent from the brand itself in exchange of honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my own listening and my sources and is based on my experience with IEMs of similar hardware configurations and price range.
Sources:
For this review the unit has been paired to Cayin N5ii and LG V30+
Highs:
The treble response is very sharp in Tipsy Dunmer. Overall, the treble presentation is towards laid back signature and at ultra-high frequencies gets rolled off giving Dunmer rather a darkish but fun sound signature. Its more of a non-fatiguing earpiece. The highs never get sibilant irrespective of which kind of music is played on it. Only drawback here is that at times it feels that the treble is bit metallic sounding.
Mids:
Mids of Tipsy Dunmer are slightly recessed, the texture and tonality are good although and are presented in a relaxing manner. Female vocals sound bit better than the male vocals as of the elevated treble. Mids are not at all muffled in any perspective and have a good overall detailing. Mids I would say have been placed in a neutral manner neither they feel recessed nor forward, and somehow there is a gap in upper mid region which makes this IEM quite relaxing.
Lows:
Tipsy has taken good care of Bass with this IEM, the lower and mid bass both shines very well and are enough to fill in the cravings of any bass head. Sometimes it does feels that the mid bass is overpowering the lower mids but mostly its in a controlled manner only. The bass actually compliments the elevated highs and together it gives a very fun sound signature. The Sub bass on other hand is quite controlled and refined.
Detailing/Imaging/Soundstage:
The dynamics, micro detailing and soundstage are very good as per price point of view. I would say that the imaging is above average and quite accurate along with nice width and depth. The instrument separation is again adequate; its nothing out of the world but still better than most of other IEMs in this price range. The detailing is decent as well and adequate for a fun listening experience.
Final Verdict:
Tipsy Dunmer is definitely an IEM for a beginner audiophile who wants to enjoy the magic of a single dynamic driver. Both Bass and Treble response are sharp and complements each other giving an overall fun sound signature. The texture and detailing are also top notch as per price point of view. So if you want to enjoy sound of single DD in a budget and have a craving for a fun bass signature then Tipsy Dunmer is the one for you.
Disclaimer:
The unit has been sent to me by Tipsy as a part of a review circle. I am not working or affiliated to Tipsy and I am not being paid or influenced otherwise to say anything positive or negative about this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Specifications:
Sound:
Overall, the Tipsy Dunmer has a bassy and laid back signature which is mildly V shape. Not VERY bassy, but there is a quite discernible emphasis on the lows and lower midrange. The tonality is moderately warm, and quite inoffensive.
Bass:
A meaty and strong bass with slower decay, that definitely grabs your attention when it comes in. Detailing is not lost, however, and pleases the ear. Subbasss rumble is oh so satisfactory!
In Steven Wilson - pariah (To The Bone) and Muse - Showbiz the underlying bassline is very much at the forefront, but never really overwhelms the listener. In Battlestar Galactica Season 2 OST - Prelude To War the drums resonate nicely.
The catche is still there, though. Sometimes the bass overshadows the mids a bit.
Mids:
Mids are there, but they do not grab your attention, and aid to create the laid back signature. Mids are definitely behind the Bass, and do not have a lot of crispness. Vocals have a definite touch of warmth to them, be that male or female. While on male vocal the tonality becomes pleasing to the ear, like Mike Saaresto's voice in Kamikaze Love (Poets Of The Fall), female vocals seem to lose their briliance slightly, like Amy Lee's voice in My Immortal (Evanescence).
The lack of crispness is also quite evident in the Battlestar Galactica Season 2 OST - Prelude To War track, where the snare drums sound a bit washed out.
On the plus side, there is absolutely no sibilance or sharpness to the notes, which guarantees a fatigue free listening without compromising much.
Treble:
Treble is...not bad, but nothing exceptional also. There is a definite lower treble emphasis that saves the high notes from getting lost behind the bass, but it does not extend very well in to the upper treble. The overall impression is somewhat laid back. They are present, but does not stand out much, and may not sit well with those who prefers a brighter and crispier signature. However, the tonality is not totally off, just that the energy is missing.
In Muse - Showbiz and Steven Wilson - pariah (To The Bone) the background ride cymball rolls and other high notes often becomes difficult to notice, whereas the cymbal crashes are quite easily noticeable.
Soundstage and Separation:
Good for the price, I'd say. The width of soundstage is good, no narrow feeling whatsoever, but does not extend much beyond the head. The depth and height is also good, helping to create a slightly 3D soundstage. Separation is not bad, no congestion heard.
Comparison:
Vs. Macaw GT600S: GT600S has a slightly colder presentation, with more forward mids, and crispier notes, and slightly leaner bass. The bass on Dunmer has the oomph factor. GT600S puts out more details in Mids and Highs due to leaner and edgier notes. Dunmer wins in soundstage, providing a more 3D presentation with greater depth than GT600S, which has a flatter and more intimate presentation. The width of soundstage on GT600S is slightly more than Dunmer, and overall tonality is slightly more metallic.
Conclusion:
Tipsy Dunmer is not a bad iem if you are not after a ton of details at this price range. If you already have a brighter sounding iem, and need something for a relaxed listening around 100 USD price point, Dunmer can be a good contender. Just remeber to enjoy the music and not look for minute details.
The unit has been sent to me by Tipsy as a part of a review circle. I am not working or affiliated to Tipsy and I am not being paid or influenced otherwise to say anything positive or negative about this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Specifications:
- Sensitivity. 105dB@1kHz.
- Impedance. 16 ohm @1kHz.
- Driver. 9.2mm Dynamic Driver.
- Frequency Response. 20Hz-20000Hz.
- Plug Type. 3.5mm Gold Plated Jack.
- Interface. 0.78mm 2pin.
- Cable. 8Core SPC Cable.
- Cable Length. 1.2m
Sound:
Overall, the Tipsy Dunmer has a bassy and laid back signature which is mildly V shape. Not VERY bassy, but there is a quite discernible emphasis on the lows and lower midrange. The tonality is moderately warm, and quite inoffensive.
Bass:
A meaty and strong bass with slower decay, that definitely grabs your attention when it comes in. Detailing is not lost, however, and pleases the ear. Subbasss rumble is oh so satisfactory!
In Steven Wilson - pariah (To The Bone) and Muse - Showbiz the underlying bassline is very much at the forefront, but never really overwhelms the listener. In Battlestar Galactica Season 2 OST - Prelude To War the drums resonate nicely.
The catche is still there, though. Sometimes the bass overshadows the mids a bit.
Mids:
Mids are there, but they do not grab your attention, and aid to create the laid back signature. Mids are definitely behind the Bass, and do not have a lot of crispness. Vocals have a definite touch of warmth to them, be that male or female. While on male vocal the tonality becomes pleasing to the ear, like Mike Saaresto's voice in Kamikaze Love (Poets Of The Fall), female vocals seem to lose their briliance slightly, like Amy Lee's voice in My Immortal (Evanescence).
The lack of crispness is also quite evident in the Battlestar Galactica Season 2 OST - Prelude To War track, where the snare drums sound a bit washed out.
On the plus side, there is absolutely no sibilance or sharpness to the notes, which guarantees a fatigue free listening without compromising much.
Treble:
Treble is...not bad, but nothing exceptional also. There is a definite lower treble emphasis that saves the high notes from getting lost behind the bass, but it does not extend very well in to the upper treble. The overall impression is somewhat laid back. They are present, but does not stand out much, and may not sit well with those who prefers a brighter and crispier signature. However, the tonality is not totally off, just that the energy is missing.
In Muse - Showbiz and Steven Wilson - pariah (To The Bone) the background ride cymball rolls and other high notes often becomes difficult to notice, whereas the cymbal crashes are quite easily noticeable.
Soundstage and Separation:
Good for the price, I'd say. The width of soundstage is good, no narrow feeling whatsoever, but does not extend much beyond the head. The depth and height is also good, helping to create a slightly 3D soundstage. Separation is not bad, no congestion heard.
Comparison:
Vs. Macaw GT600S: GT600S has a slightly colder presentation, with more forward mids, and crispier notes, and slightly leaner bass. The bass on Dunmer has the oomph factor. GT600S puts out more details in Mids and Highs due to leaner and edgier notes. Dunmer wins in soundstage, providing a more 3D presentation with greater depth than GT600S, which has a flatter and more intimate presentation. The width of soundstage on GT600S is slightly more than Dunmer, and overall tonality is slightly more metallic.
Conclusion:
Tipsy Dunmer is not a bad iem if you are not after a ton of details at this price range. If you already have a brighter sounding iem, and need something for a relaxed listening around 100 USD price point, Dunmer can be a good contender. Just remeber to enjoy the music and not look for minute details.
Introduction :
Tipsy is definitely not a new player in the audiophiliac market and their Dunmer Pro was very well received by many reviewers. Tipsy first started out in 2016 out of china and they have seemingly great build quality and sound quality for a new brand. Their TWS TM1 proved that good sounds TWS do not need to be very expensive and we have Dunmer from Tipsy which is roughly 45$ more than it's predecessor, Blue Aurora.
Disclaimer :
The review was tested at 119$ and all the judgement was made keeping the exact same price in mind. We're not responsible for any price change that might alter this review.
This item was graciously provided by Tipsy for review in exchange for a honest and unbiased review. The review was written by the team in our own accord and no thoughts or judgements were altered in any way.
Purchasable Link :
Linsoul (Global Store)
Specification :
Unboxing and Accessories :
Unboxing is pretty straightforward and the included accessories set is sufficient for the price that they come for. The box has Tipsy branding on it and under the box you’ll find Dunmer sitting nicely in foam. Box accessory set includes:
Cable :
Cable that comes with the box is a 3.5mm unbalanced cable. The cable is better than what we have seen on Blue Aurora. The connector does feel good and robust but due to material it behaves poorly and doesn’t like to stay in place. The connector has an aluminium cladding on which “Tipsy” is etched. There were no microphonics with the provided cable.
Pouch :
Dunmer comes with a default leather like pouch which feels very good to hold in hands. The pouch closes securely and tightly with magnetic lips and it’s a very well made overall case.
IEM quality and fit :
Dunmer are built very well and they have really strong acrylic housing. The faceplate has a liquid black pattern. The top of the faceplate has tipsy branding with golden accents and it’s covered inside resin. The nozzle is pretty long which helps almost all tips to stay in place without falling off.
The IEM is fairly small and fits the ear of all sizes and shapes, they are very comfortable for long usage and neither did they create any sort of pressure.
Sound Isolation :
The Dunmer are built from acrylic resin and do a decent job at blocking outside noise. Since they are pretty small they don’t block out noise like we have seen on other pairs of IEMs. Volume compensation can provide good sound isolation other than that there's not much to say here.
The Driveability and sources used :
Tipsy Dunmer are fairly easy to drive, with only 16 Ohms of impedance and sensitivity of 105dB they are easily driven off by any source. Nothing major is required to drive them but a good Dongle DAC would help Dunmer here.
Sources used are :
Sound (3.5/5) :
Bass (4/5) :
Overall nature of the bass is very punchy and boomy, due to the V-Shape curve of the sound signature, bass is elevated and is actually very detailed as well. Boomy is good for the emphasis of overall bass signature but a drawback of the same is it bleeds into the mids and that is exactly the case here, mids are overshadowed by the bass to a greater extent. Low end bass is present in abundance and has never let us down. Mid bass could have been much better, the overpowering and punchy nature of bass makes the mids fall short.
Mids (3/5) :
Biggest drawbacks of tuning the IEM to V - curve is the mids take a serious hit and thats exactly what is happening here, bass is overpowering the mids due to which considerable bleeding is heard making mid bass too shabby, lower mids are very recessed resulting the lack of male vocal heft and presence. However the female vocals sound good as the treble definition is good and higher mids do the job of female vocal portrayal. According to our recommendation, Rock and hip hop is the genre to go with these.
Treble (3.5/5) :
Detail retrieval comes from a good treble tuning, Dunmer does a pretty good job of resolving the music to its core but quantity does not mean quality, going by this we feel the treble is overly sharp and can become sibilant on various tracks which is slightly disappointing, however the female vocals and instrument separation is very good owing this to treble representation.
Soundstage (3.5/5) :
Dunmer have an average soundstage to speak of, the v - curve pushes mids down making the music sound a little darker and hefty which is why the sense of space and grandeur is missing, the perfectly tuned mids and treble empowers the soundstage. In some tracks the sense of height is represented very well and it amazes us.
Imaging (4/5) :
The separation on instruments is just spot on, as mentioned above as well as owing to the treble boosted nature of the IEM the imaging is at par with some of the rivals. Width of the stage is represented by well and the most amazing part which we never expected is the height or the vertical representation of the instruments, it is very amazing.
Conclusion :
Tipsy Dunmer has a very different tuning compared to it's younger brother, Blue Aurora. While the Blue Aurora lacked both left and right extension, the Dunmer delivers a more engaging, fun sound. The bass is authoritative, detailed and fast. The female vocals sound fantastic and imaging is very good for the price. The Tipsy Dunmer comes in at 119$ which we think is a little overpriced as there are contenders like Moondrop Starfields. Though, we still think that's its a solid IEM for bass enthusiasts and someone who is searching for Blue Aurora upgrade.
Rated :
All grades are given keeping price to performance ratio in mind, better grade doesn't mean it's the best.
Tipsy is definitely not a new player in the audiophiliac market and their Dunmer Pro was very well received by many reviewers. Tipsy first started out in 2016 out of china and they have seemingly great build quality and sound quality for a new brand. Their TWS TM1 proved that good sounds TWS do not need to be very expensive and we have Dunmer from Tipsy which is roughly 45$ more than it's predecessor, Blue Aurora.
Disclaimer :
The review was tested at 119$ and all the judgement was made keeping the exact same price in mind. We're not responsible for any price change that might alter this review.
This item was graciously provided by Tipsy for review in exchange for a honest and unbiased review. The review was written by the team in our own accord and no thoughts or judgements were altered in any way.
Purchasable Link :
Linsoul (Global Store)
Specification :
Unboxing and Accessories :
Unboxing is pretty straightforward and the included accessories set is sufficient for the price that they come for. The box has Tipsy branding on it and under the box you’ll find Dunmer sitting nicely in foam. Box accessory set includes:
- IEMS
- Cable
- Eartips
- Magnetic pouch
- Usermanual
Cable :
Cable that comes with the box is a 3.5mm unbalanced cable. The cable is better than what we have seen on Blue Aurora. The connector does feel good and robust but due to material it behaves poorly and doesn’t like to stay in place. The connector has an aluminium cladding on which “Tipsy” is etched. There were no microphonics with the provided cable.
Pouch :
Dunmer comes with a default leather like pouch which feels very good to hold in hands. The pouch closes securely and tightly with magnetic lips and it’s a very well made overall case.
IEM quality and fit :
Dunmer are built very well and they have really strong acrylic housing. The faceplate has a liquid black pattern. The top of the faceplate has tipsy branding with golden accents and it’s covered inside resin. The nozzle is pretty long which helps almost all tips to stay in place without falling off.
The IEM is fairly small and fits the ear of all sizes and shapes, they are very comfortable for long usage and neither did they create any sort of pressure.
Sound Isolation :
The Dunmer are built from acrylic resin and do a decent job at blocking outside noise. Since they are pretty small they don’t block out noise like we have seen on other pairs of IEMs. Volume compensation can provide good sound isolation other than that there's not much to say here.
The Driveability and sources used :
Tipsy Dunmer are fairly easy to drive, with only 16 Ohms of impedance and sensitivity of 105dB they are easily driven off by any source. Nothing major is required to drive them but a good Dongle DAC would help Dunmer here.
Sources used are :
- DDHiFi 3.5 mm to lightning
- Shanling M0
- FiiO BTR5
Sound (3.5/5) :
Bass (4/5) :
Overall nature of the bass is very punchy and boomy, due to the V-Shape curve of the sound signature, bass is elevated and is actually very detailed as well. Boomy is good for the emphasis of overall bass signature but a drawback of the same is it bleeds into the mids and that is exactly the case here, mids are overshadowed by the bass to a greater extent. Low end bass is present in abundance and has never let us down. Mid bass could have been much better, the overpowering and punchy nature of bass makes the mids fall short.
Mids (3/5) :
Biggest drawbacks of tuning the IEM to V - curve is the mids take a serious hit and thats exactly what is happening here, bass is overpowering the mids due to which considerable bleeding is heard making mid bass too shabby, lower mids are very recessed resulting the lack of male vocal heft and presence. However the female vocals sound good as the treble definition is good and higher mids do the job of female vocal portrayal. According to our recommendation, Rock and hip hop is the genre to go with these.
Treble (3.5/5) :
Detail retrieval comes from a good treble tuning, Dunmer does a pretty good job of resolving the music to its core but quantity does not mean quality, going by this we feel the treble is overly sharp and can become sibilant on various tracks which is slightly disappointing, however the female vocals and instrument separation is very good owing this to treble representation.
Soundstage (3.5/5) :
Dunmer have an average soundstage to speak of, the v - curve pushes mids down making the music sound a little darker and hefty which is why the sense of space and grandeur is missing, the perfectly tuned mids and treble empowers the soundstage. In some tracks the sense of height is represented very well and it amazes us.
Imaging (4/5) :
The separation on instruments is just spot on, as mentioned above as well as owing to the treble boosted nature of the IEM the imaging is at par with some of the rivals. Width of the stage is represented by well and the most amazing part which we never expected is the height or the vertical representation of the instruments, it is very amazing.
Conclusion :
Tipsy Dunmer has a very different tuning compared to it's younger brother, Blue Aurora. While the Blue Aurora lacked both left and right extension, the Dunmer delivers a more engaging, fun sound. The bass is authoritative, detailed and fast. The female vocals sound fantastic and imaging is very good for the price. The Tipsy Dunmer comes in at 119$ which we think is a little overpriced as there are contenders like Moondrop Starfields. Though, we still think that's its a solid IEM for bass enthusiasts and someone who is searching for Blue Aurora upgrade.
Rated :
All grades are given keeping price to performance ratio in mind, better grade doesn't mean it's the best.
Disclaimer:
The unit has been sent to me by Tipsy as a part of a review circle. I am not working or affiliated to Tipsy and I am not being paid or influenced otherwise to say anything positive or negative about this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Note: Please note that my opinions and ratings are based on price, category, market competition and personal expectations and are subjective in nature.
Build Quality and comfort
Tipsy Dunmer (from here on will be termed as Dunmer) has a very good and sturdy build, the shell is beautifully handmade and has a premium finish. It has fairly long nozzle and has a secured fit with stock tips. They are well balanced in size, shape and weight and didn’t bother me even on my long listening sessions that lasted for 4-5 hours straight. The cable is decent and not of topmost quality but does the job well. I didn’t feel any microphonics nor I had to sweat trying to untangle the cables.
Score: 4/5
Bass
Well it has been a long time since I have heard something with good bass! Finally, Dunmer has taken care of my cravings for bass. Dunmer’s lows has good quantity and good quality, bass lovers should be satisfied with it. If I am being critical about it, the bass is strong, and has good impact but the mid bass is slightly boomy and do bleed into mid although its not something that bothers me. According to me, the presentation that Tipsy were aiming with Dunmer, doesn’t really do anything wrong, the strong bass brings in a fun aspect to the sound and I love the Dunmer for that.
Score: 3.5/5
Mids
Midrange on the Dunmer is slightly recessed although I still feel the quality is good. Its quite natural, and aren’t on our face. The staging does support the mid-range to have their own space and perform at ease. the texture and tonality is good and I honestly have no complaints in it.
Score: 3.3/5
Highs
I have high praises for the lows and mids on the Dunmer, however with the highs, I wasn’t particularly happy. Its okay for a fact to aim for a soothing, non-fatiguing sound signature, but not at the expense of the upper high frequencies. There’s an apparent roll-off at around 9khz. Highs are a little laid back, giving the Dunmer a dark and warm tonality. The highs are present and audible but did lack the details and air and apparently loses its naturality. But good thing is, this made the Dunmer not fatiguing and suitable for heavy metal marathon listening for hours.
Score: 3/5
Soundstage, Imaging, Separation
Soundstage of Dunmer has good width and depth. Even though it lacks the airiness in the highs but for instrument heavy tracks it did not sound congested. The imaging is quite decent too. The bass helps in creating a euphonic 3d like soundstage which is commendable for the price its being sold at. This is an area where Dunmer stands apart.
3.5/5
Source and drivability
I believe neutral to bright sources will pair well with Dunmer, something to liven up the top end. I have Ibasso’s DX160 and Pico Power amp. My impressions are based on dx160’s line out to Pico Power.
Drivability is pretty easy and Dunmer runs off from a phone without much hassle. On scaling up the better sources, Dunmer showed slight scaling. However, it can scale only as far as it gets, it will do good enough with a decent dongle DAC.
Comparision:
I don’t own any IEM in this range to compare but sometime ago I reviewed QOA’s Pink Lady which was priced higher than the Dunmer. But I believe Dunmer sounds better than the Pink Lady on all fronts. I feel Dunmer is definitely more enjoyable.
Conclusion:
So to summarize, I’ll come straight to the point. Is it worth the asking price? Definitely. The sound signature isn’t exactly my preference, I like a bit more extension and energy on the top end. But for the price, it offers good design and build quality and a fun sound signature. It has a warm tonality and goes well with any kind of music and isn’t fatiguing. At a time where almost every other Chi-fi brand runs behind Harman tuning, Dunmer takes a different route and a good one.
Overall rating: 3.5/5
Disclaimer:
The Tipsy Dunmer is a sample that was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion in this review, as part of a review tour. I thank the team at Tipsy & Hifigo for giving me this opportunity.
Introduction:
Tipsy is amongst the bunch of new Chinese HiFi companies that have come into existence in the recent few years out of the blue (2016 in this case) and have tried to establish themselves as a reputable brand and garner a place / compete in the overflowing sea of budget iems (toughest spot to be in 2020). The Tipsy team, with 25 years of music experience, has been dedicated to designing the professional on-stage in-ear monitors and have now jumped ship to woo the cut-throat lower of the audiophile market.
The Dunmer in consideration here, is equipped with a 9.2mm graphene diaphragm double dynamic magnetic circuit / double cavity patented structure. With this configuration, (as per the marketing team), the sound should be smooth and clear. The faceplates are handcrafted and very tastefully done with a unique textured finish which is classy and shiny! Not quite sure of the Dunmer naming and if this has any resemblance to the Dark Elves from Elder Scrolls, perhaps to the black shell of the iem.
Tipsy has accompanied the Dunmer with a well-made and sturdy looking 8-core silver-plated copper cable (SPC) which is 2-pin design and terminates into a single ended 3.5mm plug which again is tastefully designed with the embossing of the company’s name ‘Tipsy’ at the end of it.
Test Rig:
Aune T1s Hybrid Tube Amp/DAC, Marantz SR5014, LG G8X ThinQ & the VE Odessey HD Dongle DAC
Sound Impressions:
Before jumping into the nitty-gritty of the performance of the Dunmer, I would like to highlight my love and bias for an ALL DD implementation. YES, in the day and age when OEM’s are trying to shove in as many drivers into a tiny little shell, anywhere from 10 to 30 on a bad day, there are still plenty of possibilities for companies to perfect the traditional single dynamic driver and have great results. CHiFi is no alien to such good single DD implementations with the likes of Tin HiFi, Moondrop, iBasso, Tanchjim leading the pack and we all know well-established brands such as Sony, Sennheiser & Campfire Audio to have varying degrees of successful iterations too (both budget thrills and flagships).
The Dunmer from Tipsy in this context is a smooth and euphonic take on what a fun and non-fatiguing iem should sound like, with the renowned traits of having a dynamic driver, slightly marred by the over-ambitious tuning & the lack of ultimate resolution in the playing field (more on that later). Let’s dig a bit deeper to understand the Dunmer traits.
Imaging, Staging & Instrument Separation, Timbre & Tonality:
Imaging is above average and fairly accurate with slight fuzziness from being called absolutely perfect. Staging is surprisingly good and realistic with a good (acceptable for the price) sense of depth. Most budget iem’s that I have come across do width and height to good effect in varying degrees, but depth is generally lacking substantially making them more midfi to low end. Instrument separation on the Dunmer is again, adequate, for the lack of a better term. Nothing exceptionally good or bad, which can be taken as a positive trait. Considering this is an iem with substantially bass-forward tuning with the rumble settling back in layers and demands attention all the time PLUS the rolled off upper treble, instrument separation wasn’t going to be the talk of the town here from the get-go. However, what is there, is done adequately well and there is a good sense of airiness to the overall presentation. Timbre is natural and in rare cases showcases a metallic twang due to the treble tonality.
Bass-Mids-Highs:
The Dunmer can be classified as a V signature or more so an L signature depending on one’s preference to genres and relative comparisons with its competition. There is significant bass boost, mid bass-heavy for the most part with a bit of energy in the upper mids to keep things interesting, as, there isn’t much sizzle or energy radiance up top in the upper treble where there is significant roll of post 8kHz.
Bass is physical in nature with a good rumble and will keep most bass-heads happy. Mid-bass is bloomy in nature and although the speed / decay is pretty quick for the quantity being loaded here, it does overwhelm the lower mids which are already quite recessed a fair bit. There is mid to upper bass bleed into the midrange but it's not too shabby to critic too harshly.
Midrange is recessed but thanks the natural tonal balance and decent stage, mids don’t seem to sound muffled or in a soup of its own. Vocals have adequate heft and body and come off as rich and euphonic. Vocals could have been more textured, but the smoothness is compensated by the lushness and heft overall with decent detailing for the price range.
Treble performance isn’t the party piece here by any means, on the contrary, the Dunmer guns for a relaxed and euphonic representation of the upper registries. There is significant roll-off post the 8 kHz peak and the energy waterfalls down making for a less fatiguing albeit less airy presentations as well. Cymbal crashes and high-hats on the whole sound a bit muted and lacking intent, but I can see why this may turn out to be a people pleaser for the wider audience.
Comparisons:
1. iBasso IT00 vs Dunmer
A DD affair and there is more in common here than differences. Both are nearly identical on tuning with the iBasso being the more refined presentation and the Dunmer being the more engaging one with its bigger mid-bass bloom and slightly wider staging. Tonality with both leans towards the natural side of things for a V signature, but the iBasso wins on timbre accuracy thanks to better representation of the midrange which isn’t as recessed as that of the Dunmer in relativity. Both the iBasso and Tipsy have considerable roll-off in the upper treble, but the overall presentation is a tad more balanced on the IT00. All things said, both the iem’s perform pretty average from a technical / resolution standpoint, projecting a softer & fuzzier transient response (common for Single DD implementations at this price point). Most hybrid / all BA setups will up the ante in the resolution department over these two.
2. Moondrop Starfield vs Dunmer
Quite the change in presentations here where the Starfield is tuned closer to be harman neutral whereas the Dunmer is your typical V signature (or perhaps an L might be more apt here in comparison). The Starfield has the leaner and cleaner presentation overall, however, that comes with aggressiveness in the upper midrange being a bit too hot on some tracks and fatiguing for treble sensitive ears. Technical ability and resolution on the Starfield is far superior vs the Dunmer and that is highlighted further by the slightly leaner and brighter overall signature of the Starfield. However, where the Dunmer comes right back is the ease of listening to for hours, being the more euphonic and people please signature and can also satisfy bass-heads in general with its elevated bass performance which shouts fun. The Starfield might be the better choice for the pickier audiophile but the Dunmer has its own tricks up its sleeves.
3. Tin HiFi T4 vs Dunmer
Again, this is a day and night difference in terms of tuning. The T4 is Neutral tending to bright and the Dunmer is a V signature. Based on the signature, tonality for both the iems are good in their own way however, the T4 does come off as the more natural-sounding, perhaps due to the better treble tuning whereas the treble on the Dunmer has a slight metallic twang to it. T4 again is the more technically sound iem of the duo. The T4 is quite aggressive in its midrange tuning and might be more of an acquired taste whereas the Dunmer is a pickup and listen for anyone and at any time! Staging is superior on the Dunmer as well, however, imaging is more accurately presented on the T4. Bass-heads can ignore the T4 as its clean and lean, gunning for quality over quantity whereas the Dunmer has its bass as its showstopper with a substantial punch on the low end.
Summary:
The Dunmer is a good addition / alternative to the vast ocean of multi-BA iems with thunderous bass and euphonic signature which will woo most people. However, you have to address the elephant in the room and that is the rising established competition that the Dunmer has to deal with and ONLY then, you start to see less light at the end of the tunnel for the Tipsy. On its own, it’s a very good iem which showcases that Tipsy has what it takes to up the ante in further iterations in terms of refinement and resolution. The intent is there, and the build quality and faceplates already reek classiness. Looking forward to subsequent iterations for the finesse!
Tipsy is a fairly new name in the industry, they manufacture some beautiful looking pair of in-ear monitors. The brand seems to be focused primarily on the budget segment. I have got two of their famous pairs for the purpose of review, the Tipsy Dunmer and the Tipsy Blue Aurora. Today, I am gonna share my review for the Tipsy Dunmer, their single dynamic driver IEM offering available for just 120$ from linsoul.com.
Disclaimer:-
I got the Tipsy Dunmer unit as a review sample unit from a review circle organized by Tipsy in my country. I received only the pair with its cable and a few pairs of ear tips. The review is based on my own personal experience with the pair. I am not affiliated or paid by anyone to write positive or negative about the Dunmer. Check out my other work on my personal blog www.gadgetgenerations.com.
Tipsy Dunmer:-
The Tipsy Dunmer is a beautiful pair with hand-crafted premium ear shells with superb looking faceplates. The pair is equipped with a single Dynamic Driver on both sides presenting a punchy sound output.. I personally love single DD IEMs, my personal favorites are Moondrop Starfields, Etymotic ER2XR, Tin HiFi T2 Plus. All these are from similar budget segments like the Tipsy Dunmer, let’s see how well the Dunmer actually performs.
Build Quality & Fit:-
Tipsy designs its products quite beautifully and the Dunmer is no exception here. The pair has beautiful hand-crafted earpieces with finely textured faceplates. The inner cavity catches your fingerprints with its shiny lustrous finish. They look simply exceptional, beautiful, and premium. The pair comes with a simple 8-core cable with black shielding on it. The connectors, Y-splitter, and termination plug are of quite good quality. In terms of build quality, I have no complaints with the Tipsy Dunmer.
Regarding the fit, I got a properly sealed fit for me with the Tipsy Dunmer. It was comfortable and sit firmly into my ears without any trouble for long listening sessions.
Powering The Tipsy Dunmer:-
The Tipsy Dunmer is not a demanding pair, it can be powered easily with smartphones too. I tested the pair with my Honor View 10 and found no lack of power. But using the pair with a HiFi DAP like the iBasso DX120 surely gives an ultimate experience.
Sound Quality:-
The Tipsy Dunmer presents a smooth non-fatiguing sound output with a V-shaped sound signature. I personally feel it has more emphasis on the lower end as compared to the other frequencies, bass sometimes bleeds into mids too in heavy bass tracks. Vocals and acoustic instruments sound pretty crisp and detailed. The high-frequencies are reproduced in a smooth presentation. Overall it is a fun-sounding pair with decent detail retrieval and interesting bass in the output. It holds a good sense of energy and liveliness in the output.
Lower End:-
The lower end instantly catches the attention with its powerful sub-bass rumble and mid-bass slams. The bass feels punchy, fast, tight, and leaves a lasting impression. It makes the output energetic and lively. It complements Hip-Hop, EDM music and will satisfy the bass hunger of many, but it also leaks some of the lower ends into mids in bass-heavy tracks like Bad Guy By Billie Eilish.
Mids:-
Mids are recessed and are presented in a crisp manner. The detailing of acoustic instruments, vocal clarity is top-notch. Listening to live-recordings, vocal artists like Damien Rice, Rock artists like Linkin Park, Red Hot Chilli Peppers is a pure bliss with the pair. Love the clarity of mid-frequencies here.
Highs:-
The Tipsy Dunmer presents the treble frequencies in a super smooth manner. Instruments like Violins, Electric guitars sound pretty smooth even at high volumes. But the pair also suffers roll-off in the ultra-high frequencies which take away some of the extensions that might be there but it also makes the output non-fatiguing. The pair retrieves good details from my music.
Soundstage & Separation:-
The soundstage is above average in the Dunmer. I mean it's just adequate, it's neither super-wide nor narrow. It feels just adequately wide and high for a fun listening experience. With decent detailing, the pair also provides decent instrument separation.
Final verdict:-
In my opinion, the Tipsy Dunmer is a fun pair with elevated bass, powerful sub-bass rumble, crisp vocals, and smooth treble frequencies. It will definitely satisfy the bass hunger for the users. If you are looking for a simple-sounding pair with decent detail retrieval, the Tipsy Dunmer might suit your needs.
Disclaimer:-
I got the Tipsy Dunmer unit as a review sample unit from a review circle organized by Tipsy in my country. I received only the pair with its cable and a few pairs of ear tips. The review is based on my own personal experience with the pair. I am not affiliated or paid by anyone to write positive or negative about the Dunmer. Check out my other work on my personal blog www.gadgetgenerations.com.
Tipsy Dunmer:-
The Tipsy Dunmer is a beautiful pair with hand-crafted premium ear shells with superb looking faceplates. The pair is equipped with a single Dynamic Driver on both sides presenting a punchy sound output.. I personally love single DD IEMs, my personal favorites are Moondrop Starfields, Etymotic ER2XR, Tin HiFi T2 Plus. All these are from similar budget segments like the Tipsy Dunmer, let’s see how well the Dunmer actually performs.
Build Quality & Fit:-
Tipsy designs its products quite beautifully and the Dunmer is no exception here. The pair has beautiful hand-crafted earpieces with finely textured faceplates. The inner cavity catches your fingerprints with its shiny lustrous finish. They look simply exceptional, beautiful, and premium. The pair comes with a simple 8-core cable with black shielding on it. The connectors, Y-splitter, and termination plug are of quite good quality. In terms of build quality, I have no complaints with the Tipsy Dunmer.
Regarding the fit, I got a properly sealed fit for me with the Tipsy Dunmer. It was comfortable and sit firmly into my ears without any trouble for long listening sessions.
Powering The Tipsy Dunmer:-
The Tipsy Dunmer is not a demanding pair, it can be powered easily with smartphones too. I tested the pair with my Honor View 10 and found no lack of power. But using the pair with a HiFi DAP like the iBasso DX120 surely gives an ultimate experience.
Sound Quality:-
The Tipsy Dunmer presents a smooth non-fatiguing sound output with a V-shaped sound signature. I personally feel it has more emphasis on the lower end as compared to the other frequencies, bass sometimes bleeds into mids too in heavy bass tracks. Vocals and acoustic instruments sound pretty crisp and detailed. The high-frequencies are reproduced in a smooth presentation. Overall it is a fun-sounding pair with decent detail retrieval and interesting bass in the output. It holds a good sense of energy and liveliness in the output.
Lower End:-
The lower end instantly catches the attention with its powerful sub-bass rumble and mid-bass slams. The bass feels punchy, fast, tight, and leaves a lasting impression. It makes the output energetic and lively. It complements Hip-Hop, EDM music and will satisfy the bass hunger of many, but it also leaks some of the lower ends into mids in bass-heavy tracks like Bad Guy By Billie Eilish.
Mids:-
Mids are recessed and are presented in a crisp manner. The detailing of acoustic instruments, vocal clarity is top-notch. Listening to live-recordings, vocal artists like Damien Rice, Rock artists like Linkin Park, Red Hot Chilli Peppers is a pure bliss with the pair. Love the clarity of mid-frequencies here.
Highs:-
The Tipsy Dunmer presents the treble frequencies in a super smooth manner. Instruments like Violins, Electric guitars sound pretty smooth even at high volumes. But the pair also suffers roll-off in the ultra-high frequencies which take away some of the extensions that might be there but it also makes the output non-fatiguing. The pair retrieves good details from my music.
Soundstage & Separation:-
The soundstage is above average in the Dunmer. I mean it's just adequate, it's neither super-wide nor narrow. It feels just adequately wide and high for a fun listening experience. With decent detailing, the pair also provides decent instrument separation.
Final verdict:-
In my opinion, the Tipsy Dunmer is a fun pair with elevated bass, powerful sub-bass rumble, crisp vocals, and smooth treble frequencies. It will definitely satisfy the bass hunger for the users. If you are looking for a simple-sounding pair with decent detail retrieval, the Tipsy Dunmer might suit your needs.
Build Quality & Comfort
Like all Tipsy products, the Dunmer is handmade and the faceplate is polished to represent a night sky. The unboxing experience is suave and hip, you know Tipsy hails from the modern day and age and it shows in their packaging and design. The faceplate looks gorgeous. The surface of the shell is prone to picking up grease and fingerprints.
The cable is an 8 core Silver Plated Copper terminated with 3.5mm SE and 2 pin 0.78mm detachable on the connector side. The cable also features a robust y-split and a chin slider. The connector plugs are hefty and solid, with a chrome finish which complements the black color perfectly.
Regarding comfort, I have small-medium ears and they fit in my ears perfectly. Once in, they disappear entirely.
Amp Needs
The Dunmer features a 1DD rated at 16 ohm, 105dB/mW which makes it ridiculously easy to drive. You can drive this off your phone easily and since it's sensitive at 105dB/mW, you won't be needing to turn up the volume much either.
The Dunmer doesn't scale enough for me to recommend using external amplifiers or DAPs. But I do recommend using a dongle DAC to get the best performance. (check Dynamics section)
Sound
Bass
As someone who is allergic to bloated and slow bass or even huge quantity of bass, the bass on the Dunmer is a breath of fresh air. Is tight and very well executed. The subbass quantity isn't overdone and you feel it's hit all the time. Textural variances in this region is also brought about clearly. The bass speed is fast and plays in tandem with the rest of the spectrum.
The midbass region is where the elevation is clearly noticeable. Midbass slams hard which makes everything sound punchy and impactful. However when it comes to speed, it isn't the fastest out there and you can hear it's bloom with well recorded music. However, in most cases the midbass slam adds an energetic flavor to the bass response.
Midrange
The lower mids have a slight touch of warmth but the quantity of warmth is done tastefully and in no way does it mask details. The upper midrange is slightly muted which makes it forgiving of badly mastered shouty music and rock/metal in general. This muted character in the upper midrange makes well recorded intimate vocal performances lack a bit of "bite" and "shine" to them.
However, the positioning of vocals and midrange frequencies is almost perfect; not too forward, not too recessed.
Treble
The treble response isn't overdone, the overall coherence in this range is astounding. There is an emphasis in the 7kHz region which adds a shimmering metallic twang to the region which becomes evident in cymbal-ridden music. The highs are never sibilant, harsh or fatiguing. Other than its metallic timbre, the treble response is almost ideal for all genres of music thanks to its tuning.
Dynamics
Micro-dynamics is very good, aided by the tasteful fast bass and impactful midbass. The dynamics do improve noticeably when you move up to a cleaner and well implemeted dac. If you're listening off your phone, its noisy output stage could very well be choking the Dunmer's dynamics. A dongle DAC might be the best bet to get the Dunmer to it's full potential.
Soundstage and Imaging
Soundstage width is good. And the imaging is very good. The instrument separation is excellent. The soundstage isn't deep, but that's expecting too much for its asking price. The overall soundstage is more flat/2D like most IEMs in this price range (and even much more).
Conclusion
This is a solid IEM, and I consider it some of the best around the 100$ price point. It's sound signature is engaging, fun and tastefully executed with great technical performance which make it an exciting listen every time. In this day and age when brands are shoving 10, 20, or even 30 BA drivers as a gimmick, Tipsy shows the others what can be done with only 1DD. And it is because of this I have a newfound respect for Tipsy.
If your budget is around 100$, the Dunmer is a solid choice. Period.
Like all Tipsy products, the Dunmer is handmade and the faceplate is polished to represent a night sky. The unboxing experience is suave and hip, you know Tipsy hails from the modern day and age and it shows in their packaging and design. The faceplate looks gorgeous. The surface of the shell is prone to picking up grease and fingerprints.
The cable is an 8 core Silver Plated Copper terminated with 3.5mm SE and 2 pin 0.78mm detachable on the connector side. The cable also features a robust y-split and a chin slider. The connector plugs are hefty and solid, with a chrome finish which complements the black color perfectly.
Regarding comfort, I have small-medium ears and they fit in my ears perfectly. Once in, they disappear entirely.
Amp Needs
The Dunmer features a 1DD rated at 16 ohm, 105dB/mW which makes it ridiculously easy to drive. You can drive this off your phone easily and since it's sensitive at 105dB/mW, you won't be needing to turn up the volume much either.
The Dunmer doesn't scale enough for me to recommend using external amplifiers or DAPs. But I do recommend using a dongle DAC to get the best performance. (check Dynamics section)
Sound
Bass
As someone who is allergic to bloated and slow bass or even huge quantity of bass, the bass on the Dunmer is a breath of fresh air. Is tight and very well executed. The subbass quantity isn't overdone and you feel it's hit all the time. Textural variances in this region is also brought about clearly. The bass speed is fast and plays in tandem with the rest of the spectrum.
The midbass region is where the elevation is clearly noticeable. Midbass slams hard which makes everything sound punchy and impactful. However when it comes to speed, it isn't the fastest out there and you can hear it's bloom with well recorded music. However, in most cases the midbass slam adds an energetic flavor to the bass response.
Midrange
The lower mids have a slight touch of warmth but the quantity of warmth is done tastefully and in no way does it mask details. The upper midrange is slightly muted which makes it forgiving of badly mastered shouty music and rock/metal in general. This muted character in the upper midrange makes well recorded intimate vocal performances lack a bit of "bite" and "shine" to them.
However, the positioning of vocals and midrange frequencies is almost perfect; not too forward, not too recessed.
Treble
The treble response isn't overdone, the overall coherence in this range is astounding. There is an emphasis in the 7kHz region which adds a shimmering metallic twang to the region which becomes evident in cymbal-ridden music. The highs are never sibilant, harsh or fatiguing. Other than its metallic timbre, the treble response is almost ideal for all genres of music thanks to its tuning.
Dynamics
Micro-dynamics is very good, aided by the tasteful fast bass and impactful midbass. The dynamics do improve noticeably when you move up to a cleaner and well implemeted dac. If you're listening off your phone, its noisy output stage could very well be choking the Dunmer's dynamics. A dongle DAC might be the best bet to get the Dunmer to it's full potential.
Soundstage and Imaging
Soundstage width is good. And the imaging is very good. The instrument separation is excellent. The soundstage isn't deep, but that's expecting too much for its asking price. The overall soundstage is more flat/2D like most IEMs in this price range (and even much more).
Conclusion
This is a solid IEM, and I consider it some of the best around the 100$ price point. It's sound signature is engaging, fun and tastefully executed with great technical performance which make it an exciting listen every time. In this day and age when brands are shoving 10, 20, or even 30 BA drivers as a gimmick, Tipsy shows the others what can be done with only 1DD. And it is because of this I have a newfound respect for Tipsy.
If your budget is around 100$, the Dunmer is a solid choice. Period.
