Just curious if you are in the US? If so where did you buy from?
Also what IEMs or headphones are you using with it? Would love to hear some details!
I was so disappointed with the Fiio and Moondrop offerings that I'm hoping either this or the new Shanling player will scratch the portable CD player itch lol.
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VULKAN 2 brings serious tech: 2 DD + 6 BA, full-range 4-way setup with independent sound bores and electronic crossover control.
Physical + electronic crossover—bass to treble, everything’s in its place. Paired with DTC800, and it’s all smooth sailing.
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I shared on the Discovery thread, but wanted to post here as well!
The DUNU BrainDance (DK3001BD) is a $500 USD hybrid IEM with one dynamic driver, four balanced armatures, and four planar drivers (tweeters), with 26Ω impedance and 108 dB/mW sensitivity at 1kHz. They've got a premium feel with nice aluminum alloy shells witha white ceramic coating. Thanks to AudioGeek EU for the tour unit!
The BrainDance has a confidently U-shaped tuning focused on subbass with lots of treble sparkle. I think it's the most truely U shaped tuning I've heard. The subbass is really nicely done with top-notch impact and control, creating great bass rumble. This was the highlight for me. The bass lacks midbass punch for kick drums and bass guitars though, making it more suited to electronic and pop rather than rock.
The treble is intense with good detail retrieval, but something in the treble region can be fatiguing, making this more of a low-volume set or for those who like that intensity. Vocals, especially male voices, sound a bit recessed and thin. The mids overall take a backseat to the emphasized subbass and treble.
I tested the set with a 25Ω impedance adapter too, which added warmth and makes the bass massive. I think Dunu should include their impedance adaptor, as this makes for a fun tweak to the tuning. Sancai wide bore tips help tame the treble slightly. They're easy to drive from most sources given the high sensitivity.
The BrainDance is great for someone wanting bold treble presence and exceptional subbass rumble in a nicely put together package. Not so much for those looking for a mids-focused or vocal-centric set, or for midbass slam. An interesting and well built specialist set.
Just received the DUNU Brain Dance as part of the review tour — huge shoutout and thanks to @SushiiFi for sending this over and giving me the chance to check it out!
The first track I played was Needles and Pins by Deftones- the sub-bass absolutely floored me. I genuinely didn’t expect this kind of depth and authority from a set like this.
I’m also very treble sensitive, so I had my doubts going in... but damn, the Brain Dance proved me wrong. The treble is super smooth, rich in detail, and never sibilant or piercing. It’s energetic, but in a mature way that doesn’t fatigue.
Ran it through a bunch of tracks right after:
"Sweating Bullets" and "Trust" by Megadeth
"Bhul Ja" and "Do Dat Dance" by Bohemia
"Lives" and "Till the End" by Daron Malakian
And it’s clear — this set’s tonality, extended bass, and lively treble response bring out the best in every genre I threw at it.
Absolutely loving it so far. Will be spending more time and dropping a full review soon.
Just received the DUNU Brain Dance as part of the review tour — huge shoutout and thanks to @SushiiFi for sending this over and giving me the chance to check it out!
The first track I played was Needles and Pins by Deftones- the sub-bass absolutely floored me. I genuinely didn’t expect this kind of depth and authority from a set like this.
I’m also very treble sensitive, so I had my doubts going in... but damn, the Brain Dance proved me wrong. The treble is super smooth, rich in detail, and never sibilant or piercing. It’s energetic, but in a mature way that doesn’t fatigue.
Ran it through a bunch of tracks right after:
"Sweating Bullets" and "Trust" by Megadeth
"Bhul Ja" and "Do Dat Dance" by Bohemia
"Lives" and "Till the End" by Daron Malakian
And it’s clear — this set’s tonality, extended bass, and lively treble response bring out the best in every genre I threw at it.
Absolutely loving it so far. Will be spending more time and dropping a full review soon.
Dear Dunu fans! Pre-order link for the VULKAN 2 (2DD + 6BA setup) is coming! The VULKAN 2 is available with both MMCX and 0.78 2-pin connection options, so you can choose whichever suits your setup best.
It's a good time to go #PRO. Our next generation of in-ears powered by ECLIPSƎ are here! Learn more on our official website.
Stay updated on DUNU at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
VULKAN 2 upgrades from the first-gen's dual 8 mm coaxial DD to a 10 mm sub-bass and 8 mm bass DD—each in its own fully isolated chamber. It also adds two extra BA drivers, all while lowering the price!
All for making it easier for more people to enjoy the magic of sonic technology and aesthetics.
It's a good time to go #PRO. Our next generation of in-ears powered by ECLIPSƎ are here! Learn more on our official website.
Stay updated on DUNU at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
VULKAN 2 upgrades from the first-gen's dual 8 mm coaxial DD to a 10 mm sub-bass and 8 mm bass DD—each in its own fully isolated chamber. It also adds two extra BA drivers, all while lowering the price!
All for making it easier for more people to enjoy the magic of sonic technology and aesthetics.
Pros:
• Deep, controlled sub-bass response
• Detailed treble with good extension
• Wide soundstage with precise imaging
• Robust build quality with premium materials Cons:
• Slightly recessed vocals
• Larger shell size may not fit all ear shapes comfortably
Disclaimer:
I’d like to thank @SushiiFi for including me in the tour of these amazing IEMs. All impressions shared in this write-up are based on my usage of the IEM over a week or so.
Introduction:
Dunu as a brand, needs no introduction. The DK3001BD (or Brain Dance) is a 500 USD tribrid IEM, featuring 1 dynamic driver, 4 balanced armatures, and 4 planar drivers on each side. The DK3001BD boasts a robust build with aluminium alloy shells coated in zirconium-ceramic, offering both durability and a sleek aesthetic. The IEMs feature MMCX or 2-Pin connectors, allowing for cable interchangeability. The included cable is a four-core, high-purity Furukawa OCC copper cable with Dunu’s Qlock Mini modular termination. The cable comes with interchangeable 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs.
The package includes a generous array of accessories:
• 13 pairs of eartips (including DUNU Candy, S&S, silicone, and foam options)
• Modular cable with 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs
• 6.35mm adapter
• Carrying case and pouch
• Cleaning cloth
The earpieces are ergonomically designed, hence ensuring a comfortable fit for extended listening sessions. Although I personally had no problems in terms of fit or comfort, the relatively larger shells might pose a challenge for those with smaller ears. The faceplate with the cyberpunk aesthetic looks super cool with “30” highlighted on one earpiece and “01” highlighted on the other.
Sound Quality:
The Dunu DK3001BD offers a highly detailed, analytical, and crisp sound signature. Its 9-driver tribrid setup delivers a neutral, bright-leaning U-shaped response with extra sub-bass presence.
Bass is deep and clean, with excellent sub-bass extension. The bass is tight and well-controlled, without any muddiness, or bass bleed into the mids, while being punchy and deep overall.
The mids are vocal-forward, energetic, and detailed—female vocals particularly shine, while male vocals can sound a bit thin and lacking warmth.
Treble is the standout, being airy, sweet, and technically impressive, with strong detail retrieval and separation, though it can become sharp or fatiguing with bright sources or poor recordings.
The soundstage is expansive, with precise imaging and layering, making it well-suited for analytical listening and complex tracks.
Conclusion:
At 500 USD, the DK3001-BD is an excellent IEM with excellent sub-bass and the sweet and airy treble. Definitely recommended if you’re looking for a bassy set with good details and a huge soundstage.
The SA6EST are provided by Dunu for a European tour. Thank you for the opportunity, and also a Thanks to Head-Fi where the tour was originally arranged. The tour is organized through the Audio Geek Europe tour group.
A little bit about myself: I am certainly no reviewer! I am merely a 53-year-old music and gear lover, whith IEM’s as the preferred transducer. I prefer more neutral leaning sets, or QDC-like tuning, with some, (or a lot of), bass boost, but have a wide tolerance for different sound profiles! I also have a fondness for all BA or BA+EST IEM’s, but overall sound and fit is the important part, not the tech’s. Having heard a lot of great gear the last few years I have realized that I like most IEM’s... Both affordable and ridiculously expensive, both mainstream and niche tunings! There have to be some really big negatives for me not to find redeeming qualities in almost any monitor! I say this so that you understand I can adapt to most gear, and my impressions should not be your only reference.
The following is my short subjective take on this IEM!
Dunu SA6…. A staple in IEM history. It was as also my first more costly brand new IEM purchase back in 2023? Enjoyed that IEM immensely. It fell victim to a culling some months back… I regret that now as I would have liked to have it here now for comparison!
SA6EST have had a bumpy ride both in this tour and in general in reviews I have read and seen. I admit to going into this endeavor with a slight negative bias. For me this was totally unnecessary!! I quite enjoyed this. I am last on tour, so I have had ample time to use the set, and I am still using it as I write this.
Being 6BA 2EST, SA6EST really is right up my alley. A great build with a great set of accessories that I think it is a really good package. Lots of tips to choose from! One complaint for using on the go though; The cable is slightly stiff, and give a muted or muffled resonance sound through the earpieces when bumping on my clothes. Really the only negative for me. The fit is just smack on for me. Perfect really!
The sound is what I will call relaxed, and never ever fatiguing. It had good typical BA bass, different from DD, with less impact and rumble. Definitely not a basshead set, but I like it. Mids is excellent to me, with relaxed upper mids. I think it is here it maybe is a bit to relaxed for many. Highs is smooth, and not elevated in any way. It is not dark sounding to me at all though. It has a wide stage for me, with maybe less than average height and depth. I think this is a function of the tuning more than anything else. No negative feelings for me though.
SA6EST have been a great set for me, but as I mentioned it have had some mixed reviews. I really hope you have a chance to hear SA6EST! It is a set I think one have to hear for oneself, to know what it is about!
And this is what the VULKAN 2 with 0.78 2-pin looks like.
It's a good time to go #PRO. Our next generation of in-ears powered by ECLIPSƎ are here! Learn more on our official website.
Stay updated on DUNU at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
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