Dunu-Topsound Studio?

[H T T]

I was perusing the Dunu website and came across this:

https://www.dunu-topsound.com/studio

I searched the forum with no result. Please delete this thread if I missed a previous thread about the new Studio IEM.

From Dunu’s website the model comes out In June. Three BAs.

Anyone know anything about tuning, price, etc.?

 

[rantng]

From HiFiGo's blog:

DUNU Studio Series: Latest IEM Series!!
DUNU has unveiled its latest series of in-ear monitors, The DUNU Studio Series. The series will feature IEMs with multiple BA drivers, 3D printed resin shells with handcrafted faceplates. Currently, two products have been announced for the series, DUNU Studio SA3, and DUNU Studio SA6. The Studio SA3 is priced at 129$, it will be shipped from June 2020, while SA6 price is not yet disclosed, it will be shipped from July 2020.
About DUNU:-
DUNU is a China-based premium IEM manufacturing brand. They are widely known for their brilliant products like DUNU DK4001, DUNU DK3001 Pro, and their flagship product DUNU Luna. DUNU Luna is one of the only few IEMs in the world featuring a pure beryllium dynamic driver unit. DUNU created the first patented modular plug cable for their IEMs with switchable termination plugs.
DUNU Studio SA3:-

DUNU Studio SA3 features high precision 3D printed ear shells with beautifully handcrafted faceplates. It has three Knowles balanced armature units on each side to produce a crisp sound output with good clarity and high-resolution texture. The pair has beautiful looks with classy aesthetics. The pair is going to be priced at 129$, shipments will begin June 2020.
DUNU Studio SA6:-

DUNU Studio SA6 features six balanced armature drivers on each side supposedly Knowles BA units as the SA3 model. The earpieces are completely handmade with stabilized wooden faceplates. Images depict that the pair will have 2-Pin connectors, It comes with DUNU patented modular plug cable. Yes, the SA6 comes with Modular cable that makes it easier to use with any type of port on any of our sources. The SA6 earpieces look quite rich with quality aesthetics from the image shown by the brand. Price is currently not yet disclosed by the brand, shipments for Studio SA6 will begin July 2020.
We have some of our favorite IEMs from DUNU, we are actually having good expectations from the Studio series, just can’t wait already.

 

[H T T]

Thanks for the information. Quite interesting...

 

[rantng]

Thank you for starting this thread. I had not heard of their Studio series before, but these do look interesting and are a different signature/design for DUNU. Hopefully we'll get more information soon.

 

[baskingshark]

I don't think DUNU has ever done a pure BA set up. Good they are innovating, look forward to reviews!

 

[H T T]

I wonder if this line will be leaning toward a reference tuning as they are called “Studio”?

 

[DUNU-Topsound]

Oh wow, didn't know someone had already started a thread for the Studio series.

We were planning on making a sponsor announcement, but we've been making some last minute (not related to sound tuning) changes to the accessories set and packaging. So the SA3 will be released closer to late June, whereas we're still waiting on parts for the SA6, so it'll be closer to late July for a release date.

But in short, yes, we are trying to focus on expression of sound signature with this new series. While yes, we are known for our hybrids and dynamic driver earphones, balanced armatures are a more modular way of tuning signatures that meet our engineers' standards. So it isn't really geared toward a "reference" signature or any specific frequency response target.

The SA3 will be more of a blank slate for us though. As a 3 BA, 2-way design, it's ideally suited for a warm/neutral-ish, non-fatiguing sound signature, so it has a flat bass shelf, a presence region that isn't overly emphasized, and relaxed upper treble. It'll be something that we hope disappears into the background when listening to music, podcasts, or anything else. Thus, we also worked hard on the comfort of the universal shells, as well as isolation.

 

[H T T]

I am looking forward to the SA3!

 

[musicday]

Sounds like a great IEM for people who spend lots of time on the road.

 

[gimmeheadroom]

Dunu Tridents were my first pair of non-disposable IEMs. You guys made a good impression on me. These new ones look great and the price is right. Will be reading up on them.

 

[B9Scrambler]

So it isn't really geared toward a "reference" signature or any specific frequency response target.

The SA3 will be more of a blank slate for us though. As a 3 BA, 2-way design, it's ideally suited for a warm/neutral-ish, non-fatiguing sound signature, so it has a flat bass shelf, a presence region that isn't overly emphasized, and relaxed upper treble. It'll be something that we hope disappears into the background when listening to music, podcasts, or anything else. Thus, we also worked hard on the comfort of the universal shells, as well as isolation.

I like the sound of this

 

[DUNU-Topsound]

Hey guys, the Studio SA3 is now available for pre-order. We've also put up a lot more information on the SA6 as well, in the Sponsor Announcements section:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/dun...ales-pre-orders-product-announcements.936600/

Here's a snippet:

DUNU Studio

What does the word 'Studio' mean to you?

For us, the Studio is any place, physical or imaginary, earmarked for creativity and imagination. It is a sanctuary for painters, designers, thespians, and recording artists alike --- a place where possibilities run free and the power of the mind takes over to produce endless permutations of novelty.

The past three years, we've been primarily focused on the engineering side of things. We poured a huge investment into developing and honing beryllium dynamic drivers. This monumental quest culminated in LUNA, the celestial crown jewel of the DUNU product line.

This year, we took on a new challenge. We wanted to focus on music and tuning. We wanted to relive the feeling that all of us have experienced at some point in our lives --- the bursts of creativity highlighted sprays of color and swathes of texture. In order to do so, we turned to the amorphous universal shell and its flexible tuning possibilities with balanced armatures --- the best combination to get the sound we want, the look we want, and the price we want.

​

DUNU kicks off the Studio line with the SA3 and SA6.

Studio SA3

Utilizing three balanced armatures in a two-way crossover configuration (two low, one mid-high), the SA3 is tuned for a gently balanced experience. With relaxed highs and a flat bass shelf, it's not meant to intrude. It just lets music flow through.

The SA3's 3D-printed shells hug the ear for a comfortable, highly isolating fit, while the hand-finished Hokusai Blue faceplates cap off a simple, yet elegant facade. A hand-braided cable with high-purity silver-plated copper wiring completes the package.



At $139.99 USD, the SA3 is now available for pre-order, and will ship on July 13th.

The first ten pre-orders for the SA3 will receive a complimentary DUW-02 cable with the order!


Studio SA6

Perhaps even more hotly anticipated is the upcoming release of the SA6. Hand-poured shells and stabilized wood faceplates form the body, and hide the goodies within --- each side holds six balanced armature drivers.

Lows are driven by a custom-ordered Sonion vented dual woofer with AcuPass technology. In the past, DUNU relied exclusively on Knowles balanced armatures, but to realize the standard of bass performance set by our hybrid products, we reached out to Sonion for their top of the line woofers.

With these drivers, we're able to achieve true subwoofer performance from balanced armature drivers. This also enables us for the first time to give the listener a switch-enabled tuning choice of a standard tuning, or with additional atmospheric immersion.

The mids and highs are band separated by two independent midrange drivers from Knowles, and a pair of Knowles dual supertweeters up top. They allow us to perpetuate a balanced, open listening atmosphere free from undue sibilance or harshness, whilst preserving much needed treble extension.

A prototype Studio SA6, pictured with stabilized wood faceplates.​

In order to take advantage of the Studio SA6's sound performance from the wide range of portable sources available today, we're pairing the SA6 with a new cable, DUW-03, making it the sixth model in our product portfolio to feature our patented Quick-Switch modular plug cable system.

Release candidate prototypes of the SA6 on display at an audiophile meet in China on 7/4/2020.​

Pricing will be announced at the end of the month, with pre-orders commencing at the same time.

For more information, please visit: https://www.dunu-topsound.com/studio

 

[deafenears]

@DUNU-Topsound , is DUNU moving towards 2-pin for connectors? So all future IEMs will be 2-pin rather than MMCX?

 

[DUNU-Topsound]

@DUNU-Topsound , is DUNU moving towards 2-pin for connectors? So all future IEMs will be 2-pin rather than MMCX?

We haven't committed to using 2-pin for all future models, but we will definitely use 2-pin for all Studio series models and a few other product lines as well.

 

[starck86]

For anyone wondering about the SA3 - I’ve been lucky enough to snag a pair to test out unexpectedly (thank you to DUNU!). The SA3 kinda has this feeling of 'getting lost in the music' for sure. Here's why it’s easy to get ‘lost’ with the SA3, and I say this as someone who has purchased the higher end DUNU stuff, including the Luna etc:

SA3 initial impressions (grain of salt applied - I have been listening to these for ~2 days now, but I think I have a decent grasp on how this IEM sounds.):

Fit, etc.:

• It’s lightweight - the body may ‘look’ large (at least in person), but I barely even remember when it’s in my ears.
• It fits like a dream. Specifically, the insertion depth and seal in general are perfect. There’s no playing around to get a seal every time I insert the IEM (like I sometimes have to do with other IEMs). For context, I typically have a tougher time than most getting a seal.
• The SA3's shell also seems to fit perfectly against the ear.
• Very. Comfortable.

On to the sound signature:
A little background first: The day I got the SA3, I went from listening to the DK-4001 straight to the SA3, which is obviously a silly comparison for multiple reasons. The differences are stark, and while the SA3 isn’t perfect, it’s also...kind of hard for me to find fault with it at its price point. That being said, it's not a bass or treble cannon. But there's a reason for that. DUNU was 100% on the mark when they said 'non-fatiguing' above. The sound signature was designed with this in mind to allow for long listening periods and to be as non-fatiguing as possible (correct me if I have anything wrong!). My impressions of the sound sig. so far:

• In general, it’s pretty darn smooth to listen to - REALLY smooth, while still providing a relatively detailed/layered presentation, especially for its price. (Edit: I'll need a little more listening time to comment on the detail retrieval though).
• The overall sound signature is a bit mid-centric, and frankly, super pleasant to listen to, even if there’s a tiny little itty-bitty less treble than I normally would like for some songs.
• While the SA3 has a less treble than what I typically am used to at times, it’s not necessarily a bad thing...it’s a very, very non-fatiguing IEM that I found myself lost in for a good few hours the other day, and again...right now as I write this.
• Bass is nice, though these aren't bass-head IEMs (if that wasn't obvious with the BA setup). Similar to the way treble is handled: the focus of this IEM is the midrange. It might not be for everyone, but I also feel like at $140 - it's a pretty competitive price and to be honest, I am not sure what IEM would compete at this price while still being so damn pleasant.

Overall:
The SA3 seems very easy to drive. It can be driven from a phone/3.5mm adapter with no issue, but it sounds great with a DAP too. I'd hazard a guess that the SA3 might be a good IEM for those who want to get a taste of the higher end stuff while staying on a budget. Also a great workout or general office-type working IEM, as it is non-fatiguing and relatively non-instrusive/distracting with regards to its sound signature.

TLDR:
The SA3 is a very laid back IEM. I think. (I know that’s subjective and kind of a vague description.) It has a mid-centric sound signature which is relatively detailed for the price. It has a great, great, great fit. It's not fatiguing to listen to for long periods. It's not perfect, but it seems to be priced pretty competitively. Probably a good IEM for someone on a budget who wants a taste of Dunu's higher-end offerings in a mid-centric signature.


Edit: After sifting through my library...the SA3 might be really nice with Jazz. I’ll let the hardcore Jazz-heads chime in on that one though. Slightly addictive for some reason.

Listening to Miles Davis via Cayin N6ii +E01. Also with iPhone + stock dongle or + fender dongle. flac or Qobuz.

Additional Notes/Ramblings: compared to DUNU DM-480: SA3 has wayyy less peaky treble in a good way. It is missing a tiny bit of “air” which is present in, for instance, their higher end models, but IMO that is partially what gives it sort of a “smooth operator” signature, if that makes any sense. If anyone has heard the Ortofon e-q5, that’s sort of what I’m getting at.

Almost like the Marantz ‘two martini’ sound signature (if anyone is familiar with their highly acclaimed vintage models they might get this reference).

I’d like to compare the e-Q5 and the SA3 at some point when I have a bit more time.

Last edit:
We should maybe start an ‘official’ SA3/SA6/studio series thread maybe but I am le tired. Can’t wait to hear what everyone thinks!