Xinn3r
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Info about DUNU's newest Flagship the DN-19 "Tai-Chi":
tomscy2000 has compiled a lot of interesting and useful information in this thread
http://www.head-fi.org/t/619044/impressions-dunu-dn-19-tai-chi-prototype-and-a-q-a-with-dunu-representative-rocky-dai
Rocky himself has posted a few photos and info of their companies newest Flagship:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/619674/simple-impressison-of-dunu-dn-19-tai-chi
First Impression:
Bass is indeed enhanced A LOT with the screw-able damper off, pointing to bassy, bloated, muddy.
With the damper on however, it gets much more balanced, clarity much more improved, but the bass still has a lot of punch.
Review
Delicate, Unique N Utmost (DUNU), is a Taiwan-based company, perhaps most known in Head-Fi for it’s popular bang/buck IEM Trident (DN-12).
I will be introducing DUNU's 2012 Flagship, the DN-19 a.k.a "Tai-Chi".
Note:
The DN-19 features a inter-changeable tube system that enhances specific region of frequency.
I noted at my first-impressions that without the tube plugged, the bass is way too bloated/bassy for me, so I will be conducting this review with the more balanced, tube-plugged version.
Specification
Driver: Single Dynamic Transducer
F. Response: 16Hz~26KHz
Impendence: 16 [size=10pt]Ω[/size]
[size=10pt]Sensitivity: N/A[/size]
[size=10pt]Cord Type & Length: 1.3m L-Plug[/size]
Accessories:
Hard Metal Case (UE like)
Soft pleather pouch
3.5 to 6.5 adapter
Airplane adapter
Shirt Clip
Cleaning Cloth
Sony Hybrid-like tips 4 pair (S, Mx2, L)
Single-Flange (in White) tips 3 pairs (S, M, L)
Two sets of Ear hooks
10 pair of tube-plugs
You also get a accessories box, a place to keep all of your accessories, which is a very nice touch!
Score (5/5)
Build Quality
The phones itself seems to be made out of hard plastic, and doesn't creak under pressure.
Nozzle features a metal mesh filter.
Cable is a little bit too rubbery for my taste, and sometimes tangle, but resists memory quite well.
L-Plug is thick and beefy, one of the best I've ever seen.
Good strain relief all around.
Cable Guide is more rigid than VSonic’s… I’m not sure which one I like more, as I almost never use cable guides.
Even without the cable guide, the cable doesn’t fight on my ears, but it helps to use the cable guide while doing rigorous movements like jogging or any other sports.
The inclusion of cable cinch also helps a lot.
Build quality is excellent, and attention to detail is typical DUNU, nearing perfection.
Score (5/5)
Isolation:
Average isolation.
The phone's body itself prevent deeper insertion, therefore, using a bi-flange tip will certainly help a lot.
Score (3.5/5)
Sound Quality
Source: PC + iBasso D-Zero DAC/AMP Combo
iPod Touch 4th Gen
Bass:
Bass can be too powerful and loose sometimes, and seems to bleed into the mids a little.
(Thankfully, the bass seems to be more controlled while using an amp)
Bass is also missing a little bit of texture and detail
(Again, a reminder that I'm reviewing this with the tube plugged in)
Mids:
Mids are a little laid-back, neutral, leaning towards dry, but in no way thin-sounding.
Highs:
Highs contains some sparkle, but in no way near sibilant like the GR07.
It's adequately there.
(Highs detail and texture definitely improved too using the sparkly D-Zero)
Instrumental Seperation and Imaging is equally good.
Not the best, but not bad either.
Micro Detail, however, is excellent.
Tiny little details can be heard very clearly, seperated from everything else.
This is, however, does not always mean good.
This little details sometimes can take you away from focusing on the music and on the little details instead.
Clarity is good for a dynamic transducer, but still can't compare to the BA-based CK10.
Sounds a little veiled.
Transparency is average.
At this price-point, any good phones will reveal at least the good tracks from the bad tracks, and that is what the DN-19 does, but it isn't to your face, and therefore more forgiving than the very transparent CK10.
Soundstage Width is good, not as wide as the GR07, but still above average.
Similarly, the DN-19 also has some Depth to it, but still not as good as the dual-driver layered FXT90.
Usability:
After a few months of experience, I've come to realize that usability plays an important part in the "portable" world.
Assuming that you're buying an IEM for the sake of portability, this makes the usability of the IEM very important.
A great sounding IEM with horrible microphonics and mediocre isolation won't let you 100% enjoy your music on the move.
So, I'm pleased to say that I have no usability issues with the DN-19.
Mostly thanks to the over-the-ear design, microphonics is low to non-existent;
decent isolation.
The only small gripe I have is, because of the over-ear design and larger body, it's harder than usual to get a good fit.
Summary:
A very respectable V-Shaped performer, especially for the price-range, and the adjustable sound tube, which is a plus.
Coupled with excellent build, a bundle of useful accessories, and great costumer service, it isn't hard to say that this is a great deal.
Note:
As I have stated above, bass can really be overwhelming in the no-plug mode.
Special thanks to Rocky Tai from DUNU, to whom which gave me the privilege of reviewing this particular IEM.
My review is based on the pre-production sample, Rocky informed me that DUNU has made, and I quote, "minor changes to enhance SQ after, mainly on clarity with notable bass reduce"
tomscy2000 has compiled a lot of interesting and useful information in this thread
http://www.head-fi.org/t/619044/impressions-dunu-dn-19-tai-chi-prototype-and-a-q-a-with-dunu-representative-rocky-dai
Rocky himself has posted a few photos and info of their companies newest Flagship:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/619674/simple-impressison-of-dunu-dn-19-tai-chi
First Impression:
Bass is indeed enhanced A LOT with the screw-able damper off, pointing to bassy, bloated, muddy.
With the damper on however, it gets much more balanced, clarity much more improved, but the bass still has a lot of punch.
Review
Delicate, Unique N Utmost (DUNU), is a Taiwan-based company, perhaps most known in Head-Fi for it’s popular bang/buck IEM Trident (DN-12).
I will be introducing DUNU's 2012 Flagship, the DN-19 a.k.a "Tai-Chi".
Note:
The DN-19 features a inter-changeable tube system that enhances specific region of frequency.
I noted at my first-impressions that without the tube plugged, the bass is way too bloated/bassy for me, so I will be conducting this review with the more balanced, tube-plugged version.
Specification
Driver: Single Dynamic Transducer
F. Response: 16Hz~26KHz
Impendence: 16 [size=10pt]Ω[/size]
[size=10pt]Sensitivity: N/A[/size]
[size=10pt]Cord Type & Length: 1.3m L-Plug[/size]
Accessories:
Hard Metal Case (UE like)
Soft pleather pouch
3.5 to 6.5 adapter
Airplane adapter
Shirt Clip
Cleaning Cloth
Sony Hybrid-like tips 4 pair (S, Mx2, L)
Single-Flange (in White) tips 3 pairs (S, M, L)
Two sets of Ear hooks
10 pair of tube-plugs
You also get a accessories box, a place to keep all of your accessories, which is a very nice touch!
Score (5/5)
Build Quality
The phones itself seems to be made out of hard plastic, and doesn't creak under pressure.
Nozzle features a metal mesh filter.
Cable is a little bit too rubbery for my taste, and sometimes tangle, but resists memory quite well.
L-Plug is thick and beefy, one of the best I've ever seen.
Good strain relief all around.
Cable Guide is more rigid than VSonic’s… I’m not sure which one I like more, as I almost never use cable guides.
Even without the cable guide, the cable doesn’t fight on my ears, but it helps to use the cable guide while doing rigorous movements like jogging or any other sports.
The inclusion of cable cinch also helps a lot.
Build quality is excellent, and attention to detail is typical DUNU, nearing perfection.
Score (5/5)
Isolation:
Average isolation.
The phone's body itself prevent deeper insertion, therefore, using a bi-flange tip will certainly help a lot.
Score (3.5/5)
Sound Quality
Source: PC + iBasso D-Zero DAC/AMP Combo
iPod Touch 4th Gen
Bass:
Bass can be too powerful and loose sometimes, and seems to bleed into the mids a little.
(Thankfully, the bass seems to be more controlled while using an amp)
Bass is also missing a little bit of texture and detail
(Again, a reminder that I'm reviewing this with the tube plugged in)
Mids:
Mids are a little laid-back, neutral, leaning towards dry, but in no way thin-sounding.
Highs:
Highs contains some sparkle, but in no way near sibilant like the GR07.
It's adequately there.
(Highs detail and texture definitely improved too using the sparkly D-Zero)
Instrumental Seperation and Imaging is equally good.
Not the best, but not bad either.
Micro Detail, however, is excellent.
Tiny little details can be heard very clearly, seperated from everything else.
This is, however, does not always mean good.
This little details sometimes can take you away from focusing on the music and on the little details instead.
Clarity is good for a dynamic transducer, but still can't compare to the BA-based CK10.
Sounds a little veiled.
Transparency is average.
At this price-point, any good phones will reveal at least the good tracks from the bad tracks, and that is what the DN-19 does, but it isn't to your face, and therefore more forgiving than the very transparent CK10.
Soundstage Width is good, not as wide as the GR07, but still above average.
Similarly, the DN-19 also has some Depth to it, but still not as good as the dual-driver layered FXT90.
Usability:
After a few months of experience, I've come to realize that usability plays an important part in the "portable" world.
Assuming that you're buying an IEM for the sake of portability, this makes the usability of the IEM very important.
A great sounding IEM with horrible microphonics and mediocre isolation won't let you 100% enjoy your music on the move.
So, I'm pleased to say that I have no usability issues with the DN-19.
Mostly thanks to the over-the-ear design, microphonics is low to non-existent;
decent isolation.
The only small gripe I have is, because of the over-ear design and larger body, it's harder than usual to get a good fit.
Summary:
A very respectable V-Shaped performer, especially for the price-range, and the adjustable sound tube, which is a plus.
Coupled with excellent build, a bundle of useful accessories, and great costumer service, it isn't hard to say that this is a great deal.
Note:
As I have stated above, bass can really be overwhelming in the no-plug mode.
Special thanks to Rocky Tai from DUNU, to whom which gave me the privilege of reviewing this particular IEM.
My review is based on the pre-production sample, Rocky informed me that DUNU has made, and I quote, "minor changes to enhance SQ after, mainly on clarity with notable bass reduce"
