Oh. So. PRO. All New DUNU ECLIPSƎ Products: FALCON PRO & ZEN PRO
Sep 17, 2021 at 2:58 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 110
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DUNU is proud to announce two all new models in our refreshed lineup: FALCON PRO and ZEN PRO.

Over the past couple of years, we here at DUNU have been working hard to overhaul our entire product portfolio to one that more closely reflects the thoughts and values of the collective portable audio community around the globe.

In doing so, we wanted as much as possible to incorporate our exclusive ECLIPSƎ driver technology platform (CNIPA ZL20202008721.5) into our products. ECLIPSƎ was born during the development of our flagship LUNA, one of the very few pure beryllium foil driver earphones in the world. One of the most important (perhaps more than the beryllium) lessons we derived from its development was how to make a better dynamic driver on the small scale. With ECLIPSƎ, we're able to build drivers with a larger percentage of surface area actually used for sound reproduction and leverage disparate driver materials in a variety of ways, expanding their use cases, and optimizing their motion characteristics.

It is for these reasons that both FALCON PRO and ZEN PRO leverage ECLIPSƎ technology into their designs. It’s a good time to go PRO!




FALCON PRO


FALCON_PRO_Hero_001.png


Design & Construction

FALCON PRO's predecessor, FALCON-C, was introduced in late 2016. Its handsome, amorphous zirconium alloy shells were incredibly strong and light, but less expressive when finished in matte black. FALCON PRO takes the shells in a bold new direction. They're now cast in solid 316 stainless steel and finished on a CNC lathe for precision tolerances. The entire exterior is polished to a mirror shine, and a unique sandblasting technique is applied to the outer bezel, sparing a throwback logo motif.

Introduction - FALCON PRO.003.png


Introduction - FALCON PRO.004.png


Acoustic Design

The 10 mm dynamic driver at the heart of FALCON PRO is a brand new design built around a large diameter dome that is coated with amorphous diamond-like carbon (aDLC) via the latest generation plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) methods for maximum uniformity and structural integrity. It is furthermore joined to a highly-compliant polymer surround leveraging our patented ECLIPSƎ construction techniques, giving the driver ideal excursion behavior our ECLIPSƎ drivers are known for.

Beyond the judicious use of diaphragm materials is the magnet pairing, and no ECLIPSƎ driver would be complete without a high magnetic flux system, good for over 1.6 Tesla. This magnet enables the diaphragm to be driven with the most ideal, efficient motor possible.

Introduction - FALCON PRO.007.png


A well-designed and constructed driver is just the base. Strategies to control damping and resonance are paramount to ideal sound. To achieve a balanced, versatile tonal response, DUNU engineers employed a multi-prong approach to airflow and resonance control.

Along the interior face of the FALCON PRO, five separate vents line the housings. Each vent dampens airflow in a different manner to control acoustic impedance across different areas of the driver, both to the front and the rear.

Introduction - FALCON PRO.008.png


A dual chamber design additionally empowers our engineers to suppress unwanted resonance in a finely targeted fashion. The resultant sound is one we're confident will resonate (pun intended) with users all over.

Introduction - FALCON PRO.009.png


For the first time, DUNU is also offering interchangeable tuning nozzles (denoted by different color O-rings) to tailor FALCON PRO's sound signature for individual tastes. By varying both stem length and damping material, we're able to offer three appreciably different sound signatures.

The yellow nozzle, labeled 'Reference', is our take on a balanced response.

For extra clarity, depth, and detail, the blue 'Transparency' nozzle does the job.

'Atmospheric Immersion', in red, allows listeners to better appreciate the fullness of vocals and visceral impact of bass lines without negatively leeching off treble energy.

Introduction - FALCON PRO.005.png


Introduction - FALCON PRO.006.png


With three different tuning options and a driver designed for versatile performance, we are confident we've brought out the best in terms of cost to performance ratio in the FALCON PRO.

Cable and Accessories

Ever since its inception, DUNU's quick switch modular plug cable system has been acclaimed for its ease of use, durability, and wide range of available cables. Day by day, the active user community continues to grow and thrive, especially within the dedicated cable thread on Head-Fi. We wanted FALCON PRO users to be a part of this community.

And so, FALCON PRO introduces a new type of modular cable system: Q-Lock LITE. It retains the superlative build quality of our previous modular cables (now referred to as Q-Lock PLUS), but simplifies the locking mechanism, allowing it to be more affordable than ever. Included in the box are 2.5 mm balanced, 4.4 mm balanced, and 3.5 mm single-ended plugs, for the ultimate in portable connectivity. The included 6N silver-plated OCC copper cable also pairs perfectly with Q-Lock LITE and integrates seamlessly with the earphones via our Catch-Hold MMCX connectors.

Introduction - FALCON PRO.010.png


A DUNU earphone wouldn't be complete without our signature, rich array of accessories. Unique to the FALCON PRO is a carry case with a new color and finish, as well as a new set of ear tips with a ribbed cyclone pattern designed to bolster treble performance.

FALCON_PRO_Accessories_Small_01.png




ZEN PRO


With ZEN PRO, DUNU continues to develop and refine its patented ECLIPSƎ technology platform, setting the performance standard for single dynamic driver in-ears under $1000.

As an evolutionary product, ZEN PRO retains the overall shape and design of the critically acclaimed ZEN, now with an attractive, scratch-resistant titanium colored anodize.

DSC05894_Processed_01.png


Acoustic Design

The minimal exterior changes belie the huge overhaul inside. An overwhelming majority of work has been put into a substantially revised, second generation 13.5 mm ECLIPSƎ driver. Through modifications to its alloy composition, the W-shaped, nanoDLC-coated magnesium-aluminum alloy dome is now stiffer and lighter, boasting superior internal damping and widened effective bandwidth over its predecessor.

Introduction - ZEN PRO by DUNU - Draft 01 - Slides.009.png

Introduction - ZEN PRO by DUNU - Draft 01 - Slides.010.png


The machine milled, external ring-type, neodymium-based > 1.8 T magnet assembly now boasts tighter tolerances, enabling greater magnetic flux at the voice coils. These changes result in a more detailed, fleshed out midrange performance that draws the listener in even further.

Introduction - ZEN PRO by DUNU - Draft 01 - Slides.011.png


In adjusting the sound profile of the ZEN PRO, we leaned on the feedback of existing ZEN users. ZEN was an earpiece designed specifically for dynamic range reproduction. Listeners loved the depth of impact ZEN exhibited, but were hoping for more of an even-keeled trebled response.

We looked at all the different ways to bring this hope to fruition, and it was only after we worked with our dome supplier to adjust the magnesium alloy composition and edge thickness that these changes were possible. We also altered our damping strategies to allow the topmost octave to vibrate freely. The result is a highly impactful, more open sounding, and highly neutral leaning sound signature rarely ever found in dynamic driver earphones.

Introduction - ZEN PRO by DUNU - Draft 01 - Slides.014.png


To validate whether the changes were consistent with an improvement in perceived sound quality, we designed a small pilot study intended to examine:
  1. whether individuals felt the ZEN PRO was better than ZEN (tested with 20 different descriptors of various aspects of sound)
  2. whether individuals were consistent with their blind listening impressions, before and after seeing a frequency response curve
  3. how we can further evolve the ZEN platform for derivative products in the future
To do so, we designed three different, lengthy questionnaires. The first established baseline characteristics of the listeners' assessments of the original ZEN; the second polled the listeners on their assessments of the ZEN PRO following a listening session (blinded to measurements of the ZEN PRO and blinded to details of the product). The final component asked listeners to reflect on the consistency of their findings after having seen measurements of the ZEN PRO, and after having been briefed on details of the product.

The critical blinded listening assessment was most revealing of the differences in sound characteristics between the ZEN and ZEN PRO. Respondents were asked to grade, on a scale of −5 to +5, how ZEN PRO performed relative to ZEN. Positive numbers favor ZEN PRO more strongly, and negative numbers favor ZEN more strongly. Initial analyses on the mean, standard deviation, and 95% confidence intervals (calculated via T-score with n-1 degrees of freedom) for 20 categories of sound indicated a clear positive preference for most aspects of ZEN PRO's sound (16 of 20 categories positively scored for ZEN PRO). A more complete description of the data collected can be found in the original ZEN announcement and discussion thread.

By applying observational methods to examine whether our engineering efforts truly supported an improved listening experience, we at DUNU are confident we've raised the bar for performance with dynamic in-ears under $1000. From the outset, our goal with ZEN and the entire ECLIPSƎ platform was to continuously iterate and improve our craft through deep introspection. ZEN PRO is a better product because of this reflective process.




Pricing and Availability



CanJam SoCal 2021

For those who want an early listen, DUNU will be attending CanJam SoCal, in just over a week on September 25-26 --- the first CanJam in a very long time!

Both the FALCON PRO and ZEN PRO will be available for audition. We’ll also have many more goodies to listen to, as well as unannounced prototypes and our entire lineup of critically acclaimed modular cables!

We’ll be collecting user feedback at the show. Show attendees who complete our feedback questionnaire (electronic and contactless) on the show floor will be entered into a giveaway drawing for BOTH the ZEN PRO and FALCON PRO! Details coming soon!

The DUNU booth at CanJam New York City in February 2020, the last CanJam before the pandemic.
1631881732731.png
 
Last edited:
DUNU 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.
 
https://www.facebook.com/DUNU.FANS/ https://twitter.com/DUNU_Headphone https://www.instagram.com/dunu_topsound/ https://www.dunu-topsound.com/ https://m.me/DUNU.FANS int_ops@dunu-topsound.com, support@dunutopsound.com
Sep 17, 2021 at 3:45 PM Post #2 of 110

One more thing...​


DSC06258_1280px.jpg
 
DUNU 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.
 
https://www.facebook.com/DUNU.FANS/ https://twitter.com/DUNU_Headphone https://www.instagram.com/dunu_topsound/ https://www.dunu-topsound.com/ https://m.me/DUNU.FANS int_ops@dunu-topsound.com, support@dunutopsound.com
Sep 17, 2021 at 4:43 PM Post #9 of 110
@DUNU-Topsound , may I ask, the 1.8T magnet is not on Luna, why?

The answer is simple: we never measured the flux on that magnet. Both LUNA and ZEN / ZEN PRO use a custom-machined (i.e. CNC-finished) magnet system. They're bespoke to those drivers. We did measure the flux on the ZEN / ZEN PRO because, from its morphology, we were confident it was by far the most powerful of any in-ear in existence. Honestly, it's also a marketing thing. Originally, we were very reluctant, because while there are audible benefits to good magnet systems (e.g. a better lower midrange to upper midrange transition), it's not purely the Tesla number that contributes to its prowess. But for years it has been a buzzworthy thing of note, with manufacturer after manufacturer touting its 1.X Tesla magnets. So we had to come out and wipe the floor clean.

So one thing of note not mentioned about the ZEN PRO --- because we modified the magnet tolerances, the field strength at the coils jumped from 1.857 T to 1.87 T. Tiny, tiny difference, so we don't bother advertising it. But that tiny difference actually makes a measurably and audibly noticeable improvement.

Lastly, we can definitely state that LUNA's magnet is less powerful than ZEN's, but it's not a huge difference. We didn't stick some weak magnet in our cost-no-object flagship. It does the job perfectly fine.
 
DUNU 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.
 
https://www.facebook.com/DUNU.FANS/ https://twitter.com/DUNU_Headphone https://www.instagram.com/dunu_topsound/ https://www.dunu-topsound.com/ https://m.me/DUNU.FANS int_ops@dunu-topsound.com, support@dunutopsound.com
Sep 17, 2021 at 4:46 PM Post #10 of 110
Any idea when the Apple Lighting connector releasing?

Minimal staffing + multiple product releases = very little time for a little plug. Soon, we promise. Its imminent release is the reason why we teased the picture!
 
DUNU 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.
 
https://www.facebook.com/DUNU.FANS/ https://twitter.com/DUNU_Headphone https://www.instagram.com/dunu_topsound/ https://www.dunu-topsound.com/ https://m.me/DUNU.FANS int_ops@dunu-topsound.com, support@dunutopsound.com
Sep 17, 2021 at 5:50 PM Post #12 of 110
DUNU 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.
 
https://www.facebook.com/DUNU.FANS/ https://twitter.com/DUNU_Headphone https://www.instagram.com/dunu_topsound/ https://www.dunu-topsound.com/ https://m.me/DUNU.FANS int_ops@dunu-topsound.com, support@dunutopsound.com
Sep 17, 2021 at 5:57 PM Post #13 of 110
Great pricing on the Falcon Pro. Never heard the Falcon-C but based on the Stainless Steel build and apparent build quality and driver tech. of the Falcon Pro, plus the swappable nozzle system and modular cable and accessories package, $219 looks to be a steal.
 
Last edited:
Sep 17, 2021 at 6:09 PM Post #14 of 110
DUNU is proud to announce two all new models in our refreshed lineup: FALCON PRO and ZEN PRO.

Over the past couple of years, we here at DUNU have been working hard to overhaul our entire product portfolio to one that more closely reflects the thoughts and values of the collective portable audio community around the globe.

In doing so, we wanted as much as possible to incorporate our exclusive ECLIPSƎ driver technology platform (CNIPA ZL20202008721.5) into our products. ECLIPSƎ was born during the development of our flagship LUNA, one of the very few pure beryllium foil driver earphones in the world. One of the most important (perhaps more than the beryllium) lessons we derived from its development was how to make a better dynamic driver on the small scale. With ECLIPSƎ, we're able to build drivers with a larger percentage of surface area actually used for sound reproduction and leverage disparate driver materials in a variety of ways, expanding their use cases, and optimizing their motion characteristics.

It is for these reasons that both FALCON PRO and ZEN PRO leverage ECLIPSƎ technology into their designs. It’s a good time to go PRO!




FALCON PRO


FALCON_PRO_Hero_001.png

Design & Construction

FALCON PRO's predecessor, FALCON-C, was introduced in late 2016. Its handsome, amorphous zirconium alloy shells were incredibly strong and light, but less expressive when finished in matte black. FALCON PRO takes the shells in a bold new direction. They're now cast in solid 316 stainless steel and finished on a CNC lathe for precision tolerances. The entire exterior is polished to a mirror shine, and a unique sandblasting technique is applied to the outer bezel, sparing a throwback logo motif.

Introduction - FALCON PRO.003.png

Introduction - FALCON PRO.004.png

Acoustic Design

The 10 mm dynamic driver at the heart of FALCON PRO is a brand new design built around a large diameter dome that is coated with amorphous diamond-like carbon (aDLC) via the latest generation plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) methods for maximum uniformity and structural integrity. It is furthermore joined to a highly-compliant polymer surround leveraging our patented ECLIPSƎ construction techniques, giving the driver ideal excursion behavior our ECLIPSƎ drivers are known for.

Beyond the judicious use of diaphragm materials is the magnet pairing, and no ECLIPSƎ driver would be complete without a high magnetic flux system, good for over 1.6 Tesla. This magnet enables the diaphragm to be driven with the most ideal, efficient motor possible.

Introduction - FALCON PRO.007.png

A well-designed and constructed driver is just the base. Strategies to control damping and resonance are paramount to ideal sound. To achieve a balanced, versatile tonal response, DUNU engineers employed a multi-prong approach to airflow and resonance control.

Along the interior face of the FALCON PRO, five separate vents line the housings. Each vent dampens airflow in a different manner to control acoustic impedance across different areas of the driver, both to the front and the rear.

Introduction - FALCON PRO.008.png

A dual chamber design additionally empowers our engineers to suppress unwanted resonance in a finely targeted fashion. The resultant sound is one we're confident will resonate (pun intended) with users all over.

Introduction - FALCON PRO.009.png

For the first time, DUNU is also offering interchangeable tuning nozzles (denoted by different color O-rings) to tailor FALCON PRO's sound signature for individual tastes. By varying both stem length and damping material, we're able to offer three appreciably different sound signatures.

The yellow nozzle, labeled 'Reference', is our take on a balanced response.

For extra clarity, depth, and detail, the blue 'Transparency' nozzle does the job.

'Atmospheric Immersion', in red, allows listeners to better appreciate the fullness of vocals and visceral impact of bass lines without negatively leeching off treble energy.

Introduction - FALCON PRO.005.png

Introduction - FALCON PRO.006.png

With three different tuning options and a driver designed for versatile performance, we are confident we've brought out the best in terms of cost to performance ratio in the FALCON PRO.

Cable and Accessories

Ever since its inception, DUNU's quick switch modular plug cable system has been acclaimed for its ease of use, durability, and wide range of available cables. Day by day, the active user community continues to grow and thrive, especially within the dedicated cable thread on Head-Fi. We wanted FALCON PRO users to be a part of this community.

And so, FALCON PRO introduces a new type of modular cable system: Q-Lock LITE. It retains the superlative build quality of our previous modular cables (now referred to as Q-Lock PLUS), but simplifies the locking mechanism, allowing it to be more affordable than ever. Included in the box are 2.5 mm balanced, 4.4 mm balanced, and 3.5 mm single-ended plugs, for the ultimate in portable connectivity. The included 6N silver-plated OCC copper cable also pairs perfectly with Q-Lock LITE and integrates seamlessly with the earphones via our Catch-Hold MMCX connectors.

Introduction - FALCON PRO.010.png

A DUNU earphone wouldn't be complete without our signature, rich array of accessories. Unique to the FALCON PRO is a carry case with a new color and finish, as well as a new set of ear tips with a ribbed cyclone pattern designed to bolster treble performance.

FALCON_PRO_Accessories_Small_01.png



ZEN PRO


With ZEN PRO, DUNU continues to develop and refine its patented ECLIPSƎ technology platform, setting the performance standard for single dynamic driver in-ears under $1000.

As an evolutionary product, ZEN PRO retains the overall shape and design of the critically acclaimed ZEN, now with an attractive, scratch-resistant titanium colored anodize.

DSC05894_Processed_01.png

Acoustic Design

The minimal exterior changes belie the huge overhaul inside. An overwhelming majority of work has been put into a substantially revised, second generation 13.5 mm ECLIPSƎ driver. Through modifications to its alloy composition, the W-shaped, nanoDLC-coated magnesium-aluminum alloy dome is now stiffer and lighter, boasting superior internal damping and widened effective bandwidth over its predecessor.

Introduction - ZEN PRO by DUNU - Draft 01 - Slides.009.png
Introduction - ZEN PRO by DUNU - Draft 01 - Slides.010.png

The machine milled, external ring-type, neodymium-based > 1.8 T magnet assembly now boasts tighter tolerances, enabling greater magnetic flux at the voice coils. These changes result in a more detailed, fleshed out midrange performance that draws the listener in even further.

Introduction - ZEN PRO by DUNU - Draft 01 - Slides.011.png

In adjusting the sound profile of the ZEN PRO, we leaned on the feedback of existing ZEN users. ZEN was an earpiece designed specifically for dynamic range reproduction. Listeners loved the depth of impact ZEN exhibited, but were hoping for more of an even-keeled trebled response.

We looked at all the different ways to bring this hope to fruition, and it was only after we worked with our dome supplier to adjust the magnesium alloy composition and edge thickness that these changes were possible. We also altered our damping strategies to allow the topmost octave to vibrate freely. The result is a highly impactful, more open sounding, and highly neutral leaning sound signature rarely ever found in dynamic driver earphones.

Introduction - ZEN PRO by DUNU - Draft 01 - Slides.014.png

To validate whether the changes were consistent with an improvement in perceived sound quality, we designed a small pilot study intended to examine:
  1. whether individuals felt the ZEN PRO was better than ZEN (tested with 20 different descriptors of various aspects of sound)
  2. whether individuals were consistent with their blind listening impressions, before and after seeing a frequency response curve
  3. how we can further evolve the ZEN platform for derivative products in the future
To do so, we designed three different, lengthy questionnaires. The first established baseline characteristics of the listeners' assessments of the original ZEN; the second polled the listeners on their assessments of the ZEN PRO following a listening session (blinded to measurements of the ZEN PRO and blinded to details of the product). The final component asked listeners to reflect on the consistency of their findings after having seen measurements of the ZEN PRO, and after having been briefed on details of the product.

The critical blinded listening assessment was most revealing of the differences in sound characteristics between the ZEN and ZEN PRO. Respondents were asked to grade, on a scale of −5 to +5, how ZEN PRO performed relative to ZEN. Positive numbers favor ZEN PRO more strongly, and negative numbers favor ZEN more strongly. Initial analyses on the mean, standard deviation, and 95% confidence intervals (calculated via T-score with n-1 degrees of freedom) for 20 categories of sound indicated a clear positive preference for most aspects of ZEN PRO's sound (16 of 20 categories positively scored for ZEN PRO). A more complete description of the data collected can be found in the original ZEN announcement and discussion thread.

By applying observational methods to examine whether our engineering efforts truly supported an improved listening experience, we at DUNU are confident we've raised the bar for performance with dynamic in-ears under $1000. From the outset, our goal with ZEN and the entire ECLIPSƎ platform was to continuously iterate and improve our craft through deep introspection. ZEN PRO is a better product because of this reflective process.




Pricing and Availability
  • FALCON PRO will retail for $219.99 US dollars and will be available for pre-order on our website beginning Monday, September 20. Shipping date is anticipated before the end of September, when they will also be available from authorized retailers worldwide.
  • ZEN PRO retails for $899.99 US dollars and is available NOW from our website, and is making its way to authorized retailers as of this announcement.



CanJam SoCal 2021

For those who want an early listen, DUNU will be attending CanJam SoCal, in just over a week on September 25-26 --- the first CanJam in a very long time!

Both the FALCON PRO and ZEN PRO will be available for audition. We’ll also have many more goodies to listen to, as well as unannounced prototypes and our entire lineup of critically acclaimed modular cables!

We’ll be collecting user feedback at the show. Show attendees who complete our feedback questionnaire (electronic and contactless) on the show floor will be entered into a giveaway drawing for BOTH the ZEN PRO and FALCON PRO! Details coming soon!

The DUNU booth at CanJam New York City in February 2020, the last CanJam before the pandemic.
1631881732731.png
Wow!! Zen pro is here so soon!! I just loved the Zen, lets see how soon universe gets my hands on zen pro!!
 
Sep 17, 2021 at 6:23 PM Post #15 of 110
Any Canjam discounts? :wink:
 

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