So, I didn't think I would be home until Friday, but managed to make it to the house today. On a couple of threads and in my inbox I've been asked to compare the DN1K to the KEF M-200. Here you go:
DN1K - a much wider soundstage than the M-200. The Dunu gives you an out of head soundstage experience and pushes you at least 10 rolls (maybe more) from the stage in say a 1000-seat theater. The earphone has great timbre and imaging. Wonderful instrument separation. Of course, wonderful bass and mids with just the right highs that have very good extension. Vocals have wonderful clarity and stand out from the other instruments.
M-200 - To get right to it, the KEF is much more refined than the DN-1K. Yes, the DN-1K has a very good refined sound to it, but A/Bing it to KEF, there is just no competition. The KEF beats the Dunu clarity and timbre, and I don't think they're close at all. The M-200 simply sounds more natural in the performance of the instruments to my ears with more details. Now, in all fairness, my M-200 has more than 100 hours burn-in on it compared to the about less than 10 on the Dunu. Yes, I expect the Dunu to get better, but I don't expect it to catch up with the M-200. And to be honest, before I had a chance to compare them, I thought the Dunu might surpass the M-200 in imaging, refinement and timbre (that is a testament of how good the DN-1K sounds to my ears), but there is no contest. So once again, I have to smash "we like something more because it's new" theory that some of you have. The Dunu, 750i or S2 doesn't touch the M-200. It't the most refined and clear of all four. KEF has the best timbre and live sounding effects.
Bass - Where I have the sound ring on the DN-1K now, bass is about even between it and the M-200. As a matter of fact, there may be a bit more (smidgen more) bass in the Dunu, but KEF - again - wins hands down in quality of bass if it doesn't beat in quantity.
Mids- I think this is where both are closer in sounding similar (thickness of notes and details), but the KEF is still the clear winner in clarity and transparency. The mids are a bit more forward in the M-200 too (I think you're sitting in the second or third roll in that same theater).
Highs - Actually the highs sound about the same to me in extension (great on both), but maybe a little more in the KEF. Again, refinement and quality goes to KEF.
I should point out that the M-200's soundstage is pretty wide and definitely spacious from front to back, but it just stops short of giving you the "out-of-head" experience. The Dunu gives you that.
Fullness - Again, KEF wins, but the Dunu is definitely a full-sounding earphone, just not M-200 level. The DN-1K is like some of the finest premium ice cream you can buy, whereas the M-200 is like some of the finest and richest gelato you can buy. That's the difference to my ears. But I want to stress that the DN-1K does have a nice refined sound, but not on M-200 level.
What else can I tell you about the two? Hmmm? Well, I think most will find the DN-1K more of a comfortable fit (although out of ear for me the shells are heavy. I don't think the metal is aluminum). Oh, I don't have the H-200 anymore (sold them), but thinking back, I think the H-200 had a more richer and refined bass than the the DN-1K, but it also had a lesser amount of bass. The H-200 just almost hit basshead levels, but didn't cross into that territory. The DN-1K jumps over into basshead levels (but not deep into it, but it's over the line). But the sound as a whole, I think the DN-1K is a more refined sound as whole than the H-200. It's definitely a fuller sound. I think the Dunu has more micro details or at least it's a draw. Now, I'm going by recent memory on the H-200 (and I know how some of you feel about memory), so feel free to take my H-200/DN-1K thoughts with a grain of salt. I won't be offended. I'm am sure, however, about the thicker sound in the Dunus compared to the H-200.
Finally, comparing value of the Dunu, H-200, and M-200. When I first heard the H-200, I think I wrote it could compete with some $300 (+) earphones (considered top tiers back in the day). I still feel that way about it. And I feel that way about the DN-1K too. But the $200 earphone market has really stepped of its game in the past year or two, that it is fair to compare these earphones in their perspective price brackets now. So for what you can get in sound quality now for about $200 to $250, the Dunu and H-200 are clearly worth it and both are premium earphones in that mid-tier market. But the M-200 is also a $200 earphone. I would have to say the M-200 keeps punching quite far beyond its price bracket to me. It could have cost $350 and I wouldn't feel cheated (maybe even $400). I don't consider the M-200 mid-tier premium sound. I consider the KEF top tier sound. And that's where I'm at fellas. Hope this helps someone make a decision. Happy listening.