WATCH FULL REVIEW HERE: 

PRICE: $499

PROS:

• Insane technical ability for under $500
• Clean, tight and snappy sound
• Superb separation and layering
• A treat for trebleheads
• Unique design
• Amazing accessory inclusions and packaging
• Amazing extension on both ends
• Airy treble
• Great detail retrieval

CONS:

• Lean note weight
• Midbass is too tucked for my liking
• Treble can get too hot on brighter/poorly mixed tracks
• Lacks low end impact and texture
• Lower mids can sound distant.
• Not the most natural timbre
• Can sound too revealing

WHO THIS UNIT IS FOR:

• Trebleheads
• People who want an analytical sounding IEM
• People who like mecha/cyberpunk aesthetic
• People who like a complete package
• People who likes a leaner sounds signature

WHO THIS UNIT ISN’T FOR:

• Timbreheads
• Treble sensitives
• People want a musical tone
• People who want a full bodied sound
• People who love midbass and bass texture

RECOMMENDED GENRES:

• Vocal pop
• Jazz
• Instrumental
• Orchestra

SHORT REVIEW:

This probably would have been the best IEM I’ve ever heard of if I had the same tastes as I did 2 years ago. Alas, these are still some of the best treble-centric IEMs I’ve heard under $1,000. The level of detail and sparkle this IEM has while maintaining a good balance of bass and mids is unmatched compared to everything I’ve tried under $1,000. However, this is also its weak point as the focus on details sacrifices note weight, timbre and the occasional sibilance. Regardless, this is a one trick pony IEM that trebleheads would absolutely go crazy over. RECOMMENDED WITH CAVEATS

FULL REVIEW: 

If you’ve been following me for quite a while, you know that I had a knack for treble. My favorite IEM of all time is a set that is somewhat infamous for its treble and is the reason why I love it so much. But over the years I’ve been in this hobby, I’ve been refining my tastes and finding more sets that I enjoy with the music I listen to. And this evolution of tastes lead me to slowly lose my love for bright and trebly sets, albeit my love still exists. 

Today, we’re going to talk about a set that if I had kept my tastes from a year or two ago would’ve landed on the tippy top of my tier list no doubt. But with how I’ve grown as both a reviewer an audiophile, where would this bright and analytical set land in my hopes and dreams?

DISCLAIMER: The DK3001BD was sent over by Dunu in exchange for my honest thoughts. If you would like to order one, consider using the non-affiliated link below:

DANCE, DANCE!

Normally, I’d make the usual comment about how we’ve reviewed a previous DUNU set and you know what to expect coming from them. However, the DK3001BD is special in two ways; One, this is the most expensive Dunu product that I’ve owned and reviewed. Second, this is an IEM from a series that hasn’t seen a refresh since 2019 with the DK3001 Pro. And quite frankly, it’s fascinating to see the history of a resilient brand like DUNU that was already well-acclaimed prior to the pandemic and has kept a consistent growth. 

Anyways, the DK3001BD in the DK3001 series of IEMs is a $499 tribrid IEM with a single dynamic driver,  4 balanced armatures and 4 microplanar drivers. One of the few things I have to commend DUNU is their continued technological advancement and adaptation as the previous iteration used a single 13mm dynamic driver and 4 custom balanced armature drivers. Since the pandemic and the rise of planar IEMs, planar drivers have come to dominate the market from different price points. I recently just reviewed the Kiwi Ears Canta that also featured microplanars for only $89. So with an almost 5 times price increase, how does this DK3001BD stand out from the market? 

UNBOXING

I know, I know. DUNU has an insane unboxing and accessoy inclusion yada yada yada. But hear me out; the brain dance is by far their best accessorized, presented and appropriate unboxing by far (yes, including the SA6 MKII)

Besides the usual comments, DUNU has taken a massive step up with their packaging. The texture of the box and its simplistic yet very attractive and very fitting with the design of the IEM. One thing that has been bothering me for the last few years is that companies aren’t really pairing the aesthetics of their unboxing and packaging to their IEMs. Even Dunu is guilty of this with their recent Kima 2, but they made up for it in the DK3001BD. 

This got me thinking about what brain dance even means. 

BUILD & FIT

If there’s one thing I can trust Dunu to nail in every single one of their IEMs, it’s build and aesthetics. I cannot think of a single Dunu IEM that I’ve reviewed that doesn’t have impeccable build quality (we’ll talk about fit later)

But first, I want to address the elephant in the room. The DK3001 and the DK series in general seems to follow a rather progressive trend of using the best driver configurations that the time has to offer. In the case of the OG and the Pro, they used a hybrid system with a 13mm beryllium dynamic driver and balanced armature combo. 

The DK3001BD on the other hand uses a driver configuration that has taken the market by storm. Microplanars. Specifically, 1 Single Dynamic Driver, 4 Custom Balanced Armatures and 4 Microplanar drivers. The Dynamic drivers are also quite special because they came from the DUNU Glacier, their $1,300 hybrid flagship IEM that everyone just seemed to have missed. 

Aesthetically, this has got to be the perfect IEM to pair with the HiBy R4. Both have this cyberpunk mecha look that Dunu called the (insert the proper name for this). Quite frankly, I am all for this aesthetic. Gone are the boring silver hunks of stainless steel with this cool looking mech aesthetic coming to crash the party!

However, I also have to feel a little worried because of a couple things. First, it uses an MMCX connection. Now don’t get me wrong, DUNU’s MMCX seem to be at the top of the line with the best security and minimal spinning based on the IEMs I’ve reviewed from them that use MMCX. However, I cannot deny that I’ve had a larger fail rate with MMCX connectors than 2-pins. It’s not to say that I don’t take care of MMCX connectors, but the nature of MMCX just feels more frail in comparison to good quality 2-pins. I can rest easy knowing that the MMCX Dunu uses is good enough to last more than a few cable removals (I will never change the cable of these). 

As for comfort, it’s a decently fitting and sealing IEM with okay seal. It’s slightly larger compared to its peers, but understandable for its 5 driver per side configuration. My biggest issue with this stability as the lack of wings and a rounded shape makes it a little difficult to stay in my ears, but I never found it to be fatiguing and, most importantly, have any air pressure build up whatsoever. 

As for the cable, I genuinely love how they’re doubling down on this half paracord design as it looks unapologetically DUNU with how frequently they use this kind of cable. Quite frankly, I am all for it because this cable is honestly great. I had my gripes with the Kima 2 and Titan S2 cables, but they upped the thickness of not only the sleeve but the strands which makes me feel 100% more confident about the longevity of the cable. You can make a case for the white color, but it cannot look better with any other cable IMO (except for maybe a full white one). But like I mentioned, this thing tops it all off with an MMCX connector. I haven’t had issues with DUNU’s MMCX connector, so I can only hope and assume that this $500 Dunu IEM will not give me ANY problems whatsoever. 

SOUND

Sound Signature:

The Dunu DK3001BD has this weird hybrid of Harman and Meta tuning molded into the perfect specimen for treble and detail lovers. Subbass over midbass by a long shot, surprisingly full sounding midrange and sparkle for days thanks to that brighter tuning that’s emphasized by 4 micro planar hypertweeters. This then concludes with an analytical tone that fits those who want to dissect their music or just enjoy a lot of energy. Unfortunately, it does take a hit on timbre which might be a turn off for some. 

Source Pairing and Drivability:

Despite a staked driver configuration, the DK3001BD is a set that I found to not really require a lot of power to drive. However, the quality of the source is a completely different story with a cleaner source being almost fundamental to get a good listening experience with this thing. Grab yourself a clean, preferably warmer source and this thing will sing at you with all its glory. Settle for something less and you’re only getting around 70% of its true potential. 

Volume Scaling:

Due to its brighter leaning nature, I couldn’t really go past mid volume listening on these. I wanted to go higher, but that treble and lack of midbass just forces me to go to my old habits of listening to music at a responsible volume. Maybe the DK3001BD advocates for hearing health! 

Bass:

The bass of the DK3001BD is unfortunately the aspect I like the least from the set. Don’t get me wrong, this thing is probably amazing for 90% of the people that’ll listen to this who like a more “normal” subbass over midbass presentation. It’s tight and if the DD on these did come from the Glacier, then I can be confident the Glacier has a damn good bass response. However, it does get a little lean especially for midbassy tracks where I’m expecting some meat and bones. Think something like Magdalena Bay’s Image. I love that track to death and hearing the bass drop on the chorus, especially towards the end, feels like magic. However, the DK3001BD presents it a little too clean for my tastes. It goes deep and woofy, but lacks the raunch and grunge that I always look for in not only that track but IEMs. In short, clean, tight but a little too much so. 

Mids:

Something that I’m actually glad the meta midrange was able to provide for the DK3001BD is a thicker than usual midrange for a warmer leaning IEM. It’s no warmhead that colors vocals, of course. But what the KE4 overdid, the DK3001BD was able to balance to near perfection. It still leans on the brighter side, sure, but the warmth balances that brightness in a way that somewhat keeps the midrange from sounding too lean and lifeless. This is all while it keeps the midrange sounding quite crisp and nuanced, although just like the KE4, also sounds a little bit more closed in compared to its peers. My gripe then ends up being on the lower mids sounding a little too thin on some tracks, especially older tracks with leaner mixing. This is potentially due to the rather aggressive upper mids combined with the tucked midbass. 

I genuinely love the entirety of Random Access Memory by Daft Punk on the DK3001BD. It’s one of the few albums where it works with most headphones, but shines with very specific ones. The DK3001BD is one of the few IEMs that presents the song in a near-perfect way with the midbass heavy track being toned slightly down with the tuck, the midrange maintaining composure and note weight and a vibrant treble that presents Omar Hakim’s wonderful drumming. Honorable mention for Samara Joy and Laufey which you’ve probably heard me talk about a million times at this point, but these are another pair that perfectly plays through their discography. 

Where I’m not as impressed with the DK3001BD’s presentation is leaner tracks like older Michael Jackson records, Toto’s IV and Earth, Wind & Fire. I don’t quite particularly think they’re terrible in any way, but the combination of that bright top end and leaner midbass makes most of the songs sound just a little bit too dry and lean. You can make it work, especially if you have a warmer source or like a leaner sound, but it ain’t for me chief. 

Treble:

Now this is where we get dicey because the treble of the DK3001BD is flawed to perfection. That’s contradictory, I know, but let me explain. First of all, this is a very vibrant and energetic treble presentation. Almost too much in some instances, but just more than enough to keep your ears tickled. If you’re a treblehead, this is probably one of the best treble that I’ve tried under $500, maybe even $1,000. Not perfect treble, mind you, but very energetic and sparkly that’ll make my 2022 self absolutely cream. However, 2024 Obie has grown and evolved his tastes in treble and enjoys sparkly but generous treble presentation that can keep you listening to it for hours on end. The DK3001Bd is not that IEM, unfortunately, and caters more towards those who like to live on the edgy side with a lot of details and air. In that case, the DK3001BD’s treble presentation is just perfect. But definitely not for treble sensitive people. 

Everything I mentioned in the mids section’s con will apply for the treble with a special mention to Waiting For Your Love by Toto. This is a great track for testing the treble of IEMs because the way it’s mixed emphasizes it to the point where if your IEMs has a distinctive metallic timbre, you’ll hear it. And boy, does that track show its fangs on that song. It’s enjoyable, especially with how the DK3001BD presents the midrange in a surprisingly well-bodied fashion, but those clink clanks and hoohaas can sound a tad bit odd if you’re used to tamer treble or well-tuned single DDs. But hey, this rips apart those microdetails in the treble like nothing you’ve heard under $500

Technicalities:

As you might expect from an analytical IEM, this is a superbly technical sounding IEM. Separation and layering is genuinely unlike anything I’ve heard in this price point and up. Imaging and stage are pretty decent, considering the up front presentation of the midrange thanks to the air. Depth is not as fantastic due to the leaner tone, but it’s presented in a way that still compliments the width and height of the IEM. But by far the best aspect of this thing is transients. It’s fast, it’s snappy and is the reason why this IEM excels in being a bright and analytical set with a bass boost. 

COMPARISON:

vs Yanyin Canon II

In my search for my favorite mid-fi IEM, the Canon II was one that broke my expectations and brought about a new era for my tastes in IEMs. But I’m confident when I say that the DK3001BD would have been an immediate choice over me if I were to have reviewed both IEMs 2 years ago. Regardless, this goes to show how much these two IEMs contrast each other and probably how they compliment each other if you’re interested in getting two IEMs with distinctly different tonal presentations. The DK3001BD is a bright, energetic and detailed set while the Canon II is thick, tactile and fun sounding. The DK3001BD’s technical prowess is irrelevant with the Canon II’s less-offensive and more engaging overall sound

vs 7th Acoustics Supernova

From one midrange to another, the Supernova represents a different way to do a specialized kind of sound. The DK3001BD focuses on clarity, details and technicality while the Supernova focuses on vocal nuance and timbre. This is ironic considering that the DK3001BD features a dynamic driver while the Supernova is rocking a full balanced armature driver configuration. This goes to show that driver configuration matters less than implementation. Nonetheless, the DK3001BD has a superior technical ability overall due to its analytical presentation, but the Supernova has a considerably better and more euphonic timbre presentation that rivals flagship dynamic driver IEMs like the Softears Twilight. It’s a similar situation to the previously compared Canon II, but with a different emphasis and a considerably more technical sound as you might expect. 

vs Simgot EA2000

Interestingly, these two sets represent the two sides of a treblehead set. One being more neutral and “reference” like, the other being more engaging, edgy and nuanced. Not to say that the DK3001BD lacks nuance, far from it. But the way that the EA2000 presents the tiniest of details in the bass and treble is something that you don’t find in IEMs under $500, let alone at $319. The main difference you’ll find between them in terms of tuning is the much more aggressive, open and edgy v-shape tuning of the EA2000 compared to the more lavish yet still bright neutral sound signature of the DK3001BD. Both sets are close and dear to my heart, but I have to respect both IEMs efforts for being some of the best treblehead sets I’ve heard.

vs Oracle MK1

Let me preface this by saying that this is the 2024 version of the Oracle MK1 and not the older (and superior) version. Regardless, the Oracle MK1’s tonal presentation isn’t far off from the DK3001BD in terms of treble, but starkly different with how the low end was presented. This is what separates the DK3001BD from being an analytical set and the Oracle being a mild u-shaped IEM. The warmth gives the Oracle MK1 a surprisingly engaging overall sound that I never thought I’d hear from a Thieaudio IEM, but one that I’m glad I did because it made me realize that their house sound can be more than just the Monarch MK2. However, this also makes the DK3001BD a more technically capable and crisp sounding IEM over the Oracle MK1. I also found the edginess of the Oracle MK1 to be out of place compared to the DK3001BD where that is the bread and butter of the overall sound. 

vs Moritz Paradise

The most expensive IEM in this list and yet is also the edgiest, even compared to the DK3001BD. The main difference between the two is how the Paradise is essentially what peak V-Shaped sounds like in the top end. Insane bass presentation, expectedly scooped but open midrange with a decent level of upper midrange energy that transitions to an occasionally edgy treble. The DK3001BD has the edge but provides a cleaner mid and bass presentation, at the cost of sounding more clinical compared to the Paradise. In some ways, the Paradise is made for people like me who love a v-shaped tuning while the DK3001BD was made for, well, also me who loves a very sparkly, energetic and open sounding IEM. I just love both IEMs as you can tell, but the DK3001BD interestingly has the superior resolution and technical ability overall despite being around $250 cheaper than the Paradise. 

CONCLUSION:

If you asked me in 2022 what my favorite IEM is and I got to try the DK3001BD back then, it’d be this. The way this handles the bright and analytical sound signature is one of, if not, the best I’ve heard in this price range and reminds me a lot of the 64 Audio Tia Trio in so many ways. I genuinely love this thing for all of its brightness and occasional harshness. 

However, currently, I’ve moved on from this brighter leaning tone to something more organic and musical. The DK3001BD is not that IEM, despite the thicker and bodied midrange, due to how much emphasis treble gets. If I was looking for a treble-centric IEM, the DK3001BD is an absolutely amazing IEM and is something I’d highly recommend to anyone that is looking for an analytical, detailed and crisp sounding IEM unlike anything you’ll hear under $1,000. But tastes change and this is a star crossed IEM that I know I would’ve loved to death back in the day. Right now, it’s just a great treble-centric IEM to me. But hey, if my tastes changed back then, maybe I’ll grow to love this sound again too!

Thank you for reading my review on the Dunu DK3001BD, consider using the non-affiliated link below: https://www.dunu-topsound.com/dk3001bd