WATCH FULL REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/mRPG3pObewU

PRICE: $219

PROS

• Bountiful package and inclusions
• Superbly built
• Great fit and comfort
• Modular cable
• Tuning nozzles
• Very fun yet inoffensive sound signature
• Lush yet impactful and engaging bass
• Very natural sounding midrange
• Smooth yet detailed treble
• Fantastic coherency

CONS

• MMCX connector (biased)
• Build is very scratch and fingerprint-prone
• Modular cable is a little stiff and tangle prone
• A little too smooth and safe for my tastes
• Bass lacks tactility
• Not the cleanest separation

WHO THIS SET IS FOR

• People who want an all-rounder IEM
• People who want a well-accessorized and full package
• People who want a small yet well built and comfortable IEM
• People who want tuning versatility
• People who want modularity

WHO THIS SET ISN’T FOR

• People who hate MMCX cables
• People who want a more engaging and tactile bass
• People who want a set that isn’t as fragile (aesthetically)
• People who want a softer cable
• People who want a technical beast

GENRES:

• R&B
• Pop
• HipHop
• Funk
• Rock 

SHORT REVIEW:

Arguably one of the best sets to recommend for beginner audiophiles who have a little bit of cash in their pocket, the Falcon Ultra M.T. gives you everything you need and more. A complete package with all the tips, cleaning tools, and pouches you might need, a very well-built and comfortable IEM that is quite the looker, and a very safe yet fun sound that is hard to hate. It may not be a set that stands out for one single thing in terms of its sound and some might dislike some aspects like the finish and the cable, but there’s nothing about this IEM that’ll make it anything but a top recommendation. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! 

FULL REVIEW:

A trend that has been going around in Chi-FI is the many startup audio brands that promise to provide the next big audio thing. Obviously, there are industry standards that have been in the market for a few years. But with the recent boom of portable audio in general, there has been an increase in demand which means companies want to get a taste of the pie. 

But unless they hire people who have worked in the industry for a while, they’re destined to just be the flavor of the month that eventually loses relevancy as fast as they get famous. But one company stands as a pioneer in not only Chi-Fi but portable audio in general. And when this company with 22 years of experience creates an update to their legendary single DD series, how would it stand against the current influx of in-ears in a very competitive market? 

DISCLAIMER: The Dunu Falcon Ultra Meteorite Titanium was sent in exchange for my honest thoughts. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity. I was not paid. Rest assured, my thoughts and opinions on this product will be my own honest opinions and will not be affected by the facts beforehand. 

Audio is a very subjective hobby and as much as I try to objectively explain my thoughts and opinions, your mileage will vary. My preferences will also affect how I perceive the gear that I review. Sources and other accessories will also modify your experience. Lastly, my reviews should always be used only as a guide and not as the definitive bible. Trust your ears to know what’s good.

22 YEARS.

Obviously, I’m talking about Dunu. Dunu is one of, if not, the oldest “Chi-Fi” brands in the market today. They’ve been making OEMs since 1994 and finally established in 2002 to become the Chi-Fi giant they are today. They’ve released some very iconic in-ears like the Falcon, Titan, and SA6 series of IEMs over the years that have gained popularity amongst audiophiles. I personally knew about them with the Titan S, the alleged “Heart Mirror upgrade” that caught my attention for claiming such a bold statement. So how does this Falcon soar against the competition? Let’s find out!

UNBOXING

One of the first things that stood out to me with the Falcon Ultra M.T. was how mesmerizing the box is. It’s this pearlescent finish that just looks stunning under any lighting condition. But it only gets better because by opening the box and laying out all the accessories, you get arguably one of the best value packages in an IEM ever. 

Here is the full list of inclusions:

• Dunu Falcon Ultra M.T IEMs
• MMCX modular cable
• 3 Pairs of Dunu Candy eartips
• 3 Pairs of Olive Grey Eartips
• 3 Pairs of Basic Blue Silicone EArtips
• 5 pairs of Dunu S&S
• Cleaning tool
• 4.4mm Modular Jack
• 3.5mm to 6.35mm Adaptor
• Protective pouch
• Removable nozzle
• Carrying pouch
• Cleaning cloth
• Paperwork

I’m stunned, I’m speechless, I’m absolutely overwhelmed with the amount of accessories that Dunu provided with the Falcon Ultra. And they’re not high-quantity, low-quality accessories either.

The case is very big and spacious and has a slot big enough to put a small DAP or a dongle DAC inside as well as webbed netting to put other accessories.

You also get a protective pouch for your IEMs. Not a case, but actual tiny pouches for each earpiece. 

You also get probably the best set of eartips you can ever get in a package. The Dunu S&S and Candy eartips. I’ve expressed my love for the S&S for quite a while and the fact that you get 5 pairs here is absolute insanity. The Candy eartips are like a mini Spinfit that fits and seals really well for most IEMs. The other eartips are pretty basic but they’re still very welcome. 

You also get cleaning tools, modular nozzles, and a freaking studio 6.35mm adaptor. It’s insane. I thought the TRN Conch and Zhulinniao Qingluan had insanely good value for the money in terms of the overall package, only for the Falcon Ultra Titanium to basically define what value is. 

BUILD & FIT

And if you thought they did all that to skimp out on the build, you’re absolutely mistaken. This thing is not only beautiful but very well built and comfortable. 

Starting with the internals, the Falcon Ultra M.T. features their “patented” 2nd generation ECLIPSƎ Architecture and Ring-Type Magnet Assembly with Ultra-High Magnetic Flux Density 10.7mm Dynamic Driver. Quite the mouthful, like the SPDGM of SImgot. And just like the Simgot, this thing packs quite the punch in terms of sound (which we’ll talk more about later).

As for the aesthetics, this thing is absolutely gorgeous. A full titanium finish aluminum alloy shell that puts some flagship IEMs to shame. Such a unique, clean yet very attractive-looking construction surely makes this one of the most distinct-looking IEMs in the market. And the fact that this also features interchangeable nozzles only adds to the value proposition that this thing has and it’s absolutely amazing. 

My only gripe would honestly be the MMCX connector. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great connector compared to other MMCX IEMs and actually feels like it’ll last. But I’ve had far too many bad experiences with MMCX connectors for me to feel confident that that’ll last years of cable rolling. 

Thankfully, the cable is quite good. It’s a little stiff and I’m really not a fan of the material as it feels a little rough, but the overall construction is very premium and features a pretty solid modular system that Dunu has used in other IEMs. It’s not as secure as Q-Lock, but Q-Lite feels secure enough to last a couple of modular changes. I don’t like how tangle-prone the cable is, but it feels durable enough not to feel like it’d break itself by tangling. But speaking of tangling, the stuff causes tangles to be quite a common occurence. 

As for fit, this is probably one of the most comfortable small IEMs I’ve ever worn. Seriously, its shape perfectly contours my ear which I not usually common with these kinds of IEMs. I have 0 complaints about the fitting of this thing and the seal is also really really good because of that. It’s genuinely the perfect fitting IEM hands down. 

SOUND

Note: Due to the Falcon Ultra having 2 different tuning nozzles, I will be talking about the stock nozzle (Red Ring) in this review and compare it with the blue ring nozzle in its own section

Sound Signature

The Falcon Ultra features U-Shaped sound signature that is genuinely one of the best timbres in any single DD IEMs I’ve heard. From bass all the way to the treble, I found the sound to be in perfect harmony with each other with the rich, powerful and soothing bass, warm, enveloping midrange and the energetic yet smooth treble presentation. 

Source Pairing

The Falcon Ultra is a VERY easy-to-drive pair of in-ears with a sensitivity of 108db and impedance of 18ohms. However, it’s also a very good scaler when using better, cleaner sources. The bass texture, as well as treble detail, is improved drastically when going from lower-quality sources to higher-quality sources, so I highly recommend pairing this with something good. Particularly, something more neutral and cleaner rather than warmer and smoother. I personally enjoyed using the HiBy R4 with this as it cleaned up the overall sound really well without inducing too much warmth. However, the Topping DX1 did improve bass dynamics CONSIDERABLY at the cost of treble definition 

Bass

When we talk about dynamic driver IEMs, we often expect the bass to sound fantastic. Well, the Falcon Ultra is the perfect definition of how bass should be tuned on a dynamic driver IEM. The bass is genuinely just right with a good balance of subbass and midbass. There’s a little bit more midbass emphasis, so there’s more punch rather than deep subbass rumble. However, the rumble is present when the track calls for it. It’s a very soothing, warm, and thick bass that unfortunately lacks a little bit of texture for my liking. However, it’s a very well-balanced overall bass presentation and I could forgive the lack of texture for how well it transitions into the lower mids. 

Listening to Childish Gambino’s Album, “Awaken My Love” was quite the treat with that thick, meaty and rich bass perfectly complimenting the very soulful and groovy tracks. The track Redbone sounds particularly fantastic due to how smooth yet punchy the bass sounds where it was straddling between sounding muddy and being just perfectly warm. 

Mids

In theory, the mids of the Falcon Ultra should suffer due to the rather big bass emphasis and the forward upper mids that I’ll be talking about later. However, listening to it is a completely different story as the harmony of the lower mids to the upper mids is absolutely fantastic. The rich lower mids oozes with richness thanks to the midbass emphasis while the forward yet inoffensive upper mids sound euphonic thanks to the contrast in the lower frequencies. Obviously, this is not a midcentric set in any way. Lower male vocals aren’t the most nuanced or textured as the note weight can get a little too heavy and can mush up the details and mids can suffer in more complex tracks. The upper mids might also be a little bit too forward sounding on mid-forward tracks, but never to the point of shoutiness. 

Listening to Amateurish’s album called, “a gentle reminder to rest” on the track Turbulence, the mids have perfect harmony with the bass guitar offering a very rich and smooth sound that envelops your ears in such a thick and bodied bass presentation with the electric guitars and percussive instruments in the upper frequencies offering a very satisfying level of nuance without getting harsh. The only thing that suffers is the midrange definition during the busier parts, especially nearing the end of the track where the ensemble comes together and somewhat drowns out some of the vocals and instruments. 

Treble

The treble of the Falcon Ultra perfectly compliments the warmer tuning of the IEM by slightly boosting the lower treble to compliment the lower mids being quite prominent. This allows the treble to sparkle without sounding edgy, harsh or sibilant. This ends up with the treble being some of the most natural sounding I’ve heard without sounding dark or dull in any way whatsoever. I honestly cannot think of any major flaws with the treble of the Falcon Ultra besides it sounding very safe. Normally I prefer a more sparkly and more energetic treble with better transients and nuance, but I can also see that it really would not fit. It’s not the most airy-sounding set, but its resolving ability is fantastic. 

Probably the best way to show how the treble of the Falcon Ultra compliments the bass is with the track Ghost by Chon. The thicker, more emphasized low end is perfectly balanced with the sparkly, snappy yet inoffensive treble of the Falcon Ultra. It offers a decent amount of microdetails without overdoing it. Attack of the cymbals and hi-hats are represented with such finesse and smoothness that perfectly harmonizes with the lower frequencies. 

Technicalities: 

I have to admit, the Falcon Ultra really isn’t the most technical-sounding set you can get at this price range. It’s technically capable, don’t get me wrong. But it’s fundamentally a musical IEM where it focuses on providing a rich and soothing listening experience that affects the cleanliness and separation of instruments. However, it’s no slouch as, despite the warmth, it’s still capable of making more complex tracks sound listenable. Probably the best thing about the Falcon Ultra’s technicalities is the imaging and head stage. The depth thanks to the bass paired with the competent resolving ability makes the Falcon Ultra a very immersive and nearly holographic listening experience. Tactility and transients are decently defined, but nothing mind-blowing. 

REAL WORLD USAGE:

Casual Use

I’m going to say it now, the Falcon Ultra is probably the best casual use IEMs that I’ve ever used hands down. The combination of a comfortable, lightweight fit and a very safe yet fun sound makes this the perfect partner for long listening sessions. Movies sound fantastic with the thicker low end giving a very punchy sound without drowning the dialogue in the midrange and you can appreciate the small details in the sound design with the complimentary forward treble presentation. My only gripe would be the cable, but that’s something you can replace for a better (and probably cheaper) one. 

Gaming Use

Just like movies, gaming is absolutely fantastic on these. Not the best gaming set I’ve heard hands down, but the combination of sound and fit made these some of the best I’ve used when playing multiple games of Valorant. The thick lower mids paired with the forward upper mids brighten out both the footsteps and the sharper sounds while separating them really well.  It’s also perfect for immersive games like Sky: The Children of The Light where the orchestral tones perfectly blend with the ambient sounds. 

COMPARISONS: 

vs Simgot EA1000

Let’s go straight up with my favorite IEM of all time. The Falcon Ultra is a smoother, safer more soothing IEM to listen to overall while the EA1000 is more technical, more detailed and more tactile sounding. I still personally prefer the EA1000 due to my treblehead and tactile bass preference, but the Falcon Ultra competes quite closely with the EA1000 as it’s essentially better for people who are sensitive to treble and couldn’t handle the hotness of the EA1000

vs Orivetti OD200

Two very similar-sounding sets with a focus on warmth and musicality, the Falcon Ultra is ahead in every single department in my opinion. The OD200’s bass sounds more bloated which makes the vocals sound more recessed and distant. The treble is also considerably darker with the air region sounding more rolled off. The OD200’s darker sound makes it smoother and soothing on longer listening sessions, but I personally would rather listen to the Falcon Ultra any day. 

vs HiBy x F.Audio Project Ace

The Project Ace and Falcon Ultra initially have very similar sound signatures. Where they begin to deviate however is the fine details. The bass is more tactile on the Project Ace while the Falcon Ultra has more quantity and smoothness. The mids are more linear on the Project Ace while the Falcon Ultra is more open. The big difference is in the treble. The Falcon Ultra is CONSIDERABLY smoother sounding in the treble compared to the Project Ace. Technically speaking, the Project Ace is better

vs Simgot EA2000

The EA2000 has a considerably more technical, dynamic, and textured overall sound but worse timbre and tuning compared to the Falcon Ultra. The massive peak on the EA2000 makes it a considerably more offensive-sounding IEM overall despite its technical superiority. 

CONCLUSION

22 years of experience allows a company to create something that sounds so natural and effortless in a price range that usually rewards those who try to do something weird or revolutionary. And while you may argue that the Eclipse tech they flaunt in their driver is the “revolutionary” tech, the Falcon Pro is a fundamentally good IEM by nature. 

It’s not a set that claims to be the best in the price, nor does it try to be competitive. Instead, the Falcon Pro just does everything right. From the unboxing experience with the treasure trove of accessories all the way to the very safe, easy-to-love, and fun sound. The Falcon Ultra has all the makings for a very easy recommendation. After my personal experience with the Falcon Ultra, I can wholeheartedly say that this is probably the best beginner-friendly IEM in the market today. And if you want a safe-sounding, well-accessorized, comfortable, and well-built IEM, then the Dunu Falcon Ultra Meteorite Titanium is the best IEM to get right now. 

Thank you for reading my review of the Dunu Falcon Ultra Meteorite Titanium. If you would like to order one, consider using the non-affiliated link below: