Dunu Zen Review - Bridging the gap between IEMs and over-ear headphones

[@fatdoi003]

another great review Andrew..... looking forward to your Fiio FD5 reivew

[@gordonfreeman4491]

Great review and I really like the comparison to several different other IEMs and the end. It makes it easier to understand, when there are multiple reference points.

[@64Gianfar]

Another for seeing how the FiiO FD5 compares :)

[@KojiCO-ConvinceM]

If you want to experience the extreme end of that spectrum, where there is no longer a distinction between an iem and headphones You need to experience the Anole VX Over the last 16 years I have experienced a fair amount of in ear monitors, but they have all been just that iems, in fact after Andromeda and i.e. 800 S I gave up on them totally last January. A friend recommended I buy these, and I have left that part of the hobby for a different reason, because they’re finally there, absolutely exceptional, and the distinction between it and headphones has disappeared Good work as usual speak to you in the next video

[@Audio-In-Reviews]

Excellent review Andrew as usual!

[@Brandon-qs3jq]

Another great review, Andrew! Do you use the stock tips when taking all IEM measurements (unless otherwise noted)?

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

I'll generally use the included tips yeah - unless there's a dramatic difference, in which case I'll show the comparison. Like, the Monarch did better in the treble with the Dekoni tips than it did with the stock spinfits.

[@TonyZEHS]

Hi Andrew, is there a plan to review the Dunu Zen Pro in the near future? Heard them at CanJam NYC today and was seriously impressed, so much so I got a pair on the spot. Tom was a delight to talk to on the show-floor.

[@kazimahbub340]

Great review. I find it quite fascinating that it manages to out-resolve the Studio SA6 with just a single Dynamic driver. That Al-Mg dome is very interesting indeed and definitely aids with faster transients.

[@jaydenross2152]

Another great review Andrew. I just wish Dunu gear was easily accessible in Australia.

[@MannyScoot]

I got these from a reviewer and for the $200.00 bucks I paid....They are simply out of this world !

[@uglyfate1326]

Nice review but what about Fiio FD5?

[@Xerpocalypse_]

I really love how these look. I may not buy them in the end, but damn they look nice.

[@nikks1371]

Good review!

[@saab_9]

What about zen pro vs zen ?

[@SuperMadpom]

Would be interested to hear your views on the Zen Pro.

[@minhbu95]

Haven't heard the Solaris, would love to but there's no demo unit in Vietnam. I own the Dorado 2020 though and I love them

[@shadowroxas2086]

Great review! Any plans to review the Fiio FD5?

[@MobileAura]

Great info on the clarity causing shrillness. My V14 have summitfi level of detail and clarity at the cost of slightly shrill male vocals. Of course can be fixed with eq so it's not so much an issue. V14 still my favorite iems for the party tricks.

[@sebanambrus9265]

Nice review. Can you suggest me technicality vise how it is compared to Monarch also Sony ier z1r ? I am looking for a portable solution what is technicality not far away from my desktop system , Hd800S (driven by Topping A90 and rme adi2 dac). You think cost vise the monarch is the best choice ? Also You said with Monarch you get better details and bigger soundstage, but the Zen Provides Better Punch and faster transients ?

[@NiSHAN256]

Would love to know how the Fiio FD5 fare against those. Yeah I am cheap for IEMs 😅.

[@mclement052164]

Got my FD5 three days ago. Maybe I received a defective unit, but the FD5 are by far the most sibilant earphones/ IEMs that I have ever heard. It's a LOT more problematic in some recordings than others. IDK why, but Bono's vocals in MANY of his U2 songs are almost unlistenable. A really offensive example is from the UNFORGETTABLE FIRE album, song = Elvis Presley and America.

[@NiSHAN256]

@@mclement052164 It's not detective, that's the common consensus among owners on Head-fi. Thanks for sharing ❤️.

[@TheGrammarOfDesign]

get an audeze isine20 B stock open box for under 300$ if you want a cheap IEM that performs close enough to a Clairvoyance at $700

[@mrfrosty3]

@@mclement052164 apologies if this is a dumb question but did you try a few different ear tips? A Fiio was my first IEM and on first listen it was super bright and screechy. I remembered someone mentioning that tips make a big difference and changed them. It transformed the sound, the difference was like night and day.

[@kuuhgle]

@@mrfrosty3 Which ones did you change to?

[@RaiseYourFamily]

Nice review Andrew! Do you ever try Beyerdynamic Xelento IEM flagship with single dynamic driver?

[@dougdabbs8155]

👏👏👏 Excellent review as always. So, it seems if you want a mix of the technical ability of the Zen and the tonality of the Clairvoyance, the Monarch could be a good way to go?

[@digitalnation2876]

VE Elysium

[@alexandertimoschuk8470]

I like your conclusion. Obviously I would love to try them all. Your review of the Focal Elex led to my purchase of that unit. THANK YOU I am impressed. (I don't EQ them but I would like to try them with your Cayan) I am using my HIBY R5 and an old TEAC H01. As far as IEMs go, I have the Tin P1 and the KXXS - Do you think any IEM could com close to the Focal Elex????

[@johnhayes8476]

Love the cable on my SA6! I’m surprised that BGGAR got a broken cable with his SA6.

[@CesarEnglishTeacherCesar7Peru]

Link please I couldn't actually find his channel just by looking for BGGAR that would be helpful 🙏

[@hansgustafianto5136]

Hi Andrew, would love to hear your comparison of Dunu Zen with the new Cayin Fantasy! 😃

[@JedGarfunkel]

How is the instrument separation and sound stage on the DUNU Zen compared to the Thieaudio Monarch? I feel like you skipped over that in this review, but since you are saying these could replace over-the-ear headphones then you must be saying both are very wide. Is that right? I listen to a lot of rock and classic rock and I’m looking for IEM’s. Thanks!

[@CesarEnglishTeacherCesar7Peru]

Hi I love your content I'm between DUNU sa6, DUNU Zen & DUNU est 112 Which is is your best shot between the 3 of them? Cheers bro

[@bentobox3140]

The SA6 is his favorite among the 3 and is more expensive than the EST. He covered this in the EST112 video.

[@WillTheSage]

Do you think if you covered the vents on the side (Sony EX800st tape mod) that it would boost that sub bass to a more agreeable level?

[@sleepyrhythms6668]

Hey Andrew. Hope you're well.

[@goodgos1844]

What do you prefer zen or monarch?

[@allansh828]

What’s the best portable player in your opinion? I think it would be wise to choose that first then pick a pair of IEM that matches well with your source. I had A&K SP2000 and it was very disappointing. Hugo 2 is better but not suitable for sensitive IEMs.

[@daretobe957]

Got mine on last Tuesday. It sounds like an IEM version of Focal Radiance. As an owner of Final A8000, I have to admit the overall experience of zen is better than A8k, which I prefer over Dunu Luna.

[@sebanambrus9265]

I am looking for a portable solution what is technicality not far away from my desktop system , Hd800S (driven by Topping A90 and rme adi2 dac). YOu think ZEn is not far away from Focal Radiance/Clear ? ALso how fast are the transients and how compare technicality vs Dunu Luna /A8000 or other Totl IEMS what you own? I conside buy ZEN but I read MOnarch is good too

[@divinecurrent9053]

That's quite high praise, I think I may get them now since I have the Focal Clear, and I wouldn't mind having an IEM that sounds like a Focal headphone!

[@fractera]

I can get the SA6 for $567 and the Zen for $674. Which would be the better buy?

[@Queequeg71]

Hi, I'm strongly considering picking up a set of Zens to replace my Dunu DN-2002s. I love dynamic drivers and hybrids; bass slam, rumble, speed and texture are my chief priorities, but like everybody else, I want everything for cheap. I'm also considering the AAW X Custom Art Project 4+2, the Thieaudio Monarch, and the IKKO OH7. Any advice? (I'm not convinced that the SA6 has the bass I want.)

[@Queequeg71]

If it helps, Radiohead is probably the band I listen to most, along with Galactic (funk), Beastie Boys, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Pinback (technical and proggy pop; idk, the Beatles as math majors), Sparklehorse (poetic, often low-fi roots rock), Dire Straits, Portishead, and Shuggie Otis (funk/soul). I use a Fiio X7ii DAP. with the AM3A amp; it doesn't really need improving as an amp, but wow do I wish it would take a modern OS. Still, upgrading earphones is generally more profitable, sound-wise. :)

[@ammar5400]

This is a tough comparison between the Zen & the Illumination, ignoring all the BA iems because they have that annoying timbre. Anyway, the Zen has for sure the better accessories. However, the Illumination has better looking & tuning as well as timbre. This is tough, I’ll wait for other companies to announce their DD iems, except Campfireaudio🔥.

[@boboiboy9350]

I hv heard my brother Atlas. To me, this is the best IEM I have ever heard especially for DD. I prefer this over IER Z1R due to different tonality than I prefer. Now, CA have knocked down the price, the value is much much more unbeatable. Its amarphous diamond driver is really some of otherwordly level.

[@itamarkas]

Where you would rate them in 'comfort scale'? compare to poplar models like SA6, Illumination, Starfield, Luna and more.. Thanks!

[@markcurry5758]

For someone who primarily listens to soundtrack music i.e. Williams, Zimmer, Giacchino, Goldsmith, Silvesti, etc. Would the Zen be the way to go, verses the MEST or the Monarch?

[@Tripokaridos22]

Is there any Over ear Headphone with 2 drivers one close to the ear and one far away ?

[@Florianski]

The only one i know of is the 1More H1707

[@Tripokaridos22]

@@Florianski nice thank u so much.

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

Pandora Hope did that. Now known as Final Audio Sonorous... kind of. 1 BA and 1DD

[@Tripokaridos22]

@@TheHEADPHONEShow i guess this idea disnt work well ?

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

@@Tripokaridos22 not so far.

[@HowardSokoloff]

Just curious since you are saying they could be an over ear replacement, what headphones are we talking about. 6xx, Elek or better?

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

I don't think I'd say an Elex. I don't think it's an over-ear replacement, just that it gets closer to that kind of sound. So, better than some over-ear DDs but worse than others? The treble unevenness is the only real limitation here.

[@HowardSokoloff]

@@TheHEADPHONEShow thanks for getting back to me

[@justingelowitz5656]

Do you have any sort of usb reclocker between your computer (assuming you're using a computer) and your DAC? I'm having noise issues specifically coming out of my cayin HA-1A MK2 and I suspect it has to do with USB.

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

Could be ground loop issue. Try using optical

[@allansh828]

Is it an IEM version of Focal Elegia?

[@shadouxg7150]

that would be like something neutral, like a 6xx.

[@djhmax09]

Nice, thanks for the review! Hate that glossy black finish tho...

[@quantum.9883]

This IEM kinda looks like a "super" Drop + JVC HA-FDX1, think about it: Dynamic Driver Earphone like configuration MMXC Connectors Hefty and Solid Metal Construction All be it, the HA-FDX1 does have a interchangable cotton filter nozzles whilst this does not. But still, slight resemblences.

[@malek8736]

The business model of a lot of Chinese manufacturers is to 'compete' with existing products. Like the dunu luna is clearly to compete with the final a8000, and these case and mesh bags are like the ones offered by campfire.

[@divinecurrent9053]

That's what I'm hoping these are actually. I love the FDX1, but it is very elevated in the 4 kHz range for me compared to reference open backs such as the HD600 and Focal Clear, so I use EQ to somewhat fix that problem. Bass is amazing on the FDX1 though, dynamic punch is amazing as well. So I'm wondering if the Dunu Zen can be that super FDX1 I've been looking for a while with even higher technical performance, and even more EQ-able. I just hope it's a little more detailed in the treble than the FDX1, if it is then it's an easy buy for me.

[@malek8736]

The case and the mesh bag are questionably similar to what Campfire has been doing.

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

Yes, very similar stuff. It's a good idea.

[@malek8736]

@@TheHEADPHONEShow it seems like copying isn't a problem for a lot of Chinese manufacturers.

[@Weareonenation303]

Pretty whack treble tuning given the price, virtually zero air on the Zen.

[@MattDennisOMG]

Tempting...

[@vidalskyociosen3326]

Blon O3

[@explosionkamikaze]

paying more than 300 for an iem doesn't make any sense

[@LT15313]

Commenting on a video of an IEM that costs over 300 when you believe paying over this amount doesn’t make sense... doesn’t make any sense.

[@mrfrosty3]

I think $300 is were IEMs start to get more interesting. I recently paid a little over that amount and the IEM I got is substantially better than all my other sub $150 models. I'd prefer to have one good set than a drawer full of mediocre ones.

[@mikechafe419]

As someone who has broken, busted, 'washing machined' and lost many IEM's, I understand what you mean. But, the sound improvement is there and significant, so it comes down your own personal valuation of that improvement. I felt the same way about buying expensive sunglasses.... until I bought some Oakley's designed for golf. Wow. Just need to take better care of my stuff!