DUNU's DK 3001 Pro is a hybrid penta-driver in-ear - four BA and one 13 mm dynamic driver per side. Supposedly three acoustic ways, divided by a passive crossover (definitely not an active one as opposed to what's printed on the package - which isn't the only technical mistake and punctuation error on the package).
For some reason, at least on the package, DUNU decided to ditch the hyphen found on the DK-3001 for the "Pro"-labelled model.
Really nice unboxing experience, although it doesn't fully reach that of the DN-2000J that was even lusher and more spectacular (and is only matched or surpassed by very few other in-ears, such as the FLC Technology FLC-8S).
Several accessories such as various sets of differently sized silicone tips (grey; dark grey with red core; SpinFit tips, that do however need bundled rubber spacer rings to be attached to the nozzles to be installed properly), one pair of Comply foam tips, a cleaning brush tool, a 6.3 to 3.5 mm adapter and a carrying case/purse come included.
While I like the carrying case's turquoise green colour and can see that it is of nice quality and precisely stitched, I personally don't like it nearly as much as the cases that came with the DN-2000J or DK-3001. Due to its nature, it's also not as dust- or moisture-proof as them. Then again, it fits better to a more high-priced boutique product.
It's got a nice little pocket inside for carrying extra ear tips or cable connectors.
The pouch is made of artificial leather, which I am happy about.
Pretty supple and flexible cable that looks very nice as well, although it is a step below iBasso's cable in terms of premium appearance and how it feels.
Rather unusual for DUNU's in-ears, the cable tie is made of Velcro and not of the rubber with lugs, holes and a pin, that is found on most of DUNU's other in-ears. Then again, it makes sense as this cable with braided conductors is thicker than DUNU's standard rubber cable.
The quick-switching mechanism and lock/release on the cable's end that goes into the source is simply phenomenal and fantastic - it's very easy to operate and appears sturdy (it's definitely a much better solution than using a cable with an unnecessarily over-hyped and more fragile 2.5 mm TRRS plug plus a simple, non-locking adapter for those (like myself) who are using non-balanced 3.5 mm TRS plugs - kudos to DUNU for using this great quick-switching plug system that will likely appeal to most users (solely a 6.3 mm TRS plug instead of the bundled adapter would have made its perfection nearly complete)).
Very comfortable shells.
High build quality.
I really like the outside/faceplate design. When it comes to the beauty of the inner side of the shells, the DK-3001 is more beautiful, though.
Very comfortable shells.
High build quality.
I really like the outside/faceplate design. When it comes to the beauty of the inner side of the shells, the DK-3001 is more beautiful, though.
Sound:
Low impedance sources.
3.5 mm TRS (unbalanced) plug.
Largest included light grey silicone tips (of the same kind that was already installed).
Tonality:
Diffuse-field oriented v-shape.
Depending on whether the inner-facing vent is free or blocked, which depends on one's individual ear geometry and fit, the bass is either elevated by ca. 4 dB compared to flat in-ears such as my Etymotic ER-4S/the ER-4SR and quite linear through the entire lows, or a bit more sub-bass focused with around 7 to 8 dB more sub-bass quantity compared to the Etys. Rather the latter is the case in my ears. (In my opinion, the DK 3001 Pro would be best without any inner vent at all, so that the lows' tuning would be more sub-bass oriented by default for everybody.)
Either way, the bass stays nicely out of the lower midrange and starts to climb around 500 Hz, and then reaches its climax around 60 respectively around 30 Hz.
That said, the DK 3001 Pro has therefore got the only somewhat less strong low bass compared the DK-3001, however noticeably without the warmth that can be found in the non-Pro-labelled in-ear's fundamental range. Therefore, the "Pro" model is indeed more professional in the lower midrange compared to the more coloured DK-3001.
About the same sub-bass quantity as the FiiO FH7.
The midrange takes a nicely diffuse-field oriented approach with only a bit less-than-neutral quantity at 3 kHz. Therefore, voices sound tonally correct, with accurate timbre. That's a completely different approach compared to the DK-3001 that is noticeably more coloured throughout the entire midrange, with added lower midrange warmth and a bright, clear upper midrange elevation. As a result, in terms of midrange accuracy, the DK 3001 Pro is DUNU's most accurate in-ear to date and does everything right here - absolutely nothing to be improved in this area.
Compared to the FiiO FH7 that has got a rather prominent and somewhat exhaustive central midrange elevation, the DK 3001 Pro is more linear and accurate in the mids and has got correct quantity.
In the lower and middle treble, the DK 3001 Pro continues its diffuse-field oriented tuning, with only slightly more quantity (about 2 dB) around 6 kHz. Therefore, it's more linear and accurate sounding in this area than the DK-3001 as well.
The area around 10 kHz is elevated by around 5 dB, however not narrowly but rather widely, wherefore it's not a hard but rather a soft brightness elevation. While it adds brightness to the upper end of the frequency spectrum, it doesn't compromise the naturalness much and only softens hard cymbal attacks a bit.
Compared to the FiiO FH7, the DK 3001 Pro is a bit brighter in the upper treble, but also on the non-offensive, softer and peak-/sharpness-free side.
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I didn't really expect the DK 3001 Pro to really improve tonally compared to the DK-3001, however it's definitely and obviously the case, and it thankfully comes without the non-Pro-labelled in-ear's exciting but gimmicky tuning elevations that I criticised about it. Definitely an improvement over the w-shaped DK-3001 that I always only considered as a nice, exciting, but never natural sidekick, and definitely no main in-ear.
Yup, the DK 3001 Pro a mature, accurate sounding v-shaped in-ear. Not perfectly natural as its upper highs are still on the brighter, fun side (the small 6 kHz elevation would have to go for that, and the upper treble elevation would have to be milder), but close. Therefore a great balance between an accurate entire midrange and loudness/fun elevations at either end of the frequency spectrum.
Depending on whether the inner-facing vent is free or blocked, which depends on one's individual ear geometry and fit, the bass is either elevated by ca. 4 dB compared to flat in-ears such as my Etymotic ER-4S/the ER-4SR and quite linear through the entire lows, or a bit more sub-bass focused with around 7 to 8 dB more sub-bass quantity compared to the Etys. Rather the latter is the case in my ears. (In my opinion, the DK 3001 Pro would be best without any inner vent at all, so that the lows' tuning would be more sub-bass oriented by default for everybody.)
Either way, the bass stays nicely out of the lower midrange and starts to climb around 500 Hz, and then reaches its climax around 60 respectively around 30 Hz.
That said, the DK 3001 Pro has therefore got the only somewhat less strong low bass compared the DK-3001, however noticeably without the warmth that can be found in the non-Pro-labelled in-ear's fundamental range. Therefore, the "Pro" model is indeed more professional in the lower midrange compared to the more coloured DK-3001.
About the same sub-bass quantity as the FiiO FH7.
The midrange takes a nicely diffuse-field oriented approach with only a bit less-than-neutral quantity at 3 kHz. Therefore, voices sound tonally correct, with accurate timbre. That's a completely different approach compared to the DK-3001 that is noticeably more coloured throughout the entire midrange, with added lower midrange warmth and a bright, clear upper midrange elevation. As a result, in terms of midrange accuracy, the DK 3001 Pro is DUNU's most accurate in-ear to date and does everything right here - absolutely nothing to be improved in this area.
Compared to the FiiO FH7 that has got a rather prominent and somewhat exhaustive central midrange elevation, the DK 3001 Pro is more linear and accurate in the mids and has got correct quantity.
In the lower and middle treble, the DK 3001 Pro continues its diffuse-field oriented tuning, with only slightly more quantity (about 2 dB) around 6 kHz. Therefore, it's more linear and accurate sounding in this area than the DK-3001 as well.
The area around 10 kHz is elevated by around 5 dB, however not narrowly but rather widely, wherefore it's not a hard but rather a soft brightness elevation. While it adds brightness to the upper end of the frequency spectrum, it doesn't compromise the naturalness much and only softens hard cymbal attacks a bit.
Compared to the FiiO FH7, the DK 3001 Pro is a bit brighter in the upper treble, but also on the non-offensive, softer and peak-/sharpness-free side.
- - -
I didn't really expect the DK 3001 Pro to really improve tonally compared to the DK-3001, however it's definitely and obviously the case, and it thankfully comes without the non-Pro-labelled in-ear's exciting but gimmicky tuning elevations that I criticised about it. Definitely an improvement over the w-shaped DK-3001 that I always only considered as a nice, exciting, but never natural sidekick, and definitely no main in-ear.
Yup, the DK 3001 Pro a mature, accurate sounding v-shaped in-ear. Not perfectly natural as its upper highs are still on the brighter, fun side (the small 6 kHz elevation would have to go for that, and the upper treble elevation would have to be milder), but close. Therefore a great balance between an accurate entire midrange and loudness/fun elevations at either end of the frequency spectrum.
Resolution:
The bass is surprisingly tight, fast and clean for a dynamic driver woofer wherefore it is almost BA-like in its character and sounds definitely much more fast and tight than soft and thumping. It's a bit like some of the slightly slower multi-BA-only inmplementations, and has only got a bit of something to it that reveals that it's a dynamic driver (or it's probably just my imagination - anyway, it is a tight and fast sounding dynamic driver woofer implementation).
However, due to this, it also somewhat loses the "magical" DUNU bass that is a compelling combination of attack tightness coupled with a bit of decay softness which leads to a visceral, almost tactile bass body rumble that often reminds me of my Audeze LCD-X's bass presentation, that is lacking in the DK 3001 Pro that has traded this "magic" for a more sober, technical bass presentation.
That said, I'd love to hear a BA-only in-ear made by DUNU with their "new", more mature and accurate tonal approach that can be found in the DK 3001 Pro. Either with some large Knowles CI woofers to retain some of the bass body and softness, or with smaller and closed BA woofers for a tight, fast, technical bass character.
Anyway, when it comes to details and control, the dynamic driver woofer is excellent down into the sub-bass and doesn't lose any texture or quality even in the very lows. Complex and dense, fast bass lines are no problem either and it handles them just as easily as a good multi-BA in-ear.
When it comes to midrange resolution, the delivery is really good although not top-notch and lacks a bit behind the lows and highs when it comes to pure technicalities. Nonetheless, also thanks to the accurate midrange tuning, the in-ear's speech intelligibility is high.
The highs' resolution and detail/instrument separation is on a very high level.
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Directly compared, I hear the DK 3001 Pro as overall above the DK-3001 when it comes to technical performance/resolution, or, better said, at the level at that the DK-3001 should have been in the first place, but wasn't entirely.
The bass is tighter and faster on the DK 3001 Pro, with less "dynamic driver slam" and a more technical approach that renders fast and complex bass lines and attacks cleaner and better separated in comparison; then again, on the other hand, the non-Pro's softer, more visceral dynamic driver slam provides a lot of fun while missing out on the last bit(s) of technicalities when used with fast and complex bass attacks. Overall, I think that the more sober, faster bass character fits well to the more evenly tuned DK 3001 Pro, while the more visceral, but ultimately a bit less technical bass slam fits well to the DK-3001's more gimmicky, engaging fun tuning (nonetheless I cannot deny that I miss a bit of that slightly less technical but more engaging, visceral bass character in the DK 3001 Pro - not that it didn't have any of it, but it's just not the same "DUNU bass magic" as found in the non-Pro model).
Soundstage:
The stage is overall oval in shape and wider than deep.
The imaging is accurate, although it does not fully reach the precision of higher-end multi-BA in-ears; while there's ultimately a bit of smear (although only a bit of it), the stage doesn't collapse or struggle with fast or dense recordings.
The imaging is accurate, although it does not fully reach the precision of higher-end multi-BA in-ears; while there's ultimately a bit of smear (although only a bit of it), the stage doesn't collapse or struggle with fast or dense recordings.
Conclusion:
Nicely tuned in-ear with an accurate midrange and elevated upper and lower ends of the frequency spectrum; the better choice over the DK-3001 that has got a clearly more gimmicky w-shaped tuning, however that one has got that nice, visceral, "magical" DUNU dynamic driver bass body that the DK 3001 Pro has traded for a more technical bass presentation.