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Dunu Titan 1es In Ear Headphone Review

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Dunu Titan 1es In Ear Headphone Review

DUNU Titan 1es

We were all very happy to receive the Titan 1 a few months back; the earphone with the wide sound is a real treat to hear, but with a limit to the isolation which it offers. Step forward, the Dunu Titan 1es. We’ve no idea what the ‘es’ stands for. Extra special? Even sexier? Excellent sounding? Much as it’s fun to fill in the blanks, we’ll see what ideas spring forth as we take a closer look and listen.

Pros:

  • Can be worn with cable down, or over ears
  • Good strong 90 degree jack
  • Great sound
  • Plenty of tips/accessories included
  • Good balance between isolation and soundstage

Cons:

  • Slight lack of finesse with higher frequencies

Design and Appearance

The shape of the capsules on the Titan 1es is reminiscent of the little capsule which were propelled into space by huge Saturn rockets during the USA’s moon trips of the 60s and 70s. Given that Titan is a moon of the planet Saturn, this seems more than a coincidence, but it’s probably just our imagination.

es = Entering space?

The cable has a decent strain relief at the jack end and leading into the yoke or y-split; at the earphone end the cable can be tucked into a narrow groove which gives a little protection from snags.

There is one hole in the capsule as opposed to the 11 holes in the previous Titan model; it’s strength was also it’s weakness as although it gave a considerable soundstage, isolation was compromised and it had limited appeal for portable use. The Titan1 es still appears to be very good in the soundstage department although this re-entry has been balanced with the need for more isolation than the previous Titan model.

Durability and Build quality

Things appear to be very solid with the Titan 1es; the capsules are plastic with metallic paint, but the overall feel is one of sturdiness. The paint may wear and eventually show its age, but this is only an aesthetic concern. The cable is of good quality if only a tiny bit grabby with its rubbery coating, and the right-angled jack is very sturdy indeed.

es = extra strong?

Comfort

The capsules are well rounded but there’s still a bit of an edge when the sensitive nature of the skin of the ears is taken into account. It doesn’t seem to be a problem though. The supplied eartips (6 pairs in total) are the usual rubber/silicone type and should suit most people. There is also a pair of earhooks to further enhance comfort and fit.

es = ensconced securely?

Suitability for intended application/Sound isolation

As mentioned above, the Titan 1es is better suited to portable/outdoor pursuits, and to test this fully a motorbike trip was taken; as it was taken with the original Titan. The presentation was previously drowned out by road and engine noise, making it a matter of following high hats and a rather nasal vocal only. Not great. However, the Titan1 es excelled in this challenge; Iron Maiden was very well rendered as I dropped off my daughter to the slaughter and I found that the Titan1 es was a real trooper.

es = essential seclusion?

Sound characteristics

Using the standard Chord Hugo DAC/amp and Fiio X3 transport as a sound source, the Titan 1es surpasses its price point in terms of delivered sound quality. It is relatively neutral sounding but lends a good bit of excitement to proceedings as well; perhaps a nice midrange clarity plays a part in this.

  • Bass

The low end is not overly present or enhanced, but gives a good thud with good control. It goes to a low frequency too, and works with the midrange to give a clear impression of power and space without dominating the presentation.

  • Mids

As mentioned above, midrange is crystal clear and clutter-free making for a nice feeling of being within the music. Harmonics are similarly well rendered and crisp, giving a solid and palpable impression.

  • Treble

High frequencies can feel a bit grainy or rough at times, but this is frankly par for the course with earphones at this pricepoint. It’s just a bit more ‘rock and roll’ than a more expensive earphone and not necessarily a bad thing in itself, certainly when paired with a bass and midrange as good as this.

es = even sonorousness?

Soundstage and Separation

This is one of the best bits of the Titan1es. The midrange clarity gives a lovely feel of imaging, separation and sense of space. Soundstage is good too and although limited when compared to the original Titan1, is still excellent for an in-ear model. The added isolation more than makes up for it in any event.

Music genres good for and why

As mentioned above, the Titan 1es is good with hard rock but will also suit genres such as dance, hip hop and pop. The clear midrange and sense of space will lend a certain something to classical music and jazz will sound very good too.

es = eclectic support?

Summary

The Dunu Titan 1es is further proof of Dunu’s talent for providing great sound beyond its product’s prices. Soundstage is not as great as the previous model (Titan 1) but the added isolation makes for a perfect balance between soundstage and practicality in all environments.

DUNU TITAN 1 Earphones – Expert Review and Video

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DUNU TITAN 1 Review

The DUNU Titan 1 is also featured in our Best in-ear headphones to buy in 2015 – Expert Reviews 

Introduction

The DUNU TITAN 1 earphone is a lightweight and stylish medium priced IEM with some innovative design features. The DUNU brand appeared about three years ago with a small range of IEMs that instantly impressed. Cleverly built housings and a compelling grip on balanced yet engaging sound instantly caught our attention. DUNU have actually been building earphones and acoustic equipment for other brands since 1994, which goes a long way to explaining this Chinese manufacturers depth of knowledge and design skill. TITAN 1 are a great example of this new brands dedication to moving earphone design forward. Containing a 13mm Titanium coated driver with an angled nozzle surrounded by innovatively placed venting – which may well be the first design of its kind. We’re expecting to see similar designs in the future, as we’ll confirm later on in this review the results for an earphone at this price are sonically spectacular.

Build quality

From the moment you touch the metal driver housing it becomes apparent that the TITAN 1 has been engineered incredibly well. In terms of a sturdy build metal is a no brainer but if implemented badly an earphone can either be far too heavy – leading to fit problems – or if too thin, actually less durable than plastic. DUNU have this balance just right. The shiny and beautifully finished conical earpieces are ringed by metallic red and blue markers for left and right. With high quality 2 ply silicone tips on the nozzle side and well though out strain relief on the other, it’s very hard to pick any fault with practicality or looks here. The top portion of the cable has a soft rubberised coating which is not particularly microphonic when moving around. The Y splitter is attractive and practical with more metal and a wonderfully clever toggle (should you wish to wear them cable up) that caps the splitter like a bottle top when out of use. The remainder of the cable has a very tight nylon weave cover leading to a small and handy cable tidy and eventually a metal capped gold plated right angle jack unit. The strain relief here and at the Y slitter looks and feels sturdy without becoming obstructive.

Fit and Isolation

Fit, as always, is very much down to the users ears. Having said that, the conical housings and angled nozzle sat inside the ear snugly, feeling comfortable and anchored whilst protruding very little. I would not be surprised if this were the case for the vast majority of users. The angled nozzle prevents you from rotating the housings in the ear but the lengthy strain relief means the cable is happy curving round over the top of the ear or dangling down. Unfortunately the clever venting (we will get round to talking about how impressive that is later) does mean there is a little more leakage of sound, in and out, than traditionally expected. We found the supplied silicone ear tips provide an excellent seal and are comfortable too.

Sound

The TITAN 1 has a balanced type EQ which doesn’t purposely favour top or bottom end. There is a sense of the typical gentle smile curve with lightly recessed mids, a bit of bass punch and thump and some lovely air and silver to the top end.

Lows

Despite giving the feel that they can reach really low this isn’t overplayed, bass roll off is really well managed. Bass is deep but textured and subtle, there really isn’t much flab to speak of. Free of mud and cardboard tones as they transition to the lower mids, it’s all clean and well defined at the bottom. It’s a good balance which compliments contemporary music whilst gently stroking acoustic instruments and older dynamic recordings.

Mids

The mids are simply superb. Vocals and instruments in this region feel realistic and natural, there’s warmth but it’s handled with care. The outcome is a really pleasant and engaging vibe that defines the characteristics of this quick and nimble earphone.

Highs

There is plenty of energy in the highs but it rolls off comfortably, you couldn’t really describe the TITAN 1 as bright but that Titanium driver is performing a bit of magic here. There’s good air and space and just enough metallic brightness to deliver a fresh realistic feel with a bit more fine detail than you would normally expect from a dynamic driver.

Soundstage, Imaging and Separation

Soundstage is surprisingly wide and a bit further back than most in ears. This gives a bit of an upside down U shape to the image adding a taller broader scale than expected.

Sound Conclusions

The TITAN 1 have weight and authority but also enough bright power to sound refreshing and airy. Imaging better than more expensive earphones, they could still have a darker background and better detail retrieval but the combination of the Titanium driver and the completely individual venting system seems to be performing a minor sonic miracle. This venting is the subject of much discussion online, some believe the sound escaping here is vibrating the surface of the outer ear mirroring the way the ear receives normal room sound. The superb EQ and natural yet fun presentation prevents you from noticing the finer shortcomings. Sound-wise they conjure an exciting, easy going and vibrant presentation which is hard to criticise.

Accessories and Packaging

Packaged in a sturdy and attractive box, DUNU include some interesting information about themselves and their manufacturing ideas. Accessories are generous with three pairs of narrow bored silicone ear tips with red cores and three pairs of wide bored tips with blue cores and three pairs of what look like Sony hybrid tip clones. There’s also a 3.5mm to 6.3mm jack adaptor, a useful shirt clip and a smart hard case to keep it all in.

Conclusion

The TITAN 1 are shockingly good for their price. They’re a superb example of how far medium priced headphones can be pushed by an innovative manufacturer with big ideas. Although they don’t scale the heady heights of today’s crop of high end IEMs, they more than hold their own in the under £100 category. With their good looks, a beautifully implemented Titanium driver and totally individual take on venting, the TITAN 1 finds a natural, exciting and fluid sound which may make them the very best buy for anyone shopping at this price point.

The DUNU Titan 1 is also featured in our Best in-ear headphones to buy in 2015 – Expert Reviews 

Best in-ear headphones to buy in 2015 – Expert Reviews – See more at: http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/reviews/best-in-ear-headphones-2015-review-2015/#sthash.SkMK3Ygf.dpuf

Price: £89.99

DUNU Titan 1 Earphone Review

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DUNU Titan 1 Review – Probing Deep Space

Pros

  • Good solid stainless steel construction
  • Good quality metal 90 degree jack
  • Sounds crisp, fun and wide
  • Branded pocket sized hard case

Cons

  • Can be worn down only, not over ear.

Hifiheadphone Verdict

An ideal solution for fans of the wide sound of open-backed headphones, but who require more isolation. The bass is tight and solid, providing thumping drive when needed. Details are excellent for a half open in ear headphone.

Intro

Prolific in-ear maker Dunu-Topsound is back with more bad news for other manufacturers; the Titan 1. Perhaps taking inspiration from several similar designs which give a wider sound through porting, the Dunu Titan 1 headphones come with eartips which seal, and to great effect!

Key Features

Eleven holes on each capsule housing allow any internal sound reflections to escape, making the audio feel clear, light and fast. A titanium coated diaphragm greatly improves treble on this open style in ear while a range of eartips provide a decent seal to give you deep insightful bass, plus the branded hard case will provide protection while also being a practical pocket size.

First Impressions

DUNU’s designs are varied, and this one is a first for me – the impression when holding them is of luxury bathroom equipment. Maybe it’s the solid stainless steel construction, or the smattering of tiny holes in the housing making it look like a shower head. They could have named this model ‘Triton 1’. But there is nothing wet about these earphones, they just scream excellence.

Sound Quality

The Titan 1 seals very well in the ear, due to the design there’s a limit to how deep in the ears the Titan 1 can be inserted. Bass is very well balanced and puts a weighty feel under everything, the midrange is clear and cohesive and treble is crisp and clean without causing problems with sibilance. There does appear to be a gap or dip between the low-mid and bass regions; this is not a problem where clarity in the midrange is concerned but might be missed by some.

Soundstage is greatly enhanced by the design. One theory is that the energy coming through the holes in the housing (not through the eartip) is felt by the concha, or bowl of the ear. Just as in real life, when sound energy is focused by the ear into the ear canal, it creates a light sensation on that part of the ear which the Titan 1 design mimics with great success.

Summary

Yet another triumph from DUNU-Topsound – the Titan 1 gives a very convincing spacious presentation while also isolating the wearer from outside noise. They have a fun sound signature which has a slight bass enhancement, without losing the detail or sparkle in your music tracks, so they never seem to lose their balance.

Score 9/10