Dunu Titan 1 headphones have become for me, perhaps, the main event of last year in the world of portable audio. A natural, detailed sound in combination with a convenient form factor and a democratic price brought this model to the leaders of the price-quality ratio. The only thing that clouded the joy - open acoustic design. And so Dunu released as many as two new models, continuing the idea of their suddenly successful experiment.
I still have a little feeling that Dunu was not exactly expecting the success of Titan 1. At the end of last year, the main marketing activity of the company was on hybrid liners Alpha 1, which did not get much popularity. Against the backdrop of the "alpha", the "titans" appeared quite unexpectedly, but suddenly it turned out that these were headphones that could compete with the flagship models of other manufacturers. The open, surround sound of the Titan 1 is distinguished by its natural feeding, fast and dense bass, clean center and well-detailed high frequencies.
The popularity of the Titan 1 has reached such heights that even Fiio decided to launch them under their brand, slightly changing the cable and the delivery kit. Fiio EX1 offered the same sound for a little less money.
Naturally, Dunu did not lose time and prepared two new models in the line, calling them the Titan 3 and Titan 5. Despite the large numbers, these are not exactly "older" models in the line, but rather an alternative to the first revision, offering a different sound. In addition, the new products received a closed acoustic design and replaceable cables, which many users lacked. Another "complaint" of excessive brightness, sounded from people who prefer a dark and clamped sound, was ignored.
In general, the recent premieres of Dunu make it clear that their signature sound is light, with a clearly traced upper frequency range. Whether there is an orientation to the Asian market with their taste preferences, or is it just a vision of the company - I do not know. While one thing is obvious: people with increased sensitivity to HF headphones from Dunu are contraindicated.
Since 3 and 5 titans complement the line more "wide" than "up", Dunu put on them very humane price tags, which are approximately $ 135, which is only $ 20 more expensive than the Titan 1 and is primarily associated with the use of replaceable cables.
Specifications
- Emitter: 13 mm with titanium diaphragm coating
- Frequency range: 10 Hz - 40 kHz
- Sound pressure level: 110 ± 2 dB / mW (Titan 3), 108 ± 2 dB / mW (Titan 5)
- Impedance: 16Ω (Titan 3), 32Ω (Titan 5)
- Plug: 3.5 mm TRS, L-shaped
- Cable: interchangeable, 1.2 m
- Weight: 24g
Packing and delivery kit
With the box at Dunu, everything was always just fine, and the new Titans were no exception. Thick black cardboard, a convenient lid on the magnet, the traditional Max Barskih on the inner liner - all this is familiar, familiar and immediately sets up a serious attitude to the headphones.
Traditionally, Dunu did not stint on the delivery kit. In addition to the titans in each box you will find: 6 pairs of different single-flange nozzles (differ in design and width of the "exhaust"), adapter for 6.3 mm, clip for fixing the cable to clothing and a plastic box for storage. An innovation in the supply of these headphones are special silicone pads on the main body of the headphone, which improve the fit due to fixation in the auricle. Similar solutions are included in the set of hybrids DN-2000 and DN-2000J, here the difference is only in the method of attachment to the headphone. These nozzles require a little addiction, but noticeably improve the "strength" of the landing, which will be useful for running and other active ways to spend time.
Design and comfortable wearing
The appearance of the new models retains continuity with the Titan 1, it's the same form factor "liners with a sound card," but with some differences. First, the material of the cases has changed: now it is stainless steel, molded under pressure. The headphones are slightly heavier, but their mirror shine looks just fine. Secondly, 3 and 5 titans became more closed acoustically, in the body now only one hole on the part that faces the inside of the auricle. Thirdly, as I wrote above, there were replaceable cables using MMCX connectors.
Form factor Titan'ov I can safely call the optimal, on the one hand, it allows you to easily place a large radiator, on the other hand - comfort and sound insulation are almost comparable to the headphones-plugs. Do not go titans can, perhaps, only the owners of the smallest ear shells. For the rest of the people, the threes and fives will provide a comfortable and trouble-free landing, the weight is distributed over the outer part of the auricle, so the headphones are securely fixed and tightly held in place, without creating discomfort.
The cable included in the kit is simple but convenient. It is made without any cloth braids and other bells and whistles, as usual black silicone acts as insulation. Correct selection of parameters allows him not to harden very hard in the frost, not to become entangled in non-untangling tangles, and reliable seating of the headphones almost eliminates the microphone effect (there is little noise from rubbing on clothes, but really very quiet). The cable traditionally has a comfortable rubber tail for reeling. MMCX acts as connectors for replacement cables, which makes it easier to find replacement solutions.
Sound insulation of new titans is a significant step forward compared to the old ones (although I felt comfortable with Titan 1). Of course, they still do not listen to the metro, they need models with a deep intracanal landing, but on noisy street or ground transportation problems there are no problems, except the non-illusory risk to fly under the car.
The quality of the assembly of headphones is traditionally high, there are not the slightest flaws or imperfections. Taking into account the replacement cable, the headphones will clearly serve the owner for a long time.
Sound
The following equipment was used for listening:
- NuPrime DAC-10H and Resonessence Labs Concero HP as DAC and Amplifier
- Apple MacBook Pro Retina 2013 as a source
- Fidelia as a player
- Fiio X5-2 and Cayin N6 as portable players
- VSonic Gr01, Dunu Titan 1 and Dunu DN-2000J as headphones for comparison
- High Definition Records in Lossless-formats (Dr. Chesky The Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disc and others)
Before listening, every headset was heated for 48 hours.
Since I combined reviews of both Titan models into one material (the headphones are similar both externally and by filing), I will first tell you what they have in common sound, and then I will further describe the sound of each model separately.
The first thing to understand is that 3 and 5 models are in no way an "improvement" for Titan 1, which was also confirmed in Dunu. Heroes of today's review have a different handwriting, and first of all it is connected with closed acoustic design. No matter how much we want to believe in a miracle, it's almost impossible to make closed headphones that sound like open ones, so if you were impressed by the openness and volume of the Titan 1 sound, you will have to stay with them. In the rest, however, the new products turned out to be interesting, they offer their own special sound.
The main difference between the 3 and 5 model, of course, is the low-frequency range. Even the frequency response curves, which are numerous on the Internet, show that above 1 kHz these headphones are almost identical, and the entire difference lies in the area below this limit.
Titan 3, in my opinion, is closer to the first model. Dunu calls them "vocal oriented", but this is not entirely true. I would call this model "universal", because in addition to very realistic MF there is a balanced feed throughout the rest of the range.
The trio's bass is tight, collected and fast. It feels a little tighter than the first model, and due to this it seems more lash. It conveys the texture and volume of the low-frequency range well. The depth is not bad, but inferior to the "five".
The midrange range is the most "intimate" among all modern models of Dunu. I do not know how they did it, but headphones very nicely put middle frequencies on the foreground, giving all instruments and vocalists a sense of vitality and emotionality. Sometimes it seems that some tracks are just played anew, it's so interesting 3 titans emphasize their emotional component. It should be noted that on some brutal genres the Titan 3 can give out too many emotions, yet the "troika" - headphones are intelligent and not designed for different anger. The imaginary scene is very good for closed headphones, both in width and in depth, although it is inferior to Titan 1. Tools are well separated, easily positioned, their character is transmitted very clearly.
The high frequencies at first seemed to me rather harsh, but, as in the case of DN-2000J, they just need a well-controlled source. The slightest signs of dirt in the player or in the recording - and there is a friability bordering on sharpness. In the case of good records, the Titan 3 HF is detailed, fast, aerial. They easily play out the smallest nuances and damping.
Dunu Titan 5 - headphones, a dream of the bassheads. Although their frequency response and do not talk about it, the Titan 5 give out stunning amounts of bass. Of course, this is detrimental to the average frequencies, but still the Titan 5 is one of the best in terms of price-quality headphones for connoisseurs of large numbers of bass.
LF at Titan 5 large, deep, very voluminous and massive. In Dunu not only added them quantitatively, but they made them slightly slower, giving them more weight. This creates a subwoofer's favorite effect, on some recordings the headphones simply cause the skull to vibrate (especially if the source allows).
Traditionally for headphones with a dominant bass, the Titan 5 has slightly moderate frequencies. Of course, the proprietary emitter with titanium dusting does not allow the bass to completely ugly to creep on the midrange, but, due to the dominance of the bass, the middle of the T5 loses that intimacy and resolution that T3 offers. In melodies where the bass is not so much, the fives show a good resolution for midrange, coupled with a decent transfer of emotions, but it's worth playing bass as the middle frequencies go to the background. Traditionally for bass headphones, the imaginary scene of this model is not very large, the instruments seem larger than in reality.
The high-frequency range of the Titan 5 generally coincides with the Titan 3, but against the backdrop of the allocated mid-range HF this model seems brighter. On the one hand, it helps to compensate for the bass dominant, on the other hand - can sometimes tire.
Summarize. Titan 1 - volume, balanced sound with a wide imaginary scene. Titan 3 - intimate, involving the midrange with a tight collected bass, a little bit already Titan 1, but pleases with good depth. Titan 5 - bass model with V-shaped sound, deep, powerful bass, compensated high-frequency, the scene is not deep, medium width.
Compatibility
Headphones are simply made for quality sources, cling them to smartphones or tablets - there is little sense, although if you really want, then the Titan 5 are better for this (if you are tolerant to HF). Titan 3 genre is almost universal except for very brutal genres. Titan 5 is designed for electronic music, popular styles, in general, those areas where a deep and powerful bass will benefit.
The quality of the recording of the triple is very sensitive, somewhere by 9 points out of 10, the five is slightly simpler, somewhere by 8 points, but they do not tolerate bad records either.
As usual, a few tracks for an example.
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On. This album was for R & B and soul by what "Sergeant Pepper" became for rock. This is now R & B has become another synonym for dull pop music, and in the distant 1971 already this disc was a revolution in music that raised the music of African-American ghettos to the tops of the charts. The lyrics are written from the perspective of a veteran of the Vietnam War, who returned to his homeland and sees only hatred, anger and suffering. This concept allowed to create ostrosotsialnuyu lyrics, putting it in an unexpected for this message, the genre of soul. Naturally, the work could only be performed by a magnificent singer, and Marvin Gay brilliantly coped with it. Titan 3 is very suitable for this music, conveying the slightest nuances of Marvin's vocals.
David Maxim Micic - Bilo 3.0. Belgrade "master of all trades" Michic is known not only as a virtuoso guitarist, but also as a keyboard player, composer and even a producer. In his works classic progovye things in the style of Dream Theater and Symphony X famously mixed with jazz, classics and ethnic music, creating an amazing fusion of styles, sometimes passing by the brain directly into the soul. Usually David Maxim writes all the music himself, but on the last albums he completes his opuses with female vocals, which is even more beneficial for them. Naturally, the Titan 3 shows here with the best hand, revealing all the nuances of the guitar and letting you hear all the passages in the smallest detail.
The Glitch Mob - Our Demons. If someone ever decides to award a prize for the music most often used in extreme sports videos, this trio from Los Angeles will clearly be among the top nominees. Interesting, carefully thought out sound combined with good melodies quickly brought "Mobs" to the top leaders of the genre IDM. Naturally, on such music kings act Titan 5, covering the listener with a crushing wave of sound and simply immersing in the atmosphere of the dance floor.
conclusions
Of course, everyone expected Dunu "improved Titan 1", but Titan 3 and 5 did not become them. New models, of course, are the development of a successful model, but offer a different sound. It's hard to say which ones are better, which are worse, all three "titanium" are very good in their category, which one to give preference to is a matter of taste. I'm glad that Dunu continues experiments, offering different options for good sounding at an affordable price and with excellent quality. And, of course, I'm looking forward to the multi-master hybrids promised for 2016.
The article is based on materials .
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