Perhaps, for this review, I will change my tradition and immediately reveal the cards. Dunu DN-2000J - one of the best headphones that I heard, and if we consider only the serial models in universal enclosures - then the very best. The previous model, Dunu DN-2000, was very good, but the new modification surpassed them in everything.
Actually Dunu Topsound - not at all beginners of the market of headphones, their experience can only be envied. Having started many years ago as an OEM company, they are not only a major manufacturer of equipment for other brands (many of which are widely known), but also managed to bring to the market a wide range of their models offering very interesting features for more than reasonable money.
The first hybrid model of Dunu, DN-1000, was a sample of the pen and offered users a fairly "typical" hybrid sound with a pronounced V-shape response. Then there was the cheaper model DN-900, in which the upper frequencies went under the knife, but this model of popularity did not win.
After these two experiments, Dunu reconsidered their views on hybrid headphones and introduced their flagship model DN-2000. More balanced AFC, combined with the best features of the hybrid scheme, allowed the DN-2000 to become an outstanding model. The next success of the company was a new dynamic radiator with a complex diaphragm, which was the basis of the megahit Titan 1. Of course, Dunu thought and decided to combine these two developments, adding to the DN-2000 emitter, similar to the Titan, though smaller. In addition, the adjustment of the reinforcing bar was changed, which gave a new sound. Initially, the model was called DN-2000J and planned to be released as a limited version for the Japanese market, but then decided to release it in large numbers for everyone.
The first rumors about the DN-2000J appeared at the end of last year, the first pre-play versions could be heard back in December, and real samples began to be sent around the world only about a month ago, in Dunu incredibly scrupulous about the development of models. Their principle - it's better to postpone the release than to release a raw model.
These headphones are built using a classic coaxial design, in which the emitters are located on the same axis. In the role of low-frequency bass driver speaker acts, the diffuser of which is made of liquid crystal polymer with titanium sputtering. Separately, both of these elements have already been found in headphones, for example LCD was used in Sony MDR-EX1000, and titanium sputtering is found in many models, the first thing that comes to mind is Fischer Audio FA-003Ti. Together, these two materials were used by Dunu. The speaker in the DN-2000J, of course, is smaller than in the Titan 1, but it even benefited him in a number of ways.
In the role of an armature radiator for the middle and high frequencies is well known to the connoisseurs of sound receiver TWFK from Knowles. This is perhaps the most popular rebar emitter of all time, run by dozens of companies and models. Thanks to this radiator, the headphones are able to play frequencies up to 40 KHz, and this brought Dunu a HiRez Audio certificate from the Japan Audio Society, proudly adorned on the box. This purely marketing move, coined by Sony, is gaining popularity recently, so it's far from the last headphones with this yellow label on the package. Of course, Knowles has its drawbacks, the main one of which is the aggressive feed of the HF. With this, a specially designed crossover and an acoustic damper of 150Ω are designed to fight.
Of course, such a thorough study of the model could not but affect their price. The recommended retail price of the Dunu DN-2000J is $ 350, and this certainly puts them at the very edge of the mid-budget segment. Are they worth their money?
Specifications
- Emitters: 1 dynamic + 2 with balanced armature
- Frequency range: 4 Hz - 40 KHz
- Sensitivity: 102 ± 2 dB
- Impedance: 8Ω
- Cable: symmetrical, 1.2 m
- Plug: 3.5 mm TRS
- Weight: 21.8 g
Packing and delivery kit
Traditionally for Dunu, the packaging design has been given a lot of attention. Heavy box of black cardboard pleases with high-quality polygraphy and an abundance of technical details. The box from the factory is tightened with a film, which makes it possible to make sure that no one has opened the headphones before you. Having opened two magnetic valves, you will get access to the headphones and accessories. The latter are not just many, but very many. With DN-2000J you will receive:
- 10 pairs of baits
- 3 pairs of Comply foams (T500, Tx500 and Ts500)
- a pair of zaushin
- adapter for 6.3 mm
- airplane adapter
- 8 pairs of aluminum rings for HF trim
- 4 pairs of rubber rings for adjusting the bass
- a pair of protective rings for the outer side of the headphones
- 4 pairs of rubber seals for better fit in different shapes
- Clothes clip for fixing the wire on clothes
- aluminum carrying case
Actually, there's nothing to add: the packaging and the package are great, and even the first impression when unpacking plays in favor of DN-2000J.
Design and Convenience
The external form of the case, the new DN-2000J resemble its "simple" predecessors, but they became slightly smaller, slightly thinner and slightly lighter, which in general favored the landing, despite the fact that they are still too heavy for headphones. The body has a classical cylindrical shape with an annular extension near the outer side. Near the outer part of the headphones are made special metal hooks for attaching rubber "ears", which improve the fixation. I spoke in detail about them in the review of DN-2000, so I will not once again dwell on them.
In the headphones, stainless steel is used at the same time, from which the sound ducts and inner case are made, and aluminum for the outer part. The overall build quality is simply excellent, not the slightest sign of errors or inaccuracies. With the help of DN-2000J Dunu once again demonstrated that they are able to even the most complex designs.
The problems of the previous model are also taken into account, for example, the sound guides become corrugated, this improves the reliability of fixing the nozzle and prevents those unpleasant cases when it remains in the ear.
The cable was also improved. Unfortunately, it is unchangeable, that for headphones is more expensive than 300 dollars - quite a noticeable minus, but the developers have tried to make the wire as best as possible. The cable uses good oxygen-free copper, there is an air gap, reducing the microphone effect and reinforcement, making the cable stronger. He does not make noise, gets confused, does not harden almost completely in the frost, in general - an excellent option. The splitter and the plug are made very reliably, the exit points of the cable from the headphones are additionally strengthened to prevent creases.
The cable is made with a separate ground throughout its entire length (therefore below the splitter it became a little thicker), so if you want, having re-soldered the plug, you can turn the headphones into balanced ones.
Wearing the DN-2000J can be done with an upward cable, passing it behind the ear, and in the usual way. Reduced the size of the body provides a comfortable enough wearing, and the abundance of complete attachments will allow you to choose the right option for you with ease.
Good for their task and cope with rubber "ears", with them, headphones are better fixed in the ears. The innovation of this model is silicone rings, which are put on the protruding edges of the headphones, if these protrusions bring discomfort, touching the inner side of the ears.
Sound
The following equipment was used for listening:
- Yulong DA8 as a DAC and amplifier
- Resonessence Labs Concero HP as a 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-2000 as headphones for comparison
- High Definition Records in Lossless-formats (Dr. Chesky The Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disc and others)
Of course, the most interesting is the sound. And then Dunu worked properly. The new 2000x version is not just an easy tweak, the difference in sound is very different, but about it is lower. The headphones have the ability to adjust the sound, both in the HF region and the low-frequency range, but they are lower. I will try to give the main attention to the "stock" version.
The sound of the DN-2000J is light, with emphasis on speed characteristics and resolution. It would look like a typical armature, but there's a woofer that changes everything.
One of the prerequisites for the full disclosure of headphones data is correct landing with full isolation. Given their weight, this can not happen immediately, but a large number of complete attachments will allow after a series of short experiments to achieve the desired result.
In general, few manufacturers nowadays risk making light headphones, especially in the top segment. Firstly, it goes against the mainstream, oriented to LF, and secondly, many simply do not want to hear the upper frequencies, perceiving their presence as a problem, although they are important for the full sound of the melody, they add to it lightness and airiness.
Developing sound for DN-2000J, the company tried to make a few fairly obvious steps. The frequency response is slightly V-shaped, the mid-range is slightly attenuated, so that the sound of the headphones matches the curve of the human ear (Fletcher-Manson curves) to the maximum, this allows the headphones to sound good even at low volumes, which is simply necessary for those who want to save hearing. Also on the AFC made a small rise in the area of 2.5 KHz to compensate for the resonance in the auditory canal. Also raised the area from 6 to 9 KHz, which should scare all HF-fobs, but about this in more detail, when we get to the HF.
The bass of these headphones is fascinating. If the source allows it, the LFs are incredibly well controlled, they are very fast and very detailed. The bass would look like an armature, but it does have corporeality. For example, when listening to Metallica "... and Justice for All", the bass drum beats feel incredibly natural, it's not just a knock, even a powerful one, but a blow that has a very short but a post-sound. However, the DN-2000J does not attempt to dislodge the eardrums and to turn everything into blows, like the hybrids of Sony, for example. In these headphones, developers were able to maintain an ideal balance of power and restraint. This was inherent in the previous model, but here in this respect one more step forward is made, and this should be just heard. The depth of the bass is very good, if you want, you can strengthen the deepest sub-bass with rubber rings, this turns the DN-2000J into a real bass deck model, with powerful blows to the eardrums that crush everything in its path. I do not really like this option, but fans of electronic music will be happy.
The middle frequencies, of course, are very, very good. No wonder Knowles TWFK gained its immense popularity, it is really one of the best reinforcing radiators, and it is thanks to the mid-range that it is so popular. The DN-2000J has everything you expect from a headphone of this level - detail, emotion, speed, naturalness, the transfer of the character of instruments and their location on the stage. The imaginary scene is built confidently, with good elaboration both in depth and width.
The high frequencies are pleased with the resolution, speed and enjoyable feed, but a pair of rises in the area of 6 kHz and higher can greatly spoil the impression of people sensitive to HF. Personally, I like HF (not to such limits, of course, like Grado), and I find the DN-2000J serving more than suitable for my hearing. If you are sensitive to HF, do not take DN-2000J blindly. In principle, there are several solutions to this problem. First, it's worth to avoid dirty records with poor quality, they are usually prone to over-rated HF. Secondly, very fine quench the upper frequency range of complete foam nozzles. I read that Dunu developed the DN-2000J in conjunction with Comply, maybe just to compensate for this effect of foam nozzles and is designed to raise to HF. Interestingly, the T-500, perhaps, even overdo this fight, so, to my ears, the best option was given by the Ts-500. Thirdly, complete rings for tuning HF also contribute to the smoothing of peaks. Fourth, experiments with non-standard attachments also bear fruit, for example, Sony Hybrids have shown themselves on the good side. In general, I personally was quite satisfied with the option with standard gray nozzles, but there is still a field for experiments.
A little comparative analysis.
Dunu DN-2000. In general, the old 2000 sounds darker, they have more LFs and a little less detail. We can say that they are lower by the conditional characteristic, which is called the "level". They are still very classy, but when you hear the new version, you do not want to go back to the old one.
Dunu Titan 1. Also in something similar headphones, as in Dunu try to withstand their "branded sound", but the situation is similar to DN-2000, lower resolution, a bit more bass, but worse control. But here in favor of the "Titans" says a three-fold difference in price, so for budget-minded music lovers Titan 1 - it's just salvation.
VSonic Gr01. Headphones, which use the same TWFK, without an additional bass driver, are slightly differently tuned. Comparing these headphones to the DN-2000J, you can clearly understand the difference between the reinforcing and dynamic bass. As though armatures tried, it is impossible to give out a bodily bass (more precisely, it turns out, but for this purpose it is necessary more than 1 radiator). And the speaker DN-2000J copes with this playfully. At Gr01, the effect of the "duration" of the blow of the bass drum described by me is lost. That is, "boom" is audible, but it is short, without subsequent vibration. In the same way, for example, many afterburnings of the double bass are concealed.
HiFiMan Re600. One of the best dynamic headphones that are produced at the moment. After reducing the price to $ 200, they are a strong solution for fans of taste. HiFiMan squeezed almost the maximum possible from a single dynamic driver, but there is a lack of fittings, and the resolution of the Re600 is worse. Although they have a characteristic for the "dynes" the fusion and softness of the filing.
Sony MDR-Z5. In Sony, they first felt the option for the sound, which is followed by the DN-2000J, and the Sony speaker is also very good, but the company went too far with the number of low frequencies, and the Z5 turns everything into powerful beats. Too many blows, too much pressure, too much LF. Because of this, the mid-range band is masked and the headphones sound generally simpler.
Compatibility
The impedance of the headphones is very low, so the source for them is very, very high quality. First, its output resistance should be less than 1Ω. Secondly, it should provide good current swing to ensure normal operation of the DN-2000J, so different tablets and mobile phones are swept away immediately. Also, a considerable number of players, including even the least expensive ones, are also eliminated. For example, the QLS360 with these headphones sounds somehow a bit too sharp and very flat. Cayin N6, on the contrary, copes with them just fine. Fiio X5-2 is already worse than Cayin, but still quite normal. I also liked the HUM Pervasion with them. I did not like all iHiFi players at all. In general, the process of selecting a player for them is not quite trivial, but this is a problem with almost all top headphones. Their potential should be disclosed.
The quality of the DN-2000J record is very, very critical, it will almost certainly be necessary to review the media library with them. By genre, I would consider them a universal solution, although here everything depends on the personal perception of the high frequencies.
Traditionally, a few tracks that I liked in these headphones.
Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington - I'm Just A Lucky So and So. Well, I do not even know if it's worth adding something to the description of this track, or the list of performers is enough. A great duo of the two greatest jazz musicians. In this track, every slightest nuance is important, every hue of the vocal and instrument, the exact transmission of volume and emotions. The fact that the DN-2000J works best.
Metallica - One. "... and Justice for All" became, perhaps, the most rigid album of the classical period of the band. Speedy percussion, aggressive guitar riffs, emotional vocals. It was on One that I first felt the full potential of the flagship Dunu, its speed and the most severe control of all frequencies allowed to play this track with the maximum immersion in the material.
Mastodon - Once More 'Round the Sun. Hope and support of modern clever metal and their next brilliant album. The technical work of all musicians combined with good recording quality and non-trivial music make this album a real masterpiece. And good headphones help him to open up to the fullest.
conclusions
In general, Dunu made headphones, worthy of the level of the flagship model. Their resolution, speed and control are very, very high. Due to the light filing with a little accent on HF, they are not a universal model, although this accent is not so great, and personally for me the problem does not amount to (do not forget that all people hear differently). The price of headphones is very competitive for the model of this level, so if you are looking for high-end headphones for sane money (with respect to other manufacturers, of course), the DN-2000J is one of the first models to pay attention to.
The article is based on materials .
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