SOUND QUALITY:-
The DK2001 is not a slouch when it comes to driver quality or quantity. It houses a very similar set of drivers as the DK3001 pro. It is equipped with 3BA drivers and one Dynamic driver. The 13mm dynamic driver with dual sided PVD beryllium coating is responsible for the lower end. A custom spec Knowles driver with independent output tubing handles the mid-high frequencies. There are two custom spec super tweeters providing ultra high frequencies and finishing touch to the treble. There is a 4mm vent on the back plate which provides plenty of breathing space for the 13mm dynamic driver. It has been a long time since I have worked on an earphone with a vent as big as the DK2001 (The last one was NCM NC5 v2).
The DK2001 is fairly balanced without emphasizing any particular region of the frequency range. Where the DK3001 was mid forward the DK2001 has fairly leveled mid range. The overall sound signature is slightly warm and marginally bright. It sounds fairly neutral with a hint of coloration.
BASS:-
Powered by a 13mm beryllium coated driver the DK2001 delivers a very detailed and layered lower end like considerably more expensive earphones such as Fibae 4 and Pola39. The best thing about having a dynamic driver for lower end is the amount of texture it can deliver can rarely be found with BA based earphones. The amount of control it exhibits over bass notes is admirable.
The bass extension is very good, one of the best I have experienced lately. It goes deep into the spectrum, just shy of the Fibae 4 and SD5 and notably better than most BA based earphones in its price range. Sub-bass has good rumble with a nice body and slam. The mid bass is slightly more energetic and fuller with very good impact and quantity. It moves very good amount of air with a sizeable slam to it while having fantastic control over notes. The upper bass has good amount of energy and gives the lower end a nicely rounded and detailed feeling. The amount of texture maintained by this dynamic driver is very hard to find with BA based earphones unless you are willing to pay 3-4 times more. The decay speed of the dynamic driver is very accuracy, similar to the UM mirage and faster than Fibae 4. It gives the notes good amount of freedom to express them without letting them get wooly or loose. The decay speed is nicely paced to give the notes required amount of precipitation.
When it comes to quantity it is a bit more than the Fibae 4 and really close to the Shozy Pola. The quality lies somewhere between the Fibae 4 and Avara AV3.
MID RANGE:-
One out of the three custom spec BA drivers is responsible for the mid range of the DK2001 and it delivers like a champ with fantastic transparency and clarity. What makes it outstanding is its richness with sonic abilities, the Avara AV3 is good with sonicality but the DK2001 pulls over it with ease. Compared to the DK-3001 the DK2001 is less mid forward and feels a hair less forward than the bass region. It maintains fantastic amount of energy and micro details across the mid range. What I admire the most about the DK-2001 is its ability to keep things clean, clear and transparent. The floor is nicely clean and notes have fantastic body with accurate finishing.
The transition region from the dynamic driver’s upper bass to the BA powered lower mid range has very good amount of energy and transparency. It doesn’t let the crossover lose the shine in this region.
Vocals are accurate with tonality and pitch. It doesn’t try to compensate or smooth the notes. It lets the vocal notes to be true to their character. There is no coloration. Both male and female vocals sound very accurate with equally good transparency, decay and attack to them. Notes have very good definition, resolution, texture with accurate dept. Instruments have very good depth and attack to them. They don’t shy away from leaving an impression, Dunu hasn’t tuned the DK2001 to smooth out the sharpness which lets it deliver very good transparency with class leading amount of resolution. Thanks to the natural expansion of sound stage layering a separation is very good with very good amount of air between instruments. It maintains very good density without any hollowness in the stage.
HIGHS:-
I have been working on some sub$200 earphones lately. Most of them lack accuracy, especially with treble presentation. Thing either go dark or overly bright with notes that are under polished or say less refined. But DUNU DK2001 manages the balance of energy and notes depth very well. The treble region has fantastic resolution while maintaining good amount of sharpness. It doesn’t shy away from delivering a sparkly and energetic treble region without venturing into the realm of sibilance. It delivers one of the highest amounts of details for under $500. Lacking a bit more energy would have made it smoother and a bit more energy might have made things unnatural.
The transition from upper mid range to lower treble is handled nicely. There is a bit more energy than usual but it is devoid of any peaks or sibilance. Those who are totally sensitive to treble might find this slightly on the attacking side. The treble extension is as good as it gets in this price range. It maintains good amount of energy till the end of the spectrum, without any roll offs. Thanks to the big treble stage instruments have very good air between them and the placement has a nicely layered feeling to it. Layering and separation of the DK2001 is as good as anything else in its price range.
