Dunu DK-4001 Chi IEM Review

Dunu has just released its new flagship IEM. At $899, it’s only slightly more affordable than famous models, like the Shure SE846, the Sennheiser IE800S and the Campfire Andromeda (2020 and 2nd edition). Can the DK-4001 compete with other IEMs in this echelon? Let’s find out in this Dunu DK-4001 Chi IEM Review.

Dunu DK-4001 Chi IEM Review

IN the BOX

FIT

I had no problems here. With an around-the-ear memory wire and a &^$*load of eartips to choose from, I was easily able to find a secure and comfortable fit. They're also relatively light, and have a nice ergonomic design that seals out a good amount of ambient noise.

DESIGN

The Dunu DK-4001 has a hybrid 5 driver setup. A dynamic driver for the bass and lower mids, and four balanced armatures for the higher frequencies.  The housing is made from Zirconium Alloy, and the MMCX cable is a combo of OCC and silver.

Now, let’s talk more about this cable. Dunu is generous in terms of what they include in the package. And they’ve been very smart here. They’ve dropped the idea of an unbalanced cable. And instead, the buds come with only a balanced cable. But it has a detachable connector, and you have 4 connections to choose from: 3.5mm unbalanced, 2.5mm balanced, 4.4mm balanced and a 3.5mm Pro. You’ll also get an airplane adapter, a ¼ inch adapter, Comply tips, Spinfit tips, and a bunch of different sized regular silicone tips. Dunu has also included a nice leather pouch to keep the buds cozy.

SOUND

Overall Impressions: Well balanced and versatile.

Lows

Just the right amount of bass presence. There’s enough oomph to make pop sound like it should. But it avoids stealing the mic. That beings said, the bass is not ridiculously tight or grippy. Impact is not its strong suit. Still, if you don’t like your bass too dry, this sound profile will suit your ears. Listening to acoustic double bass, again, it felt a tad laid back. So, don’t expect a super fast transient response. These buds aren’t control freaks.  But listening to rock, there was nice warmth and richness. And moving onto classical, cellos had a pleasingly smooth feel, though they perhaps lacked the level of detail you would find in some other top models at this price range.

Mids

We’ve got a perfectly balanced midrange here. The DK-4001 avoids emphasizing the upper mids, giving the low mids the same attention. This even tempered profile lends itself well to big rock choruses, giving them a full bodied feel. And vocals don’t protrude too far in front of the mix. Testing out some acoustic guitars, the separation was great. And these cans handle the instrument very delicately. It almost reminds me of the Sennheiser IE800S in this respect, in that it has a soft yet detailed feel that creates an emotive listening experience.

Highs

In this frequency range, smoothness wins over transparency, which becomes apparent when listening to string solos. But listening to pop, percussion in this range gets very crisp and sparkly. And comparing it to the Campfire Andromeda, for example, it’s slightly brighter. In fact, at the very highest registers, it gets a little piercing. But as long as you stay away from Miles Davis, you should be fine.

Soundstage

I was happy with the quality of soundstage that Dunu produced for the price. Imaging was precise. And though the stage can’t match the grandness of other slightly more expensive models, like the Campfire Andromeda, it still delivers a satisfyingly multidimensional feel.

SUMMARY

This is a beautifully balanced headphone. And it offers a great deal of clarity in the midrange, especially. It may not be as fast or as transparent as other top models in this price range. But it does offer a balanced cable, which would usually set you back another $150. So, if you need great fidelity, but aren’t willing to shell out 1000 bucks or more, this is a good alternative.

You can pick up a pair of Dunu DK-4001 at our store.