DUNU FALCON ULTRA: TOTAL OVERHAULED, REFINEMENT AND AN EVOLUTIONARY ONE
“Music is a more potent instrument than any other for education”
~~ Plato, Greek philosopher
DUNU is one of the audio companies out there that I really like as I have tested some of their midrange sets like SA6 regular and SA6 MK.II in which I still highly regarded them as one of the best sets in the midrange segment. And I'm glad that I was given an opportunity to do another project review from them.
To think that the first set that I have tested from DUNU was actually the Falcon C and in this review, I got the latest variant of the said model, the Falcon Ultra. Like its first incarnation, the Falcon Ultra is also a single dynamic driver set-up IEM but DUNU added some new features like new driver technology, detachable filter nozzles and better modular cable.
According to DUNU, they upgraded its dynamic driver which was supposedly similar to their midrange flagship single dynamic driver IEM, The ZEN PRO with “Eclipse” technology on its driver. The dynamic driver of this one is a CNC-milled 10.7mm magnetic chamber with high performance magnetic flux density along with lithium-magnesium alloy on its diaphragm to give more rigidity and faster transient response for more accurate sound reproduction. Aside from its high performance dynamic driver, its acoustic chamber has well-placed vent holes to achieve a better dampening and regulated air pressure to achieve that solid bass response and better dynamics.
As for its shell chassis, it still follows the design language of the Falcon C which has a Magatama-like shape on its form and overall, it has a deep blue colour hue and it underwent an anodising treatment and buff to achieve that mirror-finished surface. It has a detachable brass nozzle where we can choose two types of tuning according to our closest preference on tonality and two vent holes on its cavity base. The faceplate has a minimalist aesthetic and I also noticed that its bottom part has a tiny etch of different DUNU logos on it. Like the Falcon C, it still utilises a MMCX-type connector as its interchangeable connector.
Regarding its fitting, like its predecessor, the DUNU Falcon Ultra offers a good sealing and comfort in my lugholes that I don't encounter any discomfort or fitting issues at all. With ita good sealing especially when I use the DUNU S&S ear tips that gives me an excellent noise isolation where it able to block some external noises from the outside surroundings
The stock cable of this one is a good quality, while it is somewhat on the stiffer side in terms of flexibility but at least it has a patented modular termination plug, so that we can use any types of jacks on DAPs, DAC/amp dongles or even desktop grade headphone amplifiers. The cables are made of 4-core AWG monocrystalline silver-plated Litz copper wires with insulation coating on each strand. As for its modular termination plugs, aside from 3.5mm single ended, DUNU includes a 4.4mm balanced and 6.5mm adaptor.
As for product packaging, I have no doubt on DUNU in this feature as they are known to be one of the most generous audio companies out there in terms of quality and quantity of inclusions that they will include to give more satisfaction to their customers. The packaging box of this one is a medium-size rectangular-shaped box and it is quite bulky given the number of inclusions inside.
Here are the following contents inside of DUNU Falcon Ultra's packaging box:
- Pair of DUNU Falcon Ultra IEM transducers.
- Modular stock cable with 3.5mm SE.
- 4.4mm balanced termination plug
- 6.5mm adaptor
- A hard-bound canvas fabric zippered IEM carrying case
- Four (4) pairs of DUNU S&S ear tips in different standard sizes.
- Three (3) pairs of DUNU Candy ear tips in different standard sizes.
- Three (3) pairs of balanced bore grey-coloured ear tips in different standard sizes.
- Three (3) pairs of wide bore “vocal” black-coloured ear tips in different standard sizes.
- A small plate for interchangeable tuning filter brass nozzles.
- A fabric cloth
- Cleaning tool
- A mesh bag for IEM transducers.
- Extra colour ring indicators.
- Paperwork like instruction manual and user's guide for Q-lite modular system.
When it comes to power scaling and amplification, DUNU Falcon Ultra is quite easy to drive given its low impedance and high sensitivity rating that my LG phones are able to drive properly and a smartphone, tablet or laptop are enough to amplify this set. I have some sources like DAPs, DAC/amp dongles and headphone amplifiers too and it seems that this set is also quite sensitive on sources with powerful output that there are some instances of slight hissing sound. In a source with proper amplification to regulate noise, this set is capable of delivering a clean, full range sound with good amount of dynamics on it.
As for tonality, since this set has a detachable tuning filter nozzle, it offers two types of tuning:
Gold Nozzle - Its tuning has a mild u to u-shaped sound profile with a tad warmer tonality to sound more balanced.
Blue Nozzle - A bright, u-shaped sound that focuses on the upper mids to treble. Sort of a modified Harmanish type of tuning that I'm quite familiar with.
(Graph measurement was provided by [USER=516219]@baskingshark[/USER] , credits to him)
LOWS/BASS:
Gold Nozzles
The bass quality of this one is punchy, impactful and quite detailed too. It has a more balanced presentation on both sub-bass and mid-bass on how I perceived it. There are some slight bass bleeds that smear across the midrange.
There's a noticeable reverberation its sub-bass part and the mid-bass region seems a bit boosted to give a substantial texture on its note weight not to sound leaner, therefore its gives more organic timbre on some bass-centric instruments and male vocals, particularly on bass to bass-baritone vocals.
Bass guitars - broad and rasping sound on every strum, pluck, fretting and slapping on its string notation.
Bass kick drums - full and thudding sound on every stroke, somehow quite fast enough that it can cope up with faster double bass kicks on some rock or metal tracks.
Cello - warm and sonorous sounding that its bass clef sound seems to be complimenting well on other instruments in the string section of an orchestra ensemble.
Viola - warm and “stately” sounding in every bowing motion and fingering notation that somehow affects the pitch tone depending on its tuner.
Bass to bass-baritones - it has an ample depth and texture while having a dense and sufficiently dusky sound. Although not the dark and espresso-like tone that these types of vocals should have, I still consider it well-done.
Blue Nozzles
Tight, precise and more rumbly bass response as if it primarily focuses more on sub-bass response than the mid-bass. It gives a cleaner bass response but at the expense of a tad attenuation of mid-bass region.
Due to more favour on sub-bass presence, it gives more grumble and reverberation on some instruments like synthesisers, octabasses, drum machines and low tone bass guitars that we perceive it more physically.
Mid-bass seems to sound a bit leaner in my liking. It has a less texture and sounds less natural on some bass instruments and bass-baritone vocals.
Bass guitars - resonant and a bit aspirating sounding.
Bass kick drums - soft and a tad hollow sound but it appears more precise and a bit snappy on tracks with fast double bass kick drums.
Bass to bass-baritones - lack of depth and texture on its vocals as if they sound hollow and less engaging that we might classify it as light or lyric baritone, although there's still a noticeable vibrato on their vocal end.
MIDRANGE:
Gold Nozzles
Due to slight bass smearing, it gives a warmer midrange presentation as it gives more texture and density on most male vocals, female contralto vocals, brasses and some percussives. Strings sound a bit more buttery and less energetic and less brilliant sound on woodwinds. Overall, its midrange presentation is quite mildly recessed on this tuning mode.
Male vocals:
Baritones - warm, smooth and rich, light and lyric baritones have its sweet, mild and insouciant while deeper and warmer ones like kavalier baritones, verdi/dramatic baritones and noble baritones have steely, fuller and smoother sound respectively.
Tenors - As there are many types of tenors but this one seems to be appealing and versatile enough. Lyric tenors have warmer sound but less brighter, while spinto and lyric tenors have brassy and a heft in their vocal weight and then on dramatic and heldentenors, their voices have rich, emotive and power on its timbre.
Countertenors - Tender, smooth and “coppery”. Enough to distinguish its recognisable and distinctive pitch notation of their falsettos.
Female vocals:
Contraltos - Rich, plush and smoky vocal quality as these ones are the closests adjective of its intended timbre.
Mezzo-sopranos - Smooth and velvety sound on their voices. It gives a more fruity and comforting sound when listening to these particular vocal types.
Sopranos - Fairly suitable on some lyric and dramatic types as it has warm, rich and creamy but lack of shimmer and energy that coloratura and soubrette sounds less appealing and lethargic.
Instruments:
Trumpets - Substantial, full and rounded sounding.
Trombones - Solid, full and brassy in any register.
Horns - Warm, sonorous and velvety.
Snares - Hard, dry and quite penetrating.
Tom-toms - Warm, rounded and resonant sounding.
Field drums - A bit boomy, full and fairly sonorous sounding.
Kettledrums - Deep, substantial and velvety sounding that reverberates in an orchestral hall.
Guitars - warm and buttery sounding on acoustic ones.
Violins - Solemn, dark sounding yet has a sweet. At least not muffled or veiled sounding at all.
Pianos - warmer tone, reminds me of some antique German pianos.
Blue Nozzles
While it has more noticeable recession on its midrange presentation compared to gold nozzles tuning mode, it offers a cleaner, transparent, crisper and a tad more energetic sound that will be more beneficial on some female vocals and some classes of instruments like strings and woodwinds. It sometimes gives more leaner and less texture on most male vocals.
Male vocals:
Baritones - too smooth, too sweet and has a tad lighter vocal weight. Not suitable on kavalier baritones, verdi baritones, dramatic baritones and noble baritones as they are lacking on vocal weight, richness and power.
Tenors - Seems satisfactory on leggero and lyric tenors as they have a mild, graceful and lilting voice to give a dazzling and spicy sound. Spinto tenor vocals like Luciano Pavarotti have less vocal weight and a creamy timbre that sounds hollow and opaque.
Countertenors - Still has tender with added glow on their vocal quality.
Female vocals:
Contraltos - Just like the baritones, too smooth, it has an inadequate richness on their vocal quality and a tad weaker sounding.
Mezzo-sopranos - Fiery, musky and tender sound due to the tuning target curve of blue nozzle to elevation in a midrange region.
Sopranos - Coloratura and soubrette sopranos will sound more shimmering and crystalline as it has a sufficient energy that is able to achieve an airy, bright and breathy vocal register that the gold nozzles will not be able to give.
Instruments:
Guitars - Bright, crisp and ceiling, it gives a more crisper and resounding tone on every pluck of its strings.
Violins - Vibrant, bright and lively sound , some instances of having a metallic tone on it.
Piccolos - Clear, brilliant and sometimes a bit too piercing sound.
Concert flutes - Bright and penetrating sound in any register.
Clarinets - Lustrous, lively and reedy sound.
Saxophones - Brilliant, expressive, and a tad shrill sounding.
Snare drums - It has a sharp, clear and metallic sound on every stroke.
HIGHS/TREBLE:
Gold Nozzles
The treble register of this one is so smooth, even and well-balanced that its safe tuning will be appealing to most treble-sensitive folk out there. It has a rather conservative accentuation on the upper-mids just to give a proper vocal rendition and attack of instruments. There's not a hint of harshness nor sibilance on this particular tuning nozzle mode.
On the brilliance part of the treble region, it has moderate airy extension and its sparkling nature is on a sheen side of tuning. Cymbals strikes have a more lustrous and full sounding, hi-hats have a short buzzing sound while celestas sound velvety and mellow, and glockenspiels have lustrous and silvery sound.
Blue Nozzles
Unlike the golden nozzle mode, this mode settings appears to have more crisper, better clarity, energetic and brighter sounding due to some intentionally boosted upper-mids up to the brilliance part of the treble region. It gives more definition on female vocals and even precise and sharper attacks of instruments. But there's a hint of sibilance on this that might be detrimental to some treble-sensitive folk.
It has more sparkle and shimmer and it has an even noticeable improvement of its airy extension. Cymbals strikes has more sizzle and glistening, hi-hats have added more resonance on their sound, celestas have bright and shimmering sound on them and glockenspiels have a brilliant and a tad penetrating sound on any register either on keyboard-type or the traditional mallet-type ones.
SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:
As I figured out its perceived sound/speaker staging, it has rather an average to above average lateral width span, acceptable height ceiling and somehow a good depth that gives me a rather less spacious head room with my aural sphere.
On stereo imaging, it projects me a concave–like stereo presentation where I was able to locate precisely the exact positioning of vocals and instruments in well-defined tonal and dynamic layering and a good separation of elements in a perceived black sonic canvas. It is capable of playing more complex tracks like jazz and orchestral tracks.
Coherency of its drivers is absolutely excellent given the performance of having a fast transient response without any hint of distortion. Its appears that maintain a well-balanced resolution capabilities as it has a good and robust macro-dynamics especially on gold nozzle mode and balanced and decently sharp definition of its micro-detailing as it is able to retrieve some nuances and subtleties from an audio track like notational attacks of instruments and vocal ends.
PEER COMPARISONS:
DUNU FALCON C (Demo)
● The older predecessor of FALCON ULTRA, it shares similar design language like physical aesthetic, MMCX-type connector and driver configuration but the FALCON C uses a CNT dynamic driver, non-detachable nozzles and it doesn't have a modular system of its stock cable.
● As for tonality, The FALCON C has a u-shaped sound profile as I remember. It has good sub-bass presence and an ample mid-bass texture, a well-balanced and a fairly texture midrange but it is quite recessed on its presentation on the overall sound frequency spectrum, and a boosted upper-mids that might give some shrill and piercing sound on some female vocals. Treble air was quite modest as I don't remember it as airy and well-extended.
● On technical aspect, it has a similar sound/speaker stage dimension with the FALCON-C as both sets give me a bit more intimate head room with the exception that the latter has a better layering and separation.
ORIVETI OD200
● FALCON ULTRA's closest rival as both sets are all-metal alloy chassis, detachable tuning filter nozzles, modular cable and driver configuration. But the difference was that the OD200 uses a beryllium-coated dynamic driver and also has its own acoustic chamber technology the ORIVETI also developed for better dynamics of its sound quality. Even on product packaging and quantity of included accessories, both sets are on par.
● OD200 also offers two distinctive tuning profiles, a mild U-shaped and warmer U-shaped which are quite similar with the FALCON ULTRA. On silver nozzles, the OD200 has more texture and more voluminous mid-bass as it delivers more authority and slam than FALCON ULTRA's gold nozzle. The silver nozzle has a bit more warmer and richer midrange presentation although the blue nozzle mode of FALCON ULTRA has better treble air extension on both nozzle configurations of the OD200.
● While the OD200 has a bit wider sound/speaker stage compared to the FALCON ULTRA but the latter has better layering and separation.
SIMGOT EA1000 FERMAT
● Another rival of FALCON ULTRA as this set also has a metal alloy shell chassis, composite dynamic drivers and detachable nozzles. But the difference between two sets is that the EA1000 offers three types of tuning profile and its dynamic driver was reinforced with a passive radiator. It doesn't have a modular termination feature on its stock cable and it offers less quantity of choices on ear tips to choose from.
● Even though it offers three types of sound profiles, The EA1000 tonality is leaning towards U-shaped sound and a Harman-esque type of tuning. Compared to the FALCON ULTRA, the bass quality and quantity is somehow more refined and well-implemented on the EA1000 due to the passive radiator which gives a darker and deeper tone on its bass response. Midrange is a bit leaner on texture and noticeable more recessed on EA1000 and it has more emphasis on upper-mids to brilliance treble as it gives more brighter and sparkling that it renders a sharper vocal clarity on female vocals and attack of instruments which might gives a bit too intense and piercing sounding to some treble-sensitive folk out there.
● Technical performance-wise, Both sets are actually trading blows on another but here are some takes, EA1000 has a tad wider sound/speaker stage and a bit sharper micro-dynamics while FALCON ULTRA has a more solid dynamics, better depth and more natural sounding.
Given the solid reputation of DUNU in the audio community as they have a solid following from audio enthusiasts around the world. I have no doubt that DUNU will deliver a complete and well-rounded set that DUNU Falcon Ultra is definitely a remarkable set as it maintains a well-balanced sound with some good musical aspect while retaining an organic and competent technical performance in a reasonable asking price given its implementation of newer driver technology and modern features that an IEM should have.
If you are an audio enthusiast looking for a good upgrade from your entry-level sets and want to make a huge leap in terms of tonal and technical performance, The DUNU Falcon Ultra is probably what you are looking for.
The DUNU Falcon Ultra is now available in HIFIGO, you can check out the unaffiliated links that I have provided below.
★★DUNU FALCON ULTRA - HIFIGO★★
Also, you can check my previous reviews on other DUNU products.
SPECIFICATION:
MODEL: DUNU FALCON ULTRA
IMPEDANCE: 15Ω
SENSITIVITY: 108dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 5Hz – 40KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M
PIN TYPE: MMCX-TYPE CONNECTOR
PLUG TYPE: MODULAR (3.5mm, 4.4mm)
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER
PROS:
● Solidly built shell chassis with elegant looking deep blue hue as its overall colour scheme.
● It still retained that magatama-like design form as the original Falcon-C gives me one of the most comfortable fitting and excellent passive noise isolation in an all-metal shell chassis IEM.
● Detachable tuning nozzles for tuning versatility
● Good quality stock cable as it also has a modular termination plug feature.
● Well, since this is a DUNU product, expect a quantifying amount of inclusions.
● Too many types of ear tips to choose from
● A large carrying case with toughened canvas fabric for better storage and protection of the IEMs.
● Two types of tonality to choose from based on our preferred target tuning curve.
● Punchy and quite visceral bass response (Gold nozzles)
● Warm, well-balanced texture and natural sounding midrange (Gold nozzles)
● Clear, transparent and energetic sound on midrange (Blue nozzles)
● Excellent on male vocals, percussives and brass instruments (Gold nozzles)
● Splendid clarity and detail on female vocals, strings and woodwinds (Blue nozzles)
● Smooth and inoffensive tuning on treble response (Gold nozzles)
● Bright, shimmering and airy treble response (Blue nozzles)
● Majority of its technical capabilities are quite commendable for a single dynamic driver set.
CONS:
● Its mirror-finished surface is quite a fingerprint magnet and prone to light scratches.
● Noticeably recessed midrange on blue nozzle mode.
● Instances of shrilly, piercing and slight sibilance on the blue nozzle mode.
● The treble response on the gold nozzle will be most likely less appealing to adherent treble-heads.
● Wishing for a wider sound/speaker stage.
Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)
Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
P.S.
I am not affiliated to DUNU nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.
Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to HIFIGO especially to MS. YUMU SONG and MS. LVY YAN. And I also say thanks to NEIL NIÑO CLARK a.k.a [USER=553763]@koyawmohabal[/USER] for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate their generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.
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