Dunu Falcon Ultra IEM Review

Hello friends! I’m back with another IEM review. This time I’ll be reviewing the Dunu Falcon Ultra In-Ear Monitors, which retail for $239.99. Big thanks to my friend Practiphile for loaning me this pair, courtesy of HiFiGo.

Disclaimer: Reviewing audio gear is highly subjective. There are many factors that influence the sound characteristics of a product, such as ear tips, fit, music choice, prior experience, and more. What I experience may not reflect what you experience, and vice versa. So please take everything I say here with a grain of salt, and always cross-reference reviews. So now, let’s proceed.

Summary

Pros:

Effective interchangeable nozzles
Forgiving to poorly mixed songs
Impressive amount of accessories
Very comfortable fit
Engaging sound

Cons:

Fingerprint magnet finish
Trebleheads might need more treble energy
Not for the folks who prefer neutral sound signature

About the Dunu Falcon Ultra

Company Overview

DUNU is a well-known Chinese company based in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. They have been developing and manufacturing earphone products since 1994. Over the years, DUNU has won international acclaim for their acoustic research and innovations. They remain committed to pushing the limits of personal audio and delivering an uncompromised musical experience for audiophiles.

Technical Specifications

Impedance: 16Ω @ 1kHz
Sensitivity: 108dB±1dB @ 1kHz
Frequency Response: 5Hz-40kHz
THD+N: <0.3% at 1kHz
Cable Material: 4-Core Silver-Plated Copper Litz
Connector Type: Patented MMCX Connectors
Termination Options: 3.5mm TRS and 4.4mm TRRS (Interchangeable plug system)
Weight: 20g (10g for each earpiece)

What’s Inside the Box

Hard Case
Cable (Q – Lock Lite Interchangeable Plug System)
Extra Nozzle (Gold)
4.4mm plug (for the Q-LLIPS cable)
6.35mm to 3.5mm Adapter
Mesh Pouch
S&S Eartips (Stage & Studio)
Candy Eartips
Balanced Eartips
Vocal Eartips
Cleaning Brush
Cleaning Cloth
Additional Rubber Gaskets
In-Ear Monitors

Review

I don’t normally follow announcements and read spec sheets of all new IEMs. There are just way too many releases these days, so I just blindly audition sets when there are local meetups in our area.

I was amazed when I learned these are single-dynamic driver IEMs. They are really capable, although I lack experience with single DD IEMs. But I have mostly read positive feedback about the Tanchjim Oxygen, which has a similar driver configuration.

Frequency Response

Frequency response courtesy of Practiphile.

Experience

Using it with the stock S&S tips, it fits snugly. However, after long periods of time, it slides out and leaves some pain in my ears, maybe due to the somewhat stiff silicon eartips. So I changed to my tried-and-true Tri Clarion tips – these are the only ones comfortable enough for longer listening sessions in my experience.

I wasn’t too crazy about the cable either. It’s stiff, even stiffer than the BQEYZ Winter’s cable. Though the components used are high quality, with a brushed finish and interchangeable plugs being a nice touch.

The finish on the IEM’s faceplate is a fingerprint magnet, which is a shame since it’s really well made, and lightweight, and those subtle symbols around the faceplate are really appreciated.

Music

Having used the golden nozzle, it gave me this smooth and inoffensive response – the best I can describe it is a “creamy” signature. It reminds me of my Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro earbuds’ sound signature.

Going back to the stock blue nozzle, I was listening to Wolf Alice’s “Delicious Things” from their Blue Weekend album. I noticed the treble is well controlled, with no unnecessary spikes even though this track has pretty intense highs throughout. Heck, even listening to “Thank God It’s Friday” by Ice Nine Kills, there was no piercing treble present. This song can sound really sibilant on uncontrolled tuned drivers.

Vocals are well placed for both male and female, not too forward or recessed in the mix.

The Falcon Ultra provides enough sub-bass rumble without overwhelming the lower mids.

Instrument placement is not congested, with just enough space between elements. These IEMs are really forgiving even on poorly mastered or mixed tracks.

Gaming

Gaming with the Falcon Ultra, it has good technicalities. It extends well, resulting in easier opponent detection. The imaging is somewhat similar to the Bravery AE, I’d estimate around 70-75% of its overall technicalities.

Conclusion

There you have it! My Dunu Falcon Ultra IEM Review. Overall, I really enjoyed my time listening to the Dunu Falcon Ultra. It fits my preferred sound signature well. The IEMs are engaging enough but not to the extreme that fatigue sets in during listening. Strangely, they manage to be both engaging and inoffensive simultaneously – those words don’t usually go hand in hand in my experience.

I can highly recommend these IEMs if you listen to a wide variety of music genres. They are forgiving on poorly recorded tracks and they make your feet thump with its engaging sound.