Introduction

A bit behind with this review, and a few others now in the queue – a busy period of life for a variety of reasons that ’ won’t bore you with!

I’m always excited to experience a new release from DUNU, and I had the pleasure of receiving both the fantastic ‘Concept R’ CD player along with Vulkan 2 a number of weeks ago. The Vulkan 2 have clocked up countless hours since, and travelled with me as a go-to daily driver for two different holidays. So I’ve had a lot of time to become familiar with their tuning, and circled through my diverse musical preferences.

I tend to lean towards more neutral focused IEMs over the years – I like a clean, transparent, detailed sound that doesn’t fall into a clinical trap. I favour sub-bass over mid-bass, and while I appreciate some warmth in the mids, I prefer not to go too lush or heavy. I like a crisp treble presentation that allows for maximum detail retrieval and soundstage expansion. And guess what? – I’ve just pretty much described Vulkan 2.

I’ve mentioned before the notion of a ‘technical’ and ‘musicality’ or ‘emotive’ dial – I visualize these like a traditional volume knob from 0-10. If I were to plot Vulkan 2 (calling V2 for the rest of the review) with this in mind, I would go for:

• Technical: 8
• Musical/Emotive: 6

To be clear, this is not a ranking out of 10 – merely my own measure of sorts as to how I would plot both considerations.

The balance I’m suggesting here for V2 along with the overall neutral leaning profile is very much the sort of set I enjoy – so take that as a caveat for the review, and indeed an early pointer for those of you who that don’t tend to appreciate this type of tuning. V2 is very much about clarity, detail, neutrality, and a touch bright. While bass isn’t the star of the show, it can deliver when needed and I’m not aligned with some reviews and impressions that state otherwise.

The V2 was sent to me free of charge in exchange for my honest impressions. As always, with zero influence from the brand on content… all words and images my own.

The V2 is available directly from DUNU, and indeed a variety of stockists globally.

About Me

I worked in the consumer electronics industry for a large part of my career and have been passionate about music and technology for as long as I can remember. Even as a small child, I would ask my mum to put records on the turntable (Abba, Supertramp, and Planxty if anyone is curious).

My music preferences are very varied—anything from classical to techno, indie rock to jazz, and everything in between. In my early teens, I was a big fan of bands like The Cure and The Smiths (still am all these years later). I was bitten by the dance music bug in the early 90s, becoming passionate about genres like techno, house, trance, and IDM. I amassed a huge collection of records and CDs, DJing at various parties and occasional pirate radio station slots. Although it remained a hobby, I still own thousands of records, and my trusty Technics 1210 turntables are still going strong 30 years later—a testament to Japanese engineering!

I am not a professional reviewer, just an enthusiast who loves music and the devices we use to listen to it. Over the last few years, I have become obsessed with IEMs and related gear. I’ve bought and sold many, and kept a select few—ranging from the $20 Moondrop Chu to kilobuck sets like the Aroma Jewel, Oriolus’ infamous ‘Traillii,’ UM Mentor, and various beloved single DDs. Through this exploration, I like to share my thoughts with the Head-Fi community, hoping they might be useful to others. However, remember that this is a highly subjective hobby, and your mileage may vary.

While I’ve been fortunate to own and try a variety of the TOTL sets on the market, I honestly enjoy lower-priced sets as much – especially as the gap continues to close, many much cheaper sets now offering significant value and further driving diminishing returns.

I’ll admit I do suffer from happy ears—rarely do I find an IEM that I genuinely dislike. At this stage, there are very few truly “bad” IEMs; it all comes down to individual preferences. Since I listen to such a wide variety of genres, I almost always find synergy with some part of my library. Where I tend to deduct marks is in areas like value for money, poor accessories, or an uncomfortable fit—things that can detract from the overall experience.

Specifications:

• 8-Driver Hybrid Architecture (2DD+6BA)
• Advanced 4-Way Crossover with Dual Physical and Electronic Filtering
• Independent Dynamic Drivers for Ultra-Low and Low Frequencies
• Custom Knowles Dual BA for Mids
• Custom Quad BA for Treble & Ultra-Highs
• CNC-Machined Aerospace-Grade Aluminum Shell
• Premium-Grade Cabling
• Q-Lock Mini Interchangeable Connector System

Unboxing

This is an easy segment as always with DUNU – if you’ve ever owned a DUNU, you’ll know the unboxing experience is second to none. Not important for everyone, but I absolutely love a good unboxing, an exciting moment when a new toy lands.

Accessories

As above, so below – a given with DUNU also is a wonderful array of accessories that many IEMs at far higher costs don’t even come near. Not only the variety, but the quality is always top-notch and this for me really demonstrates fantastic attention to detail and overall pride from a brand.

Case

The case is an evolution of sorts from what would have come with the likes of the OG ZEN, ZEN PRO, and SA6 – the SA6 MKII deviated from this and went with a very nice puck-style case which I actually preferred. The V2 case is a touch large, I’d prefer a bit more compact. It does however have that all important inner-net where you can store spare tips etc. It is made from a faux-leather material and has sufficient rigidity to keep the contents safe – I’ve had it dropped into a backpack on recent travels with no concerns.

Cable

The theme continues here in that the supplied cable is fantastic. DUNU have a great reputation for their cables, and they never skimp in this regard with stock cables. If I were to nit-pick slightly, I would say a touch heavier than my ideal preferences, especially for out walking but the vast majority of cables fall into that category for me anyway.

The cable has a slight rubber texture, and is very easy to manage. The interchangeable jacks are as always incredibly easy to change, and are secured with the screw lock mechanism.

Design and Fit

Subjective of course but I love the more minimal but premium looking finish. At 8g per earpiece, they do have a bit of weight to them but I’ve had no issues with fit even in longer sessions – this will of course depend on your ear anatomy and choice of tips – I have larger ear canals and as such always have to use the largest available ear tips.

The shells are made with aerospace-grade aluminium and in my experience are very robust – while I can’t claim ‘scratch resistant’ as a definitive statement, I can attest to significant use over the last few weeks but with absolutely no sign of any marks to the shells… I must note also that this has included poolside listening that included an accidental drop on tiles – an anxious moment, but all good thankfully…

The vents serve and deliver a dual-purpose in that they support the large and airy soundstage, along with of course ensuring no pressure build occurs.

Listening Impressions

First of all, by way of an experiment of sorts in this review, I have deviated from the regular segment of running through low/mid/high/technical – instead simply discussing as part of the overall listening impressions segment as follows below. Curious if people prefer this or would rather the more typical format… pop your thoughts in the comments!

Diving in…

As noted in the intro – the V2 is all about clarity, and while there is quite a leaning towards technical competence, it absolutely is not a clinical set. I’m going against the grain here from impressions I’ve read that suggest very little or even shock-horror, ‘no bass’ – that is not my experience. V2 has delivered what I would consider what a more neutral set should deliver, a well-articulated representation of sub-bass when sub-bass is called for, likewise mid-bass… but definitely leans a touch more towards sub. Of course V2 isn’t a ‘bass-head’ set, but I am not left wanting for any shelf of my library, one which includes a lot of bass-heavy music, especially from an electronic perspective. If I were to flip to a set like the Punch Audio ‘Martilo’, I would indeed note the large jump to the lows, but that is more about the emphasis in that set rather than the V2 lacking. It as always in this hobby is about the perspective of what you listen to on a more regular basis, and allowing time for the brain to settle in to tuning that steps away from that.

Clarity again is simply impeccable, absolutely crystal clear – every tiny nuance of detail shines through with precision. Each time I have the pleasure of listening to V2, the word that immediately comes to mind is ‘clarity’. Going from the likes of the aforementioned ‘Martilo’ (the subject of my next review), the V2 takes the role of a veritable palate cleanser – clean, crisp, and transparent. This is applicable right through the frequency range too. The midrange while not lush or thick, still measures well in the emotive department as I’ve noted previously – vocals and instruments are well rendered, with male perhaps leaning a touch thinner.

When not listening to single DDs, often my transducer of choice as some of you might know – I can be a bit of a snob in a multi-driver set where I love ESTs up top – hard to beat the balance of detail and ethereal delivery they can achieve… it’s no surprise as to the abundance of sets on the market now with a dynamic driver down below, BAs in the middle, and ESTs up top – a winning formula and probably my favourite outside of the humble lone-operating single DD. So the V2 does not tick those boxes being a dual DD and 6 BA set… but – the tuning up top is superb; fantastic finesse – crisp, clear, detailed and visceral but never harsh or jarring.

Before I move on to the track evaluation segment, I must note that I have found the V2 works very well as an all-rounder for my library – this being ambient, techno, IDM, modern classical, indie rock, hip-hop to name a few. The neutral to bright tuning can mean that older or poor quality recordings will show up their flaws more readily, but that’s the nature of the beast for this type of revealing tuning. Instruments and vocals are always represented wonderfully, with an engaging tonality. This type of tuning in my experience does a fantastic job of getting across the vibe of the music – so for example an energetic/upbeat house track will sound exactly that, exciting and upbeat – likewise a soothing/melodic slice of ambient will be delivered with equal expectations… albeit not aiming to overemphasize perhaps the emotions, hence my 6/10 on the musicality scale.

Tracks (with selected comparisons for each…)

Jezebell – Hung

Diving right into a track to cover what I was just talking about with regards to the tuning style and ability to represent the track, in this case a wonderful Balearic-house number with plenty of energy. The V2 absolutely steps up to the mark, demonstrating the superb clarity across the frequency spectrum and still allowing each area to shine. The technical competency very well showcased here too with a large stage and laser-sharp precision imaging, flung far in a wide stereo field. The mid-bass packs a clear punch here, perhaps landing with a slightly softer edge but with plenty of quantity.

Versus…

ISN H60

There is a notable lift to bass immediately, and overall a more coloured presentation compared to the neutral to bright profile of V2. I don’t think there is much between them from a technical perspective, both deliver incredibly well when it comes to imaging and layering in particular but the V2 clarity has an edge. Going back to the bass, you do hear and feel the mid-bass impact a lot more with the H60 – that sensation of a central skull ‘thud’ is very apparent. While the stage size is probably quite similar, there is a slight sense of intimacy with the H60 due to leaning warm.

Punch Audio Martilo

The Martilo initially feels like a veil has been pulled down over both the V2 and H60, a much warmer presentation which dare I say even sound a bit ‘muddy’ at first – but… you must let your brain acclimatise to these tuning differences, and after only a few minutes I certainly adjust and appreciate the different flavour on offer here. The bass moves up another notch vs H60, and feels like it’s occupying a larger space in my skull. While that initial ‘veil’ in comparison seemed to mask the details, they do open up and the Martilo conveys an admirable performance here considering the ‘bass-head’ focus they market.

Deadbeat – To Berlin with Love

This is a great example of what I mentioned earlier in terms of the bass performance from an overall more neutral to bright leaning set. This track has quite a sub-bass emphasis, and to my ears the V2 comfortably delivers – while it may not rumble your skull, and reach down into the depths of your belly – I feel it is a very ‘truthful’ rendition of the track coupled with both mids and highs… I love how the vocal samples are so distinct where they are central and slightly forward in that way where you can almost touch them. The percussion has that fantastic clarity and precision and seems to occupy quite a wide field, supported with the occasional synths and brooding aquatic vibes. There is the constant theme of the deep pulsing sub-bass which really does carry this excellent track from start to finish. This track needs bass, and V2 delivers.

ISN H60

Pretty much a rinse and repeat of the previous track comparison – bass immediately stands out, and a bit of warmth injected – not massively though, the distinction between Martilo is far more apparent. The overall clarity and precision does definitely step back, and the distinction for the percussion for example definitely steps back vs the V2 – bass take more of a focus.

Punch Audio Martilo

Yet again, it likes someone has switched on the bass-boost button and we take another leap beyond the H60. That immediate sense of a veil is there again, and the contrast of clarity and detail in the V2 versus the bass focus and overall warmth is incredibly obvious. Going from mostly listening to more neutral sets lately, and especially a lot of time with the V2, really does require a bit of a shift to adjust to this type of tuning – the bass emphasis and drop in clarity is initially too much for me, and I can imagine an audition of a set like this at a show or meet-up following the likes of the V2 could be quite short if time not allowed to adjust. But alas, give it a few minutes and that veil subsides, and the heavy bass becomes quite addictive.

36 & zake – Final Approach 6

I listen to a lot of ambient music, especially in bed – before I sleep, and frequently when I wake… often unfortunately waking too early, and not being able to drift off again so instead treat myself to soothing sounds. I love this series from 36 & zake, this third instalment just came out a few weeks ago and has had regular play. The V2 is pretty much perfect for this music in my opinion – I want that clarity, detail, stage size – that balance between technical and emotive, not leaning too dramatically far in either direction, striking a nice balance of immersive intrigue and emotionally captivating. The presentation sounds vast, closing my eyes I can feel like I’m floating in space almost… and no I didn’t smoke anything before writing this It is a truly beautiful album, and really does showcase the tuning competency of the V2 for this type of genre.

ISN H60

An interesting switch here as the bass difference matters less – I do hear the emotion move up a notch due to the warmer leaning tuning, and the level of detail steps back a touch – overall though, it is incredibly immersive and again there is that sensation of floating in space. To be honest I could comfortably choose one or the other here, I get a different flavour but they both work beautifully…

Punch Audio Martilo

That veil presents itself yet again – it really is so obvious versus both the V2 and H60, I can hear the warmth and step away from the really distinct clarity when I move from V2 to H60, but it is so much more obvious when I switch to Martilo. Now again, after a couple of minutes I adjust and it is a very pleasing, immersive experience. Of course you don’t have the same clarity and precision of the V2, but you can certainly float out into the universe… albeit perhaps wrapped in a warm fuzzy blanket.

Submotion Orchestra – Hymn for Him

What immediately strikes me here is the precise and vivid sensation of the vocals, you can really hear the words being formed right at the lips – they are presented centrally and I would say in line with instruments. Yet again percussion is crisp, succinct, and wonderfully lifelike. Throw in the instruments in the midrange along with the intermittent sax, and it is a beautifully captivating experience. The climatic moment beyond 4 minutes is handled with ease, the V2 never faltering or falling into any sense of harshness or congestion.

ISN H60

Bit of a broken record here, but the consistency is key – the H60 introduces that touch of warmth, and feels a bit more intimate. Vocals are again excellent, and step a bit forward vs the V2 – a bit more weight to them too. The bass steps in with a lot more authority, my attention much more drawn to it immediately. This is thoroughly enjoyable, again a different take vs V2 where the warmth and bass becomes more of a focus compared to the clarity and detail of V2. The climax hits with great dynamism, but again it does sound a touch more intimate.

Punch Audio Martilo

Interesting here that the vocals actually step back in the mix, and lack the authenticity of both previous sets – still captivating, but I feel both V2 and H60 perform better, even with their individual nuances. The bass rolls in as one might now expect, with significant presence and really does rumble through my skull. Yet again, once my brain has adjusted I can comfortably soak up the vibe on offer here, and it is quite an addictive experience. Must note also that while still more than possible to hear the percussion, it is quite a step away from the V2 in terms of the clarity and precision there – where vice versa, bass steps back.

Conclusion

The Vulkan 2 is another excellent release from DUNU, and certainly a set that will appeal to those of you who seek a more neutral to bright tuning, that excels from a technical perspective while still allowing you tap into the emotive side of your chosen music. It is yet another set that clearly (pun intended) illustrates the incredible performance on offer to music enthusiasts at far more reasonable prices, the market really is spoiling us now in the sub $500 category, let alone the $359 asking price for the Vulkan 2. I as always, look forward to what DUNU are cooking up next…