Welcome to Dunu Talos review. Thanks to Dunu for the review sample – it won’t change the neutrality. We’ve seen planar iems with variation configurations before, but this is the first time we’ve seen a pure planar or planar + BA iem with mode selection. It has dual drivers that can be divided by a simple ON switch. It has a nice, eye-catching figure, and let’s see the review after first impressions here.
Pros
Planar neutral sound is ON mode
Balanced
Flat and neutral
Cons
Genre specific
OFF mode is hard to bear
Playing enthusiastic and hurting hifi in your ears
Sound
The sound experience is pretty balanced with crisp treble. However the smooth vocal of the male singer is making up for it. The soundstage is wide to the left and right. But not that much depth. This can be an issue to be solved with balanced connection. Level of dynamism is so captivating in ON mode. But you can’t escape from the crispy treble. Its bass in electronic tracks is punchy (and satisfying) and fast just like the treble. And it presents a fairly flat sound signature & wide at the same time.
MJ inspired multiple instrumental Michael Meets Mozart is such a joy to listen with this treble happy planar iem. The instrument separation is excellent, and each note comes at you one by one, but the timbre is flat.I don’t know, it’s too much for me from time to time. Had it been just the crisp treble, it would be okay anyway, but hearing energy and sibilance even in Roscoe, which had to be relaxing, is disappointing. However, layering and tonality are both excellent in studio recordings. I gotta say that I loved the liquidity in violins and the rumbling beneath in say, Haggard.
1st UPDATE
Switching to M gain mode got rid of the annoying flat treble and gave tracks with natural instruments a silky smooth sound. Hip hop has a great way of making you feel things because of how it uses tone. For example, you can cry while listening to a song about a woman who has been mentally destroyed, is exhausted, has no hope left, and is still trying everything she can to find a solution.
2ND UPDATE
Transparent eartips now
The soundstage shrank. Wasn’t the soundstage one of its positives? On M gain, every instrument grew edgier as well. The abundance and crispness of the treble returned. Before, there was a problem with high power, and now eartips copy them.
Gaming
The bullet fest of COD begins after reverting back to black and green bored eartips. (inner voice: You’ll see how gaming is with pure planar musicality)
I’m sorry to see that planar iem and gaming (fast-paced FPS) don’t mix. Yes, the stage is large, but hearing so many details without a substantial body hurts.
Comparing
vs Letshuoer s12
S12 is a little behind Talos in bass control. And the presentation is a little relaxed. However, it is more lively than it. 3d imaging, clarity and other technical stuff are Talos’s job compared to i3.
However, you are missing the crisp treble. It offers balanced listening. And truly superior when it comes to dubstep and other genres that require bass.
vs TRI i3 Pro
The i3 Pro is both older and less power efficient, and it is a tribrid with only one planar driver. However, the bass is more controlled, yet the same smoothness remains. Clarity is definitely behind Dunu Talos, and layering too.
Despite the fact that each driver controls a single frequency band and that it is slightly worn due to age, it still performs admirably in terms of extension, bass slam in electronics, and an airy soundstage similar to headphones.
Dunu Talos Review Conclusions
Dunu has been a recognized brand for 20 years. After the Vulkan that we reviewed, Talos is their most recent IEM. A nice innovative hybrid attempt was made in this segment. The initial one was Celest Gumiho. When the planar mode is activated, Talos’ true beauty is revealed. However, remember to change the gain setting to M or Low OR you will face the dx300 consequences.
