DUNU Vulkan II Review: Finesse and Metal Shells

DUNU is a staple of the modern audiophile scene. With major hits like the Braindance under their belt, their no stranger to the limelight. Today we’re taking a look at the Vulkan II: a metal-shelled hybrid IEM that aims to evoke a sense of balance and neutrality. But in a market saturated by high-fidelity, high-performance IEMs, it’s getting harder and harder to stand out. Is the Vulkan II worth your attention? Let’s get into it.

You can find the Vulkan II for sale here, on the DUNU website, for $359. As of writing, it is on sale for $329.99.

About My Preferences: This review is a subjective assessment and is therefore tinged by my personal preferences. While I try to mitigate this as much as possible during my review process, I’d be lying if I said my biases are completely erased. So for you, my readers, keep this in mind:

• My ideal sound signature would be one with competent sub-bass, a textured mid-bass, a slightly warm midrange, and an extended treble.
• I have mild treble sensitivity.

Testing equipment and standards can be found here.

The Big Picture

Pros:

• Excellent aluminum construction
• Great accessory package
• Organic, lifelike midrange timbre
• Excellent analytical properties
• Totally-inoffensive tuning
• Top-tier vocal tone
• Outstanding staging and layering

Cons:

• Shallow bass impact
• Lacking in treble brightness
• No foam eartips
• Demands higher listening volumes for best engagement

Tech Specs

• Drivers: 2x dynamic, 6x balanced-armature
• Impedance: 35Ω
• Sensitivity: 113dB SPL/mW
• Cable: 0.78mm 2-pin OR MMCX w/ modular cable (3.5mm, 4.4mm)

Sound Signature

The Vulkan II is a mid-centric, north-of-neutral IEM. It invokes a reference-style tuning while maintain a dash of excitement to keep listeners a little-more engaged. It features lifted-sub-bass, a prominent upper-midrange, and a linear treble. The Vulkan II’s upper-treble is less-emphasized than you’ll find on typical reference-style IEMs.

The star of the show, as you might imagine, is the Vulkan II’s midrange. It possesses an ethereal timbre that balances expressiveness with warmth and comfort. Guitars, electric and acoustic alike, are textured well. The slow and solemn strumming of My Soul by Thrice seemingly drips with effect-peddle distortion, ringing out into the track’s blackness. The tracks vocals are likewise toned almost perfectly. They’re rich and organic, strikingly so, and emanate an organic weightiness that is addictive.

The Vulkan II is quite good at communicating a sense of emptiness and space. It delivers vacant and echo-filled intro to Forever by Papa Roach excellently. The Vulkan II’s sub-bass wraps around the drum hits to provide them with substance and weight while the guitars grind above them. The track’s sound-stage is dynamic and layered, owing much to the Vulkan II’s impressive technical capabilities. M83’s Midnight City was likewise spaciously-rendered. The Vulkan II captured an enormous amount of texture on the track’s pillar-like synths.

For all the Vulkan II’s refinement and technical mastery, it is somewhat lacking in excitement. It is a tool well-suited for critical listening, but lacks the punch and authority I enjoy on my IEMs. To be specific, the Vulkan II is missing 2–3dB of mid-bass emphasis to really capture me. While some mastering styles are compatible with this flatter tuning style, many end up lacking depth. Tracks like House of Wolves; My Chemical Romance seem not to mind much, as the drums and bass guitar remain articulate and enthusiastic — but Meltdown; Ponette is disappointingly-flat. My relationship with the Vulkan II’s lower-register is thusly quite complicated. Sometimes a track — like Betray and Degrade; Seether — will come on and demonstrate an immense sense of depth and richness, while subsequent tracks feel lacking. I ultimately find myself wishing for a less track-dependent experience, even if it comes at the expense of tonal transparency.

Unboxing

Build

The Vulkan II espouses DUNU’s typical air-tight metalwork. Its faceplate features a few vented grills, though I can’t tell how much space underneath is dedicated to actual mechanical ventilation.

The top of the shells, depending on your version, house a 2-pin or MMCX cable socket. I have the MMCX version. DUNU uses high-quality connectors, so there’s zero wiggle or looseness. Like the rest of the Vulkan II’s shells, its nozzles are metal. They’re sturdy and feature a well-shaped lip. Applying and removing eartips is easy, unlike some other recent DUNU IEMs.

The Vulkan II’s cable is excellent. It has a premium hand-feel and is weighty without being obnoxious. It features a well-designed modular connector with a 3.5mm and 4.4mm termination. The Y-splitter and connector shells are housed in metal, giving it a pseudo-industrial vibe. This is a top-notch cable, especially given the price.

Comfort

Comfort is dependent on many factors, including your individual ear anatomy. Your mileage will vary.

The Vulkan II is comfortable for extended listening sessions. I was able to get over two consecutive hours of listening done before I decided to take a break for the sake of my hearing’s health. The Vulkan II is a little on the heavy side, thanks to its metal shells, but isn’t any-more imposing than its 10+ driver competition. Its nozzles are well-sized and aren’t particularly invasive.

Accessories

Inside the box you’ll find:

• 3x pairs “S&S” silicone eartips
• 3x pairs “Candy” silicone eartips
• 3x pairs standard silicone eartips
• 3x pairs “Atmosphere” silicone eartips
• 1x IEM baggie
• 1x semi-hard carrying case
• 1x 1/4in adapter
• 1x cleaning cloth
• 1x cleaning tool

Per DUNU policy, the Vulkan II comes (nearly) fully-equipped out-the-box. The included eartips are excellent, missing only a few pairs of foam eartips. The IEM baggie is a nice touch, and does wonders for long-term owners looking to protect the fine finish of the Vulkan II’s metal shells. The carrying case is likewise pretty nice and is spacious-enough for the Vulkan II, a few spare eartips, and a compact USB-C dongle. It won’t protect the Vulkan II from fluids, rain, sand, etc, but should be fine for commuters or students that use well-sealed backpacks. For anyone expecting inclement weather, you’ll need something like a Pelican 1010.

Comparisons

Comparisons are selected solely based on what I think is interesting. If you would like me to add more comparisons, feel free to make a request in the comments below!

ZiiGaat Luna

The Luna is a similarly-priced, but slightly costlier, all-BA IEM boasting five drivers per side. It utilizes hollow resin shells and a… basic, uninspiring modular cable. Both IEMs have decent accessory packages, though DUNU is generous with its eartips and extras in a way that ZiiGaat is not. The Vulkan II’s metal shells and gorgeous, sturdy cable are advantages in its favor, especially for user that intend to daily drive a single pair of IEMs.

The Luna has bigger mid-bass and sub-bass presence and a spicier upper-midrange. It isn’t quite “sharp”, but is far closer to such a description that the Vulkan II’s tame tuning. The Vulkan II is a smidge warmer than the Luna and has a more-natural timbre. Both IEMs are highly-performant, but the Luna’s more V-shaped frequency-response makes it more-flexible across genres and mastering styles. The Vulkan II has a better-grasp of sound-staging and layering, demonstrating clear improvements in instrumental separation and presentation on tracks like True Friends; Bring Me The Horizon. As I mentioned before, the Vulkan II will also better-suite listeners with sensitivities to the upper-midrange or treble. It is totally tonally inoffensive in a way that the Luna simply isn’t.

In all, while I do prefer the Luna’s lower register, I enjoy the Vulkan II a little more overall. It tonal and physical comfort, precise and premium construction, and technical refinement are very entertaining.

Kefine Quatio

The Quatio is an all-metal hybrid IEM features four drivers per side. In many ways, it is a “baby Vulkan”, especially given its significantly reduced price-tag ($129). Both the Vulkan II and Quatio aim for “north of neutral” sound signatures and reference-style presentation. The Quatio features tuning nozzles, but I find that the gold (treble) nozzle suites it best. For the remainder of the comparison, assume that is the nozzle I’m using.

The Quatio is warmer than the Vulkan II and has a broader, flatter upper-midrange shelf. The Vulkan II has less bass, both mid and sub, and a less-dramatic spike around 2KHz. Both IEMs have slightly rolled-off upper-treble, making them inoffensive and friendly, even to sensitive listeners. Both IEMs are quite technically-inclined, and the Quatio is better than it should be for its price point. The Vulkan II, however, still manages to resolve more texture and deftly resolves finely-layered vocals that the Quatio struggles with. The Vulkan II maintains a larger, airier soundstage and an unbeatable sense of space. It captures a true sense of transparency that the Quatio does not, in any configuration.

The Quatio’s bassier and warmer presentation will make it more-appealing to those who want a finer, less-dramatic IEM while maintaining some sense of mainstream sensibilities. The Vulkan II, at nearly triple the price, is better suited for staunch critical listeners and those that are willing to pay a premium for improved cables, material design, and accessories. I prefer the Quatio’s sound for casual listening, but find the Vulkan II to be much easier to listen to for extended periods, ergonomically. I also appreciate the Vulkan II’s vastly improved stock eartips, though they certainly don’t account for the large gap in price.

Kiwi Ears Astral

The Astral is a resin-shelled hybrid IEM priced at about $60 cheaper than the Vulkan II. It is a U-shaped IEM that features bigger sub-bass emphasis and brighter treble. Its midrange is a tad cooler, but is otherwise fairly similar. The Vulkan II’s mid-bass tuck is frustrating for me, as I described earlier, but the Astral takes it to another level. I named its entire review about how inconsistent and incomplete its bass is, so I can’t really recommend it to my listeners, assuming you like bass. The Astral is therefore an IEM with solid technical capabilities but no clear target audience — aside from those that generally like U-shaped, mid-bass-tucked, IEMs. If you’re looking for highly technical IEMs, but are concerned with transparency and timbre, the Vulkan II and its superior build/materials is the way to go. The Astral’s stiff, inorganic presentation colors the sound in a way that the Vulkan II does not. In spite of its higher price-tag, I’m choosing the Vulkan II any time over the Astral. Though, in fairness, I may just be an Astral hater.

EarAcoustics Audio SPA Limited-Edition

The SPA LE is an all-metal single dynamic-driver IEM coming it an $429. It is more-V-shaped and has a noticeable increase in mid-bass presence. The SPA LE’s lower-midrange is a little warmer, and its upper mids have a hint of increased presence around 3KHz. The SPA LE has longer upper-treble shelf, giving it a splash of increased sparkle. This gently-V-shaped tuning contrasts with the Vulkan II’s reference-style tuning, suggesting a significant delta in intended audience.

Both IEMs possess impressive technical characteristics, but don’t align on how they present them. The SPA LE has an intangible springiness to its sound. It is spry and eager, a trait I’ve yet to see reproduced on any other IEM. The Vulkan II, by contrast, highlights upper-midrange texture with a greater degree of intensity. The SPA LE’s layering capabilities are a little worse than the Vulkan II, but it layers with a greater sense of cohesion. Ultimately, it’s difficult to declare an exact winner here. The Vulkan II is the clear front-runner if all you care about is price-to-performance as a critical listener. But for those that want an IEM for a mix of casual and critical listening, the SPA-LE’s bassier, warmer, but still balanced tuning style is alluring. That, combined with its unique psychoacoustic properties yield a special sonic experience, and one I’m inclined to choose versus neutrality.

Conclusion

The Vulkan II is impressively-engineered IEM with beautiful metal shells and flagship-levels of performance. That said, it’s reserved and unassuming tuning may complicate its relationship with would-be buyers, especially those that are seeking out a more in-your-face presentation. Its relaxed bass presence and safely-styled treble make it a strong choice for critical listeners, but a difficult daily-driver for those who utilize IEMs on-the-go or in noisy spaces. If you’re someone that primarily listens to music at higher volumes, these quirks may not affect you as much.

Who This is For

• Critical listeners
• Discerning audiophiles seeking balance
• Those who want reference-style tuning without dramatic treble
• Buyers who plan to listen in quiet spaces
• Listeners seeking mid-centric, reserved tuning

Who This isn’t For

• Bassheads
• Those seeking V-shaped sound
• Listeners who aren’t able to listen at higher volumes

As always, happy listening!