Dunu Trident (DN-12) Review

Entry level earphone from Chinese company Dunu

Specs:

Driver: Dynamic

Frequency Response: 10Hz~20KHz

Impedance: 16Ω
Sensitivity: 100dB
Cord Length: 1.2m

Plug Type: 45° Angled Plug
MSRP: $35

Packaging / Accessories:  

The Dunu Tridents are packaged very well, in fact the packaging is almost identical to Monster's in ears. I would never have expected such nice packaging for a $35 pair of earphones. They come with a good bundle of  accessories, including 7 pairs of tips (3 single-flanged narrow channels, 3 pairs of single-flanged wide channels, 1 pair of bi-flanged), a synthetic leather pouch, and a patented cord wrap integrated into the cable.

Build Quality / Appearance / Cable: 

Build quality on the Trident is very impressive, not just in the price range but in general. These can definitely take a beating and I wouldn't be worried if I were to accidentally drop them. The metal housing and simple design combines to give off an elegant and professional look; they look and feel more high end than other $35 earphones.  On the housing, there is also a ring of colour around the diameter of the rear of the housing - red for right, and blue for left - making it easier to figure out which side is which. The Trident has an 45 degree angled jack that is certainly also very well built. The cord is a little stiff but I don't find them to be memory prone. It is however quite microphonic unless worn over the ear. I have been very fond of the cable wrap and certainly believe that it is a good addition.

Comfort / Isolation: 

These are very comfortable and I had no problem wearing them for several hours straight. Though the housing is not extremely big, people with smaller ears may find the diameter of the shell uncomfortable in longer listening sessions.  Isolation is decent and is sufficient for public transit.

Sound:

Lows:  Bass is done very well considering the price range the Tridents fall in. The bass is deep and punchy but can be a bit slow and may fall behind when listening to trance or electronic music. Even though these are dynamic earphones, they are in no way bass monsters - more of a balanced sound with some bass boost. It may not produce the large amount of bass (no matter how muddy it is) other IEMs in this price bracket pumps out, but the Trident's bass is of higher quality. Dunu has done a great job with the Trident in the lower frequencies, offering just the right amount of bass quantity to not overwhelm and still being very well controlled. It's like the bass is being extra careful to not be too shy nor too outgoing. 

Mids:  The midrange is warm and lush. It's not particularly forward with the overall sound a bit V-shaped. It also lacks some clarity, but still very good for a $35 earphone. Vocals sound fluid and does have some emotion, but there are others that render vocals better. I also noticed that the timbre is decent in the mids and portrays acoustic instruments quite well. Overall, the mids are smooth and pleasant to listen to.

Treble:  Top end extension is not as good compared to the bass, but there is no harshness and the sound is non-fatiguing. The treble is relaxed and has no sparkle, but it has good clarity and certainly performs up to its price tag. Although the Trident is no slouch in the higher frequencies, the high standards set in other areas as an overall package has deemed the treble as its weakest quality. 

Soundstage: .

Soundstage wise, the Trident is only average but it does give a good sense of space for an entry-level product.  Instrument separation is decent; there is space between each instrument, just not very much. 

Summary:
The Dunu Trident are an amazing value at $35. It's performance is superior to others in its price bracket and is surely one of the most bang for buck earphones out there. There may be others that can match the  Trident in sound quality, but it'll be hard to find a pair that has both good build and sound quality. The nice packaging, assortment of tips and the integrated cable wrap is just icing on the cake. I really enjoy listening to the Tridents and find it difficult to fault it in any way. They have, in my opinion, the best value for a budget earphone.