DUNU DaVinci

Preface:
I would like to thank @gadgetgod and @DUNU-Topsound for sending this unit as part of the review tour.

Also, I’m not a seasoned reviewer or a seasoned audiophile, so whatever I say is purely my observations and your results may vary.

I’m not the one to usually focus on specifications and numbers. I focus more on how happy I am with the equipment’s sound and that’s it.

Sources used:

• xDuoo XD05 Pro (AKM / Rohm) (w/ SS3602 OpAmps)
• Dita Navigator
• D16 Taipan
• Qudelix T-71
• RME ADI-2 Pro FS R

Introduction:

The Dunu x GizAudio DaVinci IEM is the latest collaboration between Dunu and Timmy from GizAudio, priced at an attractive $299. The DaVinci IEM sets a new benchmark in the mid-range IEM market with its impressive features and sound quality.



Design:

The DaVinci IEM boasts a high-quality, skin-friendly resin shell, featuring a stunning stabilized wood faceplate that adds a touch of natural elegance. Inside, it houses a hybrid driver configuration with two dynamic drivers (10mm and 8mm) and four balanced armature drivers. The design is both visually appealing and practical, ensuring durability and a premium feel.





Fit and Comfort:

Despite being on the larger side, the DaVinci IEM is shaped to provide a comfortable and secure fit. The inclusion of Dunu's S&S and Candy ear tips enhances the deep fit and seal, ensuring long-lasting comfort however I felt that other tips like Spinfit W1, Asla Sedna Light & Divinus Velvet tips were better. The Leo cable, specifically designed for the DaVinci, complements the IEM aesthetically while being well-built and easy to manage.



Sound:

The sound signature of the DaVinci IEM is balanced with boosted bass, characterised by a linear frequency response from 200Hz to 1kHz, followed by a rise into the upper mids around 2.8kHz. This results in a rich, natural sound that is clean and balanced, with no bass bleed into the mids.

Bass:

The DaVinci offers more bass quantity than many competitors in its price range, with excellent extension, dynamics, and slam. The bass presentation is less polite than a neutral tuning, providing a satisfying mid-bass punch without bleeding into the mids. The dynamic driver-based bass delivers physicality and visceral sensation, though it lacks the speed and texture detail of BA bass.

Mid Range:

The mid-range is linear and slightly favors the low mids, contributing to a weightier presentation and naturalness. Instruments and vocals sound realistic and tactile, with a gradual rise into the upper mids that enhances vocal and instrument reproduction. The vocal energy is well-balanced, not too forward or relaxed, maintaining focus without dominating the mix.

Treble:

The treble maintains a natural presentation, with controlled energy and excitement in cymbals and hi-hats. Adequate upper treble presence reveals air and shimmer in live recordings, along with micro details. The treble never becomes peaky, ensuring a pleasant listening experience.

I did however feel that by slightly reducing the bass, the detail retrieval got much better.

Staging and Instrument Separation:

The DaVinci does decently well in technical performance, with good amount of detail, instrument separation, and imaging for its price range. The soundstage is expansive, providing a clear distinction between instruments and enhancing the overall listening experience.

Conclusion:
The DaVinci IEM is a standout in the $300 price range, offering a natural and satisfying sound with decent technical performance. While its bass quantity is slightly above my personal preference, its overall tuning, design, and build quality make it a highly recommended choice. The DaVinci IEM is a testament to the successful collaboration between Dunu and Timmy from GizAudio, solidifying it as a very strong contender in the mid-range segment.

DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank HIFIGO for providing this review unit.

The DUNU x Gizaudio Da Vinci can be gotten here: https://hifigo.com/products/dunu-x-gizaudio-davinci (no affiliate links).




SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver configuration: 2 x 8 mm biocellulose dynamic driver + 10 mm biocellulose dynamic driver + 4 x custom balanced armature drivers
• Frequency response: 5 Hz - 40 kHz
• Impedance: 35 Ω
• Sensitivity: 109 dB/mW
• Cable: 2-pin, 0.78 mm; LEO single crystal-copper with silver-plating; Q-lock Mini 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm modules available
• Tested at: $299.99 USD

ACCESSORIES

Other than the IEM, these are included:
- 3 pairs of "balanced" grey silicone ear tips
- 3 pairs of Candy silicone ear tips
- 4 pairs of S&S (Stage and Studio) silicone ear tips
- DUNU LEO cable
- Q-Lock Mini 4.4 mm and 3.5 mm modules
- 6.35 mm to 3.5 mm adapter
- Cleaning brush

The accessories are princely, and perhaps other than the omission of foam tips - which is a very small nitpick - everything that an audiophile would require is catered for.




The Candy eartips - as per their colourful namesake - come in a star-spangled motif, and these tips furnish the deepest bass rumble of the lot. Isolation is also the best, though soundstage is compressed.



The S&S (Stage and Studio) tips come in a gel-like material that is grippy and firm. These tips have a long cylindrical shape, and are mid-centric focused, in boosting vocals (though with some decrease in bass). These tips are quite popular on forums, with audiophiles buying them individually at 12 bucks (eg https://hifigo.com/products/dunu-s-s). Lastly, we have the "balanced" grey silicone eartips, which are quite "balanced" in sonic properties, as their name suggests.




The stock cable - the DUNU LEO - is a Litz cable furnished from single crystal-copper with silver-plating. This is well braided and thick, hefty to the touch and tangle-free, with minimal microphonics. There's a chin cinch for grip, and this is one of the better stock cables I've encountered in my audio journey.

This cable incorporates DUNU's patented Q-Lock Mini modular system, which allows consumers to fit 4.4 mm and 3.5 mm modules on it, with a screw-on mechanism. Thus, this IEM can be used with various single-ended and balanced sources, and the screw-on part protects the module from inadvertently detaching, which is a not uncommon complaint faced by audiophiles, causing their gear to drop to the floor!




The provided carrying case is semi-rigid and tough externally, with inner webbing. We also have a 6.35 mm to 3.5 mm adapter and a cleaning brush to complete the accessory line-up.

The rest of this review was done with the stock cable and stock S&S tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.


BUILD/COMFORT



The housings are fashioned from dermatological-friendly resin, with a 3D printed acoustic chamber from Higetech. The faceplates feature solid-stabilized grain wood panels, and each earpiece is unique!



While the shells are on the larger side, each earpiece weighs a mere 6.6 g, and ergonomics are very decent despite the larger size. With no awkward protrusions to poke the ears on the inner aspects, the Da Vinci can be used for longer listening sessions without discomfort.

Isolation is above average despite being vented, and I did not encounter any driver flex, which is a sign of a well-implemented acoustic design.




INTERNALS

The Da Vinci is a 6 driver hybrid. These drivers are arrayed in a 5-way crossover setup, via 5 separate acoustic tubes, in the following configuration:

• 1 x 10 mm biocellulose DD takes care of the sub-bass.
• 1x 8 mm biocellulose DD handles the mid-bass.
• A composite dual BA settles the midrange.
• 1x custom BA plays the treble.
• 1x custom ultra-high frequency BA controls the upper treble.

DRIVABILITY

I tested the Da Vinci with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Chord Mojo 2
- Fiio KA11 dongle
- Fiio KA17 dongle
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone

This IEM is relatively easy to drive, with no hard requirements for amplification.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES


Graph of the DUNU x Gizaudio Da Vinci via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler peak.

Tonally, the Da Vinci espouses a warm U-shaped tuning, which is pretty pleasant to the ears. Note weight is on the thicker side and perhaps only trebleheads will find the tuning to be not their cup of tea.

This set is sub-bass focused, with a big descending reverberating rumble. The choice of eartips does play a role in the bass amounts though, so do explore around with tiprolling to see what suits your preferences. Bass texturing is good and speedy, with not an ounce of mid-bass bleed on the S&S tips, though there is a bit of a mid-bass scoop out.

As per the U-shaped profile, the lower midrange is slightly concave, though with no mid-bass encroachment, this region is relatively transparent. With an 8 dB ear gain, the upper mids are forwards without veering too much to shouty territory at moderate volumes.

The Da Vinci is smooth in the treble. It will be a kindred spirit for treble-sensitive folk, though on the flip side, trebleheads might yearn for more sparkle and resolution. The tuning choice guarantees that we do not run into sibilance or splashiness, so this IEM can be used for longer listening sessions for sure.

Timbre-wise, there just a slight whiff of BA timbre in the upper registers. It certainly isn't the most egregious compared to other BA containing hybrids.

In technicalities, the Da Vinci has quite good imaging, though soundstage and micro-detailing are average amongst similarly priced hybrids. Nevertheless, music did not sound congested even during complex tracks, with commendable instrument separation.


COMPARISONS

The Da Vinci will be compared against other midFI hybrids. Single DDs, multi-BAs, and planars are omitted, as they have their own pros and cons due to the different transducer types.




Elysian Pilgrim

The Pilgrim has less mid-bass but more treble. As such, it sounds thinner than the Da Vinci in note weight, and is brighter. Admittedly, we do face treble-fatigue and some sibilance on the Pilgrim, especially if you are treble-sensitive.

In technicalities, the Pilgrim is ahead, with better soundstage, micro-detailing and resolution. Timbre is more natural on the Da Vinci however.

Do note, due to the Pilgrim's low 9 Ω sensitivity, it may be fussy to pair with sources > 1.125 Ω output impedance (based on the rules of eights), as higher OI sources may skew the sound signature. The Pilgrim also comes with a Pentaconn connector, which limits aftermarket cable pairing.


ZiiGaat Doscinco

The Doscinco is a darker and bassier IEM, with more bass quantity and lesser treble extension. The Doscinco loses in technicalities, with a smaller soundstage, poorer micro-detailing and imaging.

Additionally, the Doscinco has driver flex, which may be a potential deal breaker, and it has way less accessories.


CONCLUSIONS



The DUNU Da Vinci is a warm and pleasant hybrid that is well-suited for longer listening sessions, with minimal sibilance and fatigue. No doubt trebleheads might want a bit more pizzazz and sparkle - and we may have some penalties in resolution, micro-detailing and soundstage - but the Da Vinci otherwise comes across as very embracing and relaxing, with a thick and rich note weight greeting listeners.

The sub-bass is quite reverberating with good extension, and mid-bass texturing and speed are well done (do note: bass amounts can be modified with the different eartip permutations). Ergonomics, drivability and accessories are all very solid, and this musical hybrid can be recommended in the midFI market for fans of laid-back and warmish signature.

DUNU x GIZAUDIO DAVINCI REVIEW: BEAUTY IN WARMTH!​

WATCH FULL REVIEW HERE: ​

PROS:​

• Well-done warm-neutral sound signature
• Very engaging and fun sound overall
• Good value and quality package and accessories
• Superb quality modular cable
• Comfortable fitting
• Superb timbre (especially for a hybrid)
• Thick, deep, and punchy bass
• Rich, well-bodied midrange
• Smooth, inoffensive but well-extended treble
• Great technicalities for a warm IEM

CONS:​

• The treble was a little too pushed down for my liking
• Note definition is not the cleanest
• Warmth might affect upper midrange to treble clarity on some tracks
• Not the most technical set for the price

WHO THIS SET IS FOR:​

• Warm/bassheads
• People who want a complete package
• People who like a warm and very musical sound
• People who like a very rich and natural-sounding timbre
• People who want a safe, clean-sounding IEM

WHO THIS SET ISN’T FOR:​

• People who want a bright and sparkly set (akin to older Timmy collabs)
• People who want the most technical set for the price
• People who want a lean and analytical sound
• People who want something more energetic-sounding
• People with smaller ears

GENRES​

• R&B
• HipHop
• Rock
• Metal

SHORT REVIEW​

Timmy goes out of his comfort zone by curating one of the best warm-neutral midrange releases of 2024. A thick, lush but very engaging bass complimented by a clean and natural midrange to treble puts the DaVinci as one of the top contenders for those looking for a warm and enveloping experience. It doesn’t excel in all aspects as the warmth can be too much for some tracks and you might find the shells a little bit (like Timmy’s other sets). But pound for pound, this is a very well-done and great value set and in my opinion, Timmy’s best. RECOMMENDED!

FULL REVIEW:​

Collaboration IEMs usually tell a story. Sometimes shallow, occasionally compelling, but importantly something that both parties put a lot of love and effort into. This is especially true for reviewer collaborations where they really want to make sure the IEM that they tuned suits their needs or their goal perfectly. This leads to a somewhat formulaic style of tuning for most of their sets with minor variations in their presentation.

But occasionally, you get a reviewer that is willing to try something different with their collab. Breaking their status quo and making something so left-field and unlike them, but ending up as arguably one of the most iconic sets to date. Let’s talk about the DUNU x Gizaudio DaVinci.

DISCLAIMER: The Dunu x Gizaudio DaVinci was sent over by HiFiGo in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not told or paid to say anything and all my thoughts and opinions are mine.

THE RENAISSANCE:​

Timmy Vangtan of Gizaudio has had 3 collaboration IEMs by far. Both sets achieve very different things but are fundamentally sets that follow Timmy’s preference of having a leaner low end with a sub-boost and energetic upper frequency. This is normal as you’d want to make your collab IEMs fit your preferences. So when Timmy came out with DUNU to create a $299 bass beast named DaVinci, I was more than shocked. I thought, “Has Timmy lost his mind? Making a warm IEM, an IEM that he would usually say the female vocals are husky?” But you see, Timmy didn’t just throw in bass for absolutely no reason. He had a realization. A spark of brilliance. A prophecy. And it all starts with the unboxing

UNBOXING​

Coming from my last review of the DUNU Falcon Ultra M.T., I did not feel out of place at all with the unboxing experience of the DaVinci. Coming in a smaller but equally as beautiful box, the DaVinci’s unboxing experience is virtually the same as the Falcon Ultra.

Here is the full list of accessories:

• Dunu DaVinci IEMs
• Modular Cable
• Cleaning brush
• 6.35mm to 3.5mm adaptor
• Dunu S&S Tips
• Dunu Candy Tips
• Olive Eartips
• Carrying Case
• 4.4mm modular jack
• Paperwork

Once again, we are blessed with DUNU’s accessories and am I absolutely all for it. The large carrying pouch is not only spacious enough to hold even a dap inside, you can put basically every single accessory you need inside and still have some room.





And how can I not mention the tips. The DUNU S&S is the goat and the Candy’s are solid eartips. You also get their basic olive eartips that I’m slowly growing to love due to it’s shape and how it reminds me a lot of the Divinus Velvet eartips.

Amazing accessory list as usual, nothing you don’t need and everything you do (sadly the egg bag was omitted for probably obvious reasons)

BUILD & FIT​

There’s this theme that I notice Timmy does on his full resin IEMs. They’re some of the prettiest IEMs in the market. The Galileo’s, well, Gaileio space-themed aesthetics that remind me of the Starry Night truly sparkled in more ways than one. The same can be said for the DaVinci, but exudes maturity, warmth, and a woody vibe.



Internally, the DaVinci features a 2DD + 4BA hybrid drive system which seems to be one of the best ways to implement a 2DD based on my experience so far. The drivers feature an independent five-channel sound guidance and electronic frequency crossover control with physical and electronic dual-frequency tuning sytems (from the official marketing material of the DaVinci). This is all houses in a 3D-printed resin and features a 0.78 recessed connector.



There is much to love about the build and fit of the DaVinci, but some to be concerned about. First, the DaVinci is just a total beaut. I’ve talked about it already, so I’ll let you guys fawn over the design. But also, the recessed 2-pin connector is by far my favorite type of connector. It offers the best protection from having the pin or connector bend or break and it also looks much cleaner on the IEM itself. The only concern would be aftermarket cables not fitting the DaVinci at all and the resin itself breaking when put under a lot of pressure. I saw an SA6 break once because of this, but that’s probably the extreme case.



But worry not, I doubt you’d want to cable roll the DaVinci because the LEO cable is probably one of the best modular cables I’ve tried to date. It’s thick but malleable that is soft on the skin but feels very premium. The braids are confident and does not feel cheap and the interface feels premium. But the best thing about this is the modular system itself. I’m glad more companies are going away from the plug-and-pull modular system as it is very fragile and gets loose over time. DUNU is a pioneer in this regard with the Q-Lock design first found on the Hulk Pro and Hulk Mini, but they stepped it up with the LEO cable.



Instead of a locking mechanism, the cable features a screw system that is INSANELY more secure than the plug-and-pull modular system and easier to maintain than the Q-Lock. It’s a genuinely genius modular system and I am all for it.



Comfort-wise, the DaVinci is surprisingly comfortable for how thick this thing is. This is all thanks to the fact that there are actual vents for air to pass through and not induce any pressure build-up. However due to the less aggressive shape of the inner shell, the DaVinci is also fatigue-free in even long listening sessions. I didn’t find it to be the most snug fitting nor the most stable out of all the IEMs I’ve tried, but it fits well and it’s comfortable. That’s all I ask for. My only concern is the rather thick nozzle. This seems to be a trend for Timmy’s IEMs as both of his previous collabs feature rather thick nozzles. The DaVinci here has a nozzle diameter of 6.6mm on the widest part and 5.5mm on the thinnest part. This makes certain tips problematic to put in like the Divinus Velvet eartips or the DUNU Candy eartips. This made me fall back to the legendary S&S and TRI Clarion’s for the best comfort.

SOUND​

Sound Signature​

The DaVinci features a warm slight u-shaped sound signature with a VERY deep-reaching bass and warm lower mids, well-bodied overall midrange, and a clean, well-extended, and smooth treble. This is a complete contrast to the IEMs Timmy usually does and I am all for it.

Source Pairing​

Despite the rather high 35ohms of impedance, the DaVinci sounds great even on cheaper or lower-powered sources. Using a better and more powerful source improves the sound exponentially in my experience as it cleans up the separation and layering while tightening the bass and improving the details.

Bass​

When you think of Timmy, thick, visceral bass usually isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But the DaVinci is exactly that and more. The bass on the DaVinci goes so deep and hits so hard that you might almost mistake this set for a collab from another reviewer. But nope, it’s just Timmy and he arguably made one of the best to do the warm-bassy kind of sound. The subbass goes VERY deep with a lot of rumble and impact, the midbass is thick, tactile, and punchy but surprisingly clean for its tuning philosophy. This is the warm-head’s dream. As someone who’s slowly starting to appreciate warmer IEMs, the DaVinci proved itself to be one of the best I’ve tried under $500 by far. The balance of sub and midbass is perfect and is perfect for the stuff I listen to

I could talk about the music that I found to be perfect on DaVinci for hours, but for your sake and mine, I will limit it to the best. First, classic rock and pop stuff sounded AMAZING on DaVinci. Take Fleetwood Mac, Earth, Wind and Fire, and Toto with their leaner low-end tuning sounding PERFECT on DaVinci. Metal tracks like August Burns red are also perfect thanks to the midbass emphasis giving the deep bass guitar riffs a very rich and engaging sound. Finally, R&B, HipHop, and EDM tracks sound absolutely wonderful with artists like Daniel Caesar, D’Angelo, and Erykah Badu sounding amazing on DaVinci.

I really could go more with examples but you get the gist. The bass of this thing is top-notch and truly lives up to being 2DD. I’d even go as to say that this is probably the best 2DD set I’ve heard by far in terms of my expectations of how a 2DD set is supposed to sound like.

Mids​

But with that much bass, you almost expect the mids to be sacrificed. But you are absolutely mistaken as the overall midrange presentation is quite linear yet focuses on having a full-bodied and rich sound overall. The lower mids, as expected, sound very full and thick but still nuanced. It doesn’t sound like your usual Harman lower mids scoop that makes lower midrange instruments like bass guitars, cellos, and grungy guitars sound lame and lifeless. This makes DaVinci perfect for heavier genres like Metal and thinly mixed tracks. However, I cannot deny that the upper mids are a little tamer in comparison due to the emphasis on the lower mids. The note weight also affects the note definition on certain tracks as the notes can get enveloped in warmth. It doesn’t mean that the upper mids sound recessed or pulled back, but it’s definitely more of the side dish than the main course. Upper-frequency instruments like violins, high-frequency guitars, pianos, and other air instruments have a decent amount of energy to compliment the thick low end but don’t overdo it to push the mids down for the sake of upper midrange clarity. This gives it a very natural rise into the upper frequencies that make the rest of the range sound quite tasteful and not unnatural to compensate for the bass.

I’ll be using the same examples as earlier with metal, classic rock pop and hip-hop, but I’ll go into detail about specific tracks I like that highlight the mids. First, Toto’s Waiting For Your Love. A track I find to sound quite thin on most sets but sounds wonderfully thick and luscious on the DaVinci. It’s perfectly complemented with the very sparkly top end that sounds smooth yet crisp and giving the bass the much-needed thickness. The same can be said with Dreams by Fleetwood Mac as the bass sounds so freaking engaging and thick while keeping the mids sounding clean and the details up top sounding crisp and well-defined.

Treble​

One of the best things about the DaVinci is despite the thick, visceral bass, the treble is kept clean and snappy without falling into darkness or being forced to be bright. Many warm-leaning sets fall under this and mess up the tonality pretty badly, but the DaVinci completely avoids it by keeping the treble smooth but well-defined and well-extended. This is not going to be a treblehead’s dream as you might expect, but perfect for people who are sensitive to high frequencies but still want a well-defined treble. Air instruments sound crisp but smooth, trailing vocals are soft but well-extended, and instruments never sound choked or rolled off in an unnatural way.

This could not be better shown than with Earth, Wind and Fire’s Fantasy with the sharper, brighter tone on the track Fantasy having the perfect balance on the DaVinci. It also has the benefit of sounding great on poorly mastered tracks like Bruno Mars’s “That’s What I Like” with the oddly sharp treble sounding smoother yet still well-defined and detailed.

Technicalities​

At first glance, you might think that the DaVinci is not technically capable. The stigma people have on warmer sets is that they’re not as technically capable as sets that are brighter or more neutral-tuned. But the DaVinci balances the warmth with the rest of the frequency range along with the high-quality drivers that they used to make DaVinci still a very technically capable set. The highlights are definitely imaging and headstage, particularly in the lower frequencies where the stage depth is quite expansive and very immersive and the air region gives a sufficient level of width and height without sounding unrealistic. Resolving ability is also quite impressive with DaVinci not sounding low resolution in any way at all. The only thing I personally think it struggles with is separation as the warmth definitely has an effect on the perceived separation in the lower frequencies. This is mitigated by the bass being quite well-defined, although definitely on the woofier side, and the rest of the frequency range being quite neutral to allow for the instruments to be placed cleanly in the mix.

REAL WORLD USAGE​

Casual Use​

This is arguably one of the biggest reasons as to why I love the DaVinci so much. As a casual use IEM, the DaVinci ticks all the boxes for a great IEM. Comfortable and decently stable fit that doesn’t get fatiguing, a warm, enveloping, and thick sound that makes content watched sound engaging and fun but clean enough to not muddy the rest of the soundscape and still have a lot of nuance in things like films and shows and is very easy to drive for when I just want to plug this straight into my laptop, phone or other devices. This thing that is amazing when watching films was the thicker low end makes explosions sound so immersive but flat enough in the midrange to not affect dialogue and the finer sound details

Gaming Use​

This is, by far, the best IEM I’ve used for gaming. The tuning is perfect for competitive games like Valorant but even better for environmental or story based games that, just like the moves, aim to immerse you. And the DaVinci achieves that VERY well. I seriously have no gripes when it comes to the sound of the DaVinci when it comes to gaming and makes it even better when you consider the comfort of this thing.

COMPARISONS​

vs Yanyin Canon II​

When I heard the DaVinci, one set came to mind that I thought perfectly competes with DaVinci. The Canon II has a flatter, cleaner, and more detailed overall sound at the cost of timbre not sounding as natural and not sounding as impactful as the DaVinci. The DaVinci on the other hand is more immersive, engaging, punchy, and rich with better timbre but not as clean separation and layering. Both sets cater to a very similar demographic but differ in how far you want the warmth. If you just want something slightly warm but still sparkly and crisp, the Canon II would be the set to get. But if you want pure warmth and richness, go for the DaVinci

vs HiBy x FAudio Project Ace​

Another set with a lot of warmth, the Project Ace has a more linear, flatter and generally more forward presentation but worse timbre, especially in the treble. Tactility is cleaner on the Project Ace, but the DaVinci goes much much deeper and is more impactful. The DaVinci is also cleaner in the top end while also extending better compared to the Project Ace

vs DUNU Falcon Ultra M.T.​

Compared to the Falcon Ultra, the DaVinci is even warmer, thicker, and more engaging to listen to but has an overall more skewed warmth presentation compared to the Falcon Ultra. The Falcon Ultra, to my ears, has a more balanced tonality with a cleaner overall sound that would be more versatile in more genres compared to the DaVinci. But the DaVinci has a much more immersive overall sound that makes the DUNU sound analytical in comparison. The DaVinci is also arguably less offensive than the Falcon Ultra overall.

vs Simgot EA2000​

You might be asking why EA2000 is over EA1000, and that’s because the EA1000 is a completely different style of tuning compared to the DaVinci. The pervious sets had a warmer tone that is similar to the DaVinci and is why I’m comparing it to the EA2000 instead. A bright v-shaped set with one of the best bass quality in the game. This still holds true as the bass of the EA2000 is tighter, and cleaner but still very impactful and deep-reaching. The DaVinci is warmer, and richer but also not as well-defined or tight compared to the EA2000. Everything else, however, the DaVinci is better (minus techs).

CONCLUSION​

A set born out of the need for warmth in the market, the DaVinci achieves exactly what it aims to do by providing us with one of the best warm/bassy sets in the market. Its focus on the bass gives it such a rich, thick, and engaging sound that is unlike anything I’ve heard. Most sets that try this much warmth often overdo it and sound muffled or muddy.

The DaVinci is neither of those and sounds engaging but still clean. Pair that with the mid-to-treble region that perfectly compliments the bass and the insane level of accessories provided by DUNU making the DaVinci an absolute must-buy set for anyone looking for a warm-neutral set with a focus on musicality and engagement.

Admittedly, it really isn’t the cleanest sounding set in terms of separation and some sparkle might do the set a little bit better to make it an all-rounder, but for what it aims to do, it does a damn good job.

Pair that with Dunu’s expertise in making IEMs and knowing what the market wants and needs makes the DaVinci a truly one-of-a-kind experience in and out of listening. There’s a lot to love in the DaVinci, and love it I truly do. Timmy made an IEM that the market really needed and he delivered. And that deserves much respect, especially considering the usual tastes of Timmy.

Thank you for reading my review of the Dunu x Gizaudio DaVinci. If you would like to order one, consider using the non-affiliated link below: https://hifigo.com/products/dunu-x-gizaudio-davinci

Full Disclosure; This pair of DaVincis was provided by HiFiGo at a discount from full retail in exchange for some photos and an impression write up. No one from HiFiGo nor Timmy from Gizaudio has asked me to say anything in particular regarding the DaVinci. All of these thoughts and opinions are my own.

Test tracks

- Give Life Back to Music - daft punk - Overall clarity
- Infinity Repeating - daft punk - Lower mids control
- Voyager - daft punk - Bass line clarity/busy track layering
- Overnight - Parcels - mid bass punch
- Tieduprightnow - Parcels - bass line/sibilance test
- Everyroad -Parcels - Imaging/Sub bass @ 7 minute mark
- Daytime - Lunar Vacation - Staging/female vocals w/ heavy bass
- Days - No Vacation - Vibe test/treble energy
- Fruiting Body - Goon - Sub bass
- Wavy Maze - Goon - Mid bass
- Together - Maggie Rodgers - Female Vocals
- Slide Tackle - Japanese Breakfast - Sibilance test/consonants harshness
- Decode - Paramore - Vibe test/stage depth
- Vinta - Crumb - Stage depth/layering
- Kim’s Caravan - Courtney Barnett - Female Vocals/resolution test
- Small Poppies - Courtney Barnett - Distorted Guitar
- Lifelong Song - Men I Trust - Sub/mid bass texture
- One and Only - Adele - Female Vocals/consonants harshness test
- Waves - Wild Painting - Overall Enjoyment and stage depth/width/Bass guitar speed
- Not the One - Highnoon - Female Vocals
- Cowboy Killer - Varsity - Layering
- Alone in My Principles - Varsity - Distorted female vocals
- Summer Madness - Kool & The Gang - Treble Harshness
- They Are Growing - Renata Zeiguer - Mid bass impact

Sources

- Apple Music Streaming Hi-Res Lossless when available
- Topping D10s/Earmen ST-Amp or Topping L30 stack
- Muse HiFi M4
- Fosi DS2
- FiiO BTR7 BT

I’ll be doing most of my impressions written below using the Topping L30 & D10s stack considering that is the most neutral source I own currently.



TLDR;

I was very excited to get the Dunu X Gizaudio DaVinci in for review considering all of the hype built up surrounding the release, admittedly, I have just come off of the high that was the Elysian Pilgrim and the short but lovey time I had with them, so my expectations and excitement were through the roof. I can safely say that while the DaVinci is a fine set of IEMs, these are not for me. However, that might mean they’re for you! On one hand, I can find my self enjoying these quite a bit, from the thumping bass and lovely thick warmth in the mids to the stunning faceplates I see every time I take them out of my ears and set them down on a table. But alas, there are a few major issues I find with these that ultimately bog down an otherwise good pair of earphones. Probably the biggest issue comes down to the treble tuning; it’s very safe. Just like the Pilgrims before them, the DaVincis have treble that most will find very inoffensive but it takes it up a notch, it comes off as an almost dark treble presentation allowing for a very smooth and almost melancholy presentation that’s good for hours and hours of listening. For me, though, I’m looking for a bit more excitement here. If you’re a person who prefers to have a more laid-back treble, these would certainly be right up your alley. To my ears at least, these lack the very last bit of extension for things like cymbals to really shine. Even worse though, there’s somewhere in the tuning or possibly in the hardware that just isn’t meshing well with my HRTF, causing harsh consonants at slightly higher volumes and a grainy-like timbre always present, regardless of volume. Not to mention I perceive the stage to be quite small. Now it’s not claustrophobic by any means, but it is more on the intimate side which is something I do not prefer. On the more positive side, the bass is very healthy and thick on the DaVinci and I would say rather than having a clean and snappy bass like the Pilgrims, here you’ll find a thicker and warmer overall presentation that I know lots of folks do enjoy and prefer.





Here are the specs for the DaVinci - Price $299.00

>Six-Driver Hybrid Configuration.
>2DD+4BA Driver Setup Per Side.
>Premium finish with Solid-Stabilized Wooden Face Panels.
>Independent Dual-Chamber Dynamic Drivers.
>Enhanced Five-Way Frequency Crossover.
>Five Separate Acoustic Tubes.
>Impedance: 35Ω@1kHz.
>Sensitivity: 109dB/mW.
>THD+N: <0.5%@1kHz.
>Frequency Response: 5Hz-40kHz.
If you’d like to purchase the Dunu x Gizaudio DaVinci, please follow this unaffiliated link

https://hifigo.com/products/dunu-x-gizaudio-davinci

Fitment note; for my ears, the DaVincis fit just fine, not super secure but also not loose at all. I never felt the shells were going to fall out of my ears, but I also didn’t have 100% confidence that they would stay in if I had to spontaneously sprint away from… something. They were never uncomfortable either. I’d say these shells would be considered medium to medium large and the nozzle is the same. I don’t have a pair of calipers on hand but they are probably around 6.5mm give or take so definitely a little chonky, but nothing these canals haven’t seen before.










Bass

The bass is the strongest part of the DaVinci in my opinion. It comes across as strong, thick, and never lacking on any of the tracks within my library. Give Life Back to Music by the French Robot Gods has a siiiiiilky smooth presentation with a thick mid-bass punch and nasty bass lines, same goes for Voyager. The intro to Infinity Repeating by the same two androids can maybe come across as a little too syrupy for my liking - That song has such a thick opening and I know it’s intentional, but certain IEMs handle this section a bit better by pulling back on the lower mids a bit - the Pilgrims, Ziigaat Cincotres and to some degree at least, the Hype 2s come to mind here. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’s just a matter of preference. I just happen to prefer the cleaner lower mids presentation because of female vocals mostly, but also I quite enjoy it when IEMs have that subwoofer effect. The DaVincis do not have that Sub woofer effect, but rather a complete and full bass experience. I felt they had adequate texture, not mind-blowing, buuuuut sufficient. Depth is slightly lacking in terms of the bass notes but, I will say they’re punchy and well-defined. Whatever DD is being used in these things is working to earn their coin. My ultimate Sub bass test, Fruiting Body by Goon is rendered quite well, but again, it’s mostly an overall warmer presentation with the Sub bass not quite standing out as much as I’d personally want but it’s more than audible which I think a lot of budget sets struggle with. There’s lots of instrumentation going on at the same time and vocals too. I’ve learned that if an IEM can render all those things AND I can still feel and hear that rumble, the hardware is doing a great job with the layering. It’s a tough test a lots of IEMs fail it - The DaVincis did not so, bravo on that!

Mids

The mids are a weird sort - They’re warm, lush, and very natural sounding… sometimes. Here’s my biggest issue with the DaVincis. Where the hardware is working well in the bass region, the mids are suffering to my ears and it comes down to timbre. Bad timbre. Grainy timbre. Together by Maggie Rogers is almost unlistenable and it comes down to Maggie’s high notes - once she starts going up here, with the unusual production on her vocals specifically, the DaVincis stumble with strange metallic, grainy and sometimes even shrill timbre. What happened here? Man. I wasn’t expecting this set to stumble in the vocals considering Timmy Is such a big fan. It may be just my ears here, but I am somewhat validated by Chris (HBB) as he seems to have experienced the same thing. Waves by Wild Painting is a similar story - the vocal timbre just isn’t doing it for me and Slide Tackle by Japanese Breakfast is just, nah, no way. Can’t do it. To be fair, that is a sibilance fest on lots of sets, but here the mix is not made for the DaVincis. Overall layering and presentation is fantastic otherwise. Guitars and other instruments have a mostly natural and smooth timbre to them, just as long as notes don’t go into the upper registers. Overall, the mids are somewhat of a disappointment and I can’t believe it, quite frankly. If the hardware could catch up with he tuning here, which is fantastic let me add, then we’d have a winner. Is it because they’re unbranded, custom BAs? I’m not sure honestly. But it does beg the question, should Dunu have opted for Sonion/Knowles hardware and just increased the price a bit to possibly mitigate that strange mid range/vocal timbre? Maybe. Maybe not. I’ll let you, the reader, decide for yourself. Just like most folks, the mids are incredibly important, that’s where all of the instrumentation lives besides those deep bass notes, but the timbre being not to my liking is a massive strike to the overall experience I had with the DaVincis. NOW, let me just say that I am SUPER sensitive to timbre. It’s the first thing that jumps out to me and because of this, I want to put this disclaimer out there; it could just be me being overly critical. However, I haven’t had this issue with other IEMs around the same price.

Treble

The treble on the DaVincis is… safe. If I were to use a word, that’d be it. Safe. Days by No Vacation doesn’t have as much air and shimmer as I’d like, but by no means is it offensive in anyway. I’d actually classify the DaVincis slightly on the darker side here, especially compared to something like the Pilgrims and the newly released Simgot SM4. I know I know, 3 different price brackets, but I firmly believe that If you’re about to drop $300 on a pair of IEMs, saving up an extra few weeks to go up to $400 wouldn’t be out of the question, especially if it’s a different sig. and it’s a sig that you’re looking for. The Simgot SM4 is, well, a little bit of an outlier but I won’t get into that here. Summer Madness by Kool & The Gang never gets sharp and shrill. And I’ll say that overall micro-contrast and resolution is fairly strong here. I think the 5 way crossover is really doing its job of making sure the instruments don’t ever trip on themselves and the tuning definitely helps with that. Overall, the treble is fine. Non-offensive in any way, but definitely not anything that will blow your socks off either. I almost feel bad for calling the Pilgrim’s Treble safe because compared to the DaVincis, it’s pretty exciting if I think about it.



Technicalities

The techs on the DaVincis are overall strong - As I mentioned before, layering is fantastic and so is imaging. I’d say it’s hitting above its respective asking price for sure. Resolution and detail retrieval are both very respectable and I can make out finer details in my music and I never experienced any blurriness or muddy-like sound. I wouldn’t say details and resolution are a standout here, but I also don’t think one would be disappointed either. Now, timbre on the other hand is rough. Specifically mid-range timbre - That damn BA handling around the 3-5k area is killing me here, smalls. I just can’t get past it, but If you can, I will give you flowers. Treble timbre is natural albeit a little on the darker side for my preferences, but again, natural and easily enjoyable. Staging is neither impressive nor claustrophobic. I’d say the DaVincis have pretty good depth but width and height are both pretty forgettable. Dynamics, which is another stealth attribute that mean a lot to me in an IEM, are not particularly strong, but again, not befitting of the price range I’d say so it does compete with it’s piers.

Source Differences

The DaVincis didn’t really change much when it came to sources surprisingly, they were all very in line with one another so the output impedance of all my dongles and Amps didn’t phase the DaVinci too much here which is great, honestly. I think I preferred the overall cleaner sig. of the Topping L30 in my testing, but the Muse M4, Fosi DS2, and ST-Amp all did well, however, the ST-Amp did bring out that strange mid-range timbre too much the other way so I didn’t do much testing on that amp. The BTR7 overall smoothened the signature, providing the best depth and best bass response for whatever reason, so I stuck with that BT amp/DAC mostly.




Conclusion

Overall, I think the DaVincis having all this hype surrounding them makes perfect sense; you have probably the most popular IEM reviewer on Youtube teaming up with one of the most well know Audio companies in the hobby to create a very well thought-out, thoroughly worked-on project that’s come together over many many months into an overall successful project which should satisfy 90% of listeners. I think the DaVincis is a safe pick if you’re holding onto $300 and it’s burning a hole in your proverbial audiophile pocket. The Unboxing and included accessories are top notch in my humble opinion and the overall theme and aesthetic of the DaVinci is very well done, regardless of your subject stance on the looks of the faceplates. You have to admit, Dunu and Timmy put some work into these things. I also think that in a world where most companies are throwing together random faceplate designs, random cables, and whatever-they-could-find-stock-tips into the box in order to pass and to be acceptable, the Dunu DaVinci says “We understand $300 is a good amount of cash, here’s the full package to make sure you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth”. I think they’ve succeeded in that regard. On the flip side to that, and most importantly, the overall sound presentation of the DaVincis leaves something to be desired honestly. The bass is great and definitely is the highlight of the set, but the mid-range timbre and darker treble response aren’t for me.



Thanks again for reading yet another write-up, I hope I’m getting better at these and you guys can all take some important info away from here. Cheers, and happy listening.

Introduction
Oh Timmy... he has come a long way since his first venture into collabs. With Gizaudio still being my first recommendation to newbies as the review channel of choice due to its easy to grasp content, on-point (at most) reviews, and the best length for videos in terms of gaining attention. Admittedly, his first foray with the Galileo was somewhat lukewarm and seemed more like a learning curve. Then came his sophomore effort, the Binary Chopin, which is way better and is still one of my default recommendations in between the $150-$200 price point as being one of the most versatile, all-rounder sets of its tier. He himself believed he couldn't outdo this set but after some months has passed, he's back and working with one of the best in terms of quality control and overall package inclusions - DUNU. Let us now take a look into the DaVinci, his latest magnum opus and let's see if it stands as another merit onto Gizaudio's collab lineup.





Packaging and Inclusions
It comes to surprise with a DUNU product that it will come in with a very quality packaging and a host of generous inclusions. As you remove the slip-out sleeve cover you are greeted with a black box. Within it are the IEMs, every set coming in with a unique faceplate of treated wood. You are then given an abundant amount of accessories in which you always feel that you are never short-changed with a DUNU product. You have a nice zipper case, enough space to put your set and accessories in. You also get 4 pairs of S&S eartips, 3 pairs of candy eartips, 3 pairs of stock silicon tips, a 6.3mm jack adapter o connect to your other hifi systems, an IEM cleaning tool, and worth mentioning is the fine quality cable with a modular 3.5mm SE and 4.4mm BAL termination. All of these just makes you proud owning the DaVinci and makes you feel having a complete set.



Build
The DaVinci just does not disappoint with its unique stabilized-wood faceplate on a quality resin lightweight yet sturdy shell. It has a 6-driver configuration of 2 DD + 4 BAs in a 5-way crossover setup namely the 10mm DD unit produces the rumbling sub-bass region, the 8mm DD unit delivers the punchy midbass response, a composite dual BA setup for the midrange, a customized high-frequency BA driver, and finally a customized ultra-high-frequency BA driver.



Sound and Comparisons
The DaVinci on first listen entices you with its most apparent feature - a very well-done bass. It's not a total basshead level set, but it does give an abundant amount of rumble as well as punch that does not bleed onto the mids. A very satisfying level that will invite you to listen more and tells you that this set is a well thought-of project. The mids, not recessed, have a sense of weight and body that fits its overall neutral-warm character though this is where it almost could've been a homerun. The vocals, especially with female, oftentimes sound a bit nasal especially when using tips of general going to narrow bore. Hence, I suggest if you can get right seal with the S&S tips or other wide-bore tips then settle for those whivh points to my next con which is the wide nozzles of this IEM. Tip rolling can be a bit of a pain and you may notice that the eartips sizing that fits you well with other sets sometimes cannot maintain a proper seal after a few seconds due to these nozzles. Add to it the somewhat tame treble which could use a bit more sparkle and crispness but otherwise I feel it's just right for most audiences. But I do feel it lacks that last bit of detail and air. It's a bit frustrating that these cons, which could've been worked out, should make this one of the more superior sets in its pricepoint. Almost that homerun of a set that can possibly be a marketbreaker but instead feels like it's more of a competitor in its price range along with the likes of the Project M, Thieaudio Hype4, and others. Don't let these deter you though as this is still quite an accomplishment and the overall tuning, despite some quirks in my opinion, is set to aim a specific target and nails it, which is what's important. The 5-way crossover does its job with the well-done tuning though the techs seem to be just above-average and not remarkable, both in resolution and pinpoint imaging. Still, I would recommend one to have a listen and make their call as this is still one of best in the $299 range if it fits their preferences especially considering what you'll be getting out of your hard-earned dough. I would also recommend these as a complementary set to those who have sets that are a bit heavy in the upper-mids as this will counter and fit those who are sensitive to bright sets. The 7hz Aurora would be the best example of being the opposite of the DaVinci. With its boosted upper mids and super-resolving ability in exchange for a bit of peakiness at a $100 more, it would be nice to have the DaVinci as an alternate for a more pleasant, chill, but still fun listen.

Conclusion
The magnum opus that could have been. The DaVinci is almost there. Again, don't let the minor quirks deter you on trying out the DaVinci. It may not be the all-rounder (not a vocal specialist or multi-genre expert) that I thought it was going to be but I can tell one would definitely not feel shortchanged and left out getting the DaVinci. At $299, you can absolutely do no wrong with it. It's worth more than its price while the sound will be based on your preference and is meant to go toe-to-toe with other sets of the same price-tier. Overall, it may just be a tad short of the masterpiece it was going for but it also is a 'Renaissance' to revisit and revive your music in a way you haven't listened to for a longtime with a bassy neutral-warm signature that seems to be missing in the majority of sets today. Enjoy and have a library revival with the DaVinci!

Sidenotes:
IEM set has been listened via the Sony ZX-707, AK SR25 II, Hiby FC6 and Cayin RU7 separately using the Divinus Velvets initially but then switched to the S&S over the course of multiple genres across FLACs (16bit&24bit) and streaming (Tidal). The DUNU x Gizaudio DaVinci is available in HiFiGo for $299 - https://hifigo.com/products/dunu-x-gizaudio-davinci?variant=44967442743535

Introduction

DUNU is one of the oldest companies in the Chifi industry. Dated back all the way to 2006, they have continuously been researching and producing a variety of audio products, from patented in-house dynamic drivers to high quality accessories, to making earphones at various prices for a wide range of audiences.

The Davinci is the latest iem from DUNU in collaboration with Timmy from Gizaudio. It features 2 dynamic drivers, 4 balance armatures with a 5-way crossover. Through a lot of trials and real life feedback, both from Timmy and from many audiophiles during Canjam SG, the tuning for the Davinci has been finalized. What i’m having right now is the final, the retail version of the iem

Disclaimer: I bought the Davinci with my own money. I did not receive any incentive or financial benefit from DUNU or Hifigo to do this review. Everything I said in this review is my subjective opinion only.

In this review, i will call the iem “Davinci” for short, instead of keep repeating “DUNU x Gizaudio Davinci”

Packaging

Here is my unboxing video of the Davinci

The Davinci arrived in a medium sized cubic box. The iem itself was the first thing you see when you open it. Under it were all of the accessories.

The accessories included a carrying case, 3 packages of tips of 3 different kinds, a cable with 2 different modular connectors, a 3.5 to 6.3 adapter and a cleaning brush. 2 of the package of tips are DUNU S&S and DUNU Candy tips.

Overall, for 300$, this is quite a generous amount of accessories from DUNU.

Design/Build quality/Comfort

The Davinci has smokey black resin shells with metal nozzles. Depending on the lighting and angle, you can see some of the drivers inside of it. The shells are on a thicker side, but it still feels very light and comfortable/not too intrusive on the ears because it’s not too long.

The 2pin on the shell is a recessed type, so when pairing with the “intruding” part of the 2pins of the cable, it makes a very secure and tight connection.

The faceplates are made out of wood with a clear resin cap above it. The faceplate may have the same theme, but every single Davinci unit out there will have a different and unique wood pattern. I usually like wood pattern stuff, so it’s no surprise that I also like the faceplate on the Davinci.

The nozzle is a bit chubby, but because it’s not too long/deep, it didn’t affect the overall fit of the iem for me. The nozzle is 6.3-6.6 mm wide, so best believe some eartips will be harder to put on than another.


The cable on the other hand was a mixed bag for me. It’s a 4 cores cable with modular connections. I LOVE the modular connector on this cable. I think it’s called a Q-lock mini interchangeable plug system . Because it’s the combination of the usual push-to-fit with a screw on parts, the connector feels very secure. Overall the hardware on this cable felt very premium. The one thing that I didn't enjoy was how particularly stiff the cable is. It’s not the stiffest cable that I've tried, but it’s far from being soft and supple. When wrapping up the cable to take some photos of it, I have to use the included velcro band to secure it in place. The comfort while wearing it is fine though, as it’s not too heavy.

Accessories talk:

The included Candy tips were too small and such a hassle to install on the nozzle. After great difficulty and extremely careful not to rip the stem of the tips, I've managed to put it on. However, I felt like the small bore of the tips has impacted the sound quality for the worst, so I didn't bother testing it for long.

The S&S tips can fit on just fine, but because I can't have a great seal with it, I didn't use them either. During this review, I have opted for the Whizzer SS20 tips instead.

As for the stock grey tips? Yeah… it fits me even worse than the S&S, so i didn’t even bother listening.

One minus point for the quality of the carrying case though. During my use, the pocket inside the case got pulled up very easily, revealing very little glue and zero stitches under it. It's an easy fix on my part, i just need to add a few strips of 2 sided tapes under it then voilà. However, if i'm spending a large chunk of money for an iem, I would've expected the accessories to be better than this. YMMV.

Sound impression

Source: Poco F3+UAPP, Dell laptop+Foobar 2000

DAC/Amp: Chord Mojo, EPZ TP50, E1DA 9038D, Hiby FC6

Cable: Stock

My preference sound/Bias: Neutral to warm tonality. More of a bass head than treble head. For midrange, as long as it’s not thin, not too shouty (>15db of pinna gain)or having weird peak dips that makes it sound honky, the pinna is not raising too soon, i can enjoy a wide range of midrange

Tonality: Bass boosted neutral

Bass

The most stand out feature of this iem. It has an overall very clean bass shelf, balancing between quantity and quality. The Davinci has a great subbass extension. Like really great. Even for a single 8mm driver, this driver can push a lot of air, even down below 20hz without clipping. There’s this sort of subwoofer feeling to it.

The famous drop in “Why So Serious” sounds even better than I imagined. The Davinci shows a great amount of oomph and physicality. It’s rumbly, dense with a great sense of reverb. Same thing for “Trentemoller” by Chameleon, where it showcases a really good subbass texture. That being said, if I have to nit pick, the subbass is not the tightest sounding, as it can sometimes sound sort of flabby and diffusing. But at the price of 300$, this is THE best subbass that i’ve ever heard.

Going into the midbass, cello, double bass sounds warm and clean. The string plucking sensation is easily felt. Bass kick drums sound thumpy, bold but not too incisive. The attack aren’t the quickest, pairing that with the slightly slower decay, which benefits the bass acoustic instruments by giving them that natural lingering feeling, it’s quite evident that the Davinci aren’t quite suitable for fast paced music like Metal. For general pop, rock or instrumental songs, it sounds great.

Because the bass was tucked at around 220hz, there are occasions where I do feel it, but most of the time, I don't mind it as it doesn't affect the timbre of bass instruments much.

Midrange

The midrange of the Davinci are quite well done. The bass doesn’t bleed into the midrange, so it sounds very neutral with only a bit of warmth to it. Midrange instruments have a very smooth and natural timbre. Piano sounds quite pleasant. It sounds a bit warm, evenly spread out with a bit of creaminess feeling to it. Violin has a lively and sweet sound to each bow stroke. Horn instruments sound velvety and mellowy, yet not too warm. Almost everything just sounds correct like it should, just hitting that right mark regarding the overall tonal balance, so I don't have much nitpicking about it.

As for the vocals. Now, when trying to pinpoint the dip at 6k, I can't exactly find it. However, when listening to music as a whole, it’s apparent that something was quite amiss, because I felt like female vocals don't have that usual clarity and breathiness when reaching that high notes. The balance between the boosted bass and the not-too-boosted upper midrange also contributes to this. Adele’s voice still sounds lively, but her voice sort of blends in more with the rest of the instruments rather than standing out. The Davinci benefited from listening to it at a higher volume, to seemingly push the clarity more forward. Male vocals like Frank Sinatra or baritone still sound smooth and lush.

Like a 2 bladed knife, the 6khz dip also keep the amount of sibilant to the minimum, evident by Ed Sheeran's “Shivers” and Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life” as sibilant testing tracks.

A bit of talk about the interaction between the bass and midrange: This is just on some occasions, but even when the bass shelf was so cleanly cut, because of the sheer air movement of the bass drivers, the presence and body was so great, it can feel like it’s looming/overlapping all over the midrange. It’s not like it’s bleeding into the midrange, just overwhelming it.

On songs with lower bass amount, this won’t cause any problem, but on some songs with higher bass, like some Pop songs, this can be annoying to some. It’s fun, I like it as a soft bass head, but it can be annoying.

Treble

Going into the treble, I think it’s quite good. It’s well extended, smooth and balanced. Not too bright or artificially boosted, but not too dark either. Just enough. The upper treble and air region are moderately airy and sparkly. With “Caravan” by John Wasson, cymbals has decent bite and sizzle to each strikes, hihats sound natural with gentle buzzing sound to them. Percussion instruments’ definition edge are on a softer side

Since the treble is overall on a safer side, resolution isn't Davinci's forte.

Technicalities

Soundstage wise, the Davinci's width is only around above average, but it has quite good depth and height.

This is why I felt like the Whizzer SS20 is a good choice of tips for the Davinci. The combination of wide (but not too wide) and short bore tips has given me the best deep fit along with a wider soundstage as it would lower the bass a little bit.

Layering felt quite blurry to me, like it's not very cleanly cutted, partly affected by the bass quality. Imaging and instrument positioning felt very correct with decent spacing.

The Davinci has better macro dynamics than micro dynamics during my test.

Watching movies on this iem is quite a treat. Watching the final battle of Avenger Endgame, the Davinci gives me a very immersive and atmospheric experience. The background music, the drums, the horn instruments, the rumblings, the arrival of all the characters,... give me a very enjoyable experience overall.

Source pairing:

It’s not a surprising thing to see that the Davinci does need quite a bit of juice to sound good with 35 ohms of impedance and 109db/mW of sensitivity. I didn’t like using the Hiby FC6 and E1DA 9038D dongle with the Davinci at all, because I can feel like the bass and dynamics were affected for the worse. Using TP50, i have to use the 4.4mm port as well as putting it in high gain, THEN the Davinci starts to sound decently good. Switching to Chord Mojo, the bass sounds tighter, more well controlled and it just overall sounds better.

I’m not saying you need the most heavy duty dac/amp setup ever, but you should at least have a high quality dongle + 4.4 balance connection as the baseline to do justice for the Davinci.

Comparison

1/ DUNU SA6 Mk2

DUNU SA6 Mk2 is an iem from DUNU's Studio series, featuring 6BA. Its retail price is 579$, nearly double the price of the Davinci.

Let’s start with the bass. I’ll compare the Davinci with the SA6 Mk2 with the switch on (more bass). The quantity of bass may be similar on the graph, but the presentation is very different, being DD bass vs BA bass. The bass on the Davinci is punchier, thumper with more lingering decay to it. Midbass's impact felt more grand and more rounded. The subbass reaches deeper with more air movement. The subwoofer effect is more apparent on the Davinci. The SA6 Mk2 bass on the other hand is snappier, sharper with quicker decay. So the bass on the SA6 Mk2 may lean more towards the technical side, more details but the Davinci bass is more fun, more musical and natural. Drums, kick drums, cello, double bass all sound more natural on the Davinci.

On to the midrange. The lower midrange is relatively the same, being smooth and neutral, but the Davinci’s has just a bit more warmth to it. But the uppermidrange on the other hand.

Let me start with this: I don’t like the QDC style midrange. I don’t usually like the upper midrange to start raising before 1khz, in this case the SA6 Mk2 having the midrange raising too soon from 800hz to 1.5khz, then got cut flat from 1.5khz to 4khz. What this means is that the midrange is really forward, almost forceful. It’s inside your head, but not in a shouty way, more like vocalists jumpscaring at you. The midrange instruments sound more forward as well, which affected the stage. Many people like this presentation, all powers to them, but to me it just sounds weird.

The uppermidrange of Davinci on the other hand aligns more with my preference. Female vocals have better note definition to them (a.k.a more natural). Although they stand out more from the mix. They don’t sound like they are in my head as much. Midrange instruments sounded more open and the staging got improved too (less shallow). Both iem have that 6k anti-sibilant dip, so sibilance was kept to a minimum level with these 2 iem.

The treble is also another thing. To my ears, the Davinci has a smoother, more relaxing treble roll off, while the SA6 Mk2 has a sharper, airier treble with more brilliant. It’s edgier, crunchier in a sense. Percussion instruments sound softer, less crisp on the Davinci, whereas they sound more forward/emphasized and analytical on the SA6 mk2. Together with the 1.5khz to 4khz, the upper treble sounds even more emphasized. It’s a personal enjoyment thing, but I usually enjoy the more laid back treble than the more detailed ones as I'm a loud volume listener.

Technical performance wise, the soundstage of the Davinci is better to me, with less width but more depth and height, so more 3D than the SA6 Mk2. The SA6 Mk2 however has better layering. Microdetail wise, gotta hand it for the SA6 Mk2.

Outside of sound (and price), the SA6 Mk2 has a bigger shell so it pushes against my ears more. The shells are also clearer, so you can see the interior better.

All things considered, I enjoy the Davinci more than the SA6 Mk2, because it’s more fun sounding, it satisfied me more as a soft bass head, has a more natural midrange, easier-on-the-ear treble along with better staging, even if the micro-details and layering was lacking behind. The SA6 Mk2 is more referency, more true to its name as an in-ear “monitor”.

2/ ZiiGaat Doscinco

The Doscinco is a hybrid iem with 2DD that face each other (as opposed to the Davinci’s 2DD with each DD handle a different frequency range) to handle the bass and 3BA for the mid and treble. Doscinco’s retail price is 269$

As for sound, I'd say the Doscinco is a bassier Davinci with a bit spicier upper midrange.

Let’s start with the bass. The bass on the Doscinco is more authoritative than the Davinci’s. It has more quantity overall. However, even with a bigger bass shelf, the bass on the Doscinco felt more distinct, faster and tighter. Kick drums don't sound as boomy as the Davinci’s. Half joke, half truth description: The bass on the Doscinco hits me more like a hammer while the Davinci is more like… a big yoga ball at my head. I like both the bass on this iem, however, over a long period of time, the Davinci’s bass does feel more fatiguing due to how much vibration there is. Yes, more vibration even with a lower bass shelf.

As for the midrange and vocals. Instruments have slightly more noteweight to it, however I felt like the warmth of them are relatively the same. Tone and timbre however, the Davinci exceeds it. Piano, violin sounds more expressive; horn instruments sound more dramatic as well as standing out more from the mix, noticeable in Hans Zimmer’s tracks.

Vocals on the Doscinco sounds more forward yet sound less velvety than the Davinci. Celine Dion’s high notes are more emphasized and effortless than the Davinci. Her voice with the Davinci still sounds great though, still has that full body and presence, but felt like something was holding her back. That being said, I'd enjoy her voice more at louder volume on the Davinci. It’s a delicate balance.

Finally the treble, they’re similarly emphasized and similarly detailed. Good shimmering and sparkle for both sets. Cymbals and hihats sounds edgier on the Doscinco while the Davinci sounds a bit airier and more flow-ey.

Technicalities wise, the Davinci simply has better soundstage and imaging, while layering is not laser cutted on both sets.

Together with the abundance of accessories for just 30$ more, the Davinci seems to be a better choice between the two.

3/ ISN Neo 5

Another hybrid bass heavy iem under the same price bracket, this time is the ISN Neo 5. It has 1DD and 4BA. ISN Neo 5 msrp is 289$.

The Neo 5 has a bit more bass quantity than the Davinci. Bass quality wise, they are on quite a similar level. Both are well tuned, both have that rich, heavy weighty feeling to it. If I have to nit pick, the bass on the Neo 5 is a bit denser. It has the thicker and more viscous type of bass, so for cello and double bass, they sound eargasmic. However, both iem’s bass also aren’t quite suitable for fast paced music.

Midrange wise, both iem sound very neutral and linear with non-aggressive pinna boost. However the Davinci feels a bit smoother and more natural to me. Instruments are better articulated with more natural timbre. The Neo 5’s midrange also sounds smooth with good detail though, it’s just that the Davinci’s was just a touch better.

Vocals are a different thing as I felt like there’s more life to soprano, or to other female vocal’s high notes. Adele and Celine Dion have higher clarity. Male vocal sounds lusher too. However, with Ed Sheeran’s “Shiver”, Neo 5 seems to be more sibilant and a bit more metallic than the Davinci.

Treble wise, these two just sound very similar. Both have what I considered a laid back and relaxing treble. With the Davinci, cymbals and hihats has a bit more aeration, but can sound more splashy at times, where as the Neo 5’s treble has a darker edge to it, which affects its overall resolution.

Soundstage wise, the Davinci sounds wider and deeper, but less height than the Neo 5.

Mod:
So I was lurking around in Gizaudio discord and saw a few people talking about a mod that they did. The mod includes using a piece of tape to plug the rear vent, as well as using a filter to tame down the treble. The original mod was done by Resolved by sticking a piece of Funtack onto the vent. I find this mod quite interesting and easy to do, so i think, yeah why not try it. I’ve modified mine by putting a piece of clear tape over the vent, as well as putting a 4.8mm 500 mesh filter over the nozzles. Here's the result.

Graph reading wise, you’d get a lower and linear bass response, as well as a lower upper midrange and treble.

Sound wise, this mod makes the Davinci sound flatter, more neutral and less exciting. The bass has less quantity, less body to it, but in exchange it sounds tighter and more incisive. The bass seems to blend in better with the midrange, or not standing out as much. Bass instruments still sound good, but in stock form, they sound more natural due to the additional impact and air movement. Essentially you’re trading between a fun type of bass, or linear, more technical one. Midrange instruments and vocals sound more forward as a whole even with a now lowered amount of upper frequencies.

You can get away with not putting an additional filter onto the nozzle, but if you’re only taping the vent, the upper midrange can sound a bit too spicy.

This mod also introduces some pressure buildup to the Davinci, so proceed with caution.

Overall, this is just a fun thing to do once in a while, as I still like the stock tonality more since it's more dynamic sounding.

Playing with impedance adapter

As you can see, by using the impedance adapter and after volume matching, you’d get a more V shaped version of the Davinci. The bass would be raised about 4.5db, while the uppermidrange and treble is around 2.5-3db.

Now the Davinci sounds even more fun to me. The bass now goes into the brain rattling type of bass. It’s even boomier and punchier than before. The upper midrange now sounds ever so slightly brighter and a bit more metallic, but because the bass got boosted even higher, this effect sort of evens out on its own.

This is purely graph reading, but with this mod, you’d essentially have a cheaper Xenns Top with few differences in the upper frequencies. I’m sure it won't be exactly close to the real deal, but this could give you a glimpse into what the Xenns Top sounds like.

Again, similar to the taping mod, I think this impedance adapter trick is quite fun to do once in a while. But with this mod, you won’t have to worry about any glue residue left behind by the tape.

Conclusion

The DUNU x Gizaudio Davinci is a great product. Not perfect, but great. With its near allrounder tonality and quite decent technical performance, along with the abundance of accessories, I think this iem could be THE top performer and most bang for buck iem for 300$. At the time of writing this review, the Davinci was even on sale for 250$ on Aliexpress, which makes it even more of a no-brainer.

Music library wise, the Davinci is compatible with a wide range of music genres, from pop, rock, to R&B, orchestra and even instrumental music, all of which constitutes most of my library, so it’s not surprising that I'm pretty much very satisfied with this iem.

I highly recommend the Davinci.

Last but not least, congratulations to Timmy for this successful collab.

That’s it for my review and thank you for reading.

Dunu Davinci

Fairly large nozzle and shell, kinda remind me of thieaudio but overall still pretty comfortable to wear.

If you're interested in graph comparision, here's the Link

+ i'm a normal asian dude with some music producing background
+ i like clean balanced sound signature with focus on sub bass and lower treble, especially looking for a good dynamism and harmonic playthrough, i like vocal, not necessary mid dominant, can consider myself as treblehead
+ 60-68db listening session
+ Avarage score 4/10 (Quarks/ 7hz Zero) Middle score 6/10 (Tanchjim Kara)
+ Bias score is i like it or not, doesn't sum on overall score

Click to expand...

- Bass (7/10): Can be a hit or miss, well thought tuning but can be boring as it is very gentle with presentation, given how big the bass is. Can sound kinda lowfi with some songs, i'm not sure if i really like this or not since it's still a good tuned bass!
- Mid (9.5/10): ah it shines, beautifully tuned, highly detail and natural. Definitely the highlight of this set
** i know bass having more volume than mid but i don't feels bass stealing spotlight but rather being on the background to let other things to shine
- Vocals (6.3/10... Depend on volume): natural sounding, natural position, well spread all across the stage but, upper register fall short, you just kinda feels like you missed something "lack of emotions, i just don't get chill from listening to female vocals, sounds kinda flat"
- Treble (6,5/10): beautifully tuned, good shimmering and sparkle, cymbal sound subtly vibrant, badly score by mimicking the feels of EST while the drivers isn't up for the task, sounds wet but kinda rough and dry (like dry ice) make it rather plasticky and not as crispy as EST.
- Detail (6,8/10): Macro (7.5/10), Micro (6/10)
- Soundstage (7/10): theatre like sound stage (square)
- Imaging (6.5/10): good spacing from left to right, ok height placement, lack layering, like seriously lack layering
Bias (8/10): warm neutral
Overall : 7/10
It kinda sad that i really like this tune, idk like mid is worth dying for but the vocal just falls short, treble is plasticky and for the most part, it sound kinda robotic... This isn't build as detail iem but as emotional iem, yet it fail to do so. The lack of personal uniqueness that i would hope to see in Giz audio collab, this set to me is a truly "Jack of all trades, Master of none". Idk if this is negative or positive, but i just wish that it would tuned a little better, even if it build for everyone in mind.
One things i really like is despite being hybrid, timbre is kinda remind me of Sony, very natural, i just can't hear any BA timbre on this set, and phase is really good

thaslaya's star rating system:
☆☆☆☆☆ - Fantastic!
☆☆☆☆ - Recommended
☆☆☆ - There are buyers but not for me
☆☆ - Can't see the appeal
☆ - Product is a failure

Disclaimer:
This set was provided by HiFiGO in exchange for my honest and impartial review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Gear used:
●LG v30+
●Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra
●Samsung dongle
●Hiby FC4
●iFi GO bar Kensei

Source:
●Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD.



Introduction:
Timmy from Gizaudio is a pretty well known audiophile YouTuber and reviewer. He has collaborated with different companies in the past to help create and tune 2 different iems. The first was the Letshuoer x Gizaudio Galileo and the second was the more recent Binary x Gizaudio Chopin. Both sets have received a lot of attention and praise from the community. I previously owned the Galileo but I unfortunately was not writing reviews at that time. It's a decent set with beautiful shells but it also released back in early 2023 and the market, tastes, and technology are ever changing. Timmy's third collaboration is with Dunu, a company known to audiophiles for their quality in tuning, build, and accessories. The Dunu x Gizaudio DaVinci features 2 dynamic drivers, 4 custom balanced armature drivers, a 5-way crossover, and is available for $299 on HiFiGO. Like a lot of collaborative projects, this one has built up quite a bit of excitement and anticipation prior to it's release. Let's break down what the DaVinci has to offer and see if it can live up to the hype.



Build, fit, ergonomics:
The unboxing experience is decent for the price. The box is small in size, yet it holds a remarkable collection of accessories. The first thing to see when opening the box are the beautiful shells. They are crafted from resin and feature a wooden faceplate, resulting in a unique appearance for each piece. Given that Leonardo Da Vinci was a renowned artist, I would have assumed that the shells would be hand-painted, but the wood is still an attractive aesthetic choice. The shells and the nozzle are both on the larger side. Fit may be an issue for those with small ears, although I personally found them to fit securely and comfortably for long sessions. They also have a nice weight balance and are not too heavy. They feel good in the hand and have a premium build quality. My one nitpick with the shell design is that the 2 pin connection is very deeply recessed. The stock cable fits securely but it can be an issue for those that like to cable roll. The rest of the contents can be found under the foam holding the shells. The Dunu branded case is well made although it's slightly large but still low profile enough to be pocketable. The material is soft to the touch and the case is sturdy enough to keep the protect the contents. Inside the case are the cable and a plethora of tips. Dunu did not skimp on the accessories with the DaVinci and it really shows. There are 3 different style tips included in the box: the Dunu branded S&S, Candy, and a third round design I haven't seen before. One thing to note is that the S&S and Candy tips can be difficult to fit over the large nozzles. It's a bit of a chore but it can be done with patience and dexterity. I found that the round tips fit on easily and the largest size provided the best seal and comfort for me. This is the first time in awhile that I opted to use the stock tips over my Penon Liqueurs, which is a testament to how good they work for me. The stock cable is also a fantastic inclusion. It's very lightweight and well braided but it does feel a bit rubbery. There are 3 modular terminations included: a 3.5mm, 4.4mm, and interestingly enough, a 6.35mm (1/4inch) plug as well. The modular system on this cable is well engineered and the screw on locking mechanism keeps them securely in place.



Sound impressions:
It's hard for me to categorize the DaVinci's tuning. It's not really U, V, or L-shaped. For lack of a better term, I would describe them as mostly neutral with a healthy bass boost. That may be a contradiction, but the mids and treble are never overpowered by the prominent bass and everything harmonizes exceptionally well. The soundstage is plenty wide with decent depth as well. They have excellent separation while avoiding sounding disjointed or incongruous. The frequency response demonstrates a distinct smoothness across the entire spectrum, while still preserving the integrity of the tuning. The imaging is accurate and the dynamic range is excellent. The detail retrieval is impressive and subtle nuances can be discerned with ease. I wouldn't go so far as to call them "detail monsters," although their performance is still commendable. The emphasis is on musicality rather than critical listening. I usually prefer to use DAC/amps with my iems but the DaVinci are easy enough to drive and can reach loud volume levels without the need for amplification.



●Lows - The low end is tuned quite differently from the two previous Gizaudio collaborations. Based on the graph, I could tell there would be a noticeable elevation in the bass, even before hearing the DaVinci for myself. However, I was completely taken aback at the sheer quality on display here. The bass is substantial, visceral, and voluptuous. It approaches what I would consider "basshead" levels, yet it's done with a sophistication and refinement that avoids coming across as gimmicky. The sub bass reaches deep and there's a fantastic rumble and reverberation. The mid bass has more presence and is the focus over the sub. They exhibit a rich, warm, enveloping quality while still retaining clarity and avoiding any bleed or hindrance to the mid frequencies. The attack is quick with a slightly slower decay, yet it remains well-defined and articulate. It maintains clarity and never sounds pillowy or bloated. I did find myself wanting just a little more sub bass at times but I'm reaching to find criticisms at this point.

●Mids - The DaVinci's bass quality was the first surprise, but the vocals that followed were truly astounding. They have a sultry and alluring quality combined with a natural and organic timbre. There is no thinness or harshness on display here. Instead, the vocals exhibit warmth and emotion while still being articulate and crystal clear. The mids are pushed slightly forward but still maintain a good balance with the other frequencies. Guitars sound natural and plucks and strums have realistic timbre. Female vocals are particularly well-suited to the DaVinci's midrange, delivering a smooth and expansive presentation. Male vocals are slightly less prominent than females but they are still refined and natural. There is a seamless transition from the upper midrange to the lower treble without any harshness or thinness. The midrange presentation of the DaVinci is on par with my favorite vocal iem, the Aful MagicOne. However, the MagicOne has a warmer and more intimate sound and lacks the expansive bass presence of the DaVinci.

●Highs - This is my ideal treble response. The quantity and quality are superb, allowing the other frequencies to take more of the spotlight, yet still remain present with plenty of air and sparkle. The highs are free of any sibilance or piercing notes and they have enough presence to compliment the elevated bass. All instruments sound fantastic but cymbals in particular are splashy and realistic without sounding metallic or artifical. The treble extension is exceptionally well-executed without sounding artificial boosted or unnatural. While the treble isn't really the star of the tuning for me, it never comes across as deficient or an afterthought. The fact that the treble remains clear and concise in conjuction with the voluptuous bass and smooth as silk midrange is a testament to the technical and tuning prowess on display in the DaVinci. I believe the 5-way crossover contributes significantly to the harmony of the frequencies.



In conclusion:
Dunu and Timmy have collaborated to create something truly special in the DaVinci. Like the artist from which it gets its namesake, it is a true work of art in both aestetics and tuning. The deep, impactful bass envelops the listener in a comforting embrace. Not to be outdone, the smooth vocals shine with emotion and clarity. The treble has just the right amount of extension and air to showcase the details without any harshness. I mostly listen to pop, rock, R&B, and soft pop/rock, and for my library, the DaVinci is perfection. The entirety of the accessories are superb as well. The shells are beautifully made, showcasing a natural wood aestetic. The modular cable is well braided and sturdy but also lightweight. The included tips are numerous and the case is very solid and offers great protection. I honestly could not think to include anything that Dunu hasn't thought of already. There's really no deficiencies that I can find and I cannot imagine going up multiple price tiers would be worth the marginal gains. At the cost of $299, I believe they are well worth the price, and this is the peak of diminishing returns for me. Sure, they can be paired with various sources to draw out more nuanced changes, but I believe the stock form is absolutely magnificent. The DaVinci gets a huge recommendation and a full five star rating from this reviewer, as I think they are just sublime.

Gear used:

Qudelix 5k
/
Ifi ZEN CAN Signature
Ifi ZEN ONE Signature

Eartips used:
Dunu Stage&Studio Medium(on the DaVinci)
Spinfit W1 Medium(S8 & Oracle)
Tanchjim Bass Enhancing tips(Letshuoer S12 Pro)
Softear UltraClear(Galileo)


Introduction:
The Dunu x Gizaudio is one of the main hyped IEM sets at the moment, along with the Dusk, Pilgrim, and Hype 4. These 4 IEMs are what people look at when shopping around the 300 to 500 price bracket, and the DaVinci is the cheapest one of the bunch.

In this review, I'll be comparing the DaVinci to the other IEMs I currently own, which are: Thieaudio Oracle(OG), Moondrop S8, Letshuoer Galileo, Letshuoer S12 Pro

Unboxing and Using the DaVinci















I'll be quick with this. The accessories included with the DaVinci are top notch. The cable is good, perhaps a tiny bit stiff, but it's good. The case is smaller than the Thieaudio case you see in the picture, but it's still useable. The little holding strap does seem a bit unnecessary for me though, and the net is VERY tight, which makes it unusable as it can't even fit my q5k.

Tip rolling on the DaVinci was hell on earth for me, now, I am not what you would call mobile, and I am clumsy too, but man. It took me 20 minutes to get the eartips on. Besides that.. fit and comfort of the DaVinci is excellent. Despite the large shell, it fits very nicely and I can wear it for long periods with no issues. Although, ignoring pressure, the Moondrop S8(it has no pressure relief vents) still has a more comfortable fit for me personally.

This is a pictue comparing it to the already chonky, Oracle, which is less comfortable for me, than the DaVinci.

Now then, onto the sound.

Initial Impressions of the DaVinci

When I first put them into my ears and played a song, of course, I played something with a little bass in it, as everyone was screaming about how good the bass was, which made me curious. ( Whisper Whisper Whisper｜來-Ray- (cover) )

And man, this has to be the best bass I've heard in an IEM. Period. And that is simple, because all the other IEM's I've tried never really had the bass as a standout feature. When I say that, I mean IEMs like the Moondrop Blessing series, and the Aria.

oh boy did it tickle my ears.

It was impactful, it rumbled, it was quick, it was simply, good. I have a limit on what I can say on bass, because I don't really have anything with bass that I can compare it to.. But I can see anyone liking the bass on this, unless they prefer a more neutral signature.

Now, what personally stood out to me besides the bass, was the fact that the mids were unbothered by it, and even more, the mids sounded extremely natural and smooth, and lastly, the treble and uppermids, had like this weird.. shimmery timbre, which I can see being a dealbreaker for some people.

The full sound spectrum

Bass:

Now that I have more time with the DaVinci, the amount of bass is honestly almost perfect for me personally. It is never too much for me, and never too little. There's a basshead, deep inside you, it will not die, it will fight back - Optimus Prime or whatever. idk

Mids:

Now then, the mids, along with the bass, this is probably the best thing about this IEM.

Everything has its proper note weight. Everything sounds natural as it should, it sounds balanced and almost unaffected by bass or treble. I am honestly very impressed, that this was achieved at this price point. I don't have much else to say, or well, I'll say more about it in the comparisons.

Treble:
Now here is the ****y part, this is where I think, Dunu hit a ceiling because of the price point. What I assume is, the 300 buck mark, was just too little to get some good BA's for the treble, or this is some strange tuning decision to make good technicalities happen.

Anyways, the treble, has some weird shimmery, glassy timbre, which immediately reminded me of my S8, except the S8's had just a more normal BA timbre but across the entire frequency range. This treble characteristic of the DaVinci had the potential to ruin some songs with female vocals for me in it, and it did, sometimes. But that was only on some particular voices like Tsukuyomi.

And to my ears, there are a couple of peaks, which I can't exactly pinpoint unfortunately, but this occasionally makes me turn down the volume or fatigued.. that being said, that depends on what I'm listening to.

Technicalities:
Now then, something you want out of a good IEM around this price point, are probably good techs. Stage, Imaging, Separation, Layering, Detail retrieval

The DaVinci is honestly, despite it's balanced sound profile, pretty resolving, at least, compared to my other IEMs. Detail retrieval is there, micro nuances are there. You don't feel like you're missing out on anything.

And when it comes to Imaging and Separation, the DaVinci sounds like it just has things coming out of every individual driver, now that depends on the track, but on multiple I've just received this feeling that I could pinpoint which exact driver was playing what. Although, I do like that. It sounds funny to my ears and just make things more clear and easy to notice for me.

In the pros and cons, I said the stage sounded "normal". Now, by that I don't mean average, but for media consumption, and music listening, everything just sounded like it was supposed to. Perhaps natural is the better word.. and is probably a good one to describe most of this IEM.




Now, on to the comparisons, I'll start with the Galileo.

We're going to ignore the bass with this, as I had already established that the DaVinci had the best bass I have heard thus far.

The Galileo is Gizaudio's first collaboration, IEM. And it is my 2nd favorite IEM of all time. It is tuned uniquely. The sound signature is very different from the DaVinci. It is more neutral, it is much less resolving, much less detailed, but the treble sounds more natural, making me prefer the Galileo over the DaVinci when it comes to Female Vocals.

But that is what I personally think. I can easily see 9/10 people picking the DaVinci over the Galileo, because besides the more natural treble of the Galileo, the DaVinci is higher resolution, more resolving, more bass, more lower mids and comes with better accessories.

That being said, I don't think I prefer either over each other, I may need more time to decide if I prefer it over one another.



Now, the Moondrop S8

The S8 is the most resolving and detailed IEM that I've heard personally, and that still stands to this day. Like Super Review pointed out in his video, the stereo imaging of the S8 is wider, and before watching his video on it, I had already confirmed that the S8 immediately just sounded wider.

Although, the S8 is tuned pretty well, it's still an all BA set, and an ancient one by IEM standards. It has that amazing BA timbre we all know and love. Which I am perfectly fine with. Unlike DaVinci, it doesn't make the treble or uppermids sound harsh or just straight up bad. It's just a characteristic of the IEM instead of being a fault.

That being said, I think I prefer the DaVinci over the S8, because I only grab the S8 when I just want something detailed. The S8 is also more comfortable for me personally, and your mileage may vary. It fits me like a CIEM.

The DaVinci just sounds more engaging than the S8, more full and lively, and to top it all off, the DaVinci has more natural sounding mids and bass, meanwhile the S8 has BA characteristics all over like I mentioned.



Thieaudio Oracle

I've seen some people asking if the Oracle and Davinci sound similar, and here is my answer.

No.
They are different. The mids on the Oracle are just beautiful, the bass is tasteful, and the treble is smooth and natural, doesn't get in the way of anything.

That being said, for male vocals, the DaVinci is better. And you may prefer the DaVinci for its note weight, better resolution and better techs. The Oracle wraps around your head more, it's more immersive than the DaVinci. It gives this soulful feeling. Which makes the Oracle still stand at the top for me, as my favourite IEM.

Also, the Oracle is less comfortable than the DaVinci.

For the DaVinci, it sounds more like a horizontal line instead of the wrap around your head immersive experience the Oracle gives you. The mids come close to the Oracle, but if you were a nitpicky audiophile, you could easily choose one or the other depending on what you prefer.

Letshuoer S12 Pro

Now, we all know there's a bunch of cheap planar IEMs out there, like the Artti T10, Nicehck something something and a bunch of others, which all use the S12 driver for some reason, which is also the same driver as the S12 Pro.

But the value gained here from these cheap planar IEMs is honestly immense, as you can eq them drastically to change the sound profile. Now, I won't be comparing it EQ'd, but I'm just going to say this.

The S12 has similar detail retrieval but shoves it in your face, but has a metallic planar timbre to the entire frequency range.
It has good resolution, some may perceive it to be better or equal to DaVinci due to the planar timbre. I personally think the Davinci has higher res. Bass can't really be compared because honestly, planar bass sucks imo.

Conclusion

The DaVinci is a great deal at its price point, and it may be perfect for you, or it may be something you don't like depending on your preferences and how nitpicky you are. It has excellent bass, good natural sounding mids, with great imaging but a bit disappointing treble. And to top it all off, it comes with great accessories.

Buy binky

Introduction​

Hey everyone, the DUNU DaVinci finally arrived, and I wanted to share my review. This IEM is packed with a 6-driver configuration: 1 10mm dynamic driver for sub-bass, 1 8mm for mid-bass, 2 drivers for mid-range, 1 for mid-high frequencies, and 1 for ultra-high frequencies. This detailed setup promises a lot, and DUNU has delivered on many fronts with this model.

Design and Build Quality​

The build quality of the DUNU DaVinci IEM is exemplary, showcasing DUNU’s commitment to craftsmanship and durability. The ear shells are made from high-quality materials, ensuring a robust and premium feel. The wooden faceplates add a touch of elegance and sophistication, making the DaVinci not only a high-performing IEM but also a visually stunning piece of audio equipment. Despite their somewhat chunky size, the ear shells are ergonomically designed to provide an excellent fit and comfort for long listening sessions. The attention to detail in the construction is evident, with smooth edges and a flawless finish that speaks to the meticulous engineering behind these IEMs.

The DaVinci’s design also includes recessed 2-pin connectors, which enhance the durability and longevity of the earphones. This feature prevents accidental disconnections and protects the pins from damage, ensuring a secure and stable connection at all times. The overall build quality is solid, instilling confidence that the DaVinci IEMs can withstand regular use and the rigors of daily life.



One of the standout features of the DaVinci is its high-quality interchangeable termination cable. The cable is both flexible and non-microphonic, allowing for a hassle-free listening experience. The interchangeable terminations are a practical addition, providing versatility and compatibility with various devices. Whether you prefer a 3.5mm, 2.5mm, or 4.4mm balanced output, the DaVinci’s cable has you covered, making it easy to switch between different audio sources.

The cable is designed with a straight-angled jack, which offers added durability and ease of use. It’s crafted from premium materials that ensure longevity and performance. Additionally, the cable’s flexibility and lack of microphonics contribute to a more enjoyable listening experience, free from unwanted noise and tangles.

Accessories

The DUNU DaVinci comes with a comprehensive set of accessories, including three different sets of ear tips, with my favorite being the DUNU S&S. The high-quality interchangeable termination cable is a highlight, featuring straight-angled jacks that are both flexible and non-microphonic. The recessed 2-pins add to the durability and usability of the cable.

What's in the box:

1 x DUNU DaVinci IEM
1 x Modular, Q-Lock mini quick switch cable
1 x 3.5mm TRS single-ended plug
1 x 4.4mm TRRRS balanced plug
1 x Set of silicon ear tips (S,M,L)
1 x Set of candy silicone ear tips (S,M,L)
1 x Set of DUNU S&S ear tips (S,M,L,XL)
1 x Cleaning brush
1 x Carrying case

Sound Quality​

Bass​

The bass performance of the DUNU DaVinci IEM is undoubtedly one of its standout features. With a dedicated 10mm dynamic driver for sub-bass and an 8mm driver for mid-bass, the DaVinci delivers a bass experience that is both powerful and precise. The sub-bass extends deeply, providing a satisfying rumble that is especially noticeable in genres like electronic dance music, hip-hop, and orchestral pieces with heavy percussion. This sub-bass response adds a layer of depth to the music, making it feel more immersive and engaging.

One of the key characteristics of the DaVinci’s bass is its tactile nature. It’s not just about hearing the bass; you can feel it. This tactile quality is a result of the drivers' capability to move air efficiently, creating a physical sensation that complements the auditory experience. The bass is punchy and impactful, giving each beat a strong presence. This is particularly evident in tracks with pronounced basslines or kick drums, where the DaVinci’s bass adds a satisfying thump and slam.

Despite the strong bass presence, the DaVinci manages to avoid bass bleed into the mid-range. This is likely due to the sophisticated 5-way crossover and multiple acoustic tubes that DUNU has employed. These design elements ensure that each frequency band is handled by the appropriate driver, maintaining clarity and separation across the spectrum. As a result, the bass remains controlled and well-defined, without overwhelming the other frequencies.

However, it’s worth noting that the mid-bass might be a few decibels higher than some listeners' preferences. While this adds to the overall richness and warmth of the sound, it can occasionally be a bit much, especially during extended listening sessions. For those who prefer a more neutral bass response, slight EQ adjustments can help tame the mid-bass, making it more in line with personal tastes.

In terms of versatility, the DaVinci’s bass performs admirably across various genres. Whether it's the deep electronic beats of EDM, the thumping basslines of hip-hop, or the rich, resonant bass of acoustic and classical music, the DaVinci handles it all with aplomb. The bass is not just about power; it also brings out the nuances and textures of low-frequency instruments, adding to the overall musicality and enjoyment of the IEM.

Mid-Range​

The mid-range performance of the DUNU DaVinci IEM is another area where this IEM excels. Featuring two dedicated drivers for the mid-range frequencies, the DaVinci offers a rich and detailed presentation that brings vocals and instruments to life. The lower mid-range has a touch of warmth, adding to the overall musicality and making instruments sound full-bodied and natural.

One of the most notable aspects of the mid-range is its meaty and substantial quality. Instruments like pianos, guitars, and strings have a robust presence, with each note rendered with clarity and precision. This full-bodied sound is particularly enjoyable in genres like classical, jazz, and rock, where the mid-range is critical for conveying the nuances of the music. For example, listening to a piano concerto, the DaVinci captures the weight and resonance of each piano note, making the performance feel more lifelike and engaging.

Vocals, both male and female, are well-balanced in the DaVinci’s mid-range. They are neither recessed nor overly forward, sitting comfortably within the mix. This balance ensures that vocals are clear and intelligible without overshadowing the instruments. Female vocals, in particular, benefit from the DaVinci’s detailed mid-range. They are extended and airy without sounding thick or husky, allowing the natural timbre and emotion of the singer’s voice to come through beautifully.

The mid-range also excels in terms of detail retrieval and separation. Each instrument and vocal can be distinctly heard, even in complex and busy tracks. This separation is crucial for genres like symphonic metal or progressive rock, where multiple layers of sound need to be distinguished clearly. The DaVinci’s ability to maintain clarity and definition in the mid-range ensures that every element of the music is presented accurately.



In terms of tonality, the mid-range of the DaVinci is natural and realistic. This natural tonality, combined with the warmth and fullness of the mid-range, makes for a highly enjoyable listening experience. Whether it’s the soulful tones of a saxophone or the delicate strumming of an acoustic guitar, the DaVinci captures the essence of each instrument with finesse.

One of the challenges for any IEM is to maintain a cohesive transition between the bass, mid-range, and treble. The DaVinci handles this transition seamlessly, ensuring that the mid-range is well-integrated with the other frequency bands. This cohesion adds to the overall balance and harmony of the sound, making the DaVinci a versatile performer across various musical genres.

Treble​

The treble performance of the DUNU DaVinci IEM is characterized by excellent extension, smoothness, and detail. With a dedicated driver for mid-high frequencies and another for ultra-high frequencies, the DaVinci ensures that the treble is well-represented and free from harshness or sibilance. This makes the DaVinci a great choice for listeners who appreciate detailed and articulate treble without the fatigue that can come from overly bright IEMs.

One of the standout features of the DaVinci’s treble is its smoothness. The treble is extended, reaching into the higher frequencies with ease, but it does so in a way that is gentle on the ears. This smoothness prevents any sharpness or piercing quality, making the treble sound natural and easy to listen to. Cymbals, high hats, and other high-frequency instruments are rendered with a realistic shimmer and sparkle, adding to the overall detail and clarity of the music.

Detail retrieval in the treble is another area where the DaVinci excels. The high frequencies are presented with a high level of precision, allowing you to hear the subtle nuances and textures in the music. This is particularly enjoyable in genres like classical and jazz, where the intricacies of the music can be fully appreciated. The DaVinci’s treble brings out the micro-details, making each instrument and note stand out clearly.

In terms of treble tonality, the DaVinci offers a natural and accurate presentation. It avoids any artificial brightness, providing a treble that is true to the source material. This natural tonality ensures that high-frequency sounds are reproduced faithfully, making the listening experience more authentic. The treble also maintains good separation from the mid-range and bass, ensuring that each frequency band is distinct and well-defined.

The treble performance also contributes to the overall soundstage and imaging of the DaVinci. The extended and detailed treble helps create a wide and spacious soundstage, giving the music a sense of depth and dimension. Imaging is precise, with instruments and vocals accurately placed within the sound field. This spatial accuracy enhances the listening experience, making it easier to pick out individual elements in the music.

While the treble is smooth and detailed, it may not have the same level of upper treble extension as some other high-end IEMs. For example, the Blessing 2 Dusk, with its micro planar tweeters, offers a different and more extended treble presentation. However, the DaVinci’s treble still holds its own, providing a balanced and enjoyable listening experience.

Comparison​

Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK 2​

When compared to the Blessing 3 Dusk 2 also known as the Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK 2, the DaVinci has a more satisfying bass response with meatier mid-range and smoother treble. The Dusk 2 excels in upper treble extension due to its micro planar tweeters, providing a more realistic treble presentation. Resolution and technicalities are very similar, but the DaVinci edges out in overall enjoyment due to its better bass, mid-range, and soundstage.

DUNU SA6 Ultra and SA6 MK II​

The DUNU SA6 series has smaller earpieces and offers more comfort and isolation due to their shape. They excel in resolution, clarity, and detail retrieval, with better upper treble extension. However, the DaVinci provides better sub-bass and mid-bass. The SA6 is an upgrade due to its superior detail, but the DaVinci’s bass and overall balanced sound make it more versatile for genres that have a lot of bass content like EDM, hip-hop, pop, and rock.

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Elysian Pilgrim​

The Elysian Pilgrim IEM has better sub-bass rumble and more resolution and detail but less mid-bass compared to the DaVinci. The Pilgrim is smoother with excellent clarity, making it suitable for long listening sessions. While the Pilgrim excels in sub-bass, the DaVinci offers a thicker, richer sound that is enjoyable across various genres. The Elysian Pilgrim is an upgrade in sound quality to my ears. The DaVinci has a higher quantity of bass, while the Pilgrim has a higher quality bass.

Personal Preferences​

For my personal listening preferences and musical tastes, I find the mid-bass on the DaVinci to be a few dBs higher than ideal. After extended listening, I occasionally prefer something slightly less bass-heavy. However, the bass adds a pleasing thickness to male vocals and makes instruments sound full-bodied and rich.

For instance, listening to Johnny Cash's "Hurt," the natural thickness in his voice, combined with the excellent imaging and instrument separation, sounded marvelous. The acoustic guitar strums moved with clarity from left to right, and his voice sounded rich and full.

Conclusion​

Congratulations to DUNU and Gizaudio for hitting a home run with the DaVinci. It is an excellent and well-tuned IEM that stands out in the competitive market. While it may not be the absolute best under $500, it is certainly among the top contenders according to my preferences. The DaVinci's balanced sound, tactile bass, and superb imaging make it a highly enjoyable IEM for a wide range of music genres. If you appreciate a bit more bass and a warm, full-bodied sound, the DUNU DaVinci could be an excellent addition to your collection.