The Titan S truly live up to their namesake: they are a giant of the budget segment and set the gold-standard for a pair neutrally-tuned, affordable IEMs.
Titans, in classic Greek mythology, are a family of giants born of Uranus and Gaea, and they ruled the earth until the Olympian gods overthrew them. The Merriam-Webster dictionary also defines a Titan as “one that is gigantic in size or power; one that stands out for greatness of achievement”.
In the ultra-competitive single dynamic driver IEM market, there are a multitude of well-regarded budget gems, such as the Moondrop Aria 2021, TForce Yuan Li, and Tin HIFI Tin T3 Plus. In fact, every week brings about a new hype-train release in this segment.
- Light, solid build.
- Great accessories.
- Easy to drive.
- Very good technical performance.
- Natural timbre.
- Rare, well-done, neutral tonality.
- Thin, tangly, and microphonic cable.
- Sub-bass roll-off, not for bassheads.
- Long nozzles may be a potential issue for those with smaller ears.
This segues to the million dollar question: where does the Titan S stand in this ocean of single DD choices?
Spoiler: the Titan S are a Titan in the budget segment and aren’t a sinking Titanic ship!
Company Overview
DUNU has been manufacturing and developing earphones since 2006 and also makes OEM/ODM products for other audio companies. Boasting huge production facilities and a comprehensive suite of state-of-the-art testing equipment – in particular, Brüel & Kjær head-and-torso simulators, spectral analyzers, and anechoic chambers – DUNU does their driver development totally in-house.
DUNU has obtained internationally-recognized acoustic research achievements and patents. For example, DUNU were one of the pioneers in developing a full beryllium dome single DD IEM in the LUNA, which are still regarded as one of the top-of-the-line single DD sets that can match multi BA/hybrid IEMs in resolution (most other purported beryllium DD IEMs are plated or coated only).
DUNU has also released some crowd favorites such as the DK-2001, Zen Pro, EST 112 and SA6, in addition to having a vast accessory line-up.
Technical Specifications
- Form: IEMs
- Drivers: 11 mm dynamic driver with polycondensated crystal polymer diaphragm
- Impedance (Ohm): 32 Ω
- Sensitivity (dB): 110 dB/mW
- Frequency Response (Hz): 5 Hz – 40 kHz
- Removable Cable: Y
- Cable: High-purity, mixed strand monocrystalline copper & silver-plated copper
- Source Plug: 3.5 mm TRS Single-ended
- Cup/Shell Plug: 0.78 mm, 2-Pin
- Mic: N
Packaging
In the box
- DUNU Titan S IEMs
- 3 variants of silicone ear tips (S/M/L for each type)
- Shirt clip
- Cable
- Leatherette carrying case
Ear tips
The blue-nozzle eartips are the shortest of the lot and have the narrowest bore diameter. These tips give the shallowest fit, and increase soundstage, though they provide the least isolation.
The white eartips are the tallest and they do give a deeper fit and consequently more isolation, though with a slightly more intimate soundstage.
The red-nozzle eartips are kind of a mid-point between the above 2 eartips in terms of eartip height and are my preferred eartips for this review.
Cable
The stock cable is made of high-purity, mixed strand monocrystalline copper & silver-plated copper. It comes in a 0.78 mm, 2-pin plug termination, which, in theory, should be more durable than MMCX connectors with frequent cable changing.
This cable is sturdy enough with a chin slider. However, it is very thin, tangles easily, and has microphonics. Using the provided shirt clip can reduce unwanted microphonics to some extent.
Case
DUNU’s logo is embossed on the exterior of the leatherette case. This case is huge, and should have no issues fitting in the IEMs with room to spare for other accessories. The inner lining is a velvety material to prevent scratches.
Definitely one of the better included cases I’ve seen so far in my IEM journey.
Design
The Titan S feature lightweight yet durable zinc alloy for the shells. DUNU also advertises that the shells contain an anti-resonance dual-chamber. In terms of build, the shells are legitimately very solid, they would probably survive a drop (don’t try this at home!).
Isolation is bang average for the Titan S, not surprising since they are vented like most single DD designs. There appears to be a huge vent in the middle of the shell, but they are there for aesthetics purposes.
The left and right earpieces are marked with a L and R lettering respectively.
Comfort
The shells are light and personally I find them comfortable for my average-sized ears. The shells have no weird edges or protruding parts.
However, the shell nozzles are on the longer side, and I suspect this may be an issue for those with smaller ears.
Internals
The Titan S use an 11 mm polycondensate LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) diaphragm dynamic driver. Within it are a CCAW voice coil and N52 magnets.
In theory, LCP provides exceptional performance with low distortion in the output signal. It is no surprise that the past year was the year of the LCP hype-train, and some other popular single DD sets such as the Tin HIFI T3 Plus and Moondrop Aria 2021 also use LCP diaphragms.
The Titan S are easy to drive from lower powered sources, but as per most single DD IEMs, amplification improves dynamics, soundstage and micro-details.
DUNU Titan S Sound
The Titan S sport a neutral bright tuning. This is a very unique tuning choice compared to the run-of-the-mill harman and V-shaped sets at the sub USD$100 region. In fact, I think DUNU can carve out their own niche market in view of the neutral tonality on offer.
Timbre on the Titan S is authentic for vocals and acoustic instruments, though note weight is on the thinner side.
In terms of technical performance, imaging, instrument separation, clarity and micro-details are very good for a budget single DD IEM. Soundstage is quite wide (though only about average for soundstage depth and height).
In my opinion, the Titan S trump their main single DD competitors, the Moondrop Aria 2021 and Tin T3 Plus, in the technicalities department.
Bass
As mentioned above, bass on the Titan S is just a tinge north of neutral, and this set is mid-bass centric. There is not much sub-bass rumble, so this is not a pair of IEMs for bassheads.
What the Titan S cede in bass quantity, they ace in quality, with the bass being tight, fast, and accurate. Texturing is above average (though perhaps not class-leading) with no mid-bass bleed.
Fast and clean describes the bass of the Titan S.
Midrange
The lower midrange is neutral, and may sound a bit thin in note weight due to the lack of mid-bass heft.
The upper mids are forward without being shouty, with just a 10 dB pinna gain here. With poorly recorded material, or louder volumes (Fletcher Munson curve), the upper midrange may, on rare occasions, be spicy.
Treble
Treble is moderately extended but not overtly fatiguing. Perhaps with longer listening sessions, the boosted upper mids/lower treble may cause some mild glare, but that can be the case with any IEM tuned to be neutral bright. Clarity and micro-details are there without being overly pushed, with cymbals and high hats not overtly splashy. Sibilance is mild and track dependent.
All-in-all, quite well done treble, balancing extension without veering into fatiguing territory.
Comparisons
I compared the Titan S with some other budget single DD sets. Hybrids and pure BA IEMs were left out of the comparison as the different transducer types have their own pros and cons.
So how will the battle of the LCP Titans turn out?
Vs. Moondrop Aria 2021
The Aria are arguably the main competitor of the Titan S at this price point. They also use an LCP driver and are a huge crowd favorite. In fact, the Aria are one of my recommended balanced sets for those looking for a good budget pair.
First up, the Aria sport anime waifu packaging, and this may be a deal-clincher (or breaker) for some – hahaha.
On a serious note (no pun intended), the Aria have a thicker note weight and more bass quantity, though they have slightly poorer imaging, clarity, and instrument separation than the Titan S. The Aria are less analytical and technical than the Titan S, with less treble extension and sparkle than the DUNUs.
The Aria have a slightly more natural timbre but they do suffer from complaints of the paint bubbling or peeling off the shell, which should not be an issue with the all metal shell of the Titan S.
I view these two LCP giants as complementary sets, and they bring different tunings to the CHIFI budget buffet table.
Vs. HZSound Heart Mirror
The Heart Mirror share some similarities with the Titan S, and are another pair of neutral bright IEMs with a thin note weight.
The Heart Mirror have worse timbral accuracy and a thinner note weight. The Heart Mirror are harder to drive, and are more anemic in the bass, especially in the sub-bass region. The Heart Mirror are more peaky in the treble, with greater sibilance and less smoothness. They can come across as more fatiguing than the Titan S.
Both sets are quite technical and analytical in tuning, and they are also close in technicalities (in imaging, instrument separation and micro-details), though the Titan S have a better soundstage. The Heart Mirror have better clarity, though this is a function of a boosted treble.
The Heart Mirror used to be my default recommendation for the best budget neutral IEM, but this mantle has been taken by the Titan S as of today.
Essentially, one can view the Titan S as a more refined version of the Heart Mirror.
Vs. Tin HIFI T3 Plus
The Tin T3 Plus are another popular budget single DD set containing LCP drivers.
The T3 Plus have a thicker note weight with more bass quantities, and can sound more “fun”, though the bass quality is disappointing (being one-noted, undefined, and lacking texture).
Imaging, micro-details, soundstage (depth/height), and instrument separation are weaker on the T3 Plus, when stacked against the Titan S.
Among the 3 LCP-containing single DD Titans, I feel the T3 Plus are the weakest of the lot.
Where to Buy
Conclusion
The Titan S are now my default recommendation for a neutrally tuned pair of IEMs in the budget segment.
They are pretty unique in terms of their neutral tuning (compared to the hackneyed V-shaped and harman competitors), and meld solid tonality, timbre, and technicalities into a nice package, with few tuning flaws. Generous accessories and easy to drive are the icing on top of this steampunk cake.
Some small nitpicks are the sub-bass roll-off and a mediocre cable. While the nozzles look quite long, I found their comfort to be okay, and the shorter eartips may mitigate the insertion depth too.
The Titan S are a benchmark pair of neutral IEMs at the sub USD$100 region and they really are a Titan amongst the other CHI-FI fare.
I have these, the Moondrop Aria, and the T3 Plus, and my personal experience with them lines up pretty exactly as described here. The Titan S has become my favorite of the three. I do still very much enjoy the Aria as well, since the tuning is different enough that it brings a different experience that highlights other genres. The T3 Plus is somewhat lacking compared to either of the other two, and I’m thinking of gifting it to a friend since I just can’t imagine reaching for it over either the Aria or the Titan.
A word of warning about the Aria though: I had to return the first two pairs I was sent when a channel started cutting out after less than 10 hours of use. I just opened up the third and only time will tell if it holds up. I’ll just consider myself lucky Amazon has a generous returns policy.
Yeah I know what you mean, I actually use the Titan S and Aria most often among the three, with the T3 Plus in a drawer somewhere.
The Aria’s QC for paint chipping is quite well known on forums, but it is sad that you had a channel imbalance/issue with it. Lucky for Amazon!
I realize sometimes buying audio gear on Aliexpress or Taobao may be a bit risky, what with their poor CS and warranty. They don’t have as robust policies as Amazon, and in my experience, they ask for many videos and photos of a reported defect before they will consider a refund/warranty. And even if they do accept the returns, sometimes returning stuff to China is logistically challenging and expensive, it may even end up costing the same as the IEM you are returning to them!
Do I have the right impression: ThieAudio Legacy 2 is a bit more neutral,
but Dunu Titan S has better technicalities. And overall Dunu is slightly
better (even though it’s cheaper).
Hi Sir/Mdm
The Dunu Titan S is a tinge more neutral (and is also brighter with less bass). In terms of technicalities, the Titan S is also better.
Overall I do prefer the Titan S to the Legacy 2. The Titan S has a unique tuning (neutral bright) at this price range too, as most budget sets are V shaped or harmanish.
Great review. How do you compare this to QOA Vesper?
Thanks Sir
Unfortunately I haven’t tried the QOA Vesper before, but I hope maybe someone else who has heard both can give a comparison, would be interested too.
I’m getting these as my first pair of iems. But I’ve seen comments that the cable can be less than desirable. What are some good alternatives? Thank you!
Hi Sir
Yes the stock cable isn’t the greatest.
Personally, I like the NiceHCK 8 core copper cables, they come in 2 pin/MMCX and even balanced/unbalanced configurations. I bought like ten of these at an Aliexpress sale, costing about 7 USD each.
They are very supple, well braided, no microphonics, and on measurements they have very low resistances. Well I’m leave the sonic properties of these cables aside, as cables changing sound signature is a very polarizing and controversial topic in audiophiledom, but suffice to say, these NiceHCK 8 core copper cables are very good bang for buck, in terms of a build and haptic perspective.
Hello,
Recently my IEM broke and I am looking for an IEM that is vanilla in flavour where it presents music as it should be, correctly without too much colouring or bringing out certain aspects to the spotlight. Does Titan S fall under such category?
If possible, I am quite particular about the balance of separation, soundstage and imaging when it comes to technicalities. I don’t necessarily think the wider/bigger/more efficient they are, the better they become, especially if they cannot create a good balance to form a realistic listening experience. It is an IEM in the end and shouldn’t be held up against bookshelf speakers/open-back headphones in this regard after all.
In short, I am looking for an IEM that is correct in bringing out music without painting them too much, and has a correct, balanced technicalities for realistic listening experience. A correct, balanced IEM so to speak. I am also interested in other options as long as they fit the requirement and is less than $80.
I figured it probably won’t be the most exciting set and could be lean/laid back but that is what I am looking for since I am more of a music guy than a gear guy.
Thank you.
Hi Sir/Mdm
Yes the Titan S is possibly an option to consider for something “vanilla”. Perhaps it just lacks a bit of sub-bass extension and isn’t as technical as some competitors eg Tripowin Olina.
One other options is the aforementioned Tripowin Olina – this set has better imaging, clarity and soundstage, though the lower treble is quite hot if you are sensitive to treble. There are mods that can be done though to tame this area (eg paste a 2nd layer of the nozzle filter on the nozzle – it is included in the packaging.
Another option is the Tforce Yuan Li, it frequently retails at 80ish during sales (usually > $100 otherwise), balanced and good timbre and all-rounder. Needs a bit of amplification though as it sounds meh if underpowered.
Hello,
Thank you for the reply and other suggestions. Unfortunately my budget does not allow me to go over $80, which means Tripowin Olina and Tforce Yuan Li are not an option for me, especially Tforce Yuan Li is about $120 for my area.
However, if Tripowin Olina has a very high price:performance ratio then I can be patient and save a little more. I also have a $20 discount for Titan S from my audio store. They do not have Tripowin Olina unfortunately so I cannot utilize the discount. This brings out a comparison of $60 Titan S vs $100 Tripowin Olina.
As far as price:performance is concerned, which one do you think I can get the most out of my bucks? Is Tripowin Olina worth the $40 difference when compared to Titan S?
Thank you.
If you can get the Titan S at $60 ($40 cheaper than the Olina), then that’s a very easy decision to get the Titan S.
Olina is technically better than the Titan S, but not 2x better. The Olina is a bit more fatiguing and shouty if not modded. So definitely go for the Titan S if you can get it at such a good pricing, it is a no-brainer.
Hello,
Thank you for the reply. My last question would be : should I go for the original version or the newer silver version? I heard the tuning is the same but the silver version is using a different cable.
I believe the silver version uses Oxygen Free Copper cable or whatever it is called instead of the mixed/hybrid cable the original one is using. The silver version also has a straight jack instead of a L-jack, which suits my need more since I am using a dongle nowadays. If there is little to no difference to the sound due to wire/cable, then I suppose I would go for the silver version.
However, do let me know if the difference of wire/cable will make the sound more coloured or something.
Thank you.
Hi Iroaseta
There are 2 schools of thought when it comes to cables changing the sound signature, some think it is snake-oil (changes can’t be measured) whereas some swear it sounds different with different cables. I respect both camps, but my personal take is that cables don’t really change the sound that much.
You are better off upgrading the trandsucer first or changing eartips to get more sonic changes, rather than spending more on a new cable. Unless the cable is very badly designed with high resistance. So my 2 cents is just get whichever cable suits you better haptically.