𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭, 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝:
The cable is wonderful in terms of construction, hardware, and reliability, that is undeniable, as is its excessive length. It’s not a cable I would use for outdoor activities, whether intense or relaxed. For my taste it is quite stiff. But I repeat, it is an excellent cable, among the best you can find in terms of quality.
In terms of ergonomics, they are large shells. Be very careful with this and if you have oddly shaped ears, you may feel uncomfortable. In my case, that was not so. My auricle has a standard shape that can accommodate the monitors. Even so, they protrude, but they are not annoying since they have a rounded body designed not to cause pressure.
Insertion into the ear canal is sufficient. It is true that the nozzle could be longer, but the ear tips included in the package, of great quality as always, help firmly secure the shells. I never felt like they would come loose, but I did have to use the largest size available.
The construction of the shells is impeccable, with no signs of flawed workmanship, everything is perfectly finished and polished, and when you run your finger over them you only perceive a single piece with no protrusions. The quality control, as expected, is high-level.
The blue color is intense, but it conveys calm, nothing like the sound character. The faceplate indicates brand and model, with an oceanic aesthetic touch.
𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬:
𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬:
Simple dongle DACs like the FiiO JA11 or FiiO Jiezi were insufficient, both in volume level that I consider acceptable and in their ability to squeeze out the capabilities. The best experiences were obtained with devices like the FiiO KA11, BTR13, or higher.
As for the type of source, I liked something neutral or warm/neutral. I tried to stay away from my neutral-bright sources because the 142 lost muscle down low and the high frequencies started to bother me.
The ear tips used for the entire analysis were the S&S, where the stage can feel wider and more logical and maintains a bass strength that is very much to my preference.
However, and as an anecdotal note, with the Penon Liqueur Orange ear tips the experience was better in every way for me, where the midrange felt cleaner and more forward, the treble somewhat more controlled, and the lower frequencies better textured. But I kept the S&S.
𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞:
Sound with a fun and energetic character: powerful and well-defined bass, clear but slightly recessed mids, and lively treble with lots of air sensation. It offers a wide and detailed presentation, ideal for enjoying without seeking a strictly neutral or analytical tuning.
♩ 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕝𝕠𝕨 𝕖𝕟𝕕 of the 142 is simply contagious. From the first listen you feel it has personality: the sub-bass goes deep, powerful, and with presence, but without becoming clumsy or muddy. It makes itself felt, envelops you, and gives body to the sound, but at the same time maintains control and definition. It’s not a wild hit, but a firm push that feels natural and makes you want to listen more.
The mid-bass brings balance and clarity. It’s there to support without stealing the spotlight or muddying what happens higher up in the spectrum. It has punch and substance, with a sense of tension and looseness at the same time, as if each note had its own space to breathe. This makes the entire low range feel alive and dynamic, never flat or artificially abundant.
The most fun part of this monitor is how it combines these two bass regions: the sub-bass gently shakes you while the mid-bass keeps things under control. The blend is organic, energetic, and enveloping, with no sense of overload or artifice. It’s a low end that invites you to move, to enjoy the sound in its entirety, but always with precision and cleanliness. In short, the bass of this IEM is powerful, expressive, and elegant at the same time, a balance that is not easy to achieve and that makes it truly enjoyable.
♫ 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕚𝕕𝕤 feel lively and balanced, with a naturalness that surprises.
The lower mids add body and a sense of rhythm without becoming heavy; they are there, firm and warm, supporting the sound and giving that sense of fullness that makes everything feel consistent. They don’t steal the spotlight, but they don’t go unnoticed either: their presence is discreet, comfortable, and necessary, as if they were the skeleton of the track that keeps everything in place.
The upper mids are light, transparent, and airy, filling just enough space for everything to breathe. They have definition and detail without being aggressive or fatiguing; every nuance is perceived clearly, but never feels forced.
The transition between lower and upper mids is smooth, creating a midrange that flows effortlessly, dynamic and harmonic, with body and clarity at the same time.
The result is a sound that feels balanced, full of life, and connected to the rest of the spectrum. The mids of the Dunu 142 hit a perfect point: enough presence to make everything joyful, but without heaviness, and airy enough to let everything flow naturally and with fun. It’s a range that breathes, vibrates, and supports the sound elegantly, making listening always pleasurable.
𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕓𝕝𝕖 of this set is a true spectacle of space and detail.
The lower treble is present in just the right measure, adding clarity and definition without being invasive, helping everything be perceived with sharpness and allowing the midrange to breathe freely.
The upper treble is extended, sparkling, and very airy, creating that sense of openness that makes the sound feel spacious and alive. Every nuance, every small detail is perceived, without losing naturalness.
That said, if you have very sensitive ears, this range can feel a little bright in moments of high energy, but it never becomes annoying or fatiguing; rather, it’s a touch that adds vitality and emotion to the sound.
The transition between lower and upper treble is smooth, maintaining coherence with the rest of the spectrum and avoiding any sense of fragmentation.
Overall, the treble adds air, clarity, and sparkle, making the music feel open, detailed, and full of life, with enough shine to excite without losing control, but for some, it may come across as aggressive. For me, they are just right.
As for 𝕧𝕠𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖, deep male voices sound solid and full-bodied, deep but controlled, natural and defined without being excessively boomy. Normal male vocals are clear and warm, slightly behind the front plane, which makes them pleasant and musical, but they may be insufficiently prominent for some tastes. Female vocals are perceived as bright and airy, detailed, with sparkle without becoming fatiguing. Overall, the voices are balanced, expressive, and well integrated into the sound.
𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕘𝕖 of the DN-142 is wide and deep, with a convincing sense of space. Elements do not feel crowded or flat; they are perceived as distributed in all directions, with sufficient height, depth, and width to create an immersive experience. It’s a stage that breathes, where every component of the sound has its place.
𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕚𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕟𝕘 is very solid: each element is clearly located within the space. Lateral separation and distance perception are precise, allowing details to be reliably localized. It’s not overly analytical, at the level of a reference monitor, but it offers a consistency that makes the music feel three-dimensional and well organized.
As for 𝕝𝕒𝕪𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘, the 142 handles the superposition of elements very well. Different planes are easily distinguished, even when complexity increases, avoiding the sound becoming blurry or confusing. The interaction between layers feels natural and dynamic.
Finally, 𝕕𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕝 𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕧𝕒𝕝 is notable: small nuances and textures are perceived clearly, thanks to the extension and definition of the treble, along with the control of bass and mids. Every signal element is perceived with clarity, contributing to a rich and expressive listening experience, without losing naturalness or comfort.
𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞-𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬:
Always seeking the most cinematic experience possible, tested in narrative and action-intensive titles. Check my blog to see the specific games and the conditions of the audio analysis in video games. Source used FiiO K11 with filter nº5 (neutral), Dunu S&S ear tips, and high gain.
★ 𝔸𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟: Every explosion and hit sounds like a well-placed punch to the chest. The sub-bass shakes you with force, deep and controlled, while the mid-bass holds the rhythm without losing definition. It’s not deafening chaos: it feels like a choreographed fight, where each impact has its space and doesn’t trample over other sounds. It keeps you in constant tension and excitement, without tiring your ears and filling them with an experience I’ve rarely been able to live with other monitors.
★ 𝔻𝕚𝕒𝕝𝕠𝕘𝕦𝕖𝕤: Voices are heard natural, clear, and warm, as if the characters were right in front of you. Sometimes they fall a little behind the action, but that only helps give a sense of distance and realism, without losing intelligibility.
★ 𝕀𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟: The game world envelops you like an enveloping fog you cannot ignore. Footsteps, echoes, and ambient noises float around, creating a living and three-dimensional environment. Every residual sound adds texture, making the experience richer and more convincing: you don’t just play, you enter the scene.
★ 𝕃𝕒𝕪𝕖𝕣 𝕤𝕖𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟: Nothing mixes or piles up. Every effect has its space, every detail its place; even in the most chaotic scenes, you can distinguish what sounds here and what sounds there. It’s as if the 142 dissected the sound and showed and explained it.
★ 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕘𝕖: The spatial sensation is wide on any axis. Elements are distributed around you, creating a three-dimensional soundscape, like walking in a world that feels completely realistic and where you can contemplate its entire extent well defined and adjusted on a scale that, if it’s not the most realistic I’ve perceived, it’s very close.
★ 𝕊𝕚𝕓𝕚𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖: There is a touch of brightness that makes the treble feel sparkling and detailed and may make some metallic effects annoying for some. Personally, the sibilance did not fatigue me but rather feels like flashes of light that guide you, adding texture, information, and energy.
★ ℙ𝕠𝕤𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘: The DN-142 allows you to locate sounds with quite good precision, helping you orient yourself in space with confidence. It’s like having an auditory radar that works without being intrusive. It’s not extremely reliable performance, since in dense situations the sub-bass can mask localization perception, but outside of that, it does an outstanding job.
𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢-𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬:
Tested in competitive multiplayer shooter games: Counter Strike 2, Apex Legends, Call of Duty Warzone, and Battlefield. Source used FiiO K11 with filter nº5 (neutral), Dunu S&S ear tips, and high gain.
In 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝟐, the DN-142 offers a wide and coherent soundstage. Footsteps and gunshots are clearly located, and layer separation allows you to distinguish near and far sources without sounds blending together. The sub-bass has body and presence, and although in moments of intense explosions it can give a small rumble that robs some tiny detail, it does not interfere with the overall perception nor make it difficult to locate enemies.
In 𝐀𝐩𝐞𝐱 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬, the soundstage feels deeper and more open, generating extra immersion. The combination of its excellent layering and airy treble helps distinguish abilities, gunfire, and environment without confusion. Positioning is not surgical, but it is consistent: one can confidently locate the direction of key elements, while the stage maintains coherence and width.
In 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐞, impacts and distant sounds are perceived with presence and definition, thanks to controlled bass and clear mids. The most powerful explosions can add a bit of extra weight that masks very fine details, but footsteps and critical cues remain perceptible.
In 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝟔, with dense and chaotic environments, this set keeps layers well defined and elements positioned within a convincing space. I perceived the scene as dynamic, sound sources are distinguishable, and the experience combines immersion and competitive utility, achieving a solid balance between enjoyment and precision.
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
The 𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐮 𝐃𝐍-𝟏𝟒𝟐 is a set that reaches deep, in every sense. Its main proposal is an 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙙𝙮𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙢 that will not leave you indifferent, where everything is balanced and measured for full enjoyment and so you don’t feel like you’re missing anything to savor.
From the excellently nuanced, fast bass with just the right amount of body to amaze, through clean and transparent mids where instruments express themselves naturally, to a high-frequency region that is cheerful, impetuous, detailed, and expressive.
𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙮, where the most emotional fun is not at odds with technical conditions that lift you off the ground to transcend beyond the mundane and appreciate the dimension of the stage it represents and capture with your ears all kinds of detailed elements.
Okay, 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩, of course. If I get picky, it bothers me a lot to know that with the Penon Liqueur Orange tips the final result was more satisfactory than with the included tip sets, or that male vocals lack a bit more presence among the instruments, but sometimes you have to make concessions: I prefer to lose a little of something and gain more in other things.
But returning to my final impressions, I believe 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠, a new benchmark at least for me. Its ability to connect with oneself so quickly is what attracted me the most.
You may like more analytical, calmer, more instrumental, more vocal-friendly, spicier up top, or more overwhelming down low signatures, but an IEM that manages to bring together the best of each of these types and 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙩 and make you feel so clearly and with its own style that you lack nothing, I don’t know about more experienced reviewers, but I haven’t seen any example at least so far.
As for single-player gaming performance, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜. Certainly this Dunu, along with another set (𝙎𝙈5), will be my rotation depending on the type of game I’m playing.
The environmental richness with which it recreates the scene, the fidelity and proportionality with which it represents it, and the 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙝𝙮 in its technical and dynamic characteristics across all its frequencies make it, surely, the best option if in a generalized way I can infer the personal preferences of the masses who consume this type of content.
For me, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, and if they are not, it is because dialogues sometimes fall behind in scenes tremendously loaded with sound elements.
As for multi-player, they are a very 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. If you stop to read the complete analysis, you will realize that they have all the capabilities to represent and position sounds in a clear, realistic, and natural way, but having that considerable bass reinforcement, although I have rarely felt it mask other elements, can work against you.
Nevertheless, my recommendation points toward the 𝙏𝙧𝙞-𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙞𝙥𝙨, to calm those frequencies a bit. If you are willing to add those tips for your online gaming, you are going to have a set that will provide you with a lot of enjoyment and a slight positional and dynamic advantage.
If you’ve made it this far, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠.
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𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫:
This set of monitors was sent by 𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐮 𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to try one of their products at no cost and that no conditions were imposed when preparing this analysis.
Despite this, my priority is to be as impartial as possible within the subjectivity that analyzing an audio product entails. My opinion belongs only to me and I develop it around the perception of my ears. If you have a different one, it is just as valid. Please feel free to share it.
𝐌𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬:
-FiiO K11 for music and gaming on my main PC.
-FiiO KA13 while I work.
-FiiO BTA30 Pro + FiiO BTR13 for wireless LDAC listening at home.
-FiiO BTR13 + FiiO BT11 + iPhone 16 Pro Max for wireless listening on the street.
-FiiO KA11.
-FiiO Jiezi 4.4mm
-BQEYZ Lin.
-Shanling M0 Pro 3.5mm/4.4mm.
-Apple Music.
-Local FLAC and MP3 files.
More hifi audio gears at KEEPHIFI
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