My time with the DUNU VULKAN was interesting, to say the least. First impressions were positive courtesy the build quality, design, and all the excellent accessories DUNU provides. I had an estimate of the price point, but was not expecting the novel DUNU Q-Lock PLUS cable even so, which results in direct compatibility with digital Type-C or Lighting adapters, too. The ear tips and case were what we have seen on other DUNU IEMs, including the $900 ZEN PRO—in this regard at least no one can complain about the riches included in the box with the VULKAN.

Then I put them in my ear and found a surprisingly good fit despite the larger size, and here too a semi-custom ergonomic shell design, angled nozzle, and extended cable receptacle all come together to help out. Listening to my usual test tracks was the first time I felt this may not be a unicorn that costs far less than it should, especially in the bass region, where It was more one-note with slam than nuanced layers with detail intertwined. Some notes also decayed faster than they should, which hurts playback accuracy to where those prioritizing the mid-bass for instruments might even be put off. Measurements didn't really show anything out of the ordinary, so it was down to the drivers themselves. "No matter," I said, and continued with my testing, and things did take a turn for the better.

See, the VULKAN isn't an analytical set despite the tuning and frequency response potentially making you think so. Those expecting a highly resolving set will want to look elsewhere, yet I appreciate DUNU offering something with the Vulcan that is not only a slightly colored take on the warm neutral formula everyone seems to be going after, but also doing it well. The mids in particular can make you fall in love with the VULKAN enough to make you just throw out the product box because you are not going to sell them. There is detail interspersed with a smooth background which takes you to the whole point of music in the first place—to relax and let your mind be taken where the artist wants you to be. The DUNU VULKAN is certainly not a perfect set, and I can't tell you if it punches above its weight class either, but it's an extremely solid offering and continues DUNU's impressive streak of garnering recommendations.