Aful Explorer VS DUNU x KOTO ITO
IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side
Aful Explorer and DUNU x KOTO ITO use 1DD+2BA and 2DD+2BA driver setups respectively. Aful Explorer costs $120 while DUNU x KOTO ITO costs $199. DUNU x KOTO ITO is $79 more expensive. DUNU x KOTO ITO holds a slight 0.2-point edge in reviewer scores (7.1 vs 7.3). DUNU x KOTO ITO has significantly better bass with a 1.6-point edge, Aful Explorer has better treble with a 0.7-point edge, DUNU x KOTO ITO has better dynamics with a 0.8-point edge, DUNU x KOTO ITO has slightly better soundstage with a 0.3-point edge, DUNU x KOTO ITO has better details with a 0.7-point edge and DUNU x KOTO ITO has better imaging with a 0.9-point edge.
Insights
| Metric | Aful Explorer | DUNU x KOTO ITO |
|---|---|---|
| Bass | 6.5 | 8.1 |
| Mids | 6.2 | 6.1 |
| Treble | 6.8 | 6.2 |
| Details | 6.5 | 7.2 |
| Soundstage | 7 | 7.3 |
| Imaging | 6.5 | 7.4 |
| Dynamics | 7 | 7.8 |
| Tonality | 7 | 7.1 |
| Technicalities | 6.6 | 6.2 |
Aful Explorer Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
DUNU x KOTO ITO Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Aful Explorer Details
Driver Configuration: 1DD+2BA
Tuning Type: bass-boosted neutral
Brand: AFUL Top AFUL IEMs
Price (Msrp): $120
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DUNU x KOTO ITO Details
Driver Configuration: 2DD+2BA
Tuning Type: Strong V
Brand: DUNU Top DUNU IEMs
Price (Msrp): $199
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Aful Explorer User Review Score
Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
Based on 0 user reviews
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DUNU x KOTO ITO User Review Score
Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
Based on 0 user reviews
No user reviews yet. Be the first one who writes a review!
Aful Explorer Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
6.7Gaming Grade
B+DUNU x KOTO ITO Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
6.4Gaming Grade
BAful Explorer Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A-- Generally enjoyable tonal character with some noticeable unevenness. Maintains listenability while showing room for refinement in frequency balance.
Average Technical Grade
B+- Satisfactory technical performance. Handles basic detail retrieval adequately in most tracks. Maintains reasonable cohesion in simpler arrangements.
DUNU x KOTO ITO Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A-- Pleasing tonal balance with good technical control. Minor quirks present but not distracting. Demonstrates decent genre versatility.
Average Technical Grade
B- Satisfactory technical performance. Handles basic detail retrieval adequately in most tracks. Maintains reasonable cohesion in simpler arrangements.
Aful Explorer Reviews
8.5
* score normalized
8*
* score normalized
Relaxed upper mid-range. Vocals sound a little bit more forward than instruments. Smooth treble performance.Super* Review original ranking
Super* Review Youtube Channel
7.6
Reviewer Score
The mids still upset me, but it sounds magical. Jaytiss Youtube Channel
7
Reviewer Score
Relaxed and fun. Easy to listen to. A bit darker than my preferrd signature but I enjoyed this quite a bit. Loaner
6.8
Reviewer Score
check links for more info:
6.5
Reviewer Score
Perfect for rock and metal. Smooth, relaxing tuning, great bass with good slam, rich mid-range, safe treble. Upper mids may be too relaxed for some, treble is a bit dark.Gizaudio Axel original ranking
Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel
6.4
Reviewer Score
check links for more info:
6
Reviewer Score
High volume set, very immersive, scales great with no sharpness, wide staging, enough detail/extension, good bass, just crank it up and enjoy the music. Jays Audio Youtube Channel
DUNU x KOTO ITO Reviews
Jaytiss
2025-09-11
7.4
Reviewer Score
It's a fun tuning that I think people will like. Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Build & accessories land in a solid spot for the price: comfortable shells with secure nozzles, clear L/R marks, and a supple modular cable that swaps between 4.4mm and 3.5mm (no USB-C in-box). The hard case is nicely made and pocketable, and the whole package feels durable if not premium. Nothing glaring in QC—just a clean, practical presentation.
Sonically, this is a bold V-shape—huge sub-bass punch with elevated upper mids to keep things lively. The bass can turn boomy/pillowy on some tracks, and a scoop around 300–800 Hz can leave female vocals a touch recessed; treble is clean and controlled, a little dark up top with limited sparkle. Technicalities are decent rather than class-leading—separation and air trail sets like Punch Audio Martillo or Crescent, while tuning kinships show up against DUNU Glacier and even Grand Maestro-style balances. Compared to value darlings (e.g., Truth Ear Pure, Jazzer Defiant), ITO feels more audiophile-flavored fun than an all-rounder.
In DUNU’s lineup it reads as a unique basshead option: very engaging slam, thick note weight, and non-fatiguing treble, but only average mids/technicalities. Think hip-hop/EDM-friendly impact over neutral precision. Verdict: around 3–3.5 stars—competitive at $200 for those chasing thump and excitement; listeners wanting neutrality, vocal presence, or extra air may prefer other picks or a “tactful V” with less bass and less upper-mid bite.
Z-Reviews
2025-09-07
6.8
* score normalized
Dunu’s collab with Japanese creator Kaji Kaji lands as the ITO, tuned nothing like the stereotype of “treble ’til you die.” The presentation leans smooth, warm, and open, with a notably wide soundstage that flatters jazz and intimate acoustic sets—think late-night, bourbon-and-smoky-room mood without the glare. It’s built for relaxed musicality rather than forensic detail extraction.
Low end carries a thick, satisfying sub-bass that stays tasteful—present when the track calls for it, not a constant spotlight. The ITO plays “fun first”: big space, plush tone, and enough detail to keep things engaging, landing beside a “T Pro”-type set but with the clinical edges dialed back to emphasize bass and stage. In short, a “perfect fun IEM” vibe that prefers groove and atmosphere over microscope listening.
Ergonomically the shells are a bit thick, but build and accessories impress: a quality Dunu cable with interchangeable plugs, a case, and a spread of tips (including Dunu SS). The hybrid 2DD+2BA setup (ultra-low DD + low/mid DD, mid BA, ultra-high BA) at around 37 Ω runs well from modest sources and scales nicely; pricing circles the $200 mark, making it an easy recommendation for listeners who want warm, expansive, and genuinely musical tuning without chasing every last micro-detail.
IEMRanking AI
2025-09-07
7.6
Reviewer Score
DUNU x KOTO ITO is a $199.99 hybrid IEM built with Japanese reviewer Kaji Kaji (“Koto”). It uses a 2DD+2BA array (10 mm bio-diaphragm DD + 8 mm LCP DD, plus two treble BAs), comes with DUNU’s Q-Lock quick-swap plugs, and lists 105 dB sensitivity at 37 Ω with shells at ~6.5 g each.
Tonally, ITO aims for a U-shaped, bass-tilted balance: sub/mid-bass punch is elevated, mids sit slightly back but avoid haze, and treble is smooth with workable extension rather than bite. Early community impressions frame it as energetic and a touch V-leaning versus DUNU’s more neutral sets, which tracks with the collab’s “full-bodied” intent.
Technicalities are competent for the class: dynamics and imaging keep up with busy mixes, while soundstage and microdetail are closer to average among sub-$200 hybrids; driveability is friendly given 105 dB/37 Ω. As a package—tuning, accessories, and fit—it offers good value for listeners wanting engaging bass without sharp treble, though those chasing expansive stage or strict neutrality may prefer other options.
Aful Explorer User Reviews
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