Aful Performer 5+2 VS Dunu DK-3001 BD

Naming drama aside (P5+2? just call it Performer 7), this Aful packs a quirky driver party: 2DD for low end, 4 BA split across mids/treble, plus a tiny micro-planar for the highest sparkle, all marshaled by Aful’s neat miniature crossover. The shells are lightweight, comfy and prettier than they need to be; the cable feels “don’t bother swapping” nice, with 3.5 or 4.4 options. The box is loaded with silicone tips but no foam—a miss, because the right seal changes everything. Price target sits around $250, which sets expectations high but not ridiculous.

Stock silicone yields a surgical, respectful tuning with bass that skews neutral and controlled. Swap to well-sealing foam or hybrids and feed a juicy source (warm Class A or tubes) and the set wakes up—stage snaps into a cohesive scene right in front, imaging gets laser-etched, and that micro-planar adds a pinch-of-salt treble spice without turning harsh. It’s an up-close presentation—sometimes almost claustrophobically detailed—in the best way: think “men with trumpets in the head,” precise placement, and excellent extension up top. Not as rowdy as the Explorers; more like a surgeon in a Hawaiian shirt—technical, but with a wink.

Practical upside: the clarity and positioning make this great for gaming and even viable for mixing/mastering checks; just don’t crank it into pain territory. Bass stays tight and responsive, treble sails high, and coherence holds. Tip and source matter a lot: with foam + warm power, it sings; with plain silicone, it’s merely polite. Final tally: a confident 8.5/10—doing a lot right at its price, dinged half a point for making everyone do math on the name.

Z-Reviews original ranking

10/10 verdict out the gate: Dunu’s DK-3001 BD “BrainDance” is a $500 monster that punches like a flagship. The recipe is wild—9 drivers total with the same dynamic driver from the Glacier plus 4 BAs (2 mids, 2 highs) and 4 micro-planars for treble. The result lands reference-neutral yet intensely revealing: guitar picks feel physical, bass hits with presence but never bloat, and the top end is creamy, airy, and precise without edge—more “how is it doing that?” than “too much treble.” Think high-end studio flatness that still moves the music. It doesn’t need exotic power; it actually shines on simple, linear amps (skip the tube goo). Clear Best-of-the-Year contender and easily “sell-other-stuff-to-keep-this” territory.

Build and kit are peak DUNU. The shells are big yet comfortable, finished in white with tidy details. The cable is excellent with Q-Lock mini modular plugs—3.5mm and 4.4mm included—and the set comes loaded with tips, including the beloved DUNU S&S. Strong PSA: choose the 2-pin version (MMCX is offered but not preferred). Accessories bag is generous if a bit over the top on the case. Sonically, this threatens the usual $500 kings (even stepping on the toes of costlier sets like Glacier, given the shared DD) and makes previous favorites like Mega5 EST no longer auto-wins. In short: a flagship-feels experience at mid-price that delivers the elusive “brain dance” without any nasty trade-offs.

Z-Reviews original ranking

Aful Performer 5+2 lands as a hybrid of the beloved Performer 5 and the punchier Explorer. The unboxing is the familiar P5 affair—same case, same style of tips—nothing flashy, but solid. The shell mirrors the P5 in size with a comfy little stabilizing wing that locks in well. No metal nozzle or front filter here, yet tip retention is secure and hassle-free. The flat 2-pin socket is straightforward, and the stock cable feels thick and supple with a reliable chin slider and handy red/blue channel markers. Overall: understated build, great ergonomics, daily-driver ready.

Sonically, this one aims neutral with a very distinct top end—clean, dynamic, incisive. Think switching from black-and-white to color; cymbals and overtones pop with a slightly crunchy/pristine edge that energizes detail without turning harsh on good recordings. Bass isn’t about sheer quantity; it’s about slam and dynamics—quick on the draw, well-controlled, and satisfying when called upon. Vocals sit a notch forward, microdetail is strong, and the overall presentation is coherent, clear, and technical with convincing stage, resolution, and imaging. Not a treble-shy or bass-bombed tuning—more a refined all-rounder for those who want clarity and bite.

Versus the original P5, the 5+2 fixes the missing “air” and soft edges, trading them for crisper transients and better extension. Compared with Explorer (a value champ), the 5+2 brings superior upper-treble reach, detail, and vocal focus. Against Performer 8 and Cantor, it feels more visceral—the P8 is smoother and more relaxed, while Cantor pulls finer microdetail but with less bass slam. Sets like Dino Quattro or J’s Estrella bring bigger fun or treble theatrics, yet the 5+2’s balance and everyday versatility win more often. Net take: a neutral-leaning, highly technical upgrade that stands tall in its bracket—easy to recommend to anyone chasing clarity, speed, and controlled impact over pure warmth or excess bass.

Jaytiss original ranking

Build & accessories are dialed: a glossy white shell with a subtle steampunk-style faceplate, a metallic nozzle with filter that holds tips securely, and a comfy, slightly thicker ergonomic body. The cable uses recessed 2-pin sockets and DUNU’s swappable terminations (quick screw-on system), plus a quality Y-split, locking chin slider, and a leather cable tie; the right side is red-marked for easy orientation. The package is stacked with tips, a 6.3 mm adapter, and a handsome, leather-textured magnetic case that feels premium. Colorway might divide tastes, but the overall presentation lands as exceptional.

Sonically, this hybrid (dynamic + BAs + micro-planars) aims for a slight U-shape with an even keel: clean vocals, crisp detail, and standout treble extension and air without tipping into fatigue. Bass is tasteful but a bit tucked, note weight leans lighter, while imaging is precise and the soundstage feels open and hi-fi. Compared with DUNU’s Da Vinci/Mirai, this brings more upper-energy and extension; versus sets like Pilgrim, Kiwi Ears 4, and Studio 4, it keeps the sparkle yet sounds more complete up top.

The twist: add an ~80 Ω impedance adapter and the DK-3001 BD flips from neutral-leaning to a fun, bassy brawler—bigger slam, cleaner upper-mids, treble air intact, with diminishing returns above ~80 Ω. That puts it toe-to-toe with curves reminiscent of Fatfreq Deuce (but with smoother highs) and even the HiSenior Mega5EST (Bass) vibe. Stock, it’s a firm S-tier pick that prioritizes extension, imaging, and refinement; with the adapter (or a touch of EQ), it climbs to an even higher S. For a $500–$1,000 bracket IEM, this is a standout all-rounder that many enthusiasts might reach for even over pricier sets.

Jaytiss original ranking

Aful’s Performer 5+2 upgrades the original hybrid with 2DD + 4BA + 1 micro-planar tweeter and lands around $240–$250. The unboxing is practical: three sets of silicone tips, a pocketable puck case, and a soft, nicely draping cable (available in 4.4 or 3.5), though the braid can look a bit loose and the pre-formed hooks run large. The resin shells shift between blue and green under different light; fit is medium-large, very stable, and comfortable once the right tips are found. Note the narrow nozzle without a retaining lip and partially exposed bores/filters—tip grip is key and a little care prevents ear-gunk ingress.

Tonally this leans mild V-shaped: a clean midrange with a confident bass boost, a touch of lower-treble presence for bite, and well-extended air up top. The result is more incisive and punchy than the original P5, with clearer on/off transients that aid separation and layering. Trade-offs show as a hint of gritty/plasticky treble texture on cymbals and brushes—not harsh, but less natural than ideal—while the bass stays tight and exciting.

Against Aful’s Explorer, this sounds brighter, more spacious, and more technical; Explorer plays warmer/denser with smoother treble but less openness. Versus the pricier Thieaudio Oracle MK3, tuning is broadly similar: Oracle is smoother and deeper with a softer attack, while the Performer 5+2 brings more snap and engagement for less money. As a modern mid-tier hybrid, it absolutely still has a place—energetic, spacious, and well-executed—earning a solid four stars.

Super* Review original ranking

The Dunu DK-3001 BD “Brain Dance” hits the $500 bracket with a bold cyberpunk-inspired design, metal shells, and a killer cable featuring a swappable 3.5/4.4 plug. Inside is a tribrid array—1DD + 4BA + 4 micro-planars—and the accessory loadout is generous: multiple silicone sets (including S&S) plus foam tips, adapters, pouch, microfiber, the works. Ergonomics are decent but not petite; the shells are a bit bulbous, and a longer tip style can help the fit. The case looks premium yet feels oversized for everyday carry.

On the graph and in the ear, tuning lands at clean-neutral with sub-bass lift: elevated low end focused on sub-bass, a slightly dipped lower midrange for clarity, and an energetic lower-treble/Presence region. The magic is in the execution—this thing rocks. Stage feels wide, separation is laser-cut, transients have crisp bite yet the treble remains smooth for the amount of sparkle on tap. Bass is taut and delineated with a satisfying bounce and real depth, prioritizing texture over mid-bass thump. At very low volumes some of the technical wow factor softens and the tone can lean a touch thin/bright, but at normal listening levels the presentation is downright addictive.

Versus Hisenior’s Mega5EST, the Brain Dance trades the Mega’s rich, mid-forward warmth for greater imaging width, cleaner bass definition, and higher overall engagement. Against the Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk, bass quantity is similar, but Dusk feels more physical and mid-centric while the BD sounds airier, wider, and a bit spicier up top—yet paradoxically smoother in treble timbre. Dusk remains the safer all-rounder and cheaper pick; the Brain Dance is the thrill ride. Verdict: a 5/5 set—one of the year’s standouts for those who want big technicals, crisp sparkle, and sub-bass grunt without mid-bass bloat.

Super* Review original ranking

Performer 7 lands with a neutral-balanced, laid-back tuning and good treble reach. The presentation is clean and generally safe, though there’s a touch of sizzly “planar-ish” timbre up top. Technicals are solid for ~$200—slightly behind sets like Quintet and Super Mix 4, about on par with Nova. Bass from the dual 6 mm DDs is tight, controlled, and free of bleed, but lacks the slam and rumble of competitors using larger drivers; mids are well separated with decent layering.

The weak spot is vocal extension: a push around 1.5 kHz tries to bring them forward, but a dip through 3–6 kHz keeps them from opening up. Tamer upper-mids help avoid fatigue for rock/metal, yet the modest low-end impact leaves drums and basslines feeling uneventful. It’s a mid-volume set that doesn’t scale well—turning it up accentuates the 1.5 kHz emphasis and treble sizzle. Treble isn’t peaky, just a bit glassy at times; for K-pop the smoother mids can work if less extended vocals are acceptable.

As a value play, there are stronger options: Nova, Chopan, and Super Mix 4 offer better bang-for-buck; for a similar clean/neutral target, Tanchjim Origin sounds more natural with better bass texture and vocal reach, and DynaQuattro adds sub-bass and fuller vocals—none with the planar-ish timbre. Even AFUL’s own P5 is cheaper and more fun, while the Explorer undercuts the price and scales impressively. In today’s crowded market, P7 is a competent all-rounder but not distinctive enough to stand out.

Jays Audio original ranking

Dunu DK-3001 BD delivers a premium package: a tribrid array with 1 dynamic + 4 BA + 4 micro planar drivers per side inside a striking white aluminum-alloy shell. Despite being ~8 g each, the ergonomic shape sits comfortably once tip-rolled; MMCX connectors, a braided cable with cloth sheath, and interchangeable terminations (3.5 / 4.4 / 6.35) round out a generous unboxing that includes a sturdy case, clip, cleaning tools, and multiple tip sets—Dunu Candy tips pair well, while longer SednaEarfits can tease out a touch more sub-bass.

Tonally, this leans neutral with sub-bass boost: elevated low-end rumble, a mid-bass dip, and a mild 1–3 kHz recession before a clean, extended, and airy treble. The top end is fast, spacious, and resolving with excellent separation and layering; sub-bass has texture and reverb without turning muddy. That mid-bass/low-mid and low-treble shaping can soften some mid-band cues, but overall presentation stays natural, spacious, and highly engaging—especially for music, where detail retrieval and staging shine.

For competitive gaming, placement lands at a B+ overall, bordering A-. In CS2, footstep clarity, gunfire control, and treble layering are stellar (A-/B+ feel). In Apex and Valorant, long-range shots, verticality, and bright cues are pinpoint, but certain mid-bass and 1–3 kHz events (light slides, some footfalls, shield cells) can sit back, trimming depth precision versus top meta picks. In the latest Warzone Resurgence, the tuning complements the engine well—pushing sub-bass cues cleanly without masking. A touch of EQ could nudge it into clear A territory for shooters; as is, it’s a great all-rounder that’s very good for competitive play and even better for music.

Fresh Reviews original ranking