Dunu Glacier VS Xenns Top Pro

The Dunu Glacier delivers an extraordinary premium experience right from the unboxing, featuring a lavish presentation, a massive high-quality fabric cable with interchangeable terminations, and hand-polished stainless steel earpieces that feel substantial and expensive. Despite the controversial MMCX connectors, the cable and fit are praised, complemented by a ton of accessories including multiple ear tip types, a leather case, and even a brush. This is Dunu’s flagship effort at $1300, and the physical presentation screams luxury.

Sonically, the Glacier is a revelation with a massive, immersive soundstage that places instruments at a distance, creating a surround-like experience rather than an in-your-head assault. The tuning is remarkably relaxed and natural, prioritizing smoothness and spatial depth over aggression. Tracks with atmospheric elements or live recordings become breathtaking, revealing layers of echo and venue acoustics that feel expansive and holographic. This isn’t hyper-detailed or clinical; it’s chill, luxurious, and emotionally resonant, making even familiar music feel newly captivating.

Compared to competitors like the Thieaudio Prestige Limited or Monarch MkIII, the Glacier carves its own niche with its unparalleled sense of space and effortless presentation. It doesn’t compete on technical aggression but instead offers a transportive, almost spiritual listening experience. If you crave an endgame IEM that emphasizes grandeur, natural tonality, and pure musical immersion over analytical prowess, the Glacier is a jaw-dropping contender. Just be prepared for its unique, room-filling signature—it’s less an in-ear monitor and more a portal.

Z-Reviews original ranking

Priced around $1,350, the Dunu Glacier is a premium nine-driver tribrid IEM featuring one dynamic driver, four balanced armatures, and four electrostatic drivers. The build quality is exceptional with a beautiful mirrored polished steel shell, though it's noted as a bit large, heavy, and a fingerprint magnet. Comfort is generally good, and it includes a high-quality, pliable cable with interchangeable connectors and a secure chin slider. Packaging is also highlighted as exceedingly well done, typical of Dunu's recent standards.

Sonically, the Glacier delivers a very bassy, extremely fun, and highly engaging V-shaped signature. The strong bass is balanced by prominent upper mids, offering good detail resolution and micro-details. However, a noticeable energy peak around 3kHz can make some tracks feel overly energetic, intimate, or even slightly shouty, limiting its versatility for mellower listening sessions. Comparisons place it near sets like the LETSHUOER Tera (less bass, cleaner) and ThieAudio Monarch MK I (less bass, more even upper mids), while noting it surpasses the Dunu Brain Dance (DK-31) in detail and bombast, though the Brain Dance offers significant value at half the price.

Ultimately, the Dunu Glacier stands out as a fantastic and unique IEM with satisfying bass weight, good imaging, and excellent micro-details. Its fun, bombastic character and high-quality build make it a compelling choice, but the specific upper-mid energy requires careful consideration. It earns a recommendation for those seeking an ultra-engaging Harman-style listen with top-tier driver tech, though demoing is advised due to its distinct tonal quirks.

Jaytiss original ranking

The Dunu Glacier stands as the brand's latest flagship tribrid IEM, priced around $1,350. Its standout feature is its adherence to the Harman target curve, a rarity at this level, executed with notable success. The Glacier boasts exceptional build quality, featuring polished 904L stainless steel shells that feel substantial and genuinely premium, justifying its price tag aesthetically. It comes loaded with accessories, including a plethora of ear tips (like the Candy and new clear Dunu Lunnies) and a large carry case, though the case design is noted as slightly awkward. The included cable is thick, well-made, and features Dunu's signature swappable terminations (3.5mm and 4.4mm included), though its ear hooks are somewhat loose and the chin cinch doesn't hold perfectly.

Sonically, the Glacier delivers a contrasty, V-shaped signature true to Harman but avoids the thinness sometimes associated with that target, thanks to extra bass emphasis. The bass is a major highlight – big, impactful, deep, well-textured, and satisfyingly clean with zero bleed into the mids. The treble is forward yet remarkably smooth, avoiding sharpness or sibilance. While technically proficient with good imaging and a strong sense of depth (especially from the bass), it leans slightly more towards contrast than nuanced micro-detail, particularly in the mid-range. Compared to rivals like the 64 Audio U4s (more mid-focused, warmer, laid-back) and the Dunu Mirai (brighter, most mid-focused, wider stage but less satisfying bass and slightly digital/scratchier treble), the Glacier excels in bass impact and separation, smoothness, and depth perception, while the others might appeal more for pure mid-range focus.

Overall, the Dunu Glacier is a highly refined IEM with no glaring weaknesses. Its excellent build, satisfying Harman-tuned sound (especially the standout bass and smooth treble), and competitive technicalities make it a compelling option in the flagship tier. While its weight and aggressive shell molding might cause minor comfort issues when lying down, and the ear hooks could be tighter, it earns a very solid four-star rating for delivering a premium experience that largely justifies its cost and successfully champions the Harman target.

Super* Review original ranking

Positioned at $500, the Xenns Top Pro gets stacked against the Subtonic Storm at around $5,400—a full 10× price gap that shouldn’t be glossed over. Level-matched listening shows the two land surprisingly close in overall technical performance, with differences in DDs/ESTs and driver counts mattering less than expected. What stands out more is transparency: the Top Pro is upfront about its internals and branded components, while the Summit-Fi piece plays things closer to the vest—par for the course at that tier.

In back-to-back A/B, the Top Pro’s mid-forward balance proves the hook. Instead of leaning on a mid-bass lift for “note weight,” it nudges the mids, keeping vocals, guitars, and cymbals clean and engaging without tipping thin or brittle. Anchored at the same SPL, track after track, the choice often becomes a coin flip—and many listeners would likely pick the more affordable set on tuning alone, because it’s simply more immediately musical across genres while holding its own technically.

This is diminishing returns in the palm of a hand. Slotting the Top Pro into a ranking even risks crowding out pricier neighbors, because its value sits uncomfortably high for its bracket. If the shells were disguised and the price tags hidden, the pick rate would tell the story: a “top-of-the-line” listen without the Summit-Fi tax, driven by smart tuning rather than spec sheet theatrics.

Bad Guy Good Audio original ranking

The Xenns Top Pro boasts an exceedingly comfortable, vented resin shell with a metal nozzle, praised as one of the better shells out there. It's light, isolates well, and features a flat two-pin connector. The included case feels extremely premium, matching cases found on more expensive IEMs. Accessories are generous, including a 4.4mm cable, 6.3mm adapter, three sets of tips, a pouch, and a shirt clip. The cable itself is appropriate for the price, described as plush and nice with a Dunu-style locking system, though the chin slider feels slightly loose.

Sonically, the Top Pro presents an interesting and effective mild V-shaped tuning that aligns perfectly with the reviewer's preferences. It features slightly elevated bass and mids with a hint of darkness, delivering clean, pristine mids and great treble extension and air without sibilance. Technical performance is strong across imaging, note weight, and detail. Graph comparisons show similarities to sets like the Dusk DSP and Annihilator, but the Top Pro distinguishes itself with better bass impact than its metallic-shelled sibling (the Tea Pro) and a more comfortable, all-day listen compared to the ultra-detailed but potentially fatiguing AFUL Cantor. It holds its own against flagships like the Monarch MkIII (offering potentially better bass) and the Astral (with minor tonal differences), proving highly competitive in the $400-$900 range.

Ultimately, the Xenns Top Pro emerges as a standout offering from the brand and a top contender at its $500 price point. It hits a sweet spot with very few faults, combining a world-class comfortable shell, generous premium accessories, and a cohesive, engaging sound signature. It delivers nice everything – impactful bass, clean mids, well-extended treble, and strong technicals – making it an easy all-day listen and a set that's hard to beat for this specific tuning philosophy. While responsible purchasing and demos are always advised, it earns a full recommendation as an excellent all-rounder.

Jaytiss original ranking

The Xenns Top Pro establishes itself as a formidable $500 benchmark, delivering a dynamic, balanced, and clear sound signature. Its standout feature is the crispy, clear, and highly resolving treble that avoids artificial sharpness or fatigue, contributing to a refined hi-fi presentation. This treble clarity particularly enhances female vocals, rendering them sweet and angelic without huskiness, perfectly distanced, and non-shouty at normal volumes due to intelligent tuning cuts and gains.

Technically, the Top Pro punches above its price, competing with models around the $1,000 mark and reaching near Monarch level performance. While a direct upgrade to the original Top, Astral, and Meta models—offering more detail, less sharpness, and increased sparkle—it isn't a massive leap. Its value-to-performance ratio is exceptional. Compared to the Monarch Mk III, it trades some bass impact and texture (making it mid-bass light for genres like rock or metal) for superior layering, separation, and a more dynamic, contrasty, and crispy treble presentation. The bass, while sufficient, can feel disengaged in bass-heavy genres, making sets like the Astral or Odyssey preferable there.

Scaling depends on volume and genre: energetic tracks with treble emphasis suit mid volumes (~65dB), while slower artists like Frank Ocean shine at higher volumes (~75-80dB). Balanced eartips are recommended to maintain its excellent treble balance. Against competitors, the Top Pro is more technical and resolving than the Arcanis (though the Arcanis offers more unique, intimate vocals), more energetic and dynamic than the Volare (which has smoother treble and better mid-bass), and cleaner with better layering than the Oracle Mk III (which boasts better bass texture). Ultimately, the Top Pro is a highly recommended all-rounder, delivering near Monarch-level performance at half the cost with great accessories, making it arguably the best $500 upgrade option for most.

Jays Audio original ranking

Z-Reviews expresses immediate and strong enthusiasm for the Xenns Top Pro, a $500 IEM featuring a 10-driver configuration (8 balanced armatures + 2 dynamic drivers). He notes their exceptional build quality and stunning visual design, describing them as one of the "prettiest IEMs that has ever existed" with a "color explosion" on the back. The accessories impress him, particularly the thoughtful custom foam insert in the case to protect the zipper, a soft padded case, a high-quality "196-core copper silver cable", and uniquely presented tip sets housed in pre-numbered, multicolored boxes. He finds the large nozzle comfortable enough for extended listening sessions, even though his arms fell asleep during one.

The core of the review focuses on the outstanding sound quality. Z-Reviews describes the sound as "smooth magical things" to his ears, emphasizing its non-fatiguing nature despite excellent detail retrieval: "clear as a whistle but not painful". He highlights the exceptional bass performance, which creates a unique physical sensation, fooling his body into feeling sub-bass pressure like a subwoofer was nearby, without being overpowering or unnatural. The treble is detailed and sharp without causing discomfort. The overall presentation is cohesive, "substantial", and immersive, making him want to listen track after track. He compares the experience favorably to much more expensive IEMs like the $1,500 FIO FX17.

Z-Reviews concludes with a strong recommendation, declaring the Xenns Top Pro "100% worth their $500 price tag". He states they do "everything I want a $500 IEM to do" and outperform his own collaborations like the Defiant, attributing this to the superior driver count and implementation ("there's no replacement for displacement"). Minor critiques include the large nozzle size and the lack of a plastic stand, but these are insignificant compared to the overall performance. His final verdict is that they are a "great" IEM that justifies their price through exceptional sound, build, and accessories.

Z-Reviews original ranking

The Xenns Top Pro stands as a significant evolution from its predecessors, bearing little resemblance to the original Top despite sharing a similar driver configuration. Its tuning aligns much more closely with the Tea Pro, effectively acting as an upgrade to that model – perhaps better named the "Tea Pro Max". It delivers a slightly warmish mid-range with a boost in the upper mids, creating a natural yet contrasty and fun presentation. Vocals retain life and presence, avoiding sounding pushed back or dead neutral. Crucially, the Top Pro executes this mid-range cleaner than the T Pro, thanks to a cut in the mid-bass. This cut enhances bass definition, making it punchier and more dynamic, while also improving separation between the bass and mid-range.

Treble performance is generally lively and detailed, contributing significantly to the perception of strong technical ability. However, it can be slightly peaky, introducing a touch of BA timbre that detracts slightly from perfection – a minor nitpick considering the overall quality. Instrumental separation across the frequency range (bass, mids, treble) is a standout feature, resulting in very good technical performance that surpasses competitors like the Blessing 3. The signature manages to sound snappy and tactile despite a weighty low end. Compared directly to the original Top, the Top Pro offers a fuller, more realistic mid-range adhering to modern tuning philosophies, whereas the original Top remains brighter and leaner. Against the highly regarded HiSenior Mega 5 EST, the Top Pro provides a more engaging and contrasty alternative to the Mega 5 EST's exceptional but potentially "vanilla" neutrality and smoother timbre.

Ultimately, the Xenns Top Pro earns a strong recommendation and a deserved A-tier ranking. It represents a compelling value proposition at its price point, offering an engaging signature with excellent technicalities that many listeners will enjoy. The only significant caveat is for those extra sensitive to treble, who are strongly advised to demo it first due to its elevated and occasionally peaky nature.

Tim Tuned original ranking

Xenns Top Pro arrives with a tidy bundle: a sturdy carrying case, three tip sets (two silicone, one foam), and a lightweight modular cable (3.5/4.4) on a 2-pin connector. The translucent blue, 3D-printed shell is ergonomic and comfortable over long sessions; the nozzle size feels just right. On the graph it follows HBB’s curve with more sub-bass than mid-bass, yielding a fun, energetic sound that’s also notably resolving with strong driver performance; the balanced silicone tips proved best for gaming.

In Valorant, the presentation is intimate and action-packed: rumble from Vandal/Operator/Sheriff hits with tactile weight, and depth cues/verticality stay coherent. Still, the elevated low end adds a slight “husk” that softens imaging precision when team fights erupt, so separation and layering can blur as abilities and gunfire stack—landing around a B+ to A- experience, with sets like the Mango T Pro and Kiwi Ears Astral feeling a bit more breathable.

In Apex Legends, that extra low-end energy makes chaotic scenes less breathable—smokes, grenades, and third parties push separation/layering harder than ideal—while Call of Duty (Treyarch mix) fares surprisingly well, keeping doors, slides, and distant fire easy to track. Counter-Strike 2 doesn’t image as cleanly as Valorant because of the same low-end pull. Overall, the Top Pro is excellent for music (resolving, technical, and punchy—great with rap), but for competitive gaming the original Top remains the safer pick; placement sits around an AB tier, in line with sets like the Letshuoer EJ07M Kinda Lava.

Fresh Reviews original ranking

The Xenns Top Pro enters the competitive $500 IEM arena with a hybrid driver configuration (two dynamic drivers, eight balanced armatures per side) and striking aesthetics, described as a "Jackson Pollock cross cyberpunk" design offering impressive visual depth within its lightweight, translucent resin shells. While the packaging is handsome and premium, including a large carry case, a soft pouch, a cleaning tool, a shirt clip, a termination adapter, and a generous selection of ear tips (foam and two silicone styles), the included thin, lightweight cable feels somewhat lackluster and uninspiring despite its swappable termination mechanism (3.5mm/4.4mm/6.35mm). Fit is stable but leans medium-large, potentially challenging for smaller ears, with a nozzle depth requiring tip experimentation for optimal comfort.

Sonically, the Top Pro follows the "new meta" tilted diffuse field sound signature, measuring close to a neutral target. However, its execution falls short of expectations. The boosted bass lacks definition and physicality, coming across as soft, unengaging, and lacking sharp attack or tactile impact, reminiscent of the HiSenior Mega5-EST's low-end. While the upper treble elevation adds brightness and air without harshness or sibilance, it combines with the bass presentation to create an overall tonality that feels clinical, thin, and surprisingly bodyless, lacking warmth and richness despite the bass quantity. Technical performance is decent but unremarkable; imaging and separation are competent due to the brighter tilt, but the presentation feels smoothed over and ultimately unengaging.

Comparisons highlight its shortcomings against key competitors: the Mega5-EST offers better mid-range body and natural tonality; the Oracle mk3 delivers superior bass tactility and a more exciting, stagey presentation; the Brain Dance provides a more impactful, bombastic sound with better-defined bass; and the cheaper Dusk excels with exceptional vocal texture, micro-contrast, and significantly superior bass physicality and engagement. Consequently, while not a bad IEM and confirming that $500 can buy top-tier sound, the Xenns Top Pro earns a modest 3-star rating for its lackluster bass, clinical tonality, and failure to stand out in a crowded field where alternatives simply offer more compelling and engaging listening experiences.

Super* Review original ranking