Truthear Nova VS Dunu SA3

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Truthear Nova and Dunu SA3 use 1DD+4BA and 3BA driver setups respectively. Truthear Nova costs $150 while Dunu SA3 costs $140. Truthear Nova is $10 more expensive. Truthear Nova holds a decisive 3.7-point edge in reviewer scores (6.7 vs 3). Truthear Nova has significantly better bass with a 5-point edge, Truthear Nova has significantly better mids with a 4.8-point edge, Truthear Nova has significantly better treble with a 4.6-point edge, Truthear Nova has significantly better dynamics with a 4.8-point edge, Truthear Nova has significantly better details with a 5.3-point edge and Truthear Nova has significantly better imaging with a 5-point edge.

Metric	Truthear Nova	Dunu SA3
Bass	7	2
Mids	6.8	2
Treble	6.6	2
Details	7.3	2
Soundstage	7	3
Imaging	7	2
Dynamics	6.8	2
Tonality	6.8	2
Technicalities	6.8	2

Truthear Nova Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Score:

6.7

Cautiously Favorable

Show all Truthear Nova reviews

Dunu SA3 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Score:

Very Poor

Show all Dunu SA3 reviews

Driver Configuration: 1DD+4BA

Tuning Type: harman

Brand: TRUTHEAR Top TRUTHEAR IEMs

Price (Msrp): $150

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$199

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Driver Configuration: 3BA

Tuning Type: Lean Neutral

Brand: DUNU Top DUNU IEMs

Price (Msrp): $140

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Truthear Nova User Review Score

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Dunu SA3 User Review Score

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Truthear Nova Gaming Score

The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

6.8

Gaming Grade

B+

Dunu SA3 Gaming Score

The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

Gaming Grade

E+

Truthear Nova Scorings

Average Tunign Grade

B+

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.

Bass A-

Strong, well-defined bass with good texture. Delivers satisfying punch and rumble without overwhelming other frequencies.

Mids B+

Good midrange presence with solid clarity. Vocals are clear and instruments have reasonable texture and body.

Treble B+

Good treble response - clear and detailed without fatigue. Well-extended with proper air and sparkle.

Dynamics B+

Good dynamic expression with solid impact. Handles volume contrasts well while maintaining good transient snap.

Soundstage A-

Excellent spatial presentation - wide, deep and tall. Precise instrument placement with clear separation in all dimensions.

Details A-

Excellent detail retrieval: highly resolving without being clinical. Effortlessly reveals micro-details and textural subtleties.

Imaging A-

Excellent imaging: precise and stable placement. Instruments occupy specific points in space with tangible positions.

Gaming B+

Respectable environmental presentation favors atmosphere over precision. Detects obvious directional cues while conveying game world ambiance.

Dunu SA3 Scorings

Average Tunign Grade

E+

Tonally jarring or fatiguing. Frequency clashes (e.g., piercing treble, bloated bass) make extended listening unpleasant. Poor genre adaptation.

Average Technical Grade

E+

Noticeably blurred or congested. Struggles with basic instrument separation; details are lost in simple tracks. Feels "flat" and one-dimensional.

Bass E+

Noticeably thin bass presence. Lacks body and texture, leaving low frequencies feeling hollow and underdeveloped.

Mids E+

Midrange is thin and hollow with noticeable gaps. Instruments lack body and vocals sound distant and weak.

Treble E+

Treble is noticeably dark and lacking extension. Cymbals lack shimmer and high-frequency details are obscured.

Dynamics E+

Limited dynamic range with poor micro-detail. Subtle volume changes are lost, and transients lack proper attack.

Details E+

Noticeably blurred and lacking definition. Background elements are smeared together and micro-details are inaudible.

Imaging E+

Poor instrument placement with unstable positioning. Instruments drift and lack fixed locations within the sound field.

Gaming E+

Compromised imaging significantly impacts gameplay awareness. Directional cues often lack accuracy or consistency.

Truthear Nova Reviews

Reviewed by: Jaytiss

7.3 Reviewer Score

B Tuning

C+ Tech

Nice set, great bass. Too much upper mids.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel

Mids: B Treble: C+ Dynamics: A- Soundstage: A-

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Price: $199

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Reviewed by: Jays Audio

7 Reviewer Score

A Tuning

A Tech

NEED FOAM TIPS makes the treble smooth and clear. Very clean harman sound with smooth but well extended treble/one of the best treble under $200, no roll-off. The pinnacle of trying not to offend anyone, but light bass/low-end; another harman.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Smirk Audio

6.9 Reviewer Score

A- Tuning

B+ Tech

check links for more info:

Smirk Audio original ranking

Smirk Audio Head-Fi Profile

Bass: A- Mids: A- Treble: A- Dynamics: B+ Details: A- Imaging: A-

Reviewed by: Shuwa-T

6.8 Reviewer Score

B+ Tuning

A- Tech

Overall clean sounding, works well with quicker pop genres (Jpop/Kpop) Male vocals recessed, does not work well with the other half of Jpop/Kpop. Lower midrange suffers from thinner note weight (tuning)

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

Bass: A- Mids: B Treble: B+ Soundstage: A- Details: A Imaging: A-

Reviewed by: Tim Tuned

6.5 Reviewer Score

B+ Tuning

A+ Tech

check links for more info:

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel

Bass: A- Mids: A+ Treble: A+

Reviewed by: Gizaudio Axel

6.5 Reviewer Score

A- Tuning

B+ Tech

A solid reference. Harman-style sound signature with solid sub-bass, clean forward vocals, smooth treble extension, and great detail. Could use more bass, vocals can feel lean and a bit intense at times.

Gizaudio Axel original ranking

Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Super* Review

6* * score normalized

A little bit thin and shrill sounding. Hexa costs half as much and it's the better IEM.

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Fresh Reviews

5.5* * The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score

Borders C+

Fresh Reviews original ranking

Fresh Reviews Youtube Channel

Dunu SA3 Reviews

Reviewed by: Super* Review

4* * score normalized

check links for more info:

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Precogvision

2 Reviewer Score

E+ Tuning

E+ Tech

A mess in the tuning department. Literally not sure what I heard.

Precogvision original ranking

Precogvision Youtube Channel

Bass: E+ Mids: E+ Treble: E+ Dynamics: E+ Details: E+ Imaging: E+

Truthear Nova User Reviews

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Dunu SA3 User Reviews

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IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

Insights

Truthear Nova Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Dunu SA3 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Truthear Nova Details

Dunu SA3 Details

Truthear Nova User Review Score

Average User Scores

Dunu SA3 User Review Score

Average User Scores

Truthear Nova Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

Dunu SA3 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

Truthear Nova Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Dunu SA3 Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Truthear Nova Reviews

Reviewed by: Jaytiss

Buy Truthear Nova on Aliexpress

Reviewed by: Jays Audio

Reviewed by: Smirk Audio

Reviewed by: Shuwa-T

Reviewed by: Tim Tuned

Reviewed by: Gizaudio Axel

Reviewed by: Super* Review

Reviewed by: Fresh Reviews

Dunu SA3 Reviews

Reviewed by: Super* Review

Reviewed by: Precogvision

Truthear Nova User Reviews

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Dunu SA3 User Reviews

Pros

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