Dunu SA6 Ultra VS Intuaura Purple

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Dunu SA6 Ultra pushes into flagship-adjacent territory with crisp detail, airy resolution, and an expansive stage that has real depth, height, and width. Separation is clean and the imaging snaps into place from distinct directions, sounding natural rather than sharpened or etched. The treble extends smoothly—no plasticky glare—and stays tastefully present without thinning things out. Timbre is impressively natural for an all-BA set, dynamics are even, and the midrange rides a neutral-relaxed line: vocals and instruments sit centered, neither pushed nor recessed, letting the listener pick out layers at will.

Against heavy hitters, technicals sit just a notch under the absolute best—u12t still wins for microdynamics/layering and Z1R for bass/treble fireworks—but those sets cost 2–3× more, so the Ultra’s value is undeniable. Bass is the caveat: mid-bass is clean and quick yet doesn’t punch like a dynamic driver, and sub-bass runs on the lighter side; the bass switch nudges quantity but not texture or slam. That tuning means hip-hop and low-end-centric libraries may feel underserved, and while vocals are clear and airy, they’re more neutral in placement than intimate, lacking a touch of weight and power compared with forward, vocal-centric sets.

Where it shines is with rock, jazz, classical, and electronic, where stage, separation, and speed can flex. Taken together, this is an A+ for technical performance and an A to A+ for tuning depending on library—“endgame for less” isn’t hyperbole for the right listener. Outside of wishing it weren’t a limited run, there’s little to nitpick: Dunu and Zeos cooked up a genuinely special all-BA that trades chest-thump for sophistication and coherence.

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Dunu SA6 Ultra pushes a proven formula into true S-tier territory. Building on the well-tuned, mid-forward original SA6, the Ultra fixes the big weakness: the air region. Treble extension is lifted in the 6–10 kHz band, unlocking a wider head-stage, clearer micro-details, and that “holographic” placement fans rave about. The midrange is flattened and even—no shout, no dip—so vocals and instruments sit naturally with excellent transparency. Bass quantity stays similar (a hair leaner), keeping the presentation clean rather than boomy.

This tuning echoes far pricier sets like Campfire Andromeda 2020, qdc Anole VX, Unique Melody MEST Mk1, and Oriolus Gemini: airy top, expansive stage, and crisp micro-definition, but without the fatiguing sharpness those can flirt with. On a “detail scale,” SA6 Ultra slots between the 7Hz Timeless and the Anole VX—a substantial jump in resolution versus the original SA6, which trails behind Timeless. Treble is smooth yet extended, mids are ultra-clean, and the overall balance feels analytical in insight while still musical in delivery.

Trade-offs are straightforward: this isn’t a basshead IEM. The optional bass-boost switch adds some weight, but doesn’t transform it into a slam monster. For listeners prioritizing staging, midrange clarity, and airy treble at a sane price, SA6 Ultra is a complete upgrade over the original—so complete that there’s little reason to pick the older model if this limited 300-unit run is available. In short: a realistic endgame for “cheap.”

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Intuaura Purple brings a polished, pricey package: lush purple shells, a comfy fit, and a cable that looks the part—even if the accessories feel recycled from cheaper siblings. The kicker is the optional DSP dongle (~$65) that re-voices the set; without it, the Purple already sounds clean, punchy, and engaging, with strong clarity and respectable stage. Snap the DSP on and the tuning shifts toward flatter, smoother treble and tidier FR, but soundstage shrinks a notch and the presentation loses some air. It’s a dramatic EQ-by-hardware move—effective, yes, but it turns one IEM into two different takes, which raises the question: which tuning is “the” Purple?

As a pure IEM at $650, Purple holds up: comfortable, easy to enjoy across sources, and free of obvious sibilance when left stock. Compared to lower-priced models that seem to need their DSP to shine, this one doesn’t; the dongle just complicates the decision with a second signature riding shotgun. Verdict: a confident 8/10 for the IEM itself—good build, enjoyable tonality, solid technicals—tempered by the mental tax of the bolt-on DSP path. Buy for the purple “puppy”; don’t let the extra “Honda Civic” in the box talk you into second-guessing what already works.