Punch Audio Martilo VS Dunu Vulkan 2
IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side
Punch Audio Martilo and Dunu Vulkan 2 use 2DD+2BA+1Planar and 2DD+6BA driver setups respectively. Punch Audio Martilo costs $329 while Dunu Vulkan 2 costs $360. Dunu Vulkan 2 is $31 more expensive. Dunu Vulkan 2 holds a slight 0.4-point edge in reviewer scores (7.5 vs 7.8). Dunu Vulkan 2 has significantly better mids with a 1-point edge, Dunu Vulkan 2 has significantly better treble with a 1-point edge, Punch Audio Martilo has significantly better dynamics with a 3-point edge and Dunu Vulkan 2 has better soundstage with a 0.5-point edge.
Insights
| Metric | Punch Audio Martilo | Dunu Vulkan 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Bass | 8 | 7.8 |
| Mids | 7 | 8 |
| Treble | 7 | 8 |
| Soundstage | 7.5 | 8 |
| Dynamics | 9 | 6 |
| Tonality | 7.6 | 7.6 |
| Technicalities | 7.2 | 7.9 |
Punch Audio Martilo Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Dunu Vulkan 2 Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Punch Audio Martilo Details
Driver Configuration: 2DD+2BA+1Planar
Tuning Type: Bassy with midrange clarity
Price (Msrp): $329
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Dunu Vulkan 2 Details
Driver Configuration: 2DD+6BA
Tuning Type: Natural with vocal focus
Brand: DUNU Top DUNU IEMs
Price (Msrp): $359.99
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Punch Audio Martilo User Review Score
Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
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Dunu Vulkan 2 User Review Score
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Punch Audio Martilo Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
7Gaming Grade
A-Dunu Vulkan 2 Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
7.6Gaming Grade
APunch Audio Martilo Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A- Well-executed tonal character. No major flaws with good technical control. Smooth presentation works with multiple genres.
Average Technical Grade
A-- Competent technical presentation. Handles separation and detail well in most tracks, with modest soundstage and acceptable imaging capabilities.
Dunu Vulkan 2 Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A- Well-executed tonal character. No major flaws with good technical control. Smooth presentation works with multiple genres.
Average Technical Grade
A- Good technical performance. Clear separation and decent detail retrieval across various tracks. Soundstage shows reasonable width and depth.
Punch Audio Martilo Reviews
8.6
Reviewer Score
7.9
Reviewer Score
check links for more info:Bad Guy Good Audio original ranking
Bad Guy Good Audio Youtube Channel
Gizaudio Axel
2025-07-25
7.5
Reviewer Score
Great basshead set with strong technical chops. Great value, fun, and engaging without sacrificing clarity. Boosted, clean, and textured bass. Mids are surprisingly clear for a bassy set. Treble’s smooth and non-fatiguing. The bass might be too much for some.Gizaudio Axel original ranking
Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel
Boom — time for bass. Punch Audio’s Martilo is a tribrid (2×8 mm DD + 2 BA + 1 micro planar) coming in around $330. The package is stacked: sturdy square case, extra filters, multiple tip sets, and a genuinely excellent modular 3.5/4.4 cable that lays flat, has no microphonics, and a firm chin slider. The shells are ergonomic with venting, metal nozzles with a proper lip, and a small nozzle diameter (5.9/5.0 mm) that helps seal; comfort and passive isolation are both strong.
Sonically, this is unapologetically bass-focused without being bass-only. Expect massive sub-bass depth and a punchy mid-bass, yet the low end stays tight, controlled, textured and doesn’t bleed. Mids retain clarity with non-shouty presence, while treble is crisp, smooth, non-fatiguing with decent extension (not ultra-airy). For a bass-heavy set, technical performance is solid: detail is good, and imaging/separation keep busy tracks coherent and energetic.
Against Hisenior’s Mega5EST Bass Plus, Martilo hits harder, feels more engaging, and offers better vocal clarity — and it steamrolls on value at the lower price. Compared with Xenns Tea Pro, the Tea Pro is a bass-lover all-rounder that spotlights vocals/instruments more; Martilo goes full bass-head with bigger rumble and impact. Ideal for listeners who crave deep slam but still want clarity, comfort, and great accessories; not for neutral/reference chasers. Final verdict: 4/5 — it truly punches above its price.
7.5
Reviewer Score
Cheaper, and slightly more energetic HBB Punch with slightly less mid-bass and slam. Endgame "balanced" basshead. Imaging feels sharper than Punch, but treble is not as smooth, aside from that very similar tech and low-end. Jays Audio Youtube Channel
7.2
* score normalized
The Punch Audio Martilo shows up screaming BASSHEAD on the box, but the tuning is smarter than that. A hybrid stack—2×8 mm DD + 2×BA + 1 planar—delivers bass that hits when the track calls for it, then gets out of the way. The surprise is the huge soundstage: airy, wide, borderline cinematic, so pianos, crowds, and live recordings feel expansive rather than claustrophobic. Low 9 Ω impedance and easy efficiency keep the power demands chill, though a low-impedance cable is recommended.
Tip rolling matters. With thin-wall silicone (e.g., Dunu S&S) the stage opens up and balance feels right; foams and some wide-bore options can push treble into a slightly sharp zone on certain tracks. Tonality reads clean and natural—warm-adjacent without a blanket—so everyday music stays unbloated, while proper sub-bass test tracks pressurize with that “firm hand on the chest,” not a sledgehammer.
Build is solid: thick, comfy modular cable with swappable plugs, flashy red shells, and a comically oversized box for a modest accessory set (silicone + foams). Street price around $330 lands in the sweet spot—easily justifying $375 by ear. Think “poor man’s Mega 5 EST Bass Plus”: similarly satisfying slam and stage, with the pricier set showing a touch more upper-mid/treble refinement. Not just for bassheads—more like a full-range thrill ride that lets music breathe and hit when it should.
5.5
Reviewer Score
Strong bass, fun overall mids need improvement for the price Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
8
Reviewer Score
The Punch Audio Martilo delivers a powerful bass experience that dominates its signature, featuring a substantial 14dB sub-bass boost. This emphasis creates visceral, physical rumble, especially in electronic or hip-hop tracks, yet avoids overwhelming the lower mids due to a precise 200Hz crossover. While the dual dynamic drivers generate impressive slam and texture, a slight bloom can occasionally creep into the low-mids on very busy tracks, though it generally maintains better control than many bass-focused rivals.
Surprisingly, the midrange retains clarity and naturalness despite the bass foundation, handled competently by the Knowles balanced armatures. Vocals, both male and female, sound full-bodied and avoid the huskiness or recession common in bass-heavy tunings, while instruments like guitars retain decent texture. The planar magnetic driver contributes a smooth, non-fatiguing treble with adequate air and detail retrieval, though it doesn't quite reach the sparkle or ultimate extension of dedicated electrostatic tweeters.
Technical performance is solid for its price and tuning goal, offering a wide soundstage with good depth and effective layering, particularly impressive given the bass quantity. Imaging is precise enough for accurate placement of instruments. While the bass is the star, the overall presentation manages to avoid being a one-note experience, offering a fun yet reasonably balanced listen that works across more genres than typical basshead sets.
Dunu Vulkan 2 Reviews
Z-Reviews
2025-07-31
8.5
* score normalized
Opening the serious business packaging reveals the Dunu Vulkan 2 IEMs and a mountain of accessories, including the praised SS tips and the excellent gunmetal gray cable with its satisfying connection mechanism. The build quality screams premium, easily suggesting a price tag of $300-$400 minimum just on looks and feel. The shock comes when discovering these eight-driver hybrids (two dynamics, six BAs) actually cost only $359.99, a fraction of the expected $800-$900 based purely on the sonic experience.
Listening reveals something truly special. The Vulkan 2 delivers an unrestricted sound with a huge soundstage where instruments have ample space and separation, like moving from a cramped elevator to a vast freight elevator. Bass is unapologetically real, not boosted or artificial, while detail retrieval is exceptional across the board. Critically, they achieve this with remarkable sensitivity, sounding fantastic even at whisper-quiet volumes, unlike many complex multi-driver IEMs. They create an incredibly immersive and effortless listening experience, transporting you into the music itself. This performance immediately puts them in direct competition with the previously crowned best-of-year, the Kiwi Ears Astral, despite costing nearly $100 more.
These are declared god tier IEMs. They sound phenomenal regardless of source gear, performing brilliantly on both high-end stacks and budget $200 DAC/amp combos. The Vulkan 2 is deemed absolutely worth $700-$800 in sound quality alone, making its sub-$400 price an incredible value proposition. They are so good they instantly become the pair pulled out to show people what a good IEM sounds like. For anyone saving their pennies for a top-tier in-ear experience, the Dunu Vulkan 2 is presented as an essential, nutty purchase.
Jaytiss
2025-07-06
8.5
Reviewer Score
The Dunu Vulkan 2 boasts exceptional build quality and comfort. Its shell design is praised as extremely nice at any price, fitting securely with a flat two-pin connector, metal nozzle, and helpful anti-tragus catch. The comprehensive accessory package is a major plus, including a pocketable case, 6.3mm and 3.5mm connectors, a cleaning brush, IEM booties, two sets of tips, and a particularly supple cable featuring a screw-lock termination for easy swapping. Everything about the physical presentation feels solid and well-executed.
Sonically, the Vulkan 2 represents an improvement over the original, offering a presentation focused on detail retrieval and a well-done upper mid-range and treble. The overall signature is slightly bright and energetic, leaning towards a treble-focused tonality while still providing sufficient bass to feel rich and supported, though it lacks a thunderous low-end impact. This results in a slightly lean sound that some might find a touch brittle, but the tactful tuning delivers great detail, nice mids, and a presence region comparable to sets like the Moondrop Meteor. Comparisons reveal it has less bass than the DUNU Brain Dance (especially with an impedance adapter) or the Kiwi Ears Astral, but its mid-range and treble presentation are standout strengths.
Despite the slightly lean bass response, the Vulkan 2 emerges as a strong package at its price point. The combination of its superb build, comfort, excellent accessory set, and a detailed, engaging sound signature focused on mids and treble makes it highly compelling. It's recommended for listeners seeking a studio-monitor style presentation rather than a bass-heavy experience. While not a perfect one-and-done for everyone, and a bass adjustment feature like a rumble switch or impedance adapter would be welcome, it stands as a near-endgame option offering great value and quality within the $300-$400 range.
7
Reviewer Score
Neutral/vocal centric set with very little sub-bass. A very "unique" tuning for a neutral sound. Very genre dependent. Clean and clear vocals with a slight bite. Lower-mids are just enough to bring enough note-weight and body. Not recommended for anything that needs sub-bass like hiphop, rap, EDM, and some POP songs. Recommend listening volume past 70dbs with indie, ballads, acoustics, slow rock. Jays Audio Youtube Channel
Initial skepticism about the Dunu Vulkan 2's significant scoop in the 150-200Hz range quickly faded upon listening. This scoop typically kills rhythmic intensity, slam, and weight, making genres like hip-hop or EDM sound anemic. However, the Vulkan 2 makes it work through a tamer upper midrange compared to Harman targets and a filled-in lower midrange past 200Hz. This creates a smaller contrast (around 7dB difference between peak and mid-bass) than expected, preventing the sound from becoming overly thin or shouty. The result is a surprisingly balanced, neutral, and vocal-centric tonality that excels with artists like SZA, Frank Ocean, or Lana Del Rey on genres such as indie rock, ballads, and acoustic tracks.
This tuning comes with clear trade-offs. The lack of sub-bass is the most significant limitation, making the Vulkan 2 unsuitable for hip-hop, EDM, rap, or movies where rumble and slam are essential. Boosting the sub-bass wasn't feasible without creating an even bigger scoop or ruining the intended neutral, clean vocal focus. Technically, it offers good layering, separation, and a slight bite in transients, with detail and resolution comparable to sets like the Dusk, though not class-leading for its price. It scales well with volume on its preferred genres (around 75-80dB), sounding clearer and more engaging, but falls flat at lower volumes or on energetic pop/EDM where the missing low end hurts balance.
Compared to other neutral/vocal sets like the P50 or Studio 4, the Vulkan 2 is less all-rounded due to its bass deficiency, though it offers slightly better scaling and vocal focus. Bass-centric IEMs like the Odyssey are far superior for low-end engagement. While the vocal presentation is clean and enjoyable within its niche, the $360 retail price is hard to justify. Alternatives like the Volume S (for male vocals) or the Arcanis (for a more immersive, special vocal experience) are better all-rounders that also excel with vocals. The Vulkan 2 becomes a more interesting proposition only if found significantly discounted around $200 as a specialty set for vocal-forward, less bass-dependent genres.
7.3
Reviewer Score
The Dunu Vulkan 2 employs a dual dynamic driver setup—10mm for sub-bass and 8mm for mid-bass—each in isolated chambers to reduce interference and enhance low-end articulation. Its four-way hybrid crossover (physical + electronic) ensures coherent frequency transitions between the dedicated sub-bass, bass, midrange, and treble drivers, minimizing distortion. The tuning prioritizes textural depth over sheer impact, with sub-bass extension excelling more than mid-bass slam.
Vocals and midrange benefit from custom Knowles BAs, rendering vocals with lush forwardness and emotional nuance, though the 3kHz emphasis occasionally introduces harshness on sibilant tracks. Treble from four custom BAs extends airily without fatigue, offering refined detail retrieval. The soundstage impresses with holographic width and precise layering, handling complex genres like progressive rock adeptly.
Comfort may be divisive: the 6.4mm nozzle and 8g weight per earpiece challenge smaller ears during extended sessions. The stock cable’s Q-Lock Mini system (3.5mm/4.4mm included) and MMCX/2-pin options provide versatile connectivity.
Punch Audio Martilo User Reviews
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