General/Packaging/Build/Comfort
Not too long ago I reviewed the Dunu 242 and came away really impressed with how well it handled mids. Dunu didn't stop there though, the 142 was released alongside it as the other half of this twin release, and this time the shell comes in a deep ocean blue rather than the fiery red of the 242. The design language leans into chinese mythology again, this time drawing from Ao Bing rather than Nezha, so if the 242 is the burning flame, the 142 is meant to be the calm but powerful sea. Under the hood we are looking at a 1DD+4BA+2 Micro Planar tribrid configuration, so one less dynamic driver than the 242's 2DD+4BA+2Pla setup, and this alone already tells me the tuning philosophy is going to be different.
The unboxing experience is, as expected from Dunu, very premium. You get the IEM itself, a high quality modular cable with Dunu's Q-Lock Mini swappable termination system (3.5mm/4.4mm), a storage case, three sets of eartips (Dunu S&S, Candy, and Balanced tips), a cleaning tool, and three collectible art cards themed around Ao Bing. The shells themselves are 3D printed resin, done in collaboration with HeyGears, and weigh in at approximately 5.6g per side, so very light. Comfort wise, the shells sit comfortably in my ears without any hotspots even during long sessions, but do take note the nozzle is on the larger side (6.2mm), so if you have smaller ear canals this might be something to look out for. Tip rolling is recommended here to find your best seal, and to my ears the seal does affect the treble presentation quite a bit.
Gears used for this review
Aune S18 Evo DAC
Aune S17 Pro Amp
Burson Conductor Stellar
FiiO M33 R2R
xDuoo Link3
FiiO K17 R2R
Foreword
My review is solely based on what I hear via my equipment and I never consider my reviews to be objective in any way rather a subjective approach. Do take into consideration that everyone's ear anatomy is not the same, so the psychoacoustics perception might be different as well, but i believe it will not stray too far.
Sound Impression
After about 30-40 hours on my burn-in rig, the treble settled slightly and lost a bit of that initial edge, while the bass became slightly more controlled over the first 20 hours. Straight off the bat the 142 comes across noticeably more energetic than its sibling the 242. Where the 242 leans mild u-shaped and slightly warm, the 142 goes for a more sub-bass forward, mild v-shaped tonality that's tilted brighter overall. It's not a neutral set by any means, but it's also not tuned to be sloppy or bloated, there's a decent amount of control here despite the elevated sub-bass shelf. The two micro planar drivers up top do a lot of the heavy lifting for that "funalytical" character, they add plenty of air and sparkle without crossing into shouty territory, at least not on well recorded tracks.
Bass
Sub-bass is clearly the star of the show here, it digs deep with good rumble and physicality, definitely more presence than what the 242 offers
Mid-bass is comparatively more restrained, it doesn't have that same punchy slam the 242 has, instead it's tuned to stay out of the way of the mids
Bass texture is good, doesn't sound thin or overly thick, and thankfully it doesn't bleed into the mids at all
Decay is on the faster side, which helps with complex bassline tracks but some may find it a touch too clean and lacking natural sustain
Overall the low end here is about rumble and depth rather than outright slam, this is a big departure from the 242's fuller and more mid-bass weighted approach
Mids
The midrange is clean, detailed, and leans towards the cooler side of neutral, quite different from the warmer character of the 242
Lower mids are a touch recessed, this is where the biggest difference from the 242 shows up, male vocals and lower registered instruments sound a bit thinner here
Male vocals lack a bit of that chesty weight I enjoyed on the 242, they're clear and well textured but not as full bodied
Female vocals fare much better, they're pushed forward nicely, picture the artist as 3-4 steps in front of you, with good energy and sweetness without tipping into shoutiness at reasonable volumes
Upper mids have decent pinna gain, enough to keep vocals present and detailed, but sensitive listeners should be mindful here
Note weight is on the leaner side compared to the 242, this set favours clarity and separation over lushness
Treble
This is where the 142 pulls ahead of the 242 in my opinion, the two micro planars give it noticeably more air, sparkle, and extension
Cymbals and hi-hats have good shimmer and decay, detail retrieval up top is a strength
Treble energy is elevated but not harsh under normal listening volumes, it stays on the right side of fatigue for me
Non sibilant on most of my test tracks, but on poorly mastered recordings it can get a bit more forward than I'd like
Compared to the 242's smoother, more rolled off treble, the 142 is clearly the more extended and "sparklier" of the two
Soundstage/Imaging
Soundstage width is decent, not the widest I've heard at this price but competitive
Depth is actually a highlight, there's a good sense of "out of head" projection rather than sounding boxed in
Imaging is precise, instruments can be pinpointed with good accuracy in busy tracks like Slipknot's Duality
Separation is very good, helped along by the leaner note weight and the extended treble giving extra air between elements
Overall the technicalities here edge out the 242 slightly, especially in soundstage depth and separation
Driveability/DAC AMP Pairing
FiiO M33 R2R: A very natural pairing, the R2R warmth takes some of the edge off the treble while keeping the sub-bass punchy, my preferred pairing for long sessions
Aune S18 Evo + S17 Pro Amp: Clean and neutral, this combo brings out the detail retrieval nicely but can occasionally highlight the treble energy a bit more than I'd like on brighter tracks
Burson Conductor Stellar: Adds good body and a touch of warmth to the lower mids, helps mitigate the leaner male vocal presentation somewhat
Entry level or mid range dongle will do just fine, but a slightly warmer source definitely helps tame the treble for extended listening.
Comparison (Dunu 242 ($350))
Starting with build, both sets share the same shell shape and dimensions, with the only real difference being the color scheme and the driver count (1DD vs 2DD). Both come with the same excellent accessory package and Q-Lock Mini cable, so no difference there. In terms of comfort, they're basically identical.
Sound wise, this is a genuine fork in the road. The 242 is warmer, more mid-centric, and noticeably more forgiving on the ears with its smoother, more rolled off treble. The 142 flips that around, going for a leaner, more sub-bass focused, brighter tuning that's tilted towards technicalities over lushness. In the bass, the 242 digs a little less deep but has fuller mid-bass slam, while the 142 goes deeper into the sub-bass with a cleaner, faster texture. The mids are where the gap is biggest, the 242 gives male vocals proper chesty weight and pulls vocals closer overall, while the 142 sounds cleaner and more separated but noticeably thinner in the lower mids. The treble is a clear win for the 142, it has more air, sparkle, and extension, whereas the 242 stays smoother and safer for treble sensitive folks. Technically, the 142 also has the edge in soundstage depth and separation, run circle around the 242 slightly in that regard.
So which one to get? If you love mids and want something warmer, more relaxed, and forgiving for long sessions, the 242 is the better choice, that's actually the set I ended up preferring overall in my own review of it. But if you want more technicalities, a brighter and airier presentation, and don't mind a leaner midrange, the 142 is the one to go for, and it's $100 cheaper too, so it's a genuinely different set rather than a stripped down version of its sibling. I would personally lean towards the 242 for my own daily listening, but I can absolutely see why some people would pick the 142 instead, especially treble lovers and detail chasers on a tighter budget.
Final Thoughts
The Dunu 142 is a solidly tuned tribrid that carves out its own identity next to its sibling the 242 rather than just being a cut down version of it. It goes for sub-bass depth, clean and airy technicalities, and an extended sparkly treble, and it does everything alright within that lane. It's not going to win over anyone who wants a warm, mid-forward, vocal centric sound, that's clearly the 242's territory, but for those who want a brighter, more technical, and more affordable option in Dunu's new lineup, the 142 does the job well. Purely nitpicking, I do wish the lower mids had a touch more body to give male vocals a bit more chesty weight, but that's really me being picky given the price. Recommended? Yes, but only if you know going in that you're getting the brighter, leaner sibling and not the 242's warmth.
The DUNU DN142 was sent over by Dunu for the purpose of this review. Big thanks to the Dunu team for the support and opportunity as always.
Head over to their store if you are interested in getting a pair:
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