Forget spending $150 on Sennheiser IEMs — I just tested the $39 Dunu Titan X and they’re perfect for audiophiles on a budget

There’s no better way to listen to your favorite tunes than through a pair of wired earbuds — or IEMs, if you want best-in-class sound and detail. If you’re an audiophile on a budget, I’ve got good news for you: I’ve just tested a pair of super budget IEMs that delivers incredible sound quality. Not only are the Dunu Titan X built extremely well thanks to their metal housing, they’re comfy for all-day listening too.

As for the sound, it’s 10/10 from me. Meaty bass without sounding booming, vibrant treble that doesn’t overpower the rest of the soundstage, and a detailed midrange, the Titan X will have you appreciating your favorite artists in newfound ways. While there are no in-line controls and eartip replacement is finicky, neither of those are massive dealbreakers.

To find out if these are the best wired headphones for you, read my full Dunu Titan X review.

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Dunu Titan X review: Specs

Dunu Titan X review: Price & availability

IEMs, or in-ear monitors, don’t always come cheap, and the Dunu Titan X has carved itself a niche here. Priced at just $39 for the 3.5mm version or $44 for the USB-C with mic model, it’s one of the cheapest ways to stream hi-res audio. It’s available in just one color only: gray.

The Titan X are priced similarly to the Sennheiser CX 80U ($39) and the Final VR500 ($44) but those are wired earbuds and don’t call themselves IEMs. See, IEMs are the premium, high-performance subset of wired buds, so the Titan X compete with the likes of the Sennheiser IE 200 ($149) and the Sony Inzone E9 ($149) but as you can see, these IEMs are far pricier than Dunu’s offering.

Dunu Titan X review: Design

For the price, I wasn’t expecting the Dunu Titan X to be built this well and look so premium. Unlike the pricier Sennheiser IE 200 and the Sony Inzone E9, the Titan X don’t utilize plastic in their construction. They feature a high-density alloy housing with a gunmetal finish, and Dunu claims that this makes the IEMs scratch- and sweat-resistant. Having used the Titan X extensively, I can confirm that they’re indeed built very well — and the gunmetal finish is nothing short of stunning.

Just like the Sennheiser IE 200, the Titan X’s braided cable features a 2-pin detachable design, which means you can swap the cables with ease — handy for making the IEMs last as long as possible. Speaking of, the silver-plated copper cable has a tangle-free design which means that you don’t need to worry about untangling the IEMs every time you take them out of your pocket.

Weatherproofing

IEMs and wired earbuds are rarely waterproof, and the same applies to the Titan X. They don’t have an IP rating so I’d be reluctant to use them in the pouring rain. This isn’t unique to the Titan X — the Sennheiser IE 200, the Sony Inzone E9 and the Sennheiser CX 80U aren’t weatherproof either. You may want to consider a pair of the best wireless earbuds for that.

Comfort

Having worn the Titan X for four straight hours, I can confidently say that they’re very comfortable. Like I mentioned earlier, the Titan X feature alloy housing, and the metal build makes them heavier than the Sennheiser IE 200. Each earbud weighs 0.45oz, which is substantially more than the IE 200 (0.14oz each). While that feels like a lot when the IEMs are in your hands, you realize the Titan X have fantastic weight distribution when you put them in your ears. The cable wraps around each individual ear too to help with that.

Included in the box are six pairs of silicone eartips of different sizes: three of these are designed for vocal clarity while the others are for extra bass, according to Dunu. This is down to how airtight the seal is, and I’ll discuss this in the sound quality section shortly. All you need to know is that the eartips themselves are quite comfortable, and depending on the size you pick, they sit snugly in your ears.

But one of the most annoying things about the Titan X is the eartip replacement. It took me 30 minutes to try and get a pair of eartips onto the earpieces. And I failed. I then asked my colleague to try and she got the eartip on one earpiece and struggled with the other, before I somehow managed to put it on.

Controls

Similar to other IEMs, like the Sennheiser IE 200 and the Sony Inzone E9, the Titan X don’t feature any in-line buttons to control playback. You’ll need to use your smartphone, laptop or other audio source to adjust the volume and play/pause music. The Sennheiser CX 80U feature in-line controls if that’s a priority for you.

Connectivity

Unlike wireless earbuds which feature either Bluetooth or 2.4GHz connectivity, the Titan X IEMs can be used wired-only. You can get either the 3.5mm model, or the USB-C version. All you need to do is plug the jack into your phone or laptop and you’re good to go. No need for any apps or finicky Bluetooth pairing — simply plug and play. If you're going to be mainly streaming from a smartphone or USB-C device, the USB option is the one to get.

Dunu Titan X review: Sound quality

The Dunu Titan X are well-endowed IEMs, featuring 10mm dynamic drivers and dual-magnetic circuits to cover a frequency response range of 5Hz to 40KHz (compared to 6Hz-20KHz on the Sennheiser IE 200). This means that the Titan X cover the entirety of the human hearing spectrum (20Hz-20KHz) and reproduce most sound accurately.

To test the IEMs, I plugged them into my MacBook Air M2 and listened to my favorite testing tracks on Qobuz, the best music streaming service for hi-res audio, starting with ‘Radio’ by Lana Del Rey. The first thing I noticed as soon as I hit play was that the Titan X provided fantastic noise isolation even without featuring ANC. I couldn’t hear anything or anyone else, and I felt fully immersed.

The Titan X’s vocal capabilities are incredible, as Lana’s voice emerged with striking clarity. Her subtle vibrato and layered harmonies were rendered with impressive precision, and the song sounded more expansive and spacious than it does on most wireless earbuds.

To test the bass, I listened to ‘Elephant’ by Tame Impala. The Titan X showcased just how satisfying a well-tuned bass response can be. The track’s iconic fuzzy bass riff hit me with impressive weight and texture, as well as solid low-end impact. The IEMs delivered a thick, gritty growl that felt powerful without becoming bloated. I also appreciate how well the Titan X captured the bassline’s distortion: they preserved its raw energy as well as excellent definition between notes.

The Titan X handles treble beautifully too, ensuring that it never pierces through the rest of the soundstage without making it feel too dim. In Of Monsters and Men’s ‘Mountain Sound,’ the bright acoustic guitars shimmered through the Titan X, and the crisp percussion cut through the mix with vibrance. I noticed that the Titan X lent plenty of air to the track, which allowed high-pitched cymbal strikes and the tambourine to breathe without sounding fatiguing.

Overall, the Titan X are outstanding IEMs for detailed listening, and for those who want to enjoy their favorite artists to the fullest.

Listen along to my review with the Dunu Titan X testing playlist:

Dunu Titan X review: Gaming performance

Alongside being excellent for listening to music, the Dunu Titan X are fit for gaming too, especially FPS titles where you want to be able to pinpoint footsteps with precision. If you get the 3.5mm model, you should be able to plug the IEMs right into, say, your PS5’s or Xbox Series X’s controller, and your computer of course.

I played some Cyberpunk 2077 to see how the Titan X performed, and they didn’t let me down. I was able to pinpoint footsteps with precision, even when enemies were behind doors and I couldn’t see them. This helped me adjust my strategy accordingly, and I was able to infiltrate the gang’s base with ease. I also appreciated how the Titan X brought the techno soundtrack to life, as I could headbang to the OST while riding my bike through the streets of Night City.

Of course, if you want gaming-specific IEMs, I’d recommend the Sony Inzone E9 — but the Titan X suffice if you want a pair of earbuds that do it all.

Dunu Titan X review: Call quality

Whether you can answer calls with the Dunu Titan X depends entirely on the model you get. The USB-C version comes with an in-line mic. Unfortunately, I tested the 3.5mm model which doesn’t feature a mic, so I couldn’t test the IEMs’ call quality.

Dunu Titan X review: Verdict

Great sound doesn't have to come with a premium price tag, and the Dunu Titan X prove just that. For less than $40, these budget-friendly IEMs deliver an audio experience that rivals products costing several times more, such as the Sennheiser IE 200 and the Sony Inzone E9. They combine impressive detail with controlled but powerful bass, as well as clear mids in a package that feels pricier than it is.

While the lack of in-line controls may be disappointing for some, and the finicky eartip replacement may prove frustrating at times, neither should stop you from getting the Titan X. Given that these IEMs cost just $39, they’re perfect for audiophiles on a budget. If you’re looking for an affordable entry point into the world of IEMs, few are better than the Titan X.