DUNU - Kima 2

I can not stand the Harman tuning even though this tuning is very popular with many people. My tuning preference is very similar to the HBB tuning. I prefer the HBB tuning's 8 dB rise for the simulated pinna gain in the upper midrange since the Harman tuning's 10 to 11 dB rise for the simulated pinna gain in the upper midrange is too sibilant for me. I also don't like how the Harman tuning decreases the lower midrange. Right now my two favorite IEMs under $300 are the Aful Performer 7 and the Dunu DaVinci. The Performer 7 simply is an improved version of the Performer 5 across the board. I still love my Performer 5 IEMs. At first I didn't like the DaVinci's powerful sub bass relative to the mid bass, but I found some eartips which fixed this issue such that the sub bass is in balance with the mid bass. I have some other favorite IEMs at lower price points. I was very surprised by how much I like the Kima 2 which Dunu sent to me. I knew that the Kima 2 uses single dynamic drivers, yet when I listened to the Kima 2 I could have sworn that there must also be BA drivers in the mix since the macro and micro details are very well defined. For example, the Kima 2 performs much better than the Thieaudio Legacy 2. It also dawned on me that the Kima 2 is tuned very similarly to the original Moondrop Starfield which was my first IEM, yet the Kima 2's technical performance is so much nicer to listen to in comparison to the OG Starfield. There always a very slight veil to the sound when I listened to the OG Starfield, and the Kima 2 totally rips any veil away. On the budget side, I really like the Simgot EW200 after I easily added some self adhesive mesh filters to shift the overall tuning from Harman to HBB. The transition after adding the mesh filters was splendid. The thing is that after adding the mesh filters to adjust the tuning, I was able to really appreciate the quality of the EW200's dynamic drivers. I hope that the above helps you with your research.

You asked for recommended upgrades from people who actually have any of these four IEMs. So here I go for the Starfield... Your Starfield IEMs do not have any chipped paint. You must have bought them in 2022 after it was announced that the paint chipping issue was fixed. I purchased two sets of the Starfield in March and April 2022. My set which I heavily used for several months still looks mint and has zero paint chipping issues. I sent my other set of Starfields, still factory sealed in the box, to Audio Amigo a few months ago for him to use in his review of the Dunu Kima 2 since the Kima 2 and the original Starfield have very similar overall frequency response curves. I can not stand the sibilance in the Starfield II and I can not say that the Starfield II is a nice upgrade (for me) for the original Starfield. I can say that the Kima 2 is a nice upgrade to the original Starfield. A riot of fun is that the Kima 2 is priced the same as the discontinued original Starfield. I remember the moment when I first listened to the Kima 2 and two thoughts immediately popped into my head. My first thought was that there must be at least one or two balanced armature drivers in the Kima 2 which must be delivering the very clean and crisp macro and micro details, Even the micro details sound clean and not fuzzy. Yet nope, the Kima 2 only uses dynamic drivers. My immediate second thought about the Kima 2 sounds like the original Starfield except that the bass now is very clean with no hint of muddiness which was present in the original Starfield and that the macro and micro details are very well defined in comparison to the original Starfield. It isn't that the original Starfield IEM is a bad IEM. The original Starfield was used as a reference by several reviewers a few years ago. Yet the original Starfield had seen its day. Following are some frequency response graphs of the original Starfield and the Kima 2: [https://audioamigo.squig.link/?share=Bad\_Guy\_Target,Moondrop\_Starfield,Dunu\_Kima\_2](https://audioamigo.squig.link/?share=Bad_Guy_Target,Moondrop_Starfield,Dunu_Kima_2) [https://squig.link/?share=Dunu\_Kima\_2,Moondrop\_Starfield](https://squig.link/?share=Dunu_Kima_2,Moondrop_Starfield) The Kima 2 has a very nice and crisp leading edge attack for the bass. This makes the bass sound a bit louder than what you see in the Kima 2 graphs. You might enjoy seeing Audio Amigo's review of the Kima 2. Starting at 21.56, he spends some time comparing the Kima 2 to the original Starfield. Following is the link for his review: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8hAPR6RRYM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8hAPR6RRYM) FULL DISCLOSURE: The Kima 2 was sent to me by Dunu for me to create an unboxing review for the Kima 2. I am glad that the Kima 2 was sent to me since the apparent lack of bass in the frequency response graph prevented me from considering this IEM. Dunu allowed me to keep the Kima 2. And keeping them I am since I really like the Kima 2.

I suggest the Dunu Kima 2. The bass is slightly recessed, but it is there when needed. The simulated pinna gain is more neutral at 7 dB, whereas the Harman 2019 target's simulated pinna gain is too intense for me at 10 dB. So for me, the Kima 2 is a neutral IEM which makes it easy to focus on the entire midrange.

I like the same genres that you like, but I don't listen to quite as much classical as you do. I am hoping to enjoy listening to more classical music. I can't imagine listening to classical music with no bass since I do enjoy listening to Anna Lapwood performing on concert hall organs. The only fairly moderately priced single DD IEMs which I like when listening to classical and to Hans Zimmer stage performances is the Kima 2. I also am really enjoying listening to my Aful Performer 7 IEMs while listening to classical music even though I would like a touch of more natural overall tuning. The Tea Pro and the Orchestra Lite are outside of my budget. I have so wanted to try both of these IEMs. The Orchestra Lite are supposed to be very nice for classical and orchestral music. I suppose that it is since it is an all-BA IEM which very slightly relaxes the bass and very slightly relaxes the upper treble or air region. I think that it would be interesting for the OP to do some tip rolling in order to see if the OP lands on an ideal set of eartips for use on the Tea Pro.

I really like your suggestion for listening to Hans Zimmer as an introduction to classical music. I am over 60 years old, so sparkle or air mean nothing to me since I have old age hearing. I enjoy watching Youtube videos of Hans Zimmer stage performances if they were recorded really well since it is a riot of fun watching the artists playing their musical instruments which I am hearing.

I also really like the Kima 2. The bass is a step behind yet is very clean with nice kick. This allows the listener to easily focus on enjoying the musicality and details in the entire midrange and treble. The Kima 2 still surprises me every time it is back in rotation.

I really like the Kima 2. The bass is so tight and crisp that the bass actually hits harder than what we see in squiglink graphs. This really surprised me. Yet what surprised me the most is that the details are so crisply and cleanly defined in the upper midrange and the treble that I could swear that the Kima 2 must have one or two BA drivers to deliver this clarity. Yet nope, it is all from the single really nice dynamic driver.

Yeah, these are pretty good warm sound, good tonallity overall but lacks treble and air, and not so technical But worth their price though

Pretty much anything in the 200+ market is going to have a significant bass boost. I think the most bass light of the mid fi hybrids is the Cadenza4. It is very bass light, and presents with lighter bass than the graph suggests. I wouldnt pay full price for it. Wait for it to go on sale, and use a 20% coupon on the official Amazon store, and you can get it for under $150. Going a lot cheaper, the EA500 (non LM) is also very bass light, but treble heavy. The DUNu Kima2 might be a better alternative, with slightly less treble energy. The Rosetechnics/Rose Elsa Star City5 is a very neutral IEM, but some have said they did a silent re-tune to it, and added, you guessed it, more sub-bass shelf. Thankfully they are not bank breaking. The AFUL MagicOne is also fairly bass lean. But its a single BA set, and its also non-vented, so it may be a bit uncomfortable to some. Also they regularly go on sale for about half off. Wait for that. As a collectors set they are SUPER unique. Also the AFUL Performer 8...its almost a flat line. Its also nearly $400. LOL! The BQEYZ Frost is another great bass light set that doesnt over emphasize the treble in an absurd way. Also most of the Softears IEM's are generally not overly bass emphasized. But I cant recall which model i listened to. OH! And i almost forgot, all things Etymotic. For a long long time they were the "studio meta". But the fit is...unique.

Check out my full written review of the Dunu Kima 2 Here: https://mobileaudiophile.com/in-ear-earphones-iem-iems-reviews/dunu-kima-2-review/ Dunu Kima 2 Review What's up everyone? I hope you all have had a great start to your New Year. Today I have with me the Dunu Kima 2. From what I can tell, the Kima 2 is a drastically underrated iem folks. Built fantastic, made entirely out of stainless steel, another slick design and probably one of the better unboxing experiences for the cost as well. Great cable, nice case, a thousand eartips too. Really a nice packaging by Dunu, as expected. However, what this set excels in, the Kima 2 carries some of the best timbre that $100 can buy. Simple as that. It's natural through and through. This set carries a wonderful tonal balance. Basically neutral across the board with maybe a hint of warmth. It has a tight, punchy, and well defined bass region with moderate levels of thump that can handle most anything thrown at it. The mids are the crown jewel of this set. Awesome natural note weight, clean throughout, fantastic for vocalists, both male and female. The treble has just enough brilliance to add some luster, yet never so much that it causes fatigue. Nice extension & smooth up top. Really a nice sounding set folks. Of course, I do go quite a bit deeper in my review, along with a couple comparisons as well. Comparisons: Dunu Kima Classic / Fiio FD15 🔥🔥Kima 2 Pros 🔥🔥👇 -Exquisite build, all-alloy, light, premium -Such a slick looking series of iems. The Kima 2 is a looker -The unboxing is one of the best in the price point -Fantastic Lyre cable -Almost perfect tonal balance -Completely natural timbre -Highly resolute sound, very clean across the board -Fast, punchy bass -Wonderful midrange, completely tuneful, great for vocalists -Non-fatiguing treble, balanced, just brilliant enough -Detail Retrieval is solid -Separation & imaging -Spacious sound field 🥶🥶Kima 2 Cons🥶🥶👇 -Bassheads, even moderate bassheads will want more bass emphasis -Warm/dark lovers will not enjoy the Kima 2 Check out my full written review of the Dunu Kima 2 Here: https://mobileaudiophile.com/in-ear-earphones-iem-iems-reviews/dunu-kima-2-review/

That's the hope. I guess that's what sets a brand like Dunu apart. They know what a consumer wants. They really go above and beyond. There's a few other brands who do the same but Dunu has always had a reputation for being generous and seeking to "wow" the consumer. I love that. I agree, I hope other brands take notice of what Dunu just did with a $100 iem.

As for now the Kima 2 is my favourite iem but the hexa is second For the dac my favorite is the Luna Asano edition and the Tempotec Sonata BHD 2024, unironically. I like it's warm sound which gives some analog taste to music

Yeah, the accessories are a big W on the Kima 2. Fortunately I didn't have to pay for it because I won it on the Dunu giveaway they did for new year. The only thing I don't like about them is that they have somewhat poor isolation

My favorite vocal set is the Dunu Kima 2. Single DD, excellent tuning, very comfy and nice looking shells

My go-to DD iem is the Kima 2, it's an amazing performer for the price, for planars, well, I own none at the moment but currently waiting for the PRX to have a first try with this tech

Kima 2. Magnificent iem

Dunu Kima 2. It's lush vocals are something else. The best single DD under 250$ for me

Nah. Kima 2 is warm, not bright. Mega5EST-level warm, Truthear Pure-level warm. Literally every major reviewer on YouTube calls it warm-leaning. Easily my favorite warm-neutral IEM. I thought it would be bright based on the Squig but was shocked when I heard it in person. https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1o8yd5h/dunu_kima_2_vs_tanchjim_origin_proof_that_graphs/

Dude, please stop calling the Dunu Kima 2 neutral-bright — that’s just wrong, lol. It’s warm. Very warm. It’s literally warmer than every neutral-bright set out there. It’s not bright at all. It's closer to Dusk, Tea Pros, Truthear Pure in warmth. And no one would ever call those Neutral bright.

I mean, you can feel however you feel about the treble, but I wouldn’t classify Kima 2 anywhere near the neutral-bright sets. It’s warmer than Fission, warmer than Fola, warmer than Origin — honestly warmer than every neutral-bright IEM I can think of. And just for context: when you call it neutral-bright, that’s where it becomes misinformation. I wouldn’t call the Zigaat Lush bright or neutral-bright either, and Kima 2 sits right alongside it in warmth. The issue isn’t whether you hear some treble energy — it’s the use of the word “bright.” Category-wise, it’s a warm-leaning set. Every reviewer who has it right now describes it as warm, and that lines up with the comparisons above. If you personally hear it differently, that’s fine, but let’s at least agree to disagree on the classification.

From experimenting with a ton of IEMs, I’ve found there are three real “value peaks” where performance jumps make sense: **$80–$100 tier:** Defiant, Explorer, Xuan NV, Dunu Kima 2, Truthear Pure — this is where good sound starts. **$200 tier:** Performer 5+2, Kiwi Ears Astral, Letshuoer Cadenza 4 **$400 tier:** Dusk, Softears Studio 4, Tea Pro — this is where things get *really* good. **Beyond $400, returns drop off hard.** For my preferences: * Mega5EST didn’t beat Tea Pro or Dusk. * Dunu SA6 Mk2 fell behind Studio 4, Zigaat Lush, and Dusk. * Top Pro is good, even great, but not $550-good — Astral and Studio 4 gave me more. * Mystic 8 at $1000 disappointed; Studio 4 still sounded better to me.

I feel the same way about the Defiant. There are some IEMs it absolutely wipes off the board. Then there are sets where it could go either way — not a clear win, just a different flavor — like Pure, Crinacle Daybreak, Dunu Kima 2, Explorer, and Xuan NV. And then there are IEMs that I’d genuinely call clear upgrades, many sitting around the $400 range. It honestly reminds me of the Neat King Bee V1(not v2) in the mic world — a $99 mic that outperformed everything in its class and even competed with $500+ mics. People got sticker shock trying to “upgrade.” I’m not kidding when I say the $99 Neat King Bee could beat a TLM 103 ($1000), and the Defiant gives me that same vibe in the IEM space.

I know this might go against the grain, but I have a completely different take. I’ve seen the flood of glowing posts, reviews, and videos hyping this up for days — but honestly, I just don’t hear it. I bought it, gave it time, and walked away genuinely disappointed. To my ears, the Dusk outperforms it across the board. This sounds veiled, congested, and lacking in definition. The highs are muted, vocals sit behind a haze, and the overall presentation just feels muddled. At first, I thought I might’ve gotten a defective unit — or maybe a different variant, since mine says *“Anniversary Edition.”* I even checked for a hidden bass switch like the one on my Dunu SA6 MK2… but no, this is it. I later cross-checked with a friend’s pair, and it was the same story. Coming from sets like the Dusk, Studio 4, IER M7, Softears RSV, and Cadenza 4 — all of which sound cleaner, more articulate, and far more balanced — this just doesn’t hold up. I joked with someone about this, but it’s true: the newer releases people are hyping actually *do* have clarity — something this one sorely lacks. At the end of the day, it’s all preference, and no one’s “wrong” for liking it, but from a critical standpoint, it’s a clear miss. Flat-out, the Dusk is the better IEM. I mentioned this in a recent video too — if you already own the Dusk, you’re not missing out. There’s absolutely no reason to spend $500 for what, in practice, sounds worse. To make things even more ironic, I just reviewed the Dunu Kima 2, and it basically does what the Mega5EST *tries* to do — but better. It carries the same warmth, yet with more clarity, more detail, and fuller, more natural vocals — without a hint of sibilance. And it’s $112. That says it all. https://preview.redd.it/xf3axtocd5xf1.jpeg?width=2016&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=99044317d139ecf893dde28a38eeaf612a96578f

Totally fair question—let me clarify, because the Kima 2 is a total anomaly. When I first got the Dunu Kima 2, I actually thought it was some kind of Tanchjim Origin variant—their 711 graphs look almost identical. My channel’s focused on IEMs that are good for mixing, monitoring, and critical editing, so that’s what I *expected*: a clean, neutral-bright presentation (like the Origin, which I consider closer to the Blessing 3). Then I heard it—and was floored. It doesn’t sound like the Origin *at all*. It’s way warmer. The Kima 2, I shit you not, is firmly in warm-neutral territory—the same camp as the Truthear Pure and the Mega5EST. This is where the paradigm shift happens. The Kima 2 is warmer than the SA6 MK2, the Zigaat Lush, and even the Truthear Pure—yet it somehow maintains the clarity and balance that 99% of warm sets instantly lose. This is the technical achievement. When my Mega5EST arrived, I compared them side-by-side. They share the same tonal DNA: both warm-neutral, smooth, and easy to listen to. But the Kima 2 just executes the philosophy better. It delivers that coveted warmth with significantly less mid-bass bleed, cleaner vocals, and a far more natural tone overall. The technical floor is just higher. I literally wrote in my printed notes for the review: this flat-out does what the Mega5EST *aims* to do, just with superior articulation. For context, I focus on stuff that hits hard for the price—like recommending the Celest Pandamon 2.0 (which I grabbed for $9 on a flash sale) over the Meze Alba ($159), or the Defiant ($80) over sets that cost much more. The Kima 2 is that same kind of special, a total giant killer that disrupts the $500 bracket from below. I’m not exaggerating—I'm telling you that a $112 IEM has technically leapfrogged a premium $500 set in its own sonic category. If you genuinely love the Mega5EST’s tuning soul, you simply have to hear the Kima 2 to know what that warmth sounds like when it’s not compromised by congestion. That says it all.

Im waiting for the white kbear tourbillon pro to be back in stock and hopefully priced around 35$ at most to contrast the CCZ CZ10. The treble on the CZ10 ruins that iem. Initially it sounds like the Titan S but it's inferior. Can't believe headfi reviewer were saying that rivals the Kiwi ears Astral. Kima 2 or Fission on my list but can't decide which. Then the 2 purple iems from Tangzu when they are low enough in price. The Hexa with muse hifi m4 is my preferred pairing with its warm sound. Ibasso dx180 is more neutral bass is lighter and brighter treble.

No they are more vocal orientated than the Defiant. The Fission has less bass and brighter. The Defiant is balanced all rounder. Good bass and treble. The Kima 2 is warmer than the Fission but has less bass than the Defiant.

https://preview.redd.it/ss03l1tx4wbe1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7466579c7a03a6d358c9ad0e39bb795d27ddb42d She’s up there, Dunu Kima 2 with a ivipq cable.

Hey, your’re me! I get enjoyment out of IEMs at every price point. I also use me Bunny as beaters, travel with my Kima 2, and use the high end at home. It's often more exciting to find a cheapie that punches above weight than it is to find a pricier set that outperforms it. That being said OP has a lot older sets that many would argue are outperformed by today's mid tier. Or even a Waner 2.

I'd say yes but you might find the Kima2 lacking bass if you’re used to Cadenza. A Pula Unicrom or Sivga Que would be an upgrade more similar to what your used to.

Twilight is a straight upgrade over kima2. Everything gets better with Twilight. But you need to push volume into Twilight. Bass has more definition, mids sound warm, extremely enjoyable male Vocals, female vocals like Hikaru Udata sounds sweet although not correct. Treble has sparkle in high vol. In low vol kinda sounds dead. Twilight's biggest strength is how 3d it sounds. The sound actually has depth. Kinda like a speaker for ears. For me personally Twilight & EJ07 are forever sets. Kima2 sounds extremely good as well. Not resolving like ea1000. But sweet & musical, very much mid-centric, something that you can use for as long as you want to.

Let me answer, for me it's Twilight & Oriolus Isabellae. For my dad it's one set IE600. For my Grandpa it's Twilight. & For my Girlfriend kima2 baby

Still I prefer kima2 over it Edit - Already tried kadenz, Origin, kato. I personally prefer kima2 tuning overall. Female vocals sound absolutely fantastic on kadenz

Twilight & Isa. For outside use kima2

I love my Kima 2. Not the first set I grab but it's the one I end up returning to. Very pleasant vocals.

DUNU Kima 2. Regret selling it. The Tanchjim Nora I have right now is also good, but it's not an IEM that will wow me immediately.

I don't consciously buy based on aesthetics but most of the IEMs I buy have been quite ok. Tanchjim, some Moondrops, Softears and Dita are not too flashy to me. Grey Dunu Kima 2, Hexa, and Daybreak as well.

Another Kima 2 shill here haha, I can only speak of those I've tried but Kima 2 musicality>Yu9 Que, NiceHCK Rockies and XENNS Tea Pro(only slightly more than Tea Pro though). Obviously not as technical.

Nice writeup, I just disagree with "sole objective winner", since at the end of the day these are your subjective impressions. I had the Kima 2 which I sold for the Fission, which was sold to get Pure, then sold cuz of BA timbre to get the Nora, and now I'm selling the Nora to get another Kima 2 cuz none could beat it's musicality. I had **the one** right from the start... Give it a shot if you want something warm but brighter than Pure, not dry like the Fission, and natural timbre.

Yes Kima 2 would be better. Tanchjim Nora>Defiant for me only because of tuning preference btw, both are good.

Wan'er is more of a female vocal specialist, not experienced with the other 2. Dunu Kima 2 ticks most of the boxes, but I can't remember how it handles fast tracks.