DUNU steps into the full-size headphone arena with the Mortise, a striking open-back design that blends modern driver engineering with classic materials. At first glance, the use of North American black walnut earcups sets the tone—this is a headphone that aims to sound as natural as it looks.
But the Mortise is far more than a visual statement. Under the hood, it’s a carefully engineered piece of kit built for listeners who care about detail, space, and long-session comfort.
A driver built for speed and control
At the core of the Mortise sits a 50 mm dynamic driver, built around an ultra-thin carbon fiber diaphragm. This isn’t just about rigidity—it’s about control. The lightweight diaphragm is paired with an independent flexible suspension, allowing the driver to move with precision while minimizing unwanted distortion.
Driving it all is a powerful N52 neodymium magnet system, giving the Mortise the kind of efficiency and authority that works just as well with portable gear as it does with dedicated desktop setups.
The result is a presentation that feels fast, open, and dynamically alive.
Open-back design, wide-open sound
The open-back architecture plays a key role in shaping the Mortise’s sound signature. Instead of trapping energy inside the cups, it allows the sound to breathe—resulting in a broader soundstage and a more natural sense of space.
This is the kind of tuning that favors realism over artificial punch. Instruments have room to exist, vocals sit comfortably in the mix, and the overall presentation leans toward clarity and balance rather than exaggeration.
Walnut housings with acoustic purpose
Those black walnut earcups aren’t just there for aesthetics. Wood has long been favored in high-end audio for its ability to manage resonance, and here it’s carefully treated to ensure structural stability and consistent acoustic behavior.
The result is a cleaner midrange and a more organic tonal character—subtle, but noticeable over longer listening sessions.
Combined with a well-considered ergonomic design, the Mortise is built to stay comfortable for hours, making it just as suitable for deep listening sessions as for casual evening playback.
Flexible connectivity, premium cabling
DUNU includes a high-purity single-crystal copper cable, designed to preserve signal integrity without adding unwanted coloration. The cable connects via 3.5 mm jacks at the headphone side and uses the company’s Q-Lock Mini modular system.
This allows you to switch between 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm terminations in seconds, making the Mortise equally at home with portable players, balanced outputs, and traditional hi-fi gear.
Specifications
- Type: Full-size, open-back headphones
- Driver: 50 mm dynamic
- Diaphragm: Ultra-thin carbon fiber
- Magnet system: N52 neodymium
- Suspension: Independent flexible design
- Earcups: North American black walnut
- Impedance: 38 ohms
- Sensitivity: 98 dB/mW (113 dB/V)
- Frequency response: 5 Hz – 40 kHz
- Cable: Monocrystalline copper
- Connectors: 3.5 mm (headphone side)
- Plugs: 3.5 mm / 4.4 mm interchangeable (Q-Lock Mini)
