--- title: "JFlowers DANTE 2 vs KONLLEN Nocturne-01: Where Does $100 Go?" url: https://cuesreview.com/jflowers-dante-2-vs-konllen-nocturne-01-where-does-100-go published: 2026-10-10T09:26:09Z updated: 2026-10-10T09:26:09Z summary: "JFlowers DANTE 2 costs $100 more than KONLLEN Nocturne-01. Compare carbon shafts, joint data, grip options, accessories and upgrade paths." author: "CuesReview Editorial Team" categories: ["Comparisons"] tags: ["Carbon Fiber Cues", "Cue Comparisons", "JFlowers", "KONLLEN", "Pool Cues"] lang: en --- # JFlowers DANTE 2 vs KONLLEN Nocturne-01: Where Does $100 Go? *Same length and the same 12.5 mm option, but one sells configuration certainty while the other concentrates on bundled value.* The JFlowers DANTE 2 earns its $100 premium through choice and certainty, not a proven performance advantage. At $399, it gives buyers three Classic shaft diameters, a named Moori Medium tip, a documented 29-inch shaft, a Radial 3/8-8 joint, and two stated weight options. The $299 KONLLEN Nocturne-01 counters with an ebony butt, 15K carbon shaft, cowhide wrap, adjustable weight system, and a case in the base package. On value alone, the KONLLEN is hard to ignore. On purchase confidence, the JFlowers is easier to recommend because fewer specifications remain unanswered. That is the real $100 decision. ## How close are these two cues on paper? Both are 58-inch, two-piece playing cues sold with carbon-fiber shafts. Both offer a 12.5 mm tip diameter, and both target players moving beyond a basic maple-shaft setup. The overlap is strong enough to make the price comparison useful, but the two packages are not identical. | Specification | JFlowers DANTE 2 | KONLLEN Nocturne-01 | | --- | --- | --- | | Price checked October 10, 2026 | $399 | $299 | | Overall length | 58 inches | 58 inches | | Standard shaft | Classic carbon fiber | 15K carbon fiber, CFX Series | | Tip diameter choices | 11.8, 12.5, or 12.9 mm | 11.8 or 12.5 mm | | Tip | Moori Medium | Not stated on the product page | | Shaft length | 29 inches | Not stated | | Taper | Long Pro, 12 to 14 inches | ProTaperX | | Joint | Radial 3/8-8 | Not stated | | Weight | 19 or 19.5 oz | Adjustable; range not stated | | Butt | Black-painted maple | Ebony with handmade inlay | | Grip | Wrapless or embossed lizard leather | Premium cowhide wrap | | Extension support | Extension-ready bumper; extension optional | Extension available in higher bundles | | Base-package case | Not stated in the product copy | Included | | Availability at check | Orderable | In stock | JFlowers also presents Crown, S.M.O. Carbon, and S.M.O-Wood as upgrade paths. KONLLEN emphasizes its CFX, K-FoamX, ProTaperX, and Hyper X7 construction language, but leaves the joint, tip material, shaft length, and exact weight range out of the current listing. ![JFlowers DANTE 2 black, red, and white butt design](media:a188751d92f6c0b8) ## What does the extra $100 actually buy? It buys fewer unknowns. The [DANTE 2 product page](https://jflowerscues.com/product/dante2/) lets a buyer choose the wrap, shaft family, diameter, and weight. It identifies the 3/8-8 Radial pin and states an overall length of 58 inches. JFlowers' separate [Classic shaft page](https://jflowerscues.com/product/classic-carbon-fiber-shaft/) adds the Moori Medium tip, 29-inch length, Long Pro 12-to-14-inch taper, and included joint protector. That detail matters after the honeymoon period. A known joint helps when ordering a replacement shaft. A stated weight helps a player avoid a cue that feels noticeably lighter or heavier than the current setup. A named tip makes future maintenance less mysterious. None of these guarantees a better stroke, but each reduces the chance of buying the wrong configuration. KONLLEN uses the lower price differently. The [Nocturne-01 listing](https://www.konllen.shop/en-ca/products/cadence-bk10-12wf-2-0) puts more of the visible value into materials and the bundle: ebony, handmade inlay, cowhide wrap, a carbon shaft, and a case from $299. The cue also has an adjustable weight system. What is missing is the adjustment range and the hardware detail a buyer needs before planning cross-brand upgrades. So the premium isn't simply “JFlowers quality” versus “KONLLEN quality.” Official specifications cannot prove that. It is documented configurability versus a lower-priced ready-to-carry package. ## Are the two carbon shafts truly equivalent? No, and the shared 12.5 mm option should not be mistaken for identical construction. JFlowers calls its standard shaft the Classic low-deflection carbon-fiber shaft. The useful part of the specification is concrete: 29 inches long, Moori Medium tip, Long Pro taper running 12 to 14 inches, Radial joint, and three diameter choices. The 12.5 mm option is the cleanest match for this comparison. KONLLEN describes a 15K carbon-fiber shaft built around CFX Series technology, ProTaperX, K-FoamX internal filling, and a Hyper X7 reinforced core. The company says the foam is intended to reduce hollow sound and absorb vibration, while the reinforced core supports stability and power transfer. Those are design claims, not comparative test results. “15K” refers to a carbon-fiber tow specification and does not by itself predict cue-ball deflection, sound, radial consistency, or durability. Foam type, wall thickness, front-end mass, taper, ferrule construction, tip, and manufacturing tolerance all influence the finished shaft. No same-table test was found for these exact retail configurations. There is no responsible basis for saying the Nocturne deflects less because it says 15K, or that the DANTE 2 plays better because its specification sheet is longer. ## Which cue offers the more useful fit choices? DANTE 2 wins this section clearly. Its Classic shaft can be ordered at 11.8, 12.5, or 12.9 mm. The cue is also offered at 19 or 19.5 ounces and with a wrapless handle, black embossed lizard leather, or white embossed lizard leather. That combination gives a buyer control over bridge feel, grip texture, and total mass before checkout. The upgrade ladder adds another layer. Crown and S.M.O. Carbon are available in 11.8 and 12.5 mm, while S.M.O-Wood is offered at 12.5 mm. Upgrades increase the total price, so the $399 comparison only applies to the standard Classic-shaft build. ![JFlowers DANTE 2 extension-ready bumper and optional extension](media:dae4a0090e2a47cb) Nocturne-01 gives buyers 11.8 and 12.5 mm choices on the current listing. Its adjustable weight system is useful in principle, and KONLLEN sells bundles that add an extension, weight bolts, tip accessories, towel, or chalk holder. Yet the base page does not show an exact finished-weight range or the cue's joint specification. For a player who wants to order once and use the supplied setup, that may be acceptable. For someone who already owns shafts, extensions, or a preferred weight kit, the missing compatibility data becomes a buying risk. ## Do ebony and maple change the decision? They change the appearance and may influence mass distribution, but they do not settle the performance question. DANTE 2 uses black-painted maple with red points, white outlines, a cross motif, and a red butt cap. It is a graphic, high-contrast design. The available wrapless build gives the cue a faster sliding surface under the rear hand, while the embossed leather versions provide more texture. Nocturne-01 takes a more traditional materials-first approach. KONLLEN specifies an ebony rear handle, handmade decorative inlay, and premium cowhide wrap. The dark forearm and white patterned grip make the cue look more expensive than its $299 price suggests. ![KONLLEN Nocturne-01 ebony butt, inlay, cowhide wrap, and carbon shaft](media:eb6feddcd397b2af) Ebony is denser than maple in general, but a cue's balance cannot be predicted from wood species alone. Coring, inlays, joint hardware, wrap, weight bolts, and internal construction all matter. KONLLEN does not publish a balance point for this model, so claims that it feels more rear-heavy or more solid would be guesswork. Choose the DANTE 2 if the red-black visual language and wrap choice appeal to you. Choose the Nocturne-01 if ebony, inlay work, and a cowhide grip are part of the value you want. Neither aesthetic is a substitute for measured hit data. ## How much value is inside the KONLLEN bundle? Quite a lot, assuming the included equipment matches the buyer's needs. The $299 starting combination is listed as “Nocturne-01 with Case.” Higher combinations add different mixes of extension, tips, towel, weight bolts, chalk holder, or a six-hole case. That makes KONLLEN attractive to a player assembling a first complete travel setup. ![KONLLEN Nocturne-01 package with case, shaft, accessories, and extension](media:8e92b735debb9542) DANTE 2 has an extension-ready bumper and optional extras, but its product copy does not identify a hard or soft case as part of the $399 base price. A buyer who still needs a case should include that extra purchase when comparing total cost. The bundle advantage can shrink if the supplied case is redundant or if the player already owns compatible accessories. Value is not the number of objects in a box. It is the number of useful objects a buyer would otherwise have purchased. ## Can customer ratings settle the choice? No. The sample sizes are too different. At the time of review, JFlowers displayed 32 ratings for DANTE 2 with a 4.94 out of 5 average. That is a helpful ownership signal, and the verified-owner history extends across multiple years. It still isn't a controlled measurement of deflection, durability, or consistency. The white-wrap Nocturne-01 listing showed one customer review. One opinion cannot establish a reliable product pattern, positive or negative. It should prompt questions, not become the verdict. Manufacturer-hosted ratings also have selection effects. Buyers who post reviews are not a random sample, and different sites moderate or collect feedback differently. Use ratings to spot recurring service or quality-control themes. Do not convert a star average into a performance score. ## Which buyer takes the smarter deal? The answer depends on what must be known before checkout. | Buyer priority | Better fit | Reason | | --- | --- | --- | | Lowest entry price | KONLLEN | Costs $100 less and includes a case | | Exact joint and tip information | JFlowers | Radial 3/8-8 and Moori Medium are stated | | Diameter choice | JFlowers | Three Classic options versus two KONLLEN options | | Traditional dark-wood presentation | KONLLEN | Ebony, inlay, and cowhide wrap | | Wrapless option | JFlowers | Available alongside two leather choices | | Known finished weight | JFlowers | 19 or 19.5 oz choices | | Starter bundle | KONLLEN | Base combination includes a case | | Future shaft upgrades within one brand | JFlowers | Multiple named shaft families are offered | The Nocturne-01 is the sharper bargain for a player who wants a complete 12.5 mm carbon cue, likes the supplied design, and does not plan to mix parts. Paying $299 instead of $399 leaves room for table time, a preferred tip, or professional setup work. DANTE 2 is the safer purchase for a buyer who knows the desired diameter, weight, grip, joint, and future shaft plan. The extra money pays for a more predictable order and a clearer upgrade path. ## Is the DANTE 2 worth $100 more? Yes for configurability; not yet for proven performance. JFlowers justifies much of the price gap by disclosing the measurements and hardware that affect ownership after the sale. Three shaft diameters, two weights, three grip treatments, an identified tip, and a stated Radial joint make DANTE 2 easier to fit and easier to support. KONLLEN wins the equipment-per-dollar contest. For $299, Nocturne-01 combines carbon, ebony, inlay work, cowhide, adjustable weight, and a case. Its weakness is not the visible package. It is the missing technical detail around tip, joint, shaft length, weight range, and balance. That leads to a clean verdict. Buy the Nocturne-01 if price and included equipment come first. Pay the extra $100 for DANTE 2 if configuration certainty and future parts planning matter more. Do not pay it because either brand promises better play. Only a controlled test, or your own side-by-side session, can answer that part. :::faq ### How much more does JFlowers DANTE 2 cost than KONLLEN Nocturne-01? DANTE 2 was listed at $399 and Nocturne-01 at $299 on October 10, 2026. JFlowers therefore costs $100 more, or about 33.4% above the KONLLEN price. ### Do both cues offer a 12.5 mm carbon shaft? Yes. DANTE 2's Classic carbon shaft is available at 11.8, 12.5, or 12.9 mm, while the current Nocturne-01 listing offers 11.8 or 12.5 mm. ### What joint does the KONLLEN Nocturne-01 use? The reviewed official product page does not state the joint specification. Confirm it directly with KONLLEN before buying a replacement shaft or planning cross-brand compatibility. ### Does the $299 KONLLEN package include a case? Yes. The base combination is listed as Nocturne-01 with Case. More expensive bundles add various accessories such as an extension, weight bolts, tips, towel, or chalk holder. ### Which cue is better for future upgrades? DANTE 2 has the clearer upgrade path because JFlowers identifies the Radial joint and offers Classic, Crown, S.M.O. Carbon, and S.M.O-Wood shaft choices. Compatibility outside either brand remains unverified. :::