Budget IEM Roundup: Moondrop May and Golden Ages, Simgot EW200, Tanchjim One and Mino

Moondrop May
MSRP: $64.99

The unit reviewed here was provided by Shenzhen Audio
https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/moondrop-may-dd-planar-in-ear-headphone



Build, Aesthetics and Accessories

The May is a new hybrid from Moondrop. It consists of a 10mm sapphire plated dynamic driver and a 6mm annular planar magnetic driver. Being a fan of single dynamics, I don’t really think dynamic drivers benefit from being combined with other types of drivers, other than to provide some color and timbral changes or perhaps some aided ease in hitting desired tuning goals.

The housings are 3d printed resin from HeyGears, who manufactures a lot of housings for both Moondrop and Truthear. The faceplates feel like perhaps a chrome plated plastic, similar to some bathroom fixture finishes. They feature a clover design that gives off a bit of a Louis Vuitton type vibe. It’s an attractive aesthetic, if a bit on the bling-y side of things. While the nozzle is pretty wide, the overall fit of the housings is exceptionally comfortable. I might not care of the looks but this also might be the most comfortable Moondrop housing to date.

The May comes with a DSP enabled microphone cable terminated in USB. The wire is the same as the stock cable of the Aria 2. That is to say it is silver/gray in color and on the thicker side of cables. From reading various platforms (Discords, Head-Fi, HiFi Guides), this cable design is rather well received, however, I don’t care for it. I’ve never understood the desire for a thick cable on an IEM; but vive la difference and all that. Accessories round out with some silicon tips and the nice round leather-like case the Aria 2 comes with.

While I can use a tiny USB to Lightning on-the-go adapter with the May DSP cable, there is no app for the iOS platform. Supposedly the default DSP tuning is the same as using a regular cable. So, since I am unable to change to any of the other 4 preloaded settings, I’m just going to be reviewing the stock sound with a regular cable; and maybe its just as well, another internet consensus is that the app is quite frustrating to use.

Sound

The stock sound is a downward sloping signature with a healthy bass boost. For instance, the May is a good bit bassier sounding than the more neutral Aria 2. The added boost is all deep/sub bass, so rumble is priority over mid bass impact. While there is good texturing, bass does feel a bit on the pillowy, softer side of Moondrop bass. Whereas the Aria 2 is tighter, more impactful and nuanced.

May has a nice warmth leading into the lower midrange. Male vocals have a natural heft and deepness. The upper midrange has very good clarity and transparency to balance out with the warmth of the lower midrange. Female vocals have nice energy without going too far. Overall the midrange is a little more laidback, albeit less resolving than the Aria 2.

Treble on the May is on the soft and laid back side. For instance, the Aria 2 is more lively and incisive, and considerably more realistic sounding. If one is treble averse, then the planar (ish?) driver of the May, might be the ticket. And while I much prefer the natural brassy timbre from a dynamic driver, the planar does seemingly come across as more pleasing versus typical armature timbre; though the pleasing softness of the planar treble is a bit lacking when it comes to resolution.

May staging size is similar to Aria 2 but not quite as forward. Imaging however is a little lacking. The overall softness to the edge of notes seems to diffuse imaging accuracy a bit. Nothing terrible but certainly a little behind the Aria 2 as result. Overall the May is a pleasing sounding in-ear without much to complain about with stock tuning, particularly at the $69 price point. Perhaps if the app issues are resolved, as well as ported to iOS, it could make it a much more compelling option in the crowded budget arena. Even as is, it's a good buy and something worth considering.

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Tanchjim One
MSRP: $25.99

The unit reviewed here was provided direct by Tanchjim
https://tanchjim.com/en/products/earphones/iem/one/



Build, Aesthetics and Accessories

The Tanchjim One can be purchased in 3 configurations: a regular cable, a microphone cable and a DSP cable. Pricing is $24.99, $25.99 and $27.99 respectively. The one reviewed here is the microphone cable version. The One is a single 10mm dynamic that is listed a made of Peek and PU. The housings are bullet shaped and made from a clear polycarbonate with an aluminum rear cap.

The 2 pin removable cable is pretty thin and fairly soft. The clear jacket does tend to have more memory effect than I like, keep some of the shape it had in storage. As thin as it is, it does come with a fully functioning chin slider that will stay in place. The mic unit, y-split and plug are all tiny. The mic unit has a single button with functionality to play, pause, next song and previous song, depending on how many presses you give it. Nicely done for such a cheap budget offering. Note the nozzles of the housing do angle pretty sharply, so you will have to switch the housings if want to wear them over the ear, which is my preference. Strangely the sound was very in-head for me when wearing down but once I switched the housing around, the staging was much more typical for the average budget dynamic.

Accessories round out with two full S, M, L sets of silicon tips. One full set with narrow bore and one full set with wide bore. I prefer the wide bore but they tended to run small, so tip rolling was required. Otherwise the tips are solid. Unfortunately the budget price meant some corner had to but cut and that would be the case. There isn’t one, just a soft jeweler-like drawstring pouch. Ah well, you can’t have it all.

Sound

The Tanchjim One is punchy, warm and very lively. Think of it as a warm U-shaped signature. According to Tanchjim’s own measurements, the tuning follows Harman IE2019 above 1k very closely. This explains the clarity and liveliness. However, below 1k it deviates a great deal from Harman. There isn’t the typical Harman bass tuck or lack of warmth. It instead begins trending up fairly quickly below 600 Hz. This warmth and boosted mid-bass punch brings very good balance to the upper midrange and lower treble elevation. What does this mean? Fun! And loads of it! The One makes the May sound downright sleepy.
(Tanchjim also gives measurement for the DSP model. Those measurements show a tamed bass boost with a cleaner lower midrange. It also reduces the lower treble response, which I imagine would be needed with the lower bass response. Overall the DSP version looks appreciably more neutral)

While I usually prefer a more neutral and clean upper bass response, the One bass is really enjoyable. Compared to the May, the One has more impact and punch. The bass is denser, more palpable. On the other hand the May has better texturing and depth. More simply put, the One hits harder and the May rumbles more.

Male vocals have good weight and and a natural richness that is similar to the May and female vocals also have similar upper mid energy, but the One adds a bit more clarity and brightness from the lower treble elevation. I don’t find the One too forward or too aggressive, perhaps because the lower midrange warmth balances it out so well, but it is more aggressive than the May in the upper mid to lower treble transition (4k to 6k). In this sense, the May comes across more natural and easy going.

Treble shimmers and sparkles with the One, particularly next to the much tamer and softer top end of the May. Cymbals, rides and hi-hats stand out in the mix, yet are controlled and defined. There is realistic crispness. It’s bright but its not harsh.

While imaging is pretty solid on the One, staging is on the smaller side. In comparison, the May sounds much larger in all directions. This is probably it’s biggest negative, at least for me. The Tanchjim One is a lot of fun and I mean that in the most positive way. The combination of the balanced U shaped sig and extremely budget friendly price makes the One a very compelling option.

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Simgot EW200
MSRP: $39.99

The unit reviewed here was purchased from Linsoul during the 11/11 sale for $25.99
https://www.linsoul.com/products/simgot-ew200



Build, Aesthetics and Accessories

Simgot has been around for a long time, but as of recently, has been making splashes in the IEM communities with their latest round of models. The EW200 is their second cheapest model (EW100 being the cheapest at $19.99). If you aren’t familiar with Simgot, they are mostly known for their rich bass response.

The EW200 comes with a 10mm dual magnet and dual cavity dynamic driver. The diaphragm is listed as double sided, vapor deposited silicon crystal. The housings are all metal alloy with a mirror/chrome like finish. There are 3 vents: one on the faceplate, one near the 2 pin connector, and one on the underside near the nozzle. Fit is comfortable and somewhat comparable to the Aria fit.

I really like the OFC cable the EW200 comes with. It’s a core twisted design, that is easily mistaken for braided at a distance. It’s on the thinner side and a happy medium between the May and One cable offerings. My only nitpick would be the slightly oversized y-split and chin slider. Otherwise it’s very pliable with little memory. You can easily straighten out the bends and curves from storage. Accessories are minimal- S, M and L narrow-ish bore tips plus a drawstring bag (no case).

Sound

The EW200, is uh, BrightAF™. I was expecting a somewhat neutral with bass boost response, similar to a Moondrop tuning, so I was quite taken aback by the bright, thin and wispy sounding treble. I definitely didn’t get this from all the glowing reviews.

I guess we’ll start with treble and go ahead and get the bad stuff out of the way. The measurements I could find on squiglink show some excess 4-5k but nothing to much out of the ordinary. With a tone generator, I can confirm a rather large peak between 4-5k and also a very audible large peak at 11.5k. I suspect the thin, wispy treble I hear can be attributed to that upper treble peak, otherwise most of the brightness seems to come from the lower treble area I just described. It doesn’t come through on all songs, just when it does, it really does. For instance, the Tanchjim One is on the brighter side but is nowhere near as bright as the EW200. The One’s treble has more weight and realism by far. Moving on….

Vocals sound very clean and clear and mostly balanced. However, compared to the Tanchjim One, you realize both male and female vocals lack a bit of natural warmth and weight. In this regard the EW200 renders vocals more akin to Harman tuning to my ears with a slight extra accentuation of natural sibilants. The EW200 portrays the midrange with a bit of lean dryness.

Finally, to the bread and butter. The bass response of the EW200 is excellent. Only moderately boosted, it is tilted more towards deep/sub bass than mid bass. While the One may hit harder, the EW200 rumbles more with significantly better texturing. The EW200 bass doesn’t sound as damped as most typical dynamic driver. There is a feeling of effortlessness and airiness. Don’t mistake the airy descriptor as being soft; soft it is not. It just feels freer and more alive.

Imaging and staging are just average at best. Width and height are solid but it’s lacking depth. This is most noticeable when comparing with the May, which just sound much more expansive over all. What a mixed bag- superb bass and a BrightAF™ tuning. Due to the bass, I want to like the EW200, I really do but the treble is just too off-putting to me, to where I don’t want to reach for it. I have some tuning sticker filters, from AliExpress, I may try on the nozzle as some point to try and reign the treble in. Short of mods, this one is a hard pass.

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Tanchjim Mino TWS
MSRP: $41.99

The unit reviewed here was provided direct by Tanchjim
https://tanchjim.com/en/products/earphones/tws/mino/



Build, Aesthetics and Accessories

The Mino is the new TWS from Tanchjim. Wireless connectivity is with Bluetooth 5.3 but limited to AAC and SBC. Play time is listed as 5 hours plus 26 extra hours provided by the case. Color options are Black, White and Pink. There are options for Noise Reduction and Hear-Through modes. The Mino contains a 10mm beryllium coated dynamic driver.

The case is roughly the same size as my AirPods Pro (OG) case, albeit maybe 50% thicker. The review until came with 3 pair of tips, but for some reason 2 pair are white and one pair black. Tips are pretty thin and I got best (but not perfect) seal with the medium, where as with my AirPods Pro I use a large. For this reason, I preferred to have noise reduction turned on. Also included are some replacement mesh nozzle filters, of which I assume the are acoustically transparent and only there for keeping dirt out and a short 8" USB-C charging cable.

Sound

Tuning is neutral with a small bass boost. According to Tanchjim frequency response measurements, it nearly hits their target perfectly. If so, then to my ears, their target is a good one. It sounds pretty neutral, if a little lean, but pretty pleasing overall. The only thing I would think about changing is a bit more bass, for when you are out and about in noisier environs.

Bass is fast and clean with a slight emphasis on deep bass over mid bass. Vocal are clear and balanced, although male vocals could do with a bit more heft and weight. Female vocals sound fantastic with slight tilt towards bright energy. Most treble presence comes from lower treble but it is a smooth decline in the transition from upper mid to lower treble and beyond. Nothing offensive, nor is it particularly resolving but with enough presence and sparkle to be pleasing.

Compared to my AirPods Pro OG, the APP is a good bit warmer with a little more bass overall. Male vocals have a more natural weight and richness but female vocals are slightly veiled and missing energy. Rock guitars have less bite and attack. Both have smooth treble but APP OG is definitely a bit darker. As far as comfort, while the Mino is plenty comfortable, it just doesn’t disappear like the APP shape does.

All in all I really like the Mino tuning, as it fits my preference for neutral with bass boost pretty well, albeit a bit on the lean side. At $41.99 it seems like a solid offering.

 

All the IEMs reviewed here will be bundled together for budget IEM loaner tour.
Tour thread located here: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...m-roundup-moondrop-tanchjim-and-simgot.14107/

 

Moondrop May and Aria 2 from Super Review on Squiglink




Tanchjim One from manufacturer website




Simgot EW200 from Paul Wasabi on Squiglink




Tanchjim Mino from manufacturer website

 

Moondrop Golden Ages TWS
MSRP: $79.99

The unit reviewed here was provided by Shenzhen Audio
https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/moondrop-golden-ages-13mm-planar-tws-true-wireless-headphone-tws

Build, Aesthetics and Accessories

Golden Ages is the latest TWS from Moondrop. While they have had several different models, this is first that I have experienced. Wireless connectivity is Bluetooth 5.3 and supports SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3 codecs. Being an Apple user, I’ve only tested AAC. Battery life playing AAC is estimated at 6 hours for the earphones and 18 hours for the charging case. Earphone charging time is about an hour and the case is about 1.5 hours. In usage the bluetooth range is excellent. I was able to place my phone at one end of my house and walk to the other, with several walls between, and not experience any drop outs.

Perhaps the main selling point of the Golden Ages is the use of a 13mm annular planar magnetic driver. I’m not sure if this type of driver qualifies as a pure planar or is some kind of hybrid between dynamic and planar but given the size, the hope is it can cover both ends of the spectrum well. This particular driver is supposedly designed and patented by Moondrop.

Available only on Android, Moondrop provides 3 different DSP bass profiles in their Link 2.0 app. The Link app available on iOS hasn’t been updated in 2 years and appears to be stuck at version 1.2.21. I’m not really sure why Moondrop appears to have abandoned the iOS app and platform, as others have created selectable and user specified DSP/EQ curves in apps to work with bluetooth devices on iOS. The lack of Apple support and desktop browser support doesn’t bode well for the soon to be released Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk, which is rumored to have a DSP profile that will be refinement over the stock Dusk tuning. Perhaps my concerns will be addressed in that product. Since DSP sure seems the wave of the future in portable audio, I do think Moondrop risks falling behind one day if they don’t figure out how to support iOS devices with their DSP options.
Update: I found a link to the iOS Link app that is in TestFlight status. Everything is in Chinese, so I can’t really say what it does, nor if it does it well. I can say the default ‘Reference’ tuning is the best to my ears. ‘Monitor’ and ‘Warm’ tend to lose a bit of natural warmth and I wasn’t really sure which was which and just gave up on the TestFlight version. Hopefully they’ll have a production version released soon.

Golden Ages supports 3 sound modes, via touch gestures on the housings: ANC mode, Transparency Mode and Standard Mode. Figuring out which mode you are in, is a bit annoying, at least to me. The touch surface on the housings is pretty sensitive and I was constantly, accidentally, changing these modes while trying differing tips (more on tips later). After getting tips on, I would need to go through this mode selection again, to make sure I had the mode I preferred (standard). The voice prompts for the mode is, ah, strange. “Hey” signifies you are in Transparency Mode. “Shh” is for ANC mode and “Umm” is for standard mode. Typically when you tip roll, you are going through many, if not dozens of tips. Hey, Shh, Umm, Hey, Shh, Umm, Hey, well you get the point. Perhaps I’m complaining too much but she doesn’t really say “Shh” so much as “See” and “Umm” sounds more like “Huh?”. Transparency and ANC modes seemed to only make slight changes to outside noises, at least compared to my OG Apple AirPod Pros. The AirPod Pros are significantly clearer in transparency mode and ANC modes blocks out significantly more noise. Typically I only use ANC on planes, so not really an issue for my use case with the Golden Ages.

Tips. While you can tip roll with the Golden Ages, it doesn’t really work all that well. The nozzle, like the Tanchjim Mino, is oval shaped. While you can force many tips over this shape, the nozzle is pretty big (approximately 5.2mm x 6.7mm at the lip), and most tips just came off in my ear when I removed Golden Ages. The stock oval tips fit very shallowly and are on the small side for fitting so shallowly. To maintain a proper seal when moving around, I’d prefer a larger set of eartips. I did find some normal tips that seemed to work well, when they didn’t come off in my ear, BUT the Golden Ages would no longer fit in the case with them on. Eventually I gave up on aftermarket tips, as this defeats the convenience factor of TWS in-ears. The stock oval tips are actually quit comfortable, due to their shape, they just need more sizes in my opinion. I tried finding aftermarket oval TWS tips but was unsuccessful. Luckily the housings twist into and fill the concha quite well, which helps with the seal and maintaining bass levels.



Golden Ages comes with 2 cases, well, sort of. The main case is has flat top and bottom, so it will stand up on it own, unless you need to charge it because the USB connector is on the bottom. The second case is really a protective case for the main case. It is see through and flexible and has a lanyard loop-hole. The main case design has a cute cassette tape like decal, that becomes obscured with the orange dot pattern of the flexible protective case. Seems a strange design aesthetic. The protective case is extremely difficult to remove after putting it on, so think about this before using it. It’s a really snug fit and if you change your mind, there’s not much leverage to pull the main case back out without perhaps damaging the main case lid or the usb connector if pushing it from below. I was able to eventually separate them and decided against using the protective case going forward.




Sound

All impressions are with the default ‘Reference’ tuning. Tuning conforms to the more typical Moondrop house sound, which is mostly neutral with a bit of warmth and slightly laid back treble. Bass response is mostly neutralish, although I do wish for a bit more overall bass presence for more impact and rumble. It’s a little on the polite side for my preference. The midrange is the star of the Golden Ages show. They are clear but with a natural warmth that reminds me a bit of the OG Aria. Treble is on the laidback side. It’s polite and doesn’t have a lot of sparkle. I’m not sure if it is strictly frequency response or also the driver, but treble timbre is a little off. It’s more plasticky sounding than metal/brassy sounding, so cymbals come off as dull and lack luster. Overall the signature is safe and inoffensive but doesn’t really engage or excite.

Vs Tanchjim Mino

The Mino is half the price of the Golden Ages. I would be remiss if I didn’t address fit differences. It is much easier to get proper fit with the Golden Ages and therefore better bass response. Every time I’d switch to the Mino, I’d have to fiddle with fit until bass sounded right. It could use more/larger tips sizes even more-so than Golden Ages.

Speaking of bass, Golden Ages bass was better represented with both more impact and rumble. Mino definitely sounded a good bit more lean in direct comparison. Golden Ages also had a more natural warmth versus the Mino’s cleaner, leaner and more sterile presentation in the lower mid to bass transition. Both are clear in the midrange but the Golden Ages sounds better balanced between lower and upper midrange, whereas Mino sounds a little more upper mid focused. Where the Mino edges out the Golden Ages is in treble. It has more sparkle and better treble timbre. Cymbals sound more realistic and engaging against the safe and plasticky Golden Ages treble. Where Golden Ages plays everything safe, the Mino sounds a bit analytical in comparison. I do think overall Golden Ages is a much better sounding set but perhaps not double the price better and the treble sparkle and timbre keeps me from getting excited about it.

While TWS sets are evolving quickly and getting better with each release, it seems Moondrop still has a long ways to go before they can match the level we have come to expect in their wired offerings.