Moondrop In-Ears Reviews, Impressions and Discussion

Discussion in 'IEMs and Portable Gear' started by shotgunshane, Oct 10, 2020.

  1. Crinacle

    Crinacle Friend

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    I never really liked the SSR so an "SSR with more bass" isn't really going to tickle my fancy.

    The Illumination is an interesting direction for Moondrop, but $800 for that level of performance probably isn't going to cut it in this market. That and the fact that Moondrop set their own bar absurdly high with the Blessing 2 and S8 around that price bracket.
     
    Last edited: Nov 3, 2020
  2. Claud

    Claud Living the ORFAS dream

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    Crinacle, I just want to thank you publicly for your "rankings" list. I bought Moondrop Blessing 2, Sony M9 and ThieAudio Monarch based on your rankings and they are all really great sounding IEMs.
     
  3. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Back here again about the Starfield. I said this on my semi-review about why I try out entry-level stuff at times:

    Friend yesterday message me saying this (you guys know my real name already):

    Pic 3.JPG

    Then I told him the Starfields would meet his requirements:

    pic 4.JPG



    Then he gotten his pair:
    pic 1.JPG

    pic 2.JPG



    This is why I try entry-level stuff. IRL friends bug me for stuff and I hate to recommend them stuff that I personally haven't tried out.
     
  4. TurbinoZ100000

    TurbinoZ100000 Acquaintance

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    Price and the prospect of DD timbre aside, does the Illumination offer much over the B2?
     
  5. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    A generous Friend loaned me their Blessing 2 ("B2"). I really don't have a need to get one, but I been curious on Hybrids that don't cost an arm/leg. From reviewing @Crinacle's graph on his site, my only minor concern was the 3k area. Honestly, before I listened to them I thought they were be good for $320ish.

    But I was wrong....very wrong. The B2 surpass my expectations on an affordable Hybrid that doesn't suck. @shotgunshane said it best on its strengths in the initial post. I consider it a neutral tuning that could have a minor brightness issue depending on your setup, and the DD for bass (mostly focused on sub-bass impact) is fantastic. No, this is not a bass cannon IEM. No, the Starfield also from Moondrop is cheaper and does rumble better if that's your thing. However, the B2 gives the bass its life. I will prefer a DD driver for bass, I just need that liveliness in the area. It's tighter bass for sure, but it does it job well when it is called upon.

    The Mids and Highs are pretty damn solid. The Mids to me are not forwarded at all, and vocals come out with great clarity for a cheaper IEM that only cost $320ish. Music notes from the BA drivers on the Mids/Highs work seamlessly with the DD driver. Nothing in the sound range sticks out like a sore thumb. If you prefer a more forward Mids, these aren't really for you IMO.

    The Highs as stated earlier is also pretty damn solid. I think one of the downside of cheaper IEMs is the treble extension isn't the best. I believe that is the case with the B2, but honestly they do them do well that it doesn't brother me at all. It's pretty lively, makes the music not dull, and it is done tastefully.

    Depending on you equipment, the Upper Mids/Lower Treble can get annoying. I think for some the 3kish peak was annoying for some people, but not me. On both of my desktop amps (SW51+ and DNA Starlett) I need to run the B2 in High Ohm Output Impedance mode. With regards to Input Impedance, I didn't think the IEMatch at 2.5 ohm/High change the sound that much at all. If I can I would prefer to not use IEMatch, and the B2 works wonders for that. When you have the right setup, the enjoyment of the B2 goes up.

    I almost forgot, these are fantastic for the price for layering/separation and decent staging for an IEM. You can only do so much for the price of a B2. However, for what you get I believe people can get away selling them for $600 and others wouldn't know the difference.

    The IEM fit was pretty good for my ears, but I can tell that for some smaller ears it could be a challenge to have them fit. The IEM unit itself is kind of biggish, and the nozzle length isn't the longest of the bunch. I had no issues with the fit with the included tip. The stock cable is also nice and it is better than the Starfield stock cable. The IEM build quality is fantastic for the price, and once again I think people can sell it for $600 and no one would know the difference.

    My only really minor complaint is I wish the sucker had just a little more sub-bass. Well, that problem is solved with the B2 Dusk edition that you can get from Shenzhen Audio for only $10 more. I'll live with the minor adjustment in 2k-3k on the Dusk for the trade-off of more sub-bass. Highly recommended.
     
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2021
  6. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    Moondrop Illumination Review
    Single Dynamic Driver
    MSRP $799

    The Moondrop Illumination in this review was a loaner kindly provided by ShenzhenAudio.

    The Illumination is Moondrop’s take on a high end single dynamic driver based in-ear. It contains an 11mm liquid crystal polymer (LCP) dome and peek suspension. The housing is titanium alloy with 6 visible front vents. The housings are gold in color, something I find a little on the gaudy side and would much prefer a more elegant titanium color. The housings are light and comfortable; they are also supposedly very scratch resistant due to a tin plating. Due to the vents, isolation isn’t so good; without music I can easily hear someone talking in the same room. According to Moondrop, the vented front chamber helps to suppress resonances and pressure. I never experienced any driver flex and the Illumination frequency response comes across very smooth.

    The stock cable is a silver plated copper, two core wire. It is loosely twisted and is pretty lightweight and comfortable. While flexible, it does have some memory effect, meaning while it lays flat and doesn’t tangle badly, it does retain some of its stored shape and bends. The over the ear portion contains no wire but has a preformed shrink-like material to maintain the curve. It utilizes .78mm over-molded 2 pin connectors. With this cable, Moondrop has implemented their new interchangeable plug system. It comes with the standard three: 3.5mm single ended, 2.5mm and 4.4mm balanced. The plug system is easy enough to use but is disappointingly a type of plastic rather than metal. The y-split is metal, however, lacks a chin slider. For the premium of the MSRP, I would like to see a slightly more robust plug system and a bit better premium earpiece connectors, as well as a y-split with chin slider.

    The rest of the accessories round out with a similar rectangular zipper case similar to the Blessing 2, two sets of silicone tips and a set of foam tips.

    Images from Moondroplab.com
    vents.png cable and plugs.jpg housings.jpg MDFR.png




    Sound


    The Illumination is best described as diffuse-field neutral. It really sounds like a high end Etymotic dynamic driver in-ear. Bass feels right, to me, for a neutrally tuned in-ear. It doesn’t sound anemic and it doesn’t sound elevated; extension and texture is very good. Decay is speedy but natural sounding. It’s also very easy to drive and sounds good on just about anything.

    Illumination.jpg

    When looking at Crinacle’s measurements of the Illumination I was worried about it sounding a bit hot in the upper midrange between 2 and 3k, as the venerable ER-4S with stock green filters could sound hot here to me. However, with the right tips, the Illumination just sounds so smooth, perhaps even buttery smooth. With the Illumination, I eschewed my typical wide bore tips and opted for the narrower bore Final E tips. This eliminated any hotness or grain I detected in some songs in that upper midrange.

    Treble is pretty easy going, perhaps a little too easy going with the Final E tips but this is the trade off I chose. With short wide bore tips, you can get a little more air and treble presence but at the cost of a little more upper mid presence as well. However, it’s worth experimenting with a variety of tips to get the most out of it for your ears.

    While the Illumination doesn’t have large staging, it never sounds boxy. The vented driver simply sounds open and effortless. I’d say staging is average in width and height and a little above in depth. It's vocally engaging and intimate. It’s smoothness makes it fantastically musical but at the same time lacking in resolution, especially compared to other in-ears in this price bracket.



    Comparisons

    All comparative graphs below were performed by me using a 711 clone coupler, Apple lightning dongle and AudioTools on an iPhone 12 Pro. Anything over 10k is not reliable.


    Vs Drop x JVC FXD1
    RME ADI-2 Pro FS R
    FDX1 with green filters and Ortofon tips; Illumination with Final E tips

    Illumination FDX1.jpeg

    Illumination bass sounds denser, slightly richer thanks to a more linear bass, whereas the FDX1 is tilted to deep/sub bass in direct comparison. The FDX1 sub bass is definitely more elevated over Illumination though. It gives a good bit more of that deep rumble, even if it sounds a little thinner overall. Where the FDX1 will excel with electronic and rap music, Illumination is going to sound more natural and fuller on my rock music dominated library.

    The slight edge in richness the Illumination holds over the FDX1 carries over into male vocals, which carry a little more weight and sound slightly more intimate. Illumination also does a better job of letting you hear the small vocal inflection nuances; these aren’t large differences but it’s there, as subtle as it is.

    On female vocals, both display great energy and transparency. The differences are rather small but female vocals sound ever so slightly more intimate and more refined on the Illumination. The term refined here is really about a bit of smoothness or put another way, lack of any grain. While switching back in forth between the two, the FDX1 has a hint of rawness, of grain that is not present in the Illumination. Otherwise, female vocals are simply fantastic on both.

    Rock guitars are pretty similar between the two as well. Both have great crunch and attack, lending to a realistic sound. Difference are much like the difference in vocals. They’re a little fuller, richer and smoother on the Illumination; a little thinner, a little rawer and edgier on the FDX1.

    Treble on the FDX1 has bit better realistic timbre. Brass sounds brassier. In this respect the FDX1 has bit better top end resolution. While I’ve mentioned before, in other review comparisons, that the ~4k peak of the FDX1 can obscure treble detail, this is even more on point with the treble of Illumination. Sure the Final E tips may also have a slight impact in this but they also just had an undeniable smoothness to their presentation with Illumination. At any rate, Illumination rolls off fairly quickly up top and the diffuse field 2~3k peak seemingly obscures top end resolution a bit more.

    Staging on the FDX1 is solidly on the average side of things. It’s not a knock on its ability here but let’s just say it’s nothing special/notable here. It’s good, it’s respectable, it’s solid. Illumination is much in line with this as well. With its more intimate vocals, it does give a bit better sense of depth, and perhaps its more solid bottom end helps for a little tighter/better imaging.

    Personally, I like everything about Illumination’s sound over the FDX1. It’s a little more neutral, a little more even and refined sounding. It’s just more pleasing. But it’s over 3x more expensive. That’s a tough sell. Otherwise the FDX1 build is every bit as nice, which makes for its very strong value proposition.


    Vs Etymotic ER4XR
    RME ADI-2 Pro FS R
    ER4XR with Comply P foam tips; Illumination with Final E tips

    Illumination ER4XR.jpeg

    Bass on the Illumination is a bit warmer and denser than the ER4XR. It has a bit more impact as well as rumble. The Ety bass is quicker, more nimble but misses the more natural feeling of decay and air movement of the Illumination. The Illumination bass really makes me think this is what an ER4XR tuned dynamic driver would sound like.

    Male vocals are wonderfully intimate and forward on both, however, the ER4XR has a hint of the speaking into cupped hands effect, which comes from a touch more amplitude between 1~1.5k. This is not present on the Illumination, so vocals come from a blacker space and sound a little smoother overall. While this effect on the ER4XR can make for a little fatigue over time, particularly at higher volumes, I do find the Ety more resolving of nuances, which it pushes further to the forefront.

    For me, the ER4 variants have been my personal benchmark for how transparent and energetic female vocals should sound. Illumination comes very, very close. On Illumination female vocals are a little brighter and a little more full bodied. Like with male vocals, Illumination has more space around the vocals, while being a little smoother in presentation. The ER4XR sounds a bit more mid-centric in direct a/b, and again the 1~1.5k bump of the Ety plays a part in sounding more nuanced, more resolving of low level detail.

    The Illumination has a little more lower treble presence, so it sounds a little brighter; in a good way. The ER4XR sounds surprisingly tame in treble, if a bit relaxed, lending towards it’s mid-centric side of neutral sound. However the ER4XR does have a little more extension and air up top. While not accentuated it is noticeable next to the more rolled mid to upper treble of Illumination. As to which would be more resolving here would most likely depend up the song. At times Illumination does a better job of letting me delineate between cymbal crashes and hi-hats and others Illumination glosses over treble details in the higher registers that the Ety picks up on. That being said, the Illumination treble timbre is ultimately more natural and realistic next to the ER4XR.

    Etymotic in-ears aren’t really known for their staging abilities. The ER4XR, while very resolving, particularly through the midrange, is decidedly in-head. Illumination sounds wider, deeper and taller. While not as resolving as the Ety as a whole, its sonic image is more dynamic and spacious.

    The Illumination is about the closest in-ear we have to a dynamic driver ER4 variant. It’s easier to wear, thanks to its shallower insertion. This is an important factor if you take your monitors in and out quite often to talk to someone. At MSRP it’s roughly 2x the cost of the ER4 models, however authorized Etymotic retailers often have sales well below MSRP. Regardless of price, I think the Illumination is something every ER4 aficionado should hear.


    Vs Gaudio Nair
    RME ADI-2 Pro FS R
    Nair and Illumination with Final E tips

    Illumination Nair.jpeg

    Bass between the Nair and Illumination goes much the same way as it did with the ER4XR. The Nair sounds quicker, more nimble, with tighter impact. On Illumination, sub bass rumble is more apparent with more forward texture. Bass feels more natural with with its longer decay and greater sense of air movement. While the actual level of deep boost Illumination has over the Nair is minimal, it is noticeably fuller, richer in note as you’d expect a dynamic driver to be over an armature.

    Male vocals are more forward and intimate on Illumination, yet they are slightly more fleshed out with a hair more heft on the Nair. The Nair, like the ER4XR, has more 1~1.5k presence than Illumination, although less than the Ety. The result is the Nair being more resolving and nuanced with vocal inflections without the cupped hands effect. It has the resolution without the potential for fatigue. Illumination is just lacking a little bit in middle to lower mids, and while I don’t think male vocals sound thin, I suspect this is where some of the lack of midrange resolution stems from. Otherwise the Illumination just comes across buttery smooth without a hint of grain in the midrange.

    Female vocals are more forward, lively and energetic on Illumination, all without being fatiguing. On the Nair, it's apparent there is a bit less energy in the upper midrange but there’s more middle midrange transparency. Again there is more low level resolution of vocal inflection nuance. Differences aside, Lzzy Hale is an absolute joy to listen to on both in-ears, putting on display the full power and range of her voice.

    Treble presentation is pretty similar on both, in that they both lack extension and and air from middle to upper treble. However, due to lower elevation of upper midrange frequencies on Nair, and a slightly bigger lower treble bump, treble comes across mostly a little crisper but not really brighter. I quite like the crispness of the Nair treble presentation, giving cymbals a bit more bite, whereas treble timbre on Illumination is just a bit more natural sounding.

    Nair is comparable to Illumination in width and height of the image but Illumination sounds noticeably deeper. Where the Illumination is energetic yet smooth, lively yet refined, the Nair is crisp, clear and nuanced. Toms and snares have more bite and definition on the Nair; Illumination gives body to rock guitars where Nair gives you the grit and crunch. Where Nair edges out in resolution, Illumination sounds more natural overall.

    Price is pretty comparable here, with Nair MSRP being about $50 more. What you get for that extra is seemingly much nicer build quality. Gaudio housings are some of the best on the market, and while the cable lacks the interchangeable plugs of the Moondrop cable, the Satin Audio wire, y-split, pin connector and plug are all much more robust and premium looking. Gaudio is great reminder that premium in-ear build and esthetics don’t have come in the kilobuck range.



    Conclusion

    I really like the Moondrop Illumination. For me it’s Etymotic like tuning but with comfortable, shallow fit shells is really enjoyable all the way around. It’s neutral, it’s musical and it’s pleasantly smooth. I can listen to it for long durations and just get lost in the music. There’s no frequency response fatigue, nor physical fit fatigue. This is my favorite single dynamic I’ve heard. Sure there are dynamic driver in-ears that do certain things better (the Sony EX1000 quickly comes to mind) and of course, I haven’t heard them all. On the downside it lacks resolution for the price bracket it’s in and I’m not crazy about the aesthetics. Maybe I’m biased against gold but I don’t like bling. I like subtle and elegant. And I just feel it’s expensive for what it is.

    Moondrop continues to impress and they have earned my respect with so many well designed and well tuned models. Illumination is going on my list. As mentioned earlier, the Moondrop Illumination is something every ER4 aficionado should hear.
     
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    Last edited: Apr 18, 2021
  7. Metro

    Metro Friend

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    You set that up perfectly for me. They should get together and do a bundled promotion.
    [​IMG]
     
  8. Ronion

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    Nice thread. As an owner of the FDX1, I really appreciate it and it’s value even more, but I have to say that these Moondrop have peaked my interest. I’m most interested in the Aria D/T it’s price and looks as the possibility of laying on my side while wearing them. Any opinions on that possibility would be nice.
     
  9. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    Moondrop Aria
    Single Dynamic Driver
    MSRP $79.99

    aria1.jpg aria2.jpg
    photos above and review unit courtesy ShenzhenAudio

    It’s strange. The Aria is a whopping $30 cheaper than the Starfield, yet seems to have improved build and aesthetics in every area. Aria may look like a plastic housing in some pictures but rest assured it’s a painted/coated metal, just like Starfield. I really enjoy the purplish blue shiny appearance of the faceted Starfield faceplate but Aria looks more refined and stately in black. The gold lines on the matte black flat faceplate really make me harken back to Eddie Van Halen’s 79 Bumblebee guitar. (Man, would I really love to see that design on an IEM faceplate.)

    79bumblebee.jpg

    The cable of the Aria carries the refined black look into its cable, which is an improvement upon the Starfield cable in looks, build and usability. While both have over-molded plastic 2 pin connectors and preformed memory over-ear section, the aesthetic similarities really end there. Where the Starfield has a larger, circular Y-split with no slider, the Aria has a much, much smaller rectangular Y-split with a small working neck slider. The Starfield is thinnish 24 gauge 4 core cable with an outside coating that matches the colorful housings. The Aria cable is a cloth/fabric covered 2 core cable of the same gauge but perhaps the cloth covering makes it feel thicker. Being 2 core, it’s twisted, rather than the braid of the Starfield. Being cloth covered, you may get a little more mechanical noise transference. The Aria cable is terminated a nice quality, metal right angle plug with ample strain relief. This is in contrast to the cheaper feeling plastic right angle plug of the Starfield. Side by side, the Aria feels and looks more premium than it’s more expensive sibling.

    So why all the talk about the differences with Starfield? Because they measure nearly identical. Yes but how close do you mean, really? They measure nearly identical. Don’t believe me? Many IEM’s have more difference between left and right channels than the Starfield and Aria do between them.

    upload_2021-4-18_16-43-15.jpeg

    Pretty similar huh? The Aria driver is listed as a 10mm LCP liquid crystal diaphragm and the Starfield as 10mm Carbon Nano-tube diaphragm. They both have the same sensitivity and impedance. Maybe a waterfall plot might show a bigger difference between them? Maybe the very slight difference in measured treble responses explains all the psychoacoustic differences we might hear?
    Well, how do they sound back to back? Here is what I said when I added them to the recommended list:

    Starfield: A warm and smooth take on neutral. Pleasant and satisfying, do-no-wrong signature. A highly musical approach to a neutralish tuning.

    Aria: A cheaper version of the Starfield. Imaging is maybe a little hazier but staging a little wider. While slightly less sold sounding in bass, treble seems a little livelier. A new budge benchmark.

    They sound so similar, I’d say purchase whichever looks more pleasing to you; unless you are comparing back to back, you’re never going to know the difference. And even if you do hear them back to back, you still might not know any difference. I think we are all a bit spoiled in today’s IEM market. In my early Head-Fi days, something as nice as the Aria would have carried a much, much higher price tag and probably would have sounded nowhere near as good. Moondrop continues to impress with their Illumination, Blessing 2, Starfield and now their new budget benchmark, Aria.
     
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    Last edited: Apr 18, 2021
  10. imackler

    imackler Key Lime Pie Infected Aberdeen Wings Spy

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    Has anyone been a little weirded out that the stock tips for the Blessing 2 slightly obscure the holes? I mean it's not much, but i can't imagine they've been tuned that way... Has anyone found a tip that doesn't squeeze in over the holes?
     
  11. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    Epic rating due to EVH bumblebee reference. These actually look awesome, and the price seems incredible for the tuning/performance. Might have to pick up a set. Thanks @shotgunshane!
     
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2021
  12. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    Spiral Dots don't, but @CEE TEE and maybe @BrokeSkoolBoi report unfavourably on those. Both Spinfit CP500 (about the same height) and CP155 (taller) fit the big nozzles and have bores that are fractionally wider than the stock tips, not getting quite so close to covering the outside edges of the two smaller of the 3 vents. Both the Spinfits are 'sharper' shaped than the stock tips, which might give some ear anatomies a better seal.

    So far I've only tried stock with the Blessing2: Dusk. Pretty good, but I'd like a bit more lower to mid treble and a bit less lower mid so I'll experiment. More words in a few days.

    Edit: sorry, that should have been "a bit less upper mid".
     
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2021
  13. Stuff Jones

    Stuff Jones Friend

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    The Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk are an good set of IEMs with good value (USD 330). Here are some observations:

    + Very well tuned by @Crinacle w/no tonality annoyances.
    + Mids are especially well tuned - neither overly warm or analytical. Despite their name, they don't sound dark to me.
    + The most coherent sounding hybrids I've heard (more so than the OG Solaris IMO). Might be because of the even tuning.
    + Bass is just the right amount - somewhere around the Solaris OG bass level (quality is similar too).
    + Enough detail for all but the most critical (And silent environment) listening.
    + Attractive, solid feeling build (if on the large side).

    = Solid soundstage, definitely better than the JVC FX1 but not close to the Solaris.
    = Wide nozzles - fit is good for me (I use large tips) but I can imagine it being problematic for others with smaller ears.
    = Treble lacks a bit of air compared to TOTL. At the moment I've got the Sony M9s and they extend better (M9s cost 3x as much though).
    = Imaging and layering arent as good as the M9s.

    - Some BA timbrel roughness/grain in the upper mids at times. It's not nearly as annoying as the Dunu SA6 were for me, but is my main sonic complaint.
    - Not great isolation.
    - Cable is annoying and tangled just getting it out of the box the first time.
    - Nozzle filters easily fall off.
     
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2021
  14. CEE TEE

    CEE TEE MOT: NITSCH

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    Yep! My trusty Spiral Dots misled me on the Blessing 2. MUCH better to me with the stock tips.
    Have not heard Blessing 2 Dusk but will check them out when I can...
     
  15. Chipless

    Chipless New

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    Any suggestions for a well-matched, USB-powered portable DAC to pair with the Blessing 2s? I haven't purchased anything since my Andromedas+GO2A several years ago, and I recall the Andromedas needing a specific DAC output voltage and/or impedance, but can't seem to find any info on what to pair with the Blessing 2s. Thanks!
     
  16. Biodegraded

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    Strictly considering impedance matching, Blessing 2 isn't too picky (this is the Dusk, but I see no reason the OG wouldn't be the same). Even a 10 Ohm amp (purple line) will only boost lower to mid treble about 1 dB vs lower mids:

    [​IMG]

    They're fairly sensitive at 117 dB/V, but neither the Nano BL's Direct jack nor the Schiit Hel's single output make them hiss or overly restrict the volume pot range, and nor do they seem to require massive power to wake them up, so no need for special care there either. You might want to think about tonal character though. Early days, but so far with the Dusks I wouldn't want any more in the upper mids and I'm finding them a bit rolled off in the treble. Measurements suggest the OG Blessing 2's upper mids are peakier.
     
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2021
  17. Chipless

    Chipless New

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    @Biodegraded , thank you for the quick response. That is really helpful info, but I just want to clarify to make sure I understand (since I am colorblind and want to be sure I'm not confusing the great graph you posted): The lower the output impedance of the amplification, the less effect it has on frequency response?

    I am leaning towards the Dusk edition as well, but would need to get a balanced cable mated to them since both of my current DAC/amps are balanced-out only. Any suggestions for 2-pin cables that are balanced/end in a balanced TRRS connector (either 2.5mm or 3.5mm)? The Etsy shop I used last time is closed (Impact Audio Cables), which is a shame because the quality was superb for the price of $85.
     
  18. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    Correct. But the effect is very small (it's the uppermost curve that shows the effect of a 10 Ohm amp relative to the flat line of a notional 'zero Ohm' one) so not of concern with any amp you're likely to using portable.

    No direct experience of balanced cable alternatives myself - discussions here, here, here and here might help.
     
  19. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    Moondrop x Crinacle Blessing2: Dusk – impressions from the loaner pair

    Summary
    • Mostly good tonal balance but with a dropoff in the lower to mid treble – the focus, to the extent there is one, is on bass and middle & upper mids; if you like a thicker upper bass & lower mid signature or are a treble-head these won’t be for you.
    • Notwithstanding the above – some might find them bit elevated in the upper mids.
    • Great resolution, detail retrieval & ‘clarity’ in the mids (for me, one of the main notables about these); die-hard DD timbre fanatics might find that a bit ‘fake’ – but OTOH BA treble timbre hardly exists.
    • Very good integration top to bottom (across dynamic bass to BA mids transition).
    • Best to pair with a neutral source/amp (don’t want any less treble or any more upper mids).
    Sources: Android phones, Dragonfly Black, Schiit Hel, Nano BL, Vali 2 (briefly). Most listening with Spinfit CP155 tips because they brought some treble back (and more bass).
    Disclaimers: Old ears (see signature). Timbre-wise I’d characterize myself as more of a DD than BA guy, but I’m not minding the clean resolve and the non-DD timbral aspects of these maybe because most of my headphone listening lately has been to planars.

    Positives
    • Overall tonal balance – neutral with a bass boost & treble recession (but: upper mids?)
    • Bass goes deep; good sub- to mid-bass balance.
    • Resolving midrange, particularly mid to upper. Sibilants are there for sure, but are well rendered (hiss vs hsshh).
    • Imaging and instrument separation, esp higher in the mids (because of the above).
    • Not too intense in the treble (but also a downside)
    • Sensitive enough but not too sensitive (no hiss with sensible source) but equally not needing of great power to wake up so should be good with most portable sources.
    Negatives
    • Bass doesn’t retrieve every last detail (some dirty reverbs / distortion missing); maybe slightly over-damped as was reported of the OG.
    • Perception of a slight gap in the bass to lower mids area; not a warm sig, for those who like that.
    • Upper mids a touch high (eg horns & bowed strings), maybe in part due to BA timbre/’speed’, and lower to mid treble recessed with stock tips (tips that help treble also boost upper mids, so pick your poison); I don’t hear the 8-9k peak that’s been mentioned.
    • BA timbre pretty well controlled, but nonetheless noticeable in the usual places (eg cymbals).
    Compared
    Unfortunately I haven’t heard the hybrid or BA units many here are familiar with and would use as reference (Campfire, Dunu, Sony), so the sole comparison is to the JVC HA-FDX1, which being a single DD is perhaps not the most appropriate but I think enough people here have heard it and there are enough descriptions and other comparisons to help readers who haven't to triangulate. I also compared with the UE900s quad-BA and a couple of inexpensive hybrids, but I don’t think those comparisons would be very helpful.

    JVC HA-FDX1: I find these lean yet weighty (individual notes being powerfully presented while somewhat separated from each other) and ‘fast’-sounding for DD units, not perhaps as smooth as I’d like in the mids but having a good mix between a timbral vs a technical focus. The FDX1 digs out a little more texture in the bass, even though its bass is leaner and Dusk has more sub-bass rumble and is overall more elevated than the FDX1 (this might be a significant change vs the OG Blessing 2). I don’t, by the way, find the FDX1 bass loose or thick as some have mentioned. In the mids, FDX1 piano timbre is thicker and more satisfyingly realistic.

    The 4.5k vs 2.5-3.5k elevation difference is notable on some tracks*. FDX1 has less ‘clean’ but more realistic, brassier cymbal timbre (in comparison, Dusk does have a slight touch of that unnaturally fast BA cymbal decay, but better than others I’ve heard). The Dusk is ‘cleaner’, lighter, and more resolving throughout (except maybe in the bass), with better technicalities: imaging, separation, microdynamics, detail retrieval.

    In terms of overall timbral character the Dusks’ clean and resolving nature does give them quite a different presentation from the FDX1, especially through the middle and upper midrange, but it’s difficult to pinpoint timbral oddities in any one instrument or element. So while the whole (or maybe more my description of it) might initially make die-hard DD fans think the Dusk is not for them, the sum of the parts is nonetheless hard to fault.

    *Slightly off-topic ramble
    The FDX1s’ 4.5k peak doesn’t worry me too much – possibly because I’m more tolerant than some in that general area, preferring the medium-stuffed nozzles rather than the most-stuffed. However, in a BA and a DD earphone having similar measured elevations in the upper mids, the BA will annoy me more; not sure whether that’s transients, distortion character, or what. I certainly notice the 2.5-3.5k elevation in the Dusks’ response, on sine sweeps (despite it being pretty close to Crinacle’s neutral) and more so on music.


    This is where I do have a little trouble with the Dusks, in absolute terms as well as by comparison: the tonal balance between upper mids and lower treble. The treble does seem to me to roll off early (maybe earlier than the measurements indicate but they’re obscured in that area by a 6k ?driver resonance and the 8k coupler resonance), and the contrast with the apparent exaggeration of the upper mids is a bit unsatisfying.

    Synergy
    Because of the above and based on the few sources I have here, I’d suggest the Dusks would be best with neutral sources, or more laid-back ones if you really hate upper mids and can tolerate some treble rolloff. For relaxing late-night listening they sound pretty good out of Vali 2.

    The Dusks aren’t as picky as the FDX1s about the sources I have here. Some sources give the FDX1s a metallic sheen with some material, and a laid-back source to counteract their leanness is best; Dragonfly and Hel are better than Nano in this respect although Nano has less USB(?) noise. Conversely, their more natural midrange timbre makes them more forgiving of dodgy recordings. The ‘cleanliness’ and resolve of the Dusk might be less picky about sources and more forgiving of shitty USB (even though you’d think it’d emphasize it – maybe a combo of better resolve but lower treble response?) but more revealing of poor source material (especially in the upper mids).

    Their sensitivity shouldn’t give problems on not-crazy amps – they didn’t hiss at me from anything I used them on, and neither did they seem to require a lot of power to wake up (although I didn’t spend much time with them straight out of a phone). In practical terms: with the Hel’s volume pot at the same place, a pink noise signal gave 2 dB higher SPL on the Dusks than on the FDX1s.

    Their impedance profile isn’t fussy either. See earlier post. Elevated output Zs will boost the mid-treble and to a lesser extent the upper mids, but only a little: 10 Ohms by about 1 dB, 26 Ohms (SW 51 low Z setting) by about 2 dB.

    Non-sound stuff
    A bit bulky in the ears, but ergonomic. Not a great cable, this particular one bent backwards so effectively wired for reverse polarity (I listened to it normal). Tangly, also a bit microphonic. Nice case, big with room enough for a dongle. A few pairs of nozzle screens are provided, which is a good thing because they’d probably come off with every tip change (there were none on the nozzles and one floating in the bottom of the case when I received the pack).

    Me or not?
    I didn’t want to buy any more IEMs. But at this price, the technicalities and midrange resolution of these, in combination with their (mostly) great tonal balance, have me thinking about it. I’d like to hear the SA6 to compare.

    Measurements (if you don’t care, stop reading here)
    Frequency response: @Crinacle ‘s measurements vs his target and vs the OG Blessing2 are on the product page. Vs the FDX1 with medium-stuffed nozzles (green in many cases but blue in others, depending which production run) from his database below. The Dusk’s relatively elevated lower bass/sub-bass and the contrasting upper mid peaks are evident.

    [​IMG]

    Distortion: 100 dB & 90 dB for each of the Dusk and FDX1. The common BA vs DD H2 vs H3 midrange behavior, with H3 becoming dominant in the mids at lower SPLs (not dropping as fast as H2) seems to be there in these – but my noise floor is pretty high. Note these are shown the ‘traditional’ way, with the value of e.g. H2 at 1 kHz being how much 2 kHz is produced by the fundamental level at 1 kHz – not the SPL of the 1 kHz H2 that exists, as in @purr1n ‘s ‘alternative’ plots.

    Moondrop B2D distortion 100.jpg Moondrop B2D distortion 90.jpg JVC HA-FDX1 distortion 100.jpg JVC HA-FDX1 distortion 90.jpg

    Not sure why the 500-700 Hz bumps in the JVCs. They persist in repeated measurements.
     
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  20. Ronion

    Ronion New

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    This thread forced me to order an Aria... I had no choice in the matter. The damn Bumblebee guitar may have drawn up my divorce papers. Thanks a lot. ;)
     

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