![]() ![]() ![]() The male vocals sound somewhat distant, although they’re perfectly intelligible. ![]() Bass texture is great, and bass speed is above-average.Īs we move into the lower-mids, it does some warmth from the mid-bass bump but this is where I encounter my first issue with the Aria 2. Snare hits are authoritative, double-pedals have a full-bodied nature to them, and most of all male vocals don’t sound thinned-out. As a result, the bass frequencies are all well-portrayed and the sub-bass focus sounds tastefully done. Best of all: it doesn’t slope right away as it moves into the mid-bass unlike some recent IEM releases that gives rise to what I call “2.1 subwoofer effect” (you feel that the sub-bass is detached from the rest of the frequency). The bass reaches all the way down to 20Hz and provides excellent rumble. The standout feature on this one has to be the bass response which, IMO, is one of the best under $100. Fortunately, the upper-mids aren’t as pronounced as the Harman IE target and the mid-bass has more body, resulting in a more even and natural transition from sub-bass to upper-bass and lower-mids subsequently. The Aria 2 has a warm, upper-mid centric presentation that has some similarities with the Harman In-ear target curve. However, given the price constraint at play here (1/6th of the EX-1000ST) it’s great to see LCP diaphragm here instead of the more mainstream CNT, Ti/Be-plated PET, or DLC diaphragms (though the latter costs more usually). LCP diaphragms have been used in legendary single-DDs like the Sony EX-1000, though in that case the diaphragm size was much larger (16mm) and the diaphragm stiffness also reportedly higher. Finally, the high frequency waveguide disperses high-frequency waves to reduce resonance peaks. The voice coil is just 35 micron thick and there’s also a brass cavity on the back to reduce resonance. DRIVER SETUPĪria 2 opts for a 10mm LCP (Liquid-Crystal Polymer) along with an N52 magnet system. The stock tips are fine but I opted for Spinfit CP-145 as it seemed to slightly widen the stage without sacrificing on the tonality/technicalities. On a budget, the LG G7 worked just fine, with the Sony NW-A55 providing a very dynamic and engaging presentation. ![]() I’ve found it to pair the best with Questyle CMA-400i but then again it’s a desk setup and costs quite a bit. The Aria 2 runs well on most sources, though with better sources it does seem to scale. Isolation is above-average too and with the right tips you can drown out quite a bit of outside noise.įor the purpose of this review, I primarily used the Questyle CMA-400i and LG G7 as sources. So far so good.ĭue to its snug-fit and lightweight nature, the Aria has very good wearing comfort. The paintjob also seems more durable than the Starfield one (which chipped off easily) but time will tell. Finally, the nozzle doesn’t have any lips to secure the tips but it does grip the tips better this time around (unlike the Starfield nozzles where tips would slip out). The 2-pin ports are recessed which is great for long-term durability. There are two vents on the inner-side to alleviate pressure. The matte black paintjob has a soft-touch finish and the rose-gold pattern on top adds a bit of character to the shells. The build quality is excellent with an aluminium alloy housing. I’d recommend an upgrade cable if budget permits. The sheathing is also stiff and forms kinks very easily. Now, it’s an upgrade over Starfield’s noodle-like cable but the ergonomics are poor and it gets tangled very easily. While the tips and case works fine, I’m a bit annoyed with the stock cable. Other than that the accessories are mostly standard: a cloth-braided cable, 6 pairs of eartips, a small carry case, a pair of tweezers to replace the nozzle filters, and some spare nozzle filters. The packaging, in usual Moondrop fashion, has an anime box-art. PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES ![]()
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