Intro
Moondrop have been known to produce IEMs that adhere closely to reference curves, especially the ‘Harman-Neutral’ tuning. Does it matter? Well…for some people, being able to experience a ‘reference-grade’ sound signature is a dream come true while others might find it a bit too safe (read:boring). Having said that, where does the Moondrop Aria stands? As the title suggests, the Aria is (at least for me) indeed a smooth criminal.
Packaging
The Aria came in a black box, wrapped in a ‘waifu’-motive box sleeve that somehow blends in very well with the black-gold theme. Opening the magnetic lid, the presentation of its contents are very simple yet are elegantly arranged. The IEM rests on the top part of the box while the carry case is displayed at the bottom. The p-leather carry case holds the IEM cable and eartips. There are no other accessories included except for the ‘essentials’ to get you started.
As for the IEM itself, the Aria is a fine product to say the least. The shells are built of metal and I believe they use the same inner shell as the KXXS and the Starfield but with a new, simple no-nonsense faceplate. The combination of matte black and gold is just A. Very well done for a budget friendly IEM. The stock cable is honestly a feast to the eyes as they’re nylon braided and feels very soft to the touch. My only gripe with the cable is that it may behave with its own mind, not to mention they’re quite a bit tangle-prone.
Functions & Specifications
- Material – Metal
- Transducer Type – 10mm Liquid Crystal Diaphragm
- Sensitivity – 122dB SPL/Vrms @ 1kHz
- Impedance – 32ohms @ 1kHz
- Frequency Range – 20Hz to 20kHz
What’s In The Box
- Moondrop Aria
- Silicon Eartips (S, M, L) x2
- Carry Case
Retail Price & Where To Get
The Moondrop Aria can be bought at Moondrop Official Store on Aliexpress platform.
Purchase Link : https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002368718730.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_allProduct.8148356.2.3a1a7f05kA2nlf
Sound & Tonality
The Aria is neutral, and I mean really…neutral. They do follow closely to the ‘Harman-Neutral’ curve and that explains the inoffensive, somewhat laid back characteristics of the Aria itself. Combine that with a good dynamic driver and there you have it, a very pleasing (kind of a bit too mellow for me) sound signature with a natural tonality that’s very realistic (impressive given the asking price of the Aria).
Source Used
Xduoo X2s > Xduoo XQ-10 > Moondrop Aria
Foobar2k > iFi Micro iDSD Black Label > Moondrop Aria
Songs Used
Bass
Sub-bass rumble is present but subtle and is very smooth. Mid-bass is arguably punchy and transparent. It almost have an impact that any good DD will provide but it’s not achieved. I would say dull is the extreme word to use to illustrate the Aria’s mid-bass. Upper bass is clean with little to no bleeding to the lower mids. Simply put, the Aria is smooth sounding on the lower end. There’s no percepted texture to be heard. Everything on the lower end is presented in a correct, non-overly articulated manner.
Mids
Lower-mids on the Aria is clean with slight warmth. This made the Aria to be somewhat full and natural sounding without being weighty nor sluggish. The mids is fairly neutral and transparent albeit slightly recessed for my liking. It is not the most revealing single DD out there but it’s enough to present a clear (for a DD) and uncoloured mids. Upper-mids is safe despite being well articulated. The Aria is not shouty nor thin. It just sounds…correct. But this also leads to a pretty uninspiring treble.
Highs
Lower-treble is clear and crunchy. The energy provided by the Aria is just enough to complement the transition from the upper-mids. Treble is OK-ish detailed, controlled and peakiness is non-existent (quite a bit mellow to be honest). The brilliance on the upper-treble is just enough but being rolled off quite early, the Aria lost quite a bit of ‘air’. Nonetheless, the treble is inoffensive and will suit those who prefer a neutral and safely-tuned IEM characteristics.
Soundstage
For soundstage, the Aria is just average but lacks height which somewhat limits the separation. The Aria does give you an almost similarly spread out presentation both in width and depth. It is still considered a good soundstage considering the asking price of the Aria though.
Imaging & Separation
Separation on the Aria is honestly average at its best. Everything is clearly distinguished (for a DD) between instruments/sound cues, but does suffer a bit due to lack of height in the soundstage. Imaging however in my experience is fantastic. Everything seems to be placed correctly and nothing sounds clumped together.
Drivability
The Aria is fairly easy to be driven by any source but like most single-DD IEMs do, they will scale very well with more power being fed to it. Expect slight soundstage expansion with better transient response control across the frequency range with more power.
Synergy
Regardless of source and output power, I’ve found the Aria to be true to its own tuning. Minor coloration can be heard but it’s honestly too subtle to be of any significance.
Comparison
FiiO FD1
Bass goes deeper and punchier on the FD1 but are similarly clean and smooth for both the FD1 and the Aria. Mids sounds lusher and somewhat analogue-ish on the FD1 while the Aria sounds more reference-like and more transparent. Treble is where the Aria outpaced the FD1 being slightly more articulated, transparent and sounds a tinny bit airier.
As for the soundstage, the FD1 is massive in comparison with the Aria. The FD1 spans wider, deeper and slightly taller than the Aria. Both IEMs can sound somewhat crowded at times (obvious nitpicking here) but it is to be expected coming from a single DD. While separation can be considered almost similar for both, the Aria really excels in the imaging department in comparison to the FD1.
For Who?
Those who prefer a Harman Neutral-ish sound signature will love the Aria, no doubt. Accompanied with a sturdy build quality, a passable stock cable, simple yet effective packaging along with that affordable price tag, it will surely appeal to a lot of people looking to experience a very well neutrally tuned single-DD IEM.
Verdict & Stars
For me, the Aria is one of those IEM that manages to portray an excellent realism but lacks the oomph to be satisfying, which in the end leaving you wanting for more just to fill the void. So what’s up with the title? Well…the Aria is smooth and realistic but it also leaves you hanging. In short, it sounds lifelike but lifeless.
(3.5 / 5)
