Aria sets a new benchmark to beat!
PROS: Excellent VFM, build quality, tuned to Moondrop’s VDSF target curve, very well balanced signature, natural reference tonality and timbre, sub-bass reach and rumble, natural lower mids tonality, forward upper-midrange for good strong instrument definition, balanced-clean-precise but always smooth and natural treble response, good clean soundstage and detail retrieval for the price.
CONS: Moondrop should’ve included a few different types of ear tips for variety and fit customisation options in the package.
Disclaimer.
I would like to thank Moondrop and Shenzhen Audio for sending me the Aria to test and review. I am not affiliated with the company or any of its sellers and write this review with an unbiased opinion regardless of how the review turns out.
About Moondrop.
Moondrop is one of the most popular brands to emerge out of China in recent years. They’re based out of Chengdu, Sichuan and quickly became fan favourites with products like Kanas, Kanas Pro, KXXS, Blessing1, Blessing2, A8, S8, etc. Most of their entry level products are made out of metals but their upper range are majorly resin based IEMs with semi-custom shells like Blessing2, S8 and Solis which are also offered as CIEMs. They even make earbuds named ShiroYuki, Namesless, VX, Liebesleid, Chaconne, etc and have recently released a TWS IEM called Sparks too. They like to dabble with popular target curves and have received critical acclaim and appreciation for their tuning based on their in-house target curve called Virtual Diffusion Sound Field (VDSF) that they try hitting with most of their IEMs.
Links – Moondrop Aria (Shenzhen Audio, $80)
Technical Specifications.
- Driver – 10mm Liquid Crystal Diaphragm (LCP) dynamic driver
- Sensitivity – 122dB/Vrms (@1kHz)
- Frequency response – 5Hz-36000Hz
Photo Courtesy – Moondrop
Included in the box.
Aria like most Moondrop IEMs comes in nice Anime style packaging with accessories which are simple and all you really need. Below is a list of all that is included in the package. If I have to nitpick, I would’ve liked some variety in stock ear tips for variety and fit customisation options.
- Moondrop Aria
- Cable with fabric sheath
- Silicone Eartips – 6 Pairs of different sizes
- Small carry case
- Tweezer and extra nozzle filters
- Manuals/warranty cards
Build Quality.
Aria has a brass shell, specially designed dual-cavity magnetic dynamic driver with a Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) diaphragm, strong N52 neodymium magnet and a CCAW voice coil. It features a newly designed high-frequency phase waveguide system that effectively reduces the high-frequency phase interference and distortion, thus making the treble response smooth and precise. I personally like Aria’s looks more than its older sibling Starfield as well as KXXS. Aria has a similar shell shape to KXXS but is a bit smaller and has slightly less shell depth in comparison. It sports a matte black paint with gold lines across the shell. The shell manufacturing and finishing is very well done and has no imperfections.
Cable – It’s a nice feeling fabric covered 2-pin 3.5mm cable with minimal microphonics. I personally quite like it since it looks and feels nice and is quite easy to manage.
Fit and Comfort.
Aria’s shells fit me very well with the green bore ear tips that come with a lot of Chi-fi IEMs from brands like Fearless and Tansio Mirai. They kinda resemble Acoustune ear tips but are slightly bigger in size when comparing the same sizes. I use these tips with most IEMs as they fit my ear canals very nicely. Aria fits comfortably with the large size of stock ear tips too. The shells are light and fit so comfortably that I sometimes forget that I have them in my ears. Isolation is on the average side since Aria has a vent for the dynamic driver but is a bit better with the green bore ear tips (that I mentioned) above than the stock ear tips.
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