2023 marks a very prosperous year for Moondrop when the company launches many new products from small IEM models to large headphones. The most anticipated of these is definitely the Aria 2 inear headphones. With a little tweak in design and sound quality and a set of “super quality” accessories, Moondrop Aria 2 is considered as high-end jewelry for music lovers.
Moondrop ARIA 2 in-Ear Headphone with 0.78 2 Pin Cable: Buy it now
Packaging and accessories
As usual, Moondrop Aria 2 has a cardboard box with an extremely sophisticated and eye-catching design. The highlight of the cover box comes from the image of a beautiful anime girl holding a violin in her hand. For audiophiles, it is a beautiful image, and for wibu brothers, it is an artistic photo. Important parameters on Aria 2 along with the sound chart will be clearly printed by Moondrop on the back of the cover box.
The series of accessories that come with Moondrop Aria 2 will include:
1 cable has a modular design in the jack
1 Single-Ended 3.5mm jack
1 balanced 4.4mm jack
3 pairs of silicone eartips (size S/M/L)
1 faux leather case is round and uses a zipper
User manuals
Guarantee card
QC certificate
Table of Contents
Design and wearing experience
Moondrop Aria 2 has a housing similar in shape to Starfield 2. The main difference lies in the exterior paint being silver instead of blue and the pattern on the faceplate is somewhat simpler.
The entire housing will be made of alloy and undergo a shaping process using modern CNC technology. The most notable highlight on the faceplate is the shiny gold-colored bolts. Similar to the Chu 2 and Starfield 2, the Aria 2’s sound pipe is also made of brass and the head can be removed so users can easily replace or clean the filter inside.
On the inside of the housing there will be 2 vent holes and like Starfield 2, users can cover 1 vent to increase the intensity of the bass range. But the trade-off is that the soundstage will be a bit narrower in width.
The inclusion of a set of softer silicone tips than usual will somewhat increase the comfort when wearing Aria 2 on the ear. One of the most valuable accessories on Moondrop Aria 2 is the module cable. The jack part has a modular design and uses a screw mechanism so users can flexibly change the jack from 3.5mm to 4.4mm. The cable is very soft, anti-tangle and uses a 0.78mm 2-pin connector. At a price range of about $80, there are few products that come with a cable as good as the Aria 2.
Driver configuration and sound quality
Like its predecessors, Moondrop Aria 2 still uses only one dynamic driver in each ear. The driver’s diaphragm will be dome-shaped and made from high-quality TiN ceramic-coated composite material to increase stiffness. The symmetrical magnetic circuit system combined with the carefully designed sound cavity resonance system will ensure the output audio signal has the highest fidelity.
In terms of sound quality, it’s actually quite difficult to distinguish the sounds of Aria 2 and Aria from the first listen. It takes about 3 to 4 days of continuous burn-in for users to really see the difference between Aria 2 and its predecessor.
The bass range on Moondrop Aria 2 has a slightly deeper subbass and better rumble than the Aria. This makes the Aria 2’s bass sound stronger, giving it a fuller feeling and the bass force is also somewhat stronger. The response speed in the bass range is quite fast and flexible, the control ability is quite good so the level of band encroachment is not as much as other bass-specialized headphones.
The mid range is slightly backward. The vocals and instruments are clearly layered so they sound very separate, and the positioning is also extremely precise, making the sound stage more vivid and realistic. The low mid is not too thick, meanwhile, the upper mid has a relatively high brightness so the female voice will sound more attractive than the male voice.
Unlike Aria, Aria 2 has a slightly smoother treble range, the detail is still very good, some music will appear sibilance. And careful burn-in will reduce the sib phenomenon to a minimum. The extension is handled well so the treble sounds airy and spacious.
The improved soundstage depth makes the sound stage on Aria 2 more multi-dimensional. However, Aria’s audio will be a bit more accurate. The resolution is similar, but the sound layers on Aria 2 will be more clearly separated. Complex music passages are handled a little better by the Aria 2.
Compare
Vs Dunu Kima Classic
Kima Classic with V-Shape tuning will have more energetic bass and treble ranges than Aria 2. However, the position of the mid range on Kima Classic will be pushed back and this makes the vocal part a bit lacking volume when compared to Aria 2. The timbre on Moondrop’s headphones is more natural. The technical elements on the Aria 2 are also much better than the Kima Classic in terms of soundstage, imaging and the ability to separate instruments.
Vs Simgot EA500
The EA500’s sound quality is a bit more flexible thanks to the ability to customize the output sound through changing the nozzle tube. However, overall, the EA500 has a brighter and more detailed sound than the Aria 2. The treble range and upper mid have much more energy. However, Aria 2 has a more powerful, powerful and energetic bass range. Technically, Aria 2 holds its strengths in the soundstage and the ability to separate instruments. Meanwhile, the EA500 excels in imaging and detail retrieval.
Overall, Moondrop Aria 2 is a quality choice at the price range of $80 as it possesses attractive sound quality, good playability, good-looking appearance and most valuable is the accessory set.