The fact that big brands continuously launch new products makes the dongle market easily become saturated. However, if we look at the positive side, now, users will have many new cheaper options but still fully integrated with equipment from genuine chips, BAL connection, adjustment app, function buttons, and features,… With the launch of Moondrop Dawn Pro, Moondrop is the first brand to pioneer in “cheapening” DAC/AMP dongle models while still ensuring the most advanced features are integrated.
MOONDROP Dawn Pro Protable USB DAC/AMP Dual CS43131 DAC 32Bit/384kHz DSD256 Decoder Headphone Amplifier: Buy it now
Table of Contents
Packaging and accessories
Like its predecessor Dawn, Moondrop Dawn Pro is also packaged in a round metal box. However, the appearance of the box is more carefully cared for. To make Dawn Pro accessible to more users, Moondrop printed a lovely muse on the front of the box. Thanks to this detail, the dongle received a lot of compliments from music lovers. As usual, detailed specifications of the dongle will be available on the back of the box.
To unbox the product, users just need to gently rotate the box lid. Moondrop is also very delicate, wrapping a soft and thick layer of foam inside the box to help minimize unwanted physical collisions between the dongle and the box cover. Placed on the top of the foam is the Moondrop Dawn Pro dongle, while on the bottom there will be accessories such as a Type-C cable and a USB Type-A adapter. In addition to the dongle and the above two accessories, users will receive a warranty card and a detailed user manual.
Design
Moondrop Dawn Pro is the smallest DAC/AMP dongle on the market that integrates both Single-Ended and Balanced ports. Although its appearance is somewhat small and neat, Dawn Pro has a durable structure thanks to an outer shell made of aviation-grade aluminum alloy. The entire surface will undergo anodized treatment. Meanwhile, the edges are slightly rounded so as not to create a rough feeling when held in the hand.
The interesting point is that on the front of the dongle, there will be many small holes punched. Besides the task of creating a unique highlight for Dawn Pro, this hole also has the effect of dissipating heat, limiting the dongle from heating up. Users should also regularly clean the dongle to avoid dust getting inside.
On the side of the dongle, there will be two buttons used to increase/decrease the volume. The other side is printed with the product name, DAC chip configuration, and highest supported format. Regarding connectivity, Moondrop Dawn Pro uses Type-C input like many other dongles. The output will include 1 3.5mm Single-Ended port and 1 4.4mm Balanced port.
Outstanding technology
Similar to Dawn, Moondrop Dawn Pro also uses a pair of CS43131 DAC chips to decode the signal. However, the highest music formats that this dongle supports are PCM 32bit/384kHz and DSD256. With a total harmonic distortion index of only 0.00014%, the audio signal after decoding will have very high detail.
Besides the CS43131 chip, the dongle is also equipped with many modern components such as a HiFi-level USB chip, dual independent crystal oscillators, and up to 3 independent power chips providing power for each IC.
With a maximum output power of 120mW@32Ohm at 32Ohm impedance, Moondrop Dawn Pro is completely strong enough to handle the vast majority of in-ear headphone models on the market. With the Moondrop Link application on smartphones, users can customize the output filter or Gain index for the dongle. The volume circuit inside Dawn Pro will have a total of 100 steps ensuring extremely high accuracy when adjusting the volume.
Sound quality
The DAC/AMP dongle market is gradually becoming saturated with new products being launched every day. The increased number of products means that distinguishing good products from poor quality products will become more difficult. At this time, users will become more cautious every time they hear information about a new product being launched. Even Moondrop Dawn Pro is no exception. Fortunately, after about 3 weeks since arriving in the market, Dawn Pro has received many positive reviews from users in both design and sound quality.
By continuing to follow the same sound adjustment method as Dawn, Moondrop Dawn Pro makes users pay attention right from the first notes played. The sound that Dawn Pro provides is high resolution, clear, clean, and has a bright neutral bias. Besides adding emphasis to the mid and treble ranges, Dawn Pro also somewhat improves the accessibility of the headphones.
Similar to Moonriver 2 Ti, Dawn Pro’s strength lies in its ability to add brightness and detail to the treble range. However, good control helps Dawn Pro not create distortion and minimize the treble being too harsh. The amount of treble is very nice and just enough for the listener to feel the tinkling sound of the instrument as well as the female voice when hitting the high notes. Besides excellent clarity, Dawn Pro also makes the extension in the treble range more smoothly processed. This has a significant impact in bringing a lively feel to the sound stage. Specifically, the music space will become more spacious and airy.
Unlike its brother Moonriver 2 Ti, the position of the mid-range is not too deep but closer to the center of the stage. This helps keep the vocals from being drowned out and become more prominent compared to the instruments and background music. The low mid part has a very good body, not too thick but not flimsy either. The timbre has good accuracy and feels neutral and clear. The way the singer’s voice and musical instruments are described is very transparent, clear, detailed, natural, and doesn’t feel fake at all. Compared to the low mid, the upper mid has more energy, is expanded more impressively, and is the momentum that makes the treble range more impressive.
Dawn Pro’s bass range is quite fast, and flexible, and has a pretty nice texture. The amount of sub-bass is not much, so overall, the bass on Dawn Pro is not too warm but more technical. Good control should limit the bass encroaching on the mid-range. Thanks to that, the overlap between the mid-bass and low-mid parts is avoided. The transitions between mid-bass and low-mid are handled quite smoothly. The thickness in the midbass is not too much, tends to be neutral, and does not add excitement to the music, but in terms of details, it’s quite good.
In general, with the launch of Moondrop Dawn Pro, users now have another quality dongle choice in the low-cost segment.