Moondrop MOONRIVER 2

amazon Moondrop MOONRIVER 2 reviews

Moondrop is no longer a strange name for the Audiophile community thanks to the presence of its headphone models, which completely changed the direction of the in-ear headphone audio market. Every time a product of Moondrop is launched such as Chu, SSR, KXXS series, etc., it is a stir in the market due to the quality that the product brings and creates great competitive pressure for other brands. Continuing with this trend, Moondrop has just introduced a completely new DAC-AMP model – Moonriver 2 – to target users who want a really good audio decoding and amplifying device to use with all kinds of headphones, encapsulated in a small body and an “affordable” price.

Answering side questions:

“Why Moonriver 2 and not Moonriver 1?”

According to the CEO of Moondrop, before the market launch of Moonriver 2, the company collaborated with a music player manufacturer many years ago and created a model of a dongle called “Moonriver 1”. With the fully customized internal components and high output power found in Moonriver 1, this product has received much praise from users. However, the product is not mass-produced because of the large amount of power consumed by the components for normal operation and compatibility with many operating systems. Therefore, the launch of Moonriver 2 in 2022 is aimed at overcoming the disadvantages of its predecessor and at the same time improving the output power, creating a more attractive user experience.

Specifications:

– Dual chip DAC CS43198

– Support all kinds of operating systems: Android, Windows, iOS, and macOS.

– Input port support: USB-C

– Output support: 4.4mm TRRS; 3.5mm TRUMP

– Output power:

3.5mm: 1.4Vrms (low); 2Vrms (high)

4.4mm: 2.8Vrms (low); 4Vrms (high) (~270mW@32Ω)

– THD+N:

3.5mm (at 2Vrms MAX): 0.0008%@32Ω

4.4mm (at 4Vrms MAX): 0.00013%@300Ω

– SNR:

3.5mm: 123dB (A-weighted)

4.4mm: 131dB (A-weighted)

– Noise floor:

3.5mm: 1.2µV (AES17 20K Hz)

4.4mm: 1.5µV (AES17 20K Hz)

Frequency response: 6Hz – 85kHz (±1dB)

– Software update support: Yes

– Mic: No

Accessories included with the product:

USB-C to USB-C Adapter

USB-C to USB-A Adapter

Certificate of QC standard

User manual (with warranty item)

Design and level of finishing

One of the purposes of Moondrop for MR2 is to make a strong impression on users about the product’s appearance, and the company has successfully done that. It is not certain whether Moondrop intended to design MR2 in the form of terraces or not, but from another perspective, this product represents the “modern steampunk” design language, making a big difference compared to the design language with its predecessor and many other DAC-AMP models with a minimalist, safe appearance. Although encapsulated in a compact device, the MR2 can still be difficult for users to put in their pockets and use because the corners of the product are quite sharp.

In addition to creating a highlight for the design, the MR2 is also equipped with an all-metal shell from black-painted aluminum, giving users confidence in the product’s longevity and contributing to the highlight design language. The USB-C port on this DAC-AMP model is solidly completed, unshakable, and can be connected to a variety of cables such as USB-C to USB-A for computers, to USB-C / Micro USB for computers, phones, tablets, to Lighting for iPhones.

MR2 comes with 2 volume keys: a shorter key for the volume down function, and a longer key for the volume up function. This is a pretty convenient design for using the device with touch, so Moondrop does not need to add a small screen and customize the product with more software. Another advantage of this design choice is the way to switch between the two gain settings. When pressing both keys at the same time, users can choose a low gain mode (red LED) for most earbuds, or a high gain mode (LED shows blue – yellow, *light color may vary depending on viewing angle) for headset models that require higher output power.

However, the MR2 could have become an almost perfect product if the buttons didn’t have their drawbacks. These 2 keys do not have a good response, so when adjusting the volume may sometimes not work, or when switching to another amplifier mode, it can be easy to unintentionally increase or decrease the volume.

Second, the MR2’s volume control controls the volume to which the device is connected, rather than the individual volume control on the device. With music players with small volume jumps, this is not a problem, but for users who use phones with large volume jumps with MR2 to listen to music, it will be difficult to customize the ideal volume level. Overall, the MR2 is a compact DAC-AMP with good looks and good build quality; could be perfect if Moondrop carefully examined the disadvantages of the experience.

Sound quality & amplification level

This product review is based on the manufacturer’s available accessories.

Audio devices used to comment on the performance of Moondrop Moonriver 2:

– Over-ear headphones: Sennheiser HD650 (4.4mm TRRS cord and 3.5mm TRS cord) (for regular use), Sennheiser HD560s, Focal Clear.

– In-ear headphones: Dunu Títan S, Campfire Audio Andromeda (2019), Moondrop Blessing 2, Moondrop SSR, Moondrop Variations, Final Audio Design VR3000.

– Source: Sony Xperia X Compact + Poweramp, Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ + Poweramp, Windows 10 + Foobar2000 (USB-C), iPhone 7 Plus + Hiby Music App.

On paper, the MR2 seems to be a formidable competitor in the segment, or even competes with Luxury & Precision’s DAC-AMP W2 model, with impressive parameters of amplification, SNR, noise floor, etc., and integrates 2 DAC chips of the high-end Cirrus Logic line. These translate to amazing real-life experiences, potentially creating a new wave in the compact DAC-AMP market.

With a powerful 3.5mm TRS output (in high gain mode), the MR2 comfortably provides enough volume for the Sennheiser HD650 headphones – a legendary product in the Audiophile world with 300Ω impedance and 103dB sensitivity. Proving the MR2 as a high-output audio amplifier is made easy by connecting the HD650 with the 4.4mm TRRS pin. Not only the AMP part, but the MR2’s audio decoder also gives realistic sound quality, with natural light. In terms of technical factors, the bass range is pulled down deep without affecting the fast response speed. The technical impact of the bass range such as the bounce of the bass drum and the beating force of the guitar bass is all reproduced firmly and vividly. The treble range is extended, and the way of extracting information in the track of the MR2 is very impressive for a DAC-AMP device that fits in the palm when using IEM. However, for more advanced over-ear models such as Focal Clear, and Sennheiser HD650, sound details are not completely reproduced like full-sized DAC-AMPs. The position of the instruments is shown honestly and accurately, but in general, the change in the soundstage and the image of the headphones when paired with the MR2 is not easy to know.

For headphones with a warm neutral sound like Campfire Audio Andromeda (2019), and Sennheiser HD650…, this is a great combination for users who want to use it on the go, but in In the case of some headphone models, the sound quality is concentrated in the high mid-range – treble bands such as Moondrop Blessing 2, Variations, SSR; Focal Clear may cause ear shock. Some other cases like Dunu Titan S combined with MR2 are perfectly fine, providing detailed treble range and speed. Overall, the MR2 is a DAC-AMP model with versatility and adaptability to a wide range of headphones, with a few exceptions.

Of course, to get a high level of amplification in its price range, the MR2 consumes a fair amount of power from connected devices such as phones, and music players. With devices that support a battery capacity of 4000mAh or more and the purpose of listening to music for about 4-5 hours, this may not be too prominent, but it is an easy point to recognize.

where can you get a Moondrop MOONRIVER 2 online

MoonDrop MOONRIVER 2 2*CS43198 DSD256 Decoder 3.5mm 4.4mm AMP 32Bit/384kHz Portable USB DAC Amplifier: Buy it now