DISCLAIMER
I would like to thank Shenzhen Audio for providing the Moondrop LAN review unit. It can be gotten here (no affiliate links):
https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/moondrop-lan-earphone-10mm-dynamic-driver-in-ear-hifi-headphone
The Moondrop LAN we are reviewing today – 兰 in simplified Chinese, or 蘭 in traditional Chinese – refers to the orchid flower (not a ‘local area network,’ haha!). Let’s read on to see if the LAN turns out to be as fresh as a daisy or a mere shrinking violet!
SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver configuration: 1 x 10 mm beryllium-plated dome composite diaphragm dynamic driver
- Impedance: 32 Ohms
- Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Sensitivity: 120 dB/Vrms
- Cable: 2-pin, 0.78 mm, 3.5 mm cable; no information on cable material
- Tested at $39.99 USD
ACCESSORIES
Other than the IEM, these are included:
- 3 pairs of silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
- Soft carrying pouch
- Cable
- Anime waifu postcard
Of course, we know the waifu postcard is the most important accessory of all, don't leave home without it!
Jokes aside, for a sub-USD$40 set, the accessories are decent.
There are no foam tips available, and only one variant of silicone ear tips are provided. These tips are quite serviceable, though the addition of some of Moondrop’s other famous tips – for example, Spring tips – would not have gone unappreciated.
Unfortunately, there is no information on what the stock cable is made from. Suffice to say, it is on the thinner side, though it is supple and tangle-free. The cable has minimal microphonics, but comes without a chin cinch. There are the letters “R” and “L” on the cable terminals for the right and left sides, respectively, in addition to a red band on the right terminal.
The soft carrying pouch is made of a polymer material and is quite flimsy. The pouch operates via a fastener mechanism, and the contents probably won’t survive a drop or compressive force.
The rest of this review was done with the stock cable and stock tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.
BUILD/COMFORT
The ovoid housings are fashioned from stainless steel via a MIM (metal injection molding) metallurgy process – this involves high-temperature sintering mold formation of the shells. This is actually the first time Moondrop has used this technique, and I’ve no complaints with the solid build this has produced.
Each shell has a flower, in keeping with the orchid motif and "LAN" namesake. Unfortunately, the sterile-looking gray aesthetics don’t match the LAN’s flowery namesake, and perhaps something more vibrant like the Tanchjim Hana’s housing would be more felicitous.
Moondrop has added a patented acoustic filter, which reportedly minimizes channel imbalance.
The LAN is light and ergonomic; I can use this IEM for hour-long listening sessions without discomfort. Despite having two vents on each earpiece, isolation is actually above average. I did not experience driver flex, but this is dependent on the ear tips used and individual ear anatomy.
There has been much gnashing of teeth on audio forums about the shells of Moondrop IEMs suffering from pain peeling. To nip this in the bud, it seems the LAN’s chassis is pure metal sans paint. There are no left/right markings on the shells, so newcomers to the hobby might have issues identifying the sides. Nevertheless, the red band above the right cable terminal can assist once connected
INTERNALS
Each earpiece houses a 10 mm beryllium-plated dome composite diaphragm dynamic driver encased within an internal brass acoustic cavity. An N52 magnet with ultra-thin 0.03mm CCAW (copper-clad aluminum wire) voice coil completes the set-up.
For the measurement-inclined, Moondrop advertises that this driver provides very low distortion at <0.05%.
Speaking about beryllium, it was all the rage just a couple of years back but has since been somewhat overshadowed by the recent dual DD driver craze. Beryllium is light but has a high modulus of elasticity (i.e., a substance’s resistance to being deformed elastically). This theoretically allows beryllium drivers to be low in weight yet very rigid and rugged. If implemented well, beryllium drivers can give rapid transients coupled with minimal distortion.
But of course, all these is in theory, and let's read on to see if the implementation and tuning are adequate.
DRIVABILITY
I tested the Moondrop LAN with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Colorfly CDA M1 DAC/AMP dongle
- Creative Sound Blaster X5
- E1DA DAC/AMP dongle
- Hiby R3 Pro Saber 2022 DAP
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Khadas Tone Board -> Topping L30 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone
The LAN is moderately easy to drive, though amplification may help this IEM scale slightly.
SOUND & TECHNICALITIES
Graph of the Moondrop LAN via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler peak.
The LAN is tuned closely to Moondrop’s virtual diffuse sound field (VDSF) philosophy, which is the company’s in-house evolution of the Harman curve.
Timbre is quite organic, in keeping with the LAN’s single DD roots. Vocals and acoustic instruments sound natural, though, note weight is on the thinner side.
With regards to
technical chops, the LAN won’t uproot any trees. Imaging is quite commendable, though the soundstage is bang average, with music sounding quite “in your head.” The LAN is not very detailed, and instrumentation can sound congested, especially when complex tracks come out to play. Indeed, when compared against other garden variety single DDs at similar prices, the LAN is quite undistinguished in technicalities.
The LAN’s
bass is a hair north of neutral, with a slight predominance in the sub-bass. The bass extension is not the deepest, though a rumble is heard on bass-heavy tracks. Bass speed is moderate, with no mid-bass bleed, though texturing is sometimes one-noted.
There’s a slight recession in the lower
midrange, with no copious mid-bass to encroach on this area. This provides an open and transparent midrange. With a 7 – 8 dB pinna gain, the upper mids are forwards without being shouty, and the LAN does not cause fatigue.
The
treble continues from the slight rise in upper mids, with moderate extension. The treble lies on the conservative side, with little air and sparkle heard. Sibilance is very mild, but there is admittedly a loss in resolution as a trade-off.
The sound signature is pretty balanced, though every rose has its thorn, and the LAN comes across as boring and undynamic.
COMPARISONS
Is the grass always greener on the other side?
The LAN will be compared against other budget single DD pairs. Hybrids, planars, and pure BA IEMs were excluded from the comparison as the different transducer types have their own pros and cons.
Moondrop CHU
Frequency response graph of the LAN versus CHU via an IEC711 compliant coupler. 8kHz peak is a coupler artifact.
The CHU shares a similar DNA to the LAN, though the former has a more boosted treble with a thinner note weight. The CHU is more sibilant and fatiguing, with a more artificial timbre.
The CHU shades its younger sibling in technicalities, boasting slightly superior imaging, soundstage, micro-detailing, and instrument separation.
Unforunately, the CHU has an annoying non-detachable cable with a poor fit, whereas the more expensive LAN has a detachable cable with better ergonomics.
Tangzu Audio Wan’er
Frequency response graph of the LAN versus Wan'er via an IEC711 compliant coupler. 8kHz peak is a coupler artifact.
The Wan'er is tuned warm neutral, with a thicker note weight. It has more mid-bass, though the bass isn’t as tight, with mid-bass bleed present. The Wan’er has a less pronounced upper midrange, with vocals sounding further back than the LAN.
Technically, the Wan’er is a step behind, with a more intimate soundstage and worse imaging and micro-details.
7Hz Salnotes Zero
Frequency response graph of the LAN versus Salnotes Zero via an IEC711 compliant coupler. 8kHz peak is a coupler artifact.
The Zero is a neutral bright set, and sounds more sterile and analytical. It is brighter and more fatiguing, with a less natural timbre: nasal vocals and some shoutiness is displayed.
The Zero is more resolving, and is a cut above in soundstage, imaging, and micro-details. The Zero’s shells has perpendicular edges, which may pose fit issues; this isn’t the case on the ergonomic LAN.
Truthear HOLA
Frequency response graph of the LAN versus Truthear HOLA via an IEC711 compliant coupler. 8kHz peak is a coupler artifact.
The HOLA is an L-shaped set, with bigger bass and a darker treble. However, the bass isn’t as clean, and the HOLA has inferior technicalities. Note weight is thicker on the HOLA, with a more analogue signature.
CONCLUSIONS
Let’s not beat about the bush. Does the LAN come out smelling of roses?
While the LAN does not exactly wither on the vine, as it can claim good build, a natural timbre, and balanced tonality as its redeeming traits, sadly, it is just average in the big scheme of things.
Don’t get me wrong, the LAN is decent. Unfortunately, being average (or even just above average) is a death sentence in this very competitive budget CHIFI market. Ultimately, this IEM does not gild the lily, and ends up as a little wallflower in a vast greenhouse with more attractive and colorful flowers on display.
If the LAN was released last year, we might have been on to a winner. Unfortunately, in recent times, there has been an influx of competitive budget releases. Even compared to the older Moondrop CHU – the LAN is weaker in technicalities, though the latter has a detachable cable and sounds smoother.
Nevertheless, mighty oaks from little acorns grow, and perhaps Moondrop can take this garden experiment to fine-tune and refine future seedlings. The LAN needs a little bit more panache to come into full bloom.
