Moondrop Quarks

Maybe this iem review is a bit late but this is my first review of an in-ear monitor product and i am quite new to this audiophile hobby and i will try to give my honest and subjective opinion. I kindly apologize for any mistakes in this review.

Disclaimer :
I got this unit by my own purchase and this review is not affiliated by Moondrop nor paid by anyone or anyway.

Moondrop quarks is the cheapest entry level iem offered by moondrop in a classic bullet style shape. Unboxing and accessories are okay for the price at 12 usd. The housing itself has a transparent plastic shell that looks good but feels like cheap and easily damaged (maybe i'm just nitpicking). The cable is quite easily tangled and the eartips provided are just average.

The Sound :

Bass : Bass is light but present with average weight midbass. I could clearly hear the sub bass on EDM or other sub bass heavy tracks. Bass is quite fast in speed an decay, overall the quality is good and above average for the price.

Mid : The mids are star of the show, it's a mid-centric iem. While listening to pop songs like Taylor Swift her vocal is clear and forward without feeling shouty and harsh even at higher volumes. String instruments like guitar sound nice and have good timbre but placed behind the vocals.

Treble : Treble is smooth and rolls off pretty quick as seen in the graph, the details revealed are just okay for the price itself.

Soundstage : It feels just around or in my head in circular, nothing exceptional.

Imaging and separation : Instrument separation and positioning are average and acceptable in the price range.

Conclusions :
For people searching a low budget mid centric earphone, this must be a try and the tuning is very good at this price.

ABOUT ME​

PREFACE​

Color me impressed, because these were totally not the sound I was expecting! Based on the reviews, I had in mind a sound that was very dry and unalive, but thankfully this was not the case. In fact, I was ready to diss the Quarks so much that I preemptively wrote an entire negative review for it beforehand. Guess I won't be needing that anymore!

UNBOXING​

PHYSICALITIES​

The quark overall sports a modest build. First thing I notice is the smokey grey color and rubbery feel of the cable. Oddly enough, such a combination is really reminiscent of the skipping rope I used to have as a child, which was also grey and rubbery. To an extent, the physicalities of an IEM determines how you use it. The tiny lightweight build of these "quarks" seems like as if they are made specifically for sleeping, especially for side sleepers. They are so tiny that you will not feel a thing when pressing your ears against the pillow. Thankfully, the sound complements its intended usage with its fluffy, snug, "hot cup of cocoa"-esque mids.

THE TALE OF THE QUARK: MIDS​

The Moondrop Quarks tells a tale not about the bass, not about the treble, but about its mids. People tend to describe it as neutral, but I prefer to call it natural, because that is how it sounds. It sounds very natural and organic, and portrays instruments with a true-to-life tone. It mirrors the very essence of the Moondrop flagships (e.g. Blessing 2) but in the form of a naive child. The child may not have the brains of its adult counterparts, but fear not as its heart is full of spirit, and that is what matters most in the end, right? As stated in Andy's review, the Quarks really have a wholesome sound to it.

SOUND ANALYSIS​

SUITABLE FOR:​

- Podcasts
- Anything with male vocals
- Everything else

NOT SUITABLE FOR:​

- Classical
- Acoustic
- Sub-bass heavy music

SOUND SIGNATURE​

The tale is quite literally about the mids, as both ends of the spectrum are tapered (i.e. n-shaped). As a result, this is an IEM that is comfortable to listen to at high volumes. You can crank it up and get very satisfactory results, through I would recommend dialing back the high-mids just a bit. High volume also lets the highs shine through. Speaking of the highs, they aren't blatantly recessed, just rather quiet. I'd describe the highs as really comfy, providing an unperceivable but complementary addition to the sound. They are tuned to be as inoffensive as possible without consciously making you aware that it is recessed. The airiness and sense of sparkle in tracks are all conveyed here, they are just on the quiet side. Tonality of the highs are also on the natural side, which further makes it unperceivable as it's so good at blending in with the rest of the sound. Bass is not completely lacking. While sub-bass suffers from poor extension, the mid-bass still delivers plenty of oomph that gives power to kick drums (sometimes can be a bit bloaty). Just expect the bass response to be on the 'round and bouncy' side of things.

In the end, the real strong point is how coherent the entire sound is. Every part of the spectrum does not feel out of place, and contributes to this homogeneous sound that you can listen to for hours and hours on end.

TECHNICALITIES AND STAGING​

I wasn't expecting much here of course, but I was subtly surprised. While the soundstage isn't spacious, I actually found it quite roomy, like a small cozy room. It is most definitely NOT an in-your-ears/head sort of experience; the sound envelops you around your head. The stage is circular in shape. The imaging is rather convincing, you can feel the presence of each instrument as the sound manifests all around you. Overall the staging feels comfy, just like the sound signature. Detailing is not subpar for the price, I'd say it's good for what you're paying, especially when it comes to the detailing of the mids. If you want detailed highs (as well as huge soundstage) on a budget, the KZ ED9 is your best friend.

TEST TRACKS ​

These tracks were used for the comparisons done below.

COMPARISONS​

VERSUS SONY MH755​

Even though these two IEMs are separated by time (i.e. the MH755 is extinct), this is honestly the most relevant comparison. Why? Because both IEMs are tuned towards some neutral target, and both IEMs are in the budget segment. Tonally, the Quarks and the MH755 are more similar than different. Both have that natural euphonic tonality. For someone who isn't all pedantic about sound signatures, it might sound almost the same even. Of course there are obvious differences. The MH755 has a blatantly more potent low end where the bass rumbles with authority, while the Quarks sound bass-light. The MH755 is also generally more V-shaped, whereas the Quarks sound more balanced and lightweight. The MH755's treble is more upfront than the Quarks, as well as being more detailed. In terms of soundstage, the MH755 has a wider stereo field, while the Quarks place sounds in the center stage. Imaging is more vivid on the Quarks. Overall, the MH755 is more fun, while the Quarks are more balanced, but both have a very natural midrange tonality. However, in terms of value for price, the MH755 is still the winner.

VERSUS FINAL AUDIO E3000​

Of course, it would make sense to pit the Quarks against another micro-driver IEM. Both the Quarks and the E3000 bear an awfully similar sound signature and tuning style. Both are quite mid-centric, with the lows and highs tapered off. However, there are very noticeable differences, and not just in the price. Believe it or not, to my ears the Quarks' midrange sound more natural, organic, lush and more detailed. The E3000's highs are a bit brighter than the Quarks and therefore sounds less rolled off; however, the E3000's highs are less tonally accurate than the Quarks, which gives the Quarks the advantage in terms of treble tonality. The lows are essentially similar, with rolled off sub-bass and emphasized mid-bass. In terms of soundstage, the Quarks places sounds in the center stage, while the E3000 prefers to place them on the sides, thereby creating a wider stereo effect on the E3000. In terms of imaging, both are equally competent. Honestly,

VERSUS KZ ED9 (wide filter)​

This one's an interesting comparison, at least to me. Despite costing less, the ED9 is more technically competent. It has a drastically bigger soundstage and therefore better imaging and instrument separation. Both the Quarks and the ED9 have rolled off sub-bass, however, you can easily turn them into bass cannons by simply blocking the vent on the wide filters. Both IEMs exhibit a naturally-tuned organic midrange, however the ED9's mids might seem veiled due to the more V-shaped signature. Treble is night and day. While the Quarks favor a transparent fatigue-free treble tuning, the ED9 favors a bright, energetic treble tuning that is also extremely resolving in micro-details, all the while being as inoffensive as possible.

VERSUS TRN M10​

M10 suffers from a weird midrange tonality, even more tapered bass, and spiky treble peaks. It is safe to say that the Quarks are a much better buy.

VERSUS KZ EDX​

No comparison needed. The EDX is basically a potato wrapped in gold foil, the Quarks trounces the EDX in every way.

VERSUS KBEAR KS1​

Both the KS1 and Quarks have lush musical mids, however, the KS1 is more V-shaped. The mid-bass on the KS1 is much more pronounced. The treble on the KS1 is less rolled off, but the Quarks have slightly better treble tonality. KS1 places sounds more on the sides, while the Quarks places them in the center. While both are great, the Quarks overall has better tonality and a more coherent sound.

VERDICT
As someone who has a personal vendetta against overhyped or even overrated products, I have to say this one is an exception. The praise for the Quarks is well-deserved. Unless you are looking for bass heavy IEMs or a treble-centric signature, you really cannot go wrong with the Quarks. These are great for anyone who wants to enjoy the meat of their music, so to speak.

Disclaimer:

My appreciation goes to Cloris from ShenzhenAudio for providing me with this opportunity, and my opinion of the record will be based on my honest musical choices.



Build Quality

The Moondrop Quarks look stunning, especially with their translucent shells and color-coded backplates. Unfortunately, when studied attentively, the illusion fades. The material is obviously low-quality, with a ragged finish; the wire is springy; and the internals lack the specificity of higher-end headphones. But it looks really cute.

Sound Section

SOURCE​

Cowon Planue R2

iFi Hip Dac

EARTIPS​

Final E Series

Tonality Balanced

Bass-. The bass is not pleasing here as it lacks subbass rumbles and texture and doesn't have a full-bodied feel. The intensity level of the mid-bass has been tuned to be laid back and good-natured.

Mids take center stage here. Clean and crisp mids are present. Tone is more neutral in character.

Treble-treble is non-fatiguing but needs more sparkles. The attack is not pleasing. But I found this treble good for long listening sessions (depends on preference).

Soundstage: Soundstage is good if paired with something powerful. The delivery is exquisite here.

COMPARISONS​

Moondrop Quarks VS TRN MT1
Bass: In the MT1, the subbass also has a nice depth to it, but it lacks mid-bass. You can feel the depth, but it lacks the mid-bass slam.
Mids-The mids of the MT1 are thin-sounding as it lacks body.
Treble-smoother and more natural and has a slightly more pronounced upper mids and treble.
Soundstage: The soundstage of the MT1 is above average, which is very good for the price.


Conclusion :
To me, the winner of this shoot out is the TRN MT1. For some reason, it did not impress me, but for its price, the tuning is really good, natural, and more ear-friendly. Moondrop Quarks are just for those who want super midrange performance with light bass to my preference.