Released back in 2021, the MOONDROP KATO, said to be the successor of the KXXS and has been mentioned countless of times, only second to the Aria, to be one of the best sounding single DD config IEMs for under 200USD. With that being said, it's been around 8-9 months since I've owned a pair and about a year and a half as of writing this since its release - how does it hold up to the test of time, and does it still deserve a spot for recommendation?
FOREWORD
- The following reviews of IEMs will always be based on its own prowess relative to its price. When I say something about an IEM is good or bad, it will always be relative to how much is the retail of it.
- I will be using DACs relative to the price of the IEM to review them. For reviewing the KATO, the M15 shall be used.
- Since the KATO comes in two types of nozzles, my review comments will mostly in default configuration (silver nozzle) unless stated otherwise.
- The unit I own is bought pre-owned and is a "DEMO" unit allegedly used for audio tour prior to its release, hence the extra wording beside the 2pin connection and the more poor aesthetics
UNBOXING & ACCESSORIES
Moondrop definitely wants to know you got your money's worth, hence the unboxing experience definitely is so much better than the rest. Underneath the waifu sleeve (yes it is damaged and fixed by the previous owner at a corner), you get a very nice presentation of the whole set.
In terms of accessories, I like how this pair of IEM has its 2 sets of eartips being presented as such, giving it a step up than your standard tip-in-a-bag. The KATO gives you 1 set of foam tips as well as the well reknowned Spring Tips.
For the KATO, one special thing that it provides is that it has interchangeable nozzles where you are given a silver nozzle as a default config and a brass nozzle. It is said to change the tuning slightly, and straight out of the bat, it does but not to a very significant degree. Basically it only adds a slight warmth to it and increases bass presence ever so slightly.
BUILD & FIT
Before I start, I want to clarify that again, this is pre-owned and allegedly was used as an audio tour unit, hence scratches galore on my pair. But I got a good deal then and I only wanted to listen to it rather than awe in its aesthetics. But man I wished this looked better.
The body is built like a tank with heft. It is an all metal body build with a smoothened out facet theme going all along the IEM, making it look like a work of art. Not to mention, just take a look at the stock cable. This was back in 2021, Moondrop was definitely delivering and setting new standards
The fit on this pair is good. Eventhough with the slightly hefty headshells, I can wear this comfortably without any fatigue for hours on end. However, here's where I might comment on something - the tips. The Spring tips given is definitely the comfiest thing I've ever felt that touched my ear canals but unless I'm sitting in my room and having little to no movement, if you're moving about doing chores the fit might not be tight and snug. Hence, I often switch to 3rd party tips in certain cases.
SOUND
Source : Foobar 2000 -> Questyle M15 -> Moondrop KATO
In general, the Moondrop KATO is a mild V-shaped IEM. Depending on the nozzles used the signature goes from neutral with the default silver nozzle, to a slightly more relaxed warm-ish sound with the brass nozzles. With this type of tuning that is said to resemble Harman, it definitely is very relaxed and pleasing to hear
BASS
- Overall definitely an IEM with a less impactful bass region with only a slight increase in the presence when using brass nozzles due to it giving it a warm characteristic
- Subbass is there but not really that strong in presence, has decent rumble
- Kick drums has polite boominess has more of a very full airy-ness thump. If punchy type bass is in the mix definitely presents itself as very quick and tight
- Bass notes sound luscious smooth and has body
- Definitely no signs of bass bleed
MIDS
Vocals :
- Using the Moondrop Aria (not SE) as a reference, it definitely can be regarded as the relaxed version the Arias (my way to describe Aria vocals would be more hard sounding)
- Both male and female vocals are presented with a very natural tonality that I've heard so far for IEMs within this price bracket
- Male vocals would sound more bodied
- Females maybe ever so slightly thin for singers with higher pitch compared to male vocals
- No signs of sibilance in vocals as well
- As it is it is hard to notice but comparing it to certain IEMs above its tier (XBA A3) or almost in the same as its class (BQEYZ Winter), you definitely can feel the more relaxed warm-ish characteristic, but overall retains most of the microdetails
Everything Else :
Probably the same with what I have to say about the vocals, everything overall sounds : relaxing, smooth, natural.
- Macrodetails of instruments sound natural in terms of tonality and timbre with no signs of color, only the fact that its being smoothened out
- Guitar notes sound soft yet full of body, with harsher notes being tamed down, having the sharpness ever so slightly evened out
- Piano notes sound the most relaxing however due to its nature of a relaxed tuning might have less of that strength when notes are emphasized (e.g.: piano keys striking very hard)
HIGHS
- Instruments at at the upper mids to high version sound sparkly without the sharpness, such as brief arpeggios from pianos and guitars
- Synths sound light but does not sound thin or lacking whatsoever
- Hihats and cymbals definitely does not sound too crisp and is (again) presented with a more relaxed tuning but all the while sounding natural
- Treble extension is decent and has that airyness to it
TECHNICALITIES
Once you are using IEMs from this price bracket, the technicalities are definitely the factor that is being considered in making the IEM, other than the tuning
For the KATO, the dynamics and detail retrieval work hand in hand to make songs sound natural, relaxed, yet retains almost if not all of the details of the song. Listening to the KATO with long listening sessions (3 hours in 1 sitting is my longest) does not make me feel auditorily fatigued at all, despite listening to countless songs with so many elements. Micro and macrodetails are smoothened out but does not sacrifice tonality whatsoever.
Imaging and separation is definitely also a strong suit of this IEM, having multiple layers of elements in a single spot yes separates them well with no signs of mushing together
Soundstage in my opinion is decent. There definitely are wider sounding IEMs than the KATO, but given the fact that the depth of the KATO is better significantly, aiding the layered separation, I guess its evened out.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Time and time again, I would sometimes revisit this pair of IEM whenever I'm listening to something relevant to its price range, like the LETSHOUER S12s, to the the recent BQEYZ Winter, and even the Thieaudio L3. Now don't get me wrong, the aforementioned IEMs certain do in fact has very amazing tuning overall, but if you're listening to an IEM for hours on end, it's safe to say these stand the test of time by finding the perfect balance between a relaxed tuning yet gives you as much as possible without going overboard.
I definitely like V-shaped IEMs, but in terms of listening, probably not gonna last me more than an hour before I feel fatigued. The KATO? I've been wearing it for at least 8 hours for the past 2 days as of writing this, just because it is THAT good.
And yes, that waif stuff is ludicrous.