Nice review! I'm loving mine as upgrade over space travel. I recently updated firmware to 1.1.0 and now have no LDAC support unless I revert firmware. They've added new eq profiles in new firmware (one called 5128 and one called secret- I like the 5128 option). Curious if you've updated firmware and still have LDAC support? I'm using a pixel 7 phone.

Actually I just tested and you are right LDAC has stopped working on 1.1.0 and there are 2 new targets.
It's odd as I had just received the updated in the last couple of days of writing the review and noticed the version change but not the new targets but I was mainly listening with my iPhone at that point.

Anyway, I will re-measure all those targets (including the 2 new ones) and update the review later on tonight. I will also contact Moondrop and see if they can clarify.

So this is what I see now on my DAP - which is obviously what you have also:


And I can see AAC at codec being used even though I have LDAC selected:

OK I did a minor update to the review - mentioned that LDAC is now disabled (I did mentioned that it was a occasionally causing issues, so possible Moondrop are fixing something and disabled it temporarily) and I re-measured the 3 normal profiles and these 2 new ones and added a small section to the measurements with these 2 new measurements. The 5128 Profile might actually be an experiment in providing a 'Basshead' profile as it introduces lots of midrange, the 'secret' profile looks to me like an experiment with EQ.

Nice review bro, wish you best of luck ahead

I love reading your flavorful reviews These high-end Oriveti sets are so appealing because the company clearly has a distinct idea about tuning, but then I read on, and the tech isn't as impressive, and that's such a let-down. Btw, you write that you're a pianist -- are you by any chance a professional musician?

What a review and absolutely stunning photos! Kudos!

@drftr I have the newest version that comes with the SV3 if you bought it today. MKIII

Amazing! Thank you!

Now... I'm thinking of ordering it. Thanks @Dsnuts

Excellent review as always @grumpy213 !

Thanks a lot, thought its tuning could be more warm leaning as its akm dac but seems like fiio tuned more their house way neutral bright. I wonder how it is compared to their concurrent ibasso dx260. As it is also super revealing and neutral.

hm,, as for me i found the M23 to be neutral - warm sounding device just like the Q15, K9 AKM or basically any FIIO product that uses AK4499EX configuration.

Thanks for the review and the great pictures, but aren't you discribing the charakters of the different amplifiers and not of the Composer in you second part? Seems Composer is good enough to do work out those details.
And one question to the construction of the Abyss: Do you mean "insane" as a positive characteristic or just cracy? I mean, I like Harley Davidson, but I would never say they make good bikes.

If you mean the amplified segment, that’s just how the composer sound using the different amps. Some headphones have almost no difference between amps aka their own characteristics overpower it. Some may have weird outcomes due to stuff like impedance or power handling

Abyss is more like crazily over built haha. It’s both positive and crazy pointless.

Nice review. It seems like a great IEM. You did touch a little on sources but not so much on how it performs when run in balanced mode specifically.
The tuning and description you have of its sound makes me think it would benefit greatly being run in balanced mode. I always find balanced to sound more energetic and wider which would likely resolve some of its technical deficiency.