Moondrop Aria 2

General/Packaging/Build/Comfort
The Aria was released in the year 2021,can’t recall which month it was exactly, they were good,technicalities and everything else,but the tuning was just too “safe” to many other people including me. Fast forward to 2023 ,Aria has a successor now with some changes to it. The driver has been replaced with ceramic coated spherical dome composite diaphragm ,cosmetic changes,and also some changes in terms of tuning. Safe to say I personally prefer this tuning over the og Aria.
The packaging is the usual Moondrop styled packing.”Waifu” printed box cover. Unboxing it will reveal IEM itself,two types of eartips,the grey coloured eartips,a faux leather carrying case and also the cable. The cable is a modular cable with interchangeable plug, 4.4 and 2.5 plugs are included.
In terms of build,the size is similar to the og Aria and the changes from what i can see is only the colour and perhaps the design is laser etched instead of painted (I am not 100% sure,do take it with a grain of salt).In terms of comfort,i don’t have any fitting problem with the og Aria,so i don’t have any issue with snow edition as well as they have the same shell size/design.



Gears used for this review

• Earmen Colibri
• Earmen Tradutto -> Earmen CH-Amp
• Hiby R6 II
• Moondrop Aria 2 stock cable and stock eartips

Sound
First and foremost,I do not have the og Aria with me anymore for the A/B test,the comparison is solely based on my memory and time spent with og Aria. The first thing that I noticed when I put on the Aria II is that they are distinctively different in terms of tuning. Personally I prefer Aria II’s tuning over og Aria. Aria II is also more dynamic compared to og Aria and it doesn’t sound that “safe”,however in terms of bass. Let’s break it down below:

Bass:

• Bass transition is linear and smooth from sub to mid bass and has good texture to it
• Mid bass has got good thump to it,slams good enough on Alice Cooper’s Go to Hell
• Sub bass does sound a little roll off,you can’t really hear it but rather “feel” it when the track calls for it. You can still listen to EDM with it,but of course it is nowhere near basshead level but good enough for adequate “fun”

Mids:

• Mids are slightly lacking
• Vocal positioning is not too forward nor recessed
• Both male and female vocal has got good texture and doesn’t sound thin at all
• The instrument’s timbre sounds natural and correct to my ears

Highs:

• The treble to my ears has got a bit more energy compared to og Aria
• Treble is smooth and not fatiguing to listen to despite being slightly more energetic,no sibilance or harshness at all
• Detail retrieval is good enough at this price point,it is not overly done to the point where it is too analytical
• Good amount of air hence the music doesn’t sound too “congested” and contributed to a soundstage presentation

Soundstage/Imaging

• Soundstage is not exceptionally wide,slightly out of head and a little lacking in terms of height
• Imaging is average,instruments can be pinpointed easily but on some busy track,it does suffer a little

Driveability

• Very easy to drive,decent volume out of smartphone’s 3.5mm jack
• Does scale with better source, in terms of soundstage and slightly better bass control

Comparison (Letshuoer DZ4)

• Sub bass on the DZ4 is slightly rolled off but when the track calls for it, the rumble will still be there, more on feel rather than hear, Aria II on the other hand doesn’t roll off that much hence the perceived rumble is slightly more “rumbly”
• Tonality on the DZ4 is more on neutral bright while Aria II has a bit of warmth from the slight emphasis on the lows
• Mid bass on both is pretty similar
• Treble regions are where both of them are different. DZ4 has slightly better treble extension compared to Aria II
• In terms of soundstage and imaging,DZ4 has a more in your head kind of soundstage whereas Aria II is slightly out of your head,in terms of imaging capability,both are more or less on par
• I would say both DZ4 and Aria II are tuned differently,catering to different audience,technicality wise,DZ4 is better

Final Thoughts
Is the Aria II the successor for og Aria? In my opinion, it certainly is, a redesigned shell and paintwork, a different tuning which offers a little bit more fun if you find the og Aria too safe sounding. The paintwork on the Aria II and shell has been reworked for sure and seems like it will fix the paint chip issue that plagued the og Aria. Do I recommend the Aria II? If you have the og Aria and you find that the tuning is too safe, you will like the Aria II, if you are seeking for a very technical set, Aria II might not be the one for you. 4/5 overall!



*Moondrop Aria 2 has been sent over by ShenzhenAudio,as always,I thank them for their opportunity and generosity.However I am in no way influenced nor paid to produce this review,all thoughts are of my own.

If you are interested in grabbing a pair,head over to ShenzhenAudio’s webstore at the link below: *Not affiliated
Moondrop Aria 2 - Non affiliated

DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank HIFIGO for providing the Moondrop Aria 2 unit.

It can be gotten here: https://hifigo.com/products/moondrop-aria2 (no affiliate links).




INTRODUCTION

The Aria 2 we are discussing about today, is actually the 5th "Aria" iteration in the Moondrop lineup.

Unbeknownst to some audiophiles, the very very first Aria was actually a bullet-shaped set - https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/...ube-composite-diaphragm-line-type-in-earphone - but this flew under the radar.

Thereafter, we had the more recognizable Aria 2021, which was one of the benchmarks for a CHIFI single DD in 2021. It was appreciated by consumers for good tonal balance and timbre, though there were issues with the paint chipping/bubbling, which is still a meme on some audio forums today.

Lastly, we have the Aria Snow, and an exclusive Elven Maiden (Hatsune Miku) variant for her fans - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002540674378.html.


SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver configuration: single dynamic driver with ceramic-coated spherical dome composite diaphragm
• Impedance: 33 Ω
• Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
• Sensitivity: 122 dB/Vrms
• Cable: 2-pin, 0.78 mm; copper and silver-plated Litz cable; 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm termination modules included
• Tested at $89.99 USD

ACCESSORIES

Other than the IEM, these are included:
- 3 pairs of silicone eartips
- Cable
- Modular distal plugs for 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm terminals
- Leatherette carrying case



It wouldn't be a Moondrop IEM without the quintessential waifu gracing the packaging, and today's waifu is indeed gracefully playing a violin.

For something retailing close to 90 bucks, the accessories are a mixed bag. While we have a modular cable and an elegant case, there is only one set of eartips included! It is quite a disappointment that no foam tips or alternative silicone types are added in the packaging, considering Moondrop are famous for their Spring Tips.



The round zipper leatherette case is really tasteful, with the innards lined by velvet and webbing.




Thankfully, Moondrop redeems itself with the addition of a modular cable, which allows pairing with 3.5 mm (single-ended) and 4.4 mm (balanced sources). This is a 2-pin copper and silver-plated Litz cable; it is well-braided and hefty, with a chin cinch and minimal microphonics. Indeed, this is one of the better stock cables for a sub-$100 USD set.

The rest of this review was done with the stock cable and stock silicone tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.


BUILD/COMFORT

Fashioned from CNC milled and casted zinc alloy, the shells are on the heavier side, but they are literally built like a tank. The brass acoustic nozzle are also gold-plated and are purportedly replaceable - in the event of blockage or damage, or even for tuning purposes, for those adventurous enough to do so.



The solid metal shells are on the heavier side, but ergonomics are pretty decent, with no awkward protrusions on the inner surfaces to poke the ears.



The Aria 2 is heavily vented - Moondrop has designed this IEM with a special pressurized vent - and isolation takes a hit and is below average. However, the venting does contribute to a good sub-bass extension and decent soundstage (we will read more below), and I also did not find any driver flex.


INTERNALS

The Aria 2 utilizes a single DD, with a ceramic-coated spherical dome composite diaphragm, which is pretty unique as a material in CHIFI single DD sets.


DRIVABILITY

I tested the Aria 2 with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Fiio K11 DAC/amp
- Fiio KA13 dongle
- Hiby R3 Pro Saber 2022 DAP
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 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

This IEM is relatively easy to drive. Some scalability occurs with amplification, but most weaker sources should be able to drive it adequately.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES


Graph of the Moondrop Aria 2 via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler peak.

Tonally, the Aria 2 follows the virtual diffuse sound field (VDSF) - which is essentially Moondrop's in-house variant of the Harman curve. The sound signature is a bit on the thinner side with an upper midrange boost, which provides a "clean" soundscape.

Thankfully, the Aria 2 avoids being totally sterile with a sub-bass boost. Bass extension and rumble goes quite deep, though quantity-wise, it is not at basshead levels. In terms of quality, the bass is speedy and agile, with minimal mid-bass bleed. Texturing is very well done.

The lower midrange is a tinge recessed, but is quite transparent without bass encroaching into this area. Instruments and vocals are easily layered and pinpointed in the midrange as such. However, some folks might prefer a bit more thickness in this region, so there are pros and cons to this tuning philosophy.

The upper mids sport a 9 dB ear gain, and are at the edge of shoutiness. Vocals are definitely forwards in the mix, but may be a overly zealous if the Aria 2 is used at louder volumes (Fletcher Munson curve).

The lower treble continues on from the boosted upper mids, and tails off thereafter. There is a smattering of sibilance, and the treble is on the airier side.

Timbre is very natural, as per its single DD setup, no complaints for acoustic instrument playback.

In technicalities, the Aria 2 performs at an above average level for a sub-$100 single DD. Soundstage is above average in all 3 dimensions, with acceptable micro-detailing and imaging. Layering and instrument separation are quite well done.


COMPARISONS

Comparisons were made with other sub-$100 USD single DDs. Pure BAs, hybrids and planars were omitted as the different driver types have their own pros and cons.


Moondrop Aria 2021 and Snow Edition


Graph of the Aria sisters via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler peak.

I've grouped the 2 predecessors of the Aria 2 here. They are all tuned to variants of the VSDF curve, but the Aria 2 beats the 2 older siblings in technical performance.

The Aria 2021 is bassier and darker, with a less extended treble. Technically, the Aria 2021 is also weaker in imaging, instrument separation, soundstage and micro-detailing.

As for the Snow Edition, it is a tinge less bassy, with less treble sparkle. The Snow Edition is a hair behind in technicalities (micro-details, instrument separation, imaging and soundstage). The Snow Edition has a worse cable and build, but in the big scheme of things, the Aria 2 is probably just a marginal upgrade over it.


DUNU Kima Classic

The Kima Classic is a V-shaped IEM, with more bass and treble than the Aria 2. The midrange is more scooped out on the Kima Classic, so midrange lovers might need to look elsewhere.

The Kima Classic has a less natural timbre. In technical chops, it also lags behind in instrument separation, imaging and soundstage, compared to the Aria 2.


Simgot EA500

The EA500 has 2 tuning nozzles to provide slightly more versatility. The EA500 lies towards a brighter Harmanish tone, and is more boosted in the upper mids and treble than the Aria 2. Sibilance is also more marked on the EA500, so it is more fatiguing for extended usage, and probably not for our treble sensitive brethren.

In technicalities, the EA500 beats the Aria 2 in micro-detailing, imaging and clarity, though the Aria 2 has superior soundstage and instrument separation.


CONCLUSIONS



The Aria 2 is a decent sub-$100 single DD, offering robust build and ergonomics, and solid technical chops. It furnishes a nicely textured bass, with a clean midrange, coupled with natural timbre. The upper mids may be a tinge on the hotter side, but upper mids perception is somewhat dependent on volume played at (Fletcher Munson curve), eartip choices, ear anatomy (pinna gain), hearing health and source choices, so YMMV.

Ever since the Moondrop Stellaris, the brand has released a series of sidegrade meh products, and are riding on waifus and VSDF curves to tide them thru against tough competition. These may only get the company so far. Case in point: sequels of lauded classics in Moondrop's stable - such as the Starfield 2, Solis 2, Chu 2, and Blessing 3 - were launched to twang on strings of nostalgia, but reception was mixed amongst consumers.



Verily, the Aria 2 has a very difficult namesake to live up to, being a sequel of the legendary Aria 2021. In that regard, the Aria 2 is thankfully an improvement over its lauded predecessor, bringing better technicalities to the table.

However, in the big scheme of things, it is probably a marginal upgrade over the Aria 2021 and Snow Edition, and existing owners of those might want to considering keeping your powder dry for a more substantial upgrade down the line. Amongst the sub-$100 USD single DD pool, the Aria 2 is competent, but ultimately a sidegrade (ie nothing ground breaking). Nevertheless, for consumers who have never tried any gear in the Moondrop Aria family, this set is worth a listen.