General Information

Features:-​


>High-Performance Dual DAC Chipset.


>Dual CS43131 DAC Chips.


>Supports High-Res PCM & Native DSD Decoding.


>32-Bit/384kHz PCM & Native DSD256 Audio Decoding.


>Clean Power With Independent Power Chips.


>Ultra-Low Clean Output WIth Low Noise-Floor & Distortion Ratings.


>Large Output Thrust.


>100-Level Smooth Volume Control.


>3.5mm Single-Ended+4.4mm Balanced Outputs.


>Compact Design.


>Built-in Heat-Dissipation Design.


>Aluminum Alloy Housing.


>Swappable Type-C Port.


>Compatible With Computers, Smartphones, Tablets, Laptops etc.


Introducing the all-new Moondrop DAWN Pro, a premium portable USB DAC/Amp designed with flagship-grade dual CS43131 DAC chips. Enjoy best-in-class performance with ultra-low distortion and class-leading SNR performance. Enjoy your favourite music with ultimate quality all thanks to the DAWN Pro achieving impeccable results in high SNR, DNR, and Ultra-low distortion performance. Moondrop has specially designed the DAWN Pro with a CNC-machined aluminium alloy housing with a built-in heat dissipation design. Take your portable listening to another level of awesomeness with the all-amazing Dawn Pro!!


Flagship Dual DAC Chipset:-​


Moondrop has featured dual flagship decoding DAC chips on the Dawn Pro. The device adopts dual CS43131 Decoding Chips from Cirrus Logics. It’s a well-implemented 32-bit DAC chipset that ensures top-quality audio signal decoding supporting decoding for advanced 32-Bit/384kHz PCM and Native DSD256 audio signals.


Premium Sound With Premium Audio Components:-​


Moondrop has years of expertise in the design and development of high-end audio gear development. They have designed the new DAWN Pro with a fantastic range of components featuring dual independent crystal oscillators, three independent power supply chips and a high-grade USB interface chipset, all this helps unlock the full potential of the DAWN Pro and ensures a professional high-resolution sound experience for the users.


CNC-Machined Aluminum Alloy Housing:-​


Moondrop DAWN Pro features precisely crafted aluminium alloy housing. The DAC/AMP has a compact form factor with a built-in Heat-Dissipation vented design on the top. This design idea matches the idea of the Desktop devices ensuring a consistent performance for hours of use.


Easily Adjustable 100-Level Volume Adjustment:-​


Moondrop Dawn Pro has 100-level smooth DAC volume control that can be easily adjusted using the physical volume keys present on the device. This gives better control in pairing low-power requiring sensitive in-ear monitors and easily adjust using precise adjustments.


Supports Both Single-Ended As Well As Balanced Output:-​


Moondrop Dawn Pro houses dual headphone output ports. It supports both single-ended as well as balanced headphone connections. We have a 3.5mm Single-Ended output and a 4.4mm balanced headphone output.


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Latest reviews

marcelzxc

New Head-Fier
MOONDROP DAWN PRO REVIEW
Pros: – Price/Performance
– Transparent sound
– Great detailing
– 3.5mm and 4.4mm
– Great power for 99% of IEMs
– Very lightweight
– Versatile and compact
– Doesn’t overheat
– USB-C to USB-C cable
– USB-A adapter
Cons: – Buttons with slack
– Not so good for demanding IEMs
– Very weak App
– Clipping on 4.4mm
– Does it work on iPhone?
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>>I am brazilian and I speak portuguese, so forgive my english, I’ll use translation tools to help<<


INTRO:

A dongle that has been very successful due to its price and performance… and also due to its already well-known brand, we’re talking about the Moondrop Dawn Pro.

The dongle market is heating up again, there are a lot of interesting things coming out these days. I’m starting to use dongles again and I hope more will appear here.

Price: $49,99 USD
Color: Silver

Moondrop reviews: Aria, CHU (in portuguese)



MOONDROP LINKS:

https://amzn.to/3Yvx9sl

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DEXN7GB (official store)

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DmvHFnz (hifigo)

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DmyjrYP (shenzhen)

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DC9rHWj (yaoyaotiger)

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DllMimr (first fashion)

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dk0ga4j (haoda)



SPECIFICATIONS:

– DAC Chip: CIRRUS LOGIC CS43131
– Frequency: 5Hz – 82kHz (±1dB)
– Supports: PCM 32-Bit/384kHz, DSD256
– Input: USB type C
– Outputs: 3.5mm SE & 4.4mm Balanced
– Power output: 3.5mm (2Vrms), 4.4mm (4Vrms)
– SNR 3.5mm: 123dB (A-wt), 4.4mm: 131dB (A-wt)
– THD+N <0.00014% (AES17 20kHz non-loaded)
– Dynamic range: 4.4mm: 132dB (A-wt)
– Noise floor: 3.5mm: 1.5μV, 4.4mm: 1.3μV (AES17 20kHz)
– LED RGB: Sampling rate
– UAC 2.0 and UAC 1.0
– Dongle size: 4cm [L] x 2cm [W] x 1.2cm [D]
– Cable size: 11.3cm (end to end)
– Adapter: USB-C to USB-A
– Material: Aluminum alloy
– Dongle weight 13.2g
– Cable weight: 4.1g
– Total weight (packaging, dongle, etc): 107.5g
– Packaging size: 12cm [L] x 12cm [W] x 2.7cm [D]


DEVICES USED:

Kiwi Ears Quintet
Tanchjim 4U
Tin HiFi P1
FiiO M11S
FiiO KA11
– MotoZ3Play
– Samsung S22U
– Dell Inspiron (W10)



UNBOXING:







PHYSICAL ASPECTS:

Construction: Dongle with great construction! All coated in aluminum alloy used in aviation. The design is a very positive point, besides being a minimalist dongle, it’s also super compact! This is one of the points that I found most positive about the Dawn Pro, it’s very small and lightweight – of course, for a dongle that has two outputs: 3.5mm and 4.4mm. I think that for this type of equipment, the smaller and lighter, the better.

Regarding the construction, the only part that I didn’t like were the buttons on the side… not that it’s bad to have buttons on the dongle, on the contrary, it’s great, but the problem is that these buttons are kind of slack, making that little rattling noise when you shake the dongle. This really gives the product a feeling of being something cheaper. I know it doesn’t interfere with anything, but I think that the button making noise is very annoying (in my opinion).

Basically, there are only two volume buttons on the body of the dongle: vol up and vol down. And speaking of volume, the Dawn Pro has a 60-level volume adjustment, which is very good, because you can get a more precise adjustment, the Android volume is quite limited (15 levels). Therefore, the dongle has volume control independent of the source (smartphone, notebook, etc.). Another interesting feature, and one that I really liked, is that the dongle has ventilation holes on the top surface. It’s something that is part of the design but it was not done by chance, this improves the dissipation of the heat produced by the dongle.

Cable. The Dawn Pro has a removable cable. The product comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable and a USB-C to USB-A adapter. Regarding the adapter, it was a positive point that the company included one, however, something I noticed is that the product doesn’t have anything for the Lightning connection (iPhone). I’m an Android user, I don’t know if the dongle works on iOS, and I also didn’t see anywhere saying if it works on Apple devices. I think so, if the company made a product and didn’t include a cable or adapter for the iPhone, then I wouldn’t even buy it, because it implies that the company didn’t prioritize iPhone users (models before 15). With my Android smartphones, the Dawn Pro worked perfectly. Before buying the Dawn Pro, I thought the weak point of the product would be the cable, but so far I was wrong… I’m enjoying it, it’s very flexible, you can fold it and store it in a smaller case.

One thing that the company missed was not including a button to activate the gain, or including some configuration to activate it using the volume buttons. I tested it by holding the volume buttons and nothing happened, so I don’t think it really has that function here.

The dongle has an RGB LED that is located just below the ventilation holes. You can only see the LED when it’s on. The LED colors represent the sampling rates: UAC 1.0 (slow flicker-red); UAC 2.0 in PCM 44.1 – 96kHz (red), 176.4 – 192kHz (green), 352.8 – 384kHz (blue), DSD 1x (yellow), 2x (purple), 4x (white). I only use FLAC 16bit/44.1/48kHz files and the most common music streaming services (Spotify, YouTube Music, Deezer, etc).

Moondrop Link 2.0 App. As you can see in the screenshots below, the Moondrop app is very simple, it doesn’t offer many features, basically it only has: turn off the LED, control volume, select the gain, and change the DAC filters. To top it off, there’s a bug in the icons, but it might be due to the version of my Android (it’s old). The company needs to improve the layout of the app too.


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Download link: https://moondroplab.com/en/download

USB Audio Class. This dongle has compatibility mode in UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0. UAC is the type of protocol used by USB ports to play high-resolution files. UAC 1.0 can play PCM files up to 24bits/96kHz, and UAC 2.0 can play larger files, such as PCM 32bits/384kHz (higher), or DSD256 files, for example. This may be interesting for devices that require specific compatibility, such as the Nintendo Switch.

Battery consumption on the 3.5mm output. Using the Kiwi Ears Quintet, battery consumption was 10%. The smartphone I used has a 3.000mAh battery. The test was performed during 1 hour of playback with the screen off and WiFi turned off (airplane mode). The volume set on the dongle was vol. max and on Android it was level 10 out of 15 available.

I also tested the Tin P1 on the balanced 4.4mm output. The battery consumption with the P1 was 15%. Same as the previous test, I just changed the volume to 12 out of 15 on Android. As I always say, these aren’t 100% accurate numbers, it’s just to get a baseline.

Heating test: I usually see this issue while I’m testing battery consumption. I can say that the Dawn Pro got a very good result, it practically only gets a little warm, but it doesn’t heat up excessively. It seems that the ventilation holes really had an effect. The FiiO KA11, for example, heats up a lot more. A positive point for the Dawn Pro. On the balanced output it heats up a little more, although this difference is almost imperceptible to the touch.

On the computer, the Dawn Pro was recognized immediately, I didn’t need to install any drivers. The volume scale on the computer goes from 2% to 2% by scrolling with the mouse scroll wheel, but you can probably adjust it by 1% by 1% if you use the arrow. As of this writing, the dongle has not received any firmware update. If it does, the firmware page is the same as the app download page.

EDIT: It has released a new firmware "v240110" on Aug 19/2024.

As far as I know, the Dawn Pro doesn’t support microphones, or maybe I just couldn’t find the information.


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SOUND ASPECTS:

It’s important to remember that this analysis is subjective, based on my experience with the product and its synergy with other equipment I’ve used. I’ll also mention that the more objectivist part of this hobby aren’t quite my beach, so some information might be limited, I’m not an expert in the technical side of this type of product.

I really liked the Moondrop Dawn Pro. It is another dongle that, along with many others, has been implemented with the Cirrus Logic DAC chip, model CS43131. The audio quality of the dongle – in my opinion – is excellent. Lately I have seen that dongles come and go and the quality of the equipment always remains at a high level.

The Moondrop Dawn Pro arrived recently, and from the little I have been able to test the dongle, the product has proven to be a very competent DAC/AMP, presenting a 100% transparent, very clean sound, and with excellent definition. I really liked the level of detail it presented. I have tested DAC/AMPs of higher prices and honestly the Dawn Pro is in no way inferior to them (in my opinion). I didn’t notice any distortion, coloration, noise floor or strange sounds.

Amplification: The Dawn Pro connected to my notebook only needed 25-30% volume for the sound to be perfect for me. The Kiwi Ears Quintet is an easy to push IEM, and the Dawn Pro did the job masterfully. Very powerful and dynamic bass, vivid and textured sound. About the Dawn Pro with the Tanchjim 4U, it’s basically what I wrote in the 4U review, since I evaluated the IEM using the Dawn Pro. I saw some people online saying that the Tanchjim 4U needs more amplification… so, in my opinion, the IEM doesn’t need it, the Dawn Pro pushed the IEM already at volumes between 25-30% (dongle volume at maximum and gain activated). In my opinion, with this 3.5mm output, the Dawn Pro will handle 99% of the IEMs on the market.

I tested it with the Tin HiFi P1 and the Dawn Pro with the 4.4mm output, and for me, this output was indeed capable of pushing the P1. Obviously, I’ve already listened to the IEMs with more powerful sources and the performance was better than with the Dawn Pro, and with the FiiO M11S itself it was better. One thing I didn’t like about the Dawn Pro with the P1 was that when I turned the volume up above 60%, the sound simply started to show signs of distortion (clipping). I think that perhaps the Dawn Pro isn’t the best dongle for more demanding headphones, for example, a Hifiman HE400se. If you have earphones that aren’t so demanding and want to use the 4.4mm output, then I think it will be a better situation.

Digital filters: These digital filters always come with DACs, but I confess that I’ve never heard a difference between them. I think it’s a feature offered by the chip, and then companies take advantage and add it as an extra. I’ve talked to other people in the hobby and none of them say they notice a difference either.


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COMPARATIVE: Moondrop Dawn Pro x FiiO KA11

As I always say, they are different products… even though they have the same DAC Chip, the other features and internal components are different. Therefore, this comparison is just a report on my experiences, not scientific data.

In terms of physical aspects, the FiiO KA11 has a fixed cable, and the Dawn Pro has a removable cable. Well, I already mentioned this in the KA11 review… The quality of products nowadays is much better, and if you are only going to use the dongle on your smartphone, I would even prefer it to be a fixed cable (if it’s of good quality, like the KA11). A removable cable is interesting in case you need to extend the cable (for use on a computer), or if you didn’t like the material used by the manufacturer. Now, it’s important to remember that a removable cable has an extra connection point, which can also cause problems.

Both dongles are very light and compact, although I think the KA11 has the advantage in this regard. As for the heating issue, the Dawn Pro comes out on top, since the KA11 heats up a lot more. The Dawn Pro has a balanced output, so that’s another positive point… if you’re really going to use that output, because if you don’t, you’ll just end up with an extra useless hole, then the KA11 is the game changer.

In this case, I can only evaluate the sound of the dongles on the 3.5mm output. Using the Kiwi Ears Quintet, the KA11 presented a warmer and stronger sound, and I’ll take the opportunity to say that it also had a slight increase in power compared to the Dawn Pro. The Dawn Pro, on the other hand, showed a more neutral/analytical sound. It’s likely that this difference in sound is exactly because of the difference in amplification (power).

I see some friends commenting that the Dawn Pro has a smaller soundstage. So, comparing the KA11 with the Dawn Pro, there is a slight feeling that the Dawn Pro has less spatiality, but it’s really only a small thing. For me, the issue is the difference in power between the two. The paragraph above kind of answers that here… if you have a more powerful DAC/AMP, it will certainly deliver a more “open” sound, with more vibration, more texture, and more strength. Remember that I am reporting the part that is within my limitations, if this difference is really due to some other objective issue, unfortunately I can’t point out.

The FiiO KA11 is my recommendation for simple dongles, that is, with only the 3.5mm output. It’s cheaper than the Dawn Pro, especially because it doesn’t have a balanced output. I think the cost/benefit of the KA11 is very good, for what it’s intended to be. Now, if the person really wants to have a dongle with a balanced output, then the Dawn Pro comes in as an alternative with great cost/benefit as well.


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Last edited:

arifgraphy

100+ Head-Fier
Moondrop Dawn Pro: Light of dawn (on budget)
Pros: • Clean and detailed sound
• Punchy Bass
• Detailed Mids
• Energetic Treble
• Compact & portable
• Surprisingly powerful
• Easy to use
Cons: • Limited Soundstage
• Though made of metal, it feels cheap in hand
• Might be insufficient for power hungry headphones
• No physical ‘gain’ switch
• Super annoying ‘Moondrop Link’ app
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CONTEXT:

The Moondrop Dawn Pro is a portable DAC that punches well above its weight. Priced at $49.99, it offers an affordable option for enhancing audio quality from smartphones, iOS devices, and computers. I am not a huge fan of DAC or DAC-AMP, I rather roam around with a DAP. But I was interested to try the Moondrop Dawn Pro, because its cute! In my arsenal, most of the IEMs (not all) are with warm/ warm neutral sound signature. In my first audition, I use Aful Performer 5 with it and felt amazed by it’s awesome detailed mids and instrument separation. With no time, I decide to buy it.


TESTED WITH:

POCO X3
PC
AFUL MagicOne
AFUL Performer 5
Ikko OH10
Ikko OH10S
OG Aria
Moondrop LAN
BQEYZ Winter (modified with dense filter)
Tanzchim One
Tanzchim Zero
Tangzu Princess Chag-Lee
KBEar KW1


DISCLAIMER:
This unit is a personal buy, not a review unit sent by any party. And after spending some days with it and using it extensively, I decide to review it due to my personal interest. There is no monitory transaction nor any other perquisite between me and the respective company/ distributing authority. The following is my unbiased & honest opinion.

One thing more. The review is based on my personal experience and what I hear using different IEMs. Your experience may very due to personal preference and physical difference like the shape & depth of ear cannel.

You can grab your copy from Geek Mart if you are in Bangladesh.
For international buying Shenzhen Audio is the place for you.

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TECHNICAL DETAILS (as per Moondrop’s official site):

Model: DAWN PRO High-performance DAC/AMP
Weight: 13g
Size: 42mm * 22.45mm * 12.39mm
Headphone Connector: 3.5 Single-ended, 4.4mm Balanced
Frequency Response: 5Hz - 82kHz (±1dB)
Chipset: Dual Cirrus Logic CS43131
Background Noise:
4.4mm: 1.3μV (AES17 20kHz)
3.5mm: 1.5μV (AES17 20kHz)
SNR:
4.4mm: 131dB (A-wt)
3.5mm: 123dB (A-wt)
Dynamic Range: 4 4mm: 132dB (A-wt)
Line Output:
4.4mm: 4Vrms
3.5mm: 2Vrms
THD+N: 0.00014% (AES17 20kHz, no load)


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WHAT’S IN THE BOX:

• Down Pro
• Type-C to Type-C adapter
• Type-A to Type-C adapter


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UNBOXING & BUILT:

It is of a rounded shape, enclosed in a tin box. The packaging is simple and basic, hence safe for the DAC in transport. First impressions when holding the Dawn Pro are that it is small and lightweight. Its sleek aluminum alloy chassis not only makes it look good but also provides durability and longevity for long-term use.It means compact, light, and very portable. This device will let you take your high-fidelity audio with it anywhere. Adding both 3.5mm & 4.4mm headphone jacks opens up a number of different connection options, ensuring compatibility with an awful lot of devices.

Despite the premium feel and build quality, there are some minor but critical issues. The volume button of the Moondrop Dawn Pro DAC feels a little bit flimsy, less solid in comparison with other parts in this device because the rubber gasket is lacking. It works well enough for volume adjustments but perhaps lacks the tactile click and durability that might be wished for by us, the users. The dot-patterned grills, aka air vent, in the cover might also not suit everybody's taste and could promote dust or debris accumulation over time, which would require periodical cleaning for optimal performance and appearance. Seriously, I am at a loss for words for Moondrop QC. Please, guys, pay attention to the details and quality!

Overall, it is an aesthetically pleasing, cute little DAC, well built, with a couple of absolutely unforgivable flaws.



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A BIT ABOUT CHIPSET:

Much of that storytelling, though, is in its heart-the dual CS43131 decoding chips from Cirrus Logic. It's known for being fairly accurate and rather low in terms of distortion. Okay, try and whisper a secret to a friend in a loud room: the message may get jumbled or distorted by the background noise with a mediocre decoder chip. The CS43131 chips are akin to skilled secret-whisperers, making sure music reaches your ears with incredible clarity and detail. Moondrop has carefully designed the circuitry around the chips to make sure they are operating at peak potential. Such an approach helped this series, the Dawn Pro, provide a clean sound and let the listener enjoy his or her music exactly as the artist intended.

Image from Google:

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SOUND SIGNATURE ANALYSIS:

Now, for the main event – how does it sound? The Dawn Pro offers a clean and detailed sound signature that punches above its weight class. It holds the bass well and open up the mids with airy & shiny treble. I found that, it delivers tone with a good weight overall, if you pair it with warm IEMs. But neutral or neutral bright IEMs may give you some treble fatigue, if you’re are a treble sensitive guy like me. So keep it mind that, you will hear some identical differences with different tuning IEMs. Don’t bother to experiment, if you have that opportunity.

OK, let’s dive into the analysis. Here's a breakdown of its sonic characteristics:


SUB-BASS:


The sub-bass on the Dawn Pro is deep, also decently controlled; it will provide a good foundation but never overpower any frequency range. When paired with warm IEMs, the Moondrop Dawn Pro DAC enhances the sub-bass frequencies without making the overall sound too muddy. When using a bit brighter/neutral IEM, the DAC delivers a solid and punchy but balanced sub-bass. It almost gives close to the true signature of the IEM that you will use.


The Moondrop Dawn Pro DAC brings deep, rumbling sub-bass into the foreground in the tracks like "Shine On You Crazy Diamond," supplementing the atmospheric soundscapes. The rich, full-bodied underlying bass notes are thick and contribute a lot to an immersive experience rather than overwriting the midrange and treble. In terms of speed and complex bass lines, as with the song "The Number of the Beast" by Iron Maiden, the given DAC does very well. The sub-bass is taut and controlled, even in the riotous parts, which lets one appreciate the intricacy of Steve Harris' bass playing. Though you will miss some speed, it won't let you down because it can deliver the sonic sweetness of sub-bass any music lover is looking forward to getting.



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MID BASS:

Mid-bass is punchy and dynamic, delivering a satisfying thump that brings kick drums and bass guitars to life. The bass integrates well with the overall sound, adding warmth and richness without bleeding into the mids. The mid-bass frequencies are full-bodied and dynamic, adding depth and drive to the music and excels in delivering a rich and engaging mid-bass performance while using warm IEMs. Balance comes courtesy of the Dawn Pro, fleshing out the in-ear monitors' accurate, well-defined mid-bass performance. Mid-bass frequencies are taut and controlled, giving the music weight and fullness without overstepping their limit. Be it intricately crafted musical arrangements by Pink Floyd or riff-laden songs from Metallica, the mid-bass response from the DAC is clear and balanced, further elevating your listening experience.

For instance, in "Is This Love" by White Snake, the mid-bass sounds smooth and full-bodied with the Moondrop Dawn Pro. The IEMs warm up blessfully, endowing the bass guitar and drums with lusciousness, which really helps the overall texture of the song. The mid-bass is prominent-to say the least-but never overwhelming on the vocals or other instruments. The neutrality of the IEMs brings in clarity in the mid-bass, making the overall sound cohesive. Well-defined bass guitar and drums complement the vocals and guitars perfectly, adding depth without overwhelming the mix.


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MALE VOCALS:

But put it with warm IEMs, and the Moondrop Dawn Pro DAC just comes alive with rich and engaging male vocals. On Metallica's "Enter Sandman," James Hetfield's vocals are a bit gravelly and strong. The Moondrop Dawn Pro DAC brings out the depth and texture in his voice, which makes it sound more intense and engaging. The warm IEMs add to the richness of his vocals, giving the song a more dynamic, powerful feel.

Neutral IEMs are when the male vocals never miss being relayed clearly and accurately by the digital to analog converter. It's clean and detailed midrange amplifies the natural timbre and expression of the vocals. Whether subtler vocals, as in the case of Pink Floyd, or more power-packed performances by Metallica, the digital to analog converter puts out a well-balanced and transparent vocal experience that brings the best out of males.



FEMALE VOCALS:

The female vocals sound rich and engaging when the IEMs have warm sounding from the DAC. The midrange is silky and full-bodied, adding some weight to the vocals. When listening to "Jolene" by Dolly Parton, Moondrop Dawn Pro gave her vocals a silky and organic characteristic. The voice of Dolly sounds warm and inviting, while the midrange is clear and detailed. The IEMs give warmth, richness to her vocals, carrying a feel of being a little more intimate and textured.

Paired with the balanced IEMs, this is where the Dawn Pro really shines: clear, natural, and engaging female vocals. The midrange is nicely articulated and accurate, providing good natural timbre to the vocals and emotion. While listening to "Gloria" from Laura Branigan, her strong voice comes through the DAC in such a way that is both precise and energetic, making her voice textured and placing a vibrant and engaging feel into it.

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TREBLE:

The treble is crispy, bright, and fairly well-extended, adding a sense of air and space to the music. It's energetic but not harsh; clear and detailed enough to give the best effect of high-frequency sounds like cymbals and strings. This is very good news, especially for those listeners who do not enjoy harshness or sibilance brought out by warmer IEMs. For example, the hissing cymbals and Ritchie Blackmore's iconic work on the guitar in "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple should be reproduced faithfully. The smooth treble presentation on the Dawn Pro ensures those elements remain clear without being fatiguing during a long listening session.

Well, balanced IEMs are known for their neutral sound signature, and this might give the Moondrop Dawn Pro's smooth and controlled treble a slightly different character. It is highly likely that balanced IEMs will open up the full range of treble frequencies, probably bringing out even more detail and sharpness of high notes than, say, warmer IEMs. However, it can be a bit too bright for treble-sensitive listeners if they use any bright neutral IEM.

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INSTRUMENT SEPARATION:

The instruments sound accurately reproduced and with good detail. Guitars are nice and crunchy, pianos full and resonant, and strings are smooth and natural. Each instrument has its own space; the complex arrangements sound coherent, immersive. An instrumental track, "Altitudes" by the late guitar prodigy Jason Becker, is a technical marvel: just listen to the lightning-fast picking and the complex melodic structures. The Moondrop Dawn Pro, too, presents this with aplomb-with Becker's rapid-fire guitar passages coming across readily, and you can easily appreciate the delicate interaction between the different guitar parts.

Speaking of which, the instrument separation on the Moondrop Dawn Pro is great for its price. Complex tracks with a lot of instruments on offer come through clear, with ease tracking each piece to fill out a richer texture.



TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE:

Detail Retrieval
: The Dawn Pro really impresses with the way it retrieves even the subtlest nuance in your music that you just won't catch on the lesser of DACs. Every single string plucked on a guitar, every breath taken by a vocalist, and any minor detail in the background is reproduced crystal clear.

Dynamic Range: The dynamic range on the Dawn Pro is quite exceptional. It handles quiet passages with explosive crescendos, and it can present all the elements of music correctly. Due to this, one gets an engaging and dynamic listening experience that keeps him hooked right from the very beginning.

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SOUNDSTAGE:

Moondrop Dawn Pro has been praised due to its clean sound and unexpectedly strong sound; however, the thing that it really tends to fall short on is soundstage: more intimate when compared to several competitors. What that may mean is that the instruments may appear to be positioned closer together, tending to create less of an expansive listening experience. The Dawn Pro focuses more on clarity and detail rather than creating this wide sonic landscape. That's a good thing in some regards, as you can hear every instrument quite clear in the mix. If you are accustomed to a wider soundstage where instruments tend to seem spread out, however, the Dawn Pro might feel just a touch congested on some recordings with many instruments playing simultaneously.


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A COMPLETE POWER HOUSE:

The Moondrop Dawn Pro may be compact, but big things can come in small packages. Surprisingly for driving headphones and IEMs alike, this little DAC kicks hard.

• 3.5mm Single-ended: The 3.5mm jack is providing a good deal of power for most everyday listening, with a great performer offering 2Vrms; it's well-matched to most IEMs and even some easier-to-drive headphones. It does not have the sheer muscle of the 4.4mm jack, but in most respects, this delivers a clean and controlled sound.

• 4.4mm Balanced: This is, in fact, where the real juice of the Dawn Pro comes in - via the 4.4mm balanced output at 4Vrms. This connection offers considerably higher power compared to the 3.5mm single-ended-one-twice as powerful. For audiophiles sporting high impedance headphones or notably power-sucking IEMs, the balanced output is a game-changer.
For all its power, the Dawn Pro is a compact unit, and it may not be as fitting for every case. For instance, audiophiles with real audiophile-class headphones with very high impedance may find that the output of one single Dawn Pro leaves them wanting.

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THE UGLY:

What frustrates me is the lack of a physical gain switch. It's kind of basic for such a position class of a DAC, with this design and price. It isn't that there is no place to put that switch; the space left is ample. You have to install and depend on an app called 'Moondrop Link', which is super buggy and not user-friendly at all. While the app Moondrop Link may give everything that is required, as far as functionality is concerned, it is just underwhelming on the ground of user experience. The pain in downloading it, the mess of an interface, and crippling features-all these make me frustrated and ask for something that would be more polished and seamlessly user-friendly. I can only hope that these are taken seriously by Moondrop and that a change comes with future updates.


Who Should Ascend with the Dawn Pro:

• Budget-Minded Audiophiles:
To be honest, the price it carries, the Dawn Pro is simply fantastic, with a clear, detailed, and somewhat powerful listening experience that makes for a great buy when quality and price are both keys.

• IEM Users on the Go: The compact and portable design of this device makes it perfect for users of smartphones and tabs that want to take their IEM listening experience to the next level.

• Listeners Who Value Clarity Over Spaciousness: If one values clear and accurate sound presentation over a super wide soundstage, the detailed and focused signature of the Dawn Pro will be a treat.

• Fans of Balanced Audio (Especially with IEMs): more so with IEMs, the 4.4mm balanced output provides an appreciable and welcome power boost to really get the best out of higher-impedance IEMS or those that scale well from a balanced connection.


Who Might Want to Descend and Look Elsewhere:

• Audiophiles Craving a Vast Soundstage:
If a wide and airy listening experience is your top priority, the Dawn Pro's more intimate soundstage might feel a bit limiting.

• Owners of True High-Impedance Headphones: While the Dawn Pro packs a punch, it might not be enough for audiophile-grade headphones with extremely high impedance.

• Listeners Who Don't Need Extra Power: If you're perfectly happy with your current smartphone or laptop's audio output and only use easy-to-drive IEMs, the Dawn Pro might be an unnecessary addition to your setup.



FINAL THOUGHTS:
The Moondrop Dawn Pro is the best of the breed for the budget-conscious audiophile looking to wring clear, detailed audio out of their IEMs. It's great considering just how small a travel companion it is, but then it did manage to surprise with its heft. If you're craving a super wide soundstage or more luxurious build, you might want to keep searching. Ultimately, it just goes to prove that big things do indeed come in small packages, offering improved audio quality without breaking the bank. Though not perfect for all, clarity, power, and portability on a budget do make Moondrop Dawn Pro a champion for those who need it.

My low rating is for no physical gain switch, lack of rubber gasket inside, non-practical air vents, & disturbing dependency on a non user friendly & buggy app.

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Last edited:
MD Rohit
MD Rohit
Nice and informative review
RK Turan
RK Turan
Previously I've used dawn og
Both of them are really good for the price
Vamp898
Vamp898
Did you, by any chance, changed the roll-off filter? That influences the sound stage.

At least with the Standard "Sharp Roll-off" filter, i noticed no influence on the Soundstage but using the Slow Roll-Off filter, it did have influence. That might be an good candidate.

Vamp898

Headphoneus Supremus
Excellent
Pros: - High Gain has tons of power
- Low Gain allows fine volume control and very low volumes, even for sensitive In-Ear
- Works out of the box with GNU/Linux
- Both 3.5mm and 4.4mm have excellent sound
Cons: The Moondrop Link App is not really user friendly and quite buggy, but it does the job
For being made out of medal, the build quality feels surprisingly cheap
There is not much to say about this DAC/Amp. It is perfectly flat. The outputs are insanely clean. I can hear no noise, no matter what i plug into it.

The shipped USB Cable looks cool, but you can use any other too.

The only thing i would wish for would be an Hardware Switch between Low-, HighGain, but you can't have everything. Switching in the app works fine though.

There is not much more to say. You plug it into an device that is supposed to play Music and... it plays music. The Sound Quality is excellent, no noise, nothing.

It ""only"" has 4Vrms, for some that might not be enough. But it can even drive the Susvara fine, so i would say, the power is sufficient.

If you have a very sensitive IEM (like the SE846) there could be some noise (not white noise) audible at 4.4mm. Did not hear it with any other IEM so far.
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Comments

JohnNash

New Head-Fier
I find the Dawn Pro very dark compared to my Hidizs S9 Pro. But the Moondrop iOS app does but work so I cannot tune my Dawn Pro.
 

JohnNash

New Head-Fier
Many reports on amazon that this does not work with an iphone, even with a lightning-USB C adapter. Can anyone confirm?
It works with the included USB-C cable and a cheapo OTG Lightning adaptor that I bought from Amazon several years ago for another reason. It also works with a Hidizs USB-C to Lightning cable which came with my S9 Pro.
 
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