MOONDROP DAWN 4.4mm

Hi there, before i even begin this short review, please do forgive my weird English and grammatical mistakes.
the Moondrop Dawn 4.4 is purchased with my own money and this is purely my subjective opinion.

lets start with the Packaging

Design and Build
There is also a Companion App available named "Moondrop Link" for customizing :

• Filters
• Gain
• LED
• Volume Control

For Android users, I suggest to download the APP from Moondrop websites because the playstore version is not up to date.

Battery consumption on this dongle is rather frugal for how much power it offers.

Sound

Sound is tested using "Slow Rolled Off Phase Compensated Filter"

My first impression using this dongle is that it has clean black background without any hiss or RF Interference.
I also found that midbass and uppermid on this dongle is slightly emphasized, treble is extended but smooth.
It has good dynamics, but at the same time its well controlled, clean and spacious
Detail retrieval, staging is above average for its price

I also tested this dongle to push my Sundara, it didn't have any trouble pushing it to loud listening level and still has decent dynamics.

This dongle also has leaner overall presentation, not really analytical but not exactly musical either, pretty neutral best of both worlds I would say.


Comparison

Moondrop Dawn 3.5 : Dawn 3.5 is the more musical and a bit warm if compared to the 4.4 version, the Dawn 4.4 has better dynamics and wider staging compared to the single ended brother.

E1DA 9038D : 9038D overall presentation is more towards analytical and has better detail retrieval and resolution, it also has detachable cable, sadly it picks up RF Interference and consumes more battery than the Dawn 4.4mm.

Tanchjim Space : Space technicality is very close to the Dawn 4.4mm, the only thing I notice is that Space has more neutral mids compared to the Dawn 4.4mm emphasized upper mids.


Conclusion / TLDR ;
Moondrop Dawn 4.4mm is recommended for :

• users on a tight budget
• already have balanced cable
• want a dynamic sounding dongle

Moondrop Dawn 4.4mm is NOT recommended for :

• users who appreciates removable cable
• want the most analytical and best technicalities
• didn't want to spend balanced cable for every single IEMs and Headphones

thats all from me for now,
thanks for reading and again, sorry for my weird English and grammatical mistakes.


best regards,


-littlenezt

DAC-Amp dongles are a dime a dozen these days. Not too long ago, most IEM manufacturers would purely focus on earphones and perhaps cables. The sources were left to dedicated source manufacturers.

Things have changed now, as popular brands are coming up with their own dongles. Moondrop also wanted in on the fun and introduced the MoonRiver 2 as their top-of-the-line offering.

The Dawn aims to cater to mid-range buyers instead and comes in two different flavors: 3.5 (only single-ended output) and 4.4 (only balanced output). The Dawn 4.4 stands out between the two with its superior output power, lower distortion figures, and significantly higher channel separation.

Can the Dawn 4.4 stand out amidst a sea of competitors? Read on to find out.

This review originally appeared on Headphonesty.

Packaging​

The Dawn comes in a very interesting container, with an aluminum can serving as both the packaging and carrying case.

The DAC/Amp and accessories sit inside a foam cutout to prevent damage during transport.

Design​

Moondrop absolutely nailed the industrial design of the Dawn 4.4.

Click to expand...

The cylindrical shape with no buttons or protrusions on the sides makes the Dawn 4.4 a joy to hold. The transparent cable-sheathing adds to the glamor and gives it a unique look.

The anodized aluminum shell is spray-painted and resistant to RF interference. A solitary LED button on top glows orange during operation. On top, there is the 4.4mm balanced output.

The bone of contention here is the fixed USB type-C cable.

Click to expand...

As such, no native compatibility with iPhones since you’ll need an adapter to get it working. Also, this raises concerns about long-term durability.

I am not too concerned about the durability here since there is ample strain relief all around. Also, a detachable cable has its downsides too (mainly, the mechanical stress exerted during transport), so it’s not all so black and white.

Connectivity​

The Dawn 4.4 connects directly to Android phones, Macbooks, and iPads without any external driver or app installation. You will need the windows driver to get things working properly for Windows.

The Moondrop Link iPhone and Android app allows finer customization of features, including gain level, controlling the LED light, selecting reconstruction filter, etc.

Power Consumption​

Optimization here is good for a dual-DAC device, with the Dawn 4.4 drawing approximately 400mW of power from USB at 25% volume.

The Apple dongle has a noticeably lower power draw at a similar volume (approx. 150mW) but does not sound as dynamic or detailed as the Dawn.

Something’s gotta give, I guess.

Internals​

Moondrop went for the tried and tested CS43131 chipset by Cirrus Logic. It is basically the CS43198 with an onboard amp, so you are getting similar specs to the nearly three times more expensive MoonRiver 2.



There are a pair of dual-crystal oscillators that further improve jitter performance. Overall, a very competent design from the folks at Moondrop.

Moondrop Dawn 4.4 Sound​

The Dawn 4.4 has a neutral sound signature with a slightly lean-sounding midrange.

Click to expand...

It does not sound analytical or harsh. However, the mids are not the most lush or engaging, if those are the terms. Treble does not exhibit any glare, and staging and imaging are fairly good for a small DAC/Amp.

Macrodynamic punch is decent and microdynamics (subtle shifts in volume) are not as obvious as they are on some higher-end sources. At this price, though, that would be nitpicking.

I like the output power, especially when connected to a laptop or PC. It can drive full-size headphones with authority (unless we are talking about low-impedance, low-sensitivity monsters).

The voltage swing is not high enough to fully drive high-impedance dynamic driver headphones but most IEMs will be driven with authority. I was pleasantly surprised with how well the Dawn 4.4 complemented the Hifiman HE-400se.

Even planar magnetics can be powered by the Dawn 4.4 – unless we are talking about very inefficient designs.

Click to expand...

One area where the Dawn 4.4 falls short: powering low impedance, low sensitivity IEMs. One such example is the Final E5000. Having just 14 ohms impedance and 92 dB/mW sensitivity (both of which get lower with frequency), most portable devices fail to power them properly.

The Dawn 4.4 is no exception. They can get the E5000 loud, but the bass lacks control, and treble air is reduced. Staging and imaging suffer as a result.

This, however, is an extraordinary case and does not apply to most IEMs.

Comparisons​

The Moondrop Dawn 4.4 is the second cheapest dongle in my collection, with the least expensive being the Apple dongle. As a result, the comparison is a bit unfair on paper.

Quloos MC01​

The Quloos MC01 is a more interesting comparison. It has the exact same specifications on paper, with the only difference being added digital power filters, a single-ended output, volume buttons, and an OLED display.

The MC01 sounds more detailed than the Dawn, but can veer into “information overload” territory. The slightly more laid-back nature of the Dawn is more agreeable to my ears. Power figures are similar between them.

If you do not need the display or the buttons of the MC01, the Dawn 4.4 is a great alternative at one-fourth the price.

Questyle M15​

The final comparison is against the best dongle I have in my collection, and the best I have tried until now: Questyle M15. It doesn’t have a display or buttons but makes up for all those with the sound.

Sadly, the Dawn 4.4 is no match for the M15, with the Questyle dongle displaying better dynamics, transparency, and imaging than the Dawn. Only stage width is slightly better on the Dawn 4.4. Power draw is even lower on the Questyle.

Then you look at the price tag – four times the cost of the Dawn 4.4! So the Dawn 4.4 wins the “price-to-performance” battle.

Conclusion​

Moondrop did a great job with Dawn 4.4. For a mere USD$10 extra over the single-ended Dawn 3.5, you get almost twice the output power, much better channel separation, better noise performance, and a dongle that can drive some planar headphones.

Some corners were cut, namely a lack of buttons and display. Also, no single-ended output means you have to have a balanced cable with your IEMs or headphones.

If you have already subscribed to the “balanced” lifestyle, the Dawn 4.4 is a no-brainer when it comes to mid-range dongles. I struggle to find another dongle that offers the same level of sound quality under USD$100.

Subjectively and objectively, the Moondrop Dawn 4.4 is a great product and earns my recommendation.

The review sample was kindly provided by Shenzhen audio in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't receive monetary or any other kind of compensation and I don't use affiliate links.
The price of the Dawn is $69.99 and you can buy it from Shenzhen audio online shop.

Moondrop

If you are into the headphones hobby there is no chance that you don't know about Moondrop.
Founded in 2015, is among the most well known manufacturers of IEMs with many successful products like the Aria Snow and the Kato.
The company is striving to produce earphones that combine excellent performance with friendly prices that don't break the bank.
Moondrop also designed one of the first USB DAC dongles in the market when such products were not so popular.
It was the Moonriver 1 that wasn't mass produced, then followed by the Moonriver 2 and now they are expanding their USB DAC line with the Dawn that is available into two versions, one with 4.4mm output and the another with 3.5mm.



Moondrop Dawn 4.4mm

The Dawn 4.4mm is Moondrops latest portable USB DAC/amp designed with fully-balanced audio circuitry.
It houses two CS43131 high performance DAC chips that perform four-channel balanced signal decoding.
Thus Moondrop Dawn brings superb performance achieving a high signal to noise ratio and ultra-low distortion.
Thanks to the balanced architecture the Dawn outputs a maximum line-out power of 4Vrms or 230mW at 32Ω load.
Moreover the Dawn comes equipped with dual independent crystal oscillators that ensure high quality digital signal transmission with ultra-low signal jitter.
The Dawn supports decoding up to 32-Bit/768kHz PCM and native DSD256 but no MQA.
It is compatible with Android and Windows OS while it is also compatible with Apple devices through adapters but due to the limitation of power supply for the lighting interface the maximum power output is limited to 1Vrms or 32.5mW at 32Ω.



Build quality and appearance

The Dawn has a barrel type shaped body that is made from aviation grade aluminum with a satin white matte painting.
Build quality is excellent while the shell has high rigidity and is thick enough to offer shielding from the external electromagnetic interference.
The painted surface is very beautiful looking but this kind of finish is more prone to scratching than full metal alloy surfaces.
Measuring 120x16.4mm and weighing 13.7g, the Dawn is compact sized and lightweight enough but somewhat bulkier than similar products like the FiiO KA2.

The USB type C cable is permanently attached to the main body by the means of a thick plastic ring.
There are strain reliefs at both ends of the cable which is made with a customized parallel arrangement of high purity, copper silver plated wires, a structure that is more beneficial to the transmission of digital signals.
There are no hardware buttons and the user have to control volume and playback from the host device.

The Dawn comes packed in a metallic rounded box together with a USB-A to USB-C adapter of high quality.



Moondrop LINK application

The Dawn is compatible with the Moondrop LINK android application that allows the user to switch between 2V or 4V output and select one of the five available low pass filters.
You can also customize the notification LED between on, temporarily off and off.
The communication between the application and Dawn is flawless, your selections are permanently stored on the device memory but for some strange reason they are not highlighted into the user panel so you never know what you have selected…



Listening impressions

The Dawn has an inaudible internal noise floor and it doesn't pick EMI even when placed near to the cell phone antenna.
Power output is more than enough for most earphones and it can also drive pretty well sensitive headphones like the Sennheiser HD660S.
I have used various IEMs including the FiiO FA7S, Moondrop Aria Snow and Meze ADVAR among others.

Sound performance is really stellar, the Dawn is very musical and engaging with excellent technicalities for the category without missing anything compared to the competition.
The overall sound signature is that of the CS43131, a little more musical and natural sounding when compared to the slightly more technical ESS products.
In this way it much resembles similar USB DAC dongles that use the same chip configuration, like the now discontinued iBasso DC04 and ddHiFi TC44B.



The Dawn is clear, clean and open sounding with great transparency and excellent detail retrieval.
Frequency response is absolutely linear, the sound signature is balanced with a convincingly natural timbre, especially with the NOS low pass filter, which is my favorite one.
Sub bass extension is great, the bass is impactful, fast and dynamic with excellent control and well defined layering.
The presentation is quite full bodied and weighty, this is not a lean sounding DAC, the sound is full throughout the whole frequency range.
The mid range is expressed with clarity and excellent articulation, plenty of harmonic saturation and a wealth of overtones, the overall texture is painted with vivid colors.
Treble is extended, resolving and not rolled but still smooth and controlled without inducing any fatiguing brightness while it doesn't sound too artificial or digital.
I have been listening to this new album by Alison Balsom which has a few pieces that combine a lot of high pitched instruments together with her trumpet and nothing sounded out of tune, piercing or harsh while there was some great frequency coherency from top to bottom.



Very controlled is also the timing and the naturalness of the decay, the Dawn is neither too fast nor slow, it sits somewhere in the middle, it is not dull nor aggressive making it suitable for all types of music, from electronic to classical.
The benefits of the dual DAC architecture are apparent in the soundstage which is heard expanded and spacious with above average imaging and a rather holographic (for the category) presentation.



Compared to the FiiO KA2 ($60)

This is another, dual CS43131 USB DAC dongle with similar functionality and parameters albeit somewhat less powerful than the Dawn.
It can do 153mW at 32Ω and the max output voltage is limited to 2.2Vrms but in exchange you get a lower power consumption.
You can use the FiiO Control application to configure the gain, channel balance and select between the five available low pass filters.
The FiiO application is considerably more polished with a friendlier and aesthetically pleasing user interface.
The FiiO PCM decoding is limited to 384kHz instead of 768kHz but it is Apple friendly as it also comes in a lightning cable version and its power output will not be limited to 1Vrms.



Both devices sound almost identical with the most subtle differences if any.
The FiiO KA2 is slightly more aggressive and bolder, a little more agile and treble forward with a faster decay.
Still natural and engaging with a convincing timbre is just an idea more lean - dry sounding and more detailed than the Dawn, with a hint of extra upper treble enthusiasm.
Another thing of notice is that the Dawn offers better dynamics and control over all earphones and especially the lower sensitivity ones.
You will be hard pressed to choose the one over the other, I suppose the FiiO will better suit people who like their tunes a little more exciting and technical or want to save $10 while the Dawn will be the better choice for acoustic instruments and timbre enthusiasts.
Thus said, both of them are a welcomed addition to their ESS siblings that have flooded the market.

In the end

The Moondrop Dawn is a really excellent sounding USB DAC dongle without any negatives, the performance and overall value are definitely greater than the modest asking price.
Nothing more to add, this is highly recommended without any strings attached.
Moondrop, well done.

Test playlist

Copyright - Petros Laskis 2022.