Great review I find it does stand out with EDM and pop but I also like it with psychedelic rock and classic rock. The variations and W2 where a huge upgrade and couldn’t be happier with this setup. Love the cable you’re using with it has caught my eye a few times. You notice any sound improvements with variations well using it?

@Ufanco

Unfortunately, my experience with this cable hasn't been so stellar other than its eye-catching design that is so pleasant to look at. With that being said, there has been a noticeable improvement in resolution with snappier transient attack, but only to a minor degree. It would be difficult to say it's worth the money strictly for sound quality purpose. Maybe it simply boils down to its mediocre compatibility with the Variations.

Excellent review and exactly the comparisons I have been looking for - namely against the Blessing 2 Dusk and the Monarch/Clairvoyance Tribrids.
It's quite impressive how you manage to describe the character of the IEMs. Thanks for sharing!

Order placed.
One remark about the cable - I have the same CEMA PS cable, using it with the Sony IER-M9. I like it with the M9, since the M9 has a warmer tuning and has less pinna gain. The PS cable makes the M9 sound cleaner and less warm, more open, with a more forward upper midrange and better separation and soundstage size. Overall I’d say it sounds cleaner and leaner with the PS cable.

But I think for the Variations I’d go for something similar to the CEMA MS cable which I am using on the UM 3DT. The 3DT is very dynamic, quite upper-midrange forward, with boosted (sub)bass and a leaner lower midrange. The CEMA MS cable gives it more body while still improving the clarity, separation and staging. I will definitely try that cable with the Variations.

@surfgeorge
Thank you for the appreciation.
Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of experience with after-market cables, so I believe this is something I'll have to look deeper into.

I am pretty sure you'll find a better compatibility with the cables you have

Superb review. Very distinct and revealing. I'm a big fan of moondrop. I have the original blessing 2. As much as I enjoy them I do find them limited due to a lack of texture in the lows also the slightly splashy treble an issue. I have purchased the Variations ( should be arriving in the next few days) after reading your review I am awaiting them with baited breath.

Hot dog it! Steve I didn't know you had it in you. Excellent review. And I mean excellent. One of the most thorough and informative reviews I've read yet, and I've read many.

@14christ

Thank you!!
It's good to see you in this comment section.
I thought you've already read it a while back so this is quite a surprise haha

I'd love to read your full on review of the Variations as well if you have the time. Maybe you can add another one here in this forum for the community

@Codename john

Would love to hear your take on the Variations as well! I'm quite sure you've finally had a chance to listen to them by now

Of course everyone's opinions differs, as such is the subjective quality of this hobby, but I did try to be as incisive and distinct as possible (hopefully helped you in making the purchase decisions).

Thank you so much for your appreciation as well!