Moritz Dragon In-Ear Monitor

Preface:

I would like to thank Moritz Labs for sending this unit as part of the review tour and @gadgetgod for organising it.

You can purchase Dragon at the following link (not an affiliate link):

https://moritzaudio.com/products/moritz-dragon

Also, I’m not a seasoned reviewer, so whatever I say is purely my observations and your results may vary.

I’m not the one to usually focus on specifications and numbers. I focus more on how happy I am with the equipment’s sound and that’s it.

Disclaimer: All impressions and opinions in this review are my own. I have not been paid or compensated by Moritz Labs or any other entity for this review. My assessment is based solely on my personal experience with the product.

Sources used:

• Dita Navigator
• iBasso DC Elite
• iBasso D16 Taipan + PB5
• Hiby RS6 + Aroma A100TB + PS100 Pro
• Hugo 2 + 2go
• Gungnir Multibit A2 + Auralic Taurus MK2
• Violectric V590 V2

Introduction:
Emerging from Hong Kong's vibrant audio scene, Moritz Labs is an IEM manufacturer driven by a passion for innovation and a commitment to delivering an exceptional listening experience. With a focus on unique designs and meticulous tuning, Moritz Labs aims to redefine what's possible in the world of personal audio. Today, we explore their Dragon IEM, a testament to their philosophy of pushing boundaries.

Technical Specifications:​

• Driver: Customized beryllium-plated ultra-thin diaphragm dynamic driver
• Impedance: 19Ω
• Sensitivity: 103.2dB SPL/mW
• Frequency Range: 5~48kHz
• Connector: CM 2-Pin
• Plug: 3.5mm/2.5mm/4.4mm gold plated
• Cable: Pure silver cable, length 1.2m

Box Contents:

• Dragon IEMs
• Pure silver cable, length 1.2m (± 0.1m)
• 3.5mm/2.5mm/4.4mm interchangeable terminations
• IEM Case
• Silicone Tips ( 4 X S/M/L)

Unboxing Experience:
The unboxing experience was pretty cool. The IEMs came in a sleek box with a nice presentation. Inside, I found the IEMs neatly stored in a sturdy IEM case, a bunch of silicone ear tips, and a detachable cable with a 3.5/2.5/4.4 connection options. It definitely felt like I was getting a premium product.







Design and Build:

My eyes were immediately drawn to the Dragon's captivating design. The translucent resin shells boast a mesmerizing blend of deep purple swirled with hints of gold and bronze, reminiscent of a starry galaxy or nebula. This intricate pattern gives each earpiece a unique, almost organic feel, further enhanced by the subtly embedded "Moritz" brand name.

While the visual impact is undeniable, the resin shells don't exude a sense of ruggedness. I find myself handling them with extra care, concerned about potential damage from accidental drops.







The included cable, while functional, leaves me with mixed feelings. It's a braided cable with a nice, tight weave and a smooth finish, and it resists tangles well. However, it lacks a certain heft and doesn't feel particularly substantial. The highlight is definitely the interchangeable connector system, allowing for 3.5mm, 2.5mm, and 4.4mm connections, which adds a welcome level of versatility.





Wearing Comfort:

I wore the dragon for a few hours at a time, and they're generally comfortable. The oval shape and the variety of ear tips helped me find a good fit and a secure seal. There was no wearing fatigue or occlusion effect as they seem to be well ventilated.





Driveability:

I've used Dragon with a few different devices as I always do while evaluating IEMs and Headphones. They work fine with dongles, but I noticed a huge difference when I plugged them into more powerful amplifiers. I've tried them with my D16, D16 with the PB5, Auralic Taurus MK2, and even my Violectric V590 V².

With the dongles, the sound was decent, but when I switched to the more powerful amps, wow! There was a noticeable improvement in clarity and detail. The soundstage felt wider and deeper, and the music just had more life to it. Lastly dynamics improved making them sound more lively and energetic.





Sound Analysis:

The Moritz Dragon is a curious creature indeed. A single beryllium-plated dynamic driver IEM that dares to challenge the multi-driver behemoths of the audio world. Can it truly deliver a sound that's both powerful and nuanced? Let's dive in and find out.

Tonality:

This isn't an IEM that strives for absolute neutrality. Instead, it embraces a warm and inviting character that colors the music with a golden hue. This warmth is evident across the frequency spectrum. The bass is full-bodied and impactful, providing a solid foundation without becoming overbearing. The midrange is smooth and inviting, lending vocals a natural warmth and intimacy. Even the treble exhibits a gentle warmth, contributing to a smooth and refined presentation.

This overall warmth contributes to the Dragon's musical and engaging character. It's a tonality that invites you to relax and enjoy the music, rather than critically analyze every detail.

Sub-Bass (20-80 Hz):

The Dragon's sub-bass is a force to be reckoned with, a subterranean rumble that sets the stage for a truly visceral listening experience. Picture yourself standing at the edge of a cliff, feeling the earth tremble beneath your feet as a storm gathers on the horizon. That's the kind of primal energy the Dragon conjures in the sub-bass frequencies. In tracks like "Silent Shout" by The Knife, the pulsating synth bassline hits with an impact that seems to defy the laws of physics, leaving you breathless and exhilarated. This impressive low-end presence is undoubtedly one of the Dragon's defining characteristics.

This raw power, however, is tempered with a surprising degree of finesse. The bass notes are not just loud; they're also remarkably articulate and textured. Each note is like a sculpted piece of granite, solid and well-defined, contributing to a sense of depth and dimensionality that's rare in this price range. While this powerful low-end can occasionally lose its composure in less-than-ideal recordings, becoming a bit overzealous and blurring the lines between power and control with poorly mastered tracks, this is a minor caveat in an otherwise impressive performance.


Mid-Bass (80-180 Hz):

The Dragon's mid-bass is the rhythmic pulse that drives the music forward, a heartbeat that infuses every track with energy and life. It's a warm and inviting presence, like a comforting hug that envelops you in a blanket of sound. In tracks like "Battery" by Metallica, the drums hit with a satisfying thump that makes you want to headbang along, while the bass guitar provides a groovy foundation that keeps your feet tapping.

This warmth, while generally pleasant, can sometimes become a bit too enthusiastic, adding a layer of thickness that can obscure some of the finer details in the mix, especially in bass-heavy genres. While the mid-bass is generally well-controlled, there are moments where it can become a bit overbearing, particularly with tracks that already have a prominent low-end.


Lower Midrange (250-500 Hz):

The Dragon's lower midrange is where the music's soul resides, a warm and inviting space where vocals and instruments find their voice. Male vocals are imbued with a rich and resonant quality, as if each note is being sung from the depths of the singer's chest. In "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys, the harmonies are rendered with a warmth and intimacy that sends shivers down your spine.

This warmth, while generally enhancing the listening experience, can occasionally cast a subtle veil over the lower midrange. While instruments and vocals generally retain their clarity, there are moments where they can sound slightly recessed or distant, as if they're being sung from behind a thin curtain.


Upper Midrange (500 Hz - 2 kHz):

The Dragon's upper midrange shines a spotlight on the finer details of the music, revealing nuances and textures that might otherwise go unnoticed. Female vocals are presented with a clarity and presence that's both captivating and revealing. In "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks' voice is rendered with a delicate beauty, allowing you to hear every subtle inflection and nuance.

This emphasis on detail, while generally desirable, can sometimes introduce a slight harshness or sibilance, particularly with poorly recorded material. While the upper midrange is typically smooth and refined, there are moments where it can become a bit too forward, detracting from the overall listening experience for those sensitive to treble frequencies.


Lower Treble (2 kHz - 6 kHz):

The Dragon's lower treble adds a touch of shimmer and shine to the music, giving cymbals a crisp sparkle and hi-hats a delicate shimmer. In "Take the 'A' Train" by Duke Ellington, the brass instruments have a vibrant and energetic quality, while in "Baba O'Riley" by The Who, the synthesizer riff cuts through the mix with laser-like precision.

This sparkle, while generally enhancing the listening experience, can sometimes be accompanied by a slight sibilance, particularly with recordings that are already prone to harshness in this frequency range. While not a deal-breaker, this sibilance can be a minor distraction for those sensitive to high-frequency sounds.



Upper Treble (6 kHz - 20 kHz):

The Dragon's upper treble extends smoothly into the higher frequencies, adding a sense of air and space to the music. In "Clair de Lune" by Claude Debussy, the piano notes seem to float effortlessly in the air, creating an ethereal atmosphere. Similarly, in "Little Wing" by Jimi Hendrix, the guitar solos soar with a delicate beauty.

This airy extension, while generally pleasant, is not always perfectly smooth. While the upper treble is generally well-behaved, there are moments where it can sound slightly grainy or unrefined, particularly with poorly recorded material.



Staging (Width, Depth, Height):

The Dragon's soundstage is surprisingly spacious for a single DD IEM, with a decent sense of width and depth, creating an immersive experience, particularly with expansive recordings like Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon." You can almost feel yourself transported to the recording studio, surrounded by the instruments and vocals.

However, this window into the music might have some limitations in terms of its clarity and scope. While instruments and vocals are generally well-placed, the soundstage doesn't quite reach the level of holographic imaging that some of us might desire. It's like viewing the performance through a slightly frosted window; the overall picture is clear, but some of the finer details are obscured, lacking the pinpoint accuracy and three-dimensionality that some high-end IEMs can achieve.


Layering:

The Dragon excels at layering, presenting music as a richly woven tapestry of sound. In complex orchestral pieces like "Rite of Spring" by Stravinsky, the individual instruments are clearly delineated, allowing you to appreciate the intricate interplay between the various sections. Similarly, in "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, the multi-layered vocals and intricate instrumentation are presented with impressive clarity. It's like being able to zoom in and out of the musical tapestry, appreciating both the individual threads and the overall design.

While this intricate tapestry is generally well-defined, it can occasionally have a few knots, particularly in extremely dense and busy passages where the presentation can become slightly congested. It's as if some of the threads in the tapestry have become tangled, making it difficult to discern the individual strands. This occasional congestion might be more noticeable with recordings that have a "wall of sound" production style, where individual instruments struggle to maintain their distinct presence.



Separation:

The Dragon typically does a commendable job of separating instruments and vocals, allowing each element to shine through with clarity. In "Starless" by King Crimson, the intricate interplay between the guitar, bass, and drums is rendered with exceptional clarity, while in Bach's "Concerto for Two Violins," the two soloists are clearly delineated, creating a sense of space and airiness. It's like watching a well-choreographed dance, where each instrument has its own space to move and express itself.

However, this delicate dance can sometimes become a bit crowded. In particularly dense passages, instruments can occasionally jostle for position, resulting in a slight loss of definition and clarity, particularly in the lower frequencies. It's as if the dancers in the musical performance occasionally bump into each other, disrupting the flow and precision of the choreography. This occasional crowding might be more apparent with recordings that have complex arrangements and dense instrumentation.



Timbre:

The Dragon's timbre is generally natural and realistic, making instruments and vocals sound true to life. In "Kind of Blue" by Miles Davis, the warm tone of the trumpet and the mellow sound of the saxophone are beautifully rendered, while in "Graceland" by Paul Simon, the diverse range of instruments are reproduced with a natural and accurate timbre. It's like listening to a live performance, where the instruments and vocals have a sense of presence and authenticity.

While this natural palette is generally pleasing, it can occasionally exhibit some artificial hues. There are instances where the presentation can sound slightly thin or metallic, particularly in the upper midrange, as if a few artificial colors have been mixed into the natural palette, creating a slight dissonance in the overall presentation. This is not a pervasive issue, but it can subtly detract from the realism of the listening experience in certain recordings.



Detail Retrieval:

The Dragon is a capable performer when it comes to detail retrieval, uncovering subtle nuances and textures in the music. In "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins, the gated reverb on the drums and the subtle inflections in Collins' vocals are brought to the forefront, while in "Teardrop" by Massive Attack, the intricate textures and atmospheric effects are revealed with impressive clarity. It's like exploring a hidden landscape, discovering new details and intricacies with each listen.

However, this exploration of the sonic landscape might not reveal every hidden corner. While the Dragon is adept at uncovering many of the music's hidden details, some of the most subtle nuances and micro-details can get lost in the mix, particularly in complex and layered recordings. It's as if some of the finer details in the sonic landscape are obscured by shadows, making them difficult to discern. This is not a major drawback, but it's something to consider if you prioritize ultimate resolution and transparency.



Dynamics:

The Dragon delivers a dynamic listening experience, capturing both the subtle nuances and the explosive peaks of the music. In Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata," the delicate variations in touch and phrasing are beautifully rendered, while in "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" by Strauss, the iconic opening hits with impressive impact and power. It's like experiencing the full emotional range of the music, from the quietest whispers to the loudest roars.

While this dynamic performance is generally engaging, it occasionally exhibits a degree of restraint. Some IEMs can deliver a greater sense of slam and visceral impact, particularly in the lower frequencies. It's as if the Dragon is holding back its full power, preventing the music from reaching its full dynamic potential. This is not a major weakness, but it's something to consider if you crave the ultimate in dynamic thrills.



Coherence:

The Dragon's overall sound signature is generally coherent and balanced, with all the different elements working together harmoniously. In Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon," the intricate soundscapes and complex arrangements are rendered with a sense of cohesion and flow, while in The Beatles' "Abbey Road," the diverse range of musical styles are presented in a unified and engaging manner. It's like listening to a well-rehearsed orchestra, where each instrument plays its part in perfect harmony.



Comparisons:

Moritz Dragon vs. Sennheiser IE600:

This is a battle of two single-dynamic driver champions, each with its own distinct flavor. The IE600 is known for its analytical and precise sound, with a focus on detail retrieval and technical performance. The Dragon, on the other hand, leans towards a warmer, more musical presentation, with a focus on bass impact and engagement.

• Bass: The Dragon reigns supreme in the bass department, delivering a subterranean rumble that the IE600 simply can't match. The IE600's bass is tight and controlled, but it lacks the depth and visceral impact of the Dragon.
• Midrange: The IE600 takes the lead in the midrange, offering a more neutral and transparent presentation. The Dragon's midrange is warm and engaging, but it can occasionally sound slightly veiled or recessed in comparison.
• Treble: Both IEMs offer detailed and extended treble, but the IE600 has a slight edge in terms of airiness and sparkle. The Dragon's treble can sometimes sound a bit grainy or unrefined in comparison.
• Detail Retrieval: While both IEMs are quite detailed, the IE600 tends to reveal more nuances and micro-details in the music. The Dragon is no slouch in this department, but it can sometimes gloss over some of the finer intricacies, particularly in complex passages. This difference is subtle but noticeable when comparing the two side-by-side.
• Soundstage: The IE600 generally presents a wider and more holographic soundstage, with better instrument separation and imaging. The Dragon's soundstage is still spacious, but it's not as expansive or precisely defined.
• Overall: The IE600 is the more technical and analytical performer, while the Dragon offers a more fun and engaging listening experience with its powerful bass and warm tonality.

Moritz Dragon vs. ICE Labs Prismatica:

The Prismatica is an all BA IEM known for its vibrant and energetic sound signature, with a focus on clarity and detail. The Dragon, with its single dynamic driver, offers a smoother, more coherent presentation, with a focus on musicality and bass impact.

• Bass: The Dragon has a clear advantage in the bass, delivering a deeper and more impactful low-end. The Prismatica's bass is tight and controlled, but it lacks the weight and authority of the Dragon.
• Midrange: The Prismatica's midrange is more forward and detailed, with a slight emphasis on the upper midrange that can make vocals sound more present. The Dragon's midrange is smoother and more relaxed, but it can occasionally sound slightly recessed in comparison.
• Treble: The Prismatica has a more energetic and sparkling treble, with better extension and airiness. The Dragon's treble is smoother and more refined, but it can sometimes lack the same level of excitement.
• Detail Retrieval: The Prismatica generally excels in detail retrieval, revealing a wealth of information in the music. The Dragon, while still detailed, can sometimes be outshone by the Prismatica's ability to uncover subtle nuances and textures. This difference is particularly noticeable in complex and layered tracks.
• Soundstage: The Prismatica generally has a wider and more holographic soundstage, with better instrument separation and imaging. The Dragon's soundstage is still spacious, but it's not as expansive or precisely defined.
• Overall: The Prismatica is a more detailed IEM, while the Dragon offers a more musical and engaging listening experience with its powerful bass and smooth tonality.

Moritz Dragon vs. I/O Volare:

The Volare is a hybrid IEM and it takes a different approach to tuning compared to the Dragon. The Volare is known for its balanced and refined sound signature, with a focus on accuracy and detail retrieval. The Dragon, on the other hand, is more colored and fun-sounding, with a focus on bass impact and engagement.

• Bass: The Dragon has a more prominent and impactful bass, particularly in the sub-bass region. The Volare's bass is tight and controlled, but it lacks the same level of depth and rumble.
• Midrange: The Volare's midrange is more neutral and transparent, with excellent detail retrieval. The Dragon's midrange is warmer and more forgiving, but it can occasionally sound slightly colored in comparison.
• Treble: Both IEMs offer detailed and extended treble, but the Volare has a slight edge in terms of airiness and sparkle. The Dragon's treble is smoother and more relaxed, but it can sometimes lack the same level of extension.
• Detail Retrieval: The Volare and the Dragon are both quite capable when it comes to detail retrieval, but the Volare tends to have a slight advantage in resolving subtle nuances and textures. The Dragon is no slouch, but it can sometimes miss some of the finer details that the Volare reveals.
• Soundstage: The Volare generally presents a wider and more holographic soundstage, with better instrument separation and imaging. The Dragon's soundstage is still spacious, but it's not as expansive or precisely defined.
• Overall: The Volare is a more balanced and refined IEM, while the Dragon offers a more fun and engaging listening experience with its powerful bass and warm tonality.

Moritz Dragon vs. Aful Cantor:

The Aful Cantor is an IEM known for its detailed and transparent sound signature, with a focus on speed and accuracy. The Dragon, with its single dynamic driver, offers a warmer, more musical presentation, with a focus on bass impact and engagement.

• Bass: The Dragon has a more prominent and impactful bass, particularly in the sub-bass region. The Cantor's bass is tight and controlled, with excellent speed and texture, but it lacks the same level of depth and rumble.
• Midrange: The Cantor's midrange is more neutral and transparent, with excellent detail retrieval and a natural timbre. The Dragon's midrange is warmer and more forgiving, but it can occasionally sound slightly colored in comparison.
• Treble: The Cantor has a more extended and airy treble, with better sparkle and detail. The Dragon's treble is smoother and more relaxed, but it can sometimes lack the same level of extension and airiness.
• Detail Retrieval: The Cantor is a detail retrieval champion, revealing a wealth of information in the music with impressive clarity and precision. The Dragon, while still detailed, can't quite match the Cantor's resolving capabilities, particularly when it comes to subtle nuances and micro-details.
• Soundstage: The Cantor generally presents a wider and more holographic soundstage, with better instrument separation and imaging. The Dragon's soundstage is still spacious, but it's not as expansive or precisely defined.
• Overall: The Cantor is a more detailed and transparent IEM with a focus on technical performance, while the Dragon offers a more musical and engaging listening experience with its powerful bass and warm tonality.

Conclusion:

The Moritz Dragon is a fun IEM with a big, bold sound. Its strong bass and warm tone make it exciting to listen to, especially for music with lots of energy. But it's not perfect.

While it has a nice soundstage and can handle a lot of detail, it's not the best at picking out the tiny bits in your music. Sometimes, sounds can get a bit muddy or harsh, and it doesn't always sound completely natural.

For the price, it's good, but maybe not great. If you want a really accurate and detailed sound, there might be better choices. But if you want something fun and exciting that makes your music sound lively, the Dragon might be just the thing.

It really comes down to what you're looking for. The Dragon is like a friendly, energetic puppy - it's not the most well-behaved, but it's definitely got a lot of charm.

Introduction​

The Moritz Dragon, retailing at $629, marks an impressive entry from the boutique IEM brand based in Hong Kong. As their third model, it showcases a single beryllium-plated dynamic driver, which promises a distinct sound signature that sets it apart from the competition. This review will delve into various aspects of the Dragon, from build quality to sound performance, to help you determine if it’s the right IEM for you.

Build Quality and Design​

The Moritz Dragon features a striking design with a clear purple resin shell adorned with a gold or bronze swirling pattern on the faceplate. This aesthetic appeal is complemented by a solid construction that feels premium in hand. The nozzle is crafted from metal and includes a ventilation system to balance pressure, enhancing comfort during use. Additionally, the IEMs come equipped with a pure silver cable that boasts a modular connector system compatible with 4.4mm, 3.5mm, and 2.5mm plugs. The cable’s clear brown jacket is not overly thick or stiff, providing flexibility without sacrificing durability. Although the modular connectors lack a locking mechanism, the connection remains secure during use.

Comfort and Isolation​

Comfort is a standout feature of the Dragon. Its generically shaped case with rounded edges allows for extended wear without causing hot spots. The nozzle width measures 6mm, providing a snug fit that enhances sound isolation. Speaking of isolation, the Dragon excels here as well, offering one of the best isolations among vented dynamic driver IEMs. Users can enjoy their music without being disturbed by external noise, making it ideal for commuting or quiet environments.

Sound Performance​

The Dragon offers a compelling sound profile characterized by its v-shaped tuning, which diverges from the more common Harman target curve. This tuning is particularly appealing for bass enthusiasts, as the Dragon delivers a robust bass response, especially in the sub-bass region. Tracks like "A Dark Knight" from the Batman soundtrack showcase the Dragon's ability to produce deep, resonant bass that is both quick and impactful. For genres such as EDM, hip-hop, and rock, the Dragon provides an exhilarating listening experience, ensuring bass heads will be satisfied.

Despite its bass-heavy profile, the mids maintain clarity and smoothness. The bass does not bleed into the mids, allowing for a natural presentation of vocals and instruments. The Dragon’s midrange offers a slight forwardness that enhances details in vocals, making it particularly pleasing for acoustic tracks. Listening to Nils Lofgren's "Keith Don’t Go," the guitar work feels lifelike, with excellent separation and detail without becoming fatiguing.

The treble on the Dragon is presented in a natural and safe manner. While it may not be the most extended or sparkling, it avoids harshness, making it suitable for listeners sensitive to high frequencies. This balanced approach ensures a pleasant listening experience across various genres.

Soundstage and Imaging​

In terms of soundstage, the Dragon offers a spacious and deep presentation. While it may not be the widest in its price range compared to multi-driver IEMs, the imaging and instrument separation are commendable. Users will appreciate the ability to discern individual instruments within a mix, enhancing the overall listening experience. It’s worth noting that using wider bore tips and a powerful source can significantly improve the soundstage, making the Dragon even more versatile.

Drivability and Scalability​

The Moritz Dragon thrives on power; it scales well with high-powered sources. While it can be driven easily, achieving its full potential necessitates a more capable source. Pairing the Dragon with devices like the iBasso DC-Elite, DX180, or the Atom 2 stack allows users to experience a wider soundstage, improved instrument separation, and a quicker attack. However, the tonal characteristics remain relatively consistent across different power outputs, unlike some competitors. A lack of sufficient power may result in decreased bass impact and a slight emphasis on treble.

Genre Suitability​

The Dragon is a versatile IEM, excelling in various genres. It particularly shines with movie soundtracks, where the sub-bass creates an immersive experience that rattles the eardrums without needing excessive volume. Modern pop tracks benefit from the Dragon’s bass response, adding body and weight to the music. However, older music from the 80s or earlier may sound a bit thin, as these tracks typically lack the sub-bass frequencies the Dragon emphasizes. Jazz and acoustic recordings also benefit from the Dragon’s natural presentation, providing excellent separation and imaging for less dense arrangements.

Comparisons​

When compared to other IEMs, the Dragon stands out against models like the Campfire Vega 2020. The Dragon outperforms the Vega technically, particularly in the sub-bass department, proving to be more defined and revealing. In a more closely matched comparison with the Sennheiser IE600, the Dragon offers a warmer midrange with heavier note weight, while the IE600 presents a more expansive treble that may be too sharp for some users.

Conclusion​

In conclusion, the Moritz Dragon has quickly become my favorite daily driver IEM due to its exceptional comfort, impressive isolation, and engaging sound profile. It offers a unique tonality that dynamic driver enthusiasts will appreciate, rivaling other models in its price range. While there are minor areas for improvement, such as enhancing vocal presence in the lower midrange, the overall package is close to perfection. For anyone seeking a dynamic driver IEM with great isolation, fun tuning, and solid technical performance, the Moritz Dragon is highly recommended. As Moritz continues to expand its product line, I look forward to seeing what they offer in the future.

★ Introduction :-

Chi-fi brands are expanding with their innovation. As there are many well-known manufacturers in the market, many new brands are being created to compete in the competition. Moritz dragon is a brand new chinese audio company and so far they have three models of IEM in the market with high price tag. I have received their Moritz Dragon IEM a long time ago which I have been using almost regularly. I will try to find out how fair is the price to sound value as per performance ratio in the current market. Today I'll mainly try to represent my complete experience about it.

★ Disclaimer :-

This review unit was sent to me directly from Moritz Audio. I had no financial agreement with them to promote their product. As always the entire opinion of this review is completely my personal.

★ Box Content at a Glance :-

Moritz dragon IEM comes with a big black color box. Out of the box comes a thin card board with 6 pairs of different eartips. Polycarbonate hard shell case as carrying case and silver plated copper cable with modular jack system and some extra paperwork. If i talk about the unboxing experience, many will be a little disappointed because the stock accessories were of very ordinary quality. So room to complaint about this matter will be to moritz audio.

1. A pair of Moritz dragon IEM × 1
2. Six pairs of different colors eartips
3. Four coure braided silver plated copper 4. cable with interchangeable jack system
5. Hard shell plastic large carrying case ×1
6. Some additional paper works

★ Specifications :-

~ Driver: Customized beryllium-plated ultra-thin diaphragm dynamic driver
~ Impedance: 19Ω
~ Sensitivity: 103.2dB SPL/mW
~ Frequency Range: 5~48kHz
~ Connector: CM 2-Pin
~ Plug: 3.5mm/2.5mm/4.4mm gold plated
~ Cable: Pure silver cable, length 1.2m

★ Design, Build Quality & Comfort :-

I didn't notice anything impressive in the design language, yes the shell construction of the IEM is made entirely of resin but it doesn't feel premium, it was like the usual resin build staff. As the shell is quite thin and a bit transparent characteristics, the presence of the beryllium coated single dd inside it was well understood even if the rest of the entire empty part can be seen if you look closely. The gold plated nozzle was a little thick and a little blunt, but the build quality is not top notch because there are better built IEMs in the similar price category, it will naturally lag behind. However, there is no room to complain about the fit. If one's ear canal is not too small, then there is no reason to worry about the fit. At the same time, if the fit is properly ensured, decent isolation & comfort is available. If the light weight shells are fit in the ear, there is no discomfort problem. No, because Moritz has done an admirable job in terms of pressure build-up.However, it is clearly understood that moritz audio has introduced miserliness in the build section, which is why many people may be a little skeptical about the durability in long term usage. Then if i talk about the stock cable, then I will say that its quality seems to be average. The cable feels very soft and cheap in hand despite being four core, but the good part is the modular jack system. Any of the three different terminations can be swapped at will, which can be considered as its advantage. Also, the hard plastic case that comes with it does not seem useful from any angle because its size is inconsistent. At least they should provide a practical case that protects the IEM at the same time easy to carry. The good thing is that the six pairs of eartips provided by them were quite good, although they were of different colors, I came across kbear 07 eartips with which I was able to complete the initial listening. I didn't have any exact idea about the rest of the tips but if I'm not mistaken they might be their proprietary. I was really disappointed with the unboxing experience because I didn't expect such average quality accessories from such an pricey IEM. So far I've tried as many offerings of the chi-fi brand, none of them had stock accessories like this one, so it can be said that moritz has given room to complain in this aspect.

★ Sound Aspect :-

The Moritz dragon IEM is a V shape tuned characteristic set that performs like a standout player in some aspect. However, its biggest strength was the bass performance, and the treble of the smooth manner gives a very fun listening experience from this set. There is an impeccable appearance of bass and treble that brings fullness to its sound. In this tuning, the mids are usually a bit backward, but there was sufficient cleanliness intact in its midrange, which must be considered a positive aspect. This single dd set will be in the category of eartips dependent, because I did not get the expected result with the stock tips, the sounds seemed a bit dull, so I benefited the mostly by using divinus velvet tips as aftermarket eartips. So I think tip rolling will definitely play an important role for this. At the right tips, good sound is obtained from here with a neutral to hint of warmish tonality is maintained which enriches the overall listening experience.

Credit :- @Jaytiss

★ Gear used :-

1. Questyle Audio Engineering CMA Fifteen
2 . Xduoo xd05 bal 2 (Se & Bal both)
3 . Cayin Ru7 (Se & Bal both)
4 . Questyle m15 (Se & Bal both)
5 . Quloos Mc01 (SE & Bal both)
6 . Epz Tp50 (Se & Bal both)
7 . Fosi Audio Ds1 (Se & Bal both)
8 . Fosi Audio Ds2 ~ 2024 (Se & Bal both)
9 . Roseselsa Rs9039 (Se & Bal both)
10 . Ddhifi Tc44Pro E2 (Bal only)
11 . Blon V1 (Se & Bal both)

Moritz dragon is a set of 19Ω impedance whose sensitivity level is 103.2dB, I wouldn't call this one very power efficient, because it becomes difficult to power up properly with an entry budget dongle. A little more powerful amplification is needed to drive it, So a good quality dac amp or portable player is used, then it gets scaled up with the sources (neutral-warm) becomes better sounding. However, the best pairing I've found with CMA Fifteen. Improved stage depth & decent dynamics, better imaging even a bit more enhanced micro detailing capability and good tonal balancing.



Now, I will discuss the sound in detail, I will start with the Low end of this set, i.e. the bass....

★ The Bass :-

I've already said that Moritz Dragon's bass section is its strongest point. Talking about bass, dragon basically sub bass focused. That's why sub bass has the ability to strike deep. Since the quantity of sub bass rumble is more than the mid bass, the mid bass felt less prominent where the texture was good but the more boosted sub bass presence bleeds a little with the lower mids which ruined the clarity of the vocals by a small margin. On the other hand, I was surprised by the fast attack & decay of the bass. Moritz's customized beryllium-plated dynamic driver performed superbly here.Yes, many people may find such boosted sub bass inconvenient, but those who like bass will like dragon very much.This IEM can deliver the enough speed to fast bass lines in rock or metal type genres which helps lend extra excitement to the overall listening experience. I noticed some sacrifice in the bass depth due to fast bass responsiveness but to be honest the engaging factor that is available, No one will bother at all if they don't expect head crunchy bass from here.

★ The Mids :-

The midrange is completely focused up to the upper mids.Upper mids were a bit forward but kept the clean & detail presentation there. Apart from this, the sub bass bleed was noticeable with lower mids which can be called recessed, vocals come through with fairly boosted timbre. Artist's throat craft in the mids region is depicted more or less accurately but the lack of naturalness sometimes hinders full of enjoyment.Regarding the lower mids, the midrange presentation doesn't feel fuller or life-like as its body is a bit on the recession side. Good thing are happening that there was no tendency to make it dull or overly sharper. However, it is good to say that the male vocal sounds better than the female vocal. This set has a slight peak in the 3k region due to which some female vocals can be heard a little shouty.Those who prefer intimacy with more nuanced in vocals section may not find dragon very satisfying. So if the midrange is high on one's priority list, then I think it would be wise to look for others option.



★ The Treble :-

Treble section gave this set moderately detailed sound where decent extension was noisy. However, the roll-off of the upper treble was noticeable, so the sounds of higher frequency seemed to be relatively smooth. That's why sounds like cymbals, string instruments sound less energetic. Smooth even non fatiguing characteristics were maintained in the 5-8khz area which treble head folks can consider more safe and even a little dark type. Like snare drums or high-pitch instruments, dragon doesn't lend too much realistic or vividness them, even it doesn't make overly dull, which is why decent resolution was maintained there. On the other hand, plenty of detail & clarity was intact in the lower treble. There doesn't feel subdued or veiled, differentiating can hold true standards of assurance. For some treble sensitive folk the lower treble's 6khz energy may seem a bit too much energetic which I think this issue can be fixed by rolling eartips and the source matching. Overall Dragon's treble part is not capable enough to fully satisfy the treble head folks but the performance in all genres will not be far behind in any way.



★ Technicalities :-

Technical ability can be said to be quite good but its not that superior in this class. Talking about the sound stage, although its stage height is fairy wider, it lacks in depth, with a small range of moving layering. The imaging capability was very commendable, the positioning of the instruments could be located accurately along with the stereo presentation of the left-right channel, this moritz dragon IEM showed the ability to ensure a very enjoyable experience. Due to the better imaging, it can support gaming fairly well. However, for those who give more priority to competitive gaming, Dragon may not be an ideal choice because it does not provide anything impressive like holographic or 3D imaging that must be remembered. In the context of detail retrieval, I have already said that the situation is on the good side. Apart from that, micro detail was also satisfactory, but the lack of macro detail was more which should have been improved. In terms of tonality, it has maintained a very nice coherence without any kind of unrealistic nature and besides the timbral accuracy was also very pleasing which should be getting from a set of such price ranges.Moritz audio is to be commended for looking into these issues properly.



★ Conclusion :-

Moritz audio was recently established, and they have released a handful of three sets in the market with premium prices. Moritz Dragon's pricing is not cheap by any means but its box content is really disappointing. In terms of sound performance, its other competitors will advance in some aspects, but considering all aspects, there is no chance to say that Moritz Dragon's sound signature is too bad. Yes, some aspects could have been improved. Now, many will question whether it is reasonable to buy Moritz Dragon? I would say buy it if someone likes fast bass attack-decay and doesn't like highly detailed treble, but mostly used to instrument heavy genres and minimal recession mids are not too much problematic, I believe that moritz dragon can satisfy them fairly well. In that case my advice would be to purchase the dragon. Hope my opinion will be helpful for many people to make a purchase decision.

I've provided the purchase link below for everyone convenience

Moritz Audio official website (link isn't affiliated)

Moritz is a relatively new boutique brand from Hong Kong but they are not exactly rookies when it comes to making IEMs. Like other boutique brands, their offerings aren’t exactly cheap but they still strive to hit a balance between cost and performance. Dragon is Moritz’s newest single dynamic driver IEMs priced at $629.

Disclaimers​

Moritz Dragon was sent to me by Moritz for a review but I might not be able to keep it. As I always say, everyone is biased in one way or another, so take everything you read with a grain of salt. Additionally, I will try to be more concise and to the point in my reviews from now on without worrying about the word count, etc. If you have any questions, please ask me in the comments, and I will try to answer them to the best of my abilities.

Packaging, Build, and Accessories​

Dragon comes in a rather large package that’s appropriate for its price. Inside you are greeted by the earpieces inside a pelican style carrying case. When you lift that compartment, you find the other accessories, namely two sets of eartips, the cable and the 3 types of exchangeable terminations.



Yes the cable is a modular 2-pin style one with exchangeable terminations. The cable itself is relatively thin and soft and the conductor material is 7N purity silver according to the representative of the brand. When I asked about it, they said the tuner specifically chose this cable.

Earpieces themselves are made out of resin, probably a skin-friendly one. Shells are semi-transparent so insides can be seen if looked closely. Cabling inside seems to be of a high quality, again probably pure silver. Shells are larger than your usual single dynamic driver IEMs and there seems to be a lot of empty room inside the housing. They might have achieved the spacious sound I heard this way. Drivers used are beryllium coated and seem to be high quality as well.

Sound Quality​

Tonality​

Dragon has a clean, smooth and delicate presentation. The set that I tried didn’t have a powerful and authoritative bass. Unfortunately I don’t have my measurement rig with me as I write this review so I cannot confirm it with a graph but the only graph that I found showed a higher bass shelf than I heard so I recommend checking out some other reviews before you draw any conclusion. Still the bass quality is top notch and it has great subbass extension and rumble.



Mids are slightly warm and yet clean with a slight upper mids emphasis. Female vocals can get shouty at higher volumes but I usually listen at moderate levels so it didn’t bother me until I pushed the IEMs a little.

Treble rendition is excellent on Dragon. It’s smooth, very well controlled without getting dark or suffocating. Emphasis is in the upper mids and lower treble transition. Problematic range that creates harshness, splashyness and sibilance is brilliant. It has a good amount of air without getting tizzy and sizzly as well. One of my friends said he didn’t know single DDs could be tuned this way. In fact, the presentation reminded me of my Variations. Tuners at 64Audio say that more drivers doesn’t directly mean better but it makes applying your intended tuning easier and low driver count means you have to sacrifice something. Here on Dragon, it feels like they didn’t sacrifice anything at all.

Technicalities​

Dragon has overall very good technicalities as it should for the price it’s offered. To be honest I was suspicious at first that a single DD could have a good technical capability that would warrant this price tag but I was pleasantly surprised. Dragon sounds clear and resolving without being sterile. It’s also very tidy and effortless. That excellent treble tuning doesn’t allow any masking to occur. The soundstage also feels very spacious with good imaging and separation.

Comparison​

Unfortunately I don’t have an IEM with me that directly competes with Dragon so I decided to compare it to another impressive IEM that has a low driver count, Dita Project M.

Moritz Dragon vs. Dita Project M​

• Project M has a more impactful and powerful bass with a slower decay, Dragon’s bass is faster but also softer. Dragon’s subbass extension however, is better.
• Dragon is warmer but not too much, it mostly has a clean presentation.
• Upper Mids are more forward on Dragon and Vocals are shoutier. On Project M, vocals are slightly honkier.
• Dragon has a smoother and more balanced treble. Project M is peaky compared to Dragon; it becomes harsh and sibilant if it’s pushed too much, especially in the upper treble. I usually listen at moderate levels so I don’t mind either one.
• Moritz Dragon is more resolving and feels more competent, Project M’s detail rendition feels forced and artificial to no one's surprise. Timbrally Dragon wins, no competition. Project M’s weakest aspect is its timbre. Soundstage that Dragon creates is both wider and deeper, imaging and separation are better on Dragon too.

Conclusion​

Moritz Dragon definitely sounds great and I plan to use it in my rotation if I get to keep it. Unfortunately, we got so used to single DD IEMs being cheap and although Dragon is more capable than most of them, it's hard to recommend it to anyone at its price. If you can’t give up DD sound and timbre but need an upgrade, definitely check out Moritz Dragon. If you can find a good deal on them and the sound signature I tried to describe is to your liking, then by all means get one.