Moondrop Kato new single dynamic driver IEm

after watching several reviews and the high praising of the Moondrop Kato I decided to get a pair (also planing on getting the iKKO Obsidian OH10) while there was also a sale in that week.
When arrived I was excited and open the package, which is in my opinion far too big (in regards waste, make the packaging smaller to reduce waste). The Waifu card is for whom? a girlfriend my wife? Wondering what their reaction will be.

Anywho continue unpacking I was glad to see two types of ear tips (foam and silicon).

BUT when I got the the cable all the excitement went BYE BYE. seriously 3.5 mm single ended connector? But wait I have the OKZ Q1 Max cable (also 2 pin 0.78 mm) from my order of the Tangzu WAN ER SG 2021 (total price below USD 30.00).
BUT the pins of the QKZ Q1 Max are not long enough (or more like protected (another plus for that cable)) and so cannot be plugged in.

End of Story. I did test them with my Hiby R6 gen 3, but having the Tangzu WAN ER SG 2021 (did I mention with QKZ Q1 Max Cable with interchangeable connectors with the Tangzu WAN ER SG 2021 for less then USD 30.00) plugged into the balanced 4.4mm output, KATO sound mau, aka not impressing at all.

I wrote a comment to Moondrop regarding the cable and their answer was just "... hi, the Kato comes with the 3.5mm standard cable, it is manufacturer design, we can not control it, regards ...".

So now I have to either buy a new cable and it seems there is one with a 4.4 mm Connector or a set of three interchangeable connectors for at least USD 50.00).

Has anyone tried to use 2 pin 0.78 mm adapters, so I could plug in the QKZ Q1 Max?

Released back in 2021, the MOONDROP KATO, said to be the successor of the KXXS and has been mentioned countless of times, only second to the Aria, to be one of the best sounding single DD config IEMs for under 200USD. With that being said, it's been around 8-9 months since I've owned a pair and about a year and a half as of writing this since its release - how does it hold up to the test of time, and does it still deserve a spot for recommendation?

FOREWORD

1. The following reviews of IEMs will always be based on its own prowess relative to its price. When I say something about an IEM is good or bad, it will always be relative to how much is the retail of it.
2. I will be using DACs relative to the price of the IEM to review them. For reviewing the KATO, the M15 shall be used.
3. Since the KATO comes in two types of nozzles, my review comments will mostly in default configuration (silver nozzle) unless stated otherwise.
4. The unit I own is bought pre-owned and is a "DEMO" unit allegedly used for audio tour prior to its release, hence the extra wording beside the 2pin connection and the more poor aesthetics

UNBOXING & ACCESSORIES
Moondrop definitely wants to know you got your money's worth, hence the unboxing experience definitely is so much better than the rest. Underneath the waifu sleeve (yes it is damaged and fixed by the previous owner at a corner), you get a very nice presentation of the whole set.


In terms of accessories, I like how this pair of IEM has its 2 sets of eartips being presented as such, giving it a step up than your standard tip-in-a-bag. The KATO gives you 1 set of foam tips as well as the well reknowned Spring Tips.
For the KATO, one special thing that it provides is that it has interchangeable nozzles where you are given a silver nozzle as a default config and a brass nozzle. It is said to change the tuning slightly, and straight out of the bat, it does but not to a very significant degree. Basically it only adds a slight warmth to it and increases bass presence ever so slightly.





BUILD & FIT
Before I start, I want to clarify that again, this is pre-owned and allegedly was used as an audio tour unit, hence scratches galore on my pair. But I got a good deal then and I only wanted to listen to it rather than awe in its aesthetics. But man I wished this looked better.

The body is built like a tank with heft. It is an all metal body build with a smoothened out facet theme going all along the IEM, making it look like a work of art. Not to mention, just take a look at the stock cable. This was back in 2021, Moondrop was definitely delivering and setting new standards

The fit on this pair is good. Eventhough with the slightly hefty headshells, I can wear this comfortably without any fatigue for hours on end. However, here's where I might comment on something - the tips. The Spring tips given is definitely the comfiest thing I've ever felt that touched my ear canals but unless I'm sitting in my room and having little to no movement, if you're moving about doing chores the fit might not be tight and snug. Hence, I often switch to 3rd party tips in certain cases.


SOUND
Source : Foobar 2000 -> Questyle M15 -> Moondrop KATO




In general, the Moondrop KATO is a mild V-shaped IEM. Depending on the nozzles used the signature goes from neutral with the default silver nozzle, to a slightly more relaxed warm-ish sound with the brass nozzles. With this type of tuning that is said to resemble Harman, it definitely is very relaxed and pleasing to hear

BASS

• Overall definitely an IEM with a less impactful bass region with only a slight increase in the presence when using brass nozzles due to it giving it a warm characteristic
• Subbass is there but not really that strong in presence, has decent rumble
• Kick drums has polite boominess has more of a very full airy-ness thump. If punchy type bass is in the mix definitely presents itself as very quick and tight
• Bass notes sound luscious smooth and has body
• Definitely no signs of bass bleed

MIDS

Vocals :

• Using the Moondrop Aria (not SE) as a reference, it definitely can be regarded as the relaxed version the Arias (my way to describe Aria vocals would be more hard sounding)
• Both male and female vocals are presented with a very natural tonality that I've heard so far for IEMs within this price bracket
• Male vocals would sound more bodied
• Females maybe ever so slightly thin for singers with higher pitch compared to male vocals
• No signs of sibilance in vocals as well
• As it is it is hard to notice but comparing it to certain IEMs above its tier (XBA A3) or almost in the same as its class (BQEYZ Winter), you definitely can feel the more relaxed warm-ish characteristic, but overall retains most of the microdetails

Everything Else :
Probably the same with what I have to say about the vocals, everything overall sounds : relaxing, smooth, natural.

• Macrodetails of instruments sound natural in terms of tonality and timbre with no signs of color, only the fact that its being smoothened out
• Guitar notes sound soft yet full of body, with harsher notes being tamed down, having the sharpness ever so slightly evened out
• Piano notes sound the most relaxing however due to its nature of a relaxed tuning might have less of that strength when notes are emphasized (e.g.: piano keys striking very hard)

HIGHS

• Instruments at at the upper mids to high version sound sparkly without the sharpness, such as brief arpeggios from pianos and guitars
• Synths sound light but does not sound thin or lacking whatsoever
• Hihats and cymbals definitely does not sound too crisp and is (again) presented with a more relaxed tuning but all the while sounding natural
• Treble extension is decent and has that airyness to it

TECHNICALITIES
Once you are using IEMs from this price bracket, the technicalities are definitely the factor that is being considered in making the IEM, other than the tuning

For the KATO, the dynamics and detail retrieval work hand in hand to make songs sound natural, relaxed, yet retains almost if not all of the details of the song. Listening to the KATO with long listening sessions (3 hours in 1 sitting is my longest) does not make me feel auditorily fatigued at all, despite listening to countless songs with so many elements. Micro and macrodetails are smoothened out but does not sacrifice tonality whatsoever.

Imaging and separation is definitely also a strong suit of this IEM, having multiple layers of elements in a single spot yes separates them well with no signs of mushing together

Soundstage in my opinion is decent. There definitely are wider sounding IEMs than the KATO, but given the fact that the depth of the KATO is better significantly, aiding the layered separation, I guess its evened out.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Time and time again, I would sometimes revisit this pair of IEM whenever I'm listening to something relevant to its price range, like the LETSHOUER S12s, to the the recent BQEYZ Winter, and even the Thieaudio L3. Now don't get me wrong, the aforementioned IEMs certain do in fact has very amazing tuning overall, but if you're listening to an IEM for hours on end, it's safe to say these stand the test of time by finding the perfect balance between a relaxed tuning yet gives you as much as possible without going overboard.

I definitely like V-shaped IEMs, but in terms of listening, probably not gonna last me more than an hour before I feel fatigued. The KATO? I've been wearing it for at least 8 hours for the past 2 days as of writing this, just because it is THAT good.

Here is my personal rating:

* Tunning: 9 overall
- Bass: right amount & decay, decent slam but lack of subbass rumble
- Mid: natural, smooth & balance, but somewhat shouty in the upper midrange
- Treble: airy & well extend

* Technicality: 7 overall
- Detail: okay
- Soundstage: okay
- Dynamic: okay
- Layering & separation: congest & busy in some comlex track

* Others (build quality, comfortability, accessories, ...): 8 overall

* P/P: okay, not as great as other sibling (Aria, Starfield, Chu) but still worth the price

// Feb 2024 update: it's dead!

The package and accessories are top notch consisting of Pouch, Nozzles, Foam and Spring tips, Cable and case documentation and the KATO.

Specs:
Name: KATO flagship advanced technology dynamic in-ear earplug
Driver: 10mm-ULT dynamic driver
Diaphragm: the 3rd generation DLC composite diaphragm
Socket: 0.78-2Pin sunken design
Housing: MIM stainless steel
Nozzle: stainless steel *2, brass *2
Cable plug: 3.5mm stereo single-ended plug
Frequency response range: 10Hz-45kHz (IEC61094, Free Field)
Effective frequency response range: 20Hz-20kHz (IEC60318-4, -3dB)
Impedance: 32Ω±15% (@1kHz)
Sensitivity: 123dB/Nrms (@1kHz)
Distortion: < 0.15% (@1kHz, AES17 20khz, A-weight)

So, we can all agree it's made well, solid metal with interchangeable nozzles one more detailed and the brass one smoother and warmer. The Kato is comfortable and good looking, and both the case and cable are built for durability and looks. The Cable is one of my favorites from Moondrop and I liked it better than the Blessing2 cable.
let's get into my assessment simple and straight forward as it always is.

Sound:
Bass: Is not the focus here, it is well controlled and has a decent punch in the Mid-Bass region and decent texture but the Sub lacks in speed and depth here almost like a BA kind of bass. still its detailed and present.
Mids are transparent and clear with a lean presentation and a natural tone to them in most cases.
Treble: is open and airy but has a same extension. The detail is above average, and I found the highs slightly metallic sounding at times.
Soundstage: is as wide as it is deep but not a large area just within natural borders. its accurate and separation was very good.

This is one of those classics defines by a unique signature not all will 100% love still it offers a good starting point for those looking to move up into better defined IEM.

Preamble for this review:
With how much hype this IEM has, alongside new entries like the Shuoer S12, 7Hz Timeless & Eternal, this review will focus more on the long-term use as an EDC IEM rather than an exhaustive take on it's sound characteristics.

This review will also come from a standpoint of a person who primarily uses headphones.

*update on Sept 2023: Cable has exposed wiring near the 2-pin connector on the left. Had to replace it with a cheap thinner cable from elsewhere. Aside from that, cable has served me well for a few months aside from being rather heavy and unwieldy. Much prefer the thinner, flimsier cable for commute.

There is hiss when using with a noisy PC audio out. But none detected through BTR3. Hiss through a phone and PC when using DDHifi TC35b.

Also, as of Sept 2023, new releases from Tangzu, Sennheiser, Letshuoer and Dunu all have something competitive in a lower price bracket. I won't be recommending the Kato due to the comparable performance from new and cheaper stuff this year.

TL;DR:
I really enjoy using the Kato as an everyday-IEM. The things this IEM does right are:

• Sounds great, fits great.
• No durability complaints after about 4 months of ownership
• Firm 2-pin connectors, best stock cable I've used on an IEM
• Minimal, bearable microphonics. Easy to use aftermarket ear-tips such as Final E tips.
• Affordability to sound quality ratio is great. Pay quite a bit more over the Aria for a much improved user experience.
• Does not leave me craving my go-to HD600 too much when on-the-go

The downsides to the IEM are:

• Scratches easily but still looks decent until closer inspection
• IEM case doesn't fit the IEM unless you want to crush the wires
• Yet another Chi-fi IEM in a sea of Chi-fi IEMs.
• Can pick up some hiss from laptops or noisier dongles, no fault of the IEM per se.
• Very stiff competition from new releases such as the 7Hz Timeless

Use Scenario
The Kato has been one of my favorite IEMs to use on the daily with my other favorites in the past being the well-built, comfortable Final E4000.

Aside from these two, I've owned the:

1. Acoustune HS1300SS (I hated this)
2. Shozy Rouge (very poor cable)
3. Aria (chipped and poor build)
4. Shure SE215 and Mee M6 Pro (bad IEMS that don't hold up today)

Clearly, I don't have the best luck with IEMs and generally, I do find them inferior to a solidly built headphone like the R70x and HD600.

The Kato has given me some faith in a long lasting IEM that will hopefully at least last the year. I use it primarily on my commute and before bed on some Netflix.

Very Brief Sound Impressions & Conclusion
In general, I find that the Kato sounds clean and articulate. The Kato does vocals naturally, with a slight push in the treble department. It does not have particularly strong bass, but with Final E tips and a slight bass boost on Wavelet (app for Android), I have zero complaints about using it.

With the Final E tips, isolation is good enough for use on a noisy bus or train. Through the Samsung dongle and a FiiO BTR5, there is also zero hiss. There is however hiss through a noisy power supply on an Asus Zenbook that I use for school.

The sound quality is also very competitive, matching comfortably with the Acoustune HS1300SS that costs almost double. While the Acoustune sounds warmer and thicker, the Kato matches blows with a cleaner, more sparkly presentation and faster slapping bass. The Acoustune has more natural timbre and is objectively better but technical performance is comparable. Just pick the signature you prefer.

Compared to my trusted HD600, I am completely comfortable with using the Kato as a substitute if I do not want to bring the bulkier headphone. I have used the Kato for long Zoom lectures, a number of movies including the aural masterpiece in Interstellar along with video games without missing the HD600 too much.

My favorite thing about the Kato is how it just disappears, I don't need to think too much about it, I know I can just plug it in and focus on work or play. Just like my HD600. It is a wonderful feeling to not have to worry about if the cable is loose or if an MMCX connector is failing, or if I would much rather be using a headphone. The Kato, put simply, just works.

Sounds good, built good, affordable enough as far as IEMs go. I cannot recommend this IEM enough unless you want to enter a new price bracket. But by then I would be looking at a better headphone, source gear etc. For $279 SGD, this is my IEM pick of choice. Anything more and I would just purchase a DAC and HD600.

Disclaimer:

The unit has been sent to me from Hifigo as a part of a review circle. I am not working or affiliated to Hifigo and I am not being paid or influenced otherwise to say anything positive or negative about this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Note: Please note that my opinions and ratings are based on price, category, market competition and personal expectations and are subjective in nature.

If you are interested, you can buy it from here.



Introduction
Moondrop is a well-known brand among audiophiles and have been releasing impressive IEMs for quite some time now. I had reviewed the Blessing 2 earlier and was really impressed with its performance. Recently I was able to try the Moondrop Kato as a part of a review circle and I’m sharing my impressions.

Kato houses the new 10mm ULT super linear dynamic driver unit that features a DLC composite diaphragm coil. It has a larger brass cavity, an imported CCAW col and a high frequency waveguide system. It comes with two sets of sound nozzles made with different materials- Steel and Brass that provide different characteristics to sound. The package also includes the new Spring tips developed by Moondrop. The cable included is a 0.78mm 2pin 3.5mm single ended high purity copper thick silver plated cable with 4-core star stranded structure. The Kato is priced at USD189.99.

Build Quality and comfort
Kato has a really good build quality. It has a metal shell of medium size, and should fit everyone, with variation in the tip sizes if required for better fit. Shell is made of mirror polished 316 stainless steel that looks premium and really well made. The shells are heavy but doesn’t feel uncomfortable at all. The shells however are prone to fingerprint as well as scratches. The cable and connectors are very well built, connectors look sturdy and overall the package looks quite premium. I like the fit on these, these are comfortable and provides good isolation.
Score: 9/10


Source, drivability and pairing
I believe warm sources will pair well with Kato. I used Cayin n6ii (R01) as portable setup and Phi DecaDac (diy) + Sapphire amp (diy) as desktop setup. PhiDac is a smooth slightly warm dac whereas Sapphire is super transparent and neutral.
Kato can be driven directly off a DAP to sufficient volume but moving to my desktop setup further enhanced my experience. With desktop setup, it sounds cleaner with better punch in the bass and slightly more refined.

Sound Signature
Kato has a neutral Harman tuning that primarily focuses on the mids and highs. Bass quantity is tad low, and sub bass is surely lacking. This takes away the rumble. But the bass is punchy and has a decent slam with decent amount of details. Mids are clean and transparent without any bleed from the bass. The detail retrieval is really good and is fairly engaging. The mids aren’t too forward which is my preference. The tuning that Kato has, the mids are slightly on the leaner side. The highs are really good on the Kato, its clean, detailed with good amount of air in the top end. Highs have good energy but are not fatiguing at the same time. String instruments sounds really good and natural.
Score: 8/10

Soundstage, Imaging, Separation
Kato has decently wide presentation, with decent height. Its more on the intimate side according to me. The Imaging is really good on these, I was able to pin point instruments accurately. The layering and separation is quite good. It has got good layering and a pretty clean presentation with good air in the highs. I would have liked a bit more depth but that’s asking too much of it for its price.
Score: 8/10

Conclusion
The Kato isn’t an exceptional IEM, atleast not the way it was hyped. But it is surely a good IEM for the price. The technicalities and tonality justifies the price and is a good option in the sub 200$ price range.

Overall rating: 4/5

TONALITY: 8.2/10
TECHNICALITIES: 8.5/10
CONSTRUCTION: 8.5/10
SOUND VALUE: 8/10

Moondrop doesn’t need presentation. Let’s just say it’s a chifi IEM company that give lot of effort in their tuning even if it’s near 100% based on Harman target. We can underline too that their latest offering, the Aria, is among best sub-100$ IEM money can get. This review was make months ago, but prisonner of my broken laptop, now that the laptop is repair, it’s free to go. The Moondrop Kato follow the KXX, Kanas, Starfield and Aria harman obsession journey, but with it’s own twist. Let’s see how it turn out in this review.

CONSTRUCTION​

Moondrop have good taste when it come to unique IEM design, and the Kato is no exception. The all mirror metal body have intricate sculpted body with subtle angles that look very elegant. The issue with mirror finish is that it’s prompt to easy scratching, but Moondrop make another Kato model with mate finish for those worry about this factual issue. In term of durability, these look very sturdy. In term of comfort, it’s very good too.


For the first time, i’m extremely happy with the cable included, it’s an high quality SPC cable that feel very durable and keep the sound crisp and balanced. As well, Moondrop include very unique ear tips, the Spring, which are very nice and a bit similar to Azla in the sens they are sticky and offer secure fit. Another thing to note, the nozzle can be unscrew and Moondrop sell other nozzle type made of copper, which surely affect the sound rendering.
You can buy them here:https://hifigo.com/products/moondrop-kato-nozzle-replaceable-acoustic

SOUND IMPRESSIONS​

Overall sound presentation :
If Aria was a smooth near impressionist Harman neutral tuning with slight sub bass boost, the KATO is an expressionist vivid Harman neutral, near W shape and perhaps the brightest of the Moondrop line up. The KATO wake you up, but doesn’t beat you up. It have extra emphasis in texture and treble bite, a crisp, crunchy treble, a more thumpy mid bass that keep mids clean. Its very well balanced too, but not as mid centric as other Moondrop offering.

Timbre wise, it isn’t thin, but just a hint grainy and raspy, in that regard Aria is more natural, organic and polished. To my ears, timbre is most negative aspect of Kato and affect tone of some higher range instruments in a fuzzy way.

Dynamic is very hefty, fowards and lively, i don’t feel it lack weight but its more about attack edge than lead. Mids are a bid leaner than the rest so they feel bland, female vocal aren’t exquisite to my ears compared to Aria and Starfield which are more present.

I find the KATO to excell with jazz and even rock, classical too since violin sound energic and realist. Bass is fast and acoustic bass have good grip and texture, but is a bit scooped in full extension. Percussions are put foward, super well extracted, with rich texture so i would listen to guitar jazz trio and find myself blown away by the accurate, head banging presentation.

Yep, the ULT (Ultra linear) DLC dynamic driver in the KATO excell in speed and control, offering a well define imaging and extracting lotta micro details, all in a linear yet muscular tonality. Resolution is excellent too.

TREBLE is the focus of the show with the KATO, which is surprising for this type of tuning, level of sound info it deliver is more similar to a multi-BA or hybrid IEM, as well, it’s snappy, abrasive yet not splashy or harsh. Sometime, tonality seem to have too much emphasis in higher harmonic, which is more evident with saxophone and human voice that will lack a bit of roundness, body and widen presence. One thing sure, youll never miss any percussions part with this IEM, and man, they are so mesmerizing in details that sometime it take all my attention even if they aren’t unbalanced.

MIDS are a bit more lean, making the KATO feel like a soft V shaped brightish harman, but it’s just due to slight extra mid treble presence since we never have to search for the mids, nor they mix up with other instrument, they have their own place in the middle without being pushed fowards, vocal aren’t coloured, they are intimate, well textured and while not sibilant, they dont lack energy or bite. Still, I don’t think the KATO are made for vocal lover, more for instrumental music. Tone of instrument are right, even electric guitar sound realist which is rare for an Harman tuned IEM, piano in the other hand is a bit dry, saxophone too lack a bit of openess and timbre isn’t very thick. This isn’t your typical Harman mids, Starfield having fuller lusher mid range and vocal.

BASS is where i’m less sure about the presentation, especially in sub-bass rumble, extension, separation. While we have a hint more kick drum presence than typical warm Harman bass, it’s still lacking in heavy ‘’oomph’’ and weighty slam, but the texture compensate lack of density by permiting good bass line extraction and definition, fast and precise with the right instrument like slap or acoustic bass, but for synth sub bass that need 20-50hz density it will feel a bit light and boxy. Hum, i mean, the rumble lack a bit of flexibility to articulate very low bass line, like in IAMDDB ‘’moonlight’’ track, it lack a bit of juice and organic articulation so i wouldn’t suggest KATO for electronic music nor trap rap or big sub slam rap, for R&B it’s better since the electronic drum need speed and control, for soul it’s hit or miss, and as said, for rock and even jazz its quite good.

When it come to SOUNDSTAGE, they are above average, not the widest but they have great deepness. It doesn’t lack air or space, and spatiality is clean enough to feel circular in openess.

IMAGING is another highlight of these, sharp and precise with good separation space, you have a great balance between sound layers and static presence which make the instrument separation fully articulate and accurate. It’s only the bass that is harder to pin point and I can’t explain why.

COMPARISONS​

VS FINAL A4000 (1DD-170$)
A vaguely warmer tone, though not so for a Moondrop. The KATO have a lower resolution, a less biting and fast attack but a little fuller mediums. Bass is softer and warmer, less textured and controlled. The mids are fuller, organic, natural and emphatic. The highs are darker and more colorful, extracting only specific parts of the music and shadowing the rest. Technically, it’s noticeably inferior to the A4000s, less peppy and articulate. On the other hand, the spatiality is broader, less intimate although also less deep. The impact of the percussion is more slippery, lacking precision and separation. Cohesion is more consistent than the A4000s, which in this case is a minus. Here, it is the subjective judgment of the musicality that will decide everyone’s preference, because the KATOs are not bad technically and the tone is safer than the A4000s. For vocal music I would go with the KATO, for instrumental and anything that benefits from high resolution and fast attack I would opt for the A4000 which I ultimately find more versatile in performance.

VS MOONDROP ARIA (1 LCP DD-80$)
Kato is notably brighter, with more punchy and textured mid bass, so whole presentation is more energic and lively while smoother and more laid back with Aria. Sub bass of Aria have more rumble and dig deeper, offering sub bass line with longer decay and thicker-cleaner vibrance. Kick drum is less present and it’s attack feel sloppier too. Mids are more intimate with the KATO, more centered, less airy and open and wide in presence than Aria, making it feeling a bit in your head and more recessed, timbre is brighter too, less natural and well rounded in a organic way. High are more vivid, snappy and dig more micro details, pushing percussions line more fowards with Kato, micro definition is better too but overall tonal balance is more cohesive (and darker) as a whole with the Aria, you get immerse in its wide sound space without distraction. Male vocal are a bit fuller with Aria too. We have more sound info with Kato. Imaging is more precise and crisp with Kato. Soundstage is wider taller with Aria but less deep.
All in all, while i find the Aria better balanced, technicalities go to KATO both in attack speed and control, resolution. If you find the Aria to lean, smoothly organic and boring, the Kato is the logical answer, unless your all about vocal.

CONCLUSION​

The KATO is one of these rare IEM that is greatly technical yet not clinical, cold or too bright sounding, musicality is there even if overall presentation is serious and even severely authoritative. This isn’t your typical Harman tuning, even if yes, they are similar in tonality to Aria and Starfield, but the attack being faster and more snappy as well as resolution more boosted, it perhaps can represent the gateway drugs for those that find boring too lean sounding Harman tuned IEM.
While the sound benefit isn’t as high as the mythical Aria (law of diminushing return), it’s sure another great IEM from Moondrop that will stay in my precious collection of superior dynamic drivers IEM!

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I wanna thanks KEEPHIFI for sending me this review sample after my request. I’m not affiliated to this audio distributor nor he dictate or compromise my honnest point of view.
You can buy the Moondrop Kato for 190$ here:https://keephifi.com/products/moondrop-kato


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for more unbiased honnest review, please give a look (and subscribe!) to my audio blog here:
https://nobsaudiophile.com/

I got Moondrop Kato for review purpose thanx to hifigo.com. All the impressions and views Are based on my own experience, I m not forced or encouraged to write anything particularly good or bad. You can buy it from here or
https://hifigo.com/products/moondrop-kato



Packaging and accessories
Well this was review Unit so didn't get full retail box hence can't comment on unboxing experience but it has nice and sturdy pouch , material is similar to starfield's pouch ,I liked it.and lot of tips also included in retail packaging




Build , Design, Fit and Isolation
Moondrop Kato is built like a Tank with Mirror polished 316 stainless steel which is finger print magnet.With laser printed model name "kato" on shell. Shell design is similar of Starfield,kxxs and Aria. It has 2 different type of interchangeable Nozzle filter one is silver and second one is Brass. Fit wise very comfortable and seats very snugly in ear concha .Isolation is good with other after market tips loke spinfits and jvc spiral dot++. Kato comes with very good thick cable, feels premium and durable in hand but it is little stiffer side, i like supple and soft cable more , Termination is 3.5 mm single end.



Specifications
Driver :- 10mm ULT dynamics driver
Impedance :- 32 ohms
Sensitivity :- 123 decibels
Cable connection on shell side :- 0.78mm two pin recessed type.
Nozzle filters:- 1x Silver ,1x Brass




Pairing and Sound impressions
Kato is is very easy to drive I used it with my smartphone and Shanling M8 3.5 single end socket on turbo gain.1st thing i noticed is clarity and transparency on this super sexy set of iems.i just loved how clean is overall presentation. Kato has very linear and balanced type tonality. Very accurate and tight tuning like former strafield and blessing 2. Out of 2 filters i liked brass filter more becoz brass filter has some warmth. Silver filter felt slightly brighter than brass 1. Even though Kato is very easy to drive it gets benefits from good amping ,No its not about just power but good amping. With shanling m8 its just opens up further more and dynamics felt much more improved compared to smartphone driven(lg g8x) kato. Soundstage also opens up little wider and all over presentation becomes more liquidy, has more bite and attack in upper frequencies yet smooth. With smartphone kato behaved lean ,anemic and can be bit boring including to me tbh.
Bass :- kato is very lite on lower frequencies. Kato has very good quality tight and very well controlled bass but lacks in quantity. Bass has punch and cleanliness but missing that heft. But i like that kind of bass very much. Midbass has some punch and heft though not emphasised much. Subbass also neutral side but very tasty and typical moondrop house kinda ,with some power it can be felt when called
Mids:--Mid frequencies are clean and transparent say pure vanilla. Vocals are crystal clear but not that lush and wet. Vocals also pretty neutral nor forward neither distanced. Though with silver nozzle filter female vocals felt little sharp and thin though it is not harsh and shouty but not smooth and lush either. With brass nozzle filter it has some warmth added and that is much needed. All over mids are pleasant.not even slightest bloom observed. I liked that tight control.
Treble:- Treble on Kato are well extended but felt less energetic and thin untill u fed some power. After driven properly treble has some energy and bit more extension. Details retrieval is above average. String instruments sounded clean and very well separated. Of course kato isnt harsh or grainy in treble but i wud say it is slightly thinner side. Though it is non fatiguing and pleasant. Can be listened for long hours without being tired when driven properly while with smartphone type source one can be ended up wanting more energy in treble region. Also i wud like to say with silver nozzle filter slight metallic timbre can be felt in some tracks in both mids and treble regions.but with Brass nozzle filter its not noticeable to me.



Soundstage and other technicalities

Kato isnt very wide sounding neither intimate. I wud say above average . Soundstage width and depth are enough when driven with some power. Imaging is pretty good for its price segment. Speed and dynamics are good too. While instrument separation is pretty impressive there is ample air between instrument. Timbre accuracy also good (Brass filter)and Tonality is impressively balanced. Since its single dd coherency also very good



Conclusion and Comparisons
Kato is tuned for seasoned Audiophiles with very tight tuning.its not meant for bassheads. Though it is still fun to listen single Dyanmic driver. I have moondrop starfield and i loved it for its slightly analoguish presentation. Kato is one step above in separation and other technicalities but that analogue type presentation is missing from starfield. If we compare kato to some of its similar price segment, 7z timeless kato has better separation and timbre while timeless has terific speed (no surprise, its planar afterall). Bqeyez Autumn is extremely fun type yet very impressive iem with good amount bass while Kato is serious analytical stage monitor with excellent technicalities. If you love single DD and audiophile tuning like me ,kato is waiting for you

Disclaimer:

The Moondrop KATO was sent to me by hifigo.com as part of a review tour in my country, in exchange for my honest feedback. I’m in no way associated with hifigo or Moondrop and have no incentive whatsoever to write anything positive or negative about the IEM. The views expressed in this write-up are based on my usage of the IEM for a couple of days. The Moondrop KATO can be purchased from hifigo using the following link:

https://hifigo.com/products/moondrop-kato


Specifications:

Driver: 10mm-ULT dynamic driver

Diaphragm: the 3rd generation DLC composite diaphragm

Nozzle: stainless steel x2, brass x2

Housing: MIM stainless steel

Socket: 0.78-2Pin sunken design

Cable: Silver Plated Copper – 3.5mm – 0.78 2-pin

Impedance: 32Ω

Sensitivity: 123dB



Introduction:

There has been a lot of hype surrounding the Moondrop KATO, both before and after its launch. I was naturally excited to try out this latest single DD offering from Moondrop, especially since I really loved the Aria. The Kato however, is very different from Aria. It has a single 10mm dynamic driver consisting of a 3rd gen DLC composite diaphragm housed in a stainless-steel shell. Although this housing makes the Kato look elegant, it is, unfortunately, a fingerprint and scratch magnet and requires utmost care if you like to keep your IEMs shiny. The unit I received came with a pair of spring tips in a faux leather case. Since the unit was unboxed, I will not be able to discuss the unboxing experience or talk about the accessories that come in the retail package. The stock spring tips were comfortable and provided a good seal, hence this is one of those rare cases where I didn’t bother tip-rolling.



The silver-plated copper (SPC) cable that comes with the unit has a 3.5mm SE termination. The cable is soft and supple and has a good build quality that inspires confidence for rugged use, should this be your daily driver. Apart from the spring tips and cable I was provided with 2 sets of nozzles, namely brass and stainless steel. The brass nozzles had a slight improvement in terms of bass response, else, there wasn’t much of a difference between the two IMO.



Sound Quality:

The KATO is quite lean on the bass. Lows are more focused on mid-bass with very little emphasis on sub-bass. Even with the best seal, the sub-bass is barely noticeable. This isn’t a problem as such as given the overall tonality of the IEM, the bass seems to be well controlled and in sync with the rest of the FR. The bass is quite punchy and packs in decent slam. I preferred the brass nozzles with the KATO as they seemed to improve the bass response slightly, adding some heft to the mid-bass.

The mids are transparent for the most part without any bleed from the lows, which is a good thing. The mids seem to be lean, thus making the vocals sound somewhat dry and instruments have a pinch of metallic timbre that makes it sound somewhat unnatural. Female vocals seem somewhat shouty, and sibilance in female vocals can be easily perceived. This isn’t unbearable or painful like some of the KZ IEMs, which is a good thing. The brass filters seem to add a slight bit of weight to the notes, but overall, the mids are lean and transparent.



The highs are well extended and there is a lot of air in this region. This results in an energetic presentation that would perhaps appeal to fans of metal. The brass filters don’t bring much of a change in this region, and the highs are crisp for the most part. The good thing is that in spite of the energy, the highs are non-fatiguing.

The overall listening experience is quite enjoyable. Although I personally would have preferred a unit with slightly more bass quantity and a little more weight in the Mids.

Kato seemed quite capable in terms of staging. The presentation is airy with a lot of detail thanks to the transparency in the mids. The stage is quite wide although, the height could be better. However, given the price range, the soundstage, separation, and imaging are acceptable.



Conclusion:

The KATO may appeal to airheads, who like treble energy. It is quite comfortable and the non-fatiguing signature makes it suitable for longer listening sessions. However, the lack of warmth and the metallic timbre makes it unsuitable for my taste. In essence, I’d say the KATO is a good IEM for the price point that doesn’t suit my personal preferences.

INTRODUCTION:

Moondrop, one of the biggest giants in the ChiFi community is a big audio device manufacturer especially in the line of IEM, cables and TWS. They are well known for their unique in house sound which is smooth and it has been proclaimed in various products like the Starfield, Sparks and KXXS. To continue the legacy of the KXXS the brand decided to launch the Kato as its successor and in this review let's check out how this Kato fare against the competitors.



DISCLAIMER:

This unit has been provided to me as a part of a review circle organised by the team HiFiGo. The whole views are based on my observations with this product and based on my pairing with it hence it might differ from person to person.

If you are interested in purchasing this unit then go ahead with this unaffiliated link: https://hifigo.com/products/moondrop-kato

SPECIFICATIONS:

Driver: 10mm-ULT dynamic driver
Diaphragm: the 3rd generation DLC composite diaphragm
Socket: 0.78-2 Pin sunken design
Housing: MIM stainless steel
Nozzle: stainless steel *2, brass *2
Cable plug: 3.5mm stereo single-ended plug
Frequency response range: 10Hz-45kHz (IEC61094, Free Field)
Effective frequency response range: 20Hz-20kHz (IEC 60318-4, -3dB)
Impedance: 32Ω±15% (@1KHz)
Sensitivity: 123dB/Nrms (@1KHz)
Distortion: < 0.15% (@1khz, AES17 20khz, A-weight)

DESIGN AND FIT:

The design of the Kato is more in a simplistic state as that of the KXXS. The whole construction is made out of metal but they have done it in a glossy finish hence a lot of fingerprints and scratches. The faceplate design is pretty simple where it retains that same angular and cut design of the KXXS which looks unique and futuristic.

The nozzle now has that removable tuning filter system which is screwable hence you can swap them and enjoy the sound as per your preference. The cable is now much improved over the predecessor where now they have included the K line cable which is now sold separately.



The cable has excellent feel in the hands where the weight it possesses is huge and has that nice thick texture thus the durability is guaranteed for sure. The cable comes in the 2 pin connector hence no MMCX which is safe to hear. The splitter and the terminations are made out metal thus they look premium overall in terms of looks and feel.

The cable also comes in different terminations and the stock 3.5mm does the job and is accepted universally to play via smartphones. The carry case that they have provided is pretty nice which is faux leather made with nice magnetic closure and velvet lining is given alongside the interiors to protect the earphones from getting scratched up.

The provided ear tips are very good, especially the Spring series tips which are very soft, comfy and fits excellent in your ears providing some nice seal and isolation.

SOUND:

The sound profile of the Kato is a balanced sound profile with more emphasis on the tonal and timbre accuracy which is beautifully done in the Kato. The bass is a mid bass focussed with nice and smooth treble which is inoffensive. Lets see about the sound in detail in the dissecting review

BASS:

The bass in the Kato is more mid bass focussed with nice punch and decay. The sub bass is there but it's subtle enough and only shows the face when the track calls for it.

SUB BASS: The sub bass could have been better where the reach and rumble is quite subtle but the control is nicely done. The bass never appears bleeding or bloomy instead they are tuned with precision and control. Even though the sub bass feels pretty lighter the separation it provides is truly unbelievable! The low end instruments are neatly layered out without any sort of clustering.

MID BASS: The mid bass is the focus here where the bass has more punch and gives a good amount of body to the midrange section. The attack however doesn't feel that dynamic instead they appear smoother. The fullness appears good without any sort of extra added bloom thus making the whole bass section sound more cleaner.

1. FLIGHT – HANS ZIMMER

This track is the absolute example for the separation in bass region where the kick drums and minute instruments in the background are clearly brought out without any sort of compression but the compromise done here is the sub bass reach, rumble. They feel too subtle and that could have been better. The separation however feels top notch with accurate timbre of the instruments.



MID RANGE:

The mid range is the star show in the Kato. The tonality especially is just sublime and beautiful in the Kato. The tonality and timbre of the instruments appears pretty realistic and natural with no sorts of any artificial flavour added to it. It’s so pleasing, addictive and non fatiguing in the long run.

The vocals are presented nice and forward with nice placement of the instruments in the background. The vocals have that nice body carried along from the mid bass while not being too bloomy and fuzzy. The clarity in the mid range is above average thus they are not affected that much by the presence of the mid bass. The notes sound nice and fuller where the piano notes and guitar strings sound realistic with an adequate amount of fullness.

The staging being not that wide, the layering is average at best and the separation is good too without being mind blowing. The Kato was able to handle faster tracks too without any sort of issues. The upper midrange has less energy hence it might suit the listeners who are sensitive to energetic sound but for my taste they sounded kind of dull and I expect a bit more energy in the upper mid range.

Overall the mid range is melodious, natural and realistic tonality, thicker notes and less energetic sound.

1. Just Another Girl – The Killers
2. When You Say Nothing At All – Susan Wong

TREBLE:

The treble in the Kato is more on a polite side where the extension is good but when it comes to the detail retrieval they are not the king tier. The electric guitar strings and the cymbals are smoothened out in order to provide that non fatiguing longer listening sessions. The clarity and open sound however is still appreciated in the Kato.

The cymbal crashes are very good in terms of speed and decay with nice realistic timbre with no sort of harshness where the decay is sweetly timed out. The electric guitar strings pluck has that nice and natural strike with good attack.

The air is nicely presented in the top end while it's not that expressive or not too restricted out. The brilliance and shimmer in the top end feels pretty good but definitely not the best. Treble heads out there and seeking for some treble energy the Kato is definitely not yours since this has more smoothed out treble with relaxing profile. The brightness is on an adequate side but still a bit more could have given that energy in the treble section which the Kato lacks.

Overall the treble is polite, relaxing, non- fatiguing but still has that nice clarity, openness and airy sound. The overall energy feels pretty restricted and that's the con out there in the treble section.

1. Every Little Thing – Eric Clapton
2. Out For Blood – Sum 41

TECHNICALITIES:

STAGING: The staging of the Kato is well rounded with adequate width and height. They are not the widest stage or have the deepest presence but it has that nice well rounded effect where nothing feels constricted or compressed out. The presentation feels nice and wide with a grand enough presentation overall.

IMAGING AND LAYERING: The imaging is nice and precise with good spatial positioning and the instruments can be pinpointed out without any sort of difficulties. Even while replaying the busy tracks they were able to cope up with the fast pace of the music hence they don’t cause any fuzziness in the imaging. The layering is also done nicely but still they are not the best in terms of it.

Detail retrieval and tracks separation are good for the price but nothing mind blowing. They do the part well without any issues but do not create anything extraordinary for the price it quotes. The detail retrieval being modest while the track separation being good.

VERDICT:

Kato, the latest and the successor to the infamous KXXS from the house of Moondrop is a well rounded package with one of the breezy sound profile. The Moondrop has its unique sound profile where it's more on a mature side with polite energy and thus the Kato depicts the same. The Kato doesn't have that bright, energetic and bassier profile rather its more matured, polite, calmer and breezy profile yet also delivering some engaging experience.

The design is as per the Moondrop standards and follows the same design language of the KXXS. It has that same robotic precise cut faceplate with shiny mirror finish which attracts hell lot of fingerprints and scratches. Now the nozzle has the removable filters to switch the tuning based on the moods and now the stock cable is much more improved and it's well worth the money called the K Line cable.

The sound is more mature with mid bass emphasis over sub bass, natural tonality with lively, engaging vocals, smoother and calmer treble and providing a breezy sound overall. The technicalities are average at best and nothing in the range of extraordinary where the staging, imaging and layering are good at best. The detail retrieval could have been better for this price.

The cons that i can point out here are the less sub bass presence and the less treble, upper mid energy thus making the whole experience a non exciting one. If your taste is made of a calmer, breezy and matured sound with less energetic experience then the Kato might be your choice of earphone since no earphones that i have tried had this BREEZY SOUND giving a nice soothing experience overall!

INTRO:

I don't think there is anyone in the audiophile community whi is not aware of Moondrop. Being a chi-fi brand they bring a lot of stuff to the market and are one of the rare brands who have IEMs in nearly every price ranges. Then have flagship IEMs at $1000+ and budget friendly IEMs ar around $15. This is a brand which keeps up with the market trends offering products according to demand. As the IEM market has a demand for DD based IEMs with tuning capabilities Moondrop came up with the Kato with a similar kind of fundamentals as the DUNU Falcon Pro.

But this IEM doesn't have the extensive support of vented design. It has a single 10mm DLC driver which can be tuned with a change of nozzle.

Priced at $179 Kato comes in only one colour and faces fierce competition from BQEYZ Autumn, DUNU Falcon Pro, 7hz Timeless, Tri i3 pro and many other IEMs.

I will like to thank @gadgetgod for the review tour.

Get one from here : https://hifigo.com/products/moondrop-kato



ACCESSORIES and CABLE:

KATO ships with a very interesting looking eartips. They say its springy but what I can tell that these tips are seriously weak. What can I say when the only set I received is already raptured. The magnetic clasp carry case looks cool and has the right size to carry around. An extra set of nozzle is screwed into a metal plate.

What I really like in the package is the cable. It's a SPC with high purity copper and thick silver.. I really don't know what that means but it looks good. Compliments the aesthetics of the IEM much like the DUNU Falcon Pro. It's one of the least bouncy cable with little to no memory problem. I definitely would have liked a modular cable like Flacon Pro but I am not complaining.

BUILD QUALITY:

It's one of the most impressive aspects of this IEM. The chrome finished metal body of the IEM is very sturdy and will withstand drops on solid floor without incurring any external damage. Now it's not the most ergonomic IEM, the triangular cut design on the inner side does provide a bit of traction and the overall fit is good. Can't really ask a lot from a metal shell. I definitely would have liked it to be a bit less heavy but thats the side-effects of metal shell.

Thankfully the nozzle is deep enough providing nice stability inside the ear.

PAIRING WITH SOURCES:

This single DD isn't exactly demanding and doesn't really responds a lot to various sources. The level of variation with sources is marginal and doesn't really affect the tonality, timber or weightage of notes.

It enjoys power and delivers better details and clarity with the Tri TK-2, delivering better definition and well pronounced notes. The difference with weaker sources like Fiio KA3 and Qudelix 5k is noticable with marginally less full bodied notes.

Pairing with mobile phones is reasonably good but doesn't have the level of accuracy and precise body. Here too the difference isn't as apparent as I expected.

SOUND QUALITY:

Moondrop says the Kato has a 10mm DLC driver with ultra linear technology. I do find this to be more linear than the Fiio FD3 but yes, the Autumn is more balanced and has better control over notes.

I love the fact that Moondrop has moved from a bass heavy sound. The KXXS and Kanas Pro were simply just bass heavy with little focus elsewhere. This does feel like an evolution with better balance and control but it still lacks the natural timber and tonality.

I am using Tri TK-2, Gold nozzles and a not so wide bore aftermarket tips for this review.

BASS:

I like the delivery much more than the rest of the DD IEMs from Moondrop. This has a more balanced approach with nice control over notes. It doesn't let the guard down while delivering aptly fuller notes with adequately paced notes. Giving it good amount of weight and punch. I definitely would have liked the punch to be a bit softer.

Sub-bass extension of KATO is average. It's not the deepest and lack good amount of rumble too. It's mostly about the mid bass which brings both body and meatiness to the lower end. Yes, there is a bit of bloating but it's not bad. Upper bass is well energized with right amount of transparency.

The level of details and texture is very good, it has the layered feeling but then this is not as distinguishable as it is with the Tri i3 pro.

MIDS:

As I mentioned earlier Kato has a fairly balanced tuning and the biggest reason for that is It's well balanced mid range. It still has a few DB dip just before the vocals but it's not a pronounced as the Tri i3 pro. I do find it to have good consistency and uniform notes presentation which exhibits the quality of tuning.

Is it all rosy? No, there are problems. Notes do not have natural body. They have wider bases while the body is thin and the finishing region has unwanted sharpness. This sharpness gives the vocals and the upper mid region a bit of sibilant kind of feeling. It's not intolerable but it's not natural like the i3 pro or analogue like the Falcon Pro.

As mentioned earlier vocals have their fair share of sharpness. Both male and female vocals are a bit on the shouty side which is more pronounced because of the thinner and a bit metallic timber, which in fact is present across the spectrum. Instruments gain good definition and transparency but then the extra energy and attack can put some of us off. The upper mid isn't bad but it's one of the few reasons KATO can't be used for longer listening sessions.

There isn't any lack of macro details or transparency while the micro details are respectable. Falcon Pro lacks this micro details while the i3 pro has better control over notes and has more texture and slightly better definition with micro details. Another aspect is it's contrast, which isn't exactly great, it doesn't have good distinction between back and foreground instruments. The subtleness is missing, which can be found with the Fiio FD3.

HIGHS:

Hmm.. I have been listening to a lot of IEMs in this price range lately and I have to say KATO not bad. It has a well extended treble region with nice energy but due to thinner notes things get slightly uncomfortable. And unlike the i3 pro KATO loses energy at the furthest end of the spectrum. Layering and separation is nice but it doesn't have a lot of air, air which is in abundance with the i3 pro without being thin. I won't complain thought, notes have uniformity but it's shape of the note which stops me from giving it better recommendation.

SILVER NOZZLE:

This nozzle is a waste of an effort. It doesn't make anything better while reducing the dynamics and treble energy. It compresses the vocals too making them fight for height.

This virtually an attempt to dial the excess energy down at the finishing region but it compresses and loses note's height instead.

STAGE and IMAGING:

Stage size of the KATO is average. Its isn't bigger than the Autumn or i3 pro. It has nice height, good depth but the x-axis width isn't exactly impressive. Most of the instruments are placed inside the head. Bass has dynamic projection, it move in or outward depending upon the track. Vocals generate closer to the centre of head and move out. Nearly 80% instruments don't have presence our of the head.

Only impressive part here is the Imaging, KATO has very good imaging abilities, its cue placement is admirable.

COMPARISON:



CONCLUSION:

With the KATO Moondrop is moving in the right direction but it needs some improvements. A bit more polishing and finishing is needed. This IEM is good, it has very good technical abilities and the level of details is admirable. It has nice end to end extension and has reasonably balanced sound. Vocals have nice authority too.

The problem is with excess energy at the finishing region, even this this could have been sidelined but the thin and sharp finishing is what hurting the experience.

I like this IEM, but Moondrop has problems to address before attending an reputation like DUNU.

Disclaimer: I received this review unit for free from Moondrop directly. Thank you very much.

Price: 190 usd

Specifications:

Frequency response range: 10Hz-45kHz (IEC61094, Free Field)

Effective frequency response range: 20Hz-20kHz (IEC60318-4, -3dB)

Impedance: 32Ω±15% (@1KHz)

Sensitivity: 123dB/Nrms (@1KHz)

Distortion: < 0.15% (@1khz, AES17 20khz, A-weight)



Accessories:

S/M/L Spring tips (silicone)

S/M/L foam tips

Carry bag

Carry pouch

Weeb poster card



Cable: 2-core cable, measures at 0.24 ohm, metal divider/connectors, has a working (too tight though) chin-slider.






Build: Full metal build, nozzles are replaceable and has metal mesh. It doesn’t weight a lot for something in a metal shell though.

Fit: Basically, the same as the old KXXS, it is pretty decent but not very secure for me.

Comfort: Quite good

Isolation: Average

Setup: Schiit Asgard 3 (low-gain, volume around 8 o´clock), Silver nozzle, Final Audio Type E Tips L, stock cable 3.5mm

Lows: Pretty flat sounding bass, very clean due to the fast/tight bass while texture is lacking but is fine for the tracks it is good at (weeb/OST). Not for bassheads that want lots of quantity nor a lot of texture.

Mid-bass: Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), clean due to the fast/tight and low bass quantity, lacking texture though. The (02:55-03:01) section with the chopper is hearable and clean.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), tight and fast, clean with decent texture although quantity is pretty low.

Sub-bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), Lacking in extension and rumble, punch quantity needs to be a lot higher and more textured.

Will Sparks – Sick like that (03:08-03:22), clean due to the speed/tightness, but lacking a lot of quantity, decent texture.

Mids: Both male and female vocals have excellent timbre, female vocals have great tonality and without being shouty. Although male vocals can lack some warmth. Instrument timbre such as piano´s are excellent.

Female-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), great vocal timbre, although tonality could be a bit brighter and cleaner. Instrument tonality and timbre are excellent, could be a bit cleaner though.

Yuki Hayashi – MightU (01:58-02:55), Both vocal and instrument tonality needs to be brighter and cleaner, but very good timbre.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), non-shouty vocals and non-peaky treble.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Crescent (02:07-02:26), a bit peaky treble.

Male-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (00:57-01:17), Pretty good vocal and instrument tonality, but could be warmer. Timbre is very good though, but could be a bit cleaner.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), Vocal and instrument tonality needs more warmth, but very good timbre, could be cleaner though.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars aren’t sharp, good tonality and very good timbre, texture could be better though.

Deuce – America (03:03-03:16), non-peaky treble but a bit chaotic due to the imaging.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality could be warmer and have more texture and clarity, great timbre. Violin tonality could be brighter, cleaner and with more treble-extension, good timbre.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), decent tonality, timbre is very good though.

Soundstage: Below average for this price range.

Tonality: Neutral, very well-balanced tonality between warmth and brightness, note-weight is also pretty balanced between thick and thin. Excellent timbre. It’s a pretty versatile tonality, although for my library I do need more bass, thus it is more of a specialist for me.

Details: Below-average for this price range.

Instrument Separation: Average separation and imaging.

Songs that highlight the IEM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY7BSUHeHVM

Good genres: OST, Acoustic/vocal tracks

Bad genres: EDM, Trance, Hip-Hop, R&B



Comparisons:

IEM: Dunu Titan S, stock tips (grey/transparent) L, stock cable 3.5mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), pretty much identical bass.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), Very similar but a bit tighter/faster and cleaner due to the brighter tonality on the Titan S.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), very similar but a bit cleaner on the Titan S due to the brighter tonality.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), vocal tonality is a bit better and cleaner on the Titan S but timbre is better on the Kato. Instrument tonality and timbre are better on the Kato, similar clarity and detail.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), shoutier and a bit more fatiguing due to the brighter tonality on the Titan S.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), vocal and instrument tonality and timbre are better on the Kato, similar detail but a bit cleaner on the Kato.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are slightly more tonally correct on the Kato and with a bit better timbre.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, timbre, texture, clarity and detail are very similar. Violin tonality and timbre are slightly better on the Kato, very similar detail, texture and treble-extension.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), very similar tonality, slightly better timbre on the Kato.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), slightly wider on the Kato, slightly deeper on the Titan S. Imaging, separation and detail are on par. Timbre is better on the Kato.

Overall: They are both very similar in both tonality and technicalities, the Titan S is the brighter one while the Kato is more neutral and has better timbre. Value wise the Titan S is a lot better but harder to drive in terms of power.



IEM: Moondrop KXXS, Elecom EHP-CAP20 tips L, Blessing 2 stock cable 3.5mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends lower on the Kato, similar rumble. Punch quantity is higher on the KXXS but much cleaner due to the tighter/faster bass on the Kato as well as with more texture. More tonally correct on the Kato and with much better timbre, bloated on the KXXS in comparison to the Kato.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a bit more quantity on the KXXS, similar texture but much cleaner due to the tight/faster bass on the Kato as well as better timbre.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), much cleaner on the Kato due to the much faster and tighter bass, a bit more textured and more quantity on the KXXS.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), vocal tonality, timbre, clarity, detail and even forwardness are better on the Kato. Instrument tonality is a bit better on the KXXS but a lot better timbre, clarity and detail on the Kato.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), very similar but a bit peakier treble on the KXXS.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), vocal and instrument tonality are a bit better on the KXXS but a lot cleaner more detailed and with better timbre on the Kato.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are sharper on the KXXS, a lot better timbre, detail and clarity on the Kato.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality is a bit better on the KXXS but a lot cleaner, more detailed, better timbre and more textured on the Kato. Violin tonality and treble-extension are very similar but cleaner, more detailed and a lot better timbre on the Kato.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), cleaner, more detailed and better timbre on the Kato and a bit better tonality.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), a lot wider on the Kato and airier, as well as a bit deeper. Imaging, separation, detail and timbre are much better on the Kato.

Overall: RIP KXXS, Kato murdered it pretty badly.



IEM: Tanchjim Oxygen, Final Audio Type E tips LL, Cable A6 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends a bit lower and a bit more rumble on the O2. Punch quantity is similar but more textured, faster, tighter and cleaner on the O2. A bit more tonally correct on the O2 and better timbre.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), similar quantity but a lot more textured on the O2 as well as faster/tighter and cleaner. More tonally correct and better timbre on the O2.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), Cleaner due to the fast/tighter bass on the O2 as well as more textured.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Vocal tonality, timbre, detail and clarity are better on the O2 and a bit more forward. Instrument tonality is better on the Kato but better timbre, detail and clarity on the O2.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), shoutier vocals and more fatiguing (brighter) treble.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), vocal and instrument tonality and timbre are better on the Kato, but cleaner and more detailed on the O2.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitar is a bit sharper and more fatiguing on the O2 but more tonally correct, similar timbre.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality and timbre are better on the Kato, but more textured, cleaner and detailed on the O2. Violin tonality, timbre, treble-extension, detail and clarity are better on the O2.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), a bit better tonality on the O2, cleaner and more detailed. Similar timbre.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), a lot wider and airier soundstage on the O2 similar depth. Imaging, separation and detail are better on the O2. Timbre is a bit better on the O2 (but the Kato is pretty close).

Overall: The O2 is the more technical iem and also the better tuned one, but the Kato is a good alternative if you want something similar but with a warmer tonality.



MOD SECTION: The 2 nozzles that are included are empty and identical, so you can use one pair of them to mod with. The mod I will talk about uses the “Sony Import Foam” (link down below), where you just need to put it into the nozzle from the bottom.


Comparison (with mod):

IEM: Sony XBA-Z5, Sony EP-EX11 tips L, cable A3 4.4mm



Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), Extends a lot lower and rumbles more on the Z5. Punch quantity is a bit higher and much more textured on the Z5, a bit slower and looser bass on the Z5. More tonally correct on the Z5 but better timbre on the Kato.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), More quantity and more textured on the Z5 and more detailed, but a bit cleaner on the Kato due to the faster/tighter bass. Tonality is better on the Z5 but better timbre on the Kato.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), Cleaner on the Kato due to the tighter, faster and lower bass quantity, more textured and more detailed on the Z5.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Vocal tonality, clarity and detail are a bit better on the Z5, similar quantity but better timbre on the Kato. Instrument tonality, detail and clarity are better on the Z5 but better timbre on the Kato.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), a bit more fatiguing on the Z5 due to the shoutier vocals (slightly).

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), Vocal tonality is a bit better on the Z5 but cleaner and more forward on the Kato, timbre is similar. Instrument tonality and detail are better on the Z5 with similar timbre but cleaner on the Kato.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are a bit more tonally correct (brighter) on the Z5 but better timbre on the Kato.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, timbre, texture and detail are better on the Z5 but cleaner on the Kato. Violin tonality is very similar, but a bit better timbre on the Kato while it is a bit more detailed on the Z5 with a bit better treble-extension.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), a bit better tonality on the Z5 but better timbre and cleaner on the Kato, similar detail.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), much deeper, a bit wider and more holographic on the Z5. Imaging and micro-details are better on the Z5, similar separation and macro-details. Timbre is better on the Kato.

Overall: the modded Kato is quite similar to the Z5, but more neutral and with better timbre, while the Z5 is more technical.





Conclusion: The Kato is a well-tuned iem with excellent timbre, not the most technical in its price range but makes up for it with modding potential (can turn into a Sony XBA-Z5-ish iem).

Graph:


MOD material:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003707507573.html

Cable source:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...zTm4ei7HEfP8AI1zxswrMw2ho/edit#gid=1801072063

Reference/test songs:

MOONDROP KATO- Lean and Beautiful

MOONDROP is a famous chifi brand and has been loved my many including myself for the clarity and soundstage it provides in the music. While I haven’t been able to try many high end Moondrop products, I do own the KANAS Pro which is a great iem of its time. But today we are gonna try a new iem of theirs which is regarded as an upgrade to their KANAS PRO and KXXS- THE MOONDROP KATO

DISCLAIMER:
This unit has been provided to me as a part of a review tour in my country organized by HiFiGo. This review is completely based on my experience with it and all opinions positive or negative are my own and no one else’s (no one can have my thoughts ). Please try it yourself if you can, since we all hear things differently. The link for the iem is here.

SPECIFICATIONS-

• Driver: 10mm-ULT dynamic driver
• Diaphragm: the 3rd generation DLC composite diaphragm
• Socket: 0.78-2Pin, sunken design
• Housing: MIM stainless steel, FULLY SCRATCH PRONE
• Nozzle: stainless steel-1 PAIR, brass -1 PAIR
• Cable: Silver Plated Copper – 3.5mm – 0.78 2-pin
• Impedance: 32Ω±15% (@1KHz)
• Sensitivity: 123dB/Nrms (@1KHz)

PRICE-

190$ OR 18K INR

UNBOXING-

It just came with a small moondrop packet and nothing else (KUDOS to INDIAN customs lol and atrocious shipping prices). Sadly, only one pair of SPARKS tips which were torn in the nozzle area a bit, were added, M sized. Rest the pics will describe.

BUILD AND FIT-
It’s a tiny little iem but it’s made up of steel entirely. Quite light though, but damn the finish is mirror finish so be ready for ton of scratches haha!!! It’s a small iem so you would need a size larger tip to hold it in your ears.




CABLE-
Now the cable is a beauty. Transparent connectors and two-way wound technique with 2 thick silver or white coloured wires (4 cores), made it look much like jewellery haha!!! I would love to see a bit more strain relief on 3.5mm jack. Now complains on the wires at all.

ACCESSORIES-

• BLUE HARD SYNTHETIC case.
• Ear-tips
• 3 pairs of SPARKS (I got only 1 pair sadly)
• 3 pairs of Foam tips (none I got)
• 4 core cable with high-purity copper plated with thick silver
• 1 cleaning brush. (None I got)
• Steel plate holding the 2 nozzles (got this )

FILTERS-
Changing filters is pretty easy and gives it a good change in sound. It's a screw in type.

Two filters are present, one is steel and the other is brass. Steel filter is a slightly airier and cleaner sounding filter with leaner tonality but very little negligible sub-bass. The brass one gives you the required sub-bass but still its light.

Changing filters this way is fine except when you are trying, it gets troublesome, its much better done by BQEYZ.

POWAH REQUIRED-

It's pretty easy to drive. My dap n6ii with r01 easily handles it at 40-50 volume level with low gain. Increasing to high gain doesn't provide much except a like more forward signature and slightly more dynamics but it can be just psychoacoustics. Bass is slightly better but I think it’s the bigger volume working.

NOTE- This IEM is used with-

• N6ii and R01 (mostly R01 since it adds more naturalism to the iem and also better stage) for portable on chair listening experience for the most part of the review. About 40-50 volume on low gain
• On desktop- N6ii LO and A30s (Burson V5i D) and XDUOO MT602 Sylvania tubes (so beautiful pairing but then low gain on N6ii and also volume at 06 ) has been used.
• Sometimes LG G8x as phone source.
• Tips used were stock ‘L’ sized tips of BGVP A08 since the sparks tips made it much leaner, plus this was a great fit.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS- THIS IS SUBJECTIVE AND YOUR OPINIONS MAY VARY FROM MINE

SUB-BASS-

Brass filter-
There's good sub-Bass with the brass filter. The texture is awesome with an average rumble. Notes are very nicely defined and are very dynamic. Every hit is registered and is easily distinguished based on their height. The tonality is lean but tonal accuracy is pretty great. Notes also are thin in the body and do have a space around then. It just encompasses notes clarity like a pro as it has great timbre with fast attack and near natural but slightly on the faster side decay.

Steel filter-
All of the above is true except that the sub-bass volume and rumble is very low. The extension into the depths of sub-bass is also very low. You can just feel the texture of notes but in some songs when it's not emphasized in a song. Makes it feel boring

BASS-

Brass filter-
Given its mid-bass heavy iem, there's a lot of punch in the bass. The notes are very dynamic, textured and beautifully separated from each other . Notes definition is excellent as well . The timbre is natural with fast attack and slightly faster than natural decay. The notes body though has a big space around it and is well not voluminous but controlled. It extends pretty well though and the hits are nicely emphasized even by their difference in heights. Energy doesn't seem to be missing but the leaner tonality is not my fav thing i guess .

Steel filter-
Not much of any difference except slightly that the leaner tonality has increased and space around the notes and instruments are further enhanced. The body is a little short with great extension to the edges. The attack is much faster though.


MIDS-

Brass filter-
Ohh my it's a very beautiful presentation. There's good air around the instruments with great spacing in notes of those. They are all dynamic and easily distinguished from their notes' height differences and also from the entirety of the notes. Timbre is beautiful and this shows up a lot of micro details pretty easily. This has a natural decay but very quick attack and everything just pops up yet not in an ear-piercing way. The tonal accuracy is great but it's still on the leaner side so sometimes making the instruments feel thin, mostly though in the lower mids. The microdetails and air around the strings are easily distinguished and have an enhanced presentation.

Vocals- have a leaner presentation. The body has a big space around them as if they are singing in an open room. There's a good extension and the female vocals sound wonderful. It's a mildly 'v' presentation. Male vocalists lack the weight of their voice but are very distinct. There's a great number of micro details with air around their voice. The 'sss' are slightly more pronounced in the toughest of recordings without being too bright .

Steel filter-
Everything mentioned above is the same except that it's a slightly leaner tonality. The air in the notes and separation of instruments have improved. Vocals now seem as a complete 'v' shaped signature. Space around the instruments is also improved.

TREBLE-

Brass filter-
It's excellent in the treble region. There's good tonal accuracy with a leaner presentation to the notes. Dynamics and timbre are top notch. Notes are beautifully defined with great edge definition and heights difference. The air around the instruments and notes are presented with subtleness. The microdetails on the other hand have fast attack with normal paced decay. There is no hint of too much brightness present making it a smooth sailing . Extension in the treble region is lacking a bit but by far one of the best in this price range only being trumped by p1 plus.

Silver filter-
Very similar to above with a little more extension and airiness around the notes and the instruments. The tonality is slightly leaner and the transients are more enhanced.


HEADSTAGE AND IMAGING-

It does not by any means lack that. There's a big wide stage with good sonic headroom and height. The depth (-y axis) is pretty great but the stage depth is slightly reduced. The instruments in front are more placed diagonally in the X- Y plane. Imaging though is precise and combined with great space around instruments, you would be easily abacked to find them having their own corners in the head-stage. Centre imaging needs some work though. Not much change is presented in between the filters.

SEPARATION AND RESOLUTION-

By far one of the best. The separation around the instruments is excellent with good space and air around them. Resolution is excellent too with three tonal accuracy and dynamics it will capture your heart in an orchestra or any other live recordings. With steel filter though, the airiness and separation is slightly more enhanced with faster transients. But this comes with a penalty of more lean notes.

COMPARISON-

BQEYZ AUTUMN
Pros-
More balanced signature
Better mid bass tightness and definition
Better inter-instrumental separation
Texture is better enhanced
Better notes edge definition
More controlled and balanced notes
Wider stage
Good change in sound with filters

TRI I3 PRO-
Pros-
Better treble extension
Better treble details
Better sub-bass
Better stage depth and layering
Better transparency
Better mids
Note body definition was better.

TIN P1 PLUS-
Pros-
Better treble extension
Better air in the string instruments
Better transparency
Better edge definition of the notes
Better texture in bass

TIMELESS 7HZ
Pros-
Bass is warmer
Sub-bass is warmer
Better vocals than T1 plus
Less air
Less details

MOONDROP KATO-
Pros-
Excellent dynamics
Excellent tonal accuracy
Beautiful airy notes and treble (less than p1plus)
Well extended in the treble region
Has sub-bass and is mid bass heavy
Beautiful separation and spacing around instruments
Wide stage
Excellent imaging and resolution.



SUMMARY-
For the price this would be an excellent purchase since for its pros, it's a master, with very little cons. This have such beautiful tonal accuracy and timbre. A copper cable might increase the tonal weight of the notes and make it more appropriate for male vocal thickness. Recommendation - it's highly recommended but needs small changes…

Introduction:
If there’s one iem that has seen a fair share of popularity it is the Moondrop KATO. Before the official release there was a high degree of anticipation around it, and after the release there have been some fairly good reviews of it, some even gloating. It had my interest piqued, whether it was a hidden gem or not. When I got the chance to review it, I could not refuse.



Specifications:
Driver: 10mm-ULT dynamic driver
Diaphragm: the 3rd generation DLC composite diaphragm
Socket: 0.78-2Pin sunken design
Housing: MIM stainless steel
Nozzle: stainless steel x2, brass x2
Cable: Silver Plated Copper – 3.5mm – 0.78 2-pin
Frequency response range: 10Hz-45kHz (IEC61094, Free Field)
Effective frequency response range: 20Hz-20kHz (IEC60318-4, -3dB)
Impedance: 32Ω±15% (@1KHz)
Sensitivity: 123dB/Nrms (@1KHz)
Distortion: < 0.15% (@1khz, AES17 20khz, A-weight)

Disclaimer: I was provided this unit as a part of a review tour managed by hifigo. All impressions recorded below are completely mine, no incentives were provided to me in exchange for positive review. From the below link you can purchase it, and no, it's not an affiliate link:
https://hifigo.com/products/moondrop-kato

In The Box:
I got it in just the faux leather carrying case with the spring L sized tips attached. The cable screams quality through and through, no doubt. The Spring Tips are the most comfortable tips I have used yet, much more comfortable than the JVC Spiral Dots SF (Stress Free).



Build and Fit:
The solid stainless steel build of the earpieces are excellent and could have been very comfortable if not for the weight. While it sits within my ears very comfortably with no apparent pressure points, due to the weight it ultimately pushes down on the pinna which gives rise to discomfort.
Another aspect is the cable. While the build of the cable is superb, soft and supple with just the right width, coupled with the metal parts - looks really premium. However, the cable has a fair amount of weight as well, which presses on the ear and gives rise to discomfort once again.
Hence, taking account of these, I cannot exactly say that the fit was very comfortable for me.

Source: Shanling M3X / balanced out / high gain

Sound:
Note: I received the KATO with the silver nozzles affixed, and the other nozzles were not available. Hence all my impressions are based on this configuration only.

KATO has a decidedly bright sound that has a lack of warmth. Suffice to say it isn’t my preference. However, I still could not ignore the excellent technical chops it brings with it, and ultimately it holds its own because of it. However, before setting off, I must emphasise that my source was the Shanling M3X. Now, M3X is a rather neutral-bright source, which might not have been the perfect pairing with the KATO, hence that might have played a serious role in my impressions as follows:

Low:
A rather polite low end. Moondrop has tuned the low end to be in a supporting role rather than being lively, without becoming too lean.
Midbass has a tight punch, certainly does not feel soft. However, the emphasis is a bit less than my preference. Slams are pretty nice though, cannot disagree. Textures are not washed out. But the slightly less emphasis compromises the physicality of the slams.
In spite of the even curve from midbass to subbass, I found subbass has lesser emphasis than midbass, and the rumbles simply do not have enough body to make them sound physical. However - it has both boons and banes. While it keeps the bass from blooming too much, and provides a much cleaner stage, the fun factor also gets compromised a bit and the sound becomes overall a bit less engaging and more analytical.

While listening to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Dani California, the bass guitar notes can be clearly heard, but not felt. However, the kickdrums, as impactful as they already are, prove to be providing the right amount of engagement without becoming too much in the face.

However, the kickdrums in Metallica - The Four Horsemen sounds rather subdued and not as lifelike as it should.

Similar experience in case of The Dark Knight OST - Why So Serious? - the subbass rumbles simply did not have enough pressure to be felt and hence could not attain the atmospheric level that it should.

The bass drums in Battlestar Galactica Season 2 OST: - Prelude To War can be hit or miss depending on the listener. While KATO delivers them in a tight manner, the lesser emphasis does not favour them and does not make them as engaging as they should be. However, it also makes sure not to eat too much air from the passage.



Mid:
KATO displays a very high degree of clarity and transparency in the mid region, in exchange for a bit of note weight and body. The midrange is notably airy and clean - the low end has absolutely no permission to enter here. However, that also means that the midrange has little warmth and noticeable brightness.
These traits are immediately noticeable in the lower mids. Male vocals, in spite of having the DD timbre, do not have enough weight and body to have that throaty feel. Nope, they certainly do not sound as lean as BA male vocals, however, they also do not have that physical touch to sound natural.

This was most evident in Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah. Here, his voice starts from a nice depth and then goes higher and becomes a bit rough. KATO could not reproduce that depth and weight, and on top of that accentuates the rough peaks to the point of sibilance as his voice goes higher.

Same happens in case of Mike Saaresto’s voice in Poets Of The Fall - The Ballad Of Jeremiah Peacekeeper, his voice sounds more strident than natural, with hints of sibilance.

However, instruments are greatly benefitted. The snare drums sound very crisp in Poets Of The Fall - The Ballad Of Jeremiah Peacekeeper. The electric guitars in Evanescence - Imaginary sound crunchy and crisp with sufficient note weight not to sound lean.

Upper mids are not very favourable to me. Sufficiently energetic,they are bright and have noticeable peaks that highlight the sibilant notes if the track has them. They do also seem to lack a bit of note weight. Metallic timbre makes the notes strident at times too. It becomes mostly evident in Female Vocals.

Yao Si Ting’s voice in Scarborough Fair sounds very bright, spicy, with piercing peaks in times - the opposite of natural, in short.

However, Amy Lee’s voice sounds energetic but not as unnatural or strident or screeching in the track Imaginary by Evanescence. The track sounded really good with clearly discernible instruments.

Another track that I use for testing is Eluveitie - Inis Mona. This track has an abundance of emphasis in the upper mid and treble region. The track sounds a bit screeching in times on KATO - was not particularly enjoyable.



High:
There is no shortage of energy in KATO’s high frequencies. However, the energy seems to be focused more on the lower treble than upper treble. The extension feels also a bit limited in the upper treble, but not as much to cut out the shimmers.
KATO definitely has a very bright and airy treble, which sometimes acts significantly for it, and sometimes against it. Regarding the notes, I felt that a bit more body would have made them sound a bit more realistic, but ultimately they cannot be termed as particularly very thin or light.
I would rather describe the treble by track-wise:

While playing a track with soft background treble, like Steely Dan - Do It Again, KATO highlights the background ride cymbal notes very well, but also pushes it a bit more forward than I expected. Although it did not detriment the experience in any way and the stage depth was still preserved.

The same can be told in case of Antoine Dufour - 2 vs 3. This acoustic track has a very nice ensemble of acoustic guitar, violin, and drums. The background cymbals are portrayed exceedingly well with sufficient energy and presence, while maintaining the depth of the stage.

Coming to a bit more intense track like Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name, the problem starts. Towards the ending of the track the screeching guitar and the bright cymbals takes up the space much more than the vocals, creating a not so musical experience.

I detected the same nature while playing Eluveitie - Inis Mona as well - at the last part the cymbals became the center of the attraction and the vocals and guitars became subdued. Drums were playing a supportive role but not very well. The rhythm guitar was quite difficult to perceive and the electric guitar was pushed back as well, just like the vocals.



Technicalities:
I could not detect any shortcoming when it came to the technical aspects, especially considering the price. The notes had acceptable amounts of detail in the mid and high region. The lows, because of the lower emphasis, did not feel as alive, although the notes were tight and textures could be perceived. On occasions some notes may come out a bit lighter on the body, but it also adds to the excellent transparency it boasts. Yes, KATO is an excellently transparent set. The presentation is quite airy and open - absolutely no congestion here. The stage is above average width, height, and depth. Separation is quite commendable - absolutely no muddying can be noticed anywhere in any track. Imaging is not bad, not excellent, but not bad either. Because the treble is pushed forward, sometimes on some tracks there is less perceivable front to back staging, which takes some point off the imaging part.

Comparison:
Vs. IMR Acoustics Splash Of Red - This has been my best acquisition of the year 2021. The Splash Of Red, or SOR has been keeping me busy since the day I purchased it. Given its price point of almost $240, the comparison can be a little in favour of it as opposed to the $190 priced KATO. I am using the SOR with the grey nozzle and black filter. Here are the salient points:

• SOR is definitely a more bassy iem with more quantity, slam, texture, and tactility; whereas KATO keeps the bass under much more control, thereby robbing it of a bit of life. However, this works in favour of KATO in case of tracks which already have considerable bass emphasis, as it reproduces them cleanly without making them in your face. But, in most other cases, the bass response of SOR feels much more satisfactory over KATO. Despite the increased quantity and slam, SOR’s bass is extremely refined not to muddy the stage - that and the fact that SOR’s bass can be felt, not just heard, make it one of the best Low End I have ever heard under $250, or even $300.
• SOR has a much more fleshed out midrange with significantly more lower mid body and more controlled upper mid. The notes feel more real and tactile as opposed to KATO, which has a slightly more airy midrange but the notes feel wispy. When I say that SOR has a more controlled upper mid I do not mean that the upper mid takes a step back - SOR has a sufficiently energetic upper mid, however, the uncomfortable peaks have been more controlled. Male vocals sound more deep and throaty on SOR, just as female vocals have a bit more body and less peaks.
• KATO has slightly more energy in high range than SOR, but SOR has better extension. There is no lack of energy in the high range of SOR as well. High notes have again more body and presence in SOR. KATO high notes, like cymbal crash and ride cymbal rolls sound a bit thinner compared to SOR. SOR has slightly more transparency in the treble region as well.
• KATO definitely wins in stage height - has a bigger presentation hands down. The separation is pretty well and so is the imaging. However, SOR has much better depth, which coupled with the excellent separation provides a much more impressive imaging. Width of the stage is mostly comparable between both.

Conclusion:
I know, I have gone against a lot of impressions shared by others, but this is how I found its sound. And then there is the case that the source I paired it with might not have been the correct one given the bright signature of both.
I’m not saying it’s a bad set. It may probably suit the treblehead audience very well. But overall I found the balance was a bit lacking for my taste. That and the lack of organic nature put me off big time. I do not favour metallic timbre which it has. Then again, the open airy presentation was really a breath of fresh air along with the excellent separation - reason why I cannot denounce it thoroughly also.
Regarding the fit of the iem, as I stated before, it was not especially comfortable for me. Both the iems and the cable are heavy - I would have really preferred a lighter construction.
However, I truly believe Moondrop could have compensated a bit of that upper midrange/high frequency focus while adding a bit more tactility in the low end - that would have brought more balance across the spectrum. I know, stage and separation might have been negatively affected a bit, but the overall presentation would have become much more balanced and attractive…to my ears at least.

Moondrop KATO : Easy Listening Experience!




Summary & Objective:

@MOONDROP KATO comes with great build and premium looks and also comes with great sonic capabilities and performances of a single Dynamic Driver in the $200 range. It comes with 2 different nozzles that provide different type of sound appropriate for different genres and addresses some of the sound preference differences amongst the audiophile crowd.




Introduction:

@MOONDROP KATO is the latest release of Moondrop in the below $200 price range with a promise to deliver great quality sound with 2 different tuning options. The cable this time around seemed much improved and through the launch of this IEM, MOONDROP also launched their new Ear-tips "SPARKS".
The MOONDROP KATO is priced at $189.99.



Disclaimer:

This unit was sent by @shenzhenaudio for the purpose of an honest review.
Everything mentioned in this review are purely my own based on my experiences with the IEM.


Design, Build & Features:

Mirror Silver vs Matt Grey Versions:

I've got the chance to try out both the glossy Mirror Silver version as well as the Matt Grey version... Though at different points of time, but I myself preferring the the Matt version much more due to the following reasons:

• Same great build quality
• Not a fingerprint magnet
• Not as scratch prone as the glossy version

The @MOONDROP KATO brings 2 new features into the picture:
1. Interchangeable Nozzles
2. New SPARKS Ear-tips

1. Interchangeable Nozzles:
KATO comes with 2 interchangeable nozzles: Default Stainless Steel & the Brass.
The Brass version seemed to improve upon the mid-bass slightly but at the cost or narrower staging.


2. New SPARKS Ear-tips:
SPARKS is the new silicon based ear-tips launched by Moondrop alongside the KATO. This new ear-tips seemed much softer while maintaining good shape and according to MOONDROP has some sonic impact also.



Design & Build Quality:

MOONDROP KATO is a newer generation of 10mm flagship dynamic driver after KXXS, to greatly improve the linear dynamic range and achieve full-frequency nonlinear distortion comparable to higher end headphones. KXXS had gained much international complements since released for its accurate timbre and excellent resolution. The KATO takes up the challenge to upgrade over KXXS in all areas.



Specifications:

The @MOONDROP KATO comes with $189.99 price tag and the specifications are as below:

https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/...-with-detachable-cable?variant=41120632242327
OR
https://www.moondroplab.com/kato

Name: KATO flagship advanced technology dynamic in-ear earplug
Driver: 10mm-ULT dynamic driver
Diaphragm: the 3rd generation DLC composite diaphragm
Socket: 0.78-2Pin sunken design
Housing: MIM stainless steel
Nozzle: stainless steel *2, brass *2
Cable plug: 3.5mm stereo single-ended plug
Frequency response range: 10Hz-45kHz (IEC61094, Free Field)
Effective frequency response range: 20Hz-20kHz (IEC60318-4, -3dB)
Impedance: 32Ω±15% (@1KHz)
Sensitivity: 123dB/Nrms (@1KHz)
Distortion: < 0.15% (@1khz, AES17 20khz, A-weight)
Manufacturer: MOONDROP Technology Co., Ltd.



Accessories:

KATO comes with the following accessories in a nice package:

• BLUE case.
• Ear-tips
  • 3 pairs of SPARKS
  • 3 pairs of Foam tips
• 4 core cable with high-purity copper plated with thick silver
• 1 cleaning brush.
• Steel plate holding the 2 nozzles

NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SOUND....

Items Used for this Review:

DAC/AMP: @iFi audio Micro iDSD Signature, Luxury & Precision W2 Dongle DAC/AMP, Cayin IHA-6 Amplifier
DAP/Source : Cayin N6 Mk2 with R01 motherboard, Cayin N3 Pro
Streaming Source: QOBUZ
Ear Tips:
Though the Moondrop SPARKS ear-tips are indeed quite good and comfortable - I somehow preferred the Final E series Black tips over those.



Tracks Used:
The tracks I have used can be found from the below playlist that I have used and generally use for most reviews...



MOONDROP KATO Sound Impressions in Short:

The BASS:

The Bass on the KATO comes with good details from sub-bass region but mid-bass not very prominent. Though overall bass has some muscle & texture and good amount of details for the price range - The thump & slam of the mid-bass seemed a bit tamed down. In tracks like : "Anna R. Chie (Remastered) - Konstantin Wecker" and "Dreams (2001 Remaster) – Fleetwood Mac" you can feel the the attack of the different instruments with enough details. However, The thump & slam of the mid-bass felt like a miss. The Brass nozzle seems to be able to solve it somewhat.

The MIDS:

Despite the slight V shaped tuning of the KATO - the midrange is amongst it's stronger traits and feels very enjoyable. It is smooth & musical & comes with good texture and muscle. The vocals are natural and both male and female vocals come with good amount of details. Instruments sounded natural. In tracks like: "Anchor - Trace Bundy" and "Ruby Tuesday - Franco Battiato" while you will love the overall midrange specially transients of the guitars, violins etc... instruments and the vocals.

The TREBLE:

Treble is quite enjoyable and non-fatiguing. Cymbals sound natural and tracks like “Chocolate Chip Trip – Tool” sounded great and the track was very enjoyable.
The treble has enough details and texture and is quite commendable for the price.

STAGING & SEPARATION:

The Staging is where it felt like KATO could use a bit more of it. Though the default stainless steel nozzle gives good amount of width for the price range, it lacks somewhat in height & depth departments. The KATO staging is quite well defined for the price range. Tracks like: “ She Don't Know – Melody Gardot” or “Bohemian Rhapsody (live aid) – Queen” sound good & enjoyable. However, Instrument separation was amongst the weaker traits of this IEM.

Imaging & Timbre:

The KATO also comes with just good sense of positioning and imaging & timbre performances. Tracks like: “Rotterdam (Or Anywhere) - The Beautiful South “or “Paradise Circus - Massive Attack” seemed quite enjoyable with good imaging & natural timbre.



Comparisons:

Quite a few IEMs had been launched recently by different brands having inter-changeable nozzle/tuning systems and new Dynamic Driver systems. Apart from the @MOONDROP KATO, there is BQEYZ AUTUMN and DUNU Falcon PRO. Though the prices are ever so slightly different - the KATO MRP being $189 and BQEYZ AUTUMN being $199, DUNU Falcon PRO being $219 - it just felt necessary to compare as they come with similar tech architectures.



MOONDROP KATO vs DUNU FALCON PRO vs BQEYZ AUTUMN:

Bass: While both the KATO & Falcon PRO had more good amount of details in the bass, the AUTUMN just seemed to have better Bass performance both in terms of sub-bass & mid-bass. Hence for the Bass I would have the following preference.... AUTUMN>Falcon PRO > KATO.

Mids: As all of the 3 IEMs had slight V shaped tuning - Midrange is amongst the stronger traits of the KATO specially. Having said that - I found the the AUTUMN was not lagging in midrange either. However, the Falcon Pro seemed the least impressive in this department due to some mid-bass bleed into the midrange in some cases.

Treble: The Treble performance seemed non-peaky and good in all 3 of the IEMs. While all 3 IEMs shine in this area, I quite liked the KATO performance here.

Soundstage & Separation: Both Falcon PRO & AUTUMN have very good staging and KATO not lagging behind either. in terms of separation though all 3 of them are good for the price range - I would personally prefer the AUTUMN due to much better separation than the other 2 IEMs.




Conclusion :

The MOONDROP KATO is a great performer given the price range and comes with great new upgrades for the audiophiles. It is quite easy to drive and performs well with just any combination. It's overall good performance makes it easily recommendable for the price range.

Moondrop has introduced their current flagship, Kato, after their last impressive KXXS. This new entry has many new things, like a new cable, a set of newly created Tips, Interchangeable nozzles. This is getting really interesting now.

Disclaimer:

The Unit was provided by HiFiGo in exchange for my honest opinions. You can buy Kato by clicking here.

Build and Fit:

Kato is a metal build iem and the shiny exterior is prone to fingerprints and scratches. But…they sure are a looker (when not touched!)

The fit was extremely comfortable for me and I had no issues while using the iem for longer listening sessions.




Technical Specifications:

• Newly Developed ULT Super Linear Dynamic Driver.
• 3rd Generation DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) Composite Diaphragm.
• Interchangeable Nozzle Design.
• 3rd Generation Patented Anti-Blocking Acoustic Filter.
• Newly Designed Spring Silicone Ear Tips.
• Professional Tuning Following VDSF Target Response.
• High-Quality Copper Thick Silver-Plated Cable.
• Gold-Plated 2-pin 0.78mm Connectors.

Source:

• Ifi nano BL.
• Avani Dongle dac
• Abigail Dongle dac
• Samsung Galaxy S10
• Sony Discman.

Please note that I was only provided with the Silver Nozzle and all my impressions are based on the same.

Sound Impressions:

Lows:

Test Tracks:

• Raavan by Amit Trivedi (
  )
• Chandralekha By A R Rahman (
  )
• Cold Heart By Elton John and Dua Lipa (
  )
• Levitating By Dua Lipa (
  )
• Marhaba From Janasheen (
  )
• I'll do the talking Tonight from Agent Vinod (
  )
• Naughty Naughty From Cash (
  )

I mean…wow…The Bass…wow. If you get the Kato, please use the above tracks and you will get the feeling. The bass is just so yummy. It is not boomy but it is punchy. It doesn’t bleed but it elevates the overall experience of the iem but hits you with just the right quality of the bass. It is like getting high with the Manali Cream. The sub-bass is excellent, the mid-bass is great. The Decay is fast.

Overall, you will be impressed.




Mids:

Test Tracks:

• Kaho na Kaho from Murder (
  )
• Mann Tu Talbat From Super Star (
  )
• Chupke Se From Saathiya (
  )
• Hey Pillagaada From Fidaa (
  )
• Oo Chandruda From Hey Pillagaada (
  )
• Kallolam From Padi Padi Leche Manasu (
  )
• O My Lovely Lalana From Padi Padi Leche Manasu (
  )
• Tum Itna Jo Muskura rahe Ho by Jagjit SIngh (
  )
• Shaam se Aankh Me Nami Si Hai By Jagjit Singh (
  )
• Aasmani rang By Bhupinder & Chitra (
  )
• Pani Pani Re By Lata Mangeshkar (
  )

Mids are warm and natural. The vocals have a full-bodied presentation, and they are a bit forward however they are not shouty at all. The male vocals shine and the female vocals are lagging a bit behind the male vocals. The reason may be the slight peak in the upper mids.

The Ghazal tracks that I have shared here sound exquisite on Kato and the female vocals are good but a bit of shine is missing here.

Highs:

Test Tracks:

• In you Eyes (
  )
• Another Day in Paradise by Phil Collins (
  )
• Hold Me Now by Thomson Twins (
  )
• True by Spandue Ballet (
  )
• The Funeral By band of Horses (
  )
• No One’s Gonna Love You by Band of Horses (
  )
• Simple Song by The Shins (
  )
• Chasing Cars By Snow Patrols (
  )
• This Modern Love By Bloc Party (
  )

Highs are smoothened out as they are done in most of the Moondrop house IEMs. Despite that, there is ample energy in the treble region that helps in detail retrieval and micro-dynamics. The treble extends as well given the source is not a warm one. Some may feel a lack of energy in the upper treble region but seeing all the other good stuff that Kato does, it should hardly be of any concern for most of the users.

Soundstage and Imaging:

The soundstage is wide and deep. The height is missing but the overall soundstage is excellent. Imaging is very good as well and the instrument separation is on-point as well.

Conclusion:

I am yet to try Hana 2021, once I do I will add a comparison part as well, but for now, to conclude, Kato manages to hit so many right notes that I will be loved by one and all. The smooth sound of Kato is suitable for My playlist and should be enough for others as well and this one is a keeper.

Nearly all listening tests done on Moondrop M3x or Schiit Magni from SMSL SU-9n or Schiit Gumby. Some were also done on the iPhone 13 Pro Max with a dongle and Samsung S21 with a dongle. Using Apple Music Lossless, FLAC, and Spotify 320kbps. The Kato reviewed below was provided by Moondrop as a review sample, I will be returning it back, but I plan to purchase a pair of Kato’s as soon as I sell some of my other gear. With that out of the way, let’s review the Kato.

The packaging has the typical Waifu on the box that I love that some hate. It’s classic Moondrop waiving and catering to otaku culture.



Immediately noticeable is the improvements to the cable, the Aria, B2Dusk, and my S8 all have mediocre cables at best. The latter two being arguably worse, but Kato changes this. The stock cable is fantastic, not too heavy, not too light, it’s the perfect thickness.

Kato’s new cable is a step in the right direction from Moondrop, only wish the cable had a little better strain relief on the 3.5mm jack but that’s me possibly nitpicking ?



Design is great, the IEM may show scratches a little more easily on the glossy finish, but the appearance looks fantastic. Not too much else to say, would’ve liked to see Waifu engraving options though like B2 Dusk.

Comfort is fantastic for me, I always find the Aria to be comfortable, but the Kato’s included silicone tips are even more comfortable for me and do not slide out with the medium size. Long listening 4+ hours wasn’t an issue for me, in comparison to say B2 Dusk which causes me significant pain after just 30 minutes.

Sound quality is overall summarized as refinements over Aria, it is noticeable but at the same time somewhat more subtle.

The mids are a bit more forward, the soundstage is slightly improved/wider, the treble seems to not be as rolled off to my ears either. The bass is ever so similar, perhaps more refined ever so slightly to my ears.

As a result of the increased detail, I find myself listening to the Kato more often than Aria, it’s tough to recommend buying a Kato if you already own a pair of Aria, I know I will since I love collecting IEMs and frankly love the comfort of Kato and Aria, just wish Aria had a little more detail. Therefore, the Kato are perfect for me.

In terms of amping vs unamped, I do think amping the Kato brings out a little bit more bass and ever so slightly cleans the bass, but it isn’t a drastic difference from an iPhone dongle or Samsung dongle. In a blind test it’s debatable how noticeable the differences are with Kato.

Noise isolation isn’t bad, but don’t expect the same noise isolation/passive cancellation you’d expect from S8 or Blessing 2usk. Kato is very much like Aria for me in this regard, it barely keeps any noise out. Quite handy though as office IEMs, that way I can still hear my boss shouting across the office for me.


Listening Tests & Comparisons:

Ayano No Kouhuku Riron – Jin – Mekakucity Records:

The detail on the Kato is noticeable over the Aria, the instrument separation is rather similar, but the soundstage is slightly wider and gives a more immersive sound than Aria. The B2 Dusk has noticeably more detail, even unamped using an iPhone dongle or MBP 3.5mm jack. Otherwise, this song isn’t significantly different on the various IEMs.



Summary: The Moondrop Kato is a fantastic IEM. The improvements over the Aria are subtle but noticeable, the comfort and cable as well as eartips immediately stand out. Not sure if it’s worth over double the Aria’s cost, but time will tell.

Moondrop has been making a lot of splash lately in the past few years, with some models truly standing out for their great tuning and build quality. Kato carries on the lineage of their successful KXXS model fairly well, with very little pitfalls.

**Specifications:**

Name: KATO flagship advanced technology dynamic in-ear earplug
Driver: 10mm-ULT dynamic driver
Diaphragm: the 3rd generation DLC composite diaphragm
Socket: 0.78-2Pin sunken design
Housing: MIM stainless steel
Nozzle: stainless steel *2, brass *2
Cable plug: 3.5mm stereo single-ended plug
Frequency response range: 10Hz-45kHz (IEC61094, Free Field)
Effective frequency response range: 20Hz-20kHz (IEC60318-4, -3dB)
Impedance: 32Ω±15% (@1KHz)
Sensitivity: 123dB/Nrms (@1KHz)
Distortion: < 0.15% (@1khz, AES17 20khz, A-weight)

The specifications are lifted Verbatim from Moondrop's website.



Equipment used:

iFi Hipdac
Direct from smartphone (sensitivity test)
Topping NX4

Sonic experience:

First off, the tips included in the box is too mushy to use, so I opted for Final E tips for a better fit and seal. The brass nozzles simply looked less aesthetically pleasing to me so I went with the steel ones, the difference in sound was too small for me to pick up.

The sloping bump in the bass region and small peak at 8kHz and deep dip at 10kHz strictly puts the Kato in the slightly warm-darker neutral side of timbre for me, which is coincidentally the signature that I enjoy most. It does however, butcher some of the intoxicating high notes female artists use in their vocal work and the airy treble is fairly muted too. The sound overall, is very mature and polished.

The large, polished metal shells paired with a quality well-fitting pair of tips does an admirable job of sound isolation, and the fitment is also rather excellent.

The cable is the only gripe I had about the whole experience. It's made of soft rubbery material on the outside but it's still rather thick and stiff.

Bass:
Kato's tune in the bass region is very well done, to the point that some of the electronic music tracks sometimes do feel a bit lacking, especially with bright sources. That is to be expected, so no surprises there. This control of bass comes into play for more acoustic rock tracks, metal and jazz. It is full, but a touch more punch and faster attack would have really helped flesh out the sound more. 4/5

Mids:

The mids of Kato is very linear and close to a flat response curve, so it is no surprise that vocals and other acoustic instruments play very well here. Male vocals absolutely shine on the Kato, with accurate timbre and reproduction. Bass, guitar, violins and other string instruments also sound absolutely amazing. The issue arises with upper mids, where the slight bump at 8kHz really helps with vocals and higher octave notes of the piano for example, but the dip after it loses the impact of female vocals and cascade of pianos and other higher pitched instruments. 4.5/5

Treble:

Treble was fairly problematic for me. The dip at 10kHz makes the sound very laid back to listen to, but microdetails and the high notes that provide the much needed airiness, sparkle and stage to the music is heavily dampened, making it less of a aural bliss listening experience and more of a laidback listening to the classics sort of an affair to use the Kato. 3.5/5, but this is completely subjective. Compared to similarly tuned IEMs, Kato would receive 4/5.

Soundstage and Imaging:

As usual, sealed IEMs are not really the sort of equipment you should expect great soundstage out of. However the Katos have a fairly large soundstage reproduction, comparable to a stereo Hi-Fi setup in an intimate room. The accuracy of imaging is very impressive, but the holographic quality is sadly a bit missing. 3.75/5



Final thoughts:

It was difficult to come to a verdict with the Kato. The retail price of around 200 dollars means the competition is plenty, but each comes with its own sets of unique pros and cons. In my experience, when you are spending this kind of money you cannot expect an IEM that does everything perfect, but also none of them are truly abysmal either. If you love a more warm-neutral IEM, which will not fatigue you with sibilance, and is very neutral in signature, Kato is worth a consideration. However, connoisseurs of acoustic, new age music that rely heavily on the upper mids or fans of Bass driven EDM might want to reconsider.

Sometimes you just know right? Look the whole IEM world under the main world of Audiophiles is so vast and so subjectiive that even those facts are debateable by some. You can do a pole on what is the best of anything and you will never find a 100% agreed upon product. So I'm not going to sit here and believe that what I'm about to say will be accepted by all people either, cause it won't. But I'm going to do the stupid thing and try anyways.

So right away, a disclaimer...I haven't had a true audiophile IEM since 1999 when I had Westones, Ultimate ears, and Shure's. I have used Headphones after that and even those were Bluetooth. So this year was my first dive into the Audiophile hobby. Once I got all my headphone game up to date allow with my balance set up with amp and dac, I decided it was time to look into IEM's. My first purchase was a very nice one. The Final a4000 IEM's with the highly respectable soundstage party trick it has. I don't believe there is any other IEM that has a wider Soundstage anywhere near the cost of the IEM. But the overall look, package, fit, and material didn't live up to my standard for a endgame IEM. And I know most people don't look for a endgame product on first go but I did. I just don't like wasting my time on products I know aren't going to keep me with them.

So enter the Moondrop Kato. Everyone on forums all told me to get the Kato. Everyone praised it for being one of the very best in quality of sound and feel. So i got this IEM to test against what I already had. However, from the moment I removed it from the box I knew I was in trouble. The artwork was beautiful for its box. And when you entered the box ...the sure delight of all that you saw made it even worse for the A4000. The case, cables, tips, and basically everything in the box including the freaking postcard screamed quality. It was like I had just paid for $500 customized IEM compared to what I had with the A4000.

But the real Superman punch came from the sound qauilty. Yes the A4000 had bigger soundstaging but it just didn't have the matching imaging and separation needed to accompany it. The Kato did! It gave a very nice soundstage still but it also matched that soundstage up with Bass control, imaging, vocal timber, and separtation of insturments. On top of that the feel of them in your ears felt more premium to me than the lighter weight a4000. So the overall boxes checked off against each other really landed in favor of the Kato. And to be honest, even if they were the exact same sound quality ...the Kato would have won because I just prefer the look, weight, and presentation more.

At the end of the day you have to do what is right for you. I don't pretend to think my choices should be yours or visa versa. But what I do know is that these IEM's are staying with me . Why? Because they are my endgame even amongst higher cost IEMs that might cost more or Sound better. Do what you will with that.

Preface​

The Kato is Moondrop’s latest single-DD IEM that is being touted by the company as an improved Moondrop KXXS. Incidentally, the KXXS is an IEM that’ll always have a special place in my collection because it’s the IEM that got me into the “IEM game” so to speak. I mean, there was the Drop Noble X that I purchased briefly before the KXXS, but I would prefer not to talk about that IEM - thanks.

Moving back to the Kato, I basically had one question in mind when I approached it, and that was whether it would be a true upgrade. This is because I do feel that Moondrop basically peaked with the KXXS in the single-DD game. Even the Illumination, for example, really had no technical chops and was out-resolved by Moondrop’s own SSR which came in at a fraction of the cost (no, seriously, basically 1/20th the cost). That aside, read on to find out whether I think Moondrop has redeemed themselves and their single-DD lineup through the Kato.

This unit was provided for review by HiFiGo from which you can purchase the Kato here. As usual, what follows are my honest thoughts and opinions to the best of my ability.

Source & Drivability​

All critical listening was done off of my iBasso DX300 and iPhone 13 Mini with lossless files, the stock cable, and stock silicone tips. The Kato requires a tad more juice to drive than some BA IEMs; however, I never found power to be an issue. Expectedly, there was no hissing from any of my sources.

In-the-Box​

The Kato effortlessly demonstrates Moondrop's continued dedication to improving their packaging game. This waifu sports noticeably more defined lines and shadowing than its predecessor, more cute blush, and, of course, color. I'd say this is a solid 8/10 waifu in my book. Jokes aside, removing the sleeve reveals the following contents:

• Foam Ear tips s/m/l
• Silicon Ear tips s/m/l
• Gold & brass nozzles
• 0.78mm 2-pin cable
• Mesh baggy
• Carrying case w/ magnetic latch
• Waifu goodies

No, the weeb mat is not included. My package also included an extra cable, but I believe the production version will only include the cable shown below.



I've always been a fan of the KXXS's carrying case, and that hasn't changed with the Kato. It has a magnetic latch and a felt lining inside. The only real difference I observed is the addition of a silver stripe on the left of the flap.

The Kato itself follows the design that inspired its predecessor, but with some more angles at the back of the shell. I'm really not sure what the point of this is; it doesn't make a huge difference in terms of comfort, but I do feel that the original KXXS locks more securely into my ears. Perhaps this is partly due to the new silicone tips included with the Kato which are somewhat too springy for my preferences. That aside, build quality is good and the 0.78mm pins lock noticeably more securely than on my KXXS; they are recessed as well which is always a nice touch. The cable included with the Kato is also a solid step in the right direction. It is not as thin and tangly as the KXXS's, and generally feels more substantial in the hand.

Sound Analysis​

The measurements below were taken using an IEC-711 coupler. There is a resonance peak at 8kHz and, as such, measurements after this point should not be considered entirely accurate. You can follow this link to compare the Moondrop Kato to other IEMs that I have graphed.



I’m not sure if I’ve ever done a tonal analysis of the KXXS, but it’s basically what I’d consider “warm-Harman”. The bass shelf of the KXXS delves into more mid-bass while eschewing some pinna gain relative to the Harman 2019 target, lending to a slightly smoother if not still upper-midrange oriented sound. This makes it a boon to listeners indexing for a more “weeb-y” sound. Conversely, the bass response of the KXXS would probably be its biggest weakness due to noticeable blunting and a general “pillowy-ness” to hits. Still, the KXXS is definitely an IEM that is propped upon its very good tuning, and the success of its budget follow-ups like the Aria and Starfield is proof of this.



So what’s changed compared to the Kato? Well, the tonality differences between the KXXS and Kato are honestly small - small enough that one could probably chalk them up to margins of quality control, akin to tonal differences observed between the Starfield, KXXS, and Aria. That being said, I will outline the two distinctions that I observe with my particular units on the Kato (using either nozzle):

• A slightly smoother upper-midrange response on the Kato.
• A smoother treble response on the Kato, especially in the upper-treble.

The original KXXS had a slight bump to the presence regions from 3-4kHz which imparted a slightly thinner note weight and sense of clarity over its single DD brothers. The Kato is similarly lean, but eschews a wee bit of the shout that could turn off listeners on initial listen of the KXXS. Now, the second difference in the treble regions is more pronounced. The KXXS had a peak in the upper-treble at roughly ~12kHz which imparted a sense of tizzy-ness to treble instrument decay. Personally, I enjoyed that slightly hazy shimmer (I found it rather musical); however, some have found it peaky, an issue which the Kato likely rectifies. For sheer treble extension, I generally find the two IEMs to be at around the same level of performance; that is to say decent but nothing special. In essence, what you have here is a slight refinement over the KXXS’s sound signature.

Regarding the brass and silver nozzles that are included with the Kato, I’ve seen mixed impressions online. With the gold nozzle, I hear the Kato as having more treble air and sharpness up top. With the silver nozzle, the Kato is a little smoother in the transients and warmer overall. That might come as surprising given the color-scheme and the usual notions of audiophilia (copper = warmer, silver = brighter); nonetheless, it is what I hear and what the frequency response for my unit reflects.

Technical Performance​

The KXXS was never a strong performer for technicalities with its generally smoothed over attack and congestion issues that stemmed from a double-whammy of excess mid-bass and the aforementioned shimmer in the treble. This is where I do find the Kato to be an improvement from its predecessor. Note attack is noticeably sharper on the Kato, and imaging performance has entered into respectable performance territory for $200. The Kato generally sounds like it has more control over nuances in more intensive tracks, slightly more transient speed in general. I’ll tell you what hasn’t been fixed, though: the dynamics on the Kato are not an improvement from its predecessor. It still sounds overly soft and flat to the way it punches. The opening baseline of SNSD’s “Whisper” sounds less like I’m being hit with a pillow on the KXXS than it does a half-hearted slap on the Kato due to the improved control in the low-end frequencies. Overall, I'd say you're looking at competitive technicalities for $200 - certainly more than its predecessor offered - I just wish the Kato had more "oomph" to it.

Select Comparisons​

7Hz Timeless ($220): The latest hype train IEM. Head-to-head, I find the Kato to be tuned better and more likely to appeal to listeners who want a smoother sound: the bass on the Kato is more defined, the pinna gain is less peaky, and the treble response is smoother in the mid-treble. The Timeless is simply chock full of minor tuning errors that makes me think that more careful deliberation has gone into the Kato’s tuning. However, when it comes to technical performance, there can be no doubt that the Timeless pulls ahead with noticeably sharper transients and detail up-top; perhaps only falling short in the imaging department relative to the Kato. Go for the Kato for the more well-rounded package, go for the Timeless for the more technical package with more “wow” factor.

DUNU Falcon Pro ($220): The Falcon Pro generally has a warmer, more mid-bassy signature that’s going for a more “pleasant” sound overall. Consequently, I do find the Kato to have a noticeable edge in terms of sheer clarity, and I’d say that the Kato’s tuning is more up my alley when it comes to cleanliness of presentation. But I do find that - similar to the Tanchjim Hana 2021 - the driver used in the Falcon Pro is more pleasing intangibly. Timbre sounds noticeably more life-like on the Falcon Pro and it's a less flat sounding monitor when it comes to dynamic contrast. The treble response on the Falcon Pro also sounds more full and “sweet”. Honestly, I think these are both good IEMs, and I could probably swing for one or the other depending on my mood.

Tanchjim Hana 2021 ($180): You’ll notice that both the Timeless and Falcon Pro are slightly more expensive than the Kato. As a basis for what could be done better with the Kato on an even playing field, then, I find the Hana 2021 to be more technical than the Kato in A/B comparison. The driver being used in the Hana 2021 simply sounds more “hi-fi” to my ears; indeed, the Hana 2021 sports slightly more expansive imaging, natural decay, and impactful dynamics. Outside of this, they’re pretty similar tonally with the Hana 2021 sporting more energy in the sub-bass and lower-treble for a more exciting sound. I’d imagine most listeners would be splitting hairs over the technical differences, and preference of tonality could swing a listener one way or another between the two IEMs, but between the two, I’d lean for the Hana 2021.

The Bottom Line​

I’d be remiss to mention that I tire of all these single-DDs from Moondrop, but given that 1) this is a legitimate improvement over the KXXS, and 2) it clocks in at the same price, it’s really difficult to complain. As it is, I find the Kato to be another solid addition to the Moondrop lineup, and while there are certainly some IEMs I’d prefer more at this price point (namely the Hana 2021), it’s hard to say that the Kato isn’t a really solid package for what you’re getting. The improved cable and waifu are just the cherry on top. Recommended.