Moondrop Quarks

ABOUT ME​

PREFACE​

Color me impressed, because these were totally not the sound I was expecting! Based on the reviews, I had in mind a sound that was very dry and unalive, but thankfully this was not the case. In fact, I was ready to diss the Quarks so much that I preemptively wrote an entire negative review for it beforehand. Guess I won't be needing that anymore!

UNBOXING​

PHYSICALITIES​

The quark overall sports a modest build. First thing I notice is the smokey grey color and rubbery feel of the cable. Oddly enough, such a combination is really reminiscent of the skipping rope I used to have as a child, which was also grey and rubbery. To an extent, the physicalities of an IEM determines how you use it. The tiny lightweight build of these "quarks" seems like as if they are made specifically for sleeping, especially for side sleepers. They are so tiny that you will not feel a thing when pressing your ears against the pillow. Thankfully, the sound complements its intended usage with its fluffy, snug, "hot cup of cocoa"-esque mids.

THE TALE OF THE QUARK: MIDS​

The Moondrop Quarks tells a tale not about the bass, not about the treble, but about its mids. People tend to describe it as neutral, but I prefer to call it natural, because that is how it sounds. It sounds very natural and organic, and portrays instruments with a true-to-life tone. It mirrors the very essence of the Moondrop flagships (e.g. Blessing 2) but in the form of a naive child. The child may not have the brains of its adult counterparts, but fear not as its heart is full of spirit, and that is what matters most in the end, right? As stated in Andy's review, the Quarks really have a wholesome sound to it.

SOUND ANALYSIS​

SUITABLE FOR:​

- Podcasts
- Anything with male vocals
- Everything else

NOT SUITABLE FOR:​

- Classical
- Acoustic
- Sub-bass heavy music

SOUND SIGNATURE​

The tale is quite literally about the mids, as both ends of the spectrum are tapered (i.e. n-shaped). As a result, this is an IEM that is comfortable to listen to at high volumes. You can crank it up and get very satisfactory results, through I would recommend dialing back the high-mids just a bit. High volume also lets the highs shine through. Speaking of the highs, they aren't blatantly recessed, just rather quiet. I'd describe the highs as really comfy, providing an unperceivable but complementary addition to the sound. They are tuned to be as inoffensive as possible without consciously making you aware that it is recessed. The airiness and sense of sparkle in tracks are all conveyed here, they are just on the quiet side. Tonality of the highs are also on the natural side, which further makes it unperceivable as it's so good at blending in with the rest of the sound. Bass is not completely lacking. While sub-bass suffers from poor extension, the mid-bass still delivers plenty of oomph that gives power to kick drums (sometimes can be a bit bloaty). Just expect the bass response to be on the 'round and bouncy' side of things.

In the end, the real strong point is how coherent the entire sound is. Every part of the spectrum does not feel out of place, and contributes to this homogeneous sound that you can listen to for hours and hours on end.

TECHNICALITIES AND STAGING​

I wasn't expecting much here of course, but I was subtly surprised. While the soundstage isn't spacious, I actually found it quite roomy, like a small cozy room. It is most definitely NOT an in-your-ears/head sort of experience; the sound envelops you around your head. The stage is circular in shape. The imaging is rather convincing, you can feel the presence of each instrument as the sound manifests all around you. Overall the staging feels comfy, just like the sound signature. Detailing is not subpar for the price, I'd say it's good for what you're paying, especially when it comes to the detailing of the mids. If you want detailed highs (as well as huge soundstage) on a budget, the KZ ED9 is your best friend.

TEST TRACKS ​

These tracks were used for the comparisons done below.

COMPARISONS​

VERSUS SONY MH755​

Even though these two IEMs are separated by time (i.e. the MH755 is extinct), this is honestly the most relevant comparison. Why? Because both IEMs are tuned towards some neutral target, and both IEMs are in the budget segment. Tonally, the Quarks and the MH755 are more similar than different. Both have that natural euphonic tonality. For someone who isn't all pedantic about sound signatures, it might sound almost the same even. Of course there are obvious differences. The MH755 has a blatantly more potent low end where the bass rumbles with authority, while the Quarks sound bass-light. The MH755 is also generally more V-shaped, whereas the Quarks sound more balanced and lightweight. The MH755's treble is more upfront than the Quarks, as well as being more detailed. In terms of soundstage, the MH755 has a wider stereo field, while the Quarks place sounds in the center stage. Imaging is more vivid on the Quarks. Overall, the MH755 is more fun, while the Quarks are more balanced, but both have a very natural midrange tonality. However, in terms of value for price, the MH755 is still the winner.

VERSUS FINAL AUDIO E3000​

Of course, it would make sense to pit the Quarks against another micro-driver IEM. Both the Quarks and the E3000 bear an awfully similar sound signature and tuning style. Both are quite mid-centric, with the lows and highs tapered off. However, there are very noticeable differences, and not just in the price. Believe it or not, to my ears the Quarks' midrange sound more natural, organic, lush and more detailed. The E3000's highs are a bit brighter than the Quarks and therefore sounds less rolled off; however, the E3000's highs are less tonally accurate than the Quarks, which gives the Quarks the advantage in terms of treble tonality. The lows are essentially similar, with rolled off sub-bass and emphasized mid-bass. In terms of soundstage, the Quarks places sounds in the center stage, while the E3000 prefers to place them on the sides, thereby creating a wider stereo effect on the E3000. In terms of imaging, both are equally competent. Honestly,

VERSUS KZ ED9 (wide filter)​

This one's an interesting comparison, at least to me. Despite costing less, the ED9 is more technically competent. It has a drastically bigger soundstage and therefore better imaging and instrument separation. Both the Quarks and the ED9 have rolled off sub-bass, however, you can easily turn them into bass cannons by simply blocking the vent on the wide filters. Both IEMs exhibit a naturally-tuned organic midrange, however the ED9's mids might seem veiled due to the more V-shaped signature. Treble is night and day. While the Quarks favor a transparent fatigue-free treble tuning, the ED9 favors a bright, energetic treble tuning that is also extremely resolving in micro-details, all the while being as inoffensive as possible.

VERSUS TRN M10​

M10 suffers from a weird midrange tonality, even more tapered bass, and spiky treble peaks. It is safe to say that the Quarks are a much better buy.

VERSUS KZ EDX​

No comparison needed. The EDX is basically a potato wrapped in gold foil, the Quarks trounces the EDX in every way.

VERSUS KBEAR KS1​

Both the KS1 and Quarks have lush musical mids, however, the KS1 is more V-shaped. The mid-bass on the KS1 is much more pronounced. The treble on the KS1 is less rolled off, but the Quarks have slightly better treble tonality. KS1 places sounds more on the sides, while the Quarks places them in the center. While both are great, the Quarks overall has better tonality and a more coherent sound.

VERDICT
As someone who has a personal vendetta against overhyped or even overrated products, I have to say this one is an exception. The praise for the Quarks is well-deserved. Unless you are looking for bass heavy IEMs or a treble-centric signature, you really cannot go wrong with the Quarks. These are great for anyone who wants to enjoy the meat of their music, so to speak.

Disclaimer:

My appreciation goes to Cloris from ShenzhenAudio for providing me with this opportunity, and my opinion of the record will be based on my honest musical choices.



Build Quality

The Moondrop Quarks look stunning, especially with their translucent shells and color-coded backplates. Unfortunately, when studied attentively, the illusion fades. The material is obviously low-quality, with a ragged finish; the wire is springy; and the internals lack the specificity of higher-end headphones. But it looks really cute.

Sound Section

SOURCE​

Cowon Planue R2

iFi Hip Dac

EARTIPS​

Final E Series

Tonality Balanced

Bass-. The bass is not pleasing here as it lacks subbass rumbles and texture and doesn't have a full-bodied feel. The intensity level of the mid-bass has been tuned to be laid back and good-natured.

Mids take center stage here. Clean and crisp mids are present. Tone is more neutral in character.

Treble-treble is non-fatiguing but needs more sparkles. The attack is not pleasing. But I found this treble good for long listening sessions (depends on preference).

Soundstage: Soundstage is good if paired with something powerful. The delivery is exquisite here.

COMPARISONS​

Moondrop Quarks VS TRN MT1
Bass: In the MT1, the subbass also has a nice depth to it, but it lacks mid-bass. You can feel the depth, but it lacks the mid-bass slam.
Mids-The mids of the MT1 are thin-sounding as it lacks body.
Treble-smoother and more natural and has a slightly more pronounced upper mids and treble.
Soundstage: The soundstage of the MT1 is above average, which is very good for the price.


Conclusion :
To me, the winner of this shoot out is the TRN MT1. For some reason, it did not impress me, but for its price, the tuning is really good, natural, and more ear-friendly. Moondrop Quarks are just for those who want super midrange performance with light bass to my preference.

Better late than never!

...and so I started my Monday morning, indulging myself with some awesome music, sung to me by the diminutive Quarks.

Yet again I must thank my good buddy Daren Lee for gifting me this unit. The first time I plugged it directly to my LG V50 ThinQ, the Quarks caught me by surprise. I was greeted with a sonic presentation that exhibit matured finesse. Timbral balance and tonality being naturally organic and smooth, pleasing. I really didn't expect the unassuming spartan simple IEM capable of emitting such graceful sound, and I am actually glad to be proved wrong.

Click to expand...

The real deal really started to materialize when I finally had the chance to focus on my Quarks this morning, now driven with CEntrance DACport HD and Cayin RU6. This thing needed POWER to sing! I am amazed how great the Quarks scale with more power. The best part, the smoothness and refinement remained intact despite subjected to higher load. On the RU6 I cranked up to 44/100 of volume at High Gain to get proper listening level. Unlike some other sensitive IEMs that I have tried before, the Quarks does not suffer from being edgy or shouty in this condition. Dynamic transients being coherently wholesome and moderately vibrant - no hint of anything wanting to get over excited. And this is how I will describe the sound based on these pairing.

MIDS​

It is wholesome as it is natural sounding. Tonal wise it exhibited good analogue presentation. The imaging being crisp yet never edgy, smooth yet never dull. Perhaps just a tiny bit of hint of warmth, especially on female vocals. The only caveat being the texture and resolution not as solid if to be compared to IEMs that cost 3-4 times the asking price of Quarks. I can live with that, this is a $12 IEM we are talking about after all. Instrument wise, well rounded and believable - especially percussions and strings. Keeping the smooth attack and bite yet crisp enough to impart satisfying end state. The positioning of vocals are quite moderate, not exactly frontal intimate, nor does it appear to be recessed. Just like Quark of Deep Space 9, this IEM toyed with your emotions with his quirky antics, lol.

TREBLE​

Let's just put it this way, with my LG V50, it has enough sparkle and shimmer to keep things well controlled. But then this also imparted the impression that Quarks Treble being rolled off, the extensions falling short. It's a different story with DACport HD and RU6, now I am hearing audible Treble micro details, subtly pronounced yet present - that's an indication of frequency extensions revealing itself due to proper power feed. Decidedly, Treble remained reined in still and this translates into a performance that is devoid of any sibilance or metallic elements. But I can tell that this Quarks will not appease Trebleheads - much similar to the case of Mids, it does not offer aggressive attack or bite, nor does it has the brightness that some enjoy. A matter of preferences

BASS​

The Quarks is definitely not for Bassheads either. The overall theme for Bass is flatter than what I have heard from competitors like KZ ZEX or VE BIE. Perhaps this is the most prominent weakness of Quarks, Mid-Bass is on the lean side of things, vibrancy level set at being laid back and inoffensive. Sub-Bass being present, but shy. However depending on who's listening, taste goes into play here. Lucky for the Quarks, I am not a big fan of dense Bass. I have had flatter Bass responses coming from Etymotic ER4SR or VE Duke. Technically the Bass has ample textures and definition to present itself, again the theme being moderate. Due to this reined in presentation, some will regard this Quarks being rolled-off and I will agree with that assessment, but not something that I would consider as a deal breaker - we are talking about $12 Quarks here. Just like the namesake, Quark of DS9, diminutive and thrifty!

but very charming nonetheless.

TECHNICALITIES​

Nothing much to shout about here. Soundstage is respectfully spacious, but not as wide as how I normally prefer it. Imaging is borderline crisp, but convincing still. Spatial imaging cleanly defined with layers that does not gets mixed up to each other despite being subjected to complex passages. That's an indication that Quarks has the speed to resolve things fast enough. All these marked as positives in my book. Details retrieval largely depends on how competent the source partner is. Pair it with something powerful and resolving, the results will not fail to impress.

So, there you have it. Quarks being Quark. I can totally see Quark the Ferengi merchant smiling wickedly while counting his questionable Latinum bars. But just like Quark of Deep Space 9, I cannot find a reason to dislike him. In fact over the entire seasons of DS9, Quark being one of my favorite character with his ever mind blowing antics. The same can be said of this MoonDrop Quarks

Moondrop has been teasing about a pair of single-dynamic ultra-budget earphones for the while. So it is fair to say that there has been quite some anticipation building up to the Quarks. As it stands, Moondrop Quarks are their cheapest earphones and also the cheapest earphones to offer a neutral-ish tuning.

Given the cheap price of admission it’s hard to not get impressed by the Quarks, at least on paper. Reality can be sobering, though, so let’s see if the Quarks can keep up with the competition.

This review originally appeared on Audioreviews.

Note: the ratings given will be subjective to the price tier. ShenzhenAudio was kind enough to send me the Quarks for evaluation.

Source used: Hidizs AP80 Pro

Price, while reviewed: $13 (no mic version). Can be bought from Shenzhen Audio or Moondrop Offical Store.

Click to expand...

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES​

Not much to talk about here, really. The packaging is kinda unique for Moondrop though as it is bereft of any anime artwork. Other than that – the tips are not good and the carrying pouch is meh. I’d highly advise getting third party tips.
1/5

BUILD QUALITY​

The Moondrop Quarks do look quite decent from afar, esp the transparent shell and color-coded back-plates give a nice visual touch. Sadly, up-close the illusion evaporates. The plastic is decidedly cheap with a shoddy finish, the cable is springy, and the innards lack the polish of higher-tier earphones. But hey, we are talking about the price of a decent lunch. Understandable omissions.

One curious omission was that of vent, since there are no visible vents on the Quarks. Moondrop calls this a fully-enclosed structure and it will be interesting to see how that affects the sound.
3/5

​

COMFORT, ISOLATION, AND FIT​

Due to the light-weight nature and bullet-type shell, the Moondrop Quarks fit rather easily. However, there is some pressure build-up in the ear-canals due to lack of back-vent but it was not much of a problem for me. Your mileage may vary.
4/5

SOURCE AND EARTIPS​

For a budget device, the Quarks required surprising amount of power and the driver seems rather inefficient with a sensitivity around the 97-98dB/mW region. This means that you will require a source with above-average output power to drive them properly. I think most modern dongles will suffice even though Apple dongle, out of phones, will likely fall short.

As for eartips, I found the stock tips to be a poor fit for me and opted for Final E-type tips with a size smaller than I usually use to help with the deeper fit.

DRIVER SETUP​

Moondrop Quarks utilizes a 6mm micro-dynamic driver with a PET diaphragm. Nothing to write home about, really, though I am not expecting such at this price point.

TONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES​

The general sound signature of the Moondrop Quarks can be described as “Neutral” with a dry midrange and somewhat rolled-off treble.

When it comes to the bass, the Quarks aren’t a good performer even with the best of seals. The bass lacks texture and rumble and thus sounds rather one-note. Deep sub-bass is reduced to a generic hum and as a result you don’t notice the subtleties in fast-flowing basslines.

The midrange appears to be the bread-and-butter of this kind of tuning and the Quarks mostly delivers on the “clarity” front. The upper-mids are prominent followed by a recession in the lower-mids and this leads to a sense of “cleanliness” in the midrange. However, due to the driver limitation the entire midrange ends up sounding dry and lifeless. The tonality of the midrange is correct, but it lacks engagement.

As for the treble, it is rolled off post 6/7KHz. This results in muted cymbal hits and a sense of compression in the high registers. Staging is hampered as a side-effect and you get a very in-your-head presentation. Imaging is also mostly left/right with no distinction between ordinal and cardinal directions. Overall timbre is dry though not as artificial as the cheap BA drivers in this range. Overall resolution is middling as well owing to the textureless bass and rolled-off treble. Dynamics are disappointing too due to the lack of perceivable end-to-end extension.

A very middling display, overall, only redeemed by the tuning choice (neutral midrange) which is rarely found in the budget range.

Bass: 3/5
Mids: 4/5
Highs: 2.5/5
Soundstage: 2.5/5
Imaging: 3/5
Dynamics: 2.5/5

FREQUENCY RESPONSE GRAPH​

SELECT COMPARISONS​

vs Moondrop Spaceship​

The Moondrop Spaceship is priced slightly higher ($20) and has been the cheapest single-dynamic offering in Moondrop’s lineup before Quarks.

In terms of build quality, I’ll give the edge to Spaceship due to its metal housing. Comfort is similar between these. However, the sound is where things get interesting and both tend to target a neutral signature. In my opinion, Moondrop Spaceship executes the neutral signature better with superior technicalities and more natural timbre. The driver on the Spaceship is seemingly superior to that of the Quarks as well.

Both of these IEMs are bass-lite but the Spaceship bass has more texture (with a tip change of course). Midrange isn’t as dry on the Spaceship and has better male vocal rendition. Treble also has more sparkle and definition on the Spaceship. Soundstage is slightly wider and imaging is more precise on the Spaceship.

The biggest issue with the Spaceship, however, is how power hungry it can get. You’ll need a good source to power them fully and that’s a contradiction given most people aiming for budget IEMs will pair them with budget sources. Either way, in terms of sound alone, the Spaceship is better than the Quarks and well worth the extra $7.

CONCLUDING REMARKS​

I hoped the Moondrop Quarks would be a stand-out due to the initial fanfare, but alas. In fact, it’s the tuning target alone that acts as the saving grace for the Quarks since it is mediocre in terms of everything else e.g. build quality, bass performance, timbre etc.

If you want a budget IEM with neutral tuning, the Moondrop Quarks can be worth looking into, though be prepared for third-party eartips. Even then, Moondrop Quarks doesn’t quite become the budget miracle I hoped it would be. So it becomes just another option instead of being something more.

I got into IEM's and headphones last year when I bought the Moondrop Starfield and my EQ journey started because while Starfield sounded very good and definitely the best I heard of any earphone it still sounded slightly veiled, like 80-90% there in terms of image sharpness.

After that I first tried AutoEQ, I wasn't impressed and then I found Oratory1990's EQ presets and with some pointers learned to make my own based in FR measurements.

This is my 3rd IEM and by far the cheapest.

I pretty much already said everything relevant in the pros and cons so I don't find the need to elaborate any further.

If you don't EQ these are bloated and mildly shouty with recessed treble and there might better options at this price tonality-wise. If you do however use EQ (I do with all my IEM's and headphones except for hd560s) and have access to a powerful portable source, these are really solid with EQ.

EQ I use with them can be found below.

Disclaimer: Sound preference is highly subjective!

I'm going to try and keep this as short as possible, but this'll be my first and last review so first ill say a little about myself.

I'm 24, I've listened to a decent amount of IEMs (list at bottom)
I like Etymotic headphones a lot, i like moondrop as a company and their passion toward tuning. (possible bias)
I've used a lot of mid range equipment in the past but I've narrowed it down to just the apple dongle as my desktop dac/amp setup because i couldn't tell the difference between anything "better" after that.
Ive tried the topping dx7pro and Astell&Kern A&norma SR25 but couldnt justify the cost at all.

I dislike bass generally but i listen to a lot of pop and electronic music with bass, i appreciate tight controlled bass without much sub bass rumble.
I can't tell the difference between balanced and unbalanced.
My hearing is tested and normal.
I'm as much of an audiophile as any person that frequents this site.


Ok now the review.

Gear used:
- Apple dongle out of a PC
- Shanling m3x Moondrop edition
- Fiio btr5

Overview

I'm comparing the quarks to everything else Ive listened to and currently own regardless of price. They really opened my eyes to this hobby in general, ive sold every IEM i own since this review except for a few.



Build and fit

They are the smallest headphones i have ever used, with the right tips i forget im wearing anything, they are so comfortable! i wear them to bed and can lay on my side without them being pushed into the side of my head. The cable is really good, Seems like people forget what a cable is meant to do on a headphone and they say its "bad" because it isnt 50kg, 10m long and braided. Its soft and light, it isn't too rubbery, memory prone out of the box though. I would take it over most other cables.



Tuning

To me the quarks are basically tuned perfectly, i compared them a lot to the er2xr and er4sr back and fourth the most and the quarks are very similar in their mission.
They have similar tuning where it follows the diffuse field target closely but bass is elevated, it then rolls back to neutral in the sub region slightly. Overall they are basically the poor mans Moondrop blessing 2.

Super* rig
Crinacle rig
Id have to say the quarks crin got seem bass heavy but that could be unit variance or rig differences.

Tuning nit picks

Highs: nothing wrong here except maybe some might dislike the peak at around 2.8khz, it rolls off nicely following the diffuse field but has some nice peaks that give airyness and perception of detail, but less so than the blessing.
Mids: dips maybe a little low at 800Hz but its fine
Bass: love it, the highest point of the bass region is not 20hz for once! its a little further forward, it feels punchier and less eardrum shattering. overall its fairly low too so you can focus on mids and detail, bass is only present when it needs to be and its tight.

Detail: Hate this because you cant really measure it, but to me it is just as detailed as anything following the diffuse field target. Whether it be the 5 star rated er4sr for detail on this site or the quarks i honestly couldn't say i could hear anymore in songs than an Etymotic, the only time i think lack of detail is noticable is when u get truck stop headphones and they sound veiled, like everything is behind a wall, You dont get this at all with the quarks. Your mind does a good job filling the gaps.

Isolation and soundstage: Isolation is great and what i want in an in ear headphone, i would consider the portless design a positive even if it takes away from staging, but if you want soundstage that is noticably different between iems you are not buying the right product. Get open back headphones instead. Real answer though id say its less in your head and more beside you, if that makes sense.

Amping: When i see this i just cringe, as long as your amp has no distortion throughout the volume spectrum you are going to hear the same thing, it is a proven test. It sounds great on my apple dongle, it sounds the same on any distortion free amp I've tried! Some people don't realize but the amp theyre testing on actually boosts bass and so when they say it sounds better with more power they're really just equalizing it for more bass.

Sony mh755 comparison

I consider these the previous giant killers of the iem world.... untill now.


Bass is overpowering to me, makes detail harder to hear. But modded, the mh755 can have a removable cable. The quarks are smaller as pictured above.

Quality control

This is probably the biggest reason to be careful of anything this cheap, its really an amazing product but there is a possibility you get a dud. I trust moondrop to tune each one correctly and put it together correctly but i have seen pictures where they get it wrong.

Conclusion

tldr at bottom;

IEMs I've kept:
quarks
galaxy buds 2
Moondrop blessing 2 in the post (will update soon)

Stuff I've used:
Moondrop quarks
Audiosense t260 pro
tin hifi t2
tin hifi t4
Moondrop SSR
Moondrop starfield
Etymotic Er4sr
Etymotic Er2xr
sony mh755
sony mh750
old version of the jbl tune 110
shure se215
various cheap supermarket buds
Behringer sd215
galaxy s10 pack in buds

galaxy buds
galaxy buds +
galaxy buds pro
galaxy buds 2
airpods
airpods clones
airpods pro

apple earpods
VE monk plus
Yincrow x6
FAAEAL Iris
Sony MDR e9lp (buy these if you want to know what "lacking detail" and "veiled" really mean)

Focal elegia
m50x (sold)
m40x (sold)
hd600
hd650 (own)
Sundara
Grado 125e
koss ksc75 (own)
koss porta pro (sold)
bose qc35 ii (own)
bose NC 700
sony wh1000 xm3

I hope this gives an insight on the sound i prefer and the stuff i compare to the quarks.

I think IEMs are limited by physics in what they can do and you really shouldn't spend too much on them compared to something like headphones, unless you like the idea of the tech behind them (muti BA, electrostatic, beryllium coated, etc), they just wont sound all that much better than the $13 quarks at the end of the day. IEMs skip your head and outer ear so they have to try and replicate that frequency response in order to sound "open", but really an IEM is designed to isolate and give a distortion free experience, which is what the quarks do perfectly, I have to give them 5 stars, the fact that they are only $13 is just a bonus!

Moondrop Quarks: A humble Gateway to a lifelong Hobby !

P.S : The Moondrop Quarks is my first IEM and this is my first review of an 'audiophile' product. Although, I tried my best to give you my honest opinions. I kindly apologize for any kind of mistakes made in my review.
First, I would like to give a brief introduction about myself.

About me: I am a 19 year old teenager from India. As compared to most of the people who are reading this review, I may be relatively new to this hobby. I started familiarising myself with high quality audio brands and audio equipments only during the early stages of 2021. In fact, I first came to know about the term 'IEM' only a few months ago. But, since then I've developed a deep interest to this topic. I also have good interest in other audio fields such as car audio and home audio.

Now, coming to the review, since the Moondrop Quarks are priced at the low end of budget audiophile IEMs, I would be comparing the Moondrop Quarks with the cheap earphones that used to come with smartphones. I would be referring to them as generic earphones from now on.
So my review will be aimed towards the people who are just starting out in this hobby.

1. Accessories: The Moondrop Quarks comes in a small black, square shaped box similar to the ones you get when you buy a pair of earrings from a popular jewelry store. The box is narrower than most adults' palms. The number of accessories you get is just adequate considering the price. Opening the box, you find the earphones itself, 3 pairs of silicone eartips, a small pouch and some paperwork.








2. Looks and Comfort: I like the fact that the Quarks have a transparent shell at this price range and it looks more attractive to me than the generic ones, (atleast when looked closely). My only complaint here is that the provided eartips are black in colour. It would have looked better if the stock eartips was silver or grey coloured like the cable. I know it doesn't matter much, but I am just nitpicking.The stock eartips provide average isolation. To be honest, while not playing any music or something, I think my generic earphones provided better outside noise reduction/isolation. But, when you put on your IEMs and play some music through it, I think the isolation is very good.





3. Build Quality: Build quality should be one of the least important concerns when looking for an IEM at this price range and it is indeed in the case of the Quarks.The Quarks are smaller than I expected, even tinier than most of the earphones or IEMs out there. The cable is thin but still a tad bit thicker than the earbuds that used to come bundled with older model iPhones. I've seen people mentioning that they would probably wear this IEM while sleeping. But I would prefer the generic earphones for that purpose (though the Quarks sound way better), because the shells on those are bigger, are built better and I feel more confident with those while lying on the bed.





(Before talking about the sound, I would like to give a disclaimer that I am only using my smartphone as the source. It may sound better with a DAP or Dac-amp but I don't have either of those.)



4. Sound: I would describe the Moondrop Quarks as nothing but a very good sounding IEM for the price.
As compared to generic earphones, the sound is way better (especially if you listen to FLAC or something equivalent of higher). The lesser the quality of the song, the lesser difference you might notice. When you watch YouTube videos or podcasts, you may not notice much difference on the sound of the vocals between these and generic earphones. One thing that anyone can surely notice during their first impressions is the difference in the sound signature.

Out of the box, the Quarks sounds shrill, artificial and fatiguing. But after 5-10 hours of burn-in or simply playing any sounds through it, the earphones begin to sound more pleasing and natural sounding. I felt that the sound signature of the Moondrop Quarks is pretty neutral with no particular emphasis on any frequencies. Not only the vocals, the instruments come out way clearer and distinct and has much more presence in the music you listen to as compared to generic earphones. Also, I heard lots of details on the music with this IEM than I would hear with generic earphones.
The clarity of the midrange is good for the price but some people (including me) may prefer a bit more warm or lush vocals. I like the female vocals but I think the male vocals wasn't deep or intimate enough. I think the male vocals sound more warmer /natural on generic earphones.

Bass: The bass of the Moondrop Quarks can be described as fast, agile and adequate. The sub-bass can be heard clearly without any fatigue. Although I am not a fan of the midbass, because I prefer the midbass to be bit more punchy and impactful with better weight. But since the midbass is fast, it is pretty enjoyable when you listen to EDM, Hip-hop or any modern music with fast powerful midbass.
Overall, I like the quality of the bass.

Technicalities: Though, I do not own any other IEMs, I think the technicalities of the Quarks is Okay for the price you are paying for. The imaging is done well here with agile channel seperation between songs.The transition between the left and right channels is quite nimble and you can notice it between the songs. I find the central imaging to be not good.
The soundstage isn't good too. It's kind of an in your head or just around your head feeling at the most.
Layering is okay. I think the detail retrieval is impressive for the price.

Conclusion: Overall, the Moondrop Quarks is an excellent option for the price. The Quarks sound clean, relaxing and non-fatiguing. It is not suitable for bass heads but I think most people will like it. The Quarks is much less forgiving to lossy compressed music when compared to generic earphones, especially when listening to music with a lot of bass.

Verdict: I can easily recommend this to anyone who is looking for a neutal-ish sounding earphone/IEM strictly under 15$.
It is worth it and I don't regret my purchase.

Rating: 4.25/5

At a glance:

Overall Rating: A (S+ to C-)

Category: D, MSRP 12 USD, Acquired at: 0 USD (Review Unit)







Disclaimer:

This is a review unit kindly provided free-of-charge to me by HiFiGo with the assistance of Erik Ikomori from NBBA, I was not paid in any way to make this review and I am not affiliated with Moondrop. As always, review unit or not, all thoughts and opinions are my own.



Overview:

The Quarks are the latest product to come out of Moondrop Labs and they are one of the cheapest they have released at 12$. These feature a single 6mm dynamic driver and are surprisingly tuned away from Moondrop’s signature Harman curve, hitting a more mid-forward to true neutral signature.



Inclusions: A

These come in a plain black box with minimal branding, just a single name or logo on each side and some information about the IEM on the back of the box. As soon as you open the box you are greeted by one of Moondrop’s signature “waifus” printed on a piece of paper, which also doubles as a small guide on how to put the IEMs in your ears. Beneath that piece of paper are the IEMs themselves, nestled in some cardboard, and beneath them lies the rest of the cable and a manual with some paperwork, as well as an included carrying pouch and an S/M/L set of medium-wide bore silicon eartips. For the price, this is very reasonable packaging, and aesthetically quite nice, if a little smaller than comparable boxes. The inclusion of the carrying pouch was also a nice touch. Overall, just a bit above average.



NOTE: (QC)

The unit I received had a mispositioned filter on one of the drivers. This was easy enough to resolve by reseating it into the nozzle properly, and unlikely to be a widespread issue, however, I noted it for full disclosure.



Build: B

The IEM is made almost entirely of plastic and rubber, which feel par-for-the-course in terms of quality when compared to other IEMs at this price point. The shells are small and comfy, these are one of the few IEMs where lying down on your side is a viable option. The driver housings are transparent, and the soldering inside looks neat, with the drivers themselves held in with a good amount of glue. However, the cable is fixed and sub-par. Out of the box, it has quite a lot of shape memory. Thankfully, it does seem to straighten up over time, and is generally quite soft if a bit sticky. Overall build quality is alright, but the cable shape memory and relative mediocrity of everything else make this IEM fall just a bit short.



Sound Review Conditions

• Stock Cable (Fixed)
• Stock Tips (M)
• No Burn In
• Files from; Deezer HiFI, Tidal HiFi, Foobar 2000, Signalyst HQ Player
• Sources: KGUSS BH-3, Jcally JM20, JM6

Sound:



Bass: A-

Bass is present, neutral (but thankfully not too boring) and well-done. It extends well down into the sub-bass with a relatively flat graph, without any shelves or peaks. Texture is quite good, with reproduction of the same drum type across different tracks sounding properly differentiated based on tuning and mastering. Bass quantity is a bit less than other Moondrop offerings like the SSPs but still more than sufficient and of good quality. Weight is a little bit subdued thanks to the quick decal. Presence and speed is pretty good, though +the entire bass region can get a bit muted on mid-focused tracks and it does lose coherency in very complex and fast tracks despite the fast speed and decay but overall performance is as expected of a budget IEM, and there is nothing outright wrong with it. It works well with the mid-centric tuning that this IEM has. Bass is slightly above average in general.





Mids: S

The mids on this IEM are it’s bread and butter with it being a mid-centric IEM. The mids are forward and quite good in tonality (I almost want to call them sweet but that wouldn’t help anyone) Once again, timbre is spot on and very good for a budget set, if a bit thin and somewhat technical. Both male and female vocals are executed very well, and there is no bleeding from the bass thanks to the clean tuning in that area. Everything from the lower register up to the upper mids is represented quite well. There is a rather large peak at the 3k range but I’ve found that to be a no-issue at lower volumes, in fact, it actually works quite well, giving the notes a bit of extra bite and forwardness, even if it becomes harsh at higher listening volumes. Texture is good, with plenty of distinctions between different things in the mid frequencies. Instruments also sound very good, with strings and acoustic guitar benefiting from the good timbre to sound nice and realistic. Overall mids performance is quite fantastic for the price so long as you keep that volume low.



Treble: B+

Inoffensive. The treble isn’t so recessed to call it muted but it is the least present of the 3 main regions by a decent margin. It doesn’t usually get lost though, short of the busiest of tracks. Definition and detail is alright. Extension isn’t amazing, it slopes down quite steeply after 10k. It’s not splashy by any means but it does lack some of the requisite snap, sparkle and air that music needs to be properly reproduced. It’s still decent enough, and it doesn’t interfere with any of the other frequencies just staying out of their way. Overall treble performance is unremarkable and on the lower spectrum of average.





Technicalities: A+

Overall technical performance is good. The stage is very wide for a budget IEM, extending quite close to the edge of your ear. Imaging is a little bit less than good but still quite above average. Congestion is present, thanks to the subdued imaging performance and not-the-best layering of instruments but it’s not too bad and still about par for the course in terms of performance. Transient performance is good for a Dynamic Driver and plays well even in the upper region. Detail retrieval is also quite good for a budget IEM though nothing that hits quite far above this price range.



Conclusion:

The Moondrop Quarks are a well-performing, relatively inoffensive IEM that distinguish themselves by being a bit of a rarer tuning in the budget price range. It does nothing badly and performs better than average in quite a few places. Combined with the assurance of the reputation of a manufacturer like Moondrop, these are a refreshingly simple IEM that were actually tuned to sound a particular way and that sound was executed well. Highly Recommended.

When I saw Quarks for the first time on the renders, I immediately realized that it would be a hit, but when I listened to them, I became firmly established in this feeling

These IEMs are for those who want a truly audiophile sound almost free. They won't give you crushing bass or layered and incredibly clear highs, but the midrange they have makes you wonder and admire

Moondrop destroyed my templates again, about how cool can sound of cheap IEMs

I will not describe the design, it is good in every sense, the shell size is so small that mice can even listen of Quarks

If Moondrop adds another cable (silver plated copper) to Quarks, then this model can be safely brought to another league, I am sure the sound will benefit from this

I don't know anymore in the world of headphones/ IEMs that give their user such interesting and engaging sound for $13

Moondrop Quarks MUST be in your collection!!!

Appreciate the small and you will touch the great ©

#SHENZHENAUDIO #MoondropQuarks #MoondropLab

Link to store:
https://shenzhenaudio.com/

INTRODUCTION:

Moondrop, a famous and well established brand in the ChiFi market has already launched a wide variety of products ranging from budget to premium category. The KXXS and the Blessing 2 are highly praised earphones by the people for their exceptional sound quality. Can the brand give the same high quality sound in the budget range too? In this review lets see whether the Quarks is a major GO or a DOWN.



DISCLAIMER:

This unit has been provided to me by Cloris Gee from SHENZHENAUDIO in exchange for my honest opinion on them . This review is completely based on my experience with this unit and I have not been influenced by anyone to manipulate this review by any means. The experience may vary from person to person since it depends upon the source and the gears used to test it out.

Link for the purchase (non-affiliated): https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/...er-in-ear-earbuds?_pos=1&_sid=537bdd4bd&_ss=r

SPECIFICATIONS:

Frequency Response : 4Hz-43kHz(IEC61094, Free Field)
Effective frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz(IEC60318-4, -3dB)
Sensitivity: 116dB/Nrms (@1khz)
Impedance: 16Ω+ 15% @1khz)
THD: <1%@1kHz
Configuration: High performance 6mm micro-dynamic driver
Material: PC

PACKAGE:

The package is very minimalistic, neat and pretty small too. The outer box is black coloured with the Moondrop Logo on the top. Opening the box, there is the IEM itself securely placed in the cardboard tray while the cable is neatly tucked below the tray. There is a card to teach you how to wear the earphone which is quite funny. The carry pouch is also included which is quite fine and nothing to describe about it. The eartips are included inside the carry pouch which is pretty generic. Overall the presentation is neat and simple. A very good move to reduce the cost of the earphone.



DESIGN AND FIT:

The design of the Quarks is pretty minimalist and simple. The whole body is made of transparent plastic where the internals are pretty visible. The size is pretty small and tiny as a bee and has only the space to accommodate the tiny 6mm micro dynamic driver. The nozzle is average in length and has the lip for the tip placement. The nozzle is however pretty wide but the stock tips are not that wide hence the tips insertion in the nozzle is pretty difficult.

With some innovation they designed this Quarks differently claiming the design as the Closed anterior cavity micro dynamic driver IEM. This is quite the first time that a brand goes towards this approach where the anterior cavity is closed pretty much thus providing a great isolation from the external noise. The isolation of the Quarks is pretty decent and with correct eartips and seal you can achieve what the brand claims.

The small bullet shaped design is very comfortable to wear for a longer period of time and a good earphone to listen to music while sleeping since this shape doesn't interrupt the head position.

The side of the earpieces are graphically mentioned by giving the red quarks logo on the right side and the black quarks logo on the left side which is a pretty nice touch. When the eartips are fitted the earpieces appear smaller than the eartips! Overall a pretty excellent fit and design



The cable is however okayish for the price. It’s a non detachable cable with a nice splitter with branding over it. The termination is L shaped and the cable is very microphonic. The texture is kind of sticky but overall the thickness is pretty good. It would have been even better if it was a detachable cable.

SOUND:

The sound profile of the Quarks is pretty neutral. Nothing is boosted or tamed thus providing nice smooth and natural sound. The 6mm composite magnetic micro diaphragm dynamic driver is able to deliver all the enough details from the track and pretty good enough to make this compete in this ultra budget range. The overall sound may not be the giant killer but for the price this thing just shuts down the sound of other competitors. IN this review let's see in detail about the sound.

Source: iPhone + Zorloo Ztella MQA + FiiO Q3

The Quarks is slightly power hungry where with normal sources the volume needs to be pushed very high to attain the listenable level of sound and with some powerful amps this will be benefitted.

LOW END:

The low end of the Quarks is pretty neutral and flat but it's not boring at all. The bass is faster, punchier, clean and well textured. It's not weighty, attacking or thumpy which most of the bassheads please for it. Overall I loved the bass in this even though im a bass head. It's just about the quality rather than the quantity. The sub bass here is very good and emphasized more than the midbass.

The Sub bass is well extended and very good for the price. The sub bass rumble may not be a very striking feature but still it strikes when the tracks calls for it. Especially in the tracks like “WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT SAVING THE WORLD” the subtle sub bass can be heard very clearly. The rumble cant be felt but can be heard. The Quarks rumble can be also felt but only when the track digs deeper in the sub bass region which is pretty nice since this clears out the midrange from bloating or bleed which we will discuss in the midrange department.

The mid bass is just clean and lean. The emphasis here is just subtle and you won't be experiencing any weighty and full bodied bass rather it's very clean and lean. The leanness makes the sound very well separated, detailed and textured.

The bass performance can be felt evidently when you start listening to some serious bass tracks like the “Bad Guy '' and tracks like the “Royals' ' by Lorde. If the track calls for it then the Quarks unleashes its low end performance.

In the track “Even Heaven” by Aimer at the start of the track the sub bass presence can be heard clearly and this is one of the tracks where one can feel the sub bass which is present in the quarks.

Tracks Used:

1. Why Do We Fall – Hans Zimmer
2. Polite – Erika De Casier
3. Even Heaven - Aimer

MIDRANGE:

Sweet...Sweet....Sweet... The midrange is very deliciously presented. Both the male and the female vocals are positioned very well which is in forward position. I personally like forward vocal placement since they give that engaging ang energy in the midrange. The Quarks have that engaging and the energy in the Midrange which is very nice considering the price. The tonality is very natural and slightly brighter overall which is like it and it's not overly done. The timbre is spot on and the separation in the midrange is quite surprisingly neat.

The amount of air it carries in the midrange is very huge considering the price and the detail it brings out of the midrange is quite impressive. The drum hits and the piano notes sound very natural and clean. The body in the vocals are nice and weighty, they don't feel very lean. The vocals sound nice and full bodied even though the mid bass is not that emphasized and that's the wonderful aspect of the Quarks. In the track “Perfect” – Ed Sheeran the male vocal sounded just beautiful and the electric strum along with the other instruments in the background sounded very natural and the layering is done very well for the price that can be appreciated at 1:48 in the track.

In the track like “Inferno”- Mrs. Green Apple the instruments sounds very well separated and has that nice and natural tonality and in the track like “Kokuhaku' – Supercell the kick drums in the background have a nice attack and the electric guitar sounds nice and full. The clean bass made the midrange a star show here and I loved the midrange in the Quarks a lot! It's just clean, engaging and energetic!

Tracks Used:

1. Perfect – Ed Sheeran
2. Makin My Love – Easy Wanderlings
3. The Blowers Daughter – Damien Rice

TREBLE:

The treble in the Quarks is smooth and non fatiguing overall. The roll - of in the treble is evident but that's not an issue considering the price. The 3k peak which is observed in the graph may taunt you but believe me this thing just sounds as smooth as possible. Even after extended listening sessions I did not find that quarks are uncomfortable to listen to. The sibilance is out of the park in the Quarks and even while listening to sibilant prone tracks like the “Move Your Body” – Sia this just sounds nice and smooth in the Quarks. The top end has good enough sparkle and air which is very good for the price.

The cymbal crashes are very natural and the hits attack and the decay are pretty fast and sweet. The acoustic strings and the percussion instruments sound soft and sweet in the Quarks. The neutral to brighter tonality helped the Quarks in the treble by revealing a lot of details and separation even though they are a bit rolled off in the top end.

Overall the treble is very inoffensive, smooth and nice. No harshness or sibilant thus providing nice longer listening sessions. The quite natural and neutral-bright tonality makes the Quarks an excellent pair for casual listening even for audiophiles.

In tracks like the “Cannonball” – Damien Rice the acoustic strings on the right and the left side sound very natural and crystal clear, even the switching of the strings can be heard clearly. The Quarks may not have the best extended highs but this is the best in what it has.

Tracks Used:

1. Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
2. Santeria – Sublime
3. The First Time – Treble Charger

TECHNICALITIES:

Soundstage: The soundstage of the Quarks is quite wide. The height and the depth are quite average but the width is very impressive. The instruments just extend from the extreme right to the left creating that nice wide soundstage. The depth is less since the bass is not that strong or deep. Overall the soundstage is quite impressive for the price it quotes.

Imaging: The imaging is quite good in the Quarks. There is a nice transition of instruments from one channel to the other without any stutters. The 3 point imaging is not felt here thus providing that nice sense of complete smooth sweep across the channels.

The detail retrieval and the instrument separation are above average and the wide soundstage helped in the separation thus not creating any congestion within the instruments. The detail retrieval in the midrange is quite excellent and in the treble its average since the extension is not that great.



VERDICT:

Quarks, the latest ultra budget offering from Moondrop is a 5 star rated product as per my experience with it. The Quarks may not be the next budget killer or a blon alternative but Quarks is just totally a different beast. The neutral sound signature of the Quarks is quite addictive in the long run and the sweet midrange is just more than enough to justify the five star rating. The low end may not be very strong, weighty or attacking and it's definitely for bassheads but the bass here is just clean, punchy, fast and tight. The treble is smooth and inoffensive thus making it a very good pair for bedtime listening or for casual listening yet maintaining good enough details and separation within the tracks.

Compared to the Tanya which is another product from Tanchjim priced similarly, I liked the Quarks more because of the neutral background, energetic and engaging midrange and a much more impactful sub bass. Overall the Quarks sounds spectacular for the price and it's a quite different sound signature in this price range and thanks to the MOONDROP team to bravely release a neutral sounding one in this price range since most of the products are mostly a v shaped and this sound of the Quarks made me to name it as the UNVEILED GEM.

Intro​

Disclaimer: I received the Moondrop Quarks from ShenZhenAudio at no charge in exchange for an honest review of my experience. Should you find yourself interested in a pair, they are available here. The thoughts and impressions in this review are my own and will be strictly objective. For more reviews like these, do check out our website!

At this point, the brand Moondrop needs no more introduction. I've tried many of their Single Dynamic Drivers under $200 and they have mostly been excellent options. At this point, Moondrop hasn't missed in terms of their tuning for single dynamic drivers in ears. The Moondrop SSP and SSR are excellent budget options at around $40. Moondrop has decided to push the limit further with the Quarks at $12.99. Will they be able to pull it off once again?

Accessories and Build Quality (Score: 7.5/10)​

Accessories are bare minimal. Even the packaging is probably the most barebones yet environmentally friendly one (read 100% cardboard/paper). I have no qualms with that personally, in fact, I’m all for it. What I’m not a fan of is the pouch. I have seen this packaged with the older products like the KXXS and Kanas Pro, just that this time, it’s without a logo. Mine came with the seams coming undone and gave off the vibe that Moondrop didn’t really put any effort into the pouch. In that case, just leave it out of the package.

The build quality of the buds though is excellent. I especially like the minimalistic aesthetic of the buds, with a transparent housing revealing the micro driver and the wiring. The cable is thick and sturdy, and will probably last the test of time, which is important considering the lack of replaceability.

Fit (Score: 7.5/10)​

Fit is decent, it is extremely low profile and for those who are looking especially for an IEM with this form factor, they would certainly fancy the Quarks. They are even smaller (shorter) than the Final Audio E-series buds and nearly disappear when put into the ear. The buds are practically weightless, with the majority of the weight coming from the thick cables. Tip wise, I used the Final Audio E tips which fit super snugly. It gives a nice boost to the bass to prevent the upper mids from coming through too aggressively.

The only problem I faced was microphonics when walking with these buds. Perhaps a cable clip would help, but I'm not a fan of having to walk around with a cable clipped to my tee.

Sound (Score: 6.6/10)​

Sources

• Lotoo Paw S1
• Hiby R5
• SMSL M200/Schiit Magnius

Music listened to

• Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Beethoven Symphony 7
• Boston Symphony Orchestra – The Nutcracker Suite
• One Republic - Human
• Stevie Wonder – In the Key of Life
• Bastille – All This Bad Blood
• The Lumineers
• Paul Kim
• X Ambassadors
• Børns – Blue Madonna
• Needtobreathe – Into The Mystery
• Switchfoot - Interrobang
• Gryffin - Gravity

Bass
For its price, the bass has a decent punch and presence. It is milder than IEMs like the Starfield and has a more controlled response. This is nice to see as there are not many IEMs in this price range that features a tamer bass that doesn't mess up the overall balance of the music.

Mids
Mids are presented rather forward, which has pretty much become a Moondrop characteristic. Except for this time, you can hear the limitations of these buds. The timbre is not completely correct and there is some unnaturalness in vocal regions. This becomes especially apparent at higher volumes. I don't advise turning the volume up on these as it does get shouty at times too. Otherwise, it is an enjoyable midrange-focused tuning that doesn't impress but doesn't do anything too bad either.

Treble
Treble grain is real, rolls off pretty fast. Pretty much what I expected for the asking price. No odd or harsh peaks to keep the Quarks a pleasant pair of earbuds for casual listening.

Overall
The Quarks has an enjoyable balance that is rather relaxing to listen to. Its sound signature is sufficiently polished and I mostly enjoy Pop songs on it, as the bass is rather tame and the overall coherency of sound is good. To put it simply, you could do much worse for what the Quarks costs...

​

Comparison​

Tanchjim Tanya

The Tanchjim Tanya has a more bass focused sound and an overall more pleasing tonality. The mids in the Quarks can sound a little thin and unnatural at times. Tanya performs better on vocals, with a richer and more bodied mids section. They both have a different target tuning, with the Quarks being the more balanced of the two. Which you'd like better in terms of sound would be up to your preference.

Both are quite similar being bullet-style earbuds but somehow the Tanya was more comfortable.

The Tanya costs slightly more but I’ll think the Tanya is a more versatile and complete product given its option for including an in-line microphone, instantly putting itself as an option for many who need the mic for gaming and/or their calls.

Conclusion​

One question kept popping into my mind as I brought this around daily while testing it... Who is this made for?

Yes, it has a good form factor (I LOVE the aesthetic), good portability, and has good value for money, That said, considering the dying out of the 3.5mm jack on mobile phones, people who even use a mic-less 3.5mm earphone for music have become an increasingly rare species. A portion of these is a race of people who call themselves the "audiophiles". In that case, the Quarks would hardly pack enough performance to satisfy, especially in 2021. Hence, while the Quarks may have been a great product a few years ago, it is simply a good sound for the money if you have no better way to spend your 13 bucks.

Even Final Audio’s popular E-series gave in to including an inline microphone version. IMHO, Moondrop is better off including a microphone option to appeal to a greater consumer crowd who may have a tight budget and would want to get a decent-sounding bang for buck earpiece that can satisfy all their day-to-day uses. Under that pretext, I would then in good conscience recommend the Quarks. Otherwise, I find it hard to ask my friends to go ahead and purchase the Quarks other than the reason that it's cheap and cute.

Overall Grade: C+

Click HERE for our grading list for earphones

As always, this review is also available in Spanish on my blog and on Youtube, links at the end of the review.



Intro…

The Moondrop Quarks are a new set of budget IEMs from a brand that I am quite fond of. Coming in at around 10€, there is no doubt that these are aimed at the most economical segment of the market, easily inside the sub 50€ category that I like to mention on Acho Reviews and well below the price of the previous budget offerings I have reviewed from the brand, such as the SSR and SSP.



Presentation…

As is to be expected for 10€, the presentation is very basic and the contents are limited, but they are still presented in a way that is superior to many budget IEMs.

Arriving in a simple, small, black cardboard box (without any sign of anime), the contents consist of the IEMs with their fixed cable, a couple of sets of silicone tips in various sizes, a small card explaining how to wear them correctly, a small carrying bag and a small Moondrop branded velcro cable tie.

I really don’t think much more can be expected at this price!



Build and aesthetics…

My first impression of the Quarks was that they are tiny, I think they are the smallest set of IEMs I have ever had, even smaller than the Hifiman RE line and even the Sony MH755. This means that the IEMs fit easily inside the ear, making them comfortable even when lying on one's side. I have mentioned before that I like to keep a set of small IEMs with me, especially when traveling, in case I want to watch movies or just listen to music while in bed. The Quarks definitely fit the bill.

The build quality is also quite respectable for such a small plastic shell. The shells are transparent, allowing the internals to be seen, and are even colour coded on the backs so that there is no need to search for tiny letters which are usually printed in black on black, almost impossible to read in low light. I like this and congratulate Moondrop on doing something that is so simple but so useful at the same time.

The cable, which is not detachable, is not the highest quality cable in the world, however I don’t really have too many complaints. I do prefer the cloth covered cable of the Hifiman RE series rather than the grey rubberized cable of the Quarks but the amount of tangles seems to be about equal.

I really don’t have any complaints with the build quality for the price and I find them very comfortable, therefore I am quite happy with what I have received for 10€ in this respect.




Sound…

I have reviewed a few of these style IEMs recently, such as the Tanya, E500 and EM205 (and previously the RE400 and RE600s) of which my favourites have been the Tanya and the RE600s (IEMs that are very different in terms of the sound signature). However, all of these IEMs, while economical, have been priced much higher than the Quarks. I will mention some comparisons in a moment but first I want to focus on the Quarks themselves in my usual procedure.

Starting with subbass, using my usual test tracks, I do find that there is a roll off in the lowest registers which, to be honest, is to be expected in something this size. However, there is enough sub bass to get a bit of a rumble and little tickling of the eardrum when listening to tracks like “Chameleon”, especially if volume is increased over my usual listening levels. I guess that “Chameleon” is a little exaggerated, so listening to something that is a little calmer like “Royals” by Lorde, there is a presence of subbass but not enough to be considered a sub bass heavy set of IEMs.

Moving into the mid and higher bass frequencies, again I find that these are not really bass boosted, or at least not to the level of being considered a bassy tuning. With my usual test tracks like “No Sanctuary Here” by Marian Herzog feat Chris Jones, or “Sun is Shining” by Robin Schultz & Bob Marley, there is enough bass for me to find the tracks enjoyable but those that like a bit of boost in their music may find the Quarks a little below their target.

The transition into the lower mids is fairly clean, with no obvious bass bleed, this is helped by the fact that the bass regions are not overly boosted. As we move through the mids, there is a bit of a dip in the center but the fall and rise that lead in and out of this recess is smooth and does not exaggerate the dip in the mids. In general the mids are clean and well balanced, allowing the presence of both vocals and mid centric instruments to be present without being harsh or seemingly over compensated in any of their frequencies.

Moving from the mids up into the higher ranges, there is a peak around the 3kHz mark that could be a little problematic for some but in my case I find that it brings back some of the presence that would otherwise be lost by the dip in the mids and it does so without seeming to create harshness nor make voices come across as nasal.

Sibilance is avoided for the most part, although it does sometimes seem to be on the verge. It doesn’t present an amount of sibilance that is too uncomfortable but there are occasions when there is too much emphasis on the “S”, mainly in songs that are almost sibilant in their own recordings. If you listen to tracks that are already sibilant in their mastering, then the Quarks will not tame these, but they don’t really make them unlistenable either (unless the song is already beyond the point of being listenable itself, like some of the Marilyn Manson stuff for example).

As far as extension, there is a fair amount there, especially for a single dynamic driver in this budget category. Yes, it could extend more (which is the case with almost all single DD budget IEMs that I try) but in general it is acceptable and there is a reasonable amount of air that helps give the sensation of clarity to the IEMs without overly boosting the lower treble areas.

As far as detail, speed, dynamics and all those kinds of things, well, it is certainly not bad for a 10€ IEM. It is definitely not a set of IEMs that will be used for scrutinizing audio tracks and it is not a detail monster but it is more than capable of keeping up and presenting details that are enough to enjoy the music and not feel that half of the information is missing. This is helped by the fact that the tuning is rather clean and, as I mentioned, the upper treble helps give the sensation of clarity and detail that would not be present if it was more rolled off.

As far as soundstage and image placement, I’m afraid I am just going to say what I say in 95% of my IEM reviews, it’s around average for a set of budget IEMs. In fact, I could probably just copy and paste my impression of soundstage and placement across the majority of IEMs that I try, as there are very few that surprise me in this aspect (and many of those surprise me for the worse). In the case of the Quarks, they are not incredible, you are not going to feel that you are immersed in a musical space, however, they are acceptable enough to enjoy the music.




Comparison to the Tanchjim Tanya…

I find that the Tanya and the Quarks are very comparable overall but are a totally different approach to how the music is presented.

With the Tanya, there is more emphasis on the lower end of the spectrum, adding an overall warmth to the sound that is very pleasurable to many. In the case of the Quarks, the overall tuning is more balanced, more neutral, resulting in a sound that seems to be clearer in general.

Now, the sensation that it is clearer is actually due to the tuning and not necessarily the actual performance. Neither of the two IEMs are highly detailed, in fact, I would say they are about on a par with each other, the overall performance is very similar, it is just that the Quarks can give more of a sensation of detail due to the reduction in the lower frequency emphasis.

I would say that comparing the Tanya to the Quarks is like comparing the Porta-Pro to the KSC75, both are very similar but the overall tuning is what will make someone have a preference towards one or the other. By this I am not saying that these IEMs are similar to the Koss offerings, just that they sort of compare to each other in the same way.

Personally I prefer the tuning of the Quarks but either one is enjoyable as a simple BGM set of IEMs.



Comparison to the Hifiman RE600s…

This is not really a fair comparison as the RE600s have a retail price that is 20x the Quarks but I am mentioning it as I find the overall presentation to be similar. Yes, the RE600s is more detailed, making it something I would prefer if I am focusing on music and wanting to use a set of tiny IEMs such as these, however, for basic background music or a relaxed listen in bed at night, I find that the Quarks perform more than adequately.



Conclusion…

I am more than happy with what the Moondrop Quarks offer for the price, in fact, I am happy with the Quarks overall. They are not a set of IEMs that intend to compete with higher range IEMs, nor are they IEMs that attempt to be something they are not. They are a simple set of cheap, comfortable and easy to listen to IEMs.

Personally I have too many IEMs but as I have mentioned in the past (and in this review), I like to have a small set of IEMs that live in my bag and get used at random times for simple, no frills, music (or movie) enjoyment. The Quarks are a set that fit this no problem.

I can also see them being a set that many people will enjoy as their only set of IEMs, offering a great value for money for those who just want a simple set of cheap IEMs for daily use, far superior to those included with cell phones (do they even include earphones with cell phones nowadays?). In fact, both the Quarks and the Tanya fit this use case perfectly, which one someone will enjoy will only depend on their tuning preferences.

I think that this is the 6th set of Moondrop IEMs that I have reviewed and I must say that the relation quality/price always seems to be very fair with the brand. The Quarks are another example.

www.achoreviews.com

www.youtube.com/achoreviews

Introduction​

After trying the Moondrop SSR (which I still like a lot) I was really curious to put the Quarks into my ears and listen to some music with them.
The Quarks are one of the smallest IEMs in my collection and one of the cutest ones as well, but let’s see how they perform in this in-depth review.

Disclaimer: the Moondrop Quarks were sent to me free of charge by HiFiGO in order to make a honest review.
At the time of the review, the Moondrop Quarks were sold for an average price of €11 online.

Buy here from HiFiGO!

For more reviews, visit https://www.audio-monkeys.com!

Technical Specifications​

• Configuration → 1DD (6mm micro DD)
• Sensitivity → 116 dB
• Impedance → 16 Ohm
• Frequency Response → 20 Hz – 20000 Hz
• Cable → 1,2m non-detachable, no microphone
• Connector type → L-shaped 3,5mm gold plated jack connector

Packaging​

Quarks’ packaging is both simple and elegant at the same time, and the first time I have opened the box it felt like holding a ring or necklace’s box. It contains:

• The Moondrop Quarks
• 3 pairs of tips
• A velour carry pouch
• User manual

Design and Build Quality​

I’ll keep it simple: the Quarks are minima, entirely made by plastic, and they’re also lightweight.
If we look inside the shells, there are obviously some small points where the glue looks different, but this does not imply any difference in sound as long as we speak about the pure shell assembly and not about the cavity itself (where the driver is located).
For sure, there are some IEMs that were priced similarly some time ago that would really slam the Quarks in terms of build quality (let’s just think about the old KZ ZSA, which was sold for around 14$ online before stopping being produced), but we cannot really complain about build quality if we look at the price.
There isn’t any pressure vent on the shell as Moondrop have chosen a fully closed design for these to improve isolation.
One thing to mention, though, is that Moondrop should probably improve their QC.
First of all, as soon as I have unboxed and tried these, the right earpiece’s nozzle grill was already about to come off, although this was something I could just pass on overall.
The real issue here was that the left earpiece sounded a lot different than the right one, with an evident imbalance in the mid-high region. I have tried tip rolling thinking that maybe it was because of the tips, but the differences were still there. The next day, while I was trying to evaluate the Quarks without putting too much attention on this issue, I really started getting nervous of the sound perception being different on the two sides and then tried to knock the left earpiece on the table after removing both the nozzle grill and the piece of foam behind it: by reversing the earpiece and inclining it, a small piece of glue came out from inside, so I just put the foam in again and re-settled the nozzle grill.
From that moment, the Quarks worked fine. I don’t know what caused that but I bet that small piece of glue coming out that way was a part of the issue.

Cable​

I have seen many complaining about this cable saying something like “it is terrible” or “this is disgusting”, and while I can understand it’s not an excellent cable, trust me, it’s not the worst cable I have seen in a while. In fact, I don’t think the cable is “that bad”, moreover considering that it is pretty solid and it gives me the feeling that it will last.
If there’s something I really hate about this cable, it is the bulky round moondrop Y-splitter: please, use a different, thinner solution for this. You can write “Moondrop” on a thinner piece of plastic no doubts.
One small note to Moondrop concerns the fact that there isn’t a real strain relief under the shells so I guess it’s better to treat these as if we have a pair of Final E3000 in the ears (which have a terrible cable, certainly worse than this one).

Comfort and Isolation​

Stock tips aren’t the best stock tips I have found in this price range, but the Quarks don’t have any comfort issues whatsoever. Isolation is also pretty good thanks to the fully closed design.

Sound​

How do these sound?
This is the real reason you’re reading this review (I guess).
[Personal preference: I listen to almost every genre, even though my main preference goes to EDM subgenres. I always like a bit more energy on the bass and on the highs, leading to a personal preference for Y-shaped sound signatures, but if I have to choose, I’d prefer having many different IEMs with various signatures, in order to choose a particular one of them when I want to listen to a specific genre. I love switching between my IEMs so it’s even better if they’re very different from each others.]
TEST GEAR

• DAC: Topping E30
• AMP: Topping L30
• Mobile phones: Poco F2 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
• Portable DAPs: Benjie S8/AGPTEK M30B
• Other sources: Presonus AudioBox iONE

HOW DO THEY SOUND?

Do they need an amp?
I don’t think they strictly need to be amplified, but it’s safe to say they require more power than other cheap sets to perform at their best. They are not as loud as, let’s say, other IEMs like KZ EDX and other similar highly sensitive cheapos, but they can still reach a more-than-acceptable volume level. They scale a bit with some amplification though.

Sound signature
The Moondrop Quarks are almost neutral and were tuned following broad lines the Diffuse Field target. They have slightly elevated bass and upper treble roll-off.
Quite different from the majority of IEMs in this price range.

Lows: sub-bass is… “present”. It does not rumble, doesn’t really dig deep and its extension isn’t something the Quarks can be proud of: it’s average, just that. Bass is slightly elevated and is more textured than expected, being also punchy and authoritative for the driver size. Everything is controlled and tuned properly, but the lack of sub-bass extension makes them often dry-sounding (and it’s something that, if many will like, many others won’t).

Mids: midrange is forward with frontal instrument reproduction and intimate vocals. I think there is some warmth missing in some instances when it comes to reproducing certain instruments or male vocals, leading to the dryness that was just mentioned speaking about the bass, but it’s really something that I usually notice because it’s one of the things I usually search for in my daily drivers. Female voices are forward and intimate, have good energy and, most of all, have no sibilance, at least considering the tracks I always use for my tests.

Highs: lower treble is emphasized, giving some added energy to female vocals and helping to improve the overall dynamics. The Quarks are not the most detailed set in this price range, nor I pretended them to be, and their upper-treble doesn’t have the greatest extension out there, being smoothly rolled-off as well, but they Quarks have a good treble tuning that I guess will appeal many, both because of the fact that it’s not fatiguing and because there’s a good amount of air considering the closed design and the upper-treble roll-off.
Soundstage is pretty small. Let’s say the Quarks don’t surprise under this aspect and don’t give you the “out-of-your-head” experience that many search in IEMs, but overall it feels good with an intimate presentation. Instrument separation is average for the price range, and so is the imaging.


It’s time for the comparisons, but first, a small note on this: in order to give our followers the best out of this review, we have asked on our official Telegram group to vote some IEMs that they wanted us to compare with the Quarks.
The top voted IEMs were the KZ EDX, the Sony MH755 and the Hifiman RE400.

Moondrop Quarks vs KZ EDX
EDX are much more V-shaped, with deeper and punchier bass and more rumble overall. Midrange is more recessed on the EDX but male vocals are warmer because of the thicker bass presentation, whereas instruments are more forward on the Quarks. Female vocals are forward on both but they’re shoutier and more aggressive on the EDX and sometimes can get sibilant, while the Quarks are usually more refined in this sense. The Quarks are also usually a tad more detailed being also less fatiguing. Imaging, soundstage and separation aren’t that different although soundstage is definitely wider on the EDX. EDX are easier to drive and can reach higher volume levels on weaker sources whereas the Quarks need some juice to perform at their best. EDX have detachable cable, Quarks have fixed cable, and both are pretty comfortable even though I think the Quarks, thanks to their bullet-style form factor, can appeal the majority of listeners. The Quarks insulate in a better way.

Moondrop Quarks vs Hifiman RE400
The RE400, even if some time has passed since their release, can still say A LOT nowadays in their actual price bracket. If we compare these two, the key differences mostly concern technicalities: the RE400 play in a bigger stage, have a more precise imaging and better instrument separation and they also have more details. There are some some differences in the tuning too: RE400’s bass is lighter, more delicate, whereas the Quarks have more punch even though bass texture is inferior. The midrange is forward on both, but the RE400 win when it comes to overall coherence and tonality, and so happens when we speak about instruments resolution. Highs are more detailed and airy on the RE400.
Quarks’ cable is definitely the better option here, comfort is on par (although Quarks have a bigger nozzle and easier to wear considering it’s easier to find the right tips) and isolation is better when wearing the Quarks, but the price is different: at the time of the review, the RE400 can be found online for about 50 euros, while the Quarks can be purchased for a bit more than 10 euros. In this case, the differences are evident, and even though I think the Quarks are pretty unique in their price range, I also think the RE400, even if actually “aged”, can still show how a good product can last, and I can clearly hear that they can still keep up with more recent stuff.
I am not saying you should buy the RE400 today, because maybe there are some other good choices on the market, but if you do that, it’s still a solid choice and the technical sound improvements you get (when comparing them to cheap DF stuff like the Quarks) are evident.

Moondrop Quarks vs Sony MH755
Here we have a sort of “target” comparison: Diffuse Field target (again, not perfectly following it but still going in that direction) versus Harman target.
I’m not focusing a lot on the differences between the target themselves, but it’s obvious that these two products are totally different: the Moondrop Quarks are drier, less bassy and a tad faster, but also less musical and warm in the midrange. While the MH755 focus on a thicker and warmer presentation, the Quarks have a slight focus on the midrange and upper-midrange regions, becoming a totally different set. Apart from tuning preferences, there is a thing that I would really like to point out: the MH755 are still great. In fact, if we compare these two, the MH755 are more “rounded” set, featuring a better end-to-end extension with a deep sub-bass and more natural timbre, a bigger soundstage, better instrument separation and more precise imaging. Sure, you have to like the Harman target curve, but if you do then the MH755 are still a safe choice with above average technicalities and tonality for their actual price (I have bought two pairs of MH755 in these last 2 years and got two original pairs for around 5 euros each, pretty good).
If you don’t like the Harman target, then yes, the Moondrop Quarks are probably the best choice to avoid going for classic V-shaped products, but it’s safe to say you’ll only get average technicalities and resolution (although they are tuned very well for the price).
Quarks’ cable is definitely better, moreover if we consider that the MH755 weren’t designed to be used directly from the phone, and that’s why they have a very short cable (you will need an extension cable to use them comfortably), and build quality is on par I’d say: both feel very cheap to the touch. Isolation is better with the Quarks’ in my ears.

Final Thoughts​

Moondrop Quarks gave me mixed feelings.
On one hand, the Moondrop Quarks are technically average as they do not excel in particular things and their capabilities are in line with other products in their price range; on the other hand, their tuning is pretty unique in this price range, and I really have no other recommendations if you’re searching for a similar sound signature.
Overall, I am happy to recommend the Quarks, even though I really hope next time Moondrop will also focus on technicalities as much as they did with the tuning (which is very good for this price range).

Overall, I'm actually pretty happy with it, save the packaging. I quite like the sound signature, as I can really appreciate the vocals in songs, something you can't find in other IEM's in this price range; you normally have a choice of either V-shaped... and that's it. This is Moondrop's cheapest IEM, and I'm happy that they've finally ventured into the ultra-budget realm of CHIFI, and I don't think it's a bad start. I just feel that Moondrop skimped a *bit* too much on the first impressions part of the package.

I go a bit more in-depth in a video I made yesterday. Feel free to check it out, any feedback is appreciated!

Moondrop Quarks Review - Good performer under $15

Into

Moondrop is a brand that needs no further introduction among audiophiles.
Most of their recent releases are hot topics among audiophiles. Quarks is their latest model in the budget space. Let’s take a look at how it fares. The closest competitor of Quarks that i can think of is Tanchjim’s Tanya, although it is priced slightly higher



Packaging

The packaging of Quarks is very minimal. No “waifu” on the cover this time. Which is refreshing, as I'm not really a fan of it, though there are a lot of people who like them tho.

Opening up the box, you will see Quarks within the box, a pack of stock silicon tips, and a cloth carrying/storage case, also the manuals. That’s about it, pretty minimal nothing to be expected here given the price.


Build/Comfort

The build is average and it is to be expected at this price point. If you are expecting a better build, look elsewhere, don’t get me wrong, the build is not bad, you get what you paid for. I am not sure what the material of the cable is, it is quite tangle prone to me, and yeah it does look cheap, but functionality over form right?

Comfort wise, they are above average, and feel pretty weightless when they’re in my ears. No discomfort even after several hours. Comfort is A+ here! You can even fall asleep with them without any issue.



Source

Cayin N3 Pro (Solid State) -> Moondrop Quarks (stock eartips)
Foobar2k -> Jcally’s JA21 Dongle -> Moondrop Quarks (stock eartips)
Iphone11 -> Atom 2 Lightning Version -> Moondrop Quarks (stock eartips)


Sound

I’m not a fan of Tanya, don’t get me wrong, they’re not bad, it’s just not my preferred signature. They are dark and veiled, a little too warm to my taste. Putting on and listening to Quarks out of the box, I told myself this is it, this is my preferred signature, and I definitely like this more than Tanya. They’re energetic and fun to listen to. I am really surprised given the price. It definitely punches above its weight. I would describe the tonality here as neutral, paired well with a slight warm source, but definitely not something lean and bright such as CX-PRO 31993.

Bass

The bass of Quarks is punchy and the amount of punch is also decent. The bass’s texture is pretty good for the price. Sub bass extension is pretty good,it can be heard rather than felt, very evident in Why So Serious by Hans Zimmer at minute 3.55 onwards. Bass is well tuned and not being emphasized, bass head please look elsewhere, Quarks is not for you. If you like tight and controlled bass with just enough quantity to enjoy most of the songs, this is it.

Mids

The vocal presentation here is not too intimate nor forward, gives the feeling of slightly in front of your face. If you are a graph person, you will notice the peak at 3k, that will immediately signal you into thinking that, oh damn, it must be shouty as hell. Well, put it on, try it out, not shouty at all. NONE. Aggressive? Not at all, but your mileage might vary, as this is very subjective. It is not aggressive in terms of my own preference. Decent details for its price point.

Treble

The tuning of the treble is smooth and not aggressive. Just right to give enough sparkles and air at the top end. Nothing sibilant nor harsh can be heard here. I like to listen to jpop especially anime opening/ending songs to test the treble. Some tracks have very high pitched vocals and it can be quite harsh and sibilant if the treble is not well tuned. Fortunately, none of that can be heard from Quarks.


Soundstage/Imaging

Another track that I like to use to test out the soundstage/imaging is Toto’s Africa(Live) and Eagles’s Hotel California Live on MTV. First thing that i want to mention is, the source does affect the soundstage’s rendition, take Jcally’s JA21’s dongle for example, the soundstage feels pretty big to my ears. Moving on to Atom 2, the soundstage got smaller which gives the feeling of “in your head”. Soundstage of Quarks with N3 Pro is more or less similar as JA21.

Instruments separation and layering is not class leading, but you can definitely tell its limitation in Toto’s Africa Live on the ending part, where it sounded kinda mushy when many instruments started to play at the same thing. Quarks held up pretty well when the track is not so busy.


Comparison

Tanchjim’s Tanya
-Quark’s bass is leaner and sub bass extension is better compared to Tanya
-Tanya is dark and warm compared to Quarks. (Not really a bad thing, more of a personal preference)
-Warm mids and bass on Tanya,Quarks’s mids feels very crisp and engaging
-Quarks is more aggressive compared to Tanya
-I would say both are different in terms of sound signature, so in the end it all boils down to personal preference


Final Thoughts

My thoughts? If you don’t like Tanya, get this. If you like Tanya, don’t get this. If you got extra to spend, get it, the price is no brainer anyway. The performance of Quarks punches above its weight. This is not to say that it's out to kill your 1000$ IEM or Cans, no, nothing like that. It is a good sounding unit for the price it’s asking for. If you are a seasoned audiophile and you’re looking for a daily beater, this might be it. Or, if you are new to this audiophile thingy, grab a pair of this, and start looking from here onwards. Very good starter kit in my opinion.

If you’re looking to purchase Quarks, you may head to ShenZhen Audio’s website to purchase them. *Not affiliated.

*Once again, a big thanks to Cloris from ShenZhen Audio for sending me this unit in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion. I am not affiliated nor do i gain any monetary benefit in writing this review.

! these are loaned units from a fellow audio enthusiast Bryan who is generous enough to lend them to me for trying purposes. so thanks to Bryan & (Shenzhenaudio + Moondrop) for this opportunity. this is a straightforward amateur impression of the new Moondrop Quarks which has been released recently. I have 100% control of my words here, with zero influence from anyone and entirely based on my experience alone.



bold yet a brilliant name for a tiny little pair of earphones with 3 'quarks' as the logo. a clean presentation.

Tonality: 4.6/9
Technicalities: 4/9
(this is useless, but to give an idea. star rating is for price to performance)

I'm going to say this straight, I love these earphones! (especially for a certain type of music)

a few months ago I purchased a pair of Tanchjim Tanya and I was (still) recommending that set to everyone who's into music reproduction that I know (still the top budget recommendation). they are lovely as they are and very hard to resist because I find myself grabbing for Tanya every time I'm going out. Quarks gives that same feeling to me. I'm not going to write everything that Bryan already pointed out here. he's pretty much right about most things and I can say that we're in the exact same boat, except that I stay outside for the sunlight while Bryan is reading the map in the cockpit, I guess.

Summary
soundwise, Quarks does something different than the popular Tanya and MH750/755 at most parts of my library playback (you can read my Tanya quickimp here). Quarks, for example, hits differently on acoustic instruments, some string pluckings, vocal intimacy, bass texture, & perhaps the aggressiveness without being too harsh that many super budget sets are incapable of doing so. it sounds smooth in the treble region but with a little more dehydrated bite to it. it's extremely comfortable and easy to handle. the overall build is fine without any vent, a non-detachable cable that feels rubbery-plasticky-cheap that doesn't stay flat like Tanya's, but a lovely small packaging and package nonetheless. it could be a perfect $12 if you ask me, but I don't bother.

* I'm using Azla SednaEarfitLight because others just don't work! it's like a shorter Spinfit with a wider bore. comparing to stock tips, Azla helps to produce a better instrument separation & layering, better accuracy & clarity, better soundstage & imaging = better music reproduction. no more blurry, hazy, muffled, chaotic, or congested sound. you don't know your IEMs' true capabilities until you tried Azla SednaEarfitLight. buy a pair and hear the difference! (I have no affiliation with Azla whatsoever. wide bore [Azla] rules!)

A better library for Quarks
after many leisure hours with Quarks on moderate volume, I find it performs best on certain songs at certain loudness. Lee Ritenour's Riverman's clean bass has a little bit more texture than usual. Kurt Elling's voice feels nearer without losing or throwing anything too obvious at first listen. the drums' timbre is correct and everything is engaging & pleasant to listen to. this is true with Neil Cowley Trio's Winterlude too. the hard-right panned double bass on the right channel has more presence and clarity which I like, other than the extra piano's ringing overtones and bites.

Avishai Cohen & Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra's Arab Medley sounds wide enough for a pair of 6mm little dynamic drivers. Avishai's upright bass plucking is more pronounced and dazzling snappy towards the end. I like the overall texture of this song with Quarks, nothing is out of place nor feels wrong. Swans' A Little God In My Hands' sonic qualities give a brutal sense of its close relation to Blessing 2. it's uncanny for a moment.

Thundercat's Uh Uh can be an example of how good the transients' responses are on Quarks. I find myself bopping to the quick attacks and short decays as agile as Stephen Lee Bruner's fingers and that continues towards the end of the next song which is a fast jazz jam, James Francies' Crib. Topping EX5 with the number 5 digital filter surely helps make Quarks as punchy and fast. math-rock legend, Tera Melos' 40 Rods to the Hog's Head proves that to be true as well as it plays fast yet warm like the first time I heard it on MySpace. it brings back some good memories.

the soundstage is rather shallow and small with 2D-like imaging but this is what to be expected for any normal $12 earphones especially with a bullet design. well actually, I can pinpoint every instrument and get a better layering gap between multiple instruments with the right amount of loudness. that says it does scale better with amplification & more power (max 60/100 on high gain Topping EX5). nevertheless, my LG G7 has no issue in making it sing with its high impedance mode though the EX5 is definitely richer, wider, deeper, bigger, faster, louder, or simply effortless.

other song examples I love on Quarks:
Mogwai's Here We, Here We, Here We Go Forever
Fear Before the March of Flames' High As A Horse
Gorillaz's Empire Ants (feat. Little Dragon)
Converge's Eagles Become Vultures
Father John Misty's Pure Comedy
Neurosis' Water Is Not Enough
Yellowjackets' Summer Song
Sonic Youth's Pink Steam
Mastodon's Divinations
The Chariot's Teach:




Quarks with the wide bore Azla SednaEarfitLight. the only ear tip that works for any IEMs without/less sound alteration or degradation

Conclusion
I think Tanya or MH750/755 perhaps is a better all-rounder to be compared to Quarks. they both have more similarities to compare to Quarks and are both smoother & bassier, as MH750/755 being sub-bassiest. at this point, I'm not sure which of the 3 have a more 'correct' tonality as I enjoy their musicality & 'naturalness' very much each of their own as they perform better for different parts of my library (without comparing to other more expensive IEMs). they're about the same on the technicalities at a different volume scaling as Quarks might need a little volume adjustment to reach the same level of MH755's. Quarks' aggressiveness could also be both pro and con at the same time depending on the situation.

Moondrop Quarks is an amazing tiny pair of super-budget earphones with a warm, near DF-neutral tuning. IMHO it could be an all-rounder like Tanya or MH750/755, depending on one's library & preferences. with Azla SednaEarfitLight, it's perfect for me. I love it and I think it has a spoonful of that special sauce that Moondrop has been using since their successful creations like Blessing 2 if not since their inception.

whether you're a veteran or a first-timer, just go get the Moondrop Quarks if you can. 1 for yourself, and another 1 for your friend or family member. sit and enjoy. sit and listen. but above all, sit together forever.

get Quarks here
get Tanya here
(non-affiliated links)

Moondrop Quarks is Moondrop's latest IEM offering in the sub-$20usd budget realm. It comes in at a whopping $13usd and it sports a tiny 6mm Micro Dynamic Driver, which Moondrop quotes as being "micro but highly capable". The unboxing experience of the Quarks is pretty straightforward. It comes in a small and square cardboard box. Upon opening the box, I am presented with a carrying pouch, 3 sets of silicone tips (S,M,L), and the mighty IEM itself.

Pretty bog simple and straightforward presentation here, but for $13usd, I am not complaining.

Now, with the unboxing out of the way, let's start the review.

*Disclaimer: This review is done using stock silicone tips.

PROS :​

• I would describe the tuning here to be DF-neutral with bass boost. Vocal focused.
• The bass here is slightly warm and punchy (when amped). When amped, bass tightens and provides a decent amount of punch. Otherwise, it is a bit loose and smeared. Sub-bass extension is decent (better than Tanya, but nowhere near MH755's level), and bass texture is not bad too for the price (better than Tanya).
• In terms of the midrange, I would describe it as being slightly warm and vocal focused. What jumps out immediately is how intimate the vocals are presented here. Vocals are very upfront and "in your head". I do find Quarks' vocal presentation to be slightly aggressive at times, but with a 3kHz peak of +14dB, I actually expected worse. Before trying on the Quarks, I expected the vocals here to be super shouty and aggressive. However, after testing out the Quarks, I find the "shoutiness" to be pretty acceptable for me. A bit aggressive at times? Yes, but for the most part, I am OK with it. The 3kHz peak isn't as bad as the FR graph suggests. There's no hints of sibilance too.
• The treble here is pretty balanced, inoffensive, and smooth. It isn't as dark or "veiled" as Tanya, but it also isn't as bright as the MH755. It is somewhere in between. Slightly brighter than Tanya's, but darker than MH755's. Nothing much to add here other than it is non-fatiguing and well-rounded.
• Imaging is slightly blurry, but pretty decent for the price. I can't really pinpoint the exact location of where instruments are coming from, but at this price point, can't expect too much in terms of technicalities.
• Instrument separation and layering are decent for the price. At least it won't congest. Can't expect too much for $13usd. Good thing is, the DD driver used inside Quarks is pretty capable. It can handle fast and busy tracks without signs of congestion.
• In terms of timbre, it is slightly leaner than natural.
• When amped, soundstage becomes deeper, bass tightens, imaging and instrument separation is ever so slightly better.
• Size and comfort is A++. Very small, ergonomic, and perfect for sleeping. They just disappear right inside your ears!

CONS :​

• The soundstage here is fairly small and intimate. Everything is "in your head". With that in mind, I would describe the soundstage here to be deeper than tall/wide.
• +14dB 3kHz peak is something to take note of, but in real life use isn't as bad as bad as the graph suggests. If you are sensitive to upper mid shout, you might need to look elsewhere (I personally do not find it shouty or unbearable. Just slightly aggressive at times).
• Requires amping to shine. Without amping, bass sounds smeared and is a bit loose, notes sound mushier, and soundstage becomes flat.
• Not the most technical and detailed.
• Not the most dynamic sounding.
• The cable sucks. It feels cheap and looks cheap. It is also undetachable. Imagine Apple EarPod's undetachable cable, but slightly thicker with Moondrop's infamous Y-splitter that is fat and annoying.

QUARKS ($13USD) VS TANYA ($22USD):​

• Tanya is smoother and warmer sounding overall. In comparison to Quarks, Tanya has more mid-bass, warmer bass and mids, thicker note weight, slightly more recessed mids with more relaxed vocals, treble is smoother and darker, soundstage is wider. Timbre is more natural and organic too.
• Quarks is overall leaner, brighter, more forward and more aggressive sounding than Tanya. Bass is cleaner, soundstage is smaller and more intimate.
• Both Tanya and Quarks are somewhat similar. Same thing, different flavours I'd say. If you find Tanya to be too warm, smooth, or recessed for you, do give Quarks a try. Personally, I prefer Tanya as I like warmer smoother tuning.

QUARKS ($13USD) VS MH755 ($8USD + MOD + CHEAP SPC CABLE = $35USD?):​

• MH755 has better sub-bass extension, less shouty, leaner mids, airier vocals, brighter treble, bigger soundstage, better imaging, and cleaner sounding overall. Bass texture is also better. Overall, I do find MH755 to be superior.
• Quarks in comparison is slightly warmer, shoutier, with more mid-bass, smaller soundstage, more intimate vocals, and smoother treble. Vocals, especially male vocals, do come off as slightly boxy too.

IN CONCLUSION:​

At $13usd retail, you really can't ask for too much. Moondrop Quarks won't blow your mind away or make you sell off your expensive IEMs. However, what it can do is be a great cheap alternative / daily beater. If you are into Moondrop's house sound and you love IEMs like the Moondrop SSR or SSP, then Moondrop Quarks can be the perfect daily beater IEM for you.

Personally, I would use the Quarks as my sleeping IEMs thanks to its small size and perfect fit. Not to mention, these are dirt cheap. So if they break for whatever reason, I can just replace them easily without much thought.

Overall, not a bad choice for $13usd. Great for kids and as gifts. Time to stock these up for Christmas!

Thank you SHENZHENAUDIO and MOONDROP for sending these over for review. I am not at all compensated by them and all thoughts and opinions are my own.


Interested in picking up the Quarks? Here's the purchase link (non-affiliated):

• https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/...or-cavity-micro-dynamic-driver-in-ear-earbuds

Interested in getting Tanya instead? Check out my review here:

• Tanchjim Tanya Review - https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/tanchjim-tanya.25203/reviews#review-26334
• Link to purchase (non-affiliated) - https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/...arbuds-with-microphone?variant=39990606987415