[AmericanSpirit]

Can't wait to hear some impressions on the Variations. Kind of an awkward name for a headphone (plural, a word that is already sometimes used in this space - i.e. "is the Variations a tribrid variation of the Blessing template?" etc.). But I'm a big fan of tribrids (or ... the Monarch is probably my favorite IEM) and Moondrop seems like a super solid company (Blessing 2 still the best value in the space, at least among what I've tried).

Care to share some impressions @AmericanSpirit if you got the time?

It’s from music reference: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variation_(music)

“In music, variation is a formal technique where material is repeated in an altered form.” So basically it’s “blessing2” repeated in an altered form

and yea I will cross review for Blessing2/ Blessing2 Dusk /Monarch /SA6 / Yume / Starsea/ maybe Aria too

Purchased the Variations.
Will definitely be leaving some sort of a review on this once I get my hands on.

I don't have a vast experience of iems as many of you guys do, but hopefully can give my impression on the iem that I had been anticipating for quite a long time.

welcome to Var. Club!

 

[granularclouds]

It’s from music reference: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variation_(music)

“In music, variation is a formal technique where material is repeated in an altered form.” So basically it’s “blessing2” repeated in an altered form

and yea I will cross review for Blessing2/ Blessing2 Dusk /Monarch /SA6 / Yume / Starsea/ maybe Aria too

welcome to Var. Club!

Thanks! Can't wait to hear your thoughts - particularly helpful for those of us who own one of the above. And yeah I'm familiar with the term in music - obviously a term in a lot of fields - sort of why it's kind of a funny choice. It's just a pretty ubiquitous word, and the plural feels like a departure - usually headphone naming is in the singular. But it's literally the least important thing about the IEM - don't care, just strikes me as a little clumsy.

Highly interested though. Was eyeing the Oracle or Excalibur given how much I loved the Monarch. But as aforementioned, also am very fond of the Blessing 2 (with some changes I'd like make of course), so they've fully got my attention here.

 

[Mouseman]

I would love to hear a comparison to the Thieaudio IEMs. I've been wanting to try a tri-bird, and it's coming down to these or one of those (probably Oracle, maybe Excalibur).

 

[G777]

FR looks like that of an Etymotic but with a sub-bass boost. Quite promising IMO.

 

[SteveK27]

Seems like there are some people curious about the frequency response of the Variations.

I've been staring at Variation's graph for some time trying to figure out where I've seen the similar treble response (solely by the virtue of tuning).
The first photo below is Variation's Frequency Response, while the second photo underneath is Moondrop's Solis (currently their most expensive flagship and other EST offering) graph.

You could see that from 900Hz onward, their graphs look almost identical with a minor adjustment here and there.
Moondrop has taken Solis as a reference to how to properly utilize the EST treble response, and we can be confident it should perform relatively well by observing Crinacle's review of Solis -

"The Solis’ treble is a little more subdued compared to the Elysium but the overall tone and extension is about the same, with both comfortably hitting the air notes with no problems." - Crin

I've always been a fan of the way Moondrop tunes their upper-midrange so I'm content with the tuning so far.

Mid-bass rises starting from 200hz to give enough sensation of body without creeping into the midrange, and I see the tuning more as a U-shaped signature with strong sub-bass to give enough impact and dynamic by the virtue of its tuning.

To be honest, I hesitated a little bit the first time I saw their graph, but now I'm quite content after analyzing it a little bit.
I just hope their technicalities (imaging, separation, and layering) live up to what we all anticipate

 

[AmericanSpirit]

Thanks! Can't wait to hear your thoughts - particularly helpful for those of us who own one of the above. And yeah I'm familiar with the term in music - obviously a term in a lot of fields - sort of why it's kind of a funny choice. It's just a pretty ubiquitous word, and the plural feels like a departure - usually headphone naming is in the singular. But it's literally the least important thing about the IEM - don't care, just strikes me as a little clumsy.

Highly interested though. Was eyeing the Oracle or Excalibur given how much I loved the Monarch. But as aforementioned, also am very fond of the Blessing 2 (with some changes I'd like make of course), so they've fully got my attention here.

Haha yea it could also be taking as “unit variations” I’d take just Blessing3 or B-EST, but it’s just a copy of UM’s Melogy-EST; MEST Let’s see how Moondrop/Softears turns out tuning their third Sonion EST model , counting from Solis, Cerberus, then Variations.

 

[AmericanSpirit]

Seems like there are some people curious about the frequency response of the Variations.

I've been staring at Variation's graph for some time trying to figure out where I've seen the similar treble response (solely by the virtue of tuning).
The first photo below is Variation's Frequency Response, while the second photo underneath is Moondrop's Solis (currently their most expensive flagship and other EST offering) graph.

You could see that from 900Hz onward, their graphs look almost identical with a minor adjustment here and there.
Moondrop has taken Solis as a reference to how to properly utilize the EST treble response, and we can be confident it should perform relatively well by observing Crinacle's review of Solis -

"The Solis’ treble is a little more subdued compared to the Elysium but the overall tone and extension is about the same, with both comfortably hitting the air notes with no problems." - Crin

I've always been a fan of the way Moondrop tunes their upper-midrange so I'm content with the tuning so far.

Mid-bass rises starting from 200hz to give enough sensation of body without creeping into the midrange, and I see the tuning more as a U-shaped signature with strong sub-bass to give enough impact and dynamic by the virtue of its tuning.

To be honest, I hesitated a little bit the first time I saw their graph, but now I'm quite content after analyzing it a little bit.
I just hope their technicalities (imaging, separation, and layering) live up to what we all anticipate

Great!! I was too lazy to pull all three of those! Hope Crinacle update his database soon to it will be apple to apple.

It does look like Dusk-inspired Solis.

 

[twiceboss]

Haha yea it could also be taking as “unit variations” I’d take just Blessing3 or B-EST, but it’s just a copy of UM’s Melogy-EST; MEST Let’s see how Moondrop/Softears turns out tuning their third Sonion EST model , counting from Solis, Cerberus, then Variations.

can u tag my name when you have your impressions on Variations lol

 

[gto88]

I would be interested to see comparison with ST112, EE bravado MK2, if all possible.

 

[SemiAudiophile]

Variations is release on Shenzhen Audio, $520. Order placed, it seems I got 1st, and my friend got 2nd order

Nice, just ordered one as well. Didn't see an option for DHL express though? Just the free international shipping.

Interested in seeing how the bass from the LCP driver compares to the Dunu EST 112 with beryllium double side coated driver. I like the bass from the EST 112 a lot. One of the best bass presentation I've ever heard.

 

[voicemaster]

Tried using the Aria with TRN BT20S pro and it is a pretty solid combination. After spending almost two weeks using KZ AST, the Aria has a very smooth sound. It makes me want to crank the volume up more and the louder it is, the better it sounds.

 

[430633]

I wonder what the Variation's filters are like compared with those of other Moondrop IEMs

 

[mico1964]

Nice, just ordered one as well. Didn't see an option for DHL express though? Just the free international shipping.

There is no option for DHL, but I emailed them and they confirmed that they will ship with DHL as soon as they get the first batch in a couple of days.

 

[Aevum]

Response from shenzen audio "send them over and we will send you a repair estimate".

I think im going to contact moondrop directly.

 

[AmericanSpirit]

Nice, just ordered one as well. Didn't see an option for DHL express though? Just the free international shipping.

Interested in seeing how the bass from the LCP driver compares to the Dunu EST 112 with beryllium double side coated driver. I like the bass from the EST 112 a lot. One of the best bass presentation I've ever heard.

I contacted Shenzhen audio on chat/email/this thread and made sure they ship with DHL express for international shipping