MOONDROP METEOR Has Landed

[theElk]

Listened for about 3h - no pain or fatigue.

Very satisfying and promising sound straight out of the box - impressive. Bass slaps, solid mid range and a lot of details in highs. Handles heavy bass tracks with crisp percussion in the background - no mixing.

Stock Cable is impressively good sounding; looks amazing (zoom in!) with chunky multiple smaller cores; great hardware; very high quality; comfortable.

Tested with 32/384 Ultra Hi-Res tracks with very heavy bass and a lot of percussion simultaneously - these do not stutter, very smooth sound; clear; crisp.

100% there is more than enough bass - I would not call these lacking in bass in any way.

Can already recommend for Electronic music.

Happy.

Would you say the Meteor needs a potent source? Some reviews think it lacks bass, while others praise it. Marc from Superreview set the Meteor below the dusk und hisenior 5. But said nothing about his source, while Andy praised it as an absolute allrounder.

 

[balzucker812]

Would you say the Meteor needs a potent source? Some reviews think it lacks bass, while others praise it. Marc from Superreview set the Meteor below the dusk und hisenior 5. But said nothing about his source, while Andy praised it as an absolute allrounder.

Do most iems need a potent source? Iems are almost always under 40 ohms and finding an iem with a sensitivity of under 100dbs is rare

 

[Or1onSLi]

Would you say the Meteor needs a potent source? Some reviews think it lacks bass, while others praise it. Marc from Superreview set the Meteor below the dusk und hisenior 5. But said nothing about his source, while Andy praised it as an absolute allrounder.

It really is a matter of taste I think. Also Andy uses sources that tend to warm up the sound as it's personal taste, if you watch again the whole video you'll see that is more nuanced than that.

I think that on a balanced connection you will easily get 90%+ of the potential of the Meteor even with an iPhone adapter.

I also want to kinda understand why the debacle around bass, it surely is good bass but it won't be a warm set or a bass focused set, that's what everyone tries to transmit with different words, in the end. If you want a bass that is warmer than the one in the Variations, this is not the IEM to buy. If you want a more technical bass you might want this set.
This is my understanding from the few reviews around.

Happy to receive corrections if I got this wrong!

 

[Max Watts]

According to Crinacle this is a Meta tuned IEM with okay bass but top notch highs and good mids.

Vocal and acoustic performances are great, for live music/rock music they are okay and for electronic music they perform good.

It overall feels like a sequel to Variations in Meta tuning sauce where the biggest shortcomings are the shape and probably the lack of a distinct quality.

I will be curious to hear them at CanJam or at a discount…I’m still not happy over the accessories, looking for more reviews around but still there are not many.

Most of my collection is Electronic music. So far I can agree with above writing. I think bass on these is very good. I would not want more, I can almost see that it would change the overall balance.

 

[Max Watts]

Ive seen that, with that massive dd I hoped it would be something special, but it seems to just be a regular dd woofer

I see many not liking the stock Cable.

It is same Cable that comes with Dark Saber. In terms of sound, it is very close to Nobunaga Labs Brahma, which is impressive, considering it is Japanese 4N all Silver, 16 cores, Cryogenically treated, with Silver solder, Silver-plated 2Pin Connectors and Plug (good luck beating those specs).

I build Cables and I think this is a well built, good sounding Cable. Thick and chunky to a good degree, in shiny silver-black tones that work well with overall look of IEMs.

It is SPC - so you get solid bass, good vocals, a lot of micro details and open soundstage.


Ear Tips included are by SoftEars, I really dig all-clear Silicone ones, they seal well, sound really good and look clean.

Storage Case is nice, but I think it is a bit too small (I do not like coiling Cables in tight loops to store them) and the zipper is metal - I think it should be made in plastic, since it is safer (zipper is exposed inside the Case).

Foam Ear Tips might have been good, but not a deal breaker.

I wish they added small Microfiber Cloth: I like wiping IEMs, Ear Hooks and Ear Tips after listening (keeps yellowning and damage from body oils to a minimum) and to polish Plug and Connector Pins before plugging them in.

 

[Max Watts]

Would you say the Meteor needs a potent source? Some reviews think it lacks bass, while others praise it. Marc from Superreview set the Meteor below the dusk und hisenior 5. But said nothing about his source, while Andy praised it as an absolute allrounder.

Depends, I agree.

If you play FLACs through your Phone 3.5mm Dongle DAC - good luck hearing anything impressive.

I like either playing Ultra Hi-Res Masters or Albums / Tracks I un-pack and up-convert myself.

There is a massive difference between 16/44 FLAC at 880kbps Bit Rate and 32/384 AIFF at 24576kbps Bit Rate: former sounds lifeless and restrained, latter sounds like a thick wall of unbound sound. I also do not like letting my DAP to do FLAC->PCM up-conversion on the fly, and instead let the DAP just play files as is at its highest Native Resolution (32/384 PCM on Sony NW-WM1A).

Big difference.

 

[Max Watts]

Meteor vs Crinacle Dusk:


Dusk has more intimate presentation, closer soundstage.

Bass is more like subwoofer, hits stronger, rattles your brain.

Closer vocals (?)

Meteor sounds as scaled up Dusk: bass sounds larger, not deeper; more meat in the mids; more information and details in the highs, which adds space to soundstage; larger, more open soundstage; lush open highs add sense of presense; great instrument separation and localisation which often creates holographic effect.

At this point sound reminds me ThieAudio Clairvoyance, which has holographic effect happening even more often, I think due to having more drivers delivering more information.

Meteor sounds more neutral across all frequencies.

Meteor sounds louder at same volume setting: 80 vs 82-85 for Dusk. Dusk seem to sound better the louder the volume gets, "open up".


Test Tracks:

Andy Stott - Bad Landing
Andy Stott - Love Nothing
Byetone - Fremd
Segue - Pushing Forward
Pole - Pferd
Alejandro Vivanco - Madre Tierra

 

[balzucker812]

I see many not liking the stock Cable.

It is same Cable that comes with Dark Saber. In terms of sound, it is very close to Nobunaga Labs Brahma, which is impressive, considering it is Japanese 4N all Silver, 16 cores, Cryogenically treated, with Silver solder, Silver-plated 2Pin Connectors and Plug (good luck beating those specs).

I build Cables and I think this is a well built, good sounding Cable. Thick and chunky to a good degree, in shiny silver-black tones that work well with overall look of IEMs.

It is SPC - so you get solid bass, good vocals, a lot of micro details and open soundstage.


Ear Tips included are by SoftEars, I really dig all-clear Silicone ones, they seal well, sound really good and look clean.

Storage Case is nice, but I think it is a bit too small (I do not like coiling Cables in tight loops to store them) and the zipper is metal - I think it should be made in plastic, since it is safer (zipper is exposed inside the Case).

Foam Ear Tips might have been good, but not a deal breaker.

I wish they added small Microfiber Cloth: I like wiping IEMs, Ear Hooks and Ear Tips after listening (keeps yellowning and damage from body oils to a minimum) and to polish Plug and Connector Pins before plugging them in.

Do cables really affect sound? I've never heard a difference. Theoretically yes but only on iems with crossovers since different cables have different impedance and high impedance can change the sound (truthear zero red)

 

[Max Watts]

Do cables really affect sound? I've never heard a difference. Theoretically yes but only on iems with crossovers since different cables have different impedance and high impedance can change the sound (truthear zero red)

Yes. So as Ear Tips.

 

[balzucker812]

Yes. So as Ear Tips.

In what way do you find cables change sound? I know eartips change sound

 

[lucanato]

Do cables really affect sound? I've never heard a difference. Theoretically yes but only on iems with crossovers since different cables have different impedance and high impedance can change the sound (truthear zero red)

Absolutely yes but if you don't listen to any variations maybe you are not so sensitive to details and you can avoid changing cable and save a lot of money. Cable change the sound a lot for me , I can say for the 30%of the sound but somone hate the cable rolling and prefer to equalize. The less sensitive to the cable change are the mediocre speaker. You can't transform too much a moondrop Chu ii but still you can listen to some changes. If you pass to sensitive speaker you should find some cable enhance basses other highs other medium other to widen the stage other to thicken the kids other to levigate the highs others to increase speed and transient etc. I have almost 10 cable and other have gone and every one sound different. If you can bare a little bulky cable I suggest you to start with penon space that enhance speed of transients add a little glimmer on highs and widen the scene at 100dollars. Used on every iem always the same good effects avoid it if your headphones are already too much bright. Used space on vortex elixir land isn ebc 80 and always is a musical cable that can add musicality and fun to a warmish item, such vortex and elixir and Ian ebc80. All the basic cable usually are rubbish in the 100€i/150 em zone.

The bigger is the cable the more body and transient you'll have on sound....usually , more silver means more highs but you can experiment also some exotic materials and try to feel the effects. If you take a 30 euros cable maybe you won't appreciate the difference with the original one so don't hope in AliExpress glimmering offers. The only cable bought form AliExpress that I'm evaluatimg with big improvements is the zisin apopis that costs a lot but add depth levigate highs and add muscolar basses and mid bass, very nice for my bright tsmr land.

I spent a few minutes to answer to you please don't answer:no it's impossible, be kind with me. I said at the begin that someone doesn't listen to any change because are not so sensitive, but others are.

 

[balzucker812]

Absolutely yes but if you don't listen to any variations maybe you are not so sensitive to details and you can avoid changing cable and save a lot of money. Cable change the sound a lot for me , I can say for the 30%of the sound but somone hate the cable rolling and prefer to equalize. The less sensitive to the cable change are the mediocre speaker. You can't transform too much a moondrop Chu ii but still you can listen to some changes. If you pass to sensitive speaker you should find some cable enhance basses other highs other medium other to widen the stage other to thicken the kids other to levigate the highs others to increase speed and transient etc. I have almost 10 cable and other have gone and every one sound different. If you can bare a little bulky cable I suggest you to start with penon space that enhance speed of transients add a little glimmer on highs and widen the scene at 100dollars. Used on every iem always the same good effects avoid it if your headphones are already too much bright. Used space on vortex elixir land isn ebc 80 and always is a musical cable that can add musicality and fun to a warmish item, such vortex and elixir and Ian ebc80. All the basic cable usually are rubbish in the 100€i/150 em zone.

The bigger is the cable the more body and transient you'll have on sound....usually , more silver means more highs but you can experiment also some exotic materials and try to feel the effects. If you take a 30 euros cable maybe you won't appreciate the difference with the original one so don't hope in AliExpress glimmering offers. The only cable bought form AliExpress that I'm evaluatimg with big improvements is the zisin apopis that costs a lot but add depth levigate highs and add muscolar basses and mid bass, very nice for my bright tsmr land.

I spent a few minutes to answer to you please don't answer:no it's impossible, be kind with me. I said at the begin that someone doesn't listen to any change because are not so sensitive, but others are.

one of my personal biggest problems with cables is that they are way overpriced, the wires dont cost that much, and there is no way a (non handmade) cable would cost more than 100 dollars to make, even with silver coated copper or whatever. i know a product isnt just the raw material cost, and also, isnt the transducer the most important part of an audio setup? why buy a $300 cable if you can get a $300 iem/headphone? why would you buy an effect audio centurion if you can get a sony z1r or hd800s whatever totl em/headphone for mostly less than 1/3 of the cost of the cable?

 

[lucanato]

one of my personal biggest problems with cables is that they are way overpriced, the wires dont cost that much, and there is no way a (non handmade) cable would cost more than 100 dollars to make, even with silver coated copper or whatever. i know a product isnt just the raw material cost, and also, isnt the transducer the most important part of an audio setup? why buy a $300 cable if you can get a $300 iem/headphone? why would you buy an effect audio centurion if you can get a sony z1r or hd800s whatever totl em/headphone for mostly less than 1/3 of the cost of the cable?

Simply because you want your headphone to sound at her best but I see your point. I have he1000se and I didn't change the cable because they already satisfies me, but every iem I owned had needed a cable change to discover their potential or just to change the sound to your daily tastes.
I can psicologically accept to spend 1/3 of the iem price to get it better, but not the same buying price; for example, I had PEnon vortex serial and thieaudio elixir, 200to 300 euros iems so 100euros for a cable with interchangable plug could be accepted. Now I have two new 600euros iems tsmr land and isn ebc80 and uala' I clicked for a 210 euros cable without regretting. For me, for now, 200euros zone is the limit for a cable, I can't see me spending 500 euros on a penon pyramid VIII or the totem. But maybe because.... I don't have 1500euros iem ahaha

Isn ebc80 Is completely dampened in it's potential from the included cable though it is a an almost 50 euros cable... Now with PEnon space is a joy... What's more cables stay with you also for your next iems and... You can you enjoy them again and again, and simply leave the included cables in their original box waiting for the moment when you'll sell the iem for a better one.
For me the oenon space have been a solid investment and I benefits of its qualities I'm every item I owned except the tame land that is a very bright iem. The isn c2 and H2 instead , for me, are so so cables, now I'm waiting for PEnon gd849 to try gold plated effects on the tame land. For me having a lot of cable reviews of penon stuff helped a lot to chose, other AliExpress cable I tried and sent back didn't have the same building quality and sound effects I've found in PEnon's, except for this zisin apopis

 

[balzucker812]

Simply because you want your headphone to sound at her best but I see your point. I have he1000se and I didn't change the cable because they already satisfies me, but every iem I owned had needed a cable change to discover their potential or just to change the sound to your daily tastes.
I can psicologically accept to spend 1/3 of the iem price to get it better, but not the same buying price; for example, I had PEnon vortex serial and thieaudio elixir, 200to 300 euros iems so 100euros for a cable with interchangable plug could be accepted. Now I have two new 600euros iems tsmr land and isn ebc80 and uala' I clicked for a 210 euros cable without regretting. For me, for now, 200euros zone is the limit for a cable, I can't see me spending 500 euros on a penon pyramid VIII or the totem. But maybe because.... I don't have 1500euros iem ahaha

Isn ebc80 Is completely dampened in it's potential from the included cable though it is a an almost 50 euros cable... Now with PEnon space is a joy... What's more cables stay with you also for your next iems and... You can you enjoy them again and again, and simply leave the included cables in their original box waiting for the moment when you'll sell the iem for a better one.
For me the oenon space have been a solid investment and I benefits of its qualities I'm every item I owned except the tame land that is a very bright iem. The isn c2 and H2 instead , for me, are so so cables, now I'm waiting for PEnon gd849 to try gold plated effects on the tame land. For me having a lot of cable reviews of penon stuff helped a lot to chose, other AliExpress cable I tried and sent back didn't have the same building quality and sound effects I've found in PEnon's, except for this zisin apopis

ive once tried a sony ier z1r with a 60000 yen balanced calbe with fiio btr15, I didnt hear any difference. it sounded good of course, (sony ier z1r) but i thought it was crazy that the cable was 3x the price of the btr15 (cable is 60000~ yen btr15 is 20000~ yen)

 

[lucanato]

ive once tried a sony ier z1r with a 60000 yen balanced calbe with fiio btr15, I didnt hear any difference. it sounded good of course, (sony ier z1r) but i thought it was crazy that the cable was 3x the price of the btr15 (cable is 60000~ yen btr15 is 20000~ yen)

Did you tried it making an a b a b test plugging and unplugging two different cables on a music segment of 20 sec

You can only notice the differences in a specific moment and concentrating on some details doing ab ab

If you have for example that item Sony at you house with a cheap cable and the the day after you go to a shop and try the same Sony with a better cable, you can't remember how your Sony played without that cable.


Instead if you have done ab ab test on specific segment of tracks in a quiet place and you didn't notice nothing, you don't have good ears or that cable was only a trick... It exists a lot of brands of cable maker that think only to the appearance of the cable ( mixing many colours, for example) just to satisfy the need to research a specific look of some dandy people.