Moondrop PARA, PARA-II, VENUS and COSMO (fitted with the Brainwavz Memory Foam Hybrid Earpads XL Size and ZMF Universe Lambskin perforated pads or ZMF BE2 Lambskin perforated pads or ZMF Caldera Lambskin Thick (top and side perf) pads) Discussion.

[eric65]

I always listen to anime songs, and I have yet to encounter headphones that portray female vocals more beautifully than the COSMO.
Unless a headphone in the same price range surpasses the COSMO, I won't be letting go of mine.
(Except for MOONDROP's electrostatic headphone, the MOONZERO, of course.)

Hi @N3urolink.

Japanese anime songs can be beautiful to listen to, and indeed the COSMO renders them beautifully.

After this first video clip of anime song that I presented the last WE on the previous page (link : https://www.head-fi.org/threads/moo...-pads-discussion.970569/page-46#post-18559805 ), I've found a new video with another Japanese singer, whose name is Minami, and which I think you'll like.



I listened to this latest video with my two Moondrop headphones at my disposal, on my high-end living-room headphone audio system: the VENUS with its stock pads and the COSMO equipped with the ZMF lambskin perforated pads.

Listening to this anime song, with Minami's voice, is very nice with both headphones, but it's even better with the COSMO equipped with these ZMF pads, with a more nuanced, more beautiful listening experience, closer to the voice; the VENUS has a more V-shaped sound signature, hollowing out the voice a little, which is thus set back a little, and highlights it less. Listening is more balanced with the COSMO, which transmits the voice of the Japanese singer Minami magnificently, just as it did for the voice of the British singer Adele.

Adele @ Royal Albert Hall is a super rare concert that's brilliant from start to finish.... like a perfect meal from amuse bouche to cafe....

What do these two singers, Japanese Minami and English Adele, have in common?

In addition to their strong commitment and song with passion, both singers sing love songs, sometimes sad.

What could be more beautiful to listen to than love songs?

 

[Fatdoi]

like to share this rare cultural fusion on youtube.... the harmonics on the strings are just crazy from the Cosmo.... the track can be reference material..... enjoy



background info for anyone who is unfamiliar with this piece... Partita 2 in D minor Chaconne BWV 1004 for Violin by J S Bach is one of the most important if not the greatest composition for solo violin across all periods. It was said Bach composed this piece to commemorate his treasured late wife Maria Barbara who passed when he was away from home. The piece showed the composer's deep emotion, intense sorrow, tormented with grief. Chaconne is a must for any advanced violinists for its technical mastery, musical depth and expression, intellectual challenge and prestige.

When Brahms first read the music, he wrote the famous letter to Clara Schumann - On one stave, for a small instrument, the man writes a whole world of the deepest thoughts and most powerful feelings. If I imagined that I could have created, even conceived the piece, I am quite certain that the excess of excitement and earth-shattering experience would have driven me out of my mind.

Chaconne has since been transcribed into numerous instruments like viola, cello, piano, guitar, lute, organ, percussion, clarinet , string and brass ensembles even full orchestral, jazz and now Japanese Koto

 

[eric65]

I'm relieved the ZMF pads made such difference to your Cosmo and KO your collection. seems this combo can be endgame for some audiophiles looking for this kind of sound for such a low price as well.....

I always listen to anime songs, and I have yet to encounter headphones that portray female vocals more beautifully than the COSMO.
Unless a headphone in the same price range surpasses the COSMO, I won't be letting go of mine.
(Except for MOONDROP's electrostatic headphone, the MOONZERO, of course.)

Hello everyone.

Hello to @N3urolink and @Fatdoi, the proud owners of the COSMO (and many other headphones).

For @N3urolink

I'm not sure that Moondrop's electrostatic headphones MOONZERO, announced several years ago at a price of US$1,000, will ever be released; it seems to me to be a stillborn project.
It was heavy, using the VENUS headband which, in addition to being heavy and moderately comfortable, is fragile in its attachment. The FR curve of the MOONZERO's day could be improved, and, a major handicap (unlike the planar and electrodynamic headphones), it requires the use of a good amplifier specifically for electrostatic headphones, which can quickly drive up the bill if you opt for a high-performance e-stat amplifier like the KGSSHV CARBON.

I think the COSMO planar headphone will remain Moondrop's flagship full-size open headphone for some time to come, especially if fitted with the excellent ZMF lambskin perforated pads recommended by @Fatdoi.

On the subject of the COSMO equipped with ZMF Universe Lambskin perforated pads, I did a manual sine sweeps (between 20 Hz and 10 KHz; above 10 KHz, at my age, my hearing is impaired) and comparison with the same COSMO equipped with the Para's hybrid pads, knowing that the COSMO's FR is known with the Para's hybrid pads.

To cut a long story short, with the Para's hybrid pads, the COSMO has a very linear FR between 20 Hz and 10 KHz (at +/-3 dB), with progressive attenuation in the sub-bass, below 50 Hz, a small frequency dip (1 to 2 dB) around 2 KHz, a frequency peak of around 3 dB (at 3 KHz) and a frequency dip of around 3 dB (around 6 KHz).
With the ZMF pads (Lambskin perforated), the sub-bass at 25 Hz and 31 Hz of the COSMO is well present (as much as with the Para's hybrid pads); 40 and 50 Hz are slightly attenuated compared with 60-80 Hz (note: I think the Brainwavz pads are more bassy at 40-50 Hz, but less punchy in the bass than with the ZMF Lambskin perforated pads).
The good news is that, as with Para's hybrid pads, at manual sine sweeps, there's no significant level hump SPL between 800 and 1250 Hz (compared with the 600 Hz and 1600 Hz) with the ZMF pads, which explains why female vocals aren't shouty (unlike, for example, with the Stax SR-009).
As with the Para's hybrid pads, there's, with the ZMF pads equipping the COSMO, a slight attenuation (1 to 2 dB SPL?) around 2 kHz, but we don't find the level hump (of about 3 dB SPL) at 3 KHz that we find with the Para's hybrid pads; on the other hand, there's with the ZMF pads a small peak (+ 2 dB SPL?) around 5 kHz, and a small trough (- 2 dB SPL?) around 4 KHz.
The other good news is that, in addition to the smoothing out of the frequency hump (of 3 dB SPL) at 3 KHz, hump found with the Para's hybrid pads, but not longer with the ZMF Lambskin perforated pads ; well, the ZMF pads also give more treble to the COSMO, around 6-8 KHz, compared to the same COSMO fitted with the Para's hybrid pads, giving it all the brilliance it lacked when equipped with Para's hybrid pads or Brainwavz XL hybrid pads.

All in all, I think that the FR of the COSMO equipped with these ZMF (Universe Lambskin perforated) pads is excellent, both for producing deep bass and sub-bass (nb: the 25 and 31 Hz are well present), with punch (dynamics) for the bass and mid-bass (and also the snare drum); the midrange and upper-midrange are almost perfect, with voices reproduced sublimely, without harshness, but also without attenuation (the voices are well present, not recessed); the FR is not V-shaped (as with the VENUS), so everything is better balanced; highs are also superb, well extended, not attenuated between 6 and 8 KHz (unlike the COSMO fitted with the Para's hybrid pads and Brainwavz XL hybrid pads); brass and strings (violins) are superb to listen to (with ZMF pads), without excess (no tensing or auditory fatigue), without sibilance (for voices), but with superb finesse and extension.

For @Fatdoi, Japanese Koto's music instrument transcription of this Chaconne by J.S. Bach is indeed superb to listen to, in particular with the COSMO equipped with the ZMF pads ; you hear everything, really everything, and in particular all the fine and subtle harmonics of the strings of this Japanese stringed instrument that I didn't know.

Coming back to the price of the COSMO: 899 US dollars + around 80 to 100 dollars worth of ZMF (Universe Lambskin perforated) upgrade pads, it's seem to me hard to beat that, even with headphones costing 3, 4, 5, and even 6 times as much! Food for thought ...


EDIT:

Manual sine sweeps on headphones aren't exactly sexy; you do them once, and even several times in a row (it's tedious to do) to characterize the FRs of the pads being compared (Para's hybrid pads and ZMF Lambskin perforated pads used with the COSMO), then you swear never to do them again; it's a pain and demanding to do, especially following a false maneuver on the test CD when white noise is heard in the ears at high SPL (a very unpleasant experience).

To forget this morning's test, I enjoyed listening this evening to some real music with my COSMO equipped with these excellent ZMF pads, by listening to this video (below), pleasant and fun to watch, and well recorded.



The COSMO headphones fitted with the ZMF pads enhance the female singer's voice very well (what a voice!), as well as the accompanying instruments in the background, also very well reproduced; a pure moment of pleasure of listening through headphones and relaxation, before going to bed.

 

[Fatdoi]

To forget this morning's test, I enjoyed listening this evening to some real music with my COSMO equipped with these excellent ZMF pads, by listening to this video (below), pleasant and fun to watch, and well recorded.

the vocal is really nice... but can you confirm from what i am hearing, the positioning is kind of weird... the piano is blasting on my left ear whilst the brass on my right ear and the vocal hovering in the middle.... as if i am standing behind the singer position to have that kind of left/right effect but the vocal is in the front..... like the sound engineer done an extreme LCR

 

[eric65]

the vocal is really nice... but can you confirm from what i am hearing, the positioning is kind of weird... the piano is blasting on my left ear whilst the brass on my right ear and the vocal hovering in the middle.... as if i am standing behind the singer position to have that kind of left/right effect but the vocal is in the front..... like the sound engineer done an extreme LCR

Quite right; the spatialization is a little strange, very lateralized (right-left); this is perhaps (and even) probably intentional, to give a slightly vintage character to this recording (neo-vintage) as found in some of the first stereo recordings, very lateralized, like some of my old Jazz CDs, or even some Beatles recordings.

That said, tonally speaking, with the COSMO fitted with the ZMF pads, the instruments in the background sound just really right, whether it's the piano (very far left), the snare drum (hidden behind the singer) or the brass (upright sax, muted trumpet and slide trombone) (very far right); I like it a lot the female singer's voice; she's not to be outdone; she's indeed really nice, has character and lots of expression...


EDIT:

Hello everyone.

After the Jazz version Vintage New Orleans of the music title “Seven Nation Army”, particularly well reproduced by the COSMO equipped with the excellent ZMF Lambskin perforated pads; what a voice for the singer Haley, knowing that the Jazz musical instruments, in the background of the room, are not to be outdone, even if very lateralized right - center - left for the recording, here is the official video of the title “Seven Nation Army”, with a very beautiful video clip; version clearly more rock, even Metal.

For this last listen, more rock/metal, the Brainwavz Hybrid XL pads associated with the COSMO are interesting, with a heavier sound in the bass, very dense, and with slightly less treble; note the fairly lateralized right - center - left spatialization on this recording, not vintage at all.






EDIT bis:

Bad news about ChiFi pricing.

First glimpse into US tariff price increases on chifi​

This is annoying for the American consumer, but not yet catastrophic for the price of COSMO in dollars, unless we impose tariffs of over 600%!


EDIT three:

Another PMJ video to present to you.

This time not one female voice to listen to, but three voices, sometimes solo, or as a duo, or as a chorus of three voices; not to mention the accompanying instruments (piano, slide trombone, upright sax, 4-string acoustic bass (and 4 hands!) and drums (hidden in the background)).

Listening with my COSMO planar headphone fitted with the ZMF Universe Lambskin perforated pads versus the same COSMO fitted with Brainwavz Hybrid XL pads.



On this recording, the ZMF pads are superior to the Brainwavz in removing a veil from the reproduced sound; it's very clear.
With the ZMF pads, everything is more transparent, clearer, sharper, more detangled; the little veil (and blur) when using the Brainwavz pads is lifted.
As already written in my EDIT N°1, the Brainwavz pads are more interesting to listen to on the COSMO when listening to Rock/Metal music, as they give more weight to the bass (more present and heavier), densifying the sound (of the guitars) and attenuating the treble by about 3 dB (around 6-8 KHz), which makes it possible to listen at a higher SPL level, with more weight in the bass; the original video for White Stripes' Seven Nation Army (above) is a perfect example (Brainwavz pads preferred over ZMF pads).

A few comments to make on the last video (of the PMJs) shown above; listening with the COSMO fitted with ZMF pads, giving the most transparency, precision, sharpness and clarity to the sound: which voice of these three female singers is the most beautiful to listen to?
For me, there's no doubt that the voice of the middle singer (Haley's) is the most beautiful to listen to; the tone is the warmest and also the most expressive.
The stereophonic rendering of these three combined female voices (when they sing in chorus) is well achieved; with your eyes closed, you have the impression of having the three singers in front of you, as seen in the video. A great combined vocal at three.

 

[Fatdoi]

@eric65 have you tried the Brainwavz and ZMF pads on the Venus?

 

[eric65]

@eric65 have you tried the Brainwavz and ZMF pads on the Venus?

Hi.

It's not possible, mechanically speaking, to install them (the ZMF Universe Lambskin perforated pads or the Brainwavz Hybrid XL pads) on the VENUS; the notch (groove) for fixing these pads on the VENUS is not deep enough (only 2 mm deep); you'd need at least 10 mm to install them correctly.

 

[Fatdoi]

saw a photo of Fiio FT7 spec

https://preview.redd.it/first-look-...bp&s=0c17d716052b9e922e4763b033c827e4fbc5fd12

it's a 106mm 1 micron diaphragm, single sided 18x N52 magnet. sensitivity 94db, zebra wood cups
not sure if single sided magnet is as good as double sided

 

[eric65]

saw a photo of Fiio FT7 spec

https://preview.redd.it/first-look-...bp&s=0c17d716052b9e922e4763b033c827e4fbc5fd12

it's a 106mm 1 micron diaphragm, single sided 18x N52 magnet. sensitivity 94db, zebra wood cups
not sure if single sided magnet is as good as double sided

Hi, there.

For comparison, the COSMO (of same price as the Fiio FT7?) has double-sided N52 magnets whose magnetic field is computer-optimized; the COSMO's 100 mm circular diaphragm is 0. 5 um (500 nm) thick (like that of the Audeze LCD-5; that of the VENUS is 2 um thick); it has waveguides to clarify high frequencies; the diaphragm is covered with ultra-fine tracks of pure silver; not gold, which is heavier and less conductive than silver.
The COSMO's sensitivity, however, is lower than that claimed for the Fiio FT7; upgrade pads (such as the ZMF pads recommended for the COSMO in the title of this thread) are needed to take COSMO to the highest level.

EDIT:

@Fatdoi,
I don't know if you'll ever be tempted by Fiio's beautiful (and probably very good) new flagship, the Fiio FT7 open-back planar headphones, but if you have the chance to listen to these new headphones and compare them with your COSMO equipped with the ZMF Lambskin perforated pads, I'd be curious to know whether the FT7 matches the COSMO for voices in the sublime and touching rendering of this duo of singers, male and female, so contrasting by their size and their song.
Listening to this duet sing, on my living-room system, with the COSMO, I have my doubts.
I was deeply moved by this duet of voices, sublime and touching. Well done.
The rendering of the piano, drums and bass in the background are not to be outdone with the COSMO; all finesse and delicacy. Well done, too.

 

[Fatdoi]

Hi, there.

For comparison, the COSMO (of same price as the Fiio FT7?) has double-sided N52 magnets whose magnetic field is computer-optimized; the COSMO's 100 mm circular diaphragm is 0. 5 um (500 nm) thick (like that of the Audeze LCD-5; that of the VENUS is 2 um thick); it has waveguides to clarify high frequencies; the diaphragm is covered with ultra-fine tracks of pure silver; not gold, which is heavier and less conductive than silver.
The COSMO's sensitivity, however, is lower than that claimed for the Fiio FT7; upgrade pads (such as the ZMF pads recommended for the COSMO in the title of this thread) are needed to take COSMO to the highest level.

EDIT:

@Fatdoi,
I don't know if you'll ever be tempted by Fiio's beautiful (and probably very good) new flagship, the Fiio FT7 open-air planar headphones, but if you have the chance to listen to these new headphones and compare them with your COSMO equipped with the ZMF Lambskin perforated pads, I'd be curious to know whether the FT7 matches the COSMO for voices in the sublime and touching rendering of this duo of singers, male and female, so contrasting by their size and their song.
Listening to this duet sing, on my living-room system, with the COSMO, I have my doubts.
I was deeply moved by this duet of voices, sublime and touching. Well done.
The rendering of the piano, drums and bass in the background are not to be outdone with the COSMO; all finesse and delicacy. Well done, too.

I don't think the Fiio headphone is out yet.... if my local shop carries it in the future, i'll definitely audition it... my main concern is the size of the driver plus the -6db sensitivity that may require more load on the amp when the Cosmo isn't the easiest to drive......

I've been listening to postmodern jukebox on and off for few years.... their singers and musicians are always top notch..... maybe it's a retro thing but sometimes i think they dialed bit too much echo on the vocals for more polished soothing experience....

 

[eric65]

I don't think the Fiio headphone is out yet.... if my local carries it in the future, i'll definitely audition it... my main concern is the size of the driver plus the -6db sensitivity that may play more load on the amp when the Cosmo isn't the easiest to drive......

I've been listening to postmodern jukebox on and off for few years.... their singers and musicians are always top notch..... maybe it's a retro thing but sometimes i think they dialed bit too much echo on the vocals for more realistic experience....

Hi.

Thanks for your last comment.

Two comments to make.

The declared sensitivity of the Fiio FT7 (expressed in dB/mW) is, in reality, higher than that of the COSMO of +8 dB: 94 dB/mW (FT7) versus 86 dB/mW (COSMO).
That of the COSMO has been measured by the RAA site, on average between 100 Hz and 10 KHz, at nearly 86 dB SPL/mW (i.e. about 104 dB SPL/Vrms) - Measured impedance (constant) of 14.6 Ohm.
https://reference-audio-analyzer.pro/en/report/hp/moondrop-cosmo.php#gsc.tab=0

The Fiio FT7 planar headphone will be less demanding in terms of power (for the amplifier) than the COSMO, fortunately for the Fioo FT7.

Concerning the last video presented of postmodern jukebox “Mad World”, sung divinely well by this duo of singers, well, I searched for an audio review of this video, and I found one, excellent, fine, detailed and nuanced: review made by listening to the video in question with Beyer DT 1990 Pro headphones, excellent studio headphones.



The reviewer doesn't complain about excessive reverberations (or echoes) of the recording and vocals, which would distort the realism of the voices, although these vocal embellishment devices are probably present, and very common in production; a singer's real voice is often disappointing compared to the recorded voice magnified by production.
Be that as it may, it's the final result that counts, and this critic are full of praise for the very high artistic value of this performance make by this duo of singers so cute and touchin , so contrasting (for the size of the singers and siging) .

Perhaps our COSMO planar headphones equipped with ZMF pads are too good (compared to the Beyer DT-1990 Pro, which isn't a bad headphone by a long shot) to perceive to easily this artistic reverberation (echo) of the sound, which personally doesn't bother me; I remainunder the spell of this video (sound + image).

If you find Moondrop COSMO planar headphones too expensive to buy, then I strongly recommend you buy Beyer DT-1990 Pro electrodynamic headphones.
This latest video has convinced me of its place as Hi-Fi headphones in its own right, in the noble and primary sense of the term.

 

[Shane D]

Hi.

Thanks for your last comment.

Two comments to make.

The declared sensitivity of the Fiio FT7 (expressed in dB / mW) is, in reality, higher than that of the COSMO: 94 dB / mW.
That of the COSMO has been measured by the RAA site, on average between 100 Hz and 10 KHz, at nearly 86 dB SPL / mW (i.e. about 104 dB SPL / V rms) - Measured impedance (constant) of 14.6 Ohm.
https://reference-audio-analyzer.pro/en/report/hp/moondrop-cosmo.php#gsc.tab=0

The Fiio FT7 planar headphone will be less demanding in terms of power (for the amplifier) than the COSMO, fortunately for it.

Concerning the last video presented of postmodern jukebox “Mad World”, sung divinely well by this duo of singers, well, I searched for an audio review of this video, and I found one, excellent, fine, detailed and nuanced: review made by listening to the video in question with Beyer DT 1990 Pro headphones, excellent studio headphones.



The reviewer doesn't complain about excessive reverberations (or echoes) of the recording and vocals, which would distort the realism of the voices, although these vocal embellishment devices are probably present, and very common in production; a singer's real voice is often disappointing compared to the recorded voice magnified by production.
Be that as it may, it's the final result that counts, and this critic are full of praise for the very high artistic value of this performance make by this duo of singers so cute and touchin , so contrasting (for the size of the singers and siging) .

Perhaps our COSMO planar headphones equipped with ZMF pads are too good (compared to the Beyer DT-1990 Pro, which isn't a bad headphone by a long shot) to perceive to easily this artistic reverberation (echo) of the sound, which personally doesn't bother me; I remainunder the spell of this video (sound + image).

If you find Moondrop COSMO planar headphones too expensive to buy, then I strongly recommend you buy Beyer DT-1990 Pro electrodynamic headphones.
This latest video has convinced me of its place as Hi-Fi headphones in its own right, in the noble and primary sense of the term.

You would recommend the DT-1990 Pro over the Para's?

 

[eric65]

You would recommend the DT-1990 Pro over the Para's?

Not particularly; both headphones are very good; I listened to a modded version of the Beyer DT-1190 Pro attenuating the treble peak at 8 Khz a few years ago and found it excellent.
The Moondrop PARA planar headphone I've owned isn't without its faults either; it's brilliant in the treble, and the bass is fairly light; however, it's a little less brilliant in the treble with the Moondrop EP-100A upgrade pads, which suit it better. Its midrange is very transparent, perhaps a little too clear (at 3 kHz).

Having said that, if the PARA reproduces the previous PMJ video with the same brilliance as the DT-1990 Pro, allowing the same glowing review of the video (like the one given in my previous post), then I consider these two headphones to be good headphones, offering quite exceptional value for money.

However, I still prefer the COSMO equipped with ZMF pads, even more precise and natural in the medium, and also in the treble, for listening to this latest PMJ video (below), which seems perfect to me for recording, both voices and musical instruments, including for spatialization; no echo or particular reverb to deplore; it's just perfect with the COSMO.

 

[Aletheia]

Hello there

Spent half of yesterday in a showroom studio listening to so many headphones...ended up deciding to get myself the Cosmo. Also read this entire thread and some others too, so I think I should have at least a decent idea of what I'm getting myself into

Just uncertain whether I'll be needing a stronger amp, or that can wait. I've got an iBasso DX170, the Schiit Magni Unity (DAC+amp) and the Gunnr. A lot of space for improvement there I'm sure and I'd definitely like a tube amp, but one thing at a time. For now I'm just wondering whether I'd be shooting myself in the foot here, or it should do good enough for a while.

Also...has anyone tried making holes into the Moondrop EP-100A pads to see whether that would make them sound the same as the ones that come with the Para?


EDIT: I came across a couple stores in Europe that still appear to have the Venus in stock in case anyone's interested...

 

[eric65]

Hello there

Spent half of yesterday in a showroom studio listening to so many headphones...ended up deciding to get myself the Cosmo. Also read this entire thread and some others too, so I think I should have at least a decent idea of what I'm getting myself into

Just uncertain whether I'll be needing a stronger amp, or that can wait. I've got an iBasso DX170, the Schiit Magni Unity (DAC+amp) and the Gunnr. A lot of space for improvement there I'm sure and I'd definitely like a tube amp, but one thing at a time. For now I'm just wondering whether I'd be shooting myself in the foot here, or it should do good enough for a while.

Also...has anyone tried making holes into the Moondrop EP-100A pads to see whether that would make them sound the same as the ones that come with the Para?


EDIT: I came across a couple stores in Europe that still appear to have the Venus in stock in case anyone's interested...

Hi, there.

Here is the link to my reply given on a neighbouring thread, to another person interested in the COSMO, using a medium-power DAP (an Ibasso DX180) for the purpose of amplifying the COSMO.

Link: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/moo...-planar-headphone.973629/page-3#post-18570347

Otherwise, the Moondrop EP-100A pads are not bad with the COSMO, even if I prefer the Para's hybrid pads, which are even more accurate in tone; however, I think the latest upgrade pads, the ZMF Universe Lambskin perforated pads, are even better than the Para's hybrid pads, for use with the COSMO: more punchy sound with a little more treble and probably a little less upper midrange at 3 KHz.
Female vocals sound even better with these ZMF pads on the COSMO.

I haven't tried to perforate the EP-100A pads to turn them into Para's like hybrid pads, but these two pads also differ in the size of the internal cavity (a little larger with the EP-100A pads : 48 x 70 mm versus 43 x 68 mm for the Para's hybrid pads), probably also in the foam used and the coverings: synthetic leather for the PARA's hybrid pads and sheepskin for the EP-100A pads.
This must also have something to do with the differences in frequency response of these two pads, mounted on either the PARA or COSMO headphones.