Wow: Two Moondrop VENUS and one Hifiman SUSVARA; you are a happy man!
I have three questions to ask you, if I may.
Do your two VENUS headphones sound the same?
Does the improvement in sound quality (and in particular the soundstage) improve when you go from a small amplification (like a portable DAP) to a larger amplification, like a powerful living room amplifier?
Is the SUSVARA significantly better than the VENUS (on your best amplifier); Is their sound signature similar?
Thank you in advance for your answers.
I am glad to answer your question.
Do you two VENUS headphones sound the same?
Yes, they sound the same. In fact, I have heard of three of them, and I have heard of someone else's, and they are all the same. But I believe that the longer the driving time, the more integrated the sound becomes.
Does the improvement in sound quality (and in particular the soundstage) improve when you go from a small amplification (like a portable DAP) to a larger amplification, like a powerful living room amplifier?
I have a desktop device - QLS 390LE, which is a toy with a built-in battery. I can take it outdoors, but it can produce more sound than a portable device.
Its performance is certainly different under different devices, and the main difference is the vertical sound field. Driven by YAMAHA3200, its sound is more three-dimensional, giving a feeling of standing up. However, under QLS390LE, Vertical is not obvious anymore, only clear left and right channels.
In fact, the first two things that interested me the most were the 100mm diaphragm and 100dB/Vrms (converted to a more familiar 82.55dB/mv). I assumed that this earphone had great potential, but it seems that the official promotional strategy has some issues, which may not be very appealing to experienced enthusiasts. Meanwhile, its impedance is only 18 ohms, so it is not as difficult to drive as HE6 or SUSVARA, but it still belongs to very difficult to drive headphones. When I bought it for a speaker amplifier, although turning my volume knob to the 8 o'clock position was enough, the sound was very surprising.
Is the SUSVARA significantly better than the VENUS (on your best amplifier); Is their sound signature similar?
I have to admit that SUSVARA is the king, but this comparison is not fair and the price difference is too much.
SUSVARA's sound is rich and natural, with a great emphasis on air and space. Its sound is relatively loose, tall, and spreading, and its sound details are incredible. But it is indeed more difficult to drive, and most devices can only try to experience it. Driving it well comes at a high cost. You can check SUSVARA's posts, and I think you can see various solutions.
The sound of VENUS is more impactful and aggressive, and its high-frequency extension is also very exaggerated. The middle and low frequencies have thickness, and the low frequencies are very powerful. I really like VENUS to express some rock, jazz, or other highly infectious music. Although SUSVARA is also good at these, fundamentally, it simulates a large classical music hall.
This is what I can think of, hoping to give you some help.