[eric65]

The reason why I bought the second one
My options are limited, as the speaker amplifier is already driving the headphones, so there aren't as many headphones to choose from.
The price of Venus is quite acceptable, and there has been a recent price reduction.
I am concerned about the market prospects of Venus. The electronic market is undergoing rapid updates and I don't know which day it will be taken down. After all, Para has already fully launched its products. I have actually read various criticisms online about venus, and I don't know where the problem lies. I don't know if it's because I'm too biased or if the amplifier power used by others is not enough.
At the same time, I am concerned about the lifespan of Venus. You know, its diaphragm looks bare, although I don't know if my concerns are correct. I think buying a second one is considered insurance.
My previous experience was that about eight or nine years ago, I could easily buy a brand new Hifiman HE6, but I didn't have this awareness at the time. When I realized that I wanted a He6, there were no new HE6 on the market anymore. I had a HE6, but I didn't like its condition and later sold it. I could only buy HE6SE in the end, but there is a clear difference between the two.

I understand.

At least it proves that you love Venus, a rare gem!

The Birth of Venus (Botticelli)
Italian renaissance painting dating from 1484

 

[farits]

Music suits these headphones)))

 

[Lindholdt]

I understand.

At least it proves that you love Venus, a rare gem!

The Birth of Venus (Botticelli)
Italian renaissance painting dating from 1484

Can I ask what headphone stand is used in the last picture?

 

[eric65]

Can I ask what headphone stand is used in the last picture?

Hi.

To find out (the model of the headphones stand used to wear the Venus in the photo below), you can always send an email to the author of this VENUS review where this image comes from.

https://kuulokenurkka.com/arvostelu-moondrop-venus/
https://kuulokenurkka.com/ota-yhteytta/

EDIT : The headphones stand seen in its entirety is quite special.

The HA-3A also plays well with some planar headphones, such as the Moondrop Venus. In the picture, the front tubes have been changed to different ones.

Source: https://kuulokenurkka.com/arvostelu-cayin-ha-3a/

 

[eric65]

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.

Hi.

I'm a bit surprised by this sentence "and its high-frequency extension is also very exaggerated."
(for the tonality of the VENUS compared to the Susvara?)

However, the FR measurements of the VENUS vs Susvara, which in no way predict the finesse and resolution of the sound, nor the soundstage, nor the dynamics and impact of the bass, show very similar FR profiles between the VENUS and the Susvara, especially in the high-frequency range, even above 10 KHz.

Spoiler

Otherwise, if you're also interested in other comparisons of the FR of the VENUS with other well-known headphones, to get an idea of the tone of these headphones, you can take a look at the spoiler below.

Spoiler

Moondrop VENUS : Small Air Gap (red) (in the front of the pads ; broken seal of a few mm).

 

[eric65]

Hello again.

The Abyss 1266 and its 66 mm diameter planar driver seem to be the king of bass (in SPL level and for bass impact); To do this, he uses a trick, breaking the seal on the pads.

And what if the same were true of the VENUS with its 100 mm diameter planar driver?

Moondrop VENUS : Good Seal (purple)

Moondrop VENUS : Broken Seal with a Small Air Gap (red) (in the front of the pads ; broken seal of a few mm for unsealing the earpads).

When listening to the VENUS, the seal slightly broken (by a few mm on the front of the pads), we observe three things:
- an increase in bass level of approximately +3 dB SPL between 30 and 70 Hz.
- a more impactful character of the bass, more dynamic.
- an opening of the soundstage (wider), without modification of the tonality (timbres) in the medium and treble, which is important to specify.

 

[acclimatise]

Hi.

I'm a bit surprised by this sentence "and its high-frequency extension is also very exaggerated."
(for the tonality of the VENUS compared to the Susvara?)

However, the FR measurements of the VENUS vs Susvara, which in no way predict the finesse and resolution of the sound, nor the soundstage, nor the dynamics and impact of the bass, show very similar FR profiles between the VENUS and the Susvara, especially in the high-frequency range, even above 10 KHz.

Spoiler

Otherwise, if you're also interested in other comparisons of the FR of the VENUS with other well-known headphones, to get an idea of the tone of these headphones, you can take a look at the spoiler below.

Spoiler

Moondrop VENUS : Small Air Gap (red) (in the front of the pads ; broken seal of a few mm).

Hello,
regarding comparison, I am very resistant to comparing SUSVARA and VENUS because they are so different, but if you insist on asking me about their tones, they are both balanced, at least it's not as bright as the Hifiman HE1000 series. This is not about which headphone I use alone to compare with it, but about my feelings and listening experience (I still have eight or nine headphones now, and in the past 10 years, I have heard more than one hundred). Moreover, the listening experience of a headphone is also greatly influenced by equipment and cables, so I do not intend to provide specific explanations or insist on anything. I am only stating my subjective opinion.
I noticed that Moondop was actually the first to develop electrostatic headphones, and VENUS is more like a legacy of the failed development of electrostatic headphones. Personally, I believe that its high-frequency is similar to electrostatic headphones, but VENUS has low sensitivity, and the promotion seems to be more targeted towards young people, indicating that the direction of promotion is somewhat problematic. So the current situation is that experienced players are not interested, and new players cannot handle it.
I have actually heard various different listening experiences of VENUS, and I feel that people still lack understanding of it. I cannot say that I fully understand it. It requires all kinds of people and devices to participate, perhaps more time and more people to be interested. The same was true for the hifiman HE 6 in the beginning.

 

[eric65]

Hi

I'm a bit surprised by this sentence "and its high-frequency extension is also very exaggerated."
(for the tonality of the VENUS compared to the Susvara?)

However, the FR measurements of the VENUS vs Susvara, which in no way predict the finesse and resolution of the sound, nor the soundstage, nor the dynamics and impact of the bass, show very similar FR profiles between the VENUS and the Susvara, especially in the high-frequency range, even above 10 KHz.

Hello,
regarding comparison, I am very resistant to comparing SUSVARA and VENUS because they are so different, but if you insist on asking me about their tones, they are both balanced, at least it's not as bright as the Hifiman HE1000 series. This is not about which headphone I use alone to compare with it, but about my feelings and listening experience (I still have eight or nine headphones now, and in the past 10 years, I have heard more than one hundred). Moreover, the listening experience of a headphone is also greatly influenced by equipment and cables, so I do not intend to provide specific explanations or insist on anything. I am only stating my subjective opinion.
I noticed that Moondop was actually the first to develop electrostatic headphones, and VENUS is more like a legacy of the failed development of electrostatic headphones. Personally, I believe that its high-frequency is similar to electrostatic headphones, but VENUS has low sensitivity, and the promotion seems to be more targeted towards young people, indicating that the direction of promotion is somewhat problematic. So the current situation is that experienced players are not interested, and new players cannot handle it.
I have actually heard various different listening experiences of VENUS, and I feel that people still lack understanding of it. I cannot say that I fully understand it. It requires all kinds of people and devices to participate, perhaps more time and more people to be interested. The same was true for the hifiman HE 6 in the beginning.

Thank you again for your detailed reply.

I think I understand you.

Like you, I'm one of the experienced players, and there's a special category of experienced players who are curious about new products, including the very confusing Moondrop VENUS planar headphone, their current top-of-the-range model.

Why is the VENUS confusing? and you've probably explained part of it.

Its performance is decorrelated from its price: for 600 Euros/dollars, everyone tries to compare it with 600 Euros/dollars headphones (in the same price range), often with equipment that isn't always appropriate (amplifiers that aren't powerful enough, etc.).
But this headphone is worth much more than 600 dollars; it can perfectly well be compared with headphones in the 2 to 3,000 dollar/Euro range, and even 6,000 dollars/Euros.
For example, I'm a former owner of Stax SR-007mk2 and SR-009 headphones, and Kennerton Thror and Thekk planar headphones, as well as Audeze LCD-3F; I've also listened to the Hifiman HE-1000 V1 and V2, which I personally found too bright in the treble.

In my listening experience, the headphone with the best tonality of all these is the VENUS; as I've already said, the VENUS's performance (resolution, fluidity, "dark background") is very close to that of my two old Stax SR-007 and 009 electrostatic headphones, but with a much better tonality.

In this situation, the price of the VENUS is confusing for experienced players .

For the less fortunate (and/or less experienced players), the VENUS is also confusing and they will prefer (imha wrongly) the PARA (half cheaper than the VENUS) , which is even less easy to amplify than the VENUS.

At my age, my ear is less sensitive to extreme high frequencies (above 10-12 KHz), so the frequency response of the VENUS suits me particularly well.

Lastly, you don't mention it, but others have noticed it, the VENUS has an "Abyss AB1266 like" behavior when you slightly break the front pad seal, and it's quite easy to achieve, as described in my previous post; and that's quite a bonus for me for this headphone: it combines the characteristics of two of the "best" headphones on the market - the Abyss AB1266 for SPL level and bass impact (by unsealing the pads of the VENUS, slightly on their front) and the "quasi-electrostatic" quality of the Hifiman Susvara, in probably a little less fine, and all this for a derisory price, at least for the price of the headphones; not always for the price of the equipment associated with these headphones, not so easy to drive.

To conclude, the VENUS is my best headphone ever purchased, as indicated on the Venus purchasing site (see the 1st review).
https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/audi...ne-o100mm-100db-18-ohm-6hz-80khz-p-17088.html

 

[acclimatise]

Thank you again for your detailed reply.

I think I understand you.

Like you, I'm one of the experienced players, and there's a special category of experienced players who are curious about new products, including the very confusing Moondrop VENUS planar headphone, their current top-of-the-range model.

Why is the VENUS confusing? and you've probably explained part of it.

Its performance is decorrelated from its price: for 600 Euros/dollars, everyone tries to compare it with 600 Euros/dollars headphones (in the same price range), often with equipment that isn't always appropriate (amplifiers that aren't powerful enough, etc.).
But this headphone is worth much more than 600 dollars; it can perfectly well be compared with headphones in the 2 to 3,000 dollar/Euro range, and even 6,000 dollars/Euros.
For example, I'm a former owner of Stax SR-007mk2 and SR-009 headphones, and Kennerton Thror and Thekk planar headphones, as well as LCD-3F; I've also listened to the Hifiman HE-1000 V1 and V2, which I personally found too bright in the treble.

In my listening experience, the headphone with the best tonality of all these is the VENUS; as I've already said, the VENUS's performance (resolution, fluidity, "dark background") is very close to that of my two old Stax SR-007 and 009 electrostatic headphones, but with a much better tonality.

In this situation, the price of the VENUS is confusing for experienced players .

For the less fortunate (and/or less experienced players), the VENUS is also confusing and they will prefer (imha wrongly) the PARA (half cheaper than the VENUS) , which is even less easy to amplify than the VENUS.

At my age, my ear is less sensitive to extreme high frequencies (above 10-12 KHz), so the frequency response of the VENUS suits me particularly well.

Lastly, you don't mention it, but others have noticed it, the VENUS has an "Abyss AB1266 like" behavior when you slightly break the front pad seal, and it's quite easy to achieve, as described in my previous post; and that's quite a bonus for me for this headphone: it combines the characteristics of two of the "best" headphones on the market - the Abyss AB1266 for SPL level and bass impact (by unsealing the pads of the VENUS, slightly on their front) and the "quasi-electrostatic" quality of the Hifiman Susvara, in probably a little less fine, and all this for a derisory price, at least for the price of the headphones; not always for the price of the equipment associated with these headphones, not so easy to drive.

To conclude, the VENUS is my best headphone ever purchased, as indicated on the Venus purchasing site (see the 1st review).
https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/audi...ne-o100mm-100db-18-ohm-6hz-80khz-p-17088.html

Thank you for adding to the Abyss AB1266. I have only heard of my friend's phi version in 2020 and have not heard of the TC version, so I did not mention it.
My neck doesn't agree with 1266 phi, and when I wear it for a long time, I feel dizzy. So I am no longer interested in it.
In fact, if I don't change the headband of VENUS, it's also difficult for me to accept, so I'm willing to stand up and show off my poor handwork.
VENUS is indeed very powerful after being fully driven. I will provide an example. My cousin came to see me during vacation and he has no understanding of headphones or prices.His listening experience is that he doesn't listen to classical music at all. He may have a preference for electronics, hip-hop, pop music, etc. He tried all the headphones in my hand, and he ended up liking VENUS the most. BTW, what I have are Hifiman Susvara, He1000se, He1000 stealth, Arya organic ,He6se and Venus.
My post analysis shows that it's because he prefers sensory impact rather than hifiman's loose and melodious style. I think this is the sound of the 1266 model you mentioned.

 

[eric65]

Christmas, a few hours in advance (in France).

I received this morning, in addition to the VENUS headphones, a small personalized headphones holder, in my name with one of the drawing (in miniature) (*) created this summer, on a graphics tablet, by my eldest son, the happy owner of the Moondrop PARA headphones.

Merry Christmas to everyone, with your family, with your favorite headphones.

EDIT: in spoiler (below), the full-size drawing of the miniature drawn by my eldest son on the headphones holder, as well as other designs, by the same author.

Spoiler

 

[eric65]

Update of my Venus headphones holder to better distribute the weight of the headphones on the headphones holder. To do this, I "sacrificed" an African statuette (a mask); it was for a good cause.

 

[eric65]

Hello everyone.

Perhaps a way to improve the finesse and smoothness of the VENUS in the treble, perhaps at the expense of the bass level (and its firmness?).

Replace the stock pads on the VENUS with DEKONI Elite Hybride Hifiman HE Pads.

Spoiler

The DEKONI Elite Hybrid pads that best match the dimensions of the VENUS pads are those intended for the Hifiman Susvara.

https://dekoniaudio.com/product/elite-hybrid-ear-pads-for-hifiman-susvara-headphones/

Spoiler

DEKONI Elite Hybrid pads

Susvara pad dimensions: here non-Elite Hybrid pads.

to be compared with the dimensions of the VENUS pads (which I measured)
external diameter: 110 mm
internal diameter: 75 mm
depth: 20 mm in front of pads; 25 mm behind pads.

 

[psy472]

I’d suggest just add a Schiit Lokius to the Amp when using the Moondrop Para and you can forget getting the Venus. I was doubtful that Analog EQ would be better than software, but the Lokius really changed my mind. The harsh mind and high treble I had on my Para was gone. I can even change the sound stage by tweaking the Lokius.

 

[eric65]

I’d suggest just add a Schiit Lokius to the Amp when using the Moondrop Para and you can forget getting the Venus. I was doubtful that Analog EQ would be better than software, but the Lokius really changed my mind. The harsh mind and high treble I had on my Para was gone. I can even change the sound stage by tweaking the Lokius.

Hi.

Interesting for the Moondrop PARA, but this equalizer costs $299, exactly the price difference between the Moondrop VENUS and the PARA.

https://www.schiit.com/products/lokius

Planing the 3 KHz hump of the Moondrop PARA will indubitably decrease the harshness of the PARA in the high-mid-low-high.

Spoiler

However, I don't think it will give the PARA the technicality of the VENUS, imho which remains superior to the PARA (with a better resolution), not to mention the "black background" of the soundstage of the VENUS, and the impact of the VENUS in the bass, pads slightly unsealed.

 

[acclimatise]

Hello everyone.

Perhaps a way to improve the finesse and smoothness of the VENUS in the treble, perhaps at the expense of the bass level (and its firmness?).

Replace the stock pads on the VENUS with DEKONI Elite Hybride Hifiman HE Pads.

Spoiler

The DEKONI Elite Hybrid pads that best match the dimensions of the VENUS pads are those intended for the Hifiman Susvara.

https://dekoniaudio.com/product/elite-hybrid-ear-pads-for-hifiman-susvara-headphones/

Spoiler

DEKONI Elite Hybrid pads

Susvara pad dimensions: here non-Elite Hybrid pads.

to be compared with the dimensions of the VENUS pads (which I measured)
external diameter: 110 mm
internal diameter: 75 mm
depth: 20 mm in front of pads; 25 mm behind pads.

It's me again. If you feel that treble is not good, you can try using a speaker amplifier to drive it.
If you want to exchange your pads, in fact, I have bought this pad before. I have bought all four types of hifiman susvara pads from their company, I'm afraid their sizes are different from VENUS. You know the size of Venus, and Venus pads are wrapped around it, so larger ones are needed. However, Susvara's pads are too small and also have buckles.I'm afraid their sizes are different from VENUS. You know the unit size of Venus, and Venus pads are wrapped around it, so larger ones are needed. However, Susvara's earmuffs are too small and have buckles, so they are not suitable for Venus.