Not KZ sub brand since it's a TFZ connector by the look of it. Described as 0.78 and the pins are extending further than QDC. Interestingly it looks like the shroud on the connector is buried in the shell, so first recessed TFZ. Hope that's compatible with other cable manufacturers. Also open backed with a nice looking shell. Tips definitely look like starlines though. No mention of DD type, but unlikely to be LCP or Beryllium at this price.
Tuning appears to be diffuse field. Design is cool. Probably will be overlooked similar to LafitearNot KZ sub brand since it's a TFZ connector by the look of it. Described as 0.78 and the pins are extending further than QDC. Interestingly it looks like the shroud on the connector is buried in the shell, so first recessed TFZ. Hope that's compatible with other cable manufacturers. Also open backed with a nice looking shell. Tips definitely look like starlines though. No mention of DD type, but unlikely to be LCP or Beryllium at this price.
Uh oh...
The custom idea is interesting, though.Moondrop Stellaris FR via IEC711 coupler:
The Stellaris is quite hard to drive, amplification is recommended.
The shells are a bit heavy and huge, with a long nozzle, but I found the comfort to be quite good actually.
On to sound, impressions using stock silicone tips and stock cable. The tuning is bright neutral. Note weight is thin and sterile. If you have heard the Moondrop SSR, the Stellaris is a SSR on steroids. The Stellaris hence pairs better with warm/analoguish sources, rather than something bright or analytical.
The Stellaris is very good in technicalities - clarity, instrument separation, micro-details, imaging, transients are great. If one wants a set for critical listening and to analyze every fine nuance of music, the Stellaris is one to consider. Will do some A/B comparisons with the S12 Pro and report back.
Bass is fast and tight but lacks sub-bass extension/movement of air. The upper mids region is actually not as scary as the graphs, but it can veer to shoutiness, especially at louder volumes (Fletcher munson curve). Treble is extended and airy, though sibilance and splashiness of highhats/cymbals is on display. The treble can be fatiguing with longer sessions, and perhaps treble sensitive folk may find the tuning polarizing; trebleheads will like it though.
Unfortunately, the boosted upper mids/treble and thin note weight give an unnatural timbre for vocals and acoustic instruments. Vocals sound nasal and notes just lack weight and density. This may not be an issue if you are not sensitive to timbre, or perhaps listen to music genres that are not acoustic/vocal focused.
TLDR: The Stellaris is unique compared to the usual V-shaped/harman tuned gear, it brings great technicalities to the table. Unfortunately, the tonality and timbre may be polarizing. It isn't as scary as the graphs would suggest, but the Stellaris is not recommended for treble sensitive folk, but treble heads may have a field day.
Those who enjoyed the SSR previously will probably like this too. The Stellaris hence is a very niche planar.
I have never been fortunate enough to hear the difference between different core materials in my cables either. As long as the cable is of good quality then it will sound the same as every other good quality cable to me regardless of what it's made out of. When someone is pretty insistent that they're hearing a difference on a particular IEM because of a cable and I am bored and happen to have multiple cables available, as @Redcarmoose was, I figured why not test them? It didn't cost me anything to do it so I did.
For me personally, I only "upgrade" cables for aesthetics or quality reasons and not for differences in sound signature or tuning. That said, I trust other people's ears to tell them what they're hearing. Regardless of if the differences Red is hearing are based in psychoacoustics or are caused by an actual phenomenon, when he says that he hears a difference between cables I believe that he does. I'm actually kinda jealous that I don't hear cool sonic changes with cable rolling, but my wallet thanks me for having avoided one rabbit hole anyways.
I just mentioned the cable rolling experiements because it was a topic brought up in previous comments so I wanted it to be clear that I took those comments into account when I listened to the Stellaris. That's all. It take all different kinds of folks to make this hobby and community as unique as they are and there's plenty of room for all of us regardless of whether or not we agree on the sonic properties of different cables.
Thanks for the detailed reply! Your English was very good and I can almost guarantee that your English was MUCH better than if I had attempted to communicate in your first language lol!
Appreciate your honest thoughts and calling bad stuff bad. As a Moondrop fan it's unfortunate that their first venture into the planar world seems to be a flop, but I'm hoping for a better V2.Moondrop Stellaris: FIRST IMPRESSIONS
After 30 minutes of listening to the Stellaris, here are my first impressions.
I’ll describe the sound of the Stellaris as “bright V-shaped”.
Fit sucks big time (refer to Picture 2). Shell is on the heavy side and the awkward ear hook is pulling the IEMs down. Nozzle is long (like the Moondrop SSR) so they have to go deep into the ear canal to fit well. Problem is, the nozzle is on the wider side so getting a deep fit isn’t something everyone can do. With a terrible fit, the Stellaris sounds damn bad—Bright, harsh, bass-less. Eww.
I have to cut off the ear hooks, use a smaller ear tip size (size S) to get them to fit (Refer to picture 3 & 4). But once I get the fit right, the sub-bass texture and definition is quite good. Refer to picture 5 to see a picture of Stellaris with good fit. Treble is also quite well-defined and sparkly (although on the brighter side). Vocal presentation is very similar to SSR where it is very forward and “in your face”.
If you dislike the SSR, you won’t like Stellaris’ vocal presentation. If you are looking for an SSR upgrade, I think the Stellaris might be a good pick up.
The Moondrop Stellaris is definitely not an “all-rounder” set. You either love it or hate it.
With tracks that are quite light in bass, the vocal and treble presentation definitely do come off as a bit too forward and aggressive. In this case, you do have to turn down the volume a bit else you’ll get fatigued.
Alright. Enough of my first impressions of the Moondrop Stellaris. Will post my FR graph measurement and my full review of the Moondrop Stellaris in around a week.
Thanks for reading. Peace
Thank you HiFiGo for loaning me the Moondrop Stellaris for review.
Welcome. Just sharing my raw and honest first impressions.
"And the truth shall set them free..."
And very rare too! We usually get apologists and hype monkeys. I like a straight shooter
I have never been fortunate enough to hear the difference between different core materials in my cables either. As long as the cable is of good quality then it will sound the same as every other good quality cable to me regardless of what it's made out of. When someone is pretty insistent that they're hearing a difference on a particular IEM because of a cable and I am bored and happen to have multiple cables available, as @Redcarmoose was, I figured why not test them? It didn't cost me anything to do it so I did.
For me personally, I only "upgrade" cables for aesthetics or quality reasons and not for differences in sound signature or tuning. That said, I trust other people's ears to tell them what they're hearing. Regardless of if the differences Red is hearing are based in psychoacoustics or are caused by an actual phenomenon, when he says that he hears a difference between cables I believe that he does. I'm actually kinda jealous that I don't hear cool sonic changes with cable rolling, but my wallet thanks me for having avoided one rabbit hole anyways.
I just mentioned the cable rolling experiements because it was a topic brought up in previous comments so I wanted it to be clear that I took those comments into account when I listened to the Stellaris. That's all. It take all different kinds of folks to make this hobby and community as unique as they are and there's plenty of room for all of us regardless of whether or not we agree on the sonic properties of different cables.
Thanks for the detailed reply! Your English was very good and I can almost guarantee that your English was MUCH better than if I had attempted to communicate in your first language lol!
You are absolutely right we are all subjective, and we take our pleasure where it is...for everyone differently.
Ah thank you for your appreciation, but it is the translator at Google that should be thanked, I understand English (maybe you understand French a little?) by reading it or listening to it at very slow speed but I am unable to write correctly so thank you for the translation
Long live the music!
It is the effort that counts! Bravo!Je parle un peu français. Je ne le parle pas très bien.
I tried to say, "I do speak a little French. I just don't speak it very well."
How did I do?
Long live the music!
