Moondrop Aria Review – Reimagined

Sound –

Testing Methodology: Measured using Arta via IEC 711 coupler to Startech external sound card. 7-9KHz peaks may be artefacts/emphasised due to my measurement setup, less so with deep fit. Measurements besides channel balance are volume matched at 1KHz. Fit depth normalised to my best abilities to reduce coupler resonance. Still, due to these factors, my measurements may not accurately reflect the earphone or measurements taken by others. I gave the Aria 100hrs burn-in to ensure maximum performance prior to subjective breakdown.

Tonality –

Similar to the Starfield, the Aria much resembles single-DD Moondrop models that came before in terms of its frequency response. As before, channel matching is very close, suggesting stringent QC on Moondrop’s behalf. The Aria is a balanced and natural sounding earphone with a very faint bright tilt. There are no obvious peaks or troughs, upholding strong linearity. Relative to the Starfield, the Aria is defined by a slightly less prominent sub-bass and slightly lifted top-end. Besides this, the two line up almost identically and, unsurprisingly, both are very similar in listening. What the Aria introduces is a slightly different note presentation, being slightly more defined with a quicker transient response and higher separation. This makes it the better earphone to my ear though, as always, some trade-offs are to be found.

Bass –

This was likely the most disappointing aspect of the Starfield to my ears and, thankfully, the Aria does a lot to append my complaints. And though the Aria’s bass still isn’t exceptional, it is no longer a standout flaw making for a more rounded, no-compromise package. The tuning is also now a touch leaner in the sub-bass which contributes to better separation and a more natural presentation as per my personal preference. Extension remains similar as does the general timbre, but slam is noticeably reduced relative to the Starfield. The Aria is more natural and linear in return, with just a smidge of deep-bass emphasis aiding dynamics and engagement. The more concise note presentation also aids this impression, with noticeably better control than the Starfield.

It remains slightly on the softer side in terms of dynamics and slam, lacking some tightness relative to the best in class, but definition is appreciably improved over its predecessor. Separation operates at a good level, especially in tandem with the balanced tuning, maximizing detail retrieval in the mid-bass. Attack and decay appear natural too, perhaps just a touch slower than neutral but upholding an enjoyable amount of texture. The Aria thereby remains a slightly smoother over aggressive performer here, prioritizing tonality over tactility. Surely, its asset is its overall cleanliness, striking a much stronger balance between technicality and tonality than before.

Mids –

As with the Starfield, the midrange is where the Aria flourishes both relative to similarly priced competitors and even considerably more expensive models. It strikes a winning balance between all qualities; tone, body, articulation and balance all impress with their accuracy. As the signature is balanced, strong separation and definition are upheld in the absence of an upper-bass or lower-midrange dip. Accordingly, the tuning feels well-integrated and coherent, with high linearity delivering a great balance between vocals and instrumentation.

Similarly, vocal timbre is flattered and the tone is just a smidge warm stemming from the bass, which makes the Aria more inviting and pleasant than your usual diffuse-field neutral or Harman earphone. Despite this, articulation is accurate and density and vocal size both impress too. The Aria has a very natural voicing, however, due to its slight tilt towards the treble over bass, I would place it slightly on the sweet and delicate side over being warm and smooth. Nevertheless, it is never over-forward, strained or peaky in any manifestation. These qualities enable the Aria to be especially genre flexible and forgiving of differing mastering styles. The Aria will be a pleasure for vocal lovers especially.  

Highs –

I very much enjoyed the smooth and balanced treble portrayal on the Starfield and the Aria follows suit. I do know that some found the Starfield too tame here, and these listeners will be delighted to find that the Aria has a hint of additional lower-treble presence that imbues noticeably more zing and bite into its sound. It isn’t over-cooked and good linearity is upheld. Treble instrumentation isn’t overly sharp or thin but, perhaps most importantly, the Aria’s considerably cleaner transient response has enabled a more complex and focused foreground detail presentation without overly upsetting timbre.

Instrument body remains accurate and the tone is subtly warm too, with a pleasant organic timbre. Note attack is sharper and definition is higher, contributing to greater fine detail retrieval. The Aria isn’t a sharp earphone by any means, but is noticeably crisper than the Starfield. It also appears to have slightly more headroom and extension, not being hugely resolving of micro-detail but delivering decent background detail retrieval and good cleanliness. In turn, the Aria is able to present pleasing foreground/background contrast and achieve a level of organization the Starfield did not possess. The chief differences will still be appreciated in the lower-treble but the overall jump in resolving power is very welcome.

Soundstage –

I am hearing a slightly wider soundstage from the Aria than the Starfield but also a slight reduction in depth. In turn, the stage is more oval though hardly compressed in any regard. The imaging is noticeably sharper on the Aria but not by a huge amount. Directional cues are clearer and, as before, the balanced tuning aids a nice lateral spread of instruments atop well-centered vocals. A more layered stage contributes strongly to organization on complex tracks. What will be most appreciated here is the jump in separation in both the bass and treble. This means small details are easier to discern on the Aria making it sound more composed in general.   

Drivability –

Though the impedance is not stated, the Aria has the same 122dB sensitivity as the Starfield and requires similar power to achieve the same listening volume, making it an easy earphone to drive.

Output Impedance Sensitivity

Switching between my Shanling M2X (1-ohm) and Hiby R6 (10-ohm) reveals that the Aria is mostly source agnostic with regards to output impedance. It sounded tonally identical from both sources with subtle differences in note presentation that can be attributed to coloration from the sources themselves.

Driving Power

The Aria doesn’t require a powerful source to reach high listening volumes nor a controlled sound. Switching from my Xperia 5 II to my desktop SMSL SU9 + THX789 stack revealed slightly more driver control but similar balance and depth overall. The desktop stack had a slightly wider soundstage though this feels more limited by the earphones themselves. The Aria isn’t especially hiss sensitive either.

Suggested Pair Ups

The Aria pairs best with a slightly warmer source to my ears, which helps balance out its slight brightness. However, as this is not an especially aggressive earphone, either with regards to tuning or note presentation, a neutral source will work fine too. I would not personally want to pair this earphone with a leaner source given that separation is already a standout performer. The Aria is perfect for portable sources given it is resistant to hiss and changes with higher output impedance. Similarly, it does not require much power to be driven to potential.

Next Page: Comparisons & Verdict

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ABOUT AUTHOR

Ryan Soo

Ryan Soo

Avid writer, passionate photographer and sleep-deprived medical student, Ryan has an ongoing desire to bring quality products to the regular reader.

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