Synergy
Impedance: 32 ohms
Gear used:
- xDuoo XA-2
- Dita Navigator
The Moondrop Horizon, as its open-back nature insinuates, is a headphone meant for home use. Typically, headphones like this require a dedicated output source or some level of minimum amplification. For a full-sized headphone, the Horizon is fairly responsive to moderate amplification, so I’d steer clear away from a beginner’s Apple dongle amp/DAC.
The Dita Navigator was sufficient to achieve comfortable listening volumes, but it was getting close to maxed out on my phone’s in-line volume settings. With the xDuoo XA-02 on high gain, there was a noticeable improvement in overall layering and bass-tightness, but the Horizon’s mid-centric tuning doesn’t respond significantly to warmer or brighter sources. With that much level of roll-off, the Horizon retains its fundamental signature rather well.
A Brief Comparison
Moondrop Horizon
Price: 199 USD
+ Aesthetically luxurious design and excellent build
– Uneven clamp and thin felt headrest with a loose fit
+ Warmish-neutral leaning tuning with a cleanly-rendered lower midrange
+ Voicings are energetic enough whilst retaining a softer edge
– Peculiar lack of mid or sub-bass, resulting in a drier and softer presentation
– Upper-treble roll-off results in a dark signature that’s neither dark nor bright
Grell OAE-1
Price: 299 USD
+ Gorgeous aesthetic but a better build overall, with fewer moving parts and a solid bead-blasted aluminium make
– Conversely, the clamp is far too tight, leaving hot spots for pain and soreness over time
+ Thunderous sub-bass forward that’s tactile and palpable for an open-back
– Overhanded upper-mid suckout causes signature to darker
– Strange metallic timbre to the upper-treble
Conclusive Remarks
The Moondrop Horizon has noteworthy qualities, from its gorgeous industrial aesthetic to its fatigue-free, mid-range presentation, where voicings and instruments are blanketed in a light layer of warmth. Unfortunately, it’s a disproportionate lack of bass dynamism and receding treble limits the Horizon’s ability to compete with its rivals on equal footing.
In conclusion? The Horizon has the DNA to be a valuable contender, but that potential has yet to be fully realised. Mayhaps the Horizon 2, if it ever comes to fruition, corrects all the Horizons’ misteps.
