Moondrop Aria 2. Do you need to upgrade?

The Moondrop Aria 2 is here. It looks different but how does it sound?
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[@marksr12]

Another great review, thanks! I will pass on these as I have several of the other IEM's you mention. I admire your honesty in your reviews.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Thanks, appreciate it.

[@markb485]

I really love the Aria 2. Whatever this thing does, it's a sound signature I'm into. I have a lot of great audio gear, but I'm a total noob when it comes to IEMs. After AB-ing it with the Letshuoer s12 and the Thieaudio Elixir, the Aria 2 has the tuning I'm looking for. I love the balanced sound signature, sub bass rumble, slight warmth, smooth treble. Here's my question: What can I get for ~$220 or less that has an identical (or close to it) sound signature, with just a little more technical performance (clarity, soundstage)? The main suggestions I've heard are the s12 (which is good, but a little too thin, a little peaky*) and the Kato (though a lot of reviewers seem to think it's not worth twice the Aria 2, or much of an upgrade). Thanks! (*It may be that my little dongle dac, Hidizs s8, just isn't up to driving the planar s12.)

[@LyuboA]

actually this modular cable is much better then most cause you actually screwing both parts of the connector together so there's no chance of them coming lose or separating like most modular cables that are only hold by tension i have 4 modular cables hold by tension and 2 of them have already failed the connector comes apart on it's own very annoying considering i paid over $120 for each the other two are fine only cause i haven't used them so now i just opt for normal cables always buying 3.5mm and 4.4mm

[@apple-de8tx]

Love your videos, whenever I get the urge to buy an iem I come back to your channel to see if anythings changed in the market and your recommendations, might just buy my first 100 dollar iem this time, been listening to music outside quite a lot with my humble ear pods

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Thanks for your support. If you're going to spend $100, I would recommend the NiceHCK F1 Pro, Kiwi Ears Melody or Simgot EA500 over this!

[@this_is_lemon]

The painting on the Aria 2 is a hit or miss. On the right IEM, the paint started to come off with just rubbing my finger over it, as if the paint is not fully dried. The left one is alright, even if I intentionally try to scrape the paint off, it doesn't come off. So if you get lucky, you will have no problem with them, I assume. I will never buy painted IEMs from Moondrop ever again.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that if I was using them for more than a few days, the same thing would happen to mine.

[@rem792]

You'd think they'd learn from their mistakes. I have the original Aria and took care of them but they are chipped all over the place, might as well have no paint, they would look better.

[@DirtyDaveBeatz]

how is the sound compared between the og arias and the aria 2s? i want bass and mids and not too crazy highs. i listen to a lot of rnb and hip hop and indie/rock. sometimes techno.

[@this_is_lemon]

@DirtyDaveBeatz I haven't tried the OG Aria. Aria 2 sounds very similar to Kato, so I can tell you how they differ. Even though the amount of bass is the same, Kato has a more impactful kind of bass. Vocals on Kato are a bit less forward compared to Aria 2. Also, Kato fits better, as it has a slightly less thick shell. If I weren't comparing them back to back, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between them.

[@RustyRhin0]

I've got both and I like the aria 2 more. It's a broader tuning, as in it's better suited for more genres than the warmer original. I'll have to AB them again tho as I only listened to the originals while waiting for the 2s for a short while

[@JoaoSilva-lf4gf]

Could you measure the nozzle diameter of the aria's 2? I currently have a project red but i cannot wear them comfortably for more than 10 minutes because of my left ear, which is probably smaller idk, and from what i measured it was roughly one hair bigger than 6mm, so if the aria's 2 is a bit smaller i would consider them, thanks and great video!

[@mistaBorg]

OG aria paint does chip but also moisture bubbles form, not unusable but just visually odd looking.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Ahh the old Moondrop moisture issues are still there? 😅

[@8one922]

do you think the truthear nova or the aria 2 is better to purchase for the spring sale? I had the hexa and have loved it but it the right ear is on its last breath and thinking of an upgrade/change. Love the vid!

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Aria 2 or Simgot EA500.

[@drewfromoz2758]

Looks like Moondrop really was onto a winner with the OG model. They really were the talk of the town a couple of years ago. I'm still rocking the original Starfields and pretty much just use them on the quest 3. Although not super resolving, voices and most content sounds fairly forgiving. David, I can't help wonder if people are better off going with some of the new cheap planars that you've recently reviewed like the Kiwi Melody and the Kefine Klanar...

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Both of those planars you mentioned are awesome performers. There are still plenty of good single DD iems too so people have a lot of options at the moment and can choose based on tonality, driver type or a combination of both.

[@drewfromoz2758]

What an age we live in!@@PrimeAudioReviews

[@GennaroGentile]

Nice review. Are the Moondrop Aria 2 or the TinHiFi T3 Plus better for FPS gaming?

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

T3 Plus has a better soundstage for gaming.

[@Bestyja]

Do you think this would be a good choice for someone wanting to try something new? I mainly watch movies, play games and listen to music. I am currently using galaxy buds 2 and they are getting increasing closer to needing replacing due to my extensive usage. Or would you recommend something else as my first iem ideally in the same below 100$ range

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

I would suggest you start with something like the Simgot EW200 (if your phone has a headphone jack). If your phone doesn't have that then it's a whole other story.

[@chimika5025]

how does the aria 2 compare to kato?

[@artofcr1mson]

I'm deciding between Aria 2 and Truthear Hexa. New to IEMs.. Looks like people more often pick the Hexas. Which ones do you recommend?

[@Rorensuwl8]

Hexa so you avoid filter issues in the long run

[@RomanWho-do3hg]

i have a debate and don't know which one to buy, should i buy the moondrop aria 2 or the moondrop aria snow edition?

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Neither! Get Kefine Delci or Simgot EA500LM.

[@jaroslavfricek7772]

Hi thank you ❗️❤️How does its compare to Kato...❓😁

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

I think KATO is still better. It's more even and calmer without the peaks.

[@jaroslavfricek7772]

@@PrimeAudioReviews Thanks ✌️❤️

[@umamaheswar7783]

I've ordered moondrop may, should upgrade to aria 2 or not??

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

I'd rec the Kefine Delci or Simgot EA500LM instead.

[@Omar_ZX]

The aria 2, I like it but def not the best bang for your buck (or at least where I live)

[@08aaa81]

The paint does chip, mine has started showing tiny scratches on the 3rd week, there are tiny black dots around the nozzle. Man I love my Aria 2 to death but how come MD keep fucking shit up. They have been around since at least 2019. Even KZ does a better paint job.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Seems like they're reluctant to change manufacturing facility. Maybe they have friends or getting a good price somewhere.

[@LyuboA]

cause MD are not that great as some reviewers are making them to be they PAY alot for marketing like Thieaudio so their IEMs are hyped to no end but they are not that good TinHiFi has much better products for the same prices but since they don't pay for reviews as much i have all Aria versions and TinHiFi T3 Plus is much better then all 3 Aria's it sounds better it has much better build quality too same for Kiwi Ears and TRI - KBEAR Kiwi Ears Cadenza is better then Aria and it's 1/3 the price or TRI Star River much better then Aria and you can even get them at half the price TRI Meteor is also very good around Aria's price point too it's even better then Thieaudio Legacy 2

[@J7T800]

So it's basically another "bright with a bass boost under $100" set. It feels more like a sidegrade. I feel like this is a good purchase if you're a fan of Moondrop, and you don't have the OG Arias. Other than that, I feel like some sets can do it better at a lower price point.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Yep!

[@chevymusclecar1970]

@@PrimeAudioReviewslike which one?

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

@chevymusclecar1970 Kefine Delci or Simgot ea500lm.

[@chevymusclecar1970]

@@PrimeAudioReviews awesome! Thanks!

[@beehype46and2]

Comment for da algorithm Streak count: 321

[@spamcan9208]

lmao change that raggedy ass bandaid. Moondrop seems to have taken a backseat as the chifi market has exploded and new companies entered and left their own mark.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

These crap bandaids last less than a day! Btw, if you want to do my full-time job, take care of my family, write the reviews, take the photos, record and edit my videos, upload and complete all the meta-crap that goes with them, I would be happy to take the time to go and buy new bandaids and apply a fresh one. 😀

[@spamcan9208]

@@PrimeAudioReviews lol no judgement here. Mine can get even worse because I'm so lazy

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

@spamcan9208 nah, I should have fixed it before the video. I'm just feeling stressed and tired at the moment. 🙂

[@spamcan9208]

@@PrimeAudioReviews Take some time off if you need to, heath and taking care of yourself/family comes first!

[@cenen7021]

i hate ththis type of tuning. it will sound bad on every iem. Only campfire andromeda , sennheiser momentum, ie800, ie900, edifier w240tn ...etc this type of tuning with notches and better upper treble extension is is good for iems. Vocal forward cant happen in iems , it doesnt exist its just give you narrow soundstage feeling and sound like sound is coming from in the middle of your brain. its only for on ears pinna resonance feeling.

[@PrimeAudioReviews]

Yes, forward vocals often result in a narrow stage.