Moondrop Variations Review – Indomitable

Comparisons –

Moondrop Blessing 2 ($319): The Blessing 2 is a slightly cleaner and more linear sound, especially in the bass but it also has a slightly peaky lower-treble, both making it less forgiving. The Variations has noticeably more sub-bass and a bigger cut through the upper-bass and lower-mids. The Blessing 2 has less bass but is actually a bit warmer, with more mid-bass hump and a less powerful, less extended sub-bass. The Variations has noticeably better driver control, it has more defined notes and greater mid-bass texture despite being bassier. The midrange voicing is surprisingly similar on both. The Variations is a touch smoother and less intense, in turn, it sounds a little more natural to me where the Blessing 2 has a bit of intensity around its upper-mids.

Still, both perform very well here. The treble is peakier on the Blessing 2, it has a more isolated 6kHz bump and rolls off through the middle-treble. It is a crisper, sharper but also thinner sound. The Variations is more linear, it has more texture and note body, sounding more accurate in general. It retrieves more fine detail retrieval but doesn’t sound as bitey, with a smoother voicing and more delicate note presentation. The Variations has a good advantage with extension and background detail retrieval but neither have huge micro-detail or sparkle. The Variations does have a noticeably larger and more immersive soundstage. Its imaging especially is more multi-dimensional.

TRI Starshine ($499): The Starshine has a 2xBA + EST setup and a more musically inclined voicing. It is noticeably less sensitive, with a more “aggressive” EST implementation. This is a brighter leaning earphone but is relatively even and naturally voiced through the bass and mids. The Variations has a grander, deeper reaching and more dynamic bass with greater sub-bass emphasis and extension. However, it is also tonally cleaner because of this tuning. The Starshine has a warmer mid and upper bass, though as it isn’t as bassy as the Variations, it retains good balance and separation. This operates in tandem with its faster BA decay. The Variations has a more even and natural midrange voicing with higher coherence. The Starshine isn’t as dense with more upper-midrange clarity. It sounds a little strained in turn, but not too intense or revealing as it derives additional body and warmth from its low-end. The Variations is cleaner and has a more accurate timbre. It sounds more natural and articulate.

The Starshine balances out its boosted mid clarity with a smoother lower-treble but this gives its vocals a slightly truncated character that the more linear Variations lacks. The Starshine then returns with a substantially brighter and more energetic top-end that is true to its name. This mostly centres around its middle-treble peak which gives it a much crisper, sharper and more aggressively detailed sound than the Variations. The Variations once again is more linear, in turn, it has a more accurate instrument timbre and note body in addition to greater texture. The Starshine is thinner and fatiguing unless paired with the right tips and fit depth to control this peak to some degree. Once you do, you are rewarded with superior extension, sparkle and micro-detail that belie its price, albeit it always remains a bright earphone with a hint of metallic timbre in the treble. The Variations has a slightly larger soundstage, the Starshine having a more upfront presentation. The Starshine layers a bit better and has more holographic imaging. Meanwhile, the Variations has better balance and separation.

Etymotic EVO ($499): TheEVO is more vanilla DF neutral with a more subtle, more progressive bass lift from the sub-bass, sloping down into the lower-mids. It lacks pressure and extension is reminiscent of an older BA earphone, lacking visceral slam. While it has decent punch in the mid-bass, the Variations extends much better and is more dynamic in turn. It is also much bassier overall but the execution permits similar tonal transparency. The EVO is faster decaying and cleaner with much more separation in the mid-bass, the Variations has better texture, slam and rumble. Above, both have a surprisingly similar midrange voicing. The EVO is slightly drier and more linear sounding. This is offset with a slightly smoother lower-treble that takes the edge off its presentation. The Variations remains a bit more coherent to me, the EVO is slightly more mid-forward but also benefits from having a bit more note definition.

Both altogether, aren’t dissimilar in overall tonality and timbre. The treble is similarly positioned on both, the EVO has a smoother tuning but also a sharper, more typical note attack from its BA drivers. I feel it is slightly more resolving of fine detail in the foreground and is also brings small details more to the fore. The Variations is more linear and sounds a bit more textured. It has more air and background detail above. The Variations has a deeper stage, and its imaging is more multi-dimensional, the EVO has a slight width advantage, but this is hard to appreciate as its midrange presentation is more upfront. The EVO has an edge on separation, it has more defined layers and also has sharper positioning, albeit with less ability to project depth wise. The Variations is a bit floatier here and less pinpoint precise.

Soft Ears RSV ($729): Soft Ears are the premium division of Moondrop so the RSV much resembles the Variations in terms of tuning. To me, it is a slightly more refined approach to basically the same reference, and with a similar sub-bass bump but to a lesser extent. In turn, I find it sounds cleaner and more separated. In addition, despite being an all-BA setup, it has great extension, dynamics and slam. The Variations has more yet and a little more pressure, but it also has more emphasis which harms its separation. The RSV doesn’t have the same DD texture but is faster, more articulate and resolving in the mid-bass, losing minimal separation despite its enhanced slam. The midrange sounds similar on both too. The Variations sounds a bit more laid-back relative to its bigger bass.

But the voicing and tonality is very similar. The RSV does have a leg up on separation and note definition at the cost of being a little less forgiving than the Variations. It is also a touch more articulate. The treble tuning is similar on both, the RSV is just a little bumpier, but also offers better extension. It has a sharper BA note attack, bringing fine details more to the fore. It is more detailed but just a hint brittle, the Variations sounding softer but a bit more textured and more refined. The  RSV does extend noticeably better, it has more background detail, better layering and even a decent amount of sparkle and upper-treble micro-detail. In turn, it presents a more spacious stage and more nuanced imaging. The Variations is not far behind but isn’t quite as sharp in terms of localisation nor are its layers as defined. Mostly, the RSV has better separation due to its bass tuning and generally more defined note structure.

Verdict –

The question that I likely get presented with most frequently is “would you buy this yourself?”. I think this is an especially difficult question for a reviewer because personally, I can’t rationalise spending so much on a hobby I am already deeply invested in, and on products that I already own in excess – so I don’t think about it all that often. I have always advocated for finding a product’s audience and, through testing, measurement and comparison, positing whether I think it executes well for that audience. In this way, personal biases are less colouring of my final verdict. With that said, I did pay almost full price for the Variations as I was curious to see what Moondrop could do with Sonion’s new generation EST drivers.

Altogether, I do not regret my decision at all. This is a clearly well-designed and minimal compromise earphone throughout. I will also note that my impressions over further testing really haven’t changed all that much from the initial thoughts I shared prior, but will reiterate here for clarity. I do think the bass sounds slightly more defined and extended to me than it did straight out of the box, but this could simply be my ears adjusting coming from over-ear headphone reviews. In summary, the Variations is a nice update to the immensely popular Blessing 2 and a thought-out response from Moondrop – both to the copious competitors popping up with similar driver configs and also feedback on their former midrange all-rounder.

It nicely appends the complaints of upper-midrange intensity/shout and also solves the lower-treble spike beautifully. It introduces a more robust bass that isn’t too overt in listening but does sacrifice a little separation in the bass itself. While it doesn’t have the sparkle and resolution of the RSV (and other technically impressive higher-end models), it is a good step up in all regards from the Blessing 2. Of course, value is relative! My lower priced benchmark for this style of tuning is the Blessing 2, my higher priced one, the RSV. And with the Variations, I did find the jump in performance exceeded the jump in price, performing closer to the RSV than the Blessing 2. The Variations is a brilliant update to the venerable Blessing 2 that retains a strong sense of value even at its elevated price point through a combination of tonal refinement and technical accomplishment. Highly recommended!

The Variations can be purchased from HiFiGO and Apos Audio for $520 USD at the time of review. Please see our affiliate link for the most updated pricing, availability and configurations.

Track List –

Billie Eilish – dont smile at me

Bob Seger – Night Moves

Courtney Barnett – Rae Street

Cream – Wheels of Fire

Dire Straits – Communique

Dirty Loops – Next To You

Eagles – Hotel California

Elton John – Honky Chateau

Fleetwood Mac – Rumours

H.E.R – I Used To Know Her

Jasen – BYE

John Mayer – Continuum

Kanye West – Ye

Missy Higgins – The Sound of White

Radiohead – OK Computer

TALA – ain’t leavin` without you

The Beatles – Abbey Road

The weeknd – After Hours

Vampire Weekend – Father of the Bride