Moondrop Aria SNOW EDITION Earbud High Performance Diamond-Like Diaphragm Dynamic Driver 0.78 Pin In-Ear Earphone

Product Information

The upper midrange and treble region of the Moondrop Aria Snow Edition offers a slightly better sense of extension and control, while both IEM are pretty equal when it comes to the resolution. Soundstage is slightly above average in all three dimensions, with height and depth more prominent over soundstage width. Clarity is quite good, but micro-details are not the most pronounced, and imaging and layering are just decent. There is occasional smearing of instruments with very complex riffs with competing instrumentation. Moondrop is popular among CHI-FI enthusiasts, and they have released several crowd-favorite IEMs, such as the CHU, Blessing 2, Dusk, Aria 2021, KATO, and Starfield (just to name a few). Moondrop has even ventured into earbuds, some considered best-in-class (eg Chaconne and Liebesleid). Moondrop recently entered the TWS game with the Sparks and Nekocake. Technical Specifications When it comes to the soundstage performance, I can say that the Moondrop Aria Snow Editions shows a sufficient sense of depth and wideness. The separation and placement of instruments and vocals is fairly precise for a product at this price range. There are no left/right markings on the housings. While IEM addicts will be able to identify the respective sides with their eyes closed, those new to over-ear IEMs might have difficulty. As mentioned previously, there is a red band over the right cable terminal so that one can use this as a marker for the right shell housing. Isolation on the Snow Edition is average, they have 2 vents on each housing after all. The Snow Edition are usable outdoors, though don’t be expecting top-notch isolation on the level of unvented BA sets or customs. Comfort

Treble: Has a good airy and energetic presentation but is smooth and is well controlled with no harshness at normal volume. At this point you might be groaning: “oh great, another Moondrop single-DD in a metal shell!” An understandable sentiment considering that with this new release, Moondrop currently has four models in this similar vein: I would say both OH2 and Aria Snow Edition are tuned differently,catering to different audience,technicality wise,Aria Snow Edition is better

How does the Moondrop Aria connect?

The 0.78mm diameter 2-Pin connectors to have a transparent plastic housing with R (Right) & L (Left) markings and a red color indicator ring for the right channel. Near the connectors are PVC heat-shrink ear guides that are useful for a comfortable over the ear wearing experience. The Snow Edition are relatively easy to drive, though robust amplification can give better dynamics and bass tightness. Frequency response graph of the Snow Edition via an IEC711 compliant coupler. Resolution and imaging is notably superior with the Snow. Treble is more extended too, more snappy, airy and crisp, you have greater amount of clean micro details with the Snow. Soundstage is wider and deeper as well. Timbre is thinner, colder and with greater sens of transparency and less fuzzy texturing.

Good amount of air hence the music doesn’t sound too “congested” and contributed to a soundstage presentation

What’s it like to use the Moondrop Aria SE?

Again, clarity is mind blowing with the Snow, it’s clean too, a hint airy, level of micro details will be high with a source like Questyle M15. I decided to go with Titan S in the end. Reason is that, based on the comparison you gave I have divided it into 2 categories with OLA/Tanya as benchmarks on which IEM falls in-between the two because I’m trying to find a middle point here but not an upgrade/substitute to what I own. I do not experience driver flex, but this may depend on the ear tips used and your ear anatomy. Internals

We can call the Snow, big CHU brother, certainly an upgrade both in technical and tonal aspect, and even a hint more punch to otherwise lean and dry bass. The cable has a transparent insulator, showing the silver braided cable. The insulator also helps in reducing tangles when stowing it away. No unusual microphonics were observed when moving around. Plus, there is a chin-slider you may opt to keep the cable in place. Tripowin Olina – very good technically, great soundstage, imaging, micro-details and instrument separation. However, it can be a bit fatiguing for those who are treble sensitive due to a boost at the lower treble region. Sub bass on the OH2 is slightly rolled off and they sounded more or less the same on both OH2 and Aria Snow EditionImaging is excellent, vividly accurate and precise, yet the lean mids make us focus more on higher range instrument or sound positioning. The Aria Snow Edition has a tad warmer tonality compared to the OH2 that is produced in the lower frequency register. The Ikko OH2 shows a slightly more linear bass response compared to the Aria Snow Edition that has a bit more midbass depth, body and intensity. Both the OH2 and the Aria Snow Edition do offer a pretty similar sense of clarity and resolution in the lower frequency area. Vivid neutral to crisp W shape with light bass, the Snow is not exactly cold as winter but sure mature and serious in it’s sound presentation.

The Snow Edition shells are essentially identical to the Aria 2021 in shape and size. Like their predecessor, the housings are manufactured from precision mold casting and Computerized Numerical Control ( CNC) milling technology. Compared to the Aria 2021, the Snow Edition shells are real lookers, but for me, sound quality is still the first priority over aesthetics.

Select Comparisons

These two sets are sidegrades in my book – the Titan S are a bit more analytical. Vs. Tin HIFI T3 Plus