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

Product Information

The Moondrop Aria Snow Edition is a single 10mm dynamic driver universal monitor. Unlike the original launched in 2021, it uses a totally different driver inside.

The Snow Edition are very comfortable and ergonomic; I have used them for marathon-long listening sessions without any discomfort whatsoever. Lastly, it has a very low impedance of 9 ohms, so it requires a source with output impedance around 1 ohm or less, based on the audiophile rules of eights: https://www.headphonesty.com/2019/04/headphone-impedance-demystified/#:~:text=The%20term%20'rule%20of%20eighths,had%20with%20a%20greater%20range. The TRI Starsea is a pretty underrated IEM. It is very technical and has great isolation, with the aforementioned 4 tuning switches that can give it various sound signatures (mild V shaped all the way to neutral). Both IEMs have an ear-hook design with a 2-pin 0.78mm termination. The cable on the Aria Snow does feel more high quality and tangle-free than the ones in the Aria. Both cables are terminated with a 3.5mm L-shaped plug. The midrange is the star of the show, with the less pronounced bass and dampened upper treble giving the midrange a lot of room to breathe. This showcases vocals and instruments (eg, guitars) in this frequency band.Between the two, Aria Snow’s treble is more recessed. Both monitors have an airy top, but Aria Snow has better control as the Ola has some noticeable distortions. 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. The first comparison involves sibling rivalry, pitting the Snow Edition against their older sister, the Aria 2021. Graph of the Snow Edition versus Aria 2021 via IEC711 compliant coupler. I found that Titan S is what fall in-between the two. Olina and Starsea seems to be an upgrade over OLA while adding more bass while retaining or even exceeding OLA’s technicalities, which kinda go against my initial point of finding an all-rounder that sits between OLA and Tanya.

The Aria Snow Edition that I will now review for you has the same shape of the original Aria 2021. However, it comes now with a brand new silver finish and beautiful faceplate (Snow-Flake Design) design and features Moondrop’s DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) diaphragm with dual-cavity dynamic drivers instead of a LCP diaphragm unit that was used on the original Aria 2021. The Aria Snow Edition follows the companies VDSF target tuning curve. While physically identical, the Aria 2021 have a very tangly and microphonic cable compared to the one included with the Snow Edition. Timbre is as said on the dry and cold side, even with warm euphonic dongle like the Xduoo Link2 Bal, the Snow keep and icy feel to the female vocal for ex. Density is on the thin side too, yet well textured and nuanced in colors…but far from lush or full bodied. Let say we have more presence of timbre skin than meat (or tofu if your vegan)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. The lower midrange is just a tinge depressed but is quite transparent without a big mid-bass encroaching into this area. The upper midrange is boosted but not too shouty or fatiguing. Despite both having a DLC diaphragm, the KATO features Moondrop’s flagship 10mm ULT super-linear dynamic driver with a 2nd generation DLC diaphragm while the Aria Snow features a 10mm dynamic driver with a 1st generation DLC diaphragm, which is said to be similar to the discontinued model Moondrop Kanas Pro. Imaging is average on this pair. It does well in multiple vocal layers with varying depths. Sound is well replicated with varying lengths which produce a holographic feel. It’s like a 3D space where sound travels fluidly across the environment.

The metal shell was made with a metal injection molding and CNC carving process However, the main difference is the Moondrop’s new DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) diaphragm dual-cavity dynamic driver that replaced the 10mm diameter LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) diaphragm that was used inside the Aria 2021. Sub bass on the OH2 is slightly rolled off and they sounded more or less the same on both OH2 and Aria Snow Edition Bass of Youth is chunkier and move more air, yet isn’t as realist in timbre. Male and female vocal are better with the Snow, with richer timbre and fuller body as well as cleaner presence. This product was sent for review from https://apos.audio/ for my honest opinion and I've not been paid or influenced in any way. My opinions are just that, I do this out of a love for the hobby.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: Aria 2021 – warm balanced set with good timbre and tonality, but not the most technical. Quite smooth and non-offensive. The E3000 have a more expansive soundstage and better layering and instrument separation, though they have less clarity and micro-details. Isolation is poorer on the E3000, and they have a more artificial timbre than the Snow Edition. 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. Aria Snow Edition might not be marketed as an upgrade to 2021 Aria, but to me they are definitely an upgrade for me because I like how it sounds compared to 2021 Aria. Although many favoured the 2021 Aria,they are too “safe” sounding to me and nothing really stands out no matter what kind of mod you put on it,cable rolling,eartips,filter change etc etc.

Dunu Titan S – analytical neutral/neutral bright IEM, good for critical listening, quite all rounder. Nozzles a bit long so might affect comfort for some. May also be a bit fatiguing in upper midrange region. it is similar to Ola when it comes to midrange and treble region where instruments and vocals are portrayed cleanly. It doesn’t have to be forward but I prefer it not to be recessed.These two IEMs have a very similar design with a silver color. The Aria Snow has a matte silver finish with a detailed snowflake design while the KATO has a shiny metal-polish finish looking like an elegant futuristic creation. A 6N oxygen-free copper silver-plated cable is included and Moondrop says it has high-permeability insulation. The cable is on the thinner side but is quite supple with minimal tangling. There are the letters R and L on the cable terminals for the right and left sides respectively. In addition, a red band is also placed on the right terminal. Both have a single dynamic driver design but the internals are quite different. The Aria features a 10mm LCP diaphragm dynamic driver while the Aria Snow has a DLC diaphragm, dynamic driver. Moondrop is a popular Chinese Portable Audio brand that was once a small studio by several hobbyist engineers, which has been emerged in 2015 with focus on products like Earbuds, In-Ear Monitors and now USB DAC/Amplifier dongles.