The rise of USBC
Thanks to HifiGo for providing the Droplet for review purposes. The Droplet is the latest example of USBC wave from Moondrop. Here is MBA’s take.
Company Overview
MOONDROP Co. is a design, research and development, manufacturing, sales and service company for electro-acoustic equipment based out of the Wenjiang District of Chengdu, China’s Haixia Science and Technology Park. A pioneer in its field from its inception in 2015, the firm is dedicated to never resting on its laurels. The MOONDROP name for electro-acoustic instruments has become synonymous with cutting-edge innovation and top-notch quality. The company’s wares may be found on store shelves in over 30 different areas of China, as well as in North America, Europe, and other parts of the world thanks to the company’s extensive distribution network. Popularity of the multi-award winning MOONDROP brand is highest in Asia, including South Korea, Japan, and other countries.
- Form: USBC iem
- Drivers: 1 BA
Packaging
The Droplet has a charming looking vertical box. The first thing that catches your eye is the 3 body theme, which is familiar to the audience. It’s okay not to know. For the uninitiated, it appears to be pretty sci-fi.
In the box
- Moondrop The Droplet
- 3 pairs of SML foam artips
- Black leatherette pouch
- Fan merchandise
Cable
Its silver-colored, tightly braided cable includes a microphone and three buttons. It has the appearance and feel of the Tanchjim cable choice. The connector is USBC. It’s the same as Quarks DSP I briefly tried to present you.
Design
It’s not a figure to speak of the design, but suffice it to say the body is made of three interlocking pieces.
Comfort
It’s pretty comfortable in my M sized concha and earhole. But as regular M foam tips make it hard to press it in, it’s comfort is hanging in the balance due to not getting a tight and deep insert.
Moondrop The Droplet Sound
The Droplet is putting more of an emphasis on the bass and rumbling base. The fit is spot on. Also, the vocals are in the right place, and you can hear the crowd clapping and cheering in the fast-paced blues rock. With all of the emphasis placed on the vocal bands that make up its tuning, one could even call it vocal-centric. Even though the Droplet has placed a lot of emphasis on the bass and rumbling base, the vocals have not been forgotten. The soundstage is undeniably large and larger (than Quarks DSP) in all three dimensions. The musicality of the Droplet’s design is thus clear, and it is easy to see how much attention has been paid to making sure that every component of the sound works together harmoniously. Despite the OG foam tips, blown instruments exhibit their metallic texture openly, and even with the initially disturbing vocal style, such as screamo, I also did not detect any sibilance in the sound. On the other hand, I yearn for deeper layering, transparency, and micro details. (okay, this is my technicalhead habit)
It would appear that the casual guys were the target audience for this USB-C iem. Yet, the technical aspects contribute about 40% of its sound. But what do you think? I am currently listening to an iem that just has one BA. And what about this powerful bass? It is more than adequate for electronic music genres as well as genres that are more bass-oriented . Yet, The Droplet cannot be considered a basshead iem because of its unique sound. The DT600 had the potential to be great with its 6BA. Only great iems can achieve great results.
In conclusion, I want to say that I didn’t hear any background noise before I pressed the play button, except for a faint hiss that went away about 1.5 seconds after I pressed the stop button. Unless you’re nitpicking, this isn’t a big deal.
Bass
Because the mid-bass includes several smashes and strikes, the entire bass response provides sound authority. These mid bass beats give the song a strong presence, highlighting rhythmic elements. Beats provide higher frequency ranges and a solid response. The sound in the midrange is expressive, vibrant, and, when considered as a whole, it has a quality that is pleasing to the ear in terms of its overall sound quality. Mid-bass beats add depth.
Midrange
Midrange instruments have sounds that are very nuanced and clear. Because of this, they work very well in folk music, rock music, and jazz music. Those instruments have a distinctive aspect that makes them valuable contributors to music of all kinds, despite the fact that they are sometimes neglected in favor of their more dominant counterparts. This Droplet has the ability to extract the fun out of your music. Classical music fans, on the other hand, should wait for perfection. This iem isn’t the best choice if you are looking for pristine sonic performance. foundation.
Treble
The treble has a joyful and lively tone to it, but the instrumentation has a laid-back vibe to it, which gives the vocalists room to breathe and makes the song more enjoyable. When you look at the treble region as a whole, you can say that it is lively, well-balanced, and silky smooth. This balance between the vocals, treble, and instrumentation in this song creates a harmony that is pleasing to listen to. As a result, the vocalists have the ideal background, allowing them to stand out and express their emotions without the mix getting in the way.
Comparisons
So far, comparison is only possible with Moondrop Quarks DSP. But other iems with approximate price tags can be considered within the comparison list. The list will be populated in time.
vs Quarks DSP
Simply put, Quarks DSP is the first attempt and over perfected iem from Moondrop. While high in technicalities, its coming close to Variations in any casual listen. But critical listening tells the whole story and it doesn’t win over The Droplet.
Where to Buy
Conclusion
The Droplet offers an unique combination of fun and refinement in its design. While the distinction between the most recent DSP model, Quarks DSP, and the Droplet model is analogous to that of a ripe fruit, the Droplet model is more akin to a fully formed but not yet mature fruit. Both models are unique and serve a similar purpose, but the Droplet model, with its combination of sleek design and improved functionality, offers something extra that sets it apart from other model yet released.
Rating 4/5
PROS
- Fun and dynamism
- Edginess where needed
- Comfort
- Ease of use (sorry i-guys)
CONS
- Unexpected lack of technicals that are surprising for a BA iem
- Emphasis in FUN oriented
- Lack of OG tips and addition of warmth with only OG foam tips
