Got the Aria 2 for $60. Use it for jazz and accoustic music. I like the thickness and sweetness of the vocal on Aria 2. Not like any Simgot's IEMs, they tend to have thin vocal. But the bass is too much for me. And i agree using Tri Clarion make it sounds the best. But i never heard the Kato so i wouldn't know the differences
I can see it working well for what you’re listening to. In fact, those are the types of tracks it “won” vs the Kato. And honestly, other than my sentimental attachment/bias towards the Kato, it is outclassed these days by sets that are much less expensive. Still think that $123.49 on Apos is a pretty bangin deal, but not a “must have”. More of a “I’m curious and I have the extra $$ to burn”. Which most people don’t…
Love your written notes. Got my KATO too in its release as well as kinda my first proper IEM for almost half the price with the pre-order accessoires included so it is still one of my great purchases of all time. I agree that the KATO and Aria 2 with the current market is pretty hard to recommend but if you wanted that Moondrop Single DD Tuning the Aria 2 is the more valid if someone wanted that polished Single DD tuning by Moondrop, my friend even prefer her Moondrop MAY after testing my KATO and also selling her Aria 2..
Yes. I didn’t think of it that way. I am a sucker for energetic sets. I don’t mean just treble energy. But yes, the Aria 2 could definitely be considered a more “updated” tuning. That definitely tracks… it also makes me wanna give my poor old Katos a big ole hug. Lol
@@severadas993 on the set i've experienced they are relatively clean. I got only the hissing noise on a desktop that have poor grounding (as that desktop also make such hissing noise on my other dacs) tho not sure for others experiencing the set.
I prefer Aria 2 over my AKG K3003 that I bought when it’s first release, it’s not as refined of course but the sound is more pleasing for me, K3003 is excellent for analytical listening but if I just want ro enjoy the music I grab my Aria 2
Makes total sense to me. I have some headphones that are like that. There’s nothing like putting in a very good set of IEMs like the Aria 2 to just sit back and enjoy.
And to me, Aria 2 has really good sense of weight in bass and other notes like sub-woofer does, which I really didn't feel with any other headphones even those which are bass heavy.
Excellent point! And both the LM >Aria 2 and EA1000>Kato no doubt. I just wanted to throw my 2 cents in on the Aria 2=Kato debate. Both have been surpassed by others, including the Simgot! ☮️
OK, about the peakiness in treble in KATO I found out for myself when I shoved 3 foam filters that came with IE200 eartips; 3 foam pieces in each kato silver nozzles, the peakines went away for me and everything else seems to be the same to me which is a win and I've never loved my KATOs more. Also I'm using the tips that came with Tanchjim Origins and they works together really well.
Do you have a recommendation for someone who is currently using their Kato as a vocalist for inear monitoring, but wants something ideally between $50-$120, that is lighter, non-fatiguing and just as much, if not a touch more bass than the Kato? You mentioned the Crinacle Zero Red, would that be a good option? I want to be able to hear myself well, I want it to be musical, not clinical, I'd ideally like guitars to have energy, but not bright, and I need enough bass to be able to mix my bass player in as well. Thanks in advance!
I really feel like the Kefine Delci would be a great option for you. The Zero :Red is a very good iem too, but I feel the Delci beats it in techs, and is smoother throughout the frequency range. It also has a really good amount of well-controlled bass. It is both a little warmer and more musical than the Kato and I almost ranked it above the Kato in a recent video. I probably should have, actually. Beyond that it becomes more high-risk, high-reward. I think that both the ISN H30 and Hakugei Anunachi would be great for you and your use case, but now we are getting into non-standard tuning and a considerably higher price. They are both at the top of your budget at around $120. The only thing that I might worry about is getting distracted by the immersive soundstage on those sets, but overall, they are simply gorgeous to listen to. The ISN is probably the safer of the two, but the Anunachi is a unicorn. The more I am thinking about this, the more I think I would recommend the Delci. This is for "work" and not for kicking back, smoking a J and chillin'. Well, unless it is. In that case grab either the H30 or the Anunachi, you will NOT be disappointed.
@@BassDad8 Kefine Delci ordered. Started there since it was the first one you mentioned. I will probably collect your other 2 recommendations at some point as well.
@@slikjmuzik yes, I would say the Delci sounds lighter and more agile than the Kato. The Kato’s intense and somewhat granular nature can make it fatiguing. You won’t get that with the Delci. I think you made the right choice to start with. You’ll have a go-to with the Delci, then you can experiment. Hope you enjoy them!!!
@@BassDad8 Much appreciated. I found them on Amazon for $75. Have not found the other two, but I’m going to put the Delci through its paces first anyway. The only thing I don’t know yet is how they’ll fit. If I’m currently using SinFit W1 SS, do you think I’ll run into any issues with fit? That was the one thing I wasn’t sure about with the Zero Reds. Apparently their nozzle is a bit bigger. Hoping it’s a non issue with the Delci. Lastly, I also call them ‘Kayto’ bc of being a 1996 grad and having skipped class to watch portions of the trial with my friends lol
First four that come to mind are the Simgot EA500LM, BQEYZ Topaz, Tipsy TTROMSO, Shanling Sono, and if you got a decently powered Dac/amp the Artti T10. I’ve got reviews on all of them if you’ve got some time to check them out. I’m sure you’ll find one that suits you! ☮️
I respectfully disagree.(in regard to the Aria 2) Though I only recently got into this hobby I do enjoy the clarity these have. I listen to a lot of folk instrumental (Antoine Defour, Preston Reed) and I do not regret my purchase. I do enjoy your perspective and will keep your channel in mind when I am ready to purchase my next set. Thanks for the insightful content.
I am happy to hear that actually! Thank you for your candor. I’d never tell anyone they shouldn’t enjoy their set. And maybe it’s just not hitting me the same way it’s hitting you. That’s always a possibility. Glad you like them and I really appreciate your comment and support! ☮️
I use kato, I have moondrop line T too. I feel they can't be paired, since og kato cable have better trable it just feel more clear and spacious. Line t give more texture to the bass and sound wierd for me
I had a Line K on them for a long time. That cable is a monster. And it’s not comfortable for long sessions. But you’re right about the Line T. I’m not using either cable at the moment. They’re both “in reserve”
@@BassDad8 Aria 2, I have video on my channel for it, just video nothing deep haha. No no I am absolutely not sad by your review, you use tons of IEMs, you are expert in this, you used many, so you know better where it falls shorts. I got it for 80 dollar not only sound quality but the whole package as build quality, cable etc. which I wouldn't get with zero. If I be really neat picking, I feel like female vocals sounds a bit recessed. But everything else is super clean, bass is adequate, nothing bloated, in games it feels amazing, even my good Xbox gaming headphones, Airpods pro falls short, gaming experience is just unbelievably clean. Sub bass feels super deep yet not aggressive which I love. And it is not harsh to my ears as I told you earlier, my right ear is very sensitive to high pitch, Aria 2 doesn't bother me, nor it makes me fatiguing. Actually, I am very happy to choose this over Sennheiser IE200, build quality is just so good. If nothing goes wrong, I will use this till my death haha.
I was pretty close then, it's a step behind but you could grab it if you wanted a Kato, hard sell though since there's so many other sets that would be much better. So even if Kato is better, its not really better lol. Hard hobby to dive into if you dont got the money lol
I get what you’re saying. It’s easy to spend too much… I may have gone just a little overboard… anyway, I’d like to send you the Kato so you can try it for yourself. Dm me on discord @bassdad8 if you would like to “borrow” them. If not, no worries! ☮️
@@BassDad8 appreciate the thoughts but pass it to someone who's been fiending for a Kato, ever since your video about Quintet clicking. I went back to see if my old Variations would click and they absolutely did. Haven't stopped using them since and I feel like Kato would get ignored by me and I'd hate for that to happen lol They sit
Okay... someone forgot the fact that we all have different preferences and quite different ears and hearing. I loved my Kate since day 1 I got them, but when I received Aria 2, I let my Kato to other hands :) I loved how Aria 2 brought that little warmth, slightly lower bass and got those vocals at the "top notch" . I lovet kato asweĺl, but found myself using Aria 2 most of the time. So yeah.. we all have our preferences. But despite that- thumbs up for this bloke on video. I like hist honest opinion even .
Nope. I didn’t forget that. That’s just my own preference. If the Aria 2 is your jam, that’s awesome. It’s just not mine. But is it a very good iem? Absolutely!
I kinda wanted to buy either kato or aria2, cuz I enjoyed their MAY DSP pair quite a bit. But now i think i'll just skip both. I see people recommending EA1000, but that's gonna absolutely destroy my wallet, and if i look at ea500lm see people saying how there's better stuff in the price range. I'm so lost LMAO🤣
EA500LM. Yes definitely the way to go. You’ve got nozzle options too. Even the Kato nozzles work in them. $12-13 bucks will get you those. I’m keep going back to the LM and being impressed by how good they really are.
@@871-c6s if you end up getting them and you find the upper mids and treble a bit too much, the Kato bronze nozzles fix that without dampening it too much. I just leave those on now, but the stock red/silver nozzles are also pretty good in that respect. The black/silver were too spicy for me. One of the things that really impresses me with this set is the head stage. They are really immersive, no matter which nozzles you settle on. Enjoy them! ☮️
@@BassDad8 I have my assumption that I prefer Sonus, but some say Aria2 is better than Sonus. That's why I've been wondering about it, but now I don't really believe them :D
The Kato was my first good set I got in 2021. I think your assessment is 100% correct. Kudos.
Thanks! I just got tired of hearing that the Aria 2 was “the same” as the Kato. It’s not. Not a huge difference, but considerable.
Great comparison! That blue Kato is 🔥😍
Got the Aria 2 for $60. Use it for jazz and accoustic music. I like the thickness and sweetness of the vocal on Aria 2. Not like any Simgot's IEMs, they tend to have thin vocal. But the bass is too much for me. And i agree using Tri Clarion make it sounds the best. But i never heard the Kato so i wouldn't know the differences
I can see it working well for what you’re listening to. In fact, those are the types of tracks it “won” vs the Kato. And honestly, other than my sentimental attachment/bias towards the Kato, it is outclassed these days by sets that are much less expensive. Still think that $123.49 on Apos is a pretty bangin deal, but not a “must have”. More of a “I’m curious and I have the extra $$ to burn”. Which most people don’t…
Love your written notes. Got my KATO too in its release as well as kinda my first proper IEM for almost half the price with the pre-order accessoires included so it is still one of my great purchases of all time. I agree that the KATO and Aria 2 with the current market is pretty hard to recommend but if you wanted that Moondrop Single DD Tuning the Aria 2 is the more valid if someone wanted that polished Single DD tuning by Moondrop, my friend even prefer her Moondrop MAY after testing my KATO and also selling her Aria 2..
Yes. I didn’t think of it that way. I am a sucker for energetic sets. I don’t mean just treble energy. But yes, the Aria 2 could definitely be considered a more “updated” tuning. That definitely tracks… it also makes me wanna give my poor old Katos a big ole hug. Lol
@@BassDad8 with those memories we have with our KATO thet deserve those hugs haha.
@@kze_musicHow is May? Does it have the hissing sound when song stops?
@@severadas993 on the set i've experienced they are relatively clean. I got only the hissing noise on a desktop that have poor grounding (as that desktop also make such hissing noise on my other dacs) tho not sure for others experiencing the set.
I prefer Aria 2 over my AKG K3003 that I bought when it’s first release, it’s not as refined of course but the sound is more pleasing for me, K3003 is excellent for analytical listening but if I just want ro enjoy the music I grab my Aria 2
Makes total sense to me. I have some headphones that are like that. There’s nothing like putting in a very good set of IEMs like the Aria 2 to just sit back and enjoy.
And to me, Aria 2 has really good sense of weight in bass and other notes like sub-woofer does, which I really didn't feel with any other headphones even those which are bass heavy.
They did present sub bass well. I’ll give you that. Even the lowest hits on my test tracks were “there”
The EA500LM and the EA1000 make it hard to spend similar money on these Moondrop sets.
Excellent point! And both the LM >Aria 2 and EA1000>Kato no doubt. I just wanted to throw my 2 cents in on the Aria 2=Kato debate. Both have been surpassed by others, including the Simgot! ☮️
OK, about the peakiness in treble in KATO I found out for myself when I shoved 3 foam filters that came with IE200 eartips; 3 foam pieces in each kato silver nozzles, the peakines went away for me and everything else seems to be the same to me which is a win and I've never loved my KATOs more. Also I'm using the tips that came with Tanchjim Origins and they works together really well.
nice!!! I know I should mod more. just after I review a set, not before lol. Thank you for the pro tip!
@BassDad8 I just realised I haven't subbed so here's one. Looking forward to 1K subs for your channel,cheers!
@@deparoo Thank you! You Rock!!!
Do you have a recommendation for someone who is currently using their Kato as a vocalist for inear monitoring, but wants something ideally between $50-$120, that is lighter, non-fatiguing and just as much, if not a touch more bass than the Kato? You mentioned the Crinacle Zero Red, would that be a good option? I want to be able to hear myself well, I want it to be musical, not clinical, I'd ideally like guitars to have energy, but not bright, and I need enough bass to be able to mix my bass player in as well. Thanks in advance!
I really feel like the Kefine Delci would be a great option for you. The Zero :Red is a very good iem too, but I feel the Delci beats it in techs, and is smoother throughout the frequency range. It also has a really good amount of well-controlled bass. It is both a little warmer and more musical than the Kato and I almost ranked it above the Kato in a recent video. I probably should have, actually. Beyond that it becomes more high-risk, high-reward. I think that both the ISN H30 and Hakugei Anunachi would be great for you and your use case, but now we are getting into non-standard tuning and a considerably higher price. They are both at the top of your budget at around $120. The only thing that I might worry about is getting distracted by the immersive soundstage on those sets, but overall, they are simply gorgeous to listen to. The ISN is probably the safer of the two, but the Anunachi is a unicorn. The more I am thinking about this, the more I think I would recommend the Delci. This is for "work" and not for kicking back, smoking a J and chillin'. Well, unless it is. In that case grab either the H30 or the Anunachi, you will NOT be disappointed.
@@BassDad8 Amazing, thank you very much!! I love that you explained why, not just offer up a recommendation. Is the Delci lighter as well?
@@BassDad8 Kefine Delci ordered. Started there since it was the first one you mentioned. I will probably collect your other 2 recommendations at some point as well.
@@slikjmuzik yes, I would say the Delci sounds lighter and more agile than the Kato. The Kato’s intense and somewhat granular nature can make it fatiguing. You won’t get that with the Delci. I think you made the right choice to start with. You’ll have a go-to with the Delci, then you can experiment. Hope you enjoy them!!!
@@BassDad8 Much appreciated. I found them on Amazon for $75. Have not found the other two, but I’m going to put the Delci through its paces first anyway. The only thing I don’t know yet is how they’ll fit. If I’m currently using SinFit W1 SS, do you think I’ll run into any issues with fit? That was the one thing I wasn’t sure about with the Zero Reds. Apparently their nozzle is a bit bigger. Hoping it’s a non issue with the Delci. Lastly, I also call them ‘Kayto’ bc of being a 1996 grad and having skipped class to watch portions of the trial with my friends lol
What less expensive sets would you suggest that exceeds the Kato’s sound?
First four that come to mind are the Simgot EA500LM, BQEYZ Topaz, Tipsy TTROMSO, Shanling Sono, and if you got a decently powered Dac/amp the Artti T10. I’ve got reviews on all of them if you’ve got some time to check them out. I’m sure you’ll find one that suits you! ☮️
@@BassDad8 awesome thanks!
I respectfully disagree.(in regard to the Aria 2) Though I only recently got into this hobby I do enjoy the clarity these have. I listen to a lot of folk instrumental (Antoine Defour, Preston Reed) and I do not regret my purchase. I do enjoy your perspective and will keep your channel in mind when I am ready to purchase my next set. Thanks for the insightful content.
I am happy to hear that actually! Thank you for your candor. I’d never tell anyone they shouldn’t enjoy their set. And maybe it’s just not hitting me the same way it’s hitting you. That’s always a possibility. Glad you like them and I really appreciate your comment and support! ☮️
Fun comp!
Thank you! It was definitely fun doing it!
What's the better and cheaper choice?
Shanling Sono. Off the top of my head. It’s only $10 or $20 less than the aria 2, but it just sounds like a more complete set.
Yup. Sono. It’s $79.99 but a 10% coupon brings it to $72. That’s where I’d put my $$. I did review it a couple of months back. Really liked it!
I use kato, I have moondrop line T too. I feel they can't be paired, since og kato cable have better trable it just feel more clear and spacious. Line t give more texture to the bass and sound wierd for me
I had a Line K on them for a long time. That cable is a monster. And it’s not comfortable for long sessions. But you’re right about the Line T. I’m not using either cable at the moment. They’re both “in reserve”
I am enjoying mine,,, as this is my only IEM you know haha
Which? Aria 2 or Kato?
And as I said neither are bad. Both are pretty good. My goal was to dispel the Aria 2 = Kato myth. Definitely not to disrespect anyone’s daily driver.
@@BassDad8 Aria 2, I have video on my channel for it, just video nothing deep haha.
No no I am absolutely not sad by your review, you use tons of IEMs, you are expert in this, you used many, so you know better where it falls shorts. I got it for 80 dollar not only sound quality but the whole package as build quality, cable etc. which I wouldn't get with zero. If I be really neat picking, I feel like female vocals sounds a bit recessed. But everything else is super clean, bass is adequate, nothing bloated, in games it feels amazing, even my good Xbox gaming headphones, Airpods pro falls short, gaming experience is just unbelievably clean. Sub bass feels super deep yet not aggressive which I love. And it is not harsh to my ears as I told you earlier, my right ear is very sensitive to high pitch, Aria 2 doesn't bother me, nor it makes me fatiguing.
Actually, I am very happy to choose this over Sennheiser IE200, build quality is just so good. If nothing goes wrong, I will use this till my death haha.
I was pretty close then, it's a step behind but you could grab it if you wanted a Kato, hard sell though since there's so many other sets that would be much better.
So even if Kato is better, its not really better lol. Hard hobby to dive into if you dont got the money lol
I get what you’re saying. It’s easy to spend too much… I may have gone just a little overboard… anyway, I’d like to send you the Kato so you can try it for yourself. Dm me on discord @bassdad8 if you would like to “borrow” them. If not, no worries! ☮️
@@BassDad8 appreciate the thoughts but pass it to someone who's been fiending for a Kato, ever since your video about Quintet clicking. I went back to see if my old Variations would click and they absolutely did.
Haven't stopped using them since and I feel like Kato would get ignored by me and I'd hate for that to happen lol
They sit
@@kenjikodai well that is awesome! It’s so great when you go back to a set and it impresses you all over again. Enjoy em!
Okay... someone forgot the fact that we all have different preferences and quite different ears and hearing. I loved my Kate since day 1 I got them, but when I received Aria 2, I let my Kato to other hands :)
I loved how Aria 2 brought that little warmth, slightly lower bass and got those vocals at the "top notch" .
I lovet kato asweĺl, but found myself using Aria 2 most of the time. So yeah.. we all have our preferences. But despite that- thumbs up for this bloke on video. I like hist honest opinion even .
Nope. I didn’t forget that. That’s just my own preference. If the Aria 2 is your jam, that’s awesome. It’s just not mine. But is it a very good iem? Absolutely!
But I do like the Simgot EA500LM better than both of those Moondrops. Lol
I kinda wanted to buy either kato or aria2, cuz I enjoyed their MAY DSP pair quite a bit. But now i think i'll just skip both. I see people recommending EA1000, but that's gonna absolutely destroy my wallet, and if i look at ea500lm see people saying how there's better stuff in the price range. I'm so lost LMAO🤣
EA500LM. Yes definitely the way to go. You’ve got nozzle options too. Even the Kato nozzles work in them. $12-13 bucks will get you those. I’m keep going back to the LM and being impressed by how good they really are.
@@BassDad8 Aight thanks man, and god bless. Great channel, keep it up ❤🔥
@@871-c6s if you end up getting them and you find the upper mids and treble a bit too much, the Kato bronze nozzles fix that without dampening it too much. I just leave those on now, but the stock red/silver nozzles are also pretty good in that respect. The black/silver were too spicy for me. One of the things that really impresses me with this set is the head stage. They are really immersive, no matter which nozzles you settle on. Enjoy them! ☮️
Might have just saved me from buying Aria2 with this vid 😅
It’s not bad. It’s just not memorable. Really in any way. There are much more interesting options for $90 or less. ☮️
@@BassDad8 I have my assumption that I prefer Sonus, but some say Aria2 is better than Sonus. That's why I've been wondering about it, but now I don't really believe them :D
@@Jaawaudio no. The aria 2 is definitely NOT better than the Sonus. The 7Hz buries it technically speaking. And that’s just for starters
Kato .. Mosquitooo
Kato is still amazing. Still has that wow factor 🩵