@masterazlan6999 No, I don't think so. You're probably comparing lower mid levels. Both Annihilators have slightly more low mids than the Harman. It's not at the level of the JM-1, which I think there's too much emphasis, especially when combined with the bass level in the "new meta" iems. Well, that's another topic. But Annihilator also has a serious bass shelf. Its mid bass emphasis affects all frequencies, adding body to vocals and instruments. At least for the 2021 version. Imho, Annihilator has a better mid bass - low mid balance compared to current implementations of JM-1. And better balance in every way than Harman. Except maybe the upper treble for some. Which also makes the mids a bit recessed for me, but not thin.
@mertyorulmaz2033 Naa..it sounded thin compared to competitors of flagships..I'm talkin' bout Rhapsodio, grand maestro, pmg apex SE, Fugaku n so on bra..Peace!
I own the variations and the monarch mk3 beat it with EQ on almost every song. It only wins on some songs with its subwoofer tuning and crazy smooth treble. But its too bright on Kpop😂
I bought my Variations almost 2yrs ago. And I’m in the same boat I purchased the Thieaudio Monarch MK3’s and just recently the Thieaudio Origin’s & I sent BOTH back for a full refund. Now I’m not going to lie the MK3’s DID sound better overall but $500 better??? NO WAAAAY!! And the Origins in my opinion was literally just a side step nothing better or worse except for the price. I couldn’t justify the price hikes for either over the Variations. Let’s put it this way if my Variations break or go bad I will replace with a new set of Variations. For me I think I’m just running into that “Rate of diminishing returns” issue where anything $100-$300 in price difference will only be a lateral step while anything $900- $1200 wouldn’t have enough bang for the buck
Honestly, the Variations are still one of my absolute favorite IEMs in the price bracket to this day. But, they also match my tuning preference, so there's that. If they were a little more comfortable for me (the chunky nozzle is a tough fit) I would absolutely own and use them all the time.
Another great video from Hangout.Audio. While I don’t like Harman tuning at all, I really appreciate the history and unique perspective that Timmy and Crin can provide on covering such an influential IEM and I can definitely appreciate the huge number of people who bought and loved the Variations. Cheers 🎉🎉
Got a pair of Variations and last year I tried a couple of really nice IEMs like the dusk and thieaudio mk2. Variations still the best ones for me, really hope theres a v2 sometime soon !!
I've never owned any decent headphones or IEMs before Variations. I bought those in late 2021 almost as a blind purchase from just reviews and crinacle's tier list. Ended up loving it so much and has never had any thoughts about upgrading, even after getting to try so many of the popular IEMs all those years.
The Variations is so good that it is the only IEM I compare every new purchase to to decide whether it’s worth my money or not. I knew the Mega5 was special because it could hold a candle to the Variations. No other Moondrop IEM has been able to give me the same vibes, from the package to the uniqueness to the marketing (that is getting worse and worse over time). A Legendary product, I am a proud owner!
Idk if people will call these two Harman, but I/O Volare and Simgot EM10 are recent releases that are both priced similarly to the Variations and tuned (mostly) to Harman AND YET I would still pick the Variations over them. Volare has a hollow-ness to the female vocals that felt very off putting, while the EM10 may be a tad too warm (I personally didn't mind this) So yeah, definitely legend status worthy 👌🏼
When Crin did reviews he’d have the link to his video with disclaimers. Now I understand this isn’t a review, but when to mention a CrinX product, while working for him, I feel that some kind of disclosure would be appropriate.
My biggest issue with the Variations was how much life it sucked out of low-mid synthesizers in music. That is a characteristic of many harman-tuned earphones, but after some time I really missed those instruments in my music, especially when a call-and-response passage involved them.
Regarding it's placing on the old list, as well as them dedicating it another video 4 years later (!!!) makes it seem to be VERY high up, maybe in the top 10.
I think the problem for the Variations rn is just that so many of its competitors are available at a fraction of the price like the Nova and SM4. It's just really hard to sell anyone on the idea that the extra $350 are worth the added technical advantages of the Variations when that price could get you both of the aforementioned models and you'd have $200 to spare and spend on whatever else you want. I just can't really sit here and defend Moondrop's decision to not lower the price significantly to be more in tune with where it's actual competition sits nowadays compared to when it first launched. Like you can't expect me to sit there and ignore that you have more than an entire Timeless IIs worth of a price difference to your closest competition, come on now...
Well you get higher technical performance, if you pay more. The Variations doesn't compete with the cheaper IEMs you mention, Moondrop has cheaper IEMs for that price brackets as well.
@ari-athbadminton0301 Not that much of a base head, all my headphoes that I had usually been mid-treble focused, mostly treble. Not that sensitive to sharp areas.
I love Moondrop IEMs. My favorite S8 is amazing but the tips are not well hold in the IEM body, getting loose inside my ear. This stopped me to buy Variations.
I wasn't much of a fan of the Variations tbh. Bass had depth and weight, but wasn't punchy. The soundstage was meh with the bass feeling a bit separate from the rest in a bad way. B2 Dusk with a bass shelf beat it for me easily.
I mean...USD 520 is the sticker price that nobody would pay for. As you said, it is a freaking 4 year old IEM. Even Amazon(US) discount it to around USD 458(sometime even lower) from time to time. And the sticker price in Amazon(CA) is USD 480. If you buy directly from moondrop in taobao, it is only USD 370.....even without the current discount, it is USD432.49 and they ship globally(at least I can buy it from Canada with $10 shipment fee), but I guess the customer support would be a bit painful if something go wrong(judging from other things I brough from taobao). It is reasonable that Amazon sell it a bit higher, because it is easier to deal with local amazon than moondrop in China. But what is your reason to sell it so expensively?
Not to be mean, but the number to letter ratio just feels hilarious to me. A comment that starts off as a hot take but just lists every price tag from every marketplace ever for the rest of it is such a funny idea. It's like a 9th grade essay that goes "America, which consists of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas..." And just goes on listing all the states.
Get your own Variations here: hangout.audio/products/moondrop-variations
As Dankpods says: "Good headphones STAY good."
Scientifically thin
She hot
@@mertyorulmaz2033
So does Elysian annihilator.. Peace!
@masterazlan6999 No, I don't think so. You're probably comparing lower mid levels. Both Annihilators have slightly more low mids than the Harman. It's not at the level of the JM-1, which I think there's too much emphasis, especially when combined with the bass level in the "new meta" iems. Well, that's another topic. But Annihilator also has a serious bass shelf. Its mid bass emphasis affects all frequencies, adding body to vocals and instruments. At least for the 2021 version. Imho, Annihilator has a better mid bass - low mid balance compared to current implementations of JM-1. And better balance in every way than Harman. Except maybe the upper treble for some. Which also makes the mids a bit recessed for me, but not thin.
@mertyorulmaz2033
Naa..it sounded thin compared to competitors of flagships..I'm talkin' bout Rhapsodio, grand maestro, pmg apex SE, Fugaku n so on bra..Peace!
And fatiguing.
After variations ive bought over 20 Iems looking for that wow factor again. Variations still on top for me
Real????! Which one than i have a real endgame at Home i Love IT but could be have thicker notes
thick on some songs is great and thin on some songs is great. no unicorn iem can exist >
@@madborne3372 yes simgot super mix 4 is thicker but Not cleaner but similiar cadenza 12 should be good for both
I own the variations and the monarch mk3 beat it with EQ on almost every song. It only wins on some songs with its subwoofer tuning and crazy smooth treble. But its too bright on Kpop😂
I bought my Variations almost 2yrs ago. And I’m in the same boat I purchased the Thieaudio Monarch MK3’s and just recently the Thieaudio Origin’s & I sent BOTH back for a full refund. Now I’m not going to lie the MK3’s DID sound better overall but $500 better??? NO WAAAAY!! And the Origins in my opinion was literally just a side step nothing better or worse except for the price. I couldn’t justify the price hikes for either over the Variations. Let’s put it this way if my Variations break or go bad I will replace with a new set of Variations. For me I think I’m just running into that “Rate of diminishing returns” issue where anything $100-$300 in price difference will only be a lateral step while anything $900- $1200 wouldn’t have enough bang for the buck
Variations deserves it's praise
Nobody cares about it anymore
@@uglyfate1326 except you
After all, it was worth it that I bought them for myself for the New Year! Thank you, Timmy!
Fantastic video. Variations deserves all the love.
variate my tions
Reported for "too sexual"
Honestly, the Variations are still one of my absolute favorite IEMs in the price bracket to this day. But, they also match my tuning preference, so there's that. If they were a little more comfortable for me (the chunky nozzle is a tough fit) I would absolutely own and use them all the time.
Another great video from Hangout.Audio. While I don’t like Harman tuning at all, I really appreciate the history and unique perspective that Timmy and Crin can provide on covering such an influential IEM and I can definitely appreciate the huge number of people who bought and loved the Variations. Cheers 🎉🎉
The respond to EQ so well! So for those saying they’re too thin. Eq them, but to me, they sound perfect
still rocking my variations since early 2022 till now...
Got a pair of Variations and last year I tried a couple of really nice IEMs like the dusk and thieaudio mk2.
Variations still the best ones for me, really hope theres a v2 sometime soon !!
They released a meteorite, but I hope it's not a Variations v2
@@nEgoMa03 I just saw the crinacle vid about it and even if he says so, I'm dont think it is a Variations 2. I'll wait until the real thing.
Which thieaudio mk2? There’s several
Monarch mk II, the ones with the wood like shell. 😛 the friend that sold me the variations also sold me a blessing 2 dusk and has those thieaudio.
@@nok460 same, same
Variations is still a very good iem imo, and i don't like Harman tuning.
I've never owned any decent headphones or IEMs before Variations. I bought those in late 2021 almost as a blind purchase from just reviews and crinacle's tier list. Ended up loving it so much and has never had any thoughts about upgrading, even after getting to try so many of the popular IEMs all those years.
The Variations is so good that it is the only IEM I compare every new purchase to to decide whether it’s worth my money or not.
I knew the Mega5 was special because it could hold a candle to the Variations. No other Moondrop IEM has been able to give me the same vibes, from the package to the uniqueness to the marketing (that is getting worse and worse over time).
A Legendary product, I am a proud owner!
By far, the best IEM in any CanJam
those who say its thin, youre likely a basshead, get something from HBB collab
Variations is still so good. Agreed. Will have to add it to my collection at some point.
Any update on TE Zero Blue 2?
Where is blue 2???
I used to think Harman Tuning is good untill I tried warm neutral
Idk if people will call these two Harman, but I/O Volare and Simgot EM10 are recent releases that are both priced similarly to the Variations and tuned (mostly) to Harman
AND YET I would still pick the Variations over them. Volare has a hollow-ness to the female vocals that felt very off putting, while the EM10 may be a tad too warm (I personally didn't mind this)
So yeah, definitely legend status worthy 👌🏼
When Crin did reviews he’d have the link to his video with disclaimers. Now I understand this isn’t a review, but when to mention a CrinX product, while working for him, I feel that some kind of disclosure would be appropriate.
Still the best IEM alongside S8 from the moondrop imo
Fuckin love my Variations even if she's skinny
My biggest issue with the Variations was how much life it sucked out of low-mid synthesizers in music. That is a characteristic of many harman-tuned earphones, but after some time I really missed those instruments in my music, especially when a call-and-response passage involved them.
What track are you referencing?
What IEM would you recommend that has tuning similar to Variations but is all BA?
Sadly uncomfortable. I can't find any tips that don't kill my ears with these things.
CCA trio with foam tips are 30 dolar harman target killers
No midbass tuck for me.
Try use EQ with wavelet
Since you compared it with the Top, how do you think it stands as of right now in 2025?
Regarding it's placing on the old list, as well as them dedicating it another video 4 years later (!!!) makes it seem to be VERY high up, maybe in the top 10.
Yea they sound awesome. Bought them as my first pair of iems. I was looking for the Tea Pros but these were on stock so I went and ordered them.
Harman tuning is a bane on the market
The genres I listen to, doesn't sound so good with Harman Tuning. I prefer the warm neutral tuning like the Aful Explorer
Why not mentioned Simgot EM6L?
İt doesn't have the Bass tuck.
It's kinda like a mix of jm1 and Harman.
When is crinacle dropping his new "Meta" iems?
Soon™
Q1 2025
variations vs hisenior mega5est?
xenns top betta
really depends if you miss the mid bass/low mids or not
I'm glad I did NOT pull the trigger on those, the Harman tune is def not for me.
Something I discovered with the wan'er, the B2 and the Chopin.
I think the problem for the Variations rn is just that so many of its competitors are available at a fraction of the price like the Nova and SM4.
It's just really hard to sell anyone on the idea that the extra $350 are worth the added technical advantages of the Variations when that price could get you both of the aforementioned models and you'd have $200 to spare and spend on whatever else you want. I just can't really sit here and defend Moondrop's decision to not lower the price significantly to be more in tune with where it's actual competition sits nowadays compared to when it first launched.
Like you can't expect me to sit there and ignore that you have more than an entire Timeless IIs worth of a price difference to your closest competition, come on now...
Well you get higher technical performance, if you pay more. The Variations doesn't compete with the cheaper IEMs you mention, Moondrop has cheaper IEMs for that price brackets as well.
my friend, some advice please: what should I upgrade to, from kiwi ears orchestra lite? gaming/music and something a bit more comfortable.
You need to specify what you don't like.
@ari-athbadminton0301 Not that much of a base head, all my headphoes that I had usually been mid-treble focused, mostly treble. Not that sensitive to sharp areas.
@@iuliani1663 Might try the Dunu SA6EST or the HiSenior Mega5EST (the regular one).
Variations is so boring to me. I genuinely love it. I go to it every once in a while when all my other incredibly niche IEMs get too exciting.
How about your own collab IEM Timmy the Chopin 😁
For me variation sound thin feels dark sound for details ok, hearing too long nope, but still nice iem for searching details
I love how he always says “Very Asian” almost every time😂
Why no Chopin!😂
Pog
now that I know that Variations is Harman, I hate harman. There is said it D:
I love Moondrop IEMs. My favorite S8 is amazing but the tips are not well hold in the IEM body, getting loose inside my ear. This stopped me to buy Variations.
Someone buy my variations
I’ll throw you $80 for them
💖💖💖
Xenns up..has the throne frm variation long time bra..moves it2..Peace!
LOL the title
I wasn't much of a fan of the Variations tbh. Bass had depth and weight, but wasn't punchy. The soundstage was meh with the bass feeling a bit separate from the rest in a bad way. B2 Dusk with a bass shelf beat it for me easily.
Scientifically will have the faceplate fall off
I mean...USD 520 is the sticker price that nobody would pay for. As you said, it is a freaking 4 year old IEM. Even Amazon(US) discount it to around USD 458(sometime even lower) from time to time. And the sticker price in Amazon(CA) is USD 480. If you buy directly from moondrop in taobao, it is only USD 370.....even without the current discount, it is USD432.49 and they ship globally(at least I can buy it from Canada with $10 shipment fee), but I guess the customer support would be a bit painful if something go wrong(judging from other things I brough from taobao). It is reasonable that Amazon sell it a bit higher, because it is easier to deal with local amazon than moondrop in China. But what is your reason to sell it so expensively?
Not to be mean, but the number to letter ratio just feels hilarious to me. A comment that starts off as a hot take but just lists every price tag from every marketplace ever for the rest of it is such a funny idea. It's like a 9th grade essay that goes "America, which consists of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas..." And just goes on listing all the states.
It's scientific If "science" was asking 50 random joes what they liked
Great video 👍
just buy nova or supermix 4 and EQ the minor details.
nope, variation is getting replaced by meteor. don't buy it. wait for the meteor.
I'm interested in hearing a detailed comparison between them. I wonder how well the 4 planar tweeters stack up against the 2 ESTs in Variations.
If you fancy Harman with anemic bass sure, go for it..
@ nope, the meteor actually have lesser bass compared to variation.
meteor is no longer a harman-tuned iem, more like IEF2020.
@@jaro703 meteor is not harman. the lower treble is really tame compared to harman.
For those who are listening the modern genres of music don't buy the Variations. It was bad back in the days and even worse nowadays.
Whaaaat? 😂