The para is for the people who already likes the moondrop tuning, or in china they call it the shui style tuning. I have tried the sundara many times as my friend owns one and always feel like the female vocals are lacking severely and prefer my old K701 that have so much issues but have a much brighter signature than the sundara. I have never heard a set of headphones have such a strong focus for forward female vocals and incredible airiness with that wide soundstage. It is the only pair of headphone that's tuned specifically tuned for jpop, cpop and acg music. Those music is an insanely small market in US and Europe, but in Asia, it's all the rage for audiophiles so it makes so much sense to put such an aggressively bright tuning on an open back that trades blow with the sundara on technical performance. I'm so glad it exists because it's something that I have been looking for. Also the thing isn't that heavy compared to the focals and audeze that I'm listening to that day and is perfectly comfortable for me, more so than my 58x and even the sundara, it's on shp9500 level of comfort. The weight hides itself well on your head with the wide padding and wide headband
From my messing with IEMs I noticed the often bright tuning. And I figured it has to do with music preferences. I’m sure this product has its audience.
I received the Moondrop Para about 4 weeks ago. I have several other headphones (including the Sundara and other planars) and I actually like the Para as an addition to my collection for its specific sound characteristics. I do agree with your description of its sound in stock form as bright and thin and I swapped the pads on the second day I owned them (super easy). I now use some deeper Fostex-like angled sheepskin pads and that helps a lot with comfort, bass extension, staging and reduced the shoutiness/brightness. I would give it a try if you can return them. Edit: They are only 8 Ohm of impedance so you need an amp with good current delivery for it to sound good. Edit2: That does not mean it needs a ton of power; the Para also works well on a Questyle M15 with its CMA modules (but not on a more average dongle-DAC).
I appreciate the line running through the preference boundaries it helps me visualize how much over the target it is for my own personal trouble spots.
Me too. The only sad thing is the build quality ): but I love my pair. The neutral approach encouragedmy try new styles of musis. I was testing it with metal musci (personal preference) and it sounded stellar. Then I was wondering "will it sound as great if try with..." Move forward a year and I've tried From Bjork, Miles Davis, MF DOOM, Bach... Cannibal Corpse and still it's endgame for me
Just a suggestion. I enjoy your reviews and your production quality is top notch but could you please, please, PLEASE show the measurements of the headphones you are comparing against? You mentioned the Sundara as a comparison many times but without showing its measurements in comparison to the Para we can't see how it actually deviates. As an example, you say the Para has more treble than the Sundara, but where? This can matter to those of us that are sensitive in one area of treble and not in another (for instance, 5khz bothers me, 10khz does not). I also would have like to see how the bass roll off compares between the two, even though you didn't mention it. I think showing more measurements for comparison is especially important since you guys are showing measurements differently now so it gives us another frame of reference. Anyway, not trying to be negative or hate on your stuff or anything, just pointing out something that could help people make better informed buying decisions in the future. Thanks for what you do!
I'm someone who definitely prefers bright headphones. The 800s is my daily driver, I liked the 560s a lot. I'd love to see the DT990s on this kind of graph. I want to see how high that treble goes, because I liked it but it was even too bright for me lol
Yes, but you have to consider that their first in-ears to reach some grade of notoriety (the crescent and the kanas pro) at that time (I talk about 5-6 years ago) were seen as some of the best iems you could get at that price point. No one of their over-ears has got the same kind of reception
i use presonus studio one to record poduce mix and master my music. my question is what headphones will work to its full potential directly plugged into a 2023 macbook pro i dont have a headphone amp nor want to buy one.. heres what apple says - whats your recommendation ? You can connect high-impedance headphones directly to compatible Mac computers introduced in 2021 or later. The 3.5 mm headphone jack on compatible Mac computers features DC load detection and adaptive voltage output. Your Mac can detect the impedance of the connected device and will adapt its output for low- and high-impedance headphones, as well as for line-level audio devices. When you connect headphones with an impedance of less than 150 ohms, the headphone jack provides up to 1.25 volts RMS. For headphones with an impedance of 150 to 1k ohms, the headphone jack delivers 3 volts RMS. This may remove the need for an external headphone amplifier. With impedance detection, adaptive voltage output, and a built-in digital-to-analog converter that supports sample rates of up to 96 kHz, you can enjoy high-fidelity, full-resolution audio directly from the headphone jack on your Mac.
funny enough in this video I'm sitting in front of a TV with a scene that I made in blender, then just matched the lights on me to the lights in the scene.
Hifiman could release a Sundara 2 or an "organic" version where they would make a it a bit more balanced. a Touch more bass and a bit less treble. and keep a similar price point (as they could keep the built and design. well, maybe they could make the cups have a bit more swivel 😁)
You like it? How do you do yours? Back when I still had hair I used hair mousse as a pre and a bit of wax as finish, which works best for fine hair, ime. Tried clays and styling powders as well. Those can be quite rough on your hair. Gel is the worst in many regards and works for a very limited amount of hairstyles. Then I discovered Crew products and never felt the need to use mousse again. Used their styling paste (gives your hair a nice slightly matte finish and good volume without making it sticky and/or stiff, works for both messy and slick looks) and clay with great results. It may not be the best brand out there, but it's very good and strikes a great balance between price and quality. One can would last me more than a year easily. Damn, I just realized how much do I miss that.
@@juanblanco7898 Mine is similarly structured to his, it’s generally thick, so I only use water and a blow dryer. When I was younger, I used different hair product but none seem to work well with my hair without making it look like it hasn’t been washed. I‘m also the first person to go to turkey if my hairline recedes when I get older.
I'm not much into perfection, but there is a lot of headphones that have frequencies too uneven or too sharp. Why not just go flattish like audeze. Even dark themed headphone can be more enjoyable than sharp one. Good thing there are some headphones like that, non-sharp. Though there is still am option to use different pads, if it changes sound so much. What's not much talked about however is max spl, I often find myself blasting volume lvls. That also makes no-peaks important as to not damage ears by accidental highs in music. Also happens a lot that my Amp stays at high volume, Like 24W instead of 12W, non sharp highs are welcome then.
Better yet. Focus on somthing more neutral and let amps + pads do the tuning. Its just more natural in my eyes. Sure some can learn in a certain directions but idk why anyone that wants a headphone that sounds harsh. Honestly if you cant do grado highs, dont bother.
@DaBigBoo_ now I got he400se with 3d printed mesh and linear bass boost in pc, clean 1w ext dac boost, more powerful 2. Dac boost(going with 1 straight get me more background noise). So now it's quite natural, tho I can't black it to heaven, I hear such lows like never before... 2 dac makes with volume slightly down so little noise that I don't hear it, with more I get nice loudness. Headph9nes are a bit heavy so ver6 long seasons are not easy, well, just little movement on head for now, still ok. Weight and pads matter
Most planars respond well to EQ. If anything getting something closer to neutral is ideal because you can really just add low or highs depending on your preference through EQ.
I tried a pair and found them to be absolute rubbish. Mud city with any kind of volume and didn't take EQ very well, mostly because they couldn't handle bass at all. A $300 dollar pair of fart cans.
@@discoRyne doubt he can even afford that. That profile picture of him was taken in an audio store I frequent in my city where we're allowed to try high end headphones.
Theres no reason to buy anything else but a HD660S now that it's around $300. It's a slightly better 6XX but at $500 wasnt worth it. Honestly its pretty endgame for 95% of people just due to performance and build quality. I'm sure the Hifiman stuff is great but it's going to break. Maybe Dan Clark is the next step. I have Focals, I like the 660S better for comfort. Too much ChiFi stuff that may break. Thats fine with $200 IEMs but $1000 headphones, Im good. And Audeze are too heavy. Probably 800 series but thats $1800.
@DMS3TV i find the 660S to be the slightly technically superior option, but frequency response preferences override that. Price previously made this comparison a no-brainer as the 6XX was the easy steal. But with the 600 and 660S cheaper, it may be worth revisiting this debate
@@mattrismatt most mass marketed headphones look better. Beats Bose Apple Sony etc. you really start to realize how ugly Audiophile headphones get with hifiman especially. At least with focal they have a certain style that doesn’t look like somebody put random parts together .
@@marksafe5463 the headphone featured in this video has a very straightforward design language. I am so confused what you are saying? I assume the shape of the cup for the Hifiman series is what is bugging you? A lot of "Audiophile stuff" favors functionality and comfort over looks. The intended audience using "audiophile headphones" most likely are not leaving the house.
The para is for the people who already likes the moondrop tuning, or in china they call it the shui style tuning. I have tried the sundara many times as my friend owns one and always feel like the female vocals are lacking severely and prefer my old K701 that have so much issues but have a much brighter signature than the sundara. I have never heard a set of headphones have such a strong focus for forward female vocals and incredible airiness with that wide soundstage. It is the only pair of headphone that's tuned specifically tuned for jpop, cpop and acg music. Those music is an insanely small market in US and Europe, but in Asia, it's all the rage for audiophiles so it makes so much sense to put such an aggressively bright tuning on an open back that trades blow with the sundara on technical performance. I'm so glad it exists because it's something that I have been looking for.
Also the thing isn't that heavy compared to the focals and audeze that I'm listening to that day and is perfectly comfortable for me, more so than my 58x and even the sundara, it's on shp9500 level of comfort. The weight hides itself well on your head with the wide padding and wide headband
Thanks for the informasjon 😀
@@noobnoob5072 also be careful it dents easily💀 dented mine already
@@GrenMambaS30 can it go back?
From my messing with IEMs I noticed the often bright tuning. And I figured it has to do with music preferences. I’m sure this product has its audience.
I received the Moondrop Para about 4 weeks ago. I have several other headphones (including the Sundara and other planars) and I actually like the Para as an addition to my collection for its specific sound characteristics. I do agree with your description of its sound in stock form as bright and thin and I swapped the pads on the second day I owned them (super easy). I now use some deeper Fostex-like angled sheepskin pads and that helps a lot with comfort, bass extension, staging and reduced the shoutiness/brightness. I would give it a try if you can return them. Edit: They are only 8 Ohm of impedance so you need an amp with good current delivery for it to sound good. Edit2: That does not mean it needs a ton of power; the Para also works well on a Questyle M15 with its CMA modules (but not on a more average dongle-DAC).
please link those earpads, that sounds great.
@@cameronmckinnon374 I bought the Dan Clark Audio Ether angled sheepskin leather pads for mine and they are absolutely phenomenal on the Para.
I appreciate the line running through the preference boundaries it helps me visualize how much over the target it is for my own personal trouble spots.
Still waiting for the planar that will beat the Sundara at that price/performance ratio. But I can't complain, I've got the Sundara.
Me too. The only sad thing is the build quality ): but I love my pair. The neutral approach encouragedmy try new styles of musis. I was testing it with metal musci (personal preference) and it sounded stellar. Then I was wondering "will it sound as great if try with..." Move forward a year and I've tried From Bjork, Miles Davis, MF DOOM, Bach... Cannibal Corpse and still it's endgame for me
The price of the Edition XS has been lowered to 379. That might be it's only competition along with the Sennys
Yes, and that's the best place to stay in... I was there a year ago. Now, I own a lcd-x and the Sundara sounds like shit in comparison.😢
Mm100
Will never happen. Theres only so much to improve even for $3000 headphones. In fact id bet they worsen the Sundara in an "update"
Just a suggestion. I enjoy your reviews and your production quality is top notch but could you please, please, PLEASE show the measurements of the headphones you are comparing against? You mentioned the Sundara as a comparison many times but without showing its measurements in comparison to the Para we can't see how it actually deviates. As an example, you say the Para has more treble than the Sundara, but where? This can matter to those of us that are sensitive in one area of treble and not in another (for instance, 5khz bothers me, 10khz does not). I also would have like to see how the bass roll off compares between the two, even though you didn't mention it. I think showing more measurements for comparison is especially important since you guys are showing measurements differently now so it gives us another frame of reference.
Anyway, not trying to be negative or hate on your stuff or anything, just pointing out something that could help people make better informed buying decisions in the future. Thanks for what you do!
I’ll continue with Sundara and HD600, thanks for this video DMS.
Oh wow! Was hoping you would cover the Para but didn't think you actually would. Thank you!
Hi DMS, how are you and what did you have for breakfast today?
a teabag of nuts
@@TunaCanGuzzlerDAMN 😂😂😂😂 Cold Blooded 🥶🥶🥶
I'm someone who definitely prefers bright headphones. The 800s is my daily driver, I liked the 560s a lot. I'd love to see the DT990s on this kind of graph. I want to see how high that treble goes, because I liked it but it was even too bright for me lol
Great design of the hoodie, would be nice if heavy cotton t shirts would be available
I love the new graph ❤
Why no mm-100 in this comparison?
moondrop did not launch KATO out of the blue. I would like to support them.
Of course, whether I buy this or not is another matter.
Yes, but you have to consider that their first in-ears to reach some grade of notoriety (the crescent and the kanas pro) at that time (I talk about 5-6 years ago) were seen as some of the best iems you could get at that price point. No one of their over-ears has got the same kind of reception
Looks like I’ll be aiming for the ananda nano or something like the 109 pro or even a 6x0 Senny. Already have an edition xs.
Not the Venus?
Get the 6x0s
@@davidcoons89 not really interested tbh. I’ll probably aim for a warmish musical headphone.
@@El_Yukino which 6x0 model? 660s/s2? 6xx/650? 600? Also had my eye on a sivga luan. I forgot to mention I have a fiio ft3 350ohm as well.
@@Hijynx87 600, 650/6XX or 580
Thanks for OBJECTIVE things
i use presonus studio one to record poduce mix and master my music. my question is what headphones will work to its full potential directly plugged into a 2023 macbook pro i dont have a headphone amp nor want to buy one..
heres what apple says - whats your recommendation ?
You can connect high-impedance headphones directly to compatible Mac computers introduced in 2021 or later.
The 3.5 mm headphone jack on compatible Mac computers features DC load detection and adaptive voltage output. Your Mac can detect the impedance of the connected device and will adapt its output for low- and high-impedance headphones, as well as for line-level audio devices.
When you connect headphones with an impedance of less than 150 ohms, the headphone jack provides up to 1.25 volts RMS. For headphones with an impedance of 150 to 1k ohms, the headphone jack delivers 3 volts RMS. This may remove the need for an external headphone amplifier.
With impedance detection, adaptive voltage output, and a built-in digital-to-analog converter that supports sample rates of up to 96 kHz, you can enjoy high-fidelity, full-resolution audio directly from the headphone jack on your Mac.
Unrelated, but I like the orange and green background, is is an image on a tv screen or rear projection?
Can you leave a brief sound comparison between PARA and ANANDA Stealth?😊
hey I respect you a lot. Please review Simgot ea500
You dont happen to have a youtube studio setup video or post describing how you set scene up by any chance?
funny enough in this video I'm sitting in front of a TV with a scene that I made in blender, then just matched the lights on me to the lights in the scene.
Hifiman could release a Sundara 2 or an "organic" version where they would make a it a bit more balanced. a Touch more bass and a bit less treble. and keep a similar price point (as they could keep the built and design. well, maybe they could make the cups have a bit more swivel 😁)
+1 for the cup swivel although I have basically bent mine into the correct angle at this point 😅
@@Qwervy i don't find it a problem but it would definitely be an improvement. not much more to complain about really. specially for the price.
@@Qwervyat least a bit of a swivel like the edition xs would be nice….whether it was designed that way or not I have no idea lol.
EQ exist but it'd be fun to have some kind of bassier set
What microphone does he use?
It's a 3D printed microphone. "DSLR video shooter" has a great video about it.
DMS, how do you style your hair?
i heard he teases his hair with the proprietary cable pins from the HE-1 !! 😁
You like it? How do you do yours? Back when I still had hair I used hair mousse as a pre and a bit of wax as finish, which works best for fine hair, ime. Tried clays and styling powders as well. Those can be quite rough on your hair. Gel is the worst in many regards and works for a very limited amount of hairstyles. Then I discovered Crew products and never felt the need to use mousse again. Used their styling paste (gives your hair a nice slightly matte finish and good volume without making it sticky and/or stiff, works for both messy and slick looks) and clay with great results. It may not be the best brand out there, but it's very good and strikes a great balance between price and quality. One can would last me more than a year easily. Damn, I just realized how much do I miss that.
@@juanblanco7898 Mine is similarly structured to his, it’s generally thick, so I only use water and a blow dryer. When I was younger, I used different hair product but none seem to work well with my hair without making it look like it hasn’t been washed. I‘m also the first person to go to turkey if my hairline recedes when I get older.
Out of curiosity….. Have you tried the FiiO FT3 yet?
Sorry for disturb again But I listen music and also play game (Call of Duty) So what should I choose Pc38x or Hd560s
Some people want more treble and some people just want more cowbell
🤣☝👍
How do these compare with the 800s in detail and freq response
The 800S is significantly better
@@DMS3TV thanks for the reply man! What would you say these sound the most similar to? Is the venus technically better?
@@kazumasatou6124 a little bit, but as I mentioned in the vid you're better off with a hifiman sundara or HD6xx.
@@DMS3TV nice, you held me off another expensive purchase xD
Interested to get your thoughts on the Sony Mdr -mv1
Moondrop parmigiana cheese grater
mama mia
I would really like to try senny hd560S and 6xx
howdieoh
do they stage and detail on par with the sundaras?
of recent times there's something about non-oval shaped ear cups that scream AVOID! to me for some reason (?!?) 😆
I'm not much into perfection, but there is a lot of headphones that have frequencies too uneven or too sharp. Why not just go flattish like audeze. Even dark themed headphone can be more enjoyable than sharp one.
Good thing there are some headphones like that, non-sharp.
Though there is still am option to use different pads, if it changes sound so much.
What's not much talked about however is max spl, I often find myself blasting volume lvls.
That also makes no-peaks important as to not damage ears by accidental highs in music.
Also happens a lot that my Amp stays at high volume, Like 24W instead of 12W, non sharp highs are welcome then.
Better yet. Focus on somthing more neutral and let amps + pads do the tuning. Its just more natural in my eyes. Sure some can learn in a certain directions but idk why anyone that wants a headphone that sounds harsh. Honestly if you cant do grado highs, dont bother.
@DaBigBoo_ now I got he400se with 3d printed mesh and linear bass boost in pc, clean 1w ext dac boost, more powerful 2. Dac boost(going with 1 straight get me more background noise).
So now it's quite natural, tho I can't black it to heaven, I hear such lows like never before...
2 dac makes with volume slightly down so little noise that I don't hear it, with more I get nice loudness.
Headph9nes are a bit heavy so ver6 long seasons are not easy, well, just little movement on head for now, still ok.
Weight and pads matter
With such low distortion i wonder how it would EQ
Most planars respond well to EQ. If anything getting something closer to neutral is ideal because you can really just add low or highs depending on your preference through EQ.
@@silentKeys20 What are some ways i can EQ my headphone properly and use it in everyday tasks. Like is there an application for it? Besides Peace.....
Not gonna lie atop Crinacle's AutoEQ settings these things are one of the most enjoyable listening experiences I've had for $269 shipped.
Alligator rhyme boosting comment
I play Call of Duty a lot could you please recommend me a Headphone for Footsteps , Surrounding sound EXT.
I mean for Competitive gameplay
PC38X
@@DMS3TV Okhh Thanks man Have a great day 🥰
Bring back the Noontec Zoro. That’s what I say🙂
dang, title change
I tried a pair and found them to be absolute rubbish. Mud city with any kind of volume and didn't take EQ very well, mostly because they couldn't handle bass at all. A $300 dollar pair of fart cans.
I wonder why they make pads that don't fit adults? it is completely incomprehensible.
It's a conspiracy to sell additional pads!
Why does Moondrop release something that cannot compete in the price point?
They're gonna release a sub 200 planar that performs just a tad worse than this. It's their MO in the IEM market
Better than 560s? lol the activate windows
I can't agree with DMS. Stay tuned for my review of the Moondrop Para
A swing and a MISS …but still
In the game!
I want Sundara killers for under 200$ and HD800esque headphones under 300$
"I want a ferrari for $10000" lmao
@@En_Joshi-Godrez Come on the HD800s have been there untouched by anything it's time for something cheaper to take it down.
it's just suck, almost all moondrop products only good for a wrecked taste person
🧢. Arrive at that conclusion after you try the Para for yourself with a proper setup + Crinacle's AutoEQ.
@@discoRyne doubt he can even afford that. That profile picture of him was taken in an audio store I frequent in my city where we're allowed to try high end headphones.
Theres no reason to buy anything else but a HD660S now that it's around $300. It's a slightly better 6XX but at $500 wasnt worth it. Honestly its pretty endgame for 95% of people just due to performance and build quality. I'm sure the Hifiman stuff is great but it's going to break. Maybe Dan Clark is the next step. I have Focals, I like the 660S better for comfort. Too much ChiFi stuff that may break. Thats fine with $200 IEMs but $1000 headphones, Im good. And Audeze are too heavy. Probably 800 series but thats $1800.
Honestly I would take the 6XX over the 660S. Not as much a fan of the scoop in the upper mids/lower treble. Either way that whole line is great.
@DMS3TV i find the 660S to be the slightly technically superior option, but frequency response preferences override that. Price previously made this comparison a no-brainer as the 6XX was the easy steal. But with the 600 and 660S cheaper, it may be worth revisiting this debate
I hate the new graph. I really hope this doesn't catch on with other channels.
It's starting to catch on more actually and it's a significantly more useful way to display data.
@@DMS3TVit is not. show raw and let people decide for themself.
@@recode8453 people have proven time and time again that they can't read raw measurements.
Most Audiophile headphones regardless of how good they sound are so butt ugly. This is no exception. 😂
In your opinion, what headphones look good... 'audiophile' or otherwise?
@@mattrismatt most mass marketed headphones look better. Beats Bose Apple Sony etc. you really start to realize how ugly Audiophile headphones get with hifiman especially. At least with focal they have a certain style that doesn’t look like somebody put random parts together .
@@marksafe5463 I disagree. Most mass-marketed headphones look cheap.
@@marksafe5463yeah sure mate
@@marksafe5463 the headphone featured in this video has a very straightforward design language. I am so confused what you are saying? I assume the shape of the cup for the Hifiman series is what is bugging you? A lot of "Audiophile stuff" favors functionality and comfort over looks. The intended audience using "audiophile headphones" most likely are not leaving the house.