Moondrop Starfield Review (2) – Another Country Heard From
Having hit it big with its $150 Kanas Pro and $180 KXXS, Moondrop scores again with the $100 Starfield, which sounds at least as good as its more expensive brethren. Painted alloy headshells look a bit garish but feel premium, while small bulbous design provides for excellent fit and comfort. Isolation is only fair. The Starfield are easy to drive and get plenty loud with just a mobile, but amping significantly increases bass impact and brings out their true colors.
As with the Kanas and KXXS, the Starfield goes for the Harman target, which emphasizes midbass and upper mids, and presents a warm, energetic signature with meaty note texture. However, although possessing decent depth and rumble, the Starfield tones down the low-end quantity, which gives these a more coherent presentation; like the Kanas Pro the bass isn’t the fastest and some smudging into the mids is discernable, but the overall effect is very live-sounding. Mids are aggressive, with a lot of presence and drive, while treble is smooth and wholly free of stridency, with a gentle roll-off around 8k or so. The Starfield doesn’t aspire to the hyper-revealing detail and precision of good BAs, and cymbals and percussion may lack some crispness. However, these have an inalienable lushness and silkiness; they’re the polar opposite of clinical.
Soundstage here is wide and deep; probably because of the slightly loose bass imaging isn’t class-leading, though these remain uncongested, with good air between performers. Tonality isn’t free from coloration (“syrupy” comes to mind), and it’s not the most resolving, but is wholly non-fatiguiging and very musical. More expensive recent DDs like the NF NM+ and the KBear Believe image better, present more nuance and sparkle and have quicker transients, but lack the realism of Starfield; the NM+ and Believe sound over-processed and metallic in comparison. The Starfield also cuts the similarly-priced Tin T4 by a good margin, with a richer timbre and a less spiky treble.
The Starfield isn’t a purist’s earphone; it won’t satisfy detail junkies or bassheads and isn’t as technically accomplished as some peers. However, it’s the kind of piece that simply sounds better than the sum of its parts and, at least for me, is tough to beat at this bracket. Highly recommended.
SPECIFICATIONS
Model: Starfield
Driver Unit: CNT carbon nano tube diaphragm-10 mm dual cavity dynamic driver
Sensitivity: 122 dB/Vrms (@1kHz)
Impedance: 32Ω ± 15 %(@1 kHz)
Frequency Response: 10 Hz – 36 kHz(free-field 1/4 inch MIC, -3dB)
Effective frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Cable: 24 AWG Litz 4N OFC cable
Pin: 2pin 0.78mm
Tested at: $109
Link: Aliepress Moondrop Official Store
DISCLAIMER
Forwarded from Jürgen who had received it from Moondrop in Chengdu. Thank you very much.
Product Link: MOONDROP Official Store
Manufacturer’s Website: Moondrop Co.
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I think we have to admit at some point that reviews are becoming contests among themselves to see how many adjectives can be multiplied in service of that which by its very nature eludes description?