If you want to use the Aria with a device that doesn’t have an analog output or headphone jack, you’ll need some sort of DAC or a headphone amplifier. The Aria Snow Edition has the slightly edge when it comes to the depth of the stage, while both IEM’s do have a relative similar performance when it comes to the wideness of the soundstage. Moondrop has even ventured into earbuds, some considered best-in-class (eg Chaconne and Liebesleid).

The upper midrange and treble region of the Moondrop Aria Snow Edition offers a slightly better sense of extension and control, while both IEM are pretty equal when it comes to the resolution. The optical difference is the color of the shell that is now silver instead of black and the Snow Edition faceplate design that reflects a gorgeous looking Snowflake pattern.First Aria get complaint from consumers about paint chip issue which question aesthetical durability of it’s housing, I haven’t encounter this with my Aria which is still in perfect shape after 2 years of intense careless use. They don’t reinvent the wheel but bring a sublime midrange, organic timbre, balanced tonality, and beautiful aesthetics to the CHI-FI table. On tracks like yoasobi racing into the night, the bass rumbles and note weight stands out giving basshead all the adequate satisfying bass you need to balanced out the bright vocal of yoasobi. I remember 3y ago that Starfield was praise as good value, which now feel from a very lower league in term of plain performance. While we have seen some concerns about the build quality online, we noticed no such issue despite heavy use for several days.

After all, all ears are different and the depth of the ear tips and stems really makes a difference in your results. MOONDROP also put out a few special editions of the Aria last year, but those were all simply different colorways but using the exact same internals. When I play tracks that are supposed to give this very deep bass such as Kitty Cat Adventure by Inori Minase and Himawari no Yakusoku by Motohiro Hata, Moondrop Aria doesn't represent the deepness and punchiness that I seek.Using the Moondrop Aria SE while on a skateboard, it hushes the rattle of the wheels on pavement quite satisfactorily, too. Firstly, the Youth is notably brighter and more V shape, it’s balance is more wonky and unbalanced in treble part. If you want a good sounding set of buds with nice looking metal housings, the Aria ranks as a great option.

Case The provided round semi-rigid zipper case blends elegance, compactness, functionality, and hardiness into one little package. As with the MOONDROP Aria (2021), these new Aria Snow Edition IEMs have metal shells that are first cast and then CNC machined to give you an exact physical replica of the previous version. The first-generation Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) composite diaphragm of the Moondrop Aria Snow Edition replaces the original Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) diaphragm that was integrated into Aria and incorporates a 10mm dual-cavity dynamic driver unit.While the over-ear cabling doesn’t feel as nice as the earbuds themselves, that 2-pin connector means you can upgrade the cable if you like. However many other earbuds and headphones will perform better, especially those with active noise canceling.

Compared to the Aria 2021, the Snow Edition shells are real lookers, but for me, sound quality is still the first priority over aesthetics. The only standout of the Moondrop Aria is the wide staging and spread of the instruments but not to the extent to comparing against the Olina / S12 pro level of proficiency. The first thing we’d recommend you check out if you’re interested in a different set of wired earbuds would be the Shure SE215, which features a plastic design and different style of cable which some people find to be more comfortable.The Moondrop Aria SE features an all-metal outer shell with an etched snowflake design on the side, echoing the Snow Edition moniker these earbuds carry.