Moondrop S8 VS Empire Ears Zeus XIV

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

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Moondrop S8 and Empire Ears Zeus XIV use 8BA and 14BA driver setups respectively. Moondrop S8 costs $700 while Empire Ears Zeus XIV costs $750. Empire Ears Zeus XIV is $50 more expensive. Moondrop S8 holds a decisive 2.9-point edge in reviewer scores (7.6 vs 4.7). Moondrop S8 has significantly better bass with a 3.6-point edge, Moondrop S8 has significantly better mids with a 3.5-point edge, Moondrop S8 has significantly better treble with a 3.8-point edge, Moondrop S8 has significantly better dynamics with a 1.7-point edge, Moondrop S8 has significantly better details with a 1-point edge and Moondrop S8 has significantly better imaging with a 1.7-point edge.

Insights

Metric Moondrop S8 Empire Ears Zeus XIV
Bass 6.6 3
Mids 7.5 4
Treble 7.8 4
Details 8 7
Soundstage 7.5 4.7
Imaging 7.7 6
Dynamics 5.7 4
Tonality 7.3 3.4
Technicalities 7.5 7.1

Moondrop S8 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Bad Guy Good Audio Shuwa-T Audionotions Gizaudio Axel Crin Jaytiss Smirk Audio Precogvision Tim Tuned
Super* Review

Average Reviewer Score:

7.6

Strongly Favorable

Show all Moondrop S8 reviews

Empire Ears Zeus XIV Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Precogvision Crin

Average Reviewer Score:

4.7

Generally Unfavorable

Show all Empire Ears Zeus XIV reviews

Moondrop S8 Details

Driver Configuration: 8BA

Tuning Type: harman

Brand: Moondrop Top Moondrop IEMs

Price (Msrp): $700

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Empire Ears Zeus XIV Details

Driver Configuration: 14BA

Tuning Type: Bright neutral

Brand: Empire Ears Top Empire Ears IEMs

Price (Msrp): $750

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Moondrop S8 User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Empire Ears Zeus XIV User Review Score

Average User Scores

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Based on 0 user reviews

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Moondrop S8 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

6.9

Gaming Grade

B+

Empire Ears Zeus XIV Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

5.5

Gaming Grade

B-

Moondrop S8 Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A-
  • Pleasing tonal balance with good technical control. Minor quirks present but not distracting. Demonstrates decent genre versatility.

Average Technical Grade

A
  • Competent technical presentation. Handles separation and detail well in most tracks, with modest soundstage and acceptable imaging capabilities.
Bass B+
Good bass foundation with decent impact. Maintains acceptable control while providing satisfying thump in most tracks.
Mids A
Excellent midrange with natural timbre and great detail retrieval. Vocals are forward and emotive with lifelike instrument reproduction.
Treble A
Excellent treble: airy, extended and well-controlled. Great micro-detail retrieval without sibilance or harshness.
Dynamics B-
Decent dynamic performance. Good macro-contrast but micro-dynamics could be more nuanced. Satisfactory impact.
Soundstage A
Excellent spatial presentation - wide, deep and tall. Precise instrument placement with clear separation in all dimensions.
Details A+
Exceptional resolution that uncovers the deepest layers. Retrieves even the most minute details while maintaining natural timbre.
Imaging A
Excellent imaging: precise and stable placement. Instruments occupy specific points in space with tangible positions.
Gaming B+
Respectable environmental presentation favors atmosphere over precision. Detects obvious directional cues while conveying game world ambiance. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Empire Ears Zeus XIV Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

D
  • Significantly flawed tuning. Noticeable frequency imbalances and unnatural timbre distract from music. Lacks versatility across recordings.

Average Technical Grade

A-
  • Competent technical presentation. Handles separation and detail well in most tracks, with modest soundstage and acceptable imaging capabilities.
Bass D
Bass is light and underwhelming. While some faint rumble exists, it lacks punch and authority in any meaningful way.
Mids C-
Midrange is passable but unrefined. Lacks detail and smoothness, with occasional harshness in upper mids.
Treble C-
Average treble performance - present but lacking refinement. Some graininess or splashiness affects clarity.
Dynamics C-
Average dynamics - passable but unexciting. Transients are rounded and micro-dynamics lack refinement.
Details A-
Excellent detail retrieval: highly resolving without being clinical. Effortlessly reveals micro-details and textural subtleties.
Imaging B
Good imaging with precise instrument placement. Clear localization within the soundstage including front/back positioning.
Gaming B-
Moderate spatial presentation conveys general directionality. Suitable for casual play where precision isn't critical. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Moondrop S8 Reviews

Reviewed by: Super* Review

Super* Review 9* * score normalized
check links for more info:

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel
YouTube video thumbnail

Reviewed by: Bad Guy Good Audio

Bad Guy Good Audio 7.9 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A- Tech
Great detail,relax tuning upgrade of "A8" only a slight upgrade to the previous A8

URL to full Review

Bad Guy Good Audio original ranking

Bad Guy Good Audio Youtube Channel
Bass: B Mids: A+ Treble: A+
YouTube video thumbnail

Reviewed by: Shuwa-T

Shuwa-T 7.8 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A+ Tech
Comment: Technically proficient. Clarity and tuning well done BA timbre

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

Bass: A- Mids: A- Treble: A+ Soundstage: A+ Details: S- Imaging: S-

Reviewed by: Audionotions

Audionotions 7.5 Reviewer Score
Very resolving and well tuned. Note weight leans thin. First IEM that I can say I definitely hear the BA timbre. Could use more down low. Pressure build is uncomfortable. Previously Owned

Audionotions original ranking

Website (Audionotions)

Reviewed by: Gizaudio Axel

Gizaudio Axel 7.5 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A+ Tech
Smooth, detailed, and balanced tuning. Harman-like sound with plenty of detail. BA bass.

Gizaudio Axel original ranking

Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Crin

Crin 7.5 Reviewer Score
S- Tuning
A Tech
More faithful to the Harman target compared to the A8, with a smoother bass response.

Crin original ranking

Crin Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Jaytiss

Jaytiss 7.3 Reviewer Score
B Tuning
A- Tech
Special set.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Mids: B Treble: A- Dynamics: C+ Soundstage: A-

Reviewed by: Smirk Audio

Smirk Audio 7.1 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A- Tech
Very resolving with a sweet, pleasant timbre. Good mids and treble. Average bass. Upper-mids may be shouty to some.

Smirk Audio original ranking

Smirk Audio Head-Fi Profile

Bass: B Mids: A+ Treble: A Dynamics: B Details: A Imaging: A

Reviewed by: Precogvision

Precogvision 7.1 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A- Tech
Excellent treble extension and detail retrieval.

Precogvision original ranking

Precogvision Youtube Channel
Bass: B Mids: A+ Treble: A+ Dynamics: B Details: A+ Imaging: A-

Reviewed by: Tim Tuned

Tim Tuned 7 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A+ Tech
Smooth engaging harman signature with fun bass BA timbre

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
Bass: A+ Mids: A+ Treble: A+
YouTube video thumbnail

Empire Ears Zeus XIV Reviews

Reviewed by: Precogvision

Precogvision 4.8 Reviewer Score
D+ Tuning
B- Tech
Wonky tuning and plasticky timbre, but pretty detailed.

Precogvision original ranking

Precogvision Youtube Channel
Bass: D Mids: C- Treble: C- Dynamics: C- Details: A- Imaging: B

Reviewed by: Crin

Crin 4.5 Reviewer Score
D Tuning
S- Tech
Top tier detail and resolution with poor tone and timbre reproduction.

Crin original ranking

Crin Youtube Channel

Moondrop S8 User Reviews

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