GS Audio ST1 VS Moondrop May

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

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GS Audio ST1 and Moondrop May use 1BA and 1DD+1Planar driver setups respectively. GS Audio ST1 costs $80 while Moondrop May costs $65. GS Audio ST1 is $15 more expensive. Moondrop May holds a decisive 4.3-point edge in reviewer scores (2.2 vs 6.5). Moondrop May has significantly better bass with a 5-point edge, Moondrop May has significantly better mids with a 3.5-point edge and Moondrop May has significantly better treble with a 3-point edge.

Insights

Metric GS Audio ST1 Moondrop May
Bass 2 7
Mids 3 6.5
Treble 2 5
Details 2 6.5
Soundstage 2.2 6
Imaging 2 6.5
Dynamics 2.2 5
Gaming capabilities 2.1 5.6

GS Audio ST1 Aggregated Review Score

GS Audio ST1 Average Reviewer Scores

Nymz

Average Reviewer Score:

2.2

Very Negative


Moondrop May Aggregated Review Score

Moondrop May Average Reviewer Scores

Tim Tuned Jaytiss
Z-Reviews Super* Review IEMRanking AI

Average Reviewer Score:

6.5

Mixed to Positive


GS Audio ST1 User Review Score

GS Audio ST1 Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Moondrop May User Review Score

Moondrop May Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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GS Audio ST1 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

2.1

Gaming Grade

E+

Moondrop May Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

5.6

Gaming Grade

B-

GS Audio ST1 Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

E+
  • Tonally jarring or fatiguing. Frequency clashes (e.g., piercing treble, bloated bass) make extended listening unpleasant. Poor genre adaptation.

Average Technical Grade

E+
  • Noticeably blurred or congested. Struggles with basic instrument separation; details are lost in simple tracks. Feels "flat" and one-dimensional.
Bass E+
Noticeably thin bass presence. Lacks body and texture, leaving low frequencies feeling hollow and underdeveloped.
Mids D
Midrange is significantly uneven with coloration. Some frequencies are boosted while others are missing, creating an unnatural tone.
Treble E+
Treble is noticeably dark and lacking extension. Cymbals lack shimmer and high-frequency details are obscured.
Details E+
Noticeably blurred and lacking definition. Background elements are smeared together and micro-details are inaudible.
Imaging E+
Poor instrument placement with unstable positioning. Instruments drift and lack fixed locations within the sound field.
Gaming E+
Compromised imaging significantly impacts gameplay awareness. Directional cues often lack accuracy or consistency.

Moondrop May Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B-
  • Generally enjoyable tonal character with some noticeable unevenness. Maintains listenability while showing room for refinement in frequency balance.

Average Technical Grade

B-
  • Satisfactory technical performance. Handles basic detail retrieval adequately in most tracks. Maintains reasonable cohesion in simpler arrangements.
Bass A-
Strong, well-defined bass with good texture. Delivers satisfying punch and rumble without overwhelming other frequencies.
Mids B+
Good midrange presence with solid clarity. Vocals are clear and instruments have reasonable texture and body.
Treble C+
Decent treble with acceptable extension and detail. Can sound slightly unrefined but avoids being harsh or sibilant.
Dynamics C+
Decent dynamic performance. Good macro-contrast but micro-dynamics could be more nuanced. Satisfactory impact.
Soundstage B
Good soundstage with proper width and depth. Instruments have clear positioning with reasonable front/back placement.
Gaming B-
Moderate spatial presentation conveys general directionality. Suitable for casual play where precision isn't critical.

GS Audio ST1 Reviews

GS Audio ST1 reviewed by:

Nymz 2.2 Reviewer Score
E+ Tuning
E+ Tech
BA timbre. Easy going tuning. Not very technical but a nice way to taste BA bass etc. Better value offers out there otherwise.

Nymz original ranking

Nymz Website

- Nymz
Bass: E+ Mids: D Treble: E+ Details: E+ Imaging: E+

Moondrop May Reviews

Moondrop May reviewed by:

Z-Reviews 7.5 * score normalized
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Price: $74.99

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Moondrop May reviewed by:

Super* Review 7* * score normalized
The May is the way to go if you have 80 bucks. Standard EQ sounds great. Nice low contrast neutral sound

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel
- Super* Review

Moondrop May reviewed by:

Tim Tuned 5.5 Reviewer Score
B- Tuning
A- Tech
check links for more info:

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
- Tim Tuned
Bass: A- Mids: A+ Treble: A-

Moondrop May reviewed by:

Jaytiss 5.3 Reviewer Score
C- Tuning
D Tech
A very enjoyable listen, hard to fault at this price and design. Could be a winner for you.

Jaytiss original ranking

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

Moondrop May reviewed by:

2025-07-01
IEMRanking AI 7 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
B+ Tech

The Moondrop May offers a convenient USB-C DSP cable with multiple EQ presets accessible via the Moondrop Link app, though the app suffers from connectivity issues and requires invasive permissions like location and file access. Its lightweight resin build provides solid comfort for extended wear, but the included ear tips are notoriously difficult to install on the nozzles. The DSP cable itself can exhibit a faint electronic whine during audio pauses, which disrupts calls or quiet passages.

Sonically, the May delivers a balanced signature with smooth, natural midrange, though male vocals occasionally lack resolution and texture. The 6mm planar driver handles treble with refinement, avoiding harshness, but struggles with airiness and micro-detail retrieval compared to competitors like the Truthear Hexa. Bass texture and layering also fall short despite the hybrid 1DD + 1 planar configuration, leading to a somewhat one-dimensional low end in complex tracks.

Technical performance is adequate for the price, with a moderately intimate soundstage and competent imaging, though instrument separation and dynamics can feel congested in busy mixes. The May scales better with analog cables than its own DSP solution, revealing improved clarity and midrange texture when bypassing the stock setup. While the DSP concept is innovative, execution issues limit its appeal, making the May a competent but inconsistent package at $65.

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Price: $74.99

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GS Audio ST1 User Reviews

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Moondrop May User Reviews

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Price: $63

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