Moondrop Variations VS MIM Dark Magician

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

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Moondrop Variations and MIM Dark Magician use 1DD+2BA+2EST and 1DD driver setups respectively. Moondrop Variations costs $550 while MIM Dark Magician costs $500. Moondrop Variations is $50 more expensive. Moondrop Variations holds a decisive 1.1-point edge in reviewer scores (7.5 vs 6.5). Moondrop Variations carries a user score of 7.8. Moondrop Variations has significantly better bass with a 1.8-point edge, Moondrop Variations has significantly better treble with a 1.8-point edge, Moondrop Variations has significantly better dynamics with a 1.2-point edge, Moondrop Variations has better soundstage with a 0.8-point edge, Moondrop Variations has significantly better details with a 1.6-point edge and Moondrop Variations has significantly better imaging with a 1-point edge.

Insights

Metric Moondrop Variations MIM Dark Magician
Bass 7.3 5.5
Mids 7.3 7.3
Treble 7.5 5.7
Details 7.3 5.7
Soundstage 7.8 7
Imaging 7 6
Dynamics 6.2 5
Tonality 7.5 6.9
Technicalities 7.5 6.3

Moondrop Variations Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Nymz
Drew / Audionotions Jays Audio Tim Tuned Shuwa-T Smirk Audio Precogvision
Jaytiss Super* Review Gizaudio Axel Crin

Average Reviewer Score:

7.5

Strongly Favorable


MIM Dark Magician Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Nymz Precogvision
Shuwa-T Crin
Jays Audio

Average Reviewer Score:

6.5

Mixed to Positive


Moondrop Variations User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score:

Based on 1 user reviews

7.8

Strongly Favorable

MIM Dark Magician User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

No user reviews yet. Be the first one who writes a review!

Moondrop Variations Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

7

Gaming Grade

A-

MIM Dark Magician Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

6.2

Gaming Grade

B

Moondrop Variations 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 A-
Strong, well-defined bass with good texture. Delivers satisfying punch and rumble without overwhelming other frequencies.
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
Good dynamic expression with solid impact. Handles volume contrasts well while maintaining good transient snap.
Soundstage A
Excellent spatial presentation - wide, deep and tall. Precise instrument placement with clear separation in all dimensions.
Details A-
Excellent detail retrieval: highly resolving without being clinical. Effortlessly reveals micro-details and textural subtleties.
Imaging A-
Excellent imaging: precise and stable placement. Instruments occupy specific points in space with tangible positions.
Gaming A-
Good fundamental spatial awareness for most gaming scenarios. Handles basic positioning well but may lack nuance in complex situations. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

MIM Dark Magician 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 B-
Average bass performance - present but unremarkable. Has reasonable texture but lacks depth and physicality.
Mids A-
Excellent midrange with natural timbre and great detail retrieval. Vocals are forward and emotive with lifelike instrument reproduction.
Treble B-
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 A-
Excellent spatial presentation - wide, deep and tall. Precise instrument placement with clear separation in all dimensions.
Details B-
Decent detail retrieval. Handles most textures adequately though micro-details and ambient cues could be more pronounced.
Imaging B
Good imaging with precise instrument placement. Clear localization within the soundstage including front/back positioning.
Gaming B
Decent spatial awareness for fundamental positioning. Creates satisfying atmosphere in story-driven games while handling basic directional cues. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Moondrop Variations Reviews

Jaytiss 8.3 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A+ Tech
The more I listen the more perfect I find it.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
- Jaytiss
Mids: A+ Treble: A+ Dynamics: C+ Soundstage: A+
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Price: $479

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Super* Review 8* * score normalized
Gizaudio Axel 8 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A Tech
A solid benchmark. Great sub-bass, Harman tuning, and excellent detail. Can sound thin.

Gizaudio Axel original ranking

Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel
- Gizaudio Axel
Crin 8 Reviewer Score
S Tuning
A Tech
Sub-bass-focused signature with Moondrop's clean tuning makes this one of the best $500 tribrids.

Crin original ranking

Crin Youtube Channel
- Crin
Drew / Audionotions 7.5 Reviewer Score
Very resolving with good sub-bass and good treble. A bit thin and clinical sounding and lacks a bit of note weight. Could use a bit more mid-bass. Otherwise, the resolution is top-notch. Treble extension is decent. Might be a little shouty for some, but not for me! Previously Owned

Drew / Audionotions original ranking

Website (Audionotions)

- Drew / Audionotions
Jays Audio 7.5 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A+ Tech
Very clear with lots of detail. Sub-bass has a nice rumble and texture. Amazing treble extension and stage air. Female vocals are vibrant and shines. Mid-bass cut is real, affecting some genres and male vocals. Note-weight can be light.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
- Jays Audio
Tim Tuned 7.5 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A+ Tech
Great separation and details Thin lower midrange

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
- Tim Tuned
Bass: A+ Mids: A+ Treble: S
Shuwa-T 7.3 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A Tech
Comment: Too much subbass, dry sounding lower mids. Clarity Subbass overpowers lower mids

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

- Shuwa-T
Bass: A Mids: B Treble: A- Soundstage: A Details: A+ Imaging: A+
Smirk Audio 7 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B+ Tech
Great tuning, neutral timbre, and a satisfying bass with a sub-bass focus. Solid all-rounder.

Smirk Audio original ranking

Smirk Audio Head-Fi Profile

- Smirk Audio
Bass: A- Mids: A Treble: A- Dynamics: B+ Details: A- Imaging: A-
Precogvision 7 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B+ Tech
A more refined B2 Dusk with better bass texture and treble extension.

Precogvision original ranking

Precogvision Youtube Channel
- Precogvision
Bass: A+ Mids: A- Treble: A- Dynamics: A- Details: A- Imaging: B
Nymz 6.7 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A- Tech
Resolution king for the price point with a fun tuning. Great sub-bass and treble. Lack of mid-bass bass and somewhat thin mids murdered it for my library. Can see the appeal for others tho.

Nymz original ranking

Nymz Website

- Nymz
Bass: B Mids: A- Treble: A- Details: A- Imaging: A-
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Price: $549

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MIM Dark Magician Reviews

Jays Audio 8 Reviewer Score
S Tuning
A Tech
Weighted and airy vocals but with expansive staging. 3D/ball imaging. Coherency and dynamics are TOTL. Clear - details are "big"/forward, but can use better separation. Super immersive. Could use more sub-bass and resolution.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
- Jays Audio
Shuwa-T 6.9 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A- Tech
Comment: Full-sounding note weight with proper bass layering, very coherent monitor. Warm, "balanced" tuning that prioritises more midrange musicality, beautiful vocals, generally sounds coherent at all frequencies Mediocre soundstage

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

- Shuwa-T
Bass: B+ Mids: A+ Treble: B Soundstage: A- Details: A- Imaging: A-
Crin 6.5 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B+ Tech
check links for more info:

Crin original ranking

Crin Youtube Channel
- Crin
Nymz 5.7 Reviewer Score
B Tuning
C+ Tech
Discontinued - new version isn't the same tuning. One of the best single DD sets you can buy. Micro detail level and bass texture are great for the tuning. Everything well done. Harder to get than Kate Beckinsale's number.

Nymz original ranking

Nymz Website

- Nymz
Bass: C+ Mids: A- Treble: B Details: C+ Imaging: B
Precogvision 5.2 Reviewer Score
B- Tuning
C+ Tech
Pleasant and smooth tonality; however, the DD being used does not seem very technical (for the price).

Precogvision original ranking

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

Moondrop Variations User Reviews

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Endoki
7.8

This was one of my first IEMs. I loved it and hated it. It is still the cleanest sounding IEM I own - also compared to something much more expensive.

Pros
Very clean sound signature combined with a satisfying amount of sub-bass. Sounds great with the right songs
Cons
Thin mids and poor note weight in some songs

MIM Dark Magician User Reviews

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