MIM Dark Magician VS Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk

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

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MIM Dark Magician and Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk use 1DD and 2DD+2BA+2PLA driver setups respectively. MIM Dark Magician costs $500 while Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk costs $400. MIM Dark Magician is $100 more expensive. Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk holds a decisive 1.2-point edge in reviewer scores (6.5 vs 7.7). Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk has significantly better bass with a 1.8-point edge, Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk has significantly better treble with a 2.1-point edge, Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk has better soundstage with a 0.5-point edge, Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk has significantly better details with a 2.3-point edge and Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk has significantly better imaging with a 1.5-point edge.

Insights

Metric MIM Dark Magician Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk
Bass 5.5 7.3
Mids 7.3 7.1
Treble 5.7 7.8
Details 5.7 8
Soundstage 7 7.5
Imaging 6 7.5
Dynamics 5 5
Tonality 6.9 7.2
Technicalities 6.3 7.8

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 x Crinacle Dusk Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Fresh Reviews
Bad Guy Good Audio Jaytiss Tim Tuned Gizaudio Axel Shuwa-T Jays Audio
Super* Review Drew / Audionotions

Average Reviewer Score:

7.7

Strongly Favorable


MIM Dark Magician User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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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 x Crinacle Dusk Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

7.4

Gaming Grade

A-

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 x Crinacle Dusk 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
  • Good technical performance. Clear separation and decent detail retrieval across various tracks. Soundstage shows reasonable width and depth.
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 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 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 A-
Good fundamental spatial awareness for most gaming scenarios. Handles basic positioning well but may lack nuance in complex situations. Value-to-cost may not be optimal for gaming-focused users.

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 x Crinacle Dusk Reviews

Super* Review 8.5* * score normalized
Overall high engagement factor.

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel
- Super* Review
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Drew / Audionotions 8 Reviewer Score
I came close to writing this off because it relies on DSP to achieve the target tuning. Thankfully my curiosity got the best of me. Putting aside any issues pertaining to the DSP cable, this is a fantastic IEM in either DSP or analog set up. This IEM checks off so many boxes and I'm hardpressed to think of another IEM that does timbre, techs, and engagement as well as Dusk. I do prefer the Default DSP tuning slightly in most cases but even in analog set up, it's still very capable and sometimes I would take this tuning over DSP. In Analog, bass has a very satisfying, tactile/physical character, with good subbass extension and rumble. Mids are clean very crisp sounding, and treble is well extended with a lot of air. There is a slight thinness/metallic character in analog mode but it's not unpleasant and isn't really noticeable except on A/B. Switching to DSP retains the phsyical character while adds a very nice richness and weight to instruments and vocals, balances out the treble a bit, and eschews that smidge of unnatural/metallic sheen, becoming, quite frankly, one of the more natural sounding IEMs I've heard. In either configuration, techs are fantastic. Imaging and instrument separation are phenomenal. Dynamics are excellent. Transients are very well defined and there is an incisiveness to the sound that is super engaging. Details are very good for the price. This is the IEM to beat in 2024 and of the recent wave of fantastic releases. Leans a bit to the clinical side. I'd rank this higher if it didn't rely on DSP. Previously Owned

Drew / Audionotions original ranking

Website (Audionotions)

- Drew / Audionotions
Bad Guy Good Audio 7.9 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A+ Tech
check links for more info:

Bad Guy Good Audio original ranking

Bad Guy Good Audio Youtube Channel
- Bad Guy Good Audio
Bass: A- Mids: A- Treble: A+
Jaytiss 7.8 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A+ Tech
Just a tad on the bland side.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
- Jaytiss
Mids: B Treble: A+ Dynamics: C+ Soundstage: A+
Tim Tuned 7.5 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A+ Tech
Pros: Balanced tuning with world class timbre decay.

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
- Tim Tuned
Bass: A+ Mids: S Treble: A+
Gizaudio Axel 7.5 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A Tech
Excellent tuning and a highly detailed, all-around performer. Great bass quality, rich vocals, balanced tonality, sparkly treble, and excellent resolution. I prefer more bass.

Gizaudio Axel original ranking

Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel
- Gizaudio Axel
Shuwa-T 7.2 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A Tech
The most neutral of the triple threat, caters to the safest of tunings

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

- Shuwa-T
Bass: A- Mids: B+ Treble: A- Soundstage: A- Details: A+ Imaging: A
Jays Audio 7 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A+ Tech
Inoffensive safe tuning, less fatiguing uppermids good for jpop/kpop. Vocals lack the last bit of extension, detail, and power. DSP APP is a shit show. Heavy competition from Nova, Cincotres, Hype 4.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
- Jays Audio
Fresh Reviews 5.5* * The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score

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