Moondrop Variations VS Hisenior Mega5-EST

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

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Moondrop Variations and Hisenior Mega5-EST are 1DD+2BA+2EST in-ear monitors. Moondrop Variations costs $550 while Hisenior Mega5-EST costs $549. Moondrop Variations is $1 more expensive. Hisenior Mega5-EST holds a slight 0.4-point edge in reviewer scores (7.5 vs 7.9). Moondrop Variations carries a user score of 7.8. Hisenior Mega5-EST has better bass with a 0.5-point edge, Hisenior Mega5-EST has slightly better mids with a 0.3-point edge, Hisenior Mega5-EST has better treble with a 0.5-point edge, Hisenior Mega5-EST has slightly better dynamics with a 0.3-point edge, Hisenior Mega5-EST has better soundstage with a 0.5-point edge and Hisenior Mega5-EST has slightly better imaging with a 0.3-point edge.

Insights

Metric Moondrop Variations Hisenior Mega5-EST
Bass 7.3 7.8
Mids 7.4 7.7
Treble 7.7 8.2
Details 7.3 7.3
Soundstage 8.3 8.8
Imaging 7 7.3
Dynamics 6.5 6.8
Gaming capabilities 7.1 7.3

Moondrop Variations Aggregated Review Score

Moondrop Variations Average Reviewer Scores

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

Average Reviewer Score:

7.5

Strongly Favorable


Hisenior Mega5-EST Aggregated Review Score

Hisenior Mega5-EST Average Reviewer Scores

Fresh Reviews
Precogvision
Smirk Audio Jays Audio Shuwa-T
Gizaudio Axel Jaytiss Tim Tuned Super* Review IEMRanking AI
Z-Reviews

Average Reviewer Score:

7.9

Strongly Favorable


Moondrop Variations User Review Score

Moondrop Variations Average User Scores

Average User Score:

Based on 1 user reviews

7.8

Strongly Favorable

Hisenior Mega5-EST User Review Score

Hisenior Mega5-EST 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

7.1

Gaming Grade

A-

Hisenior Mega5-EST Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

7.3

Gaming Grade

A-

Moondrop Variations Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A
  • Well-executed tonal character. No major flaws with good technical control. Smooth presentation works with multiple genres.

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 B+
Good dynamic expression with solid impact. Handles volume contrasts well while maintaining good transient snap.
Soundstage A+
Exceptional soundstage with holographic imaging. Creates a truly three-dimensional space where instruments float naturally around you.
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

Hisenior Mega5-EST Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A+
  • Well-executed tonal character. No major flaws with good technical control. Smooth presentation works with multiple genres.

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+
Superb treble: effortless extension with crystal clarity. Perfect balance of sparkle and smoothness with exceptional detail.
Dynamics B+
Good dynamic expression with solid impact. Handles volume contrasts well while maintaining good transient snap.
Soundstage S-
Exceptional soundstage with holographic imaging. Creates a truly three-dimensional space where instruments float naturally around you.
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

Moondrop Variations Reviews

Moondrop Variations reviewed by:

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-
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Price: $479

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Moondrop Variations reviewed by:

Super* Review 8* * score normalized

Moondrop Variations reviewed by:

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

Moondrop Variations reviewed by:

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

Moondrop Variations reviewed by:

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

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
- Jaytiss
Mids: S Treble: S Dynamics: B Soundstage: S

Moondrop Variations reviewed by:

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

Moondrop Variations reviewed by:

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

Moondrop Variations reviewed by:

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

Moondrop Variations reviewed by:

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+

Moondrop Variations reviewed by:

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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Hisenior Mega5-EST Reviews

Hisenior Mega5-EST reviewed by:

Fresh Reviews 5.5* * The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score
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Price: $549

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Hisenior Mega5-EST reviewed by:

Z-Reviews 9 * score normalized

Hisenior Mega5-EST reviewed by:

Smirk Audio 7 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B+ Tech
Well-tuned and great techs at this price point. Lacks dynamics and the mids are a little lean. Otherwise a great 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-

Hisenior Mega5-EST reviewed by:

Jays Audio 7.5 Reviewer Score
S- Tuning
A+ Tech
New unit is better tuned/balanced, smooth, good all-rounder, and sounds like adjusted diffusefield.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
- Jays Audio

Hisenior Mega5-EST reviewed by:

Gizaudio Axel 8 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A- Tech
A "plain water" type sound signature with a bass boost. Great tuning, neutral with bass boost, smooth, safe, and balanced. Could use more detail, incisiveness, and excitement.

Gizaudio Axel original ranking

Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel
- Gizaudio Axel

Hisenior Mega5-EST reviewed by:

Jaytiss 8.6 Reviewer Score
S- Tuning
S Tech
If you get the good tuning, this is way higher.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
- Jaytiss
Mids: S Treble: S Dynamics: A- Soundstage: S

Hisenior Mega5-EST reviewed by:

Precogvision 6.5 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A- Tech
Very bouncy bass but midrange sounds sucked out and has some oddity. Original sounds more coherent even if less exciting/detailed.

Precogvision original ranking

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

Hisenior Mega5-EST reviewed by:

Tim Tuned 8.5 Reviewer Score
S- Tuning
A+ Tech
Exceptionally tuned across the board Could use more "wow" and details

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
- Tim Tuned
Bass: S Mids: S Treble: S

Hisenior Mega5-EST reviewed by:

Super* Review 8* * score normalized
Fantastic tuning.. it really does not get better. Technical performance could be better.

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel
- Super* Review

Hisenior Mega5-EST reviewed by:

Shuwa-T 7.9 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A+ Tech
Bass layering, treble detail are excellent; midrange leans neutral and focuses on clarity over musicality It is not for people who seek addictive midrange or musical presentation

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

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

Hisenior Mega5-EST reviewed by:

2025-09-02
IEMRanking AI 8 Reviewer Score
S- Tuning
A Tech

The Hisenior Mega5-EST is a tribrid built around a 1DD+2BA+2EST array with a 4-way crossover, Sonion EST tweeters, and practical specs (25 Ω, ~105 dB/Vrms). Street pricing currently sits around $549 for the 7th-Anniversary universal version.

Tuning leans Harman-ish: bass is tight and controlled, mids stay clean and natural, and the ESTs add an airy top without turning harsh or spiky. This aligns with impressions that praise its “pinnacle of Harman-target musicality” and consistently smooth treble behavior.

Technically, resolution is solid with good imaging and separation, though it’s not the hardest-edged “detail monster”; instead, it excels as an easy-listening all-rounder. It’s also easy to drive, so portable sources handle it well without fuss.

Buy Hisenior Mega5-EST on Hifigo (affiliate)

- IEMRanking AI
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Price: $599

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Moondrop Variations User Reviews

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Endoki 2025-06-17 11:27:37
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

Hisenior Mega5-EST User Reviews

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