Moondrop S8 VS Rhapsodio Return

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

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Moondrop S8 and Rhapsodio Return are in-ear monitors. Moondrop S8 costs $700 while Rhapsodio Return costs $699. Moondrop S8 is $1 more expensive. Moondrop S8 holds a decisive 4.3-point edge in reviewer scores (7.6 vs 3.3). Moondrop S8 has significantly better mids with a 3.5-point edge, Moondrop S8 has significantly better treble with a 6.8-point edge, Moondrop S8 has significantly better dynamics with a 3.7-point edge and Moondrop S8 has significantly better soundstage with a 2.5-point edge.

Insights

Metric Moondrop S8 Rhapsodio Return
Bass 6.6 3.3
Mids 7.5 4
Treble 7.8 1
Details 8 3.3
Soundstage 7.5 5
Imaging 7.7 3.3
Dynamics 5.7 2
Tonality 7.3 3.3
Technicalities 7.5 1

Moondrop S8 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

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

Average Reviewer Score:

7.6

Strongly Favorable


Rhapsodio Return Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Jaytiss

Average Reviewer Score:

3.3

Very Poor


Moondrop S8 User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Rhapsodio Return 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 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+

Rhapsodio Return Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

1.2

Gaming Grade

E-

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

Rhapsodio Return 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

E-
  • Noticeably blurred or congested. Struggles with basic instrument separation; details are lost in simple tracks. Feels "flat" and one-dimensional.
Mids C-
Midrange is passable but unrefined. Lacks detail and smoothness, with occasional harshness in upper mids.
Treble E-
Treble is extremely rolled off and veiled. High frequencies are barely perceptible with significant loss of detail.
Dynamics E+
Limited dynamic range with poor micro-detail. Subtle volume changes are lost, and transients lack proper attack.
Soundstage C+
Decent spatial presentation with noticeable width. Some depth perception but height dimension remains underdeveloped.
Gaming E-
Compromised imaging significantly impacts gameplay awareness. Directional cues often lack accuracy or consistency. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Moondrop S8 Reviews

Super* Review 9* * score normalized
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
- Bad Guy Good Audio
Bass: B Mids: A+ Treble: A+
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

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

Drew / Audionotions original ranking

Website (Audionotions)

- Drew / Audionotions
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
- Gizaudio Axel
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
- Crin
Jaytiss 7.3 Reviewer Score
B Tuning
A- Tech
Special set.

Jaytiss original ranking

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

- Smirk Audio
Bass: B Mids: A+ Treble: A Dynamics: B Details: A Imaging: A
Precogvision 7.1 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A- Tech
Excellent treble extension and detail retrieval.

Precogvision original ranking

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

Rhapsodio Return Reviews

Jaytiss

2025-07-31
Jaytiss 3.3 Reviewer Score
D Tuning
E- Tech
Bright, hard for me to listen to.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
- Jaytiss
Mids: C- Treble: E- Dynamics: E+ Soundstage: C+

Moondrop S8 User Reviews

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Rhapsodio Return User Reviews

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