Softears Studio 4 VS Moondrop Meteor

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Softears Studio 4 arrives as a 4×BA set at $450 with a surprisingly practical kit: a Pelican-style water-resistant case, cleaning brush, MoonDrop-style tips, and—occasionally—a 3.5 mm extension with a 6.3 mm adapter (availability seems inconsistent). The build is sleek piano-black with a light, no-nonsense cable that behaves well but omits a chin cinch. Medium, semi-custom shells fit flush and isolate strongly thanks to an unvented design; the smooth nozzle lacks a lip, so tip choice matters, and seal can break if pressed from certain angles.

Tuning targets a neutral presentation with a sub-bass lift and slightly lean lower mids—clean, lively, and a touch bright without straying into fatigue. Standout traits are the wide stereo image and pinpoint imaging that make mixes feel like they’re dancing around the head. Treble is smooth and extended (think S8-like refinement), while BA bass proves surprisingly sturdy. Drawbacks are modest: a bit of BA timbre, less micro-texture than class leaders, and lighter note weight. Against peers, Dunu SA6 offers warmer neutral tonality with superior texture; Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite plays thicker and more relaxed but less separated; Symphonium Meteor swings warm and bassy with a larger headstage and snappy treble. Verdict: a 4/5 for those who crave energetic neutrality, top-tier separation, and a studio-clean vibe that still feels fun.

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The $500 Moondrop Meteor packs an oversized 13mm dynamic driver for bass, two balanced armatures for mids, and four micro planar drivers for treble. Objectively, its frequency response is fantastic—neutral with a tasteful sub-bass lift and exceptionally smooth, reserved treble that avoids harshness. Vocals sound natural and forward without edginess, and high-frequency percussion retains realistic timbre. Build quality impresses with a glossy, semi-transparent shell and a unique "meteorite" side panel, though the bulky design compromises fit stability versus sleeker Moondrop models. Accessories feel recycled from cheaper offerings, including a basic case and functional but kink-prone swappable-termination cable.

Subjectively, however, the Meteor feels unengaging. Its bass lacks punch and definition despite the large driver, coming across as soft and undynamic. Combined with the relaxed treble, this results in a lackluster sense of separation, layering, and imaging—music sounds cohesive but lacks incisiveness and visceral impact. While tonally balanced, the presentation is overly cautious, missing the excitement expected at this price. Even Moondrop’s own $360 Dusk outperforms it with tighter bass, sharper imaging, and greater overall engagement.

Comparisons highlight its shortcomings. The Dunu DK-31BD offers superior bass impact and more expressive treble at the same price, while the HiSenior Mega5EST delivers better definition and layering despite a warmer tilt. Ultimately, the Meteor’s excellent tuning can’t compensate for its dull technical performance. It’s a competent monitor but fails to justify its cost against rivals—or even Moondrop’s cheaper offerings.

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Starry Edition brings a fresh faceplate to the Softears Studio 4 without changing the tuning. The translucent, slightly large shell seals firmly and delivers strong isolation; the only nit is a modest nozzle lip that still holds tips fine. Packaging leans “studio”: compact Pelican-style case, extension cable, tips, 6.3 mm adapter, and a soft black cable that feels nice but lacks a chin slider and terminates in 3.5 mm.

Sonically, this 4BA set is about clarity, air, and top-end extension—described as among the best heard under $800. Vocals come through vivid, mids are clean, and bass has a mild shelf: tasteful impact without bloat, though it’s not a slam machine. Expect excellent imaging, space, and detail; a touch of EQ can add weight if desired. It can be a bit source-picky: low output impedance sources suit it best, while a 10 Ω adapter pushes more treble and trims bass in a less pleasing way.

Against peers, Studio 4 is praised over Softears Twilight for air/extension (while acknowledging Twilight’s smooth DD charm) and over Volume for overall technicalities despite the small price gap. Versus RSV, Studio 4 avoids the RSV’s slight bass “muffle” and undercuts it on price; compared with Monarch MKII, it delivers a similar tonal aim without the occasional grain. Sets like Kiwi Ears 4, Truthear Hexa, and Binary Acoustics D Quattro trade blows on bass quantity versus air, but Studio 4’s upper-air detail and coherence make it a standout. At an often-seen street of ~$368, it’s framed as a benchmark sub-$500 pick and earns a full recommendation for listeners chasing articulate treble, lifelike vocals, and refined balance.

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Moondrop Meteor arrives as a hybrid with one dynamic, two BA mids, and four treble planars, now priced around $550. The shell is massive but well-contoured resin with a flat 2-pin connector; fit can be good after some tip rolling, though the nozzle runs large. The stock cable feels cheap for the price and the accessory pack is underwhelming—no DAC, a basic case—so the unboxing doesn’t add much value.

Tonally this is a treble-focused set that sounds clean, clear, and crisp, with pleasing air and microdetail. Bass is the weak link: quantity and slam are light, leaving dynamics and note weight on the lean side; lower mids could be richer. Graphs show typical Moondrop-leaning tuning that sits close to target but wants ~2–3 dB more bass. It measures stable with impedance, which, paired with precise imaging and tidy staging (good, not “huge”), makes it a plausible studio monitor-style choice.

Against peers, Variations brings more energy and is the safer pick; Moondrop’s own Concerto and even Caden-line sets feel fuller down low. Cheaper rivals like EPZ P50 and AFUL P7 offer more fun, while HiSenior Mega 5 EST and Softears Volume S present stronger overall value and bass presence. Verdict: a solid, airy detail-getter with attractive aesthetics, but not an upgrade to bass-richer favorites; recommended on the used market or with a discount, and an easy skip at full MSRP if seeking warmth and impact.

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Moondrop’s new “flagship” Meteor lands with a decent first impression: a natural planar timbre that avoids the overly sizzly or peaky upper ranges found in rivals, and clean, forward vocals that shine on ballads at mid volume. The overall tuning sits neutral with a tilt toward female vocals, and technical performance is good—competitive but not class-leading at its bracket. Fit is on the thicker side with a quirky curve, so a demo is wise. The catch: the low end is tame to the point of feeling clinical, lacking slam, authority, and bass-guitar/drum texture in busier rock and metal. Treble is balanced with some extension, yet it lacks air and micro-nuance, making the presentation feel less special. Net result: more a side-grade to Dusk than an upgrade—and at $500+, that stings.

Energy genres expose more issues: the boosted 1–3 kHz pushes vocals shouty past ~60–65 dB and the set doesn’t scale well, especially with K-Pop/J-Pop and mainstream pop where even the Dusk can sound more engaging with better contrast and more low end. Value is the real problem: the EPZ P50 at roughly half the price brings more bass, more air, and similar accessories; competitors like IO Volare (4×EST), Oracle Mk1, or a sale-priced Variations offer smoother, airier treble, finer micro-detail, and better all-round balance. The Meteor’s use of micro-planars instead of ESTs, plus unchanged accessories (think Aria 2/Dusk level), makes the premium hard to justify. Overall, it edges sets like “Brain Dance/Damage” on timbre but gives up technicalities and versatility. Recommendation: skip—grab the P50, go IO Volare/Oracle/Variations, or EQ a Variations (fill the scoop, ease 1–2 kHz) for a result that outclasses Meteor. Bonus note: Moondrop’s new flagship Psyche also gets side-eyed—$2,000 without ESTs feels more cash-grab than value.