Soundmagic E11 VS Moondrop Marigold

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

Home Ranking Compare IEMs

Soundmagic E11 and Moondrop Marigold are in-ear monitors. Soundmagic E11 costs $40 while Moondrop Marigold costs $40. Soundmagic E11 is $0 more expensive. Moondrop Marigold holds a decisive 1.7-point edge in reviewer scores (4.5 vs 6.2).

Insights

Metric Soundmagic E11 Moondrop Marigold
Bass 4.5 6.3
Mids 4.5 6.7
Treble 4.5 6.1
Details 4.5 6
Soundstage 4.5 5.8
Imaging 4.5 6
Dynamics 4.5 6.2
Tonality 4.5 6.8
Technicalities 4.5 6
Take these comparisons with a grain of salt—we don't have enough Soundmagic E11 and Moondrop Marigold reviews saved yet to provide an unbiased result.

Soundmagic E11 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Crin

Average Reviewer Score:

4.5

Generally Unfavorable

Moondrop Marigold Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Super* Review
Web Search

Average Reviewer Score:

6.2

Mixed to Positive

Reviews Comparison

Soundmagic E11 (more reviews)

Soundmagic E11 reviewed by Crin

Crin 4.5 Reviewer Score
C Tuning
C Tech
A little suppressed in the upper mids but somewhat balanced out by a midtreble emphasis.

Crin original ranking

Crin Youtube Channel

Moondrop Marigold (more reviews)

Moondrop Marigold reviewed by Super* Review

Super* Review 5.8* * score rescaled + normalized
B+ Tuning
B Tech
YouTube video thumbnail
Warm-neutral tuning and powerful on-cable PEQ, but the loud pop when applying EQ and the awkward cable/fit undercut daily use. Very good stock tuning for the price with flexible built-in parametric EQ. Loud pop when saving EQ, asymmetric and unwieldy cable with no L/R swap and a shallow down-wear fit.
Youtube Video Summary

At $40, Marigold is a tiny bullet-style single-dynamic with a fixed USB-C DSP cable and built-in parametric EQ. The shells are light, but the asymmetrical cable has an unusually long right branch and the down-wear only fit can be shallow, which increases microphonics and makes channel orientation easy to mix up.

The Moondrop app exposes a powerful PEQ suite: six filters with frequency, Q and gain control and roughly +12 dB / −18 dB range, plus simple presets (Reference, 3A, FPS). However there is no channel-swap option, and writing EQ settings triggers a very loud pop each time, turning iterative tuning into a remove-earpieces-first chore.

Stock tuning is warm-neutral (a kind of Harman-light) with a modest bass boost, natural mids and definition that is crisp enough for the price. It can sound incisive and well defined, but usability drawbacks outweigh the strengths, so the package feels close to something great rather than fully realized.

Bass: B Mids: B+ Treble: B-

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel

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Moondrop Marigold reviewed by Web Search

uses AI-Search to turn user, reddit and head-fi reviews into clear, concise summaries.
Web Search 6.6 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B Tech

The Moondrop Marigold is a budget, USB-C IEM with a built-in DAC/DSP and an asymmetric neckband cable. It uses a single 10 mm dual-cavity dynamic driver and is sold around $39.99; specs list 32 Ω impedance, THD ≤ 0.5% (1 kHz/94 dB), and an in-line MEMS mic. The package includes eartips, a storage case and documentation, and the non-detachable cable terminates in USB-C.

By default, Marigold is tuned to Moondrop’s VDSF target (Harman-like), aiming for a neutral balance with a mild sub-bass lift and controlled treble; the DSP via MOONDROP Link allows on-device EQ and preset sharing. Early user impressions describe a smooth, balanced presentation with agreeable vocals for the price bracket, consistent with the stated tuning goals.

Technical performance is serviceable for the segment: detail retrieval and imaging are adequate, and the soundstage is average, while bass impact is respectable without obvious bloat. The integrated DAC/NPU brings conveniences like AI noise reduction for calls and platform-agnostic plug-and-play, but the fixed cable limits modularity compared with 2-pin/MMCX sets. Overall, Marigold is a practical, all-in-one daily driver whose tuning stability and app-based DSP elevate value, though its raw technicalities remain in line with expectations at this price.

Bass: B Mids: B+ Treble: B Dynamics: B Soundstage: B- Details: B Imaging: B

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Soundmagic E11 User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Moondrop Marigold 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!

Soundmagic E11 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

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

Gaming Score

4.5

Gaming Grade

C

Moondrop Marigold 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

Soundmagic E11 Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

C
  • Uneven emphasis across the spectrum keeps the presentation unsettled and awkward. Acoustic instruments lose their natural body.

Average Technical Grade

C
  • Textural information blurs together, making the stage feel pinched and gray. Instrument edges blur together frequently.
Gaming C
Minimal environmental definition provides only general audio cues. Suitable for games where positioning isn't critical.

Moondrop Marigold Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B+
  • It sounds pleasant overall, with some uneven spots that hint at room for refinement. Vocals remain pleasant despite the imperfections.

Average Technical Grade

B
  • Overall technicalities are acceptable, delivering enough clarity for casual sessions. Imaging is serviceable though not immersive.
Bass B
The bass brings healthy impact, complementing mixes without overpowering them. It keeps up with faster passages cleanly.
Mids B+
Expect a confident midrange that keeps details audible without harshness. Acoustic arrangements sound engaging.
Treble B
Expect crisp, well-balanced treble that keeps shimmer intact. You hear reverbs decay naturally.
Dynamics B
Dynamic expression is good, delivering solid impact and convincing contrast. Percussion lands with convincing weight.
Soundstage B-
Stage expands beyond the shoulders and finally hints at layers, though vertical cues stay muted. Depth cues begin to emerge.
Details B
You hear inner textures easily, even when the arrangement piles on layers. You can hear subtle studio effects.
Imaging B
Positions lock in with confidence, sketching a believable stage map. There's a tangible sense of stage geometry.
Gaming B
Decent spatial awareness for fundamental positioning. Creates satisfying atmosphere in story-driven games while handling basic directional cues.

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