Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk VS ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII
IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side
Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk and ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII use 2DD+2BA+2PLA and 2DD+4BA driver setups respectively. Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk costs $400 while ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII costs $399. Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk is $1 more expensive. ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII holds a slight 0.4-point edge in reviewer scores (7.7 vs 8.2). Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk carries a user score of 7.7. ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII has better bass with a 0.9-point edge, ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII has better mids with a 0.7-point edge, ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII has significantly better dynamics with a 1.1-point edge, ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII has better soundstage with a 0.6-point edge and ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII has slightly better imaging with a 0.3-point edge.
Insights
| Metric | Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk | ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII |
|---|---|---|
| Bass | 7.3 | 8.3 |
| Mids | 7.4 | 8.1 |
| Treble | 7.8 | 8 |
| Details | 8 | 8.2 |
| Soundstage | 7.5 | 8.1 |
| Imaging | 7.5 | 7.8 |
| Dynamics | 7 | 8.1 |
| Tonality | 7.5 | 8.2 |
| Technicalities | 8 | 8.2 |
Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Average Reviewer Score:
7.7Strongly Favorable
ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Average Reviewer Score:
8.2Very Positive
Reviews Comparison
Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk (more reviews)
Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk reviewed by Super* Review
8.5*
* score rescaled + normalized
Youtube Video Summary
The new Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk borrows the Blessing 3’s ergonomics and accessory spread—spring tips, a lightweight 3.5 mm cable, and a braided USB DSP cable—while switching to a tribrid driver array: 2DD for bass, 2BA for mids, and 2 micro-planars for treble. The shell is medium-large yet secure and comfortable, with a narrower nozzle than earlier Blessings and a cleaner faceplate design. The DSP cable can sweeten tonality, but there are caveats: occasional artifacts, spotty DAP compatibility, and an Android-only app with EQ limits (no tweaks below ~60 Hz or above ~10 kHz).
On the analog cable, tonality lands neutral and mid-centric with a tasteful sub-bass lift and slightly eased presence region—still a touch clinical, but now with added body and engagement. The star is the bass quality: tight, punchy, and tactile without masking the mids. Imaging/separation are clearly above average, and treble has better extension and metallic timbre than older Moondrops. Swapping to the DSP cable warms the mids and adds a bit of mid-bass punch (less brightness, richer tone), trading a hint of separation for extra smoothness.
Comparisons: vs OG Dusk, the new set’s bass is less blammy but higher quality, and the treble timbre is more realistic; vs Blessing 3, this is fuller, deeper, and less thin; vs Hype 4, stage width and bass quantity favor the Hype, but the Dusk keeps vocals cleaner and more balanced. DSP experiments show Blessing 3 + DSP can get very close to the Dusk’s FR, and even the budget Moondrop May narrows the gap—yet the Dusk still wins on bass tightness, treble refinement, and overall technical polish. As an analog IEM around $360, this is the one to beat—an easy 5/5.
Super* Review original ranking
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Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk reviewed by Jaytiss
8.5
Reviewer Score
Youtube Video Summary
Build impresses out of the box: a premium case, a handsome semi-transparent shell that’s a touch larger than AFUL’s Magic One, a smaller nozzle, and excellent comfort—easy A+. The included DSP cable feels great, while the analog cable comes off a bit cheap for the price. Packaging and accessories sit at an average level overall.
In analog form, this is a Jekyll-and-Hyde situation. Channel matching is spot-on, but the presentation reads flat/neutral to a fault—solid, yet not especially competitive, fitting more a $150–$170 tier for raw value. Versus the original Blessing 2 Dusk, the new Dusk extends better up top with more air, but from bass through upper mids (to ~8 kHz) the older set still vocals better and feels more engaging; upgrading for the analog tuning alone isn’t advised. Alternatives like the PULA PA02 or CKLVX 1DD+4BA hit a similar, clean-neutral aim, while Gizaudio Chopin shows a smarter 5–6 kHz dip, livelier mids, and punchier bass at roughly half the price. Among Crin collabs, it’s clearly more refined than the Dioko, but not a slam-dunk over his other budget-minded sets.
The story flips with the DSP. Engaged, the Dusk becomes an easy recommendation: noticeably more balanced, resolving, and simply fun, earning a “perfect score for value” within the DSP lane. Caveats: Android support is the sweet spot; iPhone compatibility can be finicky, pushing some users to desktop—where manual EQ already exists. Still, the app is simple, the extra tunings are useful, and plug-and-play convenience (no dongle DAC dance) is a win. Bottom line: as an analog IEM, only “good” and overpriced; as a DSP IEM, genuinely excellent—highly worth it if the use case fits.
Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk reviewed by Audionotions
8
Reviewer Score
Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk reviewed by Bad Guy Good Audio
7.9
Reviewer Score
Bad Guy Good Audio original ranking
Bad Guy Good Audio Youtube ChannelMoondrop x Crinacle Dusk reviewed by Kois Archive
7.8
Reviewer Score
Kois Archive Youtube Channel
Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk reviewed by Tim Tuned
7.5
Reviewer Score
Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk reviewed by Gizaudio Axel
7.5
Reviewer Score
Gizaudio Axel original ranking
Gizaudio Axel Youtube ChannelMoondrop x Crinacle Dusk reviewed by Shuwa-T
7.2
Reviewer Score
Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk reviewed by Jays Audio
7
Reviewer Score
Youtube Video Summary
Stock tuning lands in the safe-and-smooth lane: a gently warm balance with a slight treble emphasis, nothing egregious and nothing especially standout. It works well for J-pop/K-pop at mid volume thanks to tamed upper-mids that keep sibilance in check. The trade-off is softer, “vanilla” vocals that miss the last bit of extension, air, and micro-detail; turn it up for more presence and the treble gets spicy—not helped by unit variance that can throw a 16k peak. Cymbal detail is decent with minimal “planar timbre,” but it can get a touch sizzly.
Against the field, Dusk struggles to justify the premium. Truthear Nova plays the same all-rounder role for much less while feeling more open up top; want a bit more top-end than Nova, there’s the Chopin at ~$200. Hype 4 comes off as a more well-rounded Dusk—better low-end texture, a hint more vocal reach, and less sharpness—and Quintet delivers a similar idea for cheaper. Even with EQ in the mix, Blessing 3 can match or better the result (smoother treble, no channel imbalance). Net: the sound is good but not special, and the value calculus isn’t favorable.
The supposed differentiator—DSP—isn’t it. The app feels unstable (settings not applying, frequent crashes), Android-only for adjustments, and awkward with external DAC/amps where EQ may not pass through. There’s a minor noise floor between pauses. Of the presets, “Stock 3.5mm (Analog)” and Bass+ are the only keepers; “Stock USB” is warmer but needs more upper-mids, and the Diffuse Field Tilt lands awkwardly. Phone amps also bottleneck staging; better sources open it up—but then the DSP conflicts. Add in QC concerns, and the verdict is clear: a pleasant, inoffensive listen, yet overhyped and overpriced for what it delivers; a solid sub-$200 proposition, not at its current bracket.
Jays Audio Youtube Channel
Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk reviewed by
Fresh Reviews
5.5*
* The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming
Score
Youtube Video Summary
Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk earns raves for music: a clean, textured, fast low end with real sub-bass punch that avoids bloat, a natural, resolving midrange for male/female vocals and instruments, and crisp, well-controlled treble that delivers cymbal air without harshness. The overall presentation feels well-rounded and technical enough to spar with sets far above its price, evoking “revisit the whole library” vibes. Build and comfort impress too—lightweight shell, transparent chassis with a wood-like carbon faceplate, and an ergonomic fit. Tip-rolling matters: Spring Tips add a touch of openness and air, while SpinFit W1 tightens stage and teases out more bass on the “fish-mouth” nozzle.
Accessories are solid: a standard 3.5 mm cable plus a USB-C DSP cable that’s great for Android/iPad on-the-go listening, though PC gaming revealed instability in some titles (stutters/freezes in Apex Legends and Call of Duty). Day to day, the cable’s braid resists tangles, and the included case/tips round out a tidy package.
For competitive play, performance is mixed. Imaging is good and the bass gives an immersive punch, but the stage skews intimate and heavy effects can mask subtle cues. In Apex Legends, verticality and depth perception suffer—overhead action blends at forehead level, distant slides/grass shuffles fade, and chaotic fights cause layering to mush before quickly recovering. Call of Duty shows similar trade-offs with aerial and fine details under bombardment, while Valorant fares best thanks to tighter maps and fewer simultaneous effects (though horizontal peeks and micro-depth could still be sharper). The takeaway: S-tier for music in this bracket and a fun, cinematic gamer, but not the most surgical pick for top-ranked competitive play.
Fresh Reviews original ranking
Fresh Reviews Youtube ChannelMoondrop x Crinacle Dusk reviewed by Head-Fi.org
7.5
* score rescaled + normalized
ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII (more reviews)
ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII reviewed by Joyce's Review
8.5
Reviewer Score
Youtube Video Summary
Thieaudio Hype 4 MKII comes as part of the renewed Hype lineup and immediately feels like a big upgrade in presentation. The flip open box separates the earphones and case from the ear tips and paperwork, while the broken mother of pearl style faceplates and smoothly machined aluminum shells look luxurious and sit in the ears with a very comfortable, moderate size that does not create pressure build up. The new textured matte case, modular 3.5 and 4.4 terminations on the copper and silver hybrid cable, and the dedicated ear tip box with both proprietary silicone tips and memory foam sets make the whole package feel thoughtful and premium, showing that the brand is really listening to user feedback.
In terms of tuning, the Hype 4 MKII delivers a bass response that extends deep, giving bass guitars and kick drums a strong, satisfying punch while staying cleanly separated from the rest of the mix thanks to a controlled bass shelf and a sharp cut around the midbass. The lower mids have a subtle lush bump that adds body to cellos and warmth to vocals without muddying the overall transparency, leading into a midrange where vocals sound airy yet focused and instruments like guitars carry more texture, cleaner lines and a wider sense of space than the first generation. Upper mids follow a classic peak that is balanced with the bass level so they do not feel shouty, and the treble is described as very airy, bright and clear with excellent extension and resolution, giving more soundstage, ambience and atmosphere, though with a slightly more noticeable sibilance region compared to the original that still stays within an acceptable range without harshness.
Technical performance on the Hype 4 MKII is strong, with very good resolution, separation and sensitivity that make it easy to drive and reveal fine details in cymbals, triangles and electronic effects, while the stage feels more open and expanded than before. Compared to the original Hype 4, the MKII keeps a warm and punchy character but cleans up the separation between bass and mids, pulls the extremely forward vocals slightly back into a more natural blend with instruments, and upgrades treble detail so that the older tuning can sound flatter and a bit rough by comparison. Against Moondrop Blessing 3, it offers clearly higher resolution and a more dynamic, lively presentation with less bass lean, and overall comes across as a more coherent evolution of the Hype 4 that combines warm punchy bass, enhanced upper mids and treble, richer ambience and better soundstage to earn a solid 8.5 out of 10 recommendation around its 399 USD price.
Joyce's Review original ranking
Joyce's Review Youtube ChannelBuy ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII on Linsoul
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ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII reviewed by Web Search
7.8
Reviewer Score
The ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII is a $399 hybrid in-ear monitor built around a 2DD + 4BA array, using dual 8 mm dynamic drivers for low frequencies and four Knowles balanced armatures for the mids and treble within a 4-way crossover network. Its CNC-processed aluminum shells and a modular 7N ultra-OFC copper and silver-litz cable, supplied with both 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm terminations, emphasize build robustness and system flexibility over cosmetic experimentation.
From a tuning standpoint, the Hype 4 MKII targets the intersection of studio-neutral and musical, with the Gen 2 IMPACT2 dual-dynamic module delivering roughly a 9 dB sub-bass lift that rolls off sharply around 150 Hz so that most of the extra energy sits below the mid-bass region. ThieAudio also describes a mild 400 Hz emphasis in the midrange and a treble region tuned with slower decay, aiming for natural vocal weight and sustained high-frequency detail without pronounced sharpness. Taken together, this suggests a neutral-with-sub-bass-boost presentation that prioritizes controlled low-end impact and a slightly warm midrange over an ultra-lean, clinical reference tonality.
On the technical side, the dual 8 mm woofers, 4-way crossover, and discrete Knowles drivers for ultra-high, high, and mid bands are engineered to enhance imaging precision, separation, and depth, with retailer and product literature consistently pointing to improvements in clarity and spatial presentation over the original Hype 4. With a rated impedance of 18 Ω and sensitivity of 101 dB @ 1 kHz, it should be straightforward to drive from portable sources, though cleaner amplification will likely better expose its microdetail and dynamic swings. Considering its mid-range price and the dense competition around $400, the Hype 4 MKII reads as a technically ambitious and carefully tuned option, offering strong value without fundamentally disrupting the hierarchy of higher-end models.
Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk Details
Driver Configuration: 2DD+2BA+2PLA
Tuning Type: n/a
Brand: Moondrop Top Moondrop IEMs
Price (Msrp): $400
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ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII Details
Driver Configuration: 2DD+4BA
Tuning Type: Neutral with Bass Boost
Brand: ThieAudio Top ThieAudio IEMs
Price (Msrp): $399
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Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk User Review Score
Average User Scores
Average User Score:
Based on 1 user reviews
7.7Strongly Favorable
ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII 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 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
7.6Gaming Grade
AThieAudio Hype 4 MKII Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
7.9Gaming Grade
AMoondrop x Crinacle Dusk Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A- You get a polished tonal profile that stays natural from bass through treble. Subtle tuning choices keep things engaging.
Average Technical Grade
A+- You get an articulate, polished performance with immersive stage depth and great control. There's a sense of polish across the whole spectrum.
ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A+- The tonal balance is polished and expressive, highlighting emotion without sacrificing accuracy. It keeps emotional weight without sacrificing accuracy.
Average Technical Grade
A+- You get an articulate, polished performance with immersive stage depth and great control. There's a sense of polish across the whole spectrum.
Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk User Reviews
Share your experience and build your personal ranking list.
You need to be signed in to write your own reviewMust use DSP default, much much better than analog
Pros
Very impressive across the board.Cons
Feels kinda "I don't want to hear them for a while" after long sessions. Not sure whyThieAudio Hype 4 MKII User Reviews
"This is an example review"
Pros
- Example pro 1
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Cons
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