MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK In-Ear Monitors

[VSG]

MOONDROP and IEM influencer Crinacle come together to release the highly anticipated DUSK, a new set of IEMs based off the Blessing 3. It re-works the driver configuration, comes with a new faceplate, and then tries to change the game entirely by including a DSP cable with app support to allow users to have six different tonalities to appeal to a wide range of preferances.

Show full review

 

[Cheeseball]

Yeah, the default EQ profile on the USB-C DAC really sounds the best for any kind of music. The main problem I have with this package is that FreeDSP cable.

 

[Solaris17]

I run S8s at home and I have a pair of Katos for work, but I was looking into these. The problem is Im just not sure its really worth it.

 

[VSG]

I run S8s at home and I have a pair of Katos for work, but I was looking into these. The problem is Im just not sure its really worth it.

These are a significant improvement over the Kato, and I am a big fan of the Kato too. I have not heard the S8 but I know many people like it. Maybe it's a case of you already having things to use?

 

[Ketadine]

I wouldn't buy moondrop or anything from shenzhenaudion no matter how good these IEM sound. The first still has a lot of QC issues on a lot of products and the second, being in china, refuse refunds.

 

[VSG]

I wouldn't buy moondrop or anything from shenzhenaudion no matter how good these IEM sound. The first still has a lot of QC issues on a lot of products and the second, being in china, refuse refunds.

I've already addressed any QC concerns in the review and the second part is incorrect actually. In fact, just last week a person who had no real issues with the DUSK and still wanted to return it was able to get a no-questions-asked full refund.

 

[Onasi]

Honestly, the best part is that the EQ settings are provided openly and can be applied to the analog cable no problem. If the DSP enchantments are the way forward, then this needs to be standard practice since not everyone would use IEMs with a portable device and on desktop using EQ is just less hassle then dealing with USB-C ports and a sub-par DAC. Would be interesting to see if any full size headphones also decide to go the DSP route.

 

[VSG]

Honestly, the best part is that the EQ settings are provided openly and can be applied to the analog cable no problem. If the DSP enchantments are the way forward, then this needs to be standard practice since not everyone would use IEMs with a portable device and on desktop using EQ is just less hassle then dealing with USB-C ports and a sub-par DAC. Would be interesting to see if any full size headphones also decide to go the DSP route.

Lots of Bluetooth headphones use DSP for EQ already, but I assume you're referring to wired headphones.

 

[Onasi]

Lots of Bluetooth headphones use DSP for EQ already, but I assume you're referring to wired headphones.

Yeah, should have specified. Wired, of course. Hell, even from Moondrop itself, just retuning the Joker via EQ makes it actually a fairly decent can, especially for the price. There’s potential here.

 

[The Terrible Puddle]

I would just get a Truthear Nova

 

[VSG]

I would just get a Truthear Nova

Sure, if you prefer the Harman in-ear tuning. I do not, and I suspect there will be many who share this sentiment.

 

[KFCeater]

Sure, if you prefer the Harman in-ear tuning. I do not, and I suspect there will be many who share this sentiment.

Great review! But I guess you are with the semi possitive camp of the Dusk reviewers. Dusk deserves the Editors Choice award imo, since they are the best IEM in the sub $600 range, even with analog. Hype 4 might have stronger bass, but the Dusk's bass is of a higher quality. The issues that exist are not due to the IEM itself , but due to its peripherals (cable/app). However these still matter to the overall experience of the product, so I get you. Still best IEM though

 

[Nathaaab]

Great review! But I guess you are with the semi possitive camp of the Dusk reviewers. Dusk deserves the Editors Choice award imo, since they are the best IEM in the sub $600 range, even with analog. Hype 4 might have stronger bass, but the Dusk's bass is of a higher quality. The issues that exist are not due to the IEM itself , but due to its peripherals (cable/app). However these still matter to the overall experience of the product, so I get you. Still best IEM though

There are a bunch of other sub-600 IEMs that are comparable if not better depending on what you prefer, so I wouldn't go as far as saying the DUSK is the best you can get.
Stock tuning is not the worst but it's not perfect either, and the DSP cable fixes some of its issues but also introduces others, as was noted by VSG. Those are issues you wouldn't get if you just used any other PEQ app around with an IEM that handles EQ well and potentially even cheaper.

 

[The Terrible Puddle]

Sure, if you prefer the Harman in-ear tuning. I do not, and I suspect there will be many who share this sentiment.

Just EQ it to your preferred tuning

 

[KFCeater]

There are a bunch of other sub-600 IEMs that are comparable if not better depending on what you prefer, so I wouldn't go as far as saying the DUSK is the best you can get.
Stock tuning is not the worst but it's not perfect either, and the DSP cable fixes some of its issues but also introduces others, as was noted by VSG. Those are issues you wouldn't get if you just used any other PEQ app around with an IEM that handles EQ well and potentially even cheaper.

Well, according to multiple other reviewers (not all though) Dusk is the best in its price bracket and the one above it. (Super Reviews, Gizaudio, Bad guy audio reviews)

 

[GreiverBlade]

oh, my ...is that a "Crinacle-Chan"?
mmhhh, the reviews paint them in a good light, they improved the Blessing 3, they still uphold the cute box art by making that ... well, yeah @VSG you said it ... "inspired take" on the collab
eh, for 360ish and given the review, it doesn't seems too expensive (and i am a sucker for the gender bend.... errr i mean carbon "damascus like" faceplate )

given my recent (but late) experience with my first Moondrop product, i would almost consider that one for my next IEMs acquisition

(the box art made me laugh so hard, nonetheless )

 

[Ketadine]

I've already addressed any QC concerns in the review and the second part is incorrect actually. In fact, just last week a person who had no real issues with the DUSK and still wanted to return it was able to get a no-questions-asked full refund.

Not for me unfortunately, maybe there's a different business practice while dealing with Eastern Europeans.
Now, I have the Quarks, the Chu, the Aria and now the Dawn Pro. Each had a QC issue, mostly cosmetic (though the Quarks cable ripped itself out of the left earbud). So it was the Dawn Pro that really set a now low standard. It has a hardware issue where the USB C female jack keeps disconnecting and I asked for a refund on shenzhenaudio and got ignored. This was at the start of January. So I reached to moondrop as well and still no answer. This was at the start of February, only when I tried posting a negative review on shenzhenaudio did I receive a reply that they will not publish it (my guess for being a negative review on a chinese website...) though I did try to reach them again a few times. Now it end of April and you guessed it, still no reply after a dozen emails so I recommend all to ignore these 2 companies like the plague.

 

[VSG]

Not for me unfortunately, maybe there's a different business practice while dealing with Eastern Europeans.
Now, I have the Quarks, the Chu, the Aria and now the Dawn Pro. Each had a QC issue, mostly cosmetic (though the Quarks cable ripped itself out of the left earbud). So it was the Dawn Pro that really set a now low standard. It has a hardware issue where the USB C female jack keeps disconnecting and I asked for a refund on shenzhenaudio and got ignored. This was at the start of January. So I reached to moondrop as well and still no answer. This was at the start of February, only when I tried posting a negative review on shenzhenaudio did I receive a reply that they will not publish it (my guess for being a negative review on a chinese website...) though I did try to reach them again a few times. Now it end of April and you guessed it, still no reply after a dozen emails so I recommend all to ignore these 2 companies like the plague.

I can bring up your issues with Shenzhenaudio, but my recommendation with them is to join their Discord server and DM the rep, Cloris.

 

[Ketadine]

I can bring up your issues with Shenzhenaudio, but my recommendation with them is to join their Discord server and DM the rep, Cloris.

Thank you, but there is no need. I'll take it as a reminder not to buy anything outside of the EU.

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

I wouldn't buy moondrop or anything from shenzhenaudion no matter how good these IEM sound. The first still has a lot of QC issues on a lot of products and the second, being in china, refuse refunds.

I'm with you on the latter but not on the former.

I've owned, and still own, a lot of Moondrop products. Their support is odd but it works. In my worst case I busted a set of Blessing2s (still the best bang for the buck out there) by having a 2pin connector snap off in them. The US based vendor (Headphones.com which is highly respectable) wouldn't touch it at all. I was SOL which is odd for them but oh well. They sent me to an audiophile forum which told me to slap superglue onto the end of a tootpick and extract it that way.... superglue + wood + iem is obviously bullshit I said the hell with it and went for it. Que fail and now the thing is glued into the damn IEM.

While Moondrop themselves will not sell or replace a single IEM (this is odd as Western brands like say Shure will do this in a second and pay for the shipping, and I've had Shure and Sennheiser do this for products I bought in one case two decades ago and in the other case a decade ago) they put me in contact with their "support" contract. She's in China and went by the name Emily for us but I speak more than a few languages to know that's not her name. I shipped my superglued into the pin socket Blessing 2 to her. Shipping two and from China during COVID aside the process was flawless. I paid the shipping there and the repairs were free and it was shipped back to me fixed for free.

You're simply not going to get refunds or good quality control off ChiFi products unless you're biting above the kilobuck range, and even then you roll the dice. But Moondrop did put me in contact with Emily who did fix my issue, the cost was stupidly cheap, they stood by their product, Emily was great through the whole process, and outside of shipping time which is not their fault I can't find any flaws in my repair.

I won't buy these for one major reasons. Fuck these colaborations. These are all vastly more limited runs and then they are done. So should it break you are shit out of luck.

For Shenzhen when dealing with a lot of vendors it's also who you deal with there. People have problems in the US with apple, amazon, microsoft, dell, newegg, you name it there are horror stories and shit shows all around. I've never had one. It's also largely based on how much you spend though.

 

[Ketadine]

I'm with you on the latter but not on the former.

I've owned, and still own, a lot of Moondrop products. Their support is odd but it works. In my worst case I busted a set of Blessing2s (still the best bang for the buck out there) by having a 2pin connector snap off in them. The US based vendor (Headphones.com which is highly respectable) wouldn't touch it at all. I was SOL which is odd for them but oh well. They sent me to an audiophile forum which told me to slap superglue onto the end of a tootpick and extract it that way.... superglue + wood + iem is obviously bullshit I said the hell with it and went for it. Que fail and now the thing is glued into the damn IEM.

While Moondrop themselves will not sell or replace a single IEM (this is odd as Western brands like say Shure will do this in a second and pay for the shipping, and I've had Shure and Sennheiser do this for products I bought in one case two decades ago and in the other case a decade ago) they put me in contact with their "support" contract. She's in China and went by the name Emily for us but I speak more than a few languages to know that's not her name. I shipped my superglued into the pin socket Blessing 2 to her. Shipping two and from China during COVID aside the process was flawless. I paid the shipping there and the repairs were free and it was shipped back to me fixed for free.

You're simply not going to get refunds or good quality control off ChiFi products unless you're biting above the kilobuck range, and even then you roll the dice. But Moondrop did put me in contact with Emily who did fix my issue, the cost was stupidly cheap, they stood by their product, Emily was great through the whole process, and outside of shipping time which is not their fault I can't find any flaws in my repair.

I won't buy these for one major reasons. Fuck these colaborations. These are all vastly more limited runs and then they are done. So should it break you are shit out of luck.

For Shenzhen when dealing with a lot of vendors it's also who you deal with there. People have problems in the US with apple, amazon, microsoft, dell, newegg, you name it there are horror stories and shit shows all around. I've never had one. It's also largely based on how much you spend though.

The one major attraction of moondrop was the offer they have / had for the price. If that price difference is negligible and I can get similar if not better quality from other competitors, I don't feel they're worth it now as they've been in the past (similar to what OnePlus was in the mobile market).
The only reason I've bought the Dawn Pro is to have a cheap, balanced 4.4mm alternative to the Tempotec Sonata Pro (which I've been using for years now with no issues) and to check if they're better for planar IEMs (they're not or my hearing is not sensitive enough to notice a difference). Otherwise, I would not have bought it as previous experience with moondrop hinted at the bad or non existent QC. But lesson learned now and I will buy from other reputable store or brands from now on.

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

The one major attraction of moondrop was the offer they have / had for the price. If that price difference is negligible and I can get similar if not better quality from other competitors, I don't feel they're worth it now as they've been in the past (similar to what OnePlus was in the mobile market).
The only reason I've bought the Dawn Pro is to have a cheap, balanced 4.4mm alternative to the Tempotec Sonata Pro (which I've been using for years now with no issues) and to check if they're better for planar IEMs (they're not or my hearing is not sensitive enough to notice a difference). Otherwise, I would not have bought it as previous experience with moondrop hinted at the bad or non existent QC. But lesson learned now and I will buy from other reputable store or brands from now on.

Their competitors on performance per price are all ChiFi and suffer the same quality control issues as Moondrop does. That's the entire issue with ChiFi. When compared to Western or Japanese brands they cost a fraction, often less than half, the price for the same performance. But the quality control is hit or miss and the support is iffy. All ChiFi suffers from this. If you want quality control and support you're going to need a product that costs double the price and to get out of ChiFi. If a ChFi product does not suffer all these issues it all of a sudden magically costs as much as the Western or Japanese products and the savings go out the window. You pay for what you get.

You're problem is you want cheap, performs, and quality. There is NO such product and never will be. Especially when you get into making asks such as balanced which is going to make that situation worse.

What you want is the ifi go Bar which depending on model and if you can find a sale ranges from 300-450 USD. Questyle and Earmen also make similar devices but the price range is similar. Nobody ever complains about these companies they are all top notch. People just complain about the price, but again you get what you pay for.