Today we are checking the Moondrop Aria Snow Edition which is an updated version of a well-known Aria IEM.
Disclaimer: The headphones for today’s episode were provided by Shenzhen Audio in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Shenzhen Audio! All thoughts and opinions in today’s episode are my own.
Moondrop Aria Snow Edition is an updated version of Moondrop Aria. It uses one dynamic driver with the DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) diaphragm and has a different tuning compared to the original Aria. The IEM currently retails for 79 US dollars. Moondrop Aria Snow Edition comes in a typical Moondrop box. On the front of the box we have a Waifu illustration. On the back we have a list of specifications and a frequency response graph.
In the box:
- Moondrop Aria Snow Edition IEMs
- A de-attachable cable
- 3 pairs of Moondrop Spring silicone ear tips
- 3 pairs of standard gray silicone ear tips
- and a carrying case
The IEMs use 10mm dynamic driver with a DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) diaphragm. Impedance is 32 Ohm and the sensitivity is 119 dB.
Design & build
Design-wise this is an absolutely gorgeous pair of IEMs. The Snow Edition shells are made out of precision mold casting and are CNC milled. They are identical in shape and size to the Aria 2021. On the outer part of the shells, we have a winter snowflake theme. I personally prefer it to the old Aria design which I always associated with candy from a chocolate box
Moondrop has also used a different coating on the Snow Edition. Some users reported the Aria 2021 painting wasn’t a long-lasting one, so I hope it’s now fixed with Snow Edition. On the inside of the shells, we have two vents which means that sound isolation on Snow Edition is average.
They are usable outdoors, though you shouldn’t expect the same level of isolation as on pairs of unvented IEMs. Also, there are no left/right markings on the housings which can be a bit frustrating if you are new to IEMs.
The nozzles are average in length, they are angled perfectly but unfortunately. Nozzles are also missing small lips that usually help to retain the ear tips. Aria 2021 and the Snow Edition use the same internal acoustic structure, but the main difference is a driver. Aria 2021 uses a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) dynamic driver, while Snow Edition has a driver with a diamond-like carbon (DLC) diaphragm.
Cable
The cable is 1.2m long. From one side we have a 3.5 mm connector and from another side, we have 0.78 2-pin connectors. The right channel has a small red band over the right cable terminal so it can be used as a marker to identify the right shell housing. The cable looks good, and it has minimal microphonics. But it doesn’t have a chin slider and is a bit tangling
The Snow Edition are very ergonomic and comfortable IEMs and I found a perfect fit using supplied ear tips. The IEMs sit in my ears very well and I like the way they look. I have used them for extended periods and never had any discomfort or fatigue even during long listening sessions.
Moondrop Aria Snow Edition sound overview
Please note that all the sound impressions I’m sharing on my channel are completely subjective so please take them with a grain of salt. All the sound tests have been performed with Spring ear tips and I have used the following sources for this review:
- Portable: Samsung Galaxy S10, FiiO X7 MK2 DAP
- Desktop: SMSL SU-6 paired with Schiit Magni Heresy and Topping D10s paired with XDUOO MT-602
Moondrop Aria Snow Edition follows Moondrop’s in-house tuning which is a variation of Harman’s neutral curve. The Snow Edition’s overall sound signature is quite close to neutral.
The bass here is a little bit elevated, so I wouldn’t call it completely neutral. The sub-bass extension is good, but it’s rolling of a little bit early. The mid-bass is more prominent than the sub-bass and the bass is quite fun on this pair. It has good speed and I loved it’s note weight and its texture. At the same time there is no bass bleed into mids which is really good. Mid-bass has a good amount of punch, and it sounds really natural with many genres of music. It can also handle bass heavy music, but remember it’s not a bass head IEM by any means
On the other hand, bass guitars are reproduced quite well with an accurate tonality. Overall the bass is well-controlled, and clean and the details are above average.
Moondrop Aria Snow Edition mid-range is natural and has an good timbre. As there is no bass bleed into mids, the lower midrange is a bit thin and sterile, but at the same time quite transparent. On the other hand the upper mid-range is a boosted a bit, but in my case it was never harsh or fatiguing. The mids have a lot of details, they are lush and very pleasant to listen to. Vocals sound slightly forward and have a good texture. The timbre of the instruments is realistic as well and I especially liked how instruments and vocals blend together in the mix. And overall the mid-range is well-defined, saturated and is tonally correct.
The treble on Moondrop Aria Snow Edition is smooth and well controlled, It’s a bit recessed compared to the original Aria 2021, but I find it very enjoyable. It has enough energy, and detail retrieval is good for its price range, but due to the lack of micro details retrieval I cannot call this pair analytical. If you are treble sensitive person, you will enjoy this tuning as the treble is not sibilant or harsh at all
The treble lacks some air and extension but has quite an accurate tonality, I personally prefer such tuning to the artificially boosted treble that we are seeing on some pairs. While treble on Aria 2021 is more extended and has a little bit more sparkle, the treble on Snow Edition sounds more clean & refined to my ears. Overall I’m pleased with a treble on Snow Edition as this tuning provides just enough details and sparkle for my personal preference
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The width and depth of sound stage on Moondrop Aria SE is above average, so the music sounds slightly out of your head. The imaging is good and I liked the correct instrument placement. Overall clarify is also good, this pair offers a good detail retrieval, but micro-details retrieval is below average. Rarely on a very busy musical pieces, details start to suffer a little bit. The IEM is tonally accurate and the music sounds very organic and natural. The technical abilities of this pair totally correspond to it’s configuration and price.
Moondrop Aria Snow Edition vs. Moondrop Aria 2021
The main difference between Moondrop Aria Snow Edition and Moondrop Aria 2021 is the driver and tuning. Aria 2021 use a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) dynamic driver, while Snow Edition has a driver with diamond-like carbon (DLC) diaphragm.
- Snow Edition is less warmer than Aria 2021 and has a little bit of less bass Aria 2021 has a better sub-bass extension and a bit better bass texture, but Snow Edition offers a better bass speed and control
- The treble on Aria 2021 is more extended and it has a little bit of more sparkle, but the treble on Snow Edition sounds more clean & refined to my ears
- Snow Edition has improved technical abilities and while Aria 2021 has slightly better imaging,
- Snow Edition also has better clarity and better sound stage in my opinion.
Choosing between these two is quite easy, if you want more bass & more warmth then Aria 2021 might be a better IEM for you. If you want better details, improved timbre, and want a bit more neutral tuning – then go with Snow Edition
Conclusions
In my opinion, Moondrop Aria Snow Edition is a tonally accurate, musical, and very engaging pair of IEMs.
Pros:
- Beautiful design
- Good fit and comfort
- Smooth sound presentation
- Balanced tuning,
- The IEM is tonally accurate and musical
- It has a natural timbre and works well with many genres of music
Cons:
- Not the most resolving pair in its price range
- Bass is not as textured and punchy as on original Aria 2021
- Some people would prefer more sparkle in the treble
- and the IEM has an average sound stage width and depth
Despite a few small cons, Moondrop Aria Snow Edition is a very capable and attractive IEM in its price range. I wouldn’t necessarily call it an Aria 2021 upgrade, but I prefer the tuning of Snow Edition over Aria 2021, because, in my opinion, it’s more engaging, technical, and musical
If you already own Aria 2021, Snow Edition will be more of a side-grade to you. But if you don’t own Aria 2021 and you are looking for a well-tuned IEM under $100 to enjoy your music, the Moondrop Aria Snow Edition should be definitely on your list.
And that concludes my review for today. If you want to see more content like this consider subscribing to my YouTube channel for future updates. Thank you for joining me, and until next time, goodbye!
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