You are a breath of fresh air in a world of shill audio, and pretenders, i highly rate the fact you respond to comments, keep doing what you do and your channel will eventually explode.......
Thank you very much for the kind words 😁 And hey, if it doesn’t explode, I’m still grateful for a steady trickle of growth too. At this rate, a year from now, it could be 10,000+! That would be a great milestone to hit. And along the way, if I can help people in the community I’ve been part of myself for years, then I’m happy 🤘🏻
@@dansaudioreviews My 7hz Timeless has a channel imbalance, its slight and while it felt off it was slight enough I didnt quite realize it at first but I decided to send it back to be replaced, before I sent it back my left one just OPENED up on me when I tried to plug in the cable. There is big QC issue and I really hope my replacement wins the lotto
I really like that you put out bite sized reviews!! I know the long in-depth reviews are fun to watch but these are good when I need to quickly watch then do something
Great concise description of what you can expect from the KATO ( I suspect with the silver nozzle) . I’m thinking more and more about the KATO vs the 7HZ 🧐 Great review 🍻
I'm so excited about this. My Kato is on the way to me, can't wait to try it. But I chose a mirror version and now, after seeing your matte one, I kinda think damn, that looks awesome...
@@ravager337 for me personally Timeless sounds better with my playlist, but! They can be a bit uncomfortable to wear for a long time. However, I prefer eartips that come with Timeless over the Kato ones. Of course, you can choose your favourite pair, but just in case. Comfort is a very personal thing tho. With Timeless I've experienced that phenomenon, when you don't want to stop listening. And for me it's more important than technical aspects. Honestly, I probably wouldn't even mind selling Kato someday.
@@AnnaShuk sorry but i want to ask you something else! Not long ago i saw a guy on TH-cam that said" iem's are so different that u hear sounds or other things that you don't hear in traditional earphones", and please note that i have never ever listened to an iem before, currently im using galaxy buds plus, so my question is :is that real that you hear things in a song you never heard before, is it that special? Im asking desperately about this, sorry again for taking your time. Thanks again!
I wanted to get the matt finish but it was out of stock so grabbed the mirror finish instead. Been trying it out with a few different styles of music and must say liking it for female vocals.
I'm actually listening to you ON my Moondrop KATO's. These bad girls are EFFING AMAZING. I do love the matte finish on yours but i love how mine are SHINEY and chrome because people ask me all the time what they even are. Most times i have to throw price at them because 99 percent of people don't know our world of AUDIO.
Currently trying to decide between these Kato's and Blessing 2's :) Mainly looking for great sound, but even better soundstage/imaging for competitive games.
One reviewer said that Kato doesn't have a wide or a narrow soundstage. It has a "realistic" soundstage, probably somewhere in the middle, so it's great for gaming apparently.
Hey sorry for the weird comment but how are you able to upload HDR to TH-cam? I could upload HDR through my iPhone using iMovie but they took that feature away and now I don’t know what to do.
My impression videos are taken directly from my iPhone without any editing program. Just a straight upload. My reviews are edited and I maintain HDR quality in the settings of the program, exporting a file with HDR and uploading it.
Hai, When will you put notes in your ranking list for 7hz Timeless? Love your videos!. You will soon be one of the forces to reckon with in the iem review space👍 I personally love the bass in the Timeless and my enjoyment would definitely have been less if it was more bass light.
Oh gosh, I've just been so busy with moving into my new house and with so much to do still for the channel that I have had a hard time getting my energy into writing up a note. Sorry! I should have time and energy to fill out some more notes in my ranking list by today or tomorrow :) I hope!
@@Hari-kx2er yea. More stuff keeps coming up! Though you could say my videos are filled with notes 😜 Been supper busy. Somehow the ranking list keeps getting prioritized less and less with everything going on. Companies reaching out to lend me stuff for reviews, day job stuff, moving, recording gear for more videos. So much stuff to do 😮
@@dansaudioreviews Cool👍. However, I would say don't ignore the ranking list. You can compare at best only a handful of iems even in a 30min detailed video that has sound demos as well. However, some one looking at an up to date ranking list can compare a new iem with any iem you have ever checked till date.
Thank you for another good review 👍. Which would you choose between 7hz timeless or kato? I love big surround sound stage for holographic sound. Thank you again
I would say the Kato have a more forward and airy sound, while the Timeless have a more warm, lush, and detail rich textured sound. Between the two, if you’re liking to hear more separation or depth, neither really shine in a big holographic way like I’ve heard on some rare gems like then MEST, but the Kato more so than the Timeless. I would venture to suggest the Kato for you, based on that preference alone that you mentioned.
I prefer the T3+. Kato was exciting, but it was too forward to me at the time I listened to it. To be more specific, or to tell you how my opinion could have changed since then, I would have to try it again.
@@dansaudioreviews Oh and maybe you could try large foam tips if you want an easier/ better seal in the test dummies' ears (Guessing here). Thanks again.
@@dansaudioreviews Have you had the chance to test the TANGZU x HBB Wu Heyday Edition, it seems like a good inbetweener and people have been recommending it to me but it seems relatively more new (harder to get more info in it).
I prefer the Kato across the board, personally. But if the Kato is too forward or in your face, you may prefer the more laid back smoother oxygen. I like the forward Kato though. I’m just wrapping up my edit though of the full review/demo. You’ll hear a good tuning comparison within the week.
Please please please pick up a pair of Blon 03 to throw into the mix on the sound demos and reviews. I think a lot of us who have these are looking at many of these options as an upgrade, but without that blon 03 baseline in the mix it’s really hard to make that call.
I might need to order another. I have one but it broke on me after very little use. It makes me worry about the quality of the Blon and not want to buy it again, but maybe it was just a fluke. I haven’t heard of other people having theirs break like mine (sound was coming out weird, like the cable or connects were damaged).
Though I probably won't be able to fit in the O2 with my demo, I will have a demo up of the Kato, along with comparisons with many other favorites of mine 😁
great review. I am trying to get a good set to replace my K3003. Seems like the Timeless can satisfy me with its technicalities. Your comparison is very concise, with a comprehensive list of other iems.
The Tea, to my ears anyway, can come off as airier. With the greater sense of air or space, it can perhaps get that “holographic” effect people look for. I don’t know how much I describe my own experience in those terms, but I can see if people would. Still, I prefer the engagement and meatier, mid-forward nature of the Kato more.
Happy New Year, wish you the best!💫Thanks a lot for all your reviews, they're really honest, professional, and awesome! Keep it up! If you don't mind I have a couple of questions. How do these iems reproduce vocals? I'll explain. I used Dan Clark Aeon 2 closed-back headphones so the voices sounded like a step or two behind you and it was a problem to me cause I prefer vocals one or two steps in front. So what about Moondrop Kato? Because I listen to a lot of TH-cam, podcasts, and tv shows so my main priority is to hear natural, clear, warm, well-articulated, and pleasant voices without any sibilance. Would you tell me please which Moondrop Kato or 7hz Timeless is my cup of tea? Or maybe there is something better? Budget is not a problem up to $500. Thanks!
The $50 Tripowin Mele has been very fun and yet warm and relaxing at the same time for people. “Engaging” can certainly be personal to what that could mean, but for me I use that word for stuff that’s a bit exciting. Warm sets tend not to excite…but actually…now that I think about it… The Timeless comes to mind. It has a warm signature on the low end (elevated bass and such), yet has engaging texture/detail. Yea, that would be my best pick for what you seem to be asking. But that’s $200 on Drop (see my ranking list in my description for a link or search it up). But the $50 Mele is great too, and for a budget. Different styles though. The Mele is a bit more lush and relaxing by comparison, with less texture/detail.
@@dansaudioreviews thanks for quick response! I think I'll buy Timeless. I'm asking because almost every headphones gives me fatigue. I don't know why. It seems that I have sensitive ears. Only headphone that is fatigue free for me are the HD6XX. They are super smooth and relaxing BUT velid and not engaging. They are just boring to listen. So I'm looking for something that is still smooth but engaging. If that make sense
@@MrLimaify The Timeless are definitely the fix for that. Though the 6XX is definitely going to become more and more veiled over time as the pads wear out. I’ve recently discovered this first hand and will be sharing the difference with new and old pads in my next video. And yea, the 6XX/650 are indeed veiled, even with fresh pads, compared to other stuff out there; though new pads are much snappier.
The Aria tries to do that a bit actually. It gets away with it nicely by not having the entire bass range lifted, but just enough in the right places to give it a bass hit without blooming over the mid range. But, it doesn’t have the best technicals out there to make it the most enjoyable, to me anyway. And its tuning has to make sacrifices somewhere. Do there are times when it’s particular elevations don’t hit quite the way another set might. So you end up with it checking off many boxes of enjoyment, but not all. Nonetheless, its tuning may be generally the closest to what you’re describing.
My favorite is the CP145 medium for achieving a good seal on almost anything, while also being comfortably soft enough to have in for long sessions. a.co/d/eJ4hLZA I also have some pairs of larges for IEMs that don’t seal right with medium. Between those two sizes, seal isn’t an issue with any IEM. The only other pair I bother with is a set of foam tips from Campfire audio, their “marshmallow” tips. That’s used rarely though and only really when silicone is too harsh a sound on a piece of gear. Sometimes IEMs could use some mellowing out with the foam.
You know it’s odd. I generally have found more enjoyment with brighter gear, and yet I get more enjoyment, for now, by the warmer Timeless. I need to take breaks from warm stuff, like the Timeless. I need that urge to hear brighter clearer stuff. But… I keep finding a lot of joy with the Timeless when it feels like the time to put them on again. But like I said in the review actually, I’m seeing how I could get used to it and start to lean more back to brighter gear for more play time. I would still keep the Timeless, as it does bring a spark of joy when it is used. If I didn’t have the MEST, I would keep the Kato as my every day go to. They aren’t comparable in tuning styles though. It’s just that I’d I had only the Kato, and not the MEST, I would probably listen to it for more daily use. The balanced sound is easier to listen to for extended and more numerous periods. The Timeless, while very fun when it is fun, and fun for whole libraries, can need those breaks for me. If I were a person who had to choose which one…and not both? That’s tough. It depends on how much joy one or the other may bring you particularly. If what you feel about their sound is similar to me, it could be a “get both” kind of situation. But if only one could be bought? Do you have anything else already that is balanced sounding to you? Then Timeless would be a fun addition to your range of gear. If you already have a warm set and no balanced or fun clearer sounding set, then I would suggest Kato. It all depends
@@dansaudioreviews That is indeed a very very interesting answer... Would you say the Timeless lacks clarity and treble sparkle compared to the Kato? And that's so coincidental how we had the same thought process about making the decision based on currently owned IEM's sound signatures. I'll need your input here - I own Fiio's FH5 (2019 version, fully closed-back and not semi-open like their newer FH5s counterpart). The FH5 has a really warm sound signature, meaty and powerful sub-bass and smooth treble. I love it, but been craving for a second IEM with more sparkle/presence up top. Something with more detail and clarity without getting sibilant. The FH5 is great but without EQ I feel the top end is a little too smoothed off, looking for more bite in the sound with genres like pop punk. Am I right to say based on what you hear (subjectively, of course) the Kato is then more preferable in this scenario, since the FH5 is already warm?
@@TF2ReplayMaker yes! Kato would be a better pick there, given what you have already. Or, if you want more sparkle, the Mangird Tea. To my ear it has more sparkle up top, even if it has more sub bass than the Kato. The Tea do both. I wouldn’t call the Kato sparkly, just well mid centered and clear in that area.
@@dansaudioreviews thank you for your replies! They've cleared up lots of questions I had about these IEMs. Would actually consider the Mangird Tea, but the demos of it on your Timeless video made it sound somewhat muddy/unclear 🤔 Are the Teas still one of your go-to IEMs for treble detail and clarity?
@@TF2ReplayMaker Oh for my ears, yes. The Tea don’t come off as unclear. They sound pretty clear. At least in real life, for my ears, and for my tracks! I’ve had some people say they don’t hear the bright spots on the Tea as I do, so you might agree with them if you try it. I just don’t know 😮 Any one of these options sounds great though. But it sounds like you want bright spots in the treble/upper mid region. That’s what I get with the Tea, personally. Not by looking at graphs, but by what I feel I hear personally.
@@shadow_warlockgr ah, I see. Appreciate the reply man. Currently looking for something with more treble detail than my Fiio FH5 (2019) as it's amazing and warm but looking for a second, more aggressive IEM to complement it
@@shadow_warlockgr yeah!! I'm currently stuck between Kato, Hana and Timeless Timeless bc even though it's been described as warm, reviewers have also said its treble detail is phenomenal, clear and not muddy. Decisions decisions man......
Great Video I've been using my K Z Zsn pro x wirelessly. They are okish. My wife tried them so will give them to her. Here in Brazil or selection is not great so its a case of Buying on Ali Express. I managed to find and order a Kato Matte Steel. So if anyone is interested there are under ten available.
Hello there! Just wanted to say that I like how its easy to hear your energy and passion about IEMs through your talking, and that I have a question for you. I've bought the Moondrop Kato and im looking for a Dac/Amp that is type c AND also has a mic. if you got something good it would very help me! tnx in advance ;D
My favorite from the handful I’ve tried is the Qudelix 5K. It’ll come down to taste with amps, and I like the 5K’s brighter “clear” sound compared to others like the FiiO’s warm sound. www.amazon.com/dp/B088F7C976/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_29DX05A8P2SG47AF3WTG?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Hi, what will be your pick for the best male vocals under 500? Sometimes I find male vocals sound thin and not correct in there expressions. And sometimes there recessed aswell.
Oh that’s such a good question. Hmm… I might say that, for only $50, the Mele is a great place to start trying recommendations with little risk (because it’s so cheap). After that, I would say the best of the best for my taste, in terms of vocals male or female, is probably the Unique Melody MEST. Somewhere in between the extremes of price ranges? Maybe the Kato. It has a good mid centric focus to my ears, which means it does well with almost anything. It doesn’t hit the bass nor the treble with any specialty, but for male vocals that doesn’t matter terribly.
@@dansaudioreviews Thanks ever soo much for your recommendation and if you don't mind how do the tea's, timeless and Kato compare when it comes to male vocals? As I've narrowed it down to them for my budget since mest is way above 500. Ohh Just to add I found the oxygen not so great for male vocals either. For some reason it just didn't convey the emotions properly for me lacking in power and some note weight.
@@nabilchoudhury7359 I would say the Timeless don’t come to mind as much as the other two mentioned. I’ll try and listen to them each on a male vocal heavy track and get back to you :)
@@dansaudioreviews Thanks soo much this will really help as I've been stuck on what my next purchase should be. I'd rather you tell me which one is best instead of having to recycle through soo many iems. For reference I'd like it sounding better then oxygens male vocals.
To be honest, after trying a bunch of different stuff just now to compare male vocals, I'm not sure if there is a clear winner. If I had to say...maybe the Timeless. I like how there is enough resolution to allow for male vocals - often accompanied by busy sections of instruments - to be heard really clearly.
@@dansaudioreviews I listen to music of all kinds for long hours. I don't have a chance to try. I've read a lot of good things about Kato. The FD5's semi-open design can make it easy for me to listen to music for long hours.It also has an fd5 beryllium coated dlc driver. I was undecided.
Kato, to me, is a clear upgrade. There may be some specific tuning differences, so some people may possibly prefer the style of the Aria…but, to me, the Kato does balanced playback cleaner, with more engagement, and more forward mids.
I'm confused, why do you start every video with a statement about keeping the video short? If you had 15 minutes of good commentary why would you re-do it? There is no prize for the shortest video.
Good point! Well, I keep it short because I don’t want to keep people long who want a short take, and also because I’ll end up saying a lot more anyway during my full review/sound demo video. I find it more authentic and direct for myself, and hopefully for viewers too, when I can lay my detailed thoughts out alongside samples that we can hear together during the longer demo video. I guess, all in all, it’s just a format that flows nicely for me. One short take followed by a longer take with demos and in depth commentary. But hey, if people want longer out of box impressions, I would try it. But my TH-cam analytics is showing me that most people stop listening around 3/4 minutes in. So the current short take, followed by a long take with demos, seems to strike the balance for most people coming to watch the videos.
The Mangird Tea “bright”??? Every FR graph I’ve seen regarding them says you’re wrong. My personal set says you’re wrong. If anything, they’re more midrange focused in the same way an Hd650 is. As far as the Kato is concerned, I find that they are on the bright side of neutral with good dynamics & technicalities. Bass could be tighter with better definition. All in all a very good item for the price.
Yea, the areas of the area that stand out to me, give me a sense of brighter feel. It may just be one specific spot, some specific instrument sounds even, but that’s what I feel when I hear it. I’ve stopped looking at graphs most of the time, as it turns out that any specific relative difference in one part of the range compared to another can make it very difficult for me to look at the graph and draw the same conclusions I get with simply listening to it. But hey, everyone’s ears and libraries are different. Maybe I’m hearing brightness where you hear more neutral and mid range focused. Maybe what I call “bright” is actually just a punctuated area in the mids somewhere. But when I say it “sounds bright,” I mean there’s relatively less warmth overall from the bass section. This could mean treble is high, or it could mean the mids are high but with no bass to mellow it out. Apologies though if I’m using the terms more loosely than you or others may 😬 If I could clarify, I would say the Tea is lacking warmth compared to other gear I’ve tried that I’ve called warm. So it comes off to me as, relatively, “brighter.”
Take a look at Super Review frequency response graph for the Tea, some units have substantially more treble energy, possibly QC issues. There's reports about it on the HiFi Guides thread.
@@dansaudioreviews idk about that. I own a lot of iems and the starfields are by far the least fatiguing and offensive I've ever owned. In fact everyone I know complains about then being too relaxed and tame.. the kato on the other hand hurt my ears no matter how I tried to eq it, tip roll, etc.
@@Graciashauf Well you may very well enjoy them and their looks! Many people love them as top audio gear. Apos does do returns. More easily than others. There may be a restocking fee? Not sure. But honestly paying a restocking fee isn’t so bad for getting to try something for yourself. I can’t remember though. You would have to see if the return policy allows for open packaging. I…think it does?
😜 Like, when I hold the stuff up to the camera and it’s blurry? Yea, I’m working on that. Gotta put my hand behind it or something so the auto focus captures what I’m trying to focus on.
You keep bringing the IEM near the camera as if it can focus that close, it can't. If you want us to actually see something keep it in camera's focus range. Thanks for the content though
Hah, yea. I got the thing strapped to my head so I don’t really know how close I can get without it being blurry. It indeed does fail to shift focus like I want it to 😕 I’ll probably be turning to 3rd person some day though, with close up footage edited in.
Why? Why? Why? This stupid (sorry) headcam? I like your content but I hate headcams, makes me so tired to follow. This was a bad idea from the beginning (not you, the other two).
I suppose the movement of the camera can make people feel uneasy. I didn’t want to spoil much, but I do plan on setting the camera up on a tripod some day and having it face me. Kind of waiting to make my new studio pretty before I try it 😅
You are a breath of fresh air in a world of shill audio, and pretenders, i highly rate the fact you respond to comments, keep doing what you do and your channel will eventually explode.......
Thank you very much for the kind words 😁
And hey, if it doesn’t explode, I’m still grateful for a steady trickle of growth too. At this rate, a year from now, it could be 10,000+! That would be a great milestone to hit.
And along the way, if I can help people in the community I’ve been part of myself for years, then I’m happy 🤘🏻
@@dansaudioreviews My 7hz Timeless has a channel imbalance, its slight and while it felt off it was slight enough I didnt quite realize it at first but I decided to send it back to be replaced, before I sent it back my left one just OPENED up on me when I tried to plug in the cable. There is big QC issue and I really hope my replacement wins the lotto
@@nukert658 woah! That’s good to know and to share. Thanks!
FINALLY! A matte-finished Kato out there in real life! Looks awesome!
I really like that you put out bite sized reviews!! I know the long in-depth reviews are fun to watch but these are good when I need to quickly watch then do something
Great concise description of what you can expect from the KATO ( I suspect with the silver nozzle) .
I’m thinking more and more about the KATO vs the 7HZ 🧐
Great review 🍻
I'm so excited about this.
My Kato is on the way to me, can't wait to try it. But I chose a mirror version and now, after seeing your matte one, I kinda think damn, that looks awesome...
How do they sound so far, and would you recommend me to buy a pair of KATO!
I don't know which to choose 7hz Timeless or Kato
@@ravager337 for me personally Timeless sounds better with my playlist, but! They can be a bit uncomfortable to wear for a long time. However, I prefer eartips that come with Timeless over the Kato ones. Of course, you can choose your favourite pair, but just in case. Comfort is a very personal thing tho.
With Timeless I've experienced that phenomenon, when you don't want to stop listening. And for me it's more important than technical aspects.
Honestly, I probably wouldn't even mind selling Kato someday.
@@AnnaShuk thank you so much for your reply!
@@AnnaShuk sorry but i want to ask you something else!
Not long ago i saw a guy on TH-cam that said" iem's are so different that u hear sounds or other things that you don't hear in traditional earphones", and please note that i have never ever listened to an iem before, currently im using galaxy buds plus, so my question is :is that real that you hear things in a song you never heard before, is it that special?
Im asking desperately about this, sorry again for taking your time.
Thanks again!
What do you think of Kato in EDM and bass genres?
I am really loving your perspective so far. Did not think you would bring something new to the the table, but here I am yet again. Great work!
Thanks very much 😀
I’m glad I’m able to give an interesting one unique perspective!
I wanted to get the matt finish but it was out of stock so grabbed the mirror finish instead. Been trying it out with a few different styles of music and must say liking it for female vocals.
I'm actually listening to you ON my Moondrop KATO's. These bad girls are EFFING AMAZING. I do love the matte finish on yours but i love how mine are SHINEY and chrome because people ask me all the time what they even are. Most times i have to throw price at them because 99 percent of people don't know our world of AUDIO.
Love that you’re enjoying them!
Currently trying to decide between these Kato's and Blessing 2's :)
Mainly looking for great sound, but even better soundstage/imaging for competitive games.
One reviewer said that Kato doesn't have a wide or a narrow soundstage.
It has a "realistic" soundstage, probably somewhere in the middle, so it's great for gaming apparently.
Excited for the demo, all the earphones you mentioned bring something different to the table
Love the progression... Top notch reviewer :)
I will be patiently waiting for comparison with Oxygen. I'll be buying one of these soon!
Same
Matte is not in production anymore. I was too slow :-( Anyway, I hope it's not too bass shy for me.
Woah! I got lucky then
What are you're fav well tuned basshead iem's? £150 or less please
Kato or Thie audio Legacy 5 and why?
Hey sorry for the weird comment but how are you able to upload HDR to TH-cam? I could upload HDR through my iPhone using iMovie but they took that feature away and now I don’t know what to do.
My impression videos are taken directly from my iPhone without any editing program. Just a straight upload.
My reviews are edited and I maintain HDR quality in the settings of the program, exporting a file with HDR and uploading it.
@@dansaudioreviews so are you importing the file from your phone to your computer and uploading from your desktop?
@@jdk_360 Ya
Hai,
When will you put notes in your ranking list for 7hz Timeless?
Love your videos!. You will soon be one of the forces to reckon with in the iem review space👍
I personally love the bass in the Timeless and my enjoyment would definitely have been less if it was more bass light.
Oh gosh, I've just been so busy with moving into my new house and with so much to do still for the channel that I have had a hard time getting my energy into writing up a note. Sorry!
I should have time and energy to fill out some more notes in my ranking list by today or tomorrow :) I hope!
@@dansaudioreviews Still no notes and more than two days have passed🙄
@@Hari-kx2er yea. More stuff keeps coming up! Though you could say my videos are filled with notes 😜
Been supper busy. Somehow the ranking list keeps getting prioritized less and less with everything going on. Companies reaching out to lend me stuff for reviews, day job stuff, moving, recording gear for more videos. So much stuff to do 😮
@@dansaudioreviews Cool👍. However, I would say don't ignore the ranking list. You can compare at best only a handful of iems even in a 30min detailed video that has sound demos as well. However, some one looking at an up to date ranking list can compare a new iem with any iem you have ever checked till date.
Thank you for another good review 👍. Which would you choose between 7hz timeless or kato? I love big surround sound stage for holographic sound. Thank you again
I would say the Kato have a more forward and airy sound, while the Timeless have a more warm, lush, and detail rich textured sound.
Between the two, if you’re liking to hear more separation or depth, neither really shine in a big holographic way like I’ve heard on some rare gems like then MEST, but the Kato more so than the Timeless.
I would venture to suggest the Kato for you, based on that preference alone that you mentioned.
@@dansaudioreviews 👍 thank you
How does it compares as an allrounder to the Tinhifi T3+? Thanks
I prefer the T3+.
Kato was exciting, but it was too forward to me at the time I listened to it. To be more specific, or to tell you how my opinion could have changed since then, I would have to try it again.
@@dansaudioreviews Thanks!!
@@dansaudioreviews Oh and maybe you could try large foam tips if you want an easier/ better seal in the test dummies' ears (Guessing here). Thanks again.
@@dansaudioreviews Have you had the chance to test the TANGZU x HBB Wu Heyday Edition, it seems like a good inbetweener and people have been recommending it to me but it seems relatively more new (harder to get more info in it).
Need a sound test. What is better for rock/metal, the oxygen or the kato?
I prefer the Kato across the board, personally.
But if the Kato is too forward or in your face, you may prefer the more laid back smoother oxygen. I like the forward Kato though.
I’m just wrapping up my edit though of the full review/demo. You’ll hear a good tuning comparison within the week.
Please please please pick up a pair of Blon 03 to throw into the mix on the sound demos and reviews. I think a lot of us who have these are looking at many of these options as an upgrade, but without that blon 03 baseline in the mix it’s really hard to make that call.
I might need to order another. I have one but it broke on me after very little use. It makes me worry about the quality of the Blon and not want to buy it again, but maybe it was just a fluke. I haven’t heard of other people having theirs break like mine (sound was coming out weird, like the cable or connects were damaged).
Kato vs O2?? a demo would be nice
Though I probably won't be able to fit in the O2 with my demo, I will have a demo up of the Kato, along with comparisons with many other favorites of mine 😁
great review. I am trying to get a good set to replace my K3003. Seems like the Timeless can satisfy me with its technicalities. Your comparison is very concise, with a comprehensive list of other iems.
Thank you for the positive feedback! I do try to be concise 🙂
Great video mate.
Thank you 😁
How would you compare to Kato and Mangird Tea in terms of sound stage/ holographic? Thank you again
The Tea, to my ears anyway, can come off as airier. With the greater sense of air or space, it can perhaps get that “holographic” effect people look for.
I don’t know how much I describe my own experience in those terms, but I can see if people would.
Still, I prefer the engagement and meatier, mid-forward nature of the Kato more.
@@dansaudioreviews Thank you for the advice!
Happy New Year, wish you the best!💫Thanks a lot for all your reviews, they're really honest, professional, and awesome! Keep it up!
If you don't mind I have a couple of questions. How do these iems reproduce vocals? I'll explain. I used Dan Clark Aeon 2 closed-back headphones so the voices sounded like a step or two behind you and it was a problem to me cause I prefer vocals one or two steps in front. So what about Moondrop Kato?
Because I listen to a lot of TH-cam, podcasts, and tv shows so my main priority is to hear natural, clear, warm, well-articulated, and pleasant voices without any sibilance. Would you tell me please which Moondrop Kato or 7hz Timeless is my cup of tea? Or maybe there is something better? Budget is not a problem up to $500. Thanks!
Hi,
What IEM would be warm/neutral but still engaging and fun?
Thanks!
The $50 Tripowin Mele has been very fun and yet warm and relaxing at the same time for people. “Engaging” can certainly be personal to what that could mean, but for me I use that word for stuff that’s a bit exciting. Warm sets tend not to excite…but actually…now that I think about it…
The Timeless comes to mind. It has a warm signature on the low end (elevated bass and such), yet has engaging texture/detail. Yea, that would be my best pick for what you seem to be asking. But that’s $200 on Drop (see my ranking list in my description for a link or search it up).
But the $50 Mele is great too, and for a budget. Different styles though. The Mele is a bit more lush and relaxing by comparison, with less texture/detail.
@@dansaudioreviews thanks for quick response! I think I'll buy Timeless.
I'm asking because almost every headphones gives me fatigue. I don't know why. It seems that I have sensitive ears. Only headphone that is fatigue free for me are the HD6XX. They are super smooth and relaxing BUT velid and not engaging. They are just boring to listen. So I'm looking for something that is still smooth but engaging. If that make sense
@@MrLimaify The Timeless are definitely the fix for that. Though the 6XX is definitely going to become more and more veiled over time as the pads wear out. I’ve recently discovered this first hand and will be sharing the difference with new and old pads in my next video.
And yea, the 6XX/650 are indeed veiled, even with fresh pads, compared to other stuff out there; though new pads are much snappier.
Dan, Is the mythical, unicorn 🦄 iem the one that combines being “balanced” with good “bass slam” ?
The Aria tries to do that a bit actually. It gets away with it nicely by not having the entire bass range lifted, but just enough in the right places to give it a bass hit without blooming over the mid range.
But, it doesn’t have the best technicals out there to make it the most enjoyable, to me anyway. And its tuning has to make sacrifices somewhere. Do there are times when it’s particular elevations don’t hit quite the way another set might. So you end up with it checking off many boxes of enjoyment, but not all.
Nonetheless, its tuning may be generally the closest to what you’re describing.
It's absolutely acceptable to make 10min+ first impressions video IMO.
I would agree, but the average person isn't staying for that long :(
Otherwise, I'd love to talk more!
@@idkwhatname3133 perchance I’ll extend my it of box impressions :)
Mine just arrived, unfortunately I can't get a good seal with any of the tips. Any tips on tips?;)
My favorite is the CP145 medium for achieving a good seal on almost anything, while also being comfortably soft enough to have in for long sessions. a.co/d/eJ4hLZA
I also have some pairs of larges for IEMs that don’t seal right with medium. Between those two sizes, seal isn’t an issue with any IEM.
The only other pair I bother with is a set of foam tips from Campfire audio, their “marshmallow” tips. That’s used rarely though and only really when silicone is too harsh a sound on a piece of gear. Sometimes IEMs could use some mellowing out with the foam.
@@dansaudioreviews Thanks, I'll give them a try!
Which do you prefer to listen to in terms of pure enjoyment factor, the Kato or the 7Hz? Curious about the treble and clarity as well
You know it’s odd. I generally have found more enjoyment with brighter gear, and yet I get more enjoyment, for now, by the warmer Timeless.
I need to take breaks from warm stuff, like the Timeless. I need that urge to hear brighter clearer stuff. But… I keep finding a lot of joy with the Timeless when it feels like the time to put them on again.
But like I said in the review actually, I’m seeing how I could get used to it and start to lean more back to brighter gear for more play time. I would still keep the Timeless, as it does bring a spark of joy when it is used.
If I didn’t have the MEST, I would keep the Kato as my every day go to. They aren’t comparable in tuning styles though. It’s just that I’d I had only the Kato, and not the MEST, I would probably listen to it for more daily use. The balanced sound is easier to listen to for extended and more numerous periods.
The Timeless, while very fun when it is fun, and fun for whole libraries, can need those breaks for me.
If I were a person who had to choose which one…and not both? That’s tough. It depends on how much joy one or the other may bring you particularly. If what you feel about their sound is similar to me, it could be a “get both” kind of situation. But if only one could be bought?
Do you have anything else already that is balanced sounding to you? Then Timeless would be a fun addition to your range of gear.
If you already have a warm set and no balanced or fun clearer sounding set, then I would suggest Kato.
It all depends
@@dansaudioreviews That is indeed a very very interesting answer... Would you say the Timeless lacks clarity and treble sparkle compared to the Kato?
And that's so coincidental how we had the same thought process about making the decision based on currently owned IEM's sound signatures.
I'll need your input here - I own Fiio's FH5 (2019 version, fully closed-back and not semi-open like their newer FH5s counterpart). The FH5 has a really warm sound signature, meaty and powerful sub-bass and smooth treble. I love it, but been craving for a second IEM with more sparkle/presence up top. Something with more detail and clarity without getting sibilant. The FH5 is great but without EQ I feel the top end is a little too smoothed off, looking for more bite in the sound with genres like pop punk.
Am I right to say based on what you hear (subjectively, of course) the Kato is then more preferable in this scenario, since the FH5 is already warm?
@@TF2ReplayMaker yes! Kato would be a better pick there, given what you have already. Or, if you want more sparkle, the Mangird Tea. To my ear it has more sparkle up top, even if it has more sub bass than the Kato. The Tea do both.
I wouldn’t call the Kato sparkly, just well mid centered and clear in that area.
@@dansaudioreviews thank you for your replies! They've cleared up lots of questions I had about these IEMs. Would actually consider the Mangird Tea, but the demos of it on your Timeless video made it sound somewhat muddy/unclear 🤔 Are the Teas still one of your go-to IEMs for treble detail and clarity?
@@TF2ReplayMaker Oh for my ears, yes. The Tea don’t come off as unclear. They sound pretty clear. At least in real life, for my ears, and for my tracks!
I’ve had some people say they don’t hear the bright spots on the Tea as I do, so you might agree with them if you try it. I just don’t know 😮
Any one of these options sounds great though. But it sounds like you want bright spots in the treble/upper mid region. That’s what I get with the Tea, personally. Not by looking at graphs, but by what I feel I hear personally.
Welp it's my next set after the Mele, starting saving now. 😝 Finally got the Mele last week, damn it's a nice set. They're so comfy too!
how's treble on the mele? Rolled off significantly or nah
@@TF2ReplayMakerNot significantly, it's not the L2 for example, but it does miss some detail and airiness.
@@shadow_warlockgr ah, I see. Appreciate the reply man. Currently looking for something with more treble detail than my Fiio FH5 (2019) as it's amazing and warm but looking for a second, more aggressive IEM to complement it
@@TF2ReplayMaker From what I've the Hana 2021 has phenomenal treble and mids but the bass should be worse than the FH5.
@@shadow_warlockgr yeah!! I'm currently stuck between Kato, Hana and Timeless
Timeless bc even though it's been described as warm, reviewers have also said its treble detail is phenomenal, clear and not muddy. Decisions decisions man......
Great Video
I've been using my K Z Zsn pro x wirelessly. They are okish. My wife tried them so will give them to her. Here in Brazil or selection is not great so its a case of Buying on Ali Express.
I managed to find and order a Kato Matte Steel. So if anyone is interested there are under ten available.
Hello there!
Just wanted to say that I like how its easy to hear your energy and passion about IEMs through your talking,
and that I have a question for you.
I've bought the Moondrop Kato and im looking for a Dac/Amp that is type c AND also has a mic.
if you got something good it would very help me!
tnx in advance ;D
My favorite from the handful I’ve tried is the Qudelix 5K. It’ll come down to taste with amps, and I like the 5K’s brighter “clear” sound compared to others like the FiiO’s warm sound.
www.amazon.com/dp/B088F7C976/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_29DX05A8P2SG47AF3WTG?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Looks very nice ;)
Matte finish paint coated?
I’m not really sure about their process of creating the finish.
Seeing you happy with the matte version and I am sad waiting at room corner for my infinite delayed preorder...
Sorry to hear that. Apparently there are delays for everyone :/
Mine was delayed for a month!
Hi, what will be your pick for the best male vocals under 500? Sometimes I find male vocals sound thin and not correct in there expressions. And sometimes there recessed aswell.
Oh that’s such a good question. Hmm…
I might say that, for only $50, the Mele is a great place to start trying recommendations with little risk (because it’s so cheap).
After that, I would say the best of the best for my taste, in terms of vocals male or female, is probably the Unique Melody MEST.
Somewhere in between the extremes of price ranges? Maybe the Kato. It has a good mid centric focus to my ears, which means it does well with almost anything. It doesn’t hit the bass nor the treble with any specialty, but for male vocals that doesn’t matter terribly.
@@dansaudioreviews Thanks ever soo much for your recommendation and if you don't mind how do the tea's, timeless and Kato compare when it comes to male vocals? As I've narrowed it down to them for my budget since mest is way above 500.
Ohh Just to add I found the oxygen not so great for male vocals either. For some reason it just didn't convey the emotions properly for me lacking in power and some note weight.
@@nabilchoudhury7359 I would say the Timeless don’t come to mind as much as the other two mentioned.
I’ll try and listen to them each on a male vocal heavy track and get back to you :)
@@dansaudioreviews Thanks soo much this will really help as I've been stuck on what my next purchase should be. I'd rather you tell me which one is best instead of having to recycle through soo many iems. For reference I'd like it sounding better then oxygens male vocals.
To be honest, after trying a bunch of different stuff just now to compare male vocals, I'm not sure if there is a clear winner.
If I had to say...maybe the Timeless. I like how there is enough resolution to allow for male vocals - often accompanied by busy sections of instruments - to be heard really clearly.
Liking Moondrop again, me too 🥳😎
Yes! yes! yes!
Do you think i should buy kato or fiio fd5?
I personally haven’t had much luck enjoying FiiO generally, but some people love the brand.
Personally, I would risk getting the Kato over any FiiO.
@@dansaudioreviews I listen to music of all kinds for long hours. I don't have a chance to try. I've read a lot of good things about Kato. The FD5's semi-open design can make it easy for me to listen to music for long hours.It also has an fd5 beryllium coated dlc driver. I was undecided.
@@fatihtuncer7230 well it could be good. Beryllium drivers are great.
I’ve only tried the FD3 and FH5, so I can’t say about the FD5. Sorry!
Do you like KATO better than Timeless ?
No. For me, Timeless.
How does the KATO compare to the ARIA?
Looking forward to the soundtest and in depth review.
Cheers!
Kato, to me, is a clear upgrade. There may be some specific tuning differences, so some people may possibly prefer the style of the Aria…but, to me, the Kato does balanced playback cleaner, with more engagement, and more forward mids.
@@dansaudioreviews THANK YOU... I appreciate the reply.
@@dansaudioreviews se podría decir que Kato tiene sonido más natural y más real?
I'm confused, why do you start every video with a statement about keeping the video short? If you had 15 minutes of good commentary why would you re-do it? There is no prize for the shortest video.
Good point! Well, I keep it short because I don’t want to keep people long who want a short take, and also because I’ll end up saying a lot more anyway during my full review/sound demo video.
I find it more authentic and direct for myself, and hopefully for viewers too, when I can lay my detailed thoughts out alongside samples that we can hear together during the longer demo video.
I guess, all in all, it’s just a format that flows nicely for me. One short take followed by a longer take with demos and in depth commentary.
But hey, if people want longer out of box impressions, I would try it. But my TH-cam analytics is showing me that most people stop listening around 3/4 minutes in. So the current short take, followed by a long take with demos, seems to strike the balance for most people coming to watch the videos.
Mango tea is bright? then it is not my cup of tea. I like my sound warm like Mele
The Mangird Tea “bright”??? Every FR graph I’ve seen regarding them says you’re wrong. My personal set says you’re wrong. If anything, they’re more midrange focused in the same way an Hd650 is.
As far as the Kato is concerned, I find that they are on the bright side of neutral with good dynamics & technicalities. Bass could be tighter with better definition. All in all a very good item for the price.
Yea, the areas of the area that stand out to me, give me a sense of brighter feel. It may just be one specific spot, some specific instrument sounds even, but that’s what I feel when I hear it. I’ve stopped looking at graphs most of the time, as it turns out that any specific relative difference in one part of the range compared to another can make it very difficult for me to look at the graph and draw the same conclusions I get with simply listening to it.
But hey, everyone’s ears and libraries are different. Maybe I’m hearing brightness where you hear more neutral and mid range focused.
Maybe what I call “bright” is actually just a punctuated area in the mids somewhere. But when I say it “sounds bright,” I mean there’s relatively less warmth overall from the bass section. This could mean treble is high, or it could mean the mids are high but with no bass to mellow it out.
Apologies though if I’m using the terms more loosely than you or others may 😬
If I could clarify, I would say the Tea is lacking warmth compared to other gear I’ve tried that I’ve called warm. So it comes off to me as, relatively, “brighter.”
Take a look at Super Review frequency response graph for the Tea, some units have substantially more treble energy, possibly QC issues. There's reports about it on the HiFi Guides thread.
@@alexulrik5143 interesting. The plot thickens!
Kato on the bright side of neutral!? That's not what most people hear
That's weird, I found the kato way sharper than the starfields. I found the kato much harsher than the starfields
Yea, each is harsh in their own way
@@dansaudioreviews idk about that. I own a lot of iems and the starfields are by far the least fatiguing and offensive I've ever owned. In fact everyone I know complains about then being too relaxed and tame.. the kato on the other hand hurt my ears no matter how I tried to eq it, tip roll, etc.
@@lemon777r oh interesting. I guess I may not be typical with how the Starfield comes off as harsh to me.
If you wanna trade those ugly matte finish kato for sexy gloss ones let me know lol mine on the way from apos
Haha 😆 Not interested in trading but I’m going to be selling them soon in a big garage sale.
@@dansaudioreviews -_- well crap lol how hard are apos returns lol
@@Graciashauf Well you may very well enjoy them and their looks! Many people love them as top audio gear.
Apos does do returns. More easily than others. There may be a restocking fee? Not sure. But honestly paying a restocking fee isn’t so bad for getting to try something for yourself.
I can’t remember though. You would have to see if the return policy allows for open packaging. I…think it does?
@@dansaudioreviews honestly wasn't even gonna open them if I could buy your matte version 😁
@@Graciashauf haha
great idea, but your camera focus is so weird, dude.
😜 Like, when I hold the stuff up to the camera and it’s blurry? Yea, I’m working on that. Gotta put my hand behind it or something so the auto focus captures what I’m trying to focus on.
You keep bringing the IEM near the camera as if it can focus that close, it can't. If you want us to actually see something keep it in camera's focus range. Thanks for the content though
Hah, yea. I got the thing strapped to my head so I don’t really know how close I can get without it being blurry. It indeed does fail to shift focus like I want it to 😕
I’ll probably be turning to 3rd person some day though, with close up footage edited in.
Nice out of focus shots of the Kato all video...
I try. 💀
Harsh and grainy sounding.
Why? Why? Why? This stupid (sorry) headcam? I like your content but I hate headcams, makes me so tired to follow. This was a bad idea from the beginning (not you, the other two).
I suppose the movement of the camera can make people feel uneasy. I didn’t want to spoil much, but I do plan on setting the camera up on a tripod some day and having it face me. Kind of waiting to make my new studio pretty before I try it 😅
I hate when reviewers use all these weird words. Just tell us what headphones are the best