The wonderful thing about this IEM is it forces people to admit you can EQ IEM's. Every time I ask this to people in this hobby it is like it is some kind of taboo word.
@@JoseFerreira-zb7wh The "Forcing" I am referring to is that most reviewers are praising the DSP. And more than that, it's an industry changing IEM product from a strong brand that is promoting EQ via DSP. This cannot be ignored. In this sense, people are being forced to acknowledge it. Obviously I don't mean literally that people don't know you can EQ an IEM. The point here is that there are obvious benefits to EQ.
@@exhibitD79 it's nothing like that.(an industry changing product) This exact same cable is for sale for quite some time now. Moondrop has released other iems with this same cable. The difference is this is marketed by crinacle and has some presets tuned by him. Something that really confuses me is that reviewers that almost ignored or even trashed this cable and the app when they came out are now praising it. A qudelix 5k, fiio ka17, or simply any dongle dac with hiby os, uapp or just wavelet will do the same thing for a lot less money. No revolution here other than the unjustified hype when you actually and rationally think about it. Just don't give in to the hype.
Fantastic format Paul. I use iOS and my FiiO Q15 has PEQ. It actually works very well. My BTR15 has PEQ too. Works great. I have a feeling we are going to be seeing more DSP iem sets in 2024.
I don't mind the DSP cables, but if I had a Q15, I'd like to use it too. Generally, the DSP cable gave me a bunch of ideas that I would implement on the Q15.
Everyone has notes, but I use them to edit myself and stay on track. Too many notes on Dusk but did ok. I just watched another review which was very good, but I went like 3 layers deep versus just saying Dusk is a great set.
30 minute paul wasabii video?? Let's goooo! Super torn with this. I actually wanna get this to explore the different tunings. For someone not yet versed in EQ, I think this is a great entry into it. The price is really the issue as it's basically gonna be competing with the likes of the Hype 4 and Mega 5-EST.
Yeah, 30 min video is Akros style. He pulls off that length better than I do. I purposely got out of the 20+ minute game unless the set has a lot going on. Yes, there is no rush, Dusk will be there when the dust settles on the new sets by the end of the year. Sit back and wait to see if they discount it later on.
@@hartyewh1 Mega5-EST is only around $460 where I am. So only about $100 difference. And imho, when considering things in the $400-500 range, $100 shouldn't be a major factor anymore when deciding. But if the price difference was closer to $200, the Dusk is likely the better value.
Excellent observations and tweaks, another Paul Wasabi master class, this time focusing on MxCD. You know it's a dirty shame consumers have to exert so much energy just to squeeze out her true worth. Thanks for the alchemy lesson to show us MxCD's true magic.
Great detailed review as usual Paul. I personally really liked the DSP graph, meets my preferred curve very well (didn't a chance to review it) But in my opinion for the price they should have supplied a better analog cable specially with modular jacks. If anything they could just supply the aria 2 cable
I've been using wavlete for a while now and it really helped me understand preference more and graphs. This product is strange because the app and the dsp cable has a noise floor i hear. Not that im hating on crinacle or moondrop but you can just get a iem that measures smooth on the treble and use tools like wavelete to make compensation graphs to fit popular preferences targets like Harman or JM-1.
Interesting, I didn't notice the noise floor, but I also was looking for levels more than critical listening. I also didn't have the app crash or other weird things I see reported. But I can understand all the connect/disconnects aren't helpful for app stability. I honestly don't know how it will play out, will people embrace the DSP presets, PEQ, or something else.
Does that mean the DSP cable is just a cable with build in DAC and a EQ profile? And, if I EQ myself I can achieve the same thing with the analog cable, or is there just something that only the DSP cable can do?
crinacle.com/2024/04/10/moondrop-x-crinacle-dusk-eq-dsp-values/ Yes, the DSP cable is essentially a usb dongle with 2pin connector. Yes, you can EQ the same presets yourself since Crinacle gave us the values.
No one uses shelves as they are somewhat specific to the implementation, even on squig vs wavelet. So it is basically converting parametric shelf to graphic but you can still control it more or less like parametric. But yeah, just trying to make it easier for people to get started on something that is not easy to start
Can I use the same values used in the 3 filters in my PEQ app in the Qudelix 5K? Could it be too warm or should be ok using those values without a slider strenght?
Excellent review! I think for me, who am sensitive to " twinkles and sparkles", like Akros says, would like a 2 DD + 2/4 BA similar to your EQed version at sub $200. Why don't you do a collab? If it was under $200 I'd get it. :)
I think this year will play out as the 2DD rollout. Most of them have been quite nice. Something like a cross of Hype 2 and Cadenza4. 2DD+a couple Sonions tuned more natural. Should be quite a few 2DD options this year
for Gaming & music which one i should buy as a beginner ?? 1. tangzhu waner SG 2. Moon drop chu 2 3. zsn pro 2 4.Saltox Zero 2 Please rank them according to your experienced ears .. And help me to get my 1st IEM bro...
sorry im new into this hoppy around a year also i have some quetions also how i can choose my iem and analyzie like most of people ? how i can read freq of any iem and mesure and compare to other iem and hear diffrent also im using hi res songs and flac files like paul mention in video sometimes i didnt hear any diffrent quality in sound of iems i used many iem so whats the issue also choose my tunning i cant choose i used those iem im currently use now : aful 8 perfomer , simgot em6l iems i used before : 7hz zero red , 7hz salantos , seeaudio bravery , seeuaudio yume , trn 3 , s12 pro letshour
I would stop buying IEMs and just listen to the ones you have for a while. The hobby is about spending lots of money for small differences. At some point your brain will click on these small differences. No need to chase all these sets at this point.
I tend to use UAPP more as I bought the PEQ, that is better, but wanted to put something out that didn't cost money to try. I would say my dongles decreased the performance more than Wavelet compared to my desktop
After this, We all know they gotta be releasing a kato 2 within 6 months after this. Its their only other big iem they havent revisited for an upgrade yet.
@PaulWasabii true but neither was the snow edition of the aria. This is their last revisit to check off that will definetly bring people who weren't satisfied with the Stellaris back. Theyre missing the 100-200 part of the market at the moment. So I can see them trying to redeem with kato 2
can i connect the dsp cable to my pc directly if my motherboard has a usb type c connection? and can i use the EQ presets or the moondrop app on my pc?
You can use it on your PC as the DSP stores the preset. Can you change the presets? Not sure. That would require the Android link app in an emulator with usb access. On a PC, I use Foobar for local files, has an EQ. Otherwise there is Peace Equalizer too. If you are going to use a PC, you can just EQ the presets yourself crinacle.com/2024/04/10/moondrop-x-crinacle-dusk-eq-dsp-values/
@@PaulWasabii ty for the reply, so if I connect the dsp cable to my pc it will load the default preset of the dsp, that’s pretty much the only one I wanna try cause the other 4 are no good for me and will use it with analog later on…
I think your eq setting could be too warm and too warm and too bassy, basically no longer has a pinna gain. while the bass does look like xenns top, xenns top also has more upper mids to balance it out. but you are also reducing the upper mids.
Honestly, I don't have a problem with the price if you are EQ'ing it. There aren't many sets that have that treble quality and driver quality under its price. If you are trying to use it with the DSP cable, then yeah, it sounds like a $200 set which means it sounds like other $200 sets that have tuning issues.
Weirdly, you would notice on the bass if you EQ'd it. Both are nicely resolving sets so you would notice that less compared to having a 2DD bass range. That is the general problem with the hobby, you pay 3X more and you will almost never find a 3X return
@@PaulWasabiithis is where I see the whole DSP cable thing opening a can of worms for me. It has to be said you could probably take most other IEMs in the price range and EQ yourself a dusk, or something very close to it. So if we're going to say an DSP cable is an acceptable part of a review I feel like we have to then say, maybe don't upgrade, just try a bit of EQ
Blessing 3 was up there with 2DD+4BA. Swapping in a couple micro planars for $40usd wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. But you are right. it is a lot of money regardless.
Specially when taking into account the main focus of the product is dsp and peq. Just try that with other iems. Paul just gave a nice tip with wavelet.
@@JoseFerreira-zb7whthat’s not true, though. The EQ perfects the response, no IEM has ideal response, it’s just that the fixes for any issues can introduce other audible problems.
@@PaulWasabii Paul, Micro Planar is not that expensive. It's have been used in quite a lot on TWS. Putting that on a cabled earphones with this price range doesn't make any sense. I bet we can meet in Osaka here and do double blind test contest in that sea of IEMs. Let's make all Blessing 1, Blessing 2, Blessing 3, Dusk and Variations or any IEMs similarly shaped and PEQ all them the same, I doubt not only you, even Crinacle can't tell the difference.
@@Cujobob i'll give you that. You shoud try it with iems that don't need big gain changes. still, one can end up with very similar results spending a lot less.
Micro planar seems basically just a pseudo planar called "SPD" in small form, nothing new here, you can get a similar thing in Huawei Freebuds without breaking your wallet and that stupid Cringe-nacle name on it. This is the most embarrassment of Moondrop, without a Cringenacle name their reputation on this release will be burn into ashes.
There have been a few versions and I am not sure of the origin of Moondrop's micro planar. The square planar from Kinera, they have a round one too like Moondrop May's planar. Rinko had one. I don't think they are going away, but would certainly welcome to see Dusk's at a lower price point.
The wonderful thing about this IEM is it forces people to admit you can EQ IEM's. Every time I ask this to people in this hobby it is like it is some kind of taboo word.
You can just use it in stock analog form, so, not really.
@@JoseFerreira-zb7wh You can use the analogue or DSP cable. The DSP is literally applying EQ. It's one of the key features.
@@exhibitD79 yes but you're not forced to anything as you have the analog option as well. you only use the dsp cable if you want to.
@@JoseFerreira-zb7wh The "Forcing" I am referring to is that most reviewers are praising the DSP. And more than that, it's an industry changing IEM product from a strong brand that is promoting EQ via DSP. This cannot be ignored.
In this sense, people are being forced to acknowledge it.
Obviously I don't mean literally that people don't know you can EQ an IEM. The point here is that there are obvious benefits to EQ.
@@exhibitD79 it's nothing like that.(an industry changing product) This exact same cable is for sale for quite some time now. Moondrop has released other iems with this same cable. The difference is this is marketed by crinacle and has some presets tuned by him. Something that really confuses me is that reviewers that almost ignored or even trashed this cable and the app when they came out are now praising it. A qudelix 5k, fiio ka17, or simply any dongle dac with hiby os, uapp or just wavelet will do the same thing for a lot less money. No revolution here other than the unjustified hype when you actually and rationally think about it. Just don't give in to the hype.
Paul your unique way of reviewing amazes me every time. Keep up the good work
Trying. I'll be ok reviewing a few simple 1DD sets after Dusk.
Fantastic format Paul. I use iOS and my FiiO Q15 has PEQ. It actually works very well. My BTR15 has PEQ too. Works great. I have a feeling we are going to be seeing more DSP iem sets in 2024.
I don't mind the DSP cables, but if I had a Q15, I'd like to use it too. Generally, the DSP cable gave me a bunch of ideas that I would implement on the Q15.
Kudos for mentioning the fact that it solves the hybrid resolution problem with planars. Great review as always!
I am not sure anyone else will agree, but there is something nice there.
I always enjoy how you leave your notes up during your reviews
Everyone has notes, but I use them to edit myself and stay on track. Too many notes on Dusk but did ok. I just watched another review which was very good, but I went like 3 layers deep versus just saying Dusk is a great set.
30 minute paul wasabii video?? Let's goooo! Super torn with this. I actually wanna get this to explore the different tunings. For someone not yet versed in EQ, I think this is a great entry into it. The price is really the issue as it's basically gonna be competing with the likes of the Hype 4 and Mega 5-EST.
Yeah, 30 min video is Akros style. He pulls off that length better than I do. I purposely got out of the 20+ minute game unless the set has a lot going on. Yes, there is no rush, Dusk will be there when the dust settles on the new sets by the end of the year. Sit back and wait to see if they discount it later on.
Mega 5est is $200 more so not in the same price range imo.
@@hartyewh1 Mega5-EST is only around $460 where I am. So only about $100 difference. And imho, when considering things in the $400-500 range, $100 shouldn't be a major factor anymore when deciding. But if the price difference was closer to $200, the Dusk is likely the better value.
Excellent observations and tweaks, another Paul Wasabi master class, this time focusing on MxCD. You know it's a dirty shame consumers have to exert so much energy just to squeeze out her true worth. Thanks for the alchemy lesson to show us MxCD's true magic.
Yes, it is a bit of work, but I also want people who drop the money on it to have a good experience if they don't like the presets or analog.
Great detailed review as usual Paul. I personally really liked the DSP graph, meets my preferred curve very well (didn't a chance to review it)
But in my opinion for the price they should have supplied a better analog cable specially with modular jacks. If anything they could just supply the aria 2 cable
Not that the analog cable was an afterthought, but something going on there. The DSP graph is nice though. As I said, gave me a few ideas.
I've been using wavlete for a while now and it really helped me understand preference more and graphs. This product is strange because the app and the dsp cable has a noise floor i hear. Not that im hating on crinacle or moondrop but you can just get a iem that measures smooth on the treble and use tools like wavelete to make compensation graphs to fit popular preferences targets like Harman or JM-1.
Interesting, I didn't notice the noise floor, but I also was looking for levels more than critical listening. I also didn't have the app crash or other weird things I see reported. But I can understand all the connect/disconnects aren't helpful for app stability. I honestly don't know how it will play out, will people embrace the DSP presets, PEQ, or something else.
Dude thank you so much what a great video, all of the little tips and tricks and that wavelett feature. You rock man, thanks much.
Not perfect, but hopefully a starting point so you can explore and enjoy the set.
Does that mean the DSP cable is just a cable with build in DAC and a EQ profile? And, if I EQ myself I can achieve the same thing with the analog cable, or is there just something that only the DSP cable can do?
crinacle.com/2024/04/10/moondrop-x-crinacle-dusk-eq-dsp-values/
Yes, the DSP cable is essentially a usb dongle with 2pin connector. Yes, you can EQ the same presets yourself since Crinacle gave us the values.
Nice video, I think a lot of newbies will appreciate your way of explaining low and high shelfs.
No one uses shelves as they are somewhat specific to the implementation, even on squig vs wavelet. So it is basically converting parametric shelf to graphic but you can still control it more or less like parametric. But yeah, just trying to make it easier for people to get started on something that is not easy to start
Love your work,Paul. Hope you can gets your hands on a Tanchjim Origins. Would love your input on how the bass can be improved.
I had asked at the time, got a No on the origin. Maybe they got it better on 4U.
Great video Paul, they look very interesting
I admit im interested but I already own a Variations so its hard to buy stuff near its price range
Variations is super nice. No need to side grade.
Wish more "EXPENSIVE" makers would allow the same EQ customization!
We'll see how this works out over the months. I think they need to work out the issues brought up in Dusk with the DSP cable.
Can I use the same values used in the 3 filters in my PEQ app in the Qudelix 5K? Could it be too warm or should be ok using those values without a slider strenght?
If I was using PEQ, I'd probably just use the values Crinacle put out for the DSP cable. And then tweak those.
Nice video Sir! I'm not big on EQ, I'll pass on these.
so I assume you still need high quality drivers when equalizing or for a dsp to work optimally
Yes, Moondrop does high quality drivers and Dusk feeds on more resolving sources.
Excellent review!
I think for me, who am sensitive to " twinkles and sparkles", like Akros says, would like a 2 DD + 2/4 BA similar to your EQed version at sub $200.
Why don't you do a collab? If it was under $200 I'd get it. :)
I think this year will play out as the 2DD rollout. Most of them have been quite nice. Something like a cross of Hype 2 and Cadenza4. 2DD+a couple Sonions tuned more natural. Should be quite a few 2DD options this year
Im getting myself a pair in may. Cant wait 🙂↕️
Good luck
for Gaming & music which one i should buy as a beginner ??
1. tangzhu waner SG
2. Moon drop chu 2
3. zsn pro 2
4.Saltox Zero 2
Please rank them according to your experienced ears ..
And help me to get my 1st IEM bro...
I will make this easier, they are all similar. Buy the one that looks good or the cheapest.
sorry im new into this hoppy around a year also i have some quetions
also how i can choose my iem and analyzie like most of people ?
how i can read freq of any iem and mesure and compare to other iem and hear diffrent
also im using hi res songs and flac files like paul mention in video sometimes i didnt hear any diffrent quality in sound of iems i used many iem so whats the issue also choose my tunning i cant choose
i used those iem im currently use now : aful 8 perfomer , simgot em6l
iems i used before : 7hz zero red , 7hz salantos , seeaudio bravery , seeuaudio yume , trn 3 , s12 pro letshour
I would stop buying IEMs and just listen to the ones you have for a while. The hobby is about spending lots of money for small differences. At some point your brain will click on these small differences. No need to chase all these sets at this point.
Wavelet decreased the technical performance of my set, Doesn't do this to you?
I tend to use UAPP more as I bought the PEQ, that is better, but wanted to put something out that didn't cost money to try. I would say my dongles decreased the performance more than Wavelet compared to my desktop
After this, We all know they gotta be releasing a kato 2 within 6 months after this. Its their only other big iem they havent revisited for an upgrade yet.
I can't see it early in the year, but maybe right at the end of the year. Seems like Kato isn't that old.
@PaulWasabii true but neither was the snow edition of the aria. This is their last revisit to check off that will definetly bring people who weren't satisfied with the Stellaris back. Theyre missing the 100-200 part of the market at the moment. So I can see them trying to redeem with kato 2
@PaulWasabii plus they're being challenged by simgot for that market and tbh...simgot is crushing it lately in the 80-200 range
can i connect the dsp cable to my pc directly if my motherboard has a usb type c connection? and can i use the EQ presets or the moondrop app on my pc?
You can use it on your PC as the DSP stores the preset. Can you change the presets? Not sure. That would require the Android link app in an emulator with usb access. On a PC, I use Foobar for local files, has an EQ. Otherwise there is Peace Equalizer too. If you are going to use a PC, you can just EQ the presets yourself crinacle.com/2024/04/10/moondrop-x-crinacle-dusk-eq-dsp-values/
@@PaulWasabii ty for the reply, so if I connect the dsp cable to my pc it will load the default preset of the dsp, that’s pretty much the only one I wanna try cause the other 4 are no good for me and will use it with analog later on…
I think your eq setting could be too warm and too warm and too bassy, basically no longer has a pinna gain. while the bass does look like xenns top, xenns top also has more upper mids to balance it out. but you are also reducing the upper mids.
Yeah that is why I use Wavelet slider. At 25%, that is 1db-ish on bass,
At what price do you think dusk should be priced at?
Honestly, I don't have a problem with the price if you are EQ'ing it. There aren't many sets that have that treble quality and driver quality under its price. If you are trying to use it with the DSP cable, then yeah, it sounds like a $200 set which means it sounds like other $200 sets that have tuning issues.
Great review. Would these be a noticeable upgrade from EA500LM?
Weirdly, you would notice on the bass if you EQ'd it. Both are nicely resolving sets so you would notice that less compared to having a 2DD bass range. That is the general problem with the hobby, you pay 3X more and you will almost never find a 3X return
@@PaulWasabiithis is where I see the whole DSP cable thing opening a can of worms for me. It has to be said you could probably take most other IEMs in the price range and EQ yourself a dusk, or something very close to it. So if we're going to say an DSP cable is an acceptable part of a review I feel like we have to then say, maybe don't upgrade, just try a bit of EQ
2DD+2BA+2Planar=2Expensive
Blessing 3 was up there with 2DD+4BA. Swapping in a couple micro planars for $40usd wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. But you are right. it is a lot of money regardless.
Specially when taking into account the main focus of the product is dsp and peq. Just try that with other iems. Paul just gave a nice tip with wavelet.
@@JoseFerreira-zb7whthat’s not true, though. The EQ perfects the response, no IEM has ideal response, it’s just that the fixes for any issues can introduce other audible problems.
@@PaulWasabii Paul, Micro Planar is not that expensive. It's have been used in quite a lot on TWS. Putting that on a cabled earphones with this price range doesn't make any sense. I bet we can meet in Osaka here and do double blind test contest in that sea of IEMs. Let's make all Blessing 1, Blessing 2, Blessing 3, Dusk and Variations or any IEMs similarly shaped and PEQ all them the same, I doubt not only you, even Crinacle can't tell the difference.
@@Cujobob i'll give you that. You shoud try it with iems that don't need big gain changes. still, one can end up with very similar results spending a lot less.
A junk
Micro planar seems basically just a pseudo planar called "SPD" in small form, nothing new here, you can get a similar thing in Huawei Freebuds without breaking your wallet and that stupid Cringe-nacle name on it. This is the most embarrassment of Moondrop, without a Cringenacle name their reputation on this release will be burn into ashes.
There have been a few versions and I am not sure of the origin of Moondrop's micro planar. The square planar from Kinera, they have a round one too like Moondrop May's planar. Rinko had one. I don't think they are going away, but would certainly welcome to see Dusk's at a lower price point.