Moondrop - KADENZ

Time to get downvoted for my honest opinion: The Moondrop Kadenz Yes, single driver, but if you read reviews people compare it with the Blessing 3.  I've gone above 1000$ twice and regretted it both times. Single DD coherency cant be beat for me'

Out of all my iems, the only stock cables I'm using is the moondrop kadenz and cvj aria.

Hi guys, a few months ago I saw an interesting format in the watches sub and I decided to take inspiration from it. I recorded the hours of my IEMs used in the last 2 months, in total I stopped at just over 400 hours, it was an interesting experiment especially to understand what I can sell and what is not used. I'll leave you some impressions and comments:) * Punch audio Martilo: In the end they were my most used between Work, Music, Gym and Gaming. I must say that lately I listen to a lot of phonk * Tangzu Tianpeng: They replaced my Bajie, excellent quality and accessories for more refined listening at home or excellent for gaming * Tanchjim Force: They are becoming my favorites, already heard at various fairs and lent by a friend, excellent aesthetic and design, sound similar to my beloved Meteor, but they are less goofy and therefore I can also wear them on trains or at work, I will definitely increase the hours * Moondrop Kadenz: Great all-rounders, simply top, but I'm using the Forces more for a similar sound. They're perfect for work. * Moondrop Meteor: Among my favorite flagships, but I'm more comfortable with the Tanchjim as they are more discreet, I listen to the Meteor at home in peace * Fatfreq Deuce: They were the most used for the same reasons as the Martilo, but I prefer the Punch Audio for design and comfort. The bass is perfect in both.

What's your budget? I don't listen to these artists much, but similar-ish artists like Sheena Ringo, Hikura Utada. My go to pair for late 90s-00s j-pop is Moondrop Kato (which is discontinued, and replaced by extremely similar Moondrop Kadenz). These are vocal forward with some bass, but not overpowering. On upcoming sale they should be available in the $150-170 range. Moondrop Aria 2 is much cheaper, but a bit more v-shaped, but should still be a good choice. Full price is around 99usd, and should be able to get a decent discount with 11.11 sale or black friday.

Out of dozens upon dozens,  Might be the KZ PRX with a bit of a bass boost goes boom for how enjoyable they are. That said actual best might be Moondrop Kadenz rn. PRX for relaxin tho 

Top 10, didn't bother to list more 1. HD6XX: After getting my hands on the HD6XX years ago, I don't get that "wow" feeling again no matter what I try. "Thanks to" the HD6XX whenever I try every HiFiMan, Meze, AKG, etc, I was like, 'That's it?'. HD6XX had ruined my headphones upgrade journey. 2. FiiO FT1: About a few months ago, I went to a Headphone Expo in Guangzhou, China. There I tested the FT1, it has that "oh this is nice" vibe to it which I haven't had since the Moondrop Cosmo. They offered a discounted price that I simply couldn't refuse so here I am. 3. Sennheiser Momentum 3: My travel/outdoor companion. Still one of the best built and sounds wireless over ear, no argument allowed. 4. Moondrop Kadenz: I got it at a decent price in China when released because of my membership of '客亭', a Chinese HiFi retailer.(Cheaper than KATO MSRP). My daily IEM whenever I don't feel like using my Anker A40. Sounds good, came with a nice dongle (ECHO-B), comfortable to me. 5. Sony MDR CD900ST: I bought second hand in Japan. Mainly for it's heritage and look. I use it for my studio as a secondary monitor at times. Sounds good, meh comfort and the The First Take scandal. 6. Sony MH750: My first ever "monitor", always got a soft spot for this IEM and goes back to listen to music with it. Sounds great, good comfort, compact. A bit bassy but overall sounds correct. Used it for mixing and composing in the past. Maybe it's nostalgia for it to be in the top 10. 7. Moondrop Chu 2: An IEM for testing equipment and arcade gaming. 8. 7Hz Salnotes Zero: A backup IEM for testing equipment 9. Nicehck DB2: I always use this to show people the disadvantage of BA driver. Sound good in the mid and bass because of the decent DD, missed the mark because of the BA driver handling the treble. 10. Soundcore Anker A40: A TWS for me to trash around. Sounds ok after EQ. Tbh, who needs HiFi audio quality when you're on the street or watching normal YouTube videos.

The Moondrop Kato is pretty close to that target. The new Kadenz may be even closer with a bit less bass than the Kato. Since you are EQing to Crinacle's target, if you can save a bit more than the thing you really want is probably the Dusk. Also for about $60 the original Titan S is closer to that target than the S2, without any EQ. I think the Kato is closer on a graph, but sounds a bit more v-shaped than the Titan. The Titan has very slightly grainy treble while bass on the Kato can occasionally sound a bit boxy. My ideal would be Titan S bass & mids with Kato treble.

I would say Kadenz is a very good DD but it is bit overpriced in the current market. It's resolving and neutral but comes with the usual Moondrop 1DD criticism that that tuning is too safe and that it's not significantly different from the many other 1DDs that came before it like Kato. Really depends on how much you like Moondrop VSDF tuning to be honest. But I think most people would say it does not have the detail and wow-factor of other high-end DDs like Origin, EA1000, FD15, etc. And $200-ish dollars can buy you a hell of a hybrid these days. Maybe try something cheaper first. I think Zenith, EA500/LM, Unicrom, 4U give the Kato a run for it's money and maybe it's wrong to judge the Kadenz by the Kato but it really is 90% the same IEM. Try the Aria 2 or better yet a used/on-sale Kato.

Yea based from your previous sets and we if we are talking about Moondrop lineup the Kadenz is the most reasonable single DD upgrade from their series and pretty much significant in your case (also still conflicted to get one as pretty much seems the Kadenz will be the last one of their single DD K-series from what I have heard).

If you can get tanchjim origin for 150 you will not regret it. Also moondrop kadenz for around 100 is very good value and its super underrated iem in the community for 100 is a beast but no one give it what its deserved. See Amplify audio review for the kadenz he gave them justice.

I agree with Ferox. I have the Explorer and I don't like it for metal. Distorted guitar chords lose their bite, grit, and intensity. I recommend Moondrop Kadenz. The SLA3 also has a similar tuning but sacrifices bass texture/timbre for exaggerated sub-bass, and has an unnatural peak at 5k that some people might find grating and fatiguing.