Moondrop - KATO

Moondrop Chu, and no. The Kato is the only Moondrop iem I still have and use. I liked the Aria but gave it to a friend to try to get him into iems (I failed). The Chu was good enough to get me into iems, but not good enough to keep me listening. I don't even know where they are now, lol. Of the early iems that I bought, I only have and listen to the Truthear Hexa (lifeless but decent, with wonderful imaging) and that Truthear Harmon-tuned one that Crinacle did with the subwoofer (I forget the name). It is fatiguing, but it is exciting until it wears me down. Good for techno. I listen mostly to the Aful P5, the Chopin, the Letshour S12, and the Kato now. Sometimes at home, I listen to the P8 and the Xenn Mangrid Top (they are too expensive to lug around with me--I have a $200 limit on iems that I'm willing to take in my backpack).

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.

While I don't currently commute much, if I'm going somewhere on public transport, I find that I prefer a more v-shaped tuning than usual, with a strong bass especially. I think maybe it helps with background noise, but also in general I prefer a more energetic sort of sound if I'm out and about. My current go-to is the Ikko OH10. I've been looking for an endgame for this use-case and so far, the OH10 is the closest, but not quite perfect. It could do with a couple more dB of bass (without EQ) and a touch less stridency in the treble. I will say though, it's pretty easy to make the OH10 perfect with EQ, it's just something I don't like doing because I'm always listening to different stuff and it's a pain to manage profiles. Plus it encourages never-ending tinkering and tip rolling is bad enough as it is. Some things I was hoping would unseat the OH10 but have not done so include the Aful Explorer and FatFreq Deuce. Some warm/bassy IEMs that I don't like as much for travelling are the QKZ HBB and Letshuoer S08, despite being my #3 and #2 IEMs overall, respectively. The HBB is too laid back. The S08 is let down by its bass, which can be a bit boxy at the best of times, but this gets exaggerated quite a lot when travelling, especially on buses. The Timeless AE is an interesting one in that it sounds perfect for walking around, but as soon as I get on a bus, it suddenly sounds like it has no bass. Been meaning to write a separate post about that one. I think there's something about "planar bass" and acoustic impedance going on there; something to do with the engine noise/vibration from buses. The same thing does not happen with DD bass drivers, regardless of whether they are midbass or subbass focused. I haven't had a chance to compare the Timeless AE, Ikko OH10 and Moondrop Kato on a train, but for a long time the Kato was my go-to for long train journeys. I find the OH10 is a bit ahead of the Kato for bus trips, as it's more v-shaped. I think if I'm going to spend 2-4 hours on a train, I'll still prefer the Kato. I'll also mention my favourite IEM overall which is the Simgot EA1000. It works for everything including travelling, but the Kato and OH10 are both warmer/bassier so those are what I'd normally go to for travelling. If I were travelling, staying hotels, etc., and wanted to take a single IEM for everything, it would be the EA1000.

EA500LM is very good but also quite v-shaped and some people find the treble too intense. The Kefine Delci is pretty good if you want a warm, slightly dark signature. It has very clean bass, not too overpowering. The Moondrop Aria 2 is also supposed to be very good, though I haven't heard it. It's supposed to sound almost exactly like the Kato, which I do have and is very good. The Delci is warmer, the Kato is more resolving (I can't say for certain if the Aria 2 is as resolving as the Kato though). The Artti T10 is a very good all-rounder planar with decent bass although it's not really warm signature as such with the stock tuning. It's only about $50 but you need to budget for a decent DAC/amp because it loses bass if underpowered. Ideally you'd want something with EQ but if you're on Android or Windows you can do global EQ in software anyway so that might not be a big deal. It's not possible on iOS without hardware. I don't know DACs that well so IDK if there's anything around that price with EQ, but there should be plenty with enough power for the T10. Another one to look at is the Aful Explorer, which I haven't heard but it's on my radar for possible next buy. It has quite a warm/bassy signature. It has loads of reviews on YT you can check out. Not sure if you can find it in budget though, might be a bit over.

I have about 50 IEMs, so it's a fairly long list. But my current favourites are: 1. Simgot EA1000 2. Letshuoer S08 -- currently tied with Ikko OH300 3. QKZ HBB 4. Moondrop Stellaris -- specifically with Dunu Candy tips^[1] 5. Moondrop Kato -- tied with Ikko OH10 (order changes if I'm inside or outside). 6. Dunu Titan S ^[1] Just because these tips work for me doesn't mean they'll work for anyone else - with other tips these are super bright and fatiguing to listen to.

Moondrop Kato was my first IEM and I just couldn't get over how shrill the high end was. Hurt my ears. Now I'm using the Theiaudio Hype 4's and I love them. I don't have a fancy DAC, I have the Beacn Mic which basically has the same chip as an AudioQuest Dragonfly Red but it works for my needs.

Commuting: Samsung Buds 2 Pro Home: Moondrop Kato IEMs

I have the kato and i bought it for the sake of the waifu box. Never liked it and the connector has some qc issues like its shaking a little bit while the other is firm.

It’s hard for me to rank because I use my headphones for different things. HD 6xx: my daily driver for music. ATH R70x: my pc gaming headphones. Kato: on the go IEMs and when I’m playing VR games. Quietcomfort Ultra: for when I want noise cancelling on planes and shit. AirPod Pro 2: general purpose IEMs, usually for YouTube or when I want to listen to music around the house but not break out wired headphones

My first proper IEM, the KATO got it at pre-order launch at $140 and as a pre-order it also bundled with the KATO arcylic stand and their Line-K Cable. Man even now I can't forget how ecstatic I was when I recieved the set and even now I rarely use them (as I often now use the Truthear NOVA) I still appreciate them everytime I gotta use them. With the DAC, I just go with the JM6 Pro, cheap, reliable, portable, very versatile and matches well the IEMs I have,

I have the kato, but bit pricey compared to the others

Moondrop Kato or the newer, better and cheaper Kadenz (really Moondrop, undercutting yourself again?)

DaVinci and B3 have similar price/performance, just different tuning styles. B3 wins hands-down on detail retrieval and clarity, while DaVinci runs circle around B3 when it comes to (sub) bass. I tried Monarch Mk2 for about 30 minutes and did not like it. The nozzles are enormous, very uncomfortable. Sound quality... is ok? Monarch didn't sound any more detailed than B3 - I couldn't really hear the praised macrodynamic. Tuning style is definitely more pleasant and ordinary. The bad fit really distracted me from enjoying it. Moondrop Kato and Truthear Timeless have similar level of technical performance - quite close to B3. Personally prefer Kato's more balanced signature. Hexa is a cheaper alternative, but it might sound a bit too neutral and thus boring (not necessarily a bad thing, easily fixable with EQ) Planar IEMs sound harsh on the treble, especially the S12 (I disliked it). I don't understand the hype around Truthear Nova and Simgot Supermix 4. I think the latter is fine for the price, about the same P/P as Kato; but Nova is just so blurry, subpar detail retrieval even when its bass is pretty light. Other IEMs under $150 are not interesting enough to me.

Hi, IEM nerd ans fps gamer here! For gaming, I've found most IEMs lack the oomph that comes from having bigger drivers, but they're still a super solid choice since you get clear sound (and you can use them for music and other stuff too) If you can stretch your budget a tad bit, I'd recommend going with the Moondrop Kato, the sell for around $170-$180. I've been using them for a few months, and they're absolutely amazing! If you're fixed on budget, I'd go with something like the Truthear Hexa or the Sennheiser IE200. I've heard the KZ headphones are a good choice too, but I can't speak for them since I haven't used them personally. P.S. Get a simple $15 DAC, it does wonders!

for me it was the aria snow when i started. now its either kato or variations. hexa is good but idk why i didn't feel comfortable wearing it.

try filtering only 2023 to 2024, i'm still quite surprised my kato is still in these list. i'm still using my kato outside home/carry. dusk and variations stays at home. still blue kato is an eye catcher when wearing outside. brass nozzle, Divinus Velvet Silicone Eartips For 3-5mm Nozzle S, Venture Electronics Odo, Stock Kato Cables. poweramp bass at 35, stereo expand 20%

try filtering only 2023 to 2024, i'm still quite surprised my kato is still in these list. i'm still using my kato outside home/carry. dusk and variations stays at home. still blue kato is an eye catcher when wearing outside. brass nozzle, Divinus Velvet Silicone Eartips For 3-5mm Nozzle S, Venture Electronics Odo, Stock Kato Cables. poweramp bass at 35, stereo expand 20%

I’ve never owned the Moondrop Blessing 3, but I have owned the Variations, original Arias, Kato, Chu, Chu 2, Moca, Sparks, and Dawn Pro. While I liked all of these products at the time, I realized I was just buying them for the box art and not considering that I could have purchased “better” alternatives. In other words, I could have chosen an IEM from a company with better quality control compared to Moondrop or better price to performance. I think it's good to experiment with other brands and not stick to one, like I did. I hope all this makes sense, lol

Moondrop Kato, still use it for banging around outside.

I’m surprised the Katos are on here. I got them and was very unimpressed for the price. I actually use much cheaper iems over them

For a warm, full-bodied sound without overpowering bass, check out the Sennheiser IE 200 or the Moondrop KATO—both are solid picks for live pop/rock with great clarity for vocals and guitar!

Sounds like you're ready for an upgrade, and the FatFreq x HBB Deuce is a great choice! It's got that V-shaped sound with a solid bass boost, perfect for genres like Dubstep, Metal, and Rap. If you're looking for alternatives in that price range, you might also want to check out the Moondrop Kato for a more neutral sound or the Tangzu Wu Zetian for a bass-forward experience. But honestly, the Deuce really nails the balance of fun, impactful bass and clarity. You won’t be disappointed!

Thats a pretty big price difference between the EW300 and Supermix 4. While I do love the SM4, I think its only worth if your budget comfortably fits the SM4. Yes for me the SM4 was just straight up better but was it worth 2x the price of the EW300? Depends on you. I think for value, the EW300 is insane and one of the best. You could also look at the EA500LM if you like a slightly brighter tone or DUNU Kima 2 if you listen to very vocal songs. I still think Moondrop Kato on sale for like $110-130 is a great buy too.

Moondrop Kato since 2022. I still use them today since it was my only pair up until last week when I bought the EW200 to use for working out

Low key Moondrop Kato

Even though the sm4 graph shows alot of sub bass the dip in the mid bass makes it sound faint. The lower midrange pretty important if you want more like "presence" and "weight" to the vocals/instruments. I always felt like sm4 was close to great but its held back by the pzt implementation. Sometimes you get a strong sting of it and it can be good/bad depending on song quality. It can get very fatiguing if you're not used to pzt/planar zing in the higher regions. I think if you like the single dd sound and want to refine it get the fd15. Its a vast improvement over salnotes zero. It sounds more tighter and defined/punchy in the bass. Vocals sounds extremely vivid and musical. The treble is my favorite part of it because it sound airy and sparkly yet non harsh. I would of recommended original moondrop kato (if you can find it 2nd hand or used market) but It might lack some of that treble energy from salnotes zero in exchange for better weight and mid clarity.

Dunu Kima 2, Moondrop Kato/Kadenz, and Tanchjim Origin have similar clean and lean tunings.

VDSF Moondrop is my favorite budget tuning. Gets me just as happy as thieaudios monarch line!