They are all identical.
Oh sorry. lol
You will notice detail loss from the Duskās tuning.
The Monarch changed IEMs for me forever because of its tuning. There is music in my library, if Iām not listening to it with an IEM tuned with that huge sub bass shelf, itās just not right.
So now, I feel the need to have a sub bass tuned IEM like the Monarch. The Variations is tuned just like the Monarch. The Monarch still has the edge on the Variations in sheer detail but the Variations has even more elevated sub bass, smoother treble and does something to the vocals that I love.
The Dusk sounds incredibly similar to the Variations just with BA treble, which really is not much different. A bit more detailed/less smooth, more harsh.
The Blessing 2 in contrast is very neutral and doe not emphasize anything much and delivers a very technical performance. It is going to give you a more accurate representation of what the music is supposed to sound like. Reference.
I think any IEM enthusiast should have at least 1 neutral IEM to understand what the music was intended to sound like so when they hear exaggerations in tuning, theyāll know it. The Blessing 2 is a perfect example of a reference tuned IEM. I love mine. I think the Blessing 2 hits way above its price point.
The Blessing 2 is the little brother to the Mest MKII in my opinion.
Amen
While a neutral tuned IEM may not sound as good on some songs as a differently tuned same caliber IEM, it will sound good across more songs then the more exaggerated tuned IEM will.
Not even that it will sound āgoodā, it will sound neutral/reference.
I do audio production. I have multiple sets of studio monitors in all different sizes. They all generally sound the same or at least similar, and they are tuned to be reference tuning. I feel the Blessing 2 is the equivalent of my monitors. Nothing sounds too boomy, too in your face. Everything is well balanced and generally neutral.
Itās usually not āfunā sounding, but it is accurate and not crazy in any way like the Monarch/Variations/Dusk are.
The Mest MKII is the same thing, only with boosted technicalities and detail! detail! detail!. Detail almost to a fault. It can do everything with authority too like dynamics. It really is end game but not if you want something fun. Look no further than something like the Variations or Monarch. If you want a less detailed, yet safe and enjoyable presentation, the Oracle, Clairvoyance or Xenns up are the best choices Iāve heard.
Here is my personal tier listā¦
The IEM everyone should have - Blon BL03
My favorite IEM around $100 - Fiio FH3
Best Starter IEM - LZ A7. Find your preferred tuning.
TIER1 Best IEMs around $300 - Mangird Tea, Moondrop Blessing 2, TANCHJIM Oxygen
TIER2 Best IEMs around $500 - $700 - Safe tuned - Thieaudio Clairvoyance/Oracle, Xenns Up - Subbass tuned - Moondrop Variations, Thieaudio Monarch
TIER3 Endgame - Mest MKII - Authentic audiophile replay at itās finest.
The only problem is that there is not an exact neutral/reference standard for IEMs there are a couple of them. The Harman, the diffuse field, IEF neutral, and probably one or two I am forgetting. But with the more personalized fitment of IEMs over even headphones or speakers I can kinda understand why there are multiple targets.
Basically all of those could be called neutral, but reference might be a stretch.
Youāre right. No one can agree but for me, Iāve settled on thisā¦ And I listen to music on reference monitors all the time.
You can see how the Blessing 2 stacks upā¦
This is why I have to have the Blessing 2 on my tier list.
Thanks for this and your time!
Have you tired the CF Mammoths for subbass tuned? I find them to be really detailed and itās kinda like having little subwoofers in your ears.
I do not buy Campfire products, and yes I have heard the Mammoth. It does not compete in any way to the Monarch.
Dang to my ears thatās pretty high praise of the monarch!!! Now I need to add them to the list lol.
It really shouldnāt be. The Mammoth has some horribly bad tuning pointsā¦ I consider it bad.
See how the Monarch is extremely ideal except for the sub bass shelf? It is ideal and fun.
For those wonderingā¦ This is why I consider the Variations and the Monarch about the same tuningā¦
They sound quite similar.
The extended bass and subbass are what make them fun for me. Iām sure the 5 to 6k peak would make them sound simbilant but I donāt hear it. Finally the rolled off highs donāt sound as rolled off to me as the graph shows. I honestly hear more of a w shape than what the graph shows. To be honest I donāt have a huge experience with IEMs like you do.
Iām happy to suggest much better IEMs. Just check out my tier list.
FYIā¦ Hereās a review I completely agree with for the Mammouthā¦
Mammouth - Overall grade D+
" the Mammoth has the combo of being both more bloated and less treble-extended than the Polaris, resulting in a far more congested and muffled signature."
Bloated and congested (what the mammouth is) is not āfunā to me. A little sub bass emphasis is fun but when it destroys the entirety of the mid range clarity, thatās just bad/horrible.
Iāll have to check the list out. Right now Iām pretty content, plus Iām positive my wife would not like it when another set shows up after buying these lol.
Sorry. When youāre ready for a better set, you know where weāre at.
Which is more detailed - Monarch or Variations? Is the clarity of the Variations similar to that of B2 or are they more detailed? Thanks!!
The Monarch is a bit more detailed than the Variations.
The Variations and Dusk are very similar sounding.
What is the tuning of S8 like? Is it worth it?
What kind of genre you listen to