MOONDROP MAY – Wired IEMs that have a 1DD+1PL hybrid design.
Upon receiving the package, I didn’t immediately recognize them as headphones. Unpacking the box, I saw an AI-generated black and white drawing of an unfamiliar anime character on the cover. All this initially made me think it was a box of coloring books with pencils from China. The club suit symbol on the box edge led me to believe it was a deck of playing cards.
But after 10 seconds I noticed “MAY MOONDROP” label and realized that these were wired hybrid IEMs with one dynamic and one planar driver.
Manufacturer’s Offerings:
- Hybrid technology: Combining dynamic and planar drivers for detailed, dynamic, and balanced sound.
- Sound customization: The DAC and DSP in the cable allow you to adjust the sound via app.
- Ergonomic Design: Lightweight and comfortable earphones for long listening sessions.
- Replaceable Cable: 0.78mm QDC connector cable ensures a secure fit and replaceability.
What we actually get, I’ll be finding out in this review.
Sound Analysis of MOONDROP MAY
Let’s dive into the sound of MOONDROP MAY. They feature a 6mm planar driver with a ring magnet, positioned close to the sound nozzle, followed by a 10mm dynamic driver with a sapphire diaphragm. The drivers are aligned as in component acoustics — one after another. This setup, with the 10mm low-frequency driver partially overlapping the 6mm tweeter. That is to say, I am not a big fan of the tweeter and here it seems to not affect much the sound delivery.
The headphones come with a stock cable featuring a built-in DSP (Digital Signal Processor), whose specifics MOONDROP keeps secret. So, it’s hard to say definitively that “this DAC can’t deliver quality sound.”
First, I tried the Type C DSP with my smartphone on the included cable.
I installed the Moondrop Link program and I really liked it. It supports a wide range of MOONDROP devices and headphones with various connection types. On first connection, the headphones were instantly recognized and reconfigured without issues. The app offers numerous sound customization options, including five preset equalizer modes and one customizable EQ:
- Standard Mode: Makes sound more natural with reduced bass, slightly softer mids, and extended upper highs.
- Basshead Mode (which has also “Anti Herbert” name): Similar to Standard but with enhanced bass.
- Reference Mode: Tunes sound according to VDSF targets, similar to Standard but with even less bass emphasis.
- No Bass Mode: Further reduces bass compared to Reference Mode.
- Harman Mode: Enhances vocal clarity and adds the right amount of sub-bass and bass, with a slightly V-shaped curve and less pronounced upper mids.
I also enjoyed playing with the customizable Custom EQ, allowing infinite tweaking of frequencies. The “Configuration File B” feature lets you load pre-configured settings for other MOONDROP headphones, providing a rough approximation of their sound.
The DSP delivers respectable sound quality, especially given the price.
- Microphone: 9/10 – Pleasantly surprised by both the microphone’s sound quality and the control module.
- Volume and Pause Control: 9/10 – The volume rocker has a satisfying click with three positions (+, -, and a middle notch for play/pause).
After playing with the settings, I realized one thing: no amount of tweaking will turn them into Moondrop Variations or Moondrop Beautiful World. But still I got a positive idea that the company is developing not only by creating headphones, but also by making quality apps.
Sound with the third-party cable
Switching to a Hidizs MS5-3.5-RC cable revealed that MOONDROP MAY require a good source, quality music, and decent cables and eartips (not included).
- Overall Sound Presentation: Very pleasant, tonal, slightly enveloping, linear with nice accents across the frequency range.
- Lows: Massively pleasant, somewhat weighty but slightly smeared. The sub-bass is moderately dense, punchy, with soft decays. Mid-bass is slightly dragging, deep but without pronounced reverberations. They are not for bass lovers.
- Mids: Pleasant, tonal, with gentle endings but not sharp enough. Male and female vocals sound silky without unpleasant hiss on sibilants. They are not overly accented or bright.
- Highs: Smooth without pronounced peaks or dips. Cymbals are discernible without being harsh. High-frequency sounds are careful, without harshness, and do not have unpleasant decays. Like the mids, they lack energy and emphasis.
- Detail retrieval: Slightly compromised for a softer sound presentation. Detail can be discerned, especially in familiar tracks.
- Soundstage and Depth: Understandable but limited in width and depth. Parts sometimes blend, but in well-distributed tracks, the stage is discernible though not wide.
Verdict: MOONDROP MAY have a unique sound signature, ideal for soft, enveloping jazz, non-fast electronic music, and classical compositions. Not suitable for thrash metal or heavy rock, and not recommended for bass lovers or those seeking airy highs.
- The sound in games is good
- The sound in movies is good with an immersive effect
Comparison with competitors:
Against the planar TINHIFI P1max, MOONDROP MAY offer a more natural, tonal, and even sound. Compared to the single-driver Intuaura View, MAY is darker with more balanced highs but loses in mid clarity. However, compared to hybrid BQEYZ Wind, the latter offers brighter, more detailed sound at a significantly higher price.
- Sound for its price under $100 – 7.7/10
- Sound for its price under $500 – 7/10.
Design, Package, and Comfort:
I described my initial box impressions earlier.
Headphones: Lightweight and compact, the headphones fit comfortably and unobtrusively in the ears. The body is made of matte polished plastic with a brown tint. At a certain angle, the casing becomes matte-transparent, revealing the placement of the drivers. There are two compensation holes on the body, so no diaphragm-tearing effect occurs when putting them on.
The metal faceplates are polished to a mirror shine. Engraved on them in a checkerboard pattern are symbols of clubs and flowers. Additionally, the left earpiece has the inscription “MOONDROP,” and the right one reads “MAY.” This whole composition resembles the patterns on Louis Vuitton bags. I didn’t find on the headphones letters R and L, which caused me to lower the score.
Cable: Top-notch quality, 4-core, silver-colored, with a solid braid. Loved the satisfying click when inserting the 2Pin connectors into the headphones. The right cable features a silver cylinder with a mic hole and a volume/playback control rocker. No complaints about the cable, though I’m not a fan of the color-coding on the connectors. Major props for the cable quality. If it weren’t for the Type C connector or if there was an additional cable with a 3.5mm Jack, it would be perfect. As it stands, minus one point.
Ear Tips: For such a solid package, including only 3 pairs of ear tips is disappointing. Plus, you can’t fit them onto the earphones without tools. The sound tubes clearly don’t match the ear tip sizes. Definite downside.
Case: Beautifully matches the headphone color, with MOONDROP embossed in the center, silver stitching, and a golden zipper. Plus.
- Material Quality: 10/10
- Design: 9/10
- Comfort: 9/10
- Package: 7/10
What’s in the Box:
- Headphones
- Replaceable DSP cable with Type C
- Three pairs of silicone eartips
- Manual
- Warranty card
- Case (Louis Vuitton style)
Technical Specifications:
- Drivers: 10mm Sapphire Plated Diaphragm Dynamic Driver + 6mm Annular Planar Magnetic Driver
- Frequency Range: 7Hz – 39kHz
- Sensitivity: 120dB/Vrms (@1kHz)
- Impedance: 30Ω±15% (@1kHz)
- Connector to headphones: Jack – 0.78-2pin
- Connector to device: USB-C
Conclusion
It seems MOONDROP aimed to please everyone. By including a DSP cable, they wanted to attract wired headset users to high-quality sound with MOONDROP headphones.
Audiophiles might appreciate the sound signature with a custom cable, while the stylish design might attract fashionable users.
They succeeded in creating an interesting-sounding, reasonably priced pair of headphones. In my opinion, this is another bestseller from MOONDROP.
