The Moondrop Horizon headphones offer a compelling blend of aesthetics and comfort, housed in a premium, all-black design with a comfortable, lightweight build. This review delves into the Horizon's performance, exploring its unique features, including a detachable cable for easy switching between 3.5mm and 4.4mm connections, and magnetic earcup pads for simple cleaning and replacement. The build quality is impressive, with an aluminum headband and durable materials, yet certain design choices, like the earcup seam placement and headband mechanism, might require adjustment.However, the Horizon's sonic signature is where the review focuses its critical attention. Characterized by a notably dark sound profile with a recessed mid-range and treble, the Horizon's performance is compared against industry-leading competitors such as the Audio-Technica R50X, Sennheiser HD 6XX, and FiiO FH7 Pro. This in-depth analysis assesses the impact of the Horizon's impedance on bass response and explores whether its comfortable fit and stylish design outweigh its sonic limitations, particularly its lack of detail and resolution in the treble range.
Pros And Cons
- Lightweight
- Comfortable due to suspension strap
- Light clamp force
- Removable termination for 3.5mm and 4.4mm connection
- Magnetically attached pads for easy servicing
- Good-looking design
- Solid build quality with aluminum headband
- Good comfort due to wide suspension strap distributing pressure
- Easy to drive
- Better suited for medium to large heads; may sit too low on smaller heads
- Sound profile is very dark (mid-range, low, and mid-treble recessed)
- Cable has some microphonics
- Headphone unit makes clicking and popping noises
- Pads are a little crinkly
- Ear clearance may be an issue due to thick baffle and angled driver
- Bass sounds soft and pillowy compared to other headphones
- Low and mid-treble are the biggest problems, resulting in a dark and compressed sound
- Sub-bass response rolls off at around 100 Hz
- High volume listening may lead to distortion
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Unboxing and Included Accessories
The Moondrop Horizon arrives in typical Moon Drop packaging. Inside, you'll find the headphones themselves, along with a quality control card, some stylish artwork reminiscent of their other IEMs, a quick start guide, and a multilingual instruction booklet covering setup, usage, and basic maintenance.
A noteworthy inclusion is the Horizon's removable termination. Unlike many headphones that include two separate cables (balanced and unbalanced), the Horizon provides a single cable with a detachable tip, allowing for easy switching between 3.5mm and 4.4mm Pentaconn connections.
The cable itself is a cloth-like fabric material, similar to a shoelace. It possesses moderate memory effect and tends to curve slightly due to its lightweight nature and somewhat stiff jacket. While it’s prone to some microphonics, the cable’s angle minimizes this issue during typical wear.
Design and Build Quality
The Moondrop Horizon boasts an all-black, monochromatic design that's visually striking. The headband frame is constructed from aluminum, lending a premium feel and robust build quality.
The earcups feature a leatherette exterior and a comfortable cloth material against the skin, ensuring breathability and durability. The pads are magnetically attached, making them easy to replace or clean.
However, the earcups' unique design, with the seam on the top rather than the bottom, is an unusual aspect that might take some getting used to. The headband has a noticeable click and pop during adjustment, potentially due to its firm yolk rotation.
Sound Quality and Measurements
The Horizon's sound signature is notably dark, with significantly recessed mid-range and treble compared to headphones like the Sennheiser HD 6XX. The bass has decent extension but suffers from some roll-off.
Impedance measurements reveal a non-linear response, with a peak around 76-77 Hz reaching 114 ohms. This means the bass response can be affected by the source's output impedance; higher impedance sources will boost the bass, while lower impedance sources will result in a flatter response.
Overall, the sound is described as smooth and relaxed, but the lack of treble presence can result in a less detailed and less resolving sound compared to competitors. The upper treble is especially lacking, making the sound feel compressed.
Comfort and Fit
The Horizon is remarkably lightweight and features a comfortable suspension headband which distributes pressure effectively. However, due to the larger chassis design, it may sit too low on smaller heads.
The headband's adjustability is primarily achieved through the adjustable strap, making it suitable for larger heads but potentially unsuitable for those with smaller heads unless modifications are made.
The reviewer suggests the possibility of modifying the strap length to improve fit for smaller heads. A Capper strap can also be used as a supplementary method for better sizing.
Comparison with Other Headphones and Conclusion
The reviewer compares the Moondrop Horizon to the Audio-Technica R50X, Sennheiser HD 6XX, and FiiO FH7 Pro. Each headphone offers a different sonic profile and build quality.
The Audio-Technica R50X is more analytical and brighter, while the Sennheiser HD 6XX delivers natural and resolving sound with a good midrange, serving as the reviewer's top pick. The FiiO FH7 Pro, although not as well-built, offers a more energetic and immersive sound.
The Moondrop Horizon, while aesthetically pleasing, suffers from a significantly dark sound signature, particularly in the treble. While comfortable and well-built, its sonic characteristics don't entirely justify its price point relative to competitors, especially considering its lack of detail and resolution compared to the others.