Moondrop Para 2 Planar Headphone Review

[Jcrow]

The truth (that is rarely told) is that 'spatial qualities' are something your brain cooks up from 2 sounds coming from the side of your head.

The Para nor HD800 isn't going to offer what you seek. It is a brain thing.
There are people perceiving depth etc. but their brain is wired differently.
How this might work out for you ... only you can tell.
Maybe it is 'better' to you, maybe it is similar.

Thanks for the info. I have probably been reading too much marketing copy and online hyperbole. I want something resembling near field monitors, but seems like it’s not really possible with headphones. I might try these ones anyway since I want to upgrade from my HD 599s anyway. They’re not bad, but just want to try something new.

 

[solderdude]

Definitely an upgrade from the overly warm HD599.

If you like the comfort and form factor of the HD599 you could also consider the HD550.

 

[amirm]

Updated the review with my filters:

 

[Jcrow]

I once owned the HD800s and now I have Para2, Hope this helps with your decision .

Thanks for the detailed reply! I’m fairy sold on the Para based on the review, and your commentary. I’m happy to be saving some $$ since the 800s is so much more expensive! Will have to check out your APO settings too.

 

[Jcrow]

I never get frontal projection with headphones so if that is what you are looking for,.

Thanks for the insight. I was kind of hoping to get some approximation of a stereo image like with speakers, based on commentary around soundstage width and depth in various forums. But sounds like this might be fanciful thinking. Good to know the Para ii will at least give me good separation of instruments and general performance.

 

[dark132]

Thanks for the insight. I was kind of hoping to get some approximation of a stereo image like with speakers, based on commentary around soundstage width and depth in various forums. But sounds like this might be fanciful thinking. Good to know the Para ii will at least give me good separation of instruments and general performance.

In China, popular music is of Asian style, tending towards mid-high frequencies. Heavy rock and punk music have a small audience, and some people listen to chamber music or Chinese classical music for classical music. For example, I like to listen to violin, so the tuning style is very common in the mid-high frequencies.

 

[A Surfer]

Plus imagine the impossible task of engineering a headphone that could make the dreadful recording quality typical of rock and punk pleasing.

 

[Zekbone]

Plus imagine the impossible task of engineering a headphone that could make the dreadful recording quality typical of rock and punk pleasing.

What?

 

[A Surfer]

What?

I'm somewhat joking, but not completely. Those genres of music typically sound like ass with even moderate volume. And I say that as a fan of both genres.

Yes I realize there are exceptions, but in my experience, not really very many of them. Personal opinion of course.

 

[Chagall]

For anyone who finds the fit too loose, you can apparently install the strap the other way around to get a tighter fit. Credit to Mark from Super Review.

 

[RichieSuganda]

I heard someone said the Para 2 is just Para 1 with the cosmo earpads. can someone confirm?

 

[tunwen]

I heard someone said the Para 2 is just Para 1 with the cosmo earpads. can someone confirm?

I can see why people might think that. However, the official specifications from Moondrop indicate that the Para 2 is far more than just a Para 1 with different earpads.

The Para 1 has a sensitivity of 101 dB/Vrms, while the Para 2 measures 106 dB/Vrms. This significant 5 dB increase in efficiency stems from two key driver upgrades working together: a switch from N52 to more powerful N55 magnets, and the implementation of a thinner diaphragm. Furthermore, the Para 2 shows lower distortion (0.03% compared to the Para 1's 0.05%). These changes mean the Para 2 is the result of substantial re-engineering, not just a pad change.

 

[kyuu]

But still, "for a handful of dollars" you can have almost undistorted bass and sub bass on a level very hardly, if at all, achievable with loudspeakers at any price.
And, no bass modes and other room related problems.

True, and it's easy to confirm with a tone generator that you're hearing clean bass response with no modes down to 20Hz on some $20 IEMs (JBLs in my case). Still, listening to music (or any content) on any IEM or headphone is never as satisfying to me as it is listening even to upmixed stereo content on my relatively modest 5.1 system.

 

[Audiodidact]

Will a Qudelix 5k adequately power these?

 

[oleg87]

Will a Qudelix 5k adequately power these?

Extrapolating from RAA measurements at 16ohm, I'd ballpark you'd get around 105dB peak SPL using the balanced output before it starts to clip. Probably OK if you're not a loud listener or need lots of headroom for EQ.

 

[Zekbone]

Will a Qudelix 5k adequately power these?

The Qudelix 5k chrome extension/app gives you a ballpark estimate of the volume with a specific EQ profile, impedance, and sensitivity, so even though I don't have the headphone, I can at least share what the 5k thinks. You probably won't even need the extra 6db from the high setting on the amp.

 

[RichieSuganda]

I can see why people might think that. However, the official specifications from Moondrop indicate that the Para 2 is far more than just a Para 1 with different earpads.

The Para 1 has a sensitivity of 101 dB/Vrms, while the Para 2 measures 106 dB/Vrms. This significant 5 dB increase in efficiency stems from two key driver upgrades working together: a switch from N52 to more powerful N55 magnets, and the implementation of a thinner diaphragm. Furthermore, the Para 2 shows lower distortion (0.03% compared to the Para 1's 0.05%). These changes mean the Para 2 is the result of substantial re-engineering, not just a pad change.

Good to know, by the way, you mention the distortion on para2 (though from your number this small of difference wouldn't have any difference), where did you get this metric? Is it for all audible frequencies?

 

[tunwen]

where did you get this metric?

The distortion of Para 2 is listed as <0.03% @1kHz on their official product page.

For the Para 1, the <0.05% @1kHz distortion was mentioned by Moondrop's CEO on a presentation slide during the launch event in Sept 2023. There is a photo taken from the event that shows this slide. However, Moondrop didn't carry that spec over to their official website or marketing materials afterward, which is why you no longer see it listed.

 

[PenguinMusic]

Hi,

Hum...
I think either I did not express myself good enough or you haven't read the post correctly.
I am not complaining about being charged for a replacement for the left "earcuff".
I am willling to pay of course.

What I am complaining about are 2 things :
- the complexity of the replacement process (send us the entire headphone to China, we will see what happened and repair the phone)
- the fact that they can not tell how much the repair will cost (wer will give you a quote upon receiving the headphone).

The earcuff can be replaced in litterally 12 seconds.
It is totally independent from the headphones structure.

So I hoped they would have said something like :
"Send us picture of broken part and proof of purchase and we will send you the replacement for the amount of XX€/dollars includiong shipping".
With that I would have been able to decide if I go for it or not...

Hope that this makes my complain more "understandable"...

PS : by the way, my Sennheiser HD800 fell more than a couple of times... Nothing ever broke in that headphone

Hi,

Replying to myself as it seems I can not edit my post after some time :-(

Got in touch with Moondrop support and asked explicitely to get just the earcuff.

Reply was that it was OK to send just the spare part.
Price is not cheap : the part alone is 200 USD :-(
I have to add shipping from China to Europe and maybe import duties.

Think I'll do it nonetheless...

Just to mention and correct to be fair to the brand.

Regards.

 

[solderdude]

The distortion of Para 2 is listed as <0.03% @1kHz on their official product page.
View attachment 483213

For the Para 1, the <0.05% @1kHz distortion was mentioned by Moondrop's CEO on a presentation slide during the launch event in Sept 2023. There is a photo taken from the event that shows this slide. However, Moondrop didn't carry that spec over to their official website or marketing materials afterward, which is why you no longer see it listed.

Amir measured 0.05% at 1kHz at 97dB but is probably lower as Amir does not measure in an isolated box.
Below audible thresholds.

Most headphones measure well at 1kHz.
It is <100Hz and > 5kHz where most headphones have issues.
The Para 2 is exceptional here too.