Moondrop Para 2 Planar Headphone Review

[Bernard23]

Will a Wiim Ultra be able to drive these?

I have a Wiim Ultra, and it's a brilliant device, except for its headphone out. I think was covered in the original review

 

[noisey]

@migo77 My Para II got delivered today without any additional fees.

 

[migo77]

@migo77 My Para II got delivered today without any additional fees.

That is great! How do you like them?

 

[noisey]

I really like their industrial, all-stainless-steel-look.
As for my first impressions of how they sound, I'll just quote Amir's review: Spatial qualities are excellent which translated to every note taking its space around an oval outside of my ear. The clarity is unbelievable.
FYI I did apply Amir's EQ.
I only wore them for a few hours and so far they seem to be very comfortable. It's nice to use headphones with low clamping force.

 

[noisey]

I've read and watched some reviews and quite often the Para II are referred to as being  gargantuan or comically huge. Well, here's a quick comparison pic I took of HDB630-HD650-Para II-Sundara. Sure, due to the large diameter of their drivers, the cups also have quite a large diameter. That's part of the reason they're so comfortable, as they provide lots of room for my ears. I wear the Para II on the second-smallest setting. Apart from the large cups they seem pretty normal in size to me.

 

[Dk33145]

Got mine in and stock tuning was mid but applied Amir's EQ settings and it is better than a stock FT7 and Noire XO that I auditioned in store both of which cost a lot more. Goosebumps good, just try the newer James Bond themes...

 

[AGT]

Mine arrived last night - clarity is pretty insane - using AMIR's EQ setting via topping DX5II (stock pads).

Comfort is great but might try some different pads to see if that helps with providing a wee bit more clamp as there is barely any currently.

Glad I didn't go with the Hedd D1 as an 'upgrade path' to my HD650s cause they're over 2x the price of the Para II's!

But yea, the Para II's are definitely a nice alternative to the HD650s, at least for me in terms of the clarity and 'soundstage' (in gaming there is no 3-blob-effect which is quite obvious on the 650s, which was really nice to experience honestly).

Ear-candy bass test if you are so inclined -- crank 'Flight to LAPD' or 'Sea Wall' by Hans Zimmer -- thank him later.

Awesome purchase.

 

[sharock]

Maybe it's just that new toy phase, but with Maiky's EQ these sound just as good to me as my HD800s and Noire XO. I also find them very comfortable to wear. Really great value for $400.

 

[migo77]

They sound great, but clamping force is very low on my narrow head and they have tendency to fall from my head with every movement Have somebody tried Cosmo, has it more clamping force, or it is the same?
Or is there some other tweak to increase clamping force?
Thank you!

 

[Zekbone]

They sound great, but clamping force is very low on my narrow head and they have tendency to fall from my head with every movement Have somebody tried Cosmo, has it more clamping force, or it is the same?
Or is there some other tweak to increase clamping force?
Thank you!

It's been linked before but you can flip the headband upside down with the appropriate allen key.

 

[migo77]

It's been linked before but you can flip the headband upside down with the appropriate allen key.View attachment 493658

Yes I'm aware of this trick, but this is for size adjustment, not clamping force adjustment. Or am I mistaken? I'm using Para 2 adjustment in middle position to have covered my ears properly with earcups. Thank you.

Cosmo has steel head band bridge without perforation thus my original question about better clamping force.

 

[Leonhardt]

Hello,

I have a Topping DX7 PRO (https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-dx7-pro-dac-and-headphone-amp-reviewed.9446/) which has an output impedance of 6.2 ohms. Will this work perfectly with the Moondrop PARA 2 since it's a planar magnetic headphone?
Or will I need to change my DAC/amp?

 

[Alexy9]

BUT I do not listen to the Venus anymore and I will not buy anythiing from Moondrop anymore.
Why ?
..

Hey, I totally get your frustration. The Para 1 and Venus are praised for their sound, but fragility is a big deal with high-end headphones – one drop shouldn’t take them out of commission.
It’s really disappointing that Moondrop’s support basically told you to ship the whole headphone back to China and pay for a repair, instead of offering a simple replacement part. That’s definitely not the kind of service you expect when you invest in a premium product.
From experience, sometimes certain batches of headphones can be fragile, but your situation highlights that customer service is as important as the product itself. Even if the Venus sounded amazing, knowing that one small accident could ruin it and that support is unhelpful makes it hard to recommend the brand.

Hopefully, the Fiio 7 will have both great sound and better durability/support. In the meantime, sticking with headphones that survive occasional drops seems smart.

 

[syhooo]

Hey, I totally get your frustration. The Para 1 and Venus are praised for their sound, but fragility is a big deal with high-end headphones – one drop shouldn’t take them out of commission.
It’s really disappointing that Moondrop’s support basically told you to ship the whole headphone back to China and pay for a repair, instead of offering a simple replacement part. That’s definitely not the kind of service you expect when you invest in a premium product.
From experience, sometimes certain batches of headphones can be fragile, but your situation highlights that customer service is as important as the product itself. Even if the Venus sounded amazing, knowing that one small accident could ruin it and that support is unhelpful makes it hard to recommend the brand.

Hopefully, the Fiio 7 will have both great sound and better durability/support. In the meantime, sticking with headphones that survive occasional drops seems smart.

Regarding the requirement to ship the whole unit back, I suspect the main reason is actually driver matching. They likely need to test and pair the new replacement driver with the undamaged side to ensure proper channel balance.

Also, planar headphones are inherently more fragile due to the large magnet arrays used in their design. These magnets add significant weight to the headphones, which unfortunately means the impact force is much greater if they are dropped, making them more prone to damage compared to lighter dynamic drivers.

 

[Bernard23]

Question I have is how, similar are thd para 2 to the original para? I ask because they're around half the price.

 

[Zekbone]

My Para 2 finally arrived. On the smallest setting with no tweaks, it fits my head perfectly and my glasses actually help keep it in place. I'm still going to flip the headband when I'm bored.

 

[sharock]

My Para 2 finally arrived. On the smallest setting with no tweaks, it fits my head perfectly and my glasses actually help keep it in place. I'm still going to flip the headband when I'm bored.

Let me know if it's an improvement.

 

[Zekbone]

I finally pulled out my ifixit kit to switch the headband around. The process is painless if you're not careless like I was. I accidentally stripped one of the screws putting it back together (second picture). In the process I found out something useful for people who don't want to change the headband per se. The tightness of the screws (all 4) determines how easily the ratchet mechanism slides. The outside left and right screws are responsible for ratcheting mechanism, but if you tighten the middle top and bottom screws too much that can make it hard to slide through the friction of the plastic mount on the metal headband. If they do, they're too tight and if they're too tight you were probably stripping them while screwing them back in. My pair's ratcheting mechanisms were looser on the left than the right when I first got them, so I made sure to tighten them evenly through trial and error when putting them back.

The plastic and screws should be trivial for Moondrop to send replacements. I don't intend to mess with the headband any further and I would need new plastic brackets if I did, since I can't get the stripped screw on the left cup out and would probably have to somehow break the whole thing off. If I do end up asking Moondrop for replacement parts, I'll share my experience with their customer service.

 

[sharock]

I finally pulled out my ifixit kit to switch the headband around. The process is painless if you're not careless like I was. I accidentally stripped one of the screws putting it back together (second picture). In the process I found out something useful for people who don't want to change the headband per se. The tightness of the screws (all 4) determines how easily the ratchet mechanism slides. The outside left and right screws are responsible for ratcheting mechanism, but if you tighten the middle top and bottom screws too much that can make it hard to slide through the friction of the plastic mount on the metal headband. If they do, they're too tight and if they're too tight you were probably stripping them while screwing them back in. My pair's ratcheting mechanisms were looser on the left than the right when I first got them, so I made sure to tighten them evenly through trial and error when putting them back.

The plastic and screws should be trivial for Moondrop to send replacements. I don't intend to mess with the headband any further and I would need new plastic brackets if I did, since I can't get the stripped screw on the left cup out and would probably have to somehow break the whole thing off. If I do end up asking Moondrop for replacement parts, I'll share my experience with their customer service.
View attachment 497602
View attachment 497603

Was it worth the effort for a more secure fit?

 

[Zekbone]

Was it worth the effort for a more secure fit?

It took me only 2 minutes for each cup. It’s really as simple as unscrewing 8 screws and screwing them back in once you’ve tucked the ends of the strap up over the pegs on the plastic bracket. The only thing to worry about is stripping the screws or screwing too tightly.