Moondrop Blessing 3 Review

Moondrop Blessing 3 Review

Today I'll be taking a look at and reviewing the Blessing 3, the most recent and perhaps hotly anticipated IEM release from Moondrop this year that comes in at $319. Previous iterations of the Blessing garnered quite a positive reputation, arguably sitting on top of the highly contested $300 IEM bracket in terms of popularity. This review is geared more for those who are yet unfamiliar with the Blessing universe – a separate review for comparisons to the Blessing 2 will be out shortly. But for the newcomers, we'll be going over the Blessing 3's accessories, its physical and technical design, and most importantly, what it sounds like.

What's In the Box?

• Moondrop Blessing 3 IEMs
• 3.5mm Silver Plated Cable
• Storage Bag
• Airplane Adapter
• Silicon Eartips
• QC Certificate
• Manual

Look and Fit

I'm never going to be into the Moondrop waifu packaging, but I know a good deal of you freaks are. So there you have it: a new box Waifu, have fun.

Getting past the package, I rather like the style the Blessing 3 has going for it. There's an anime look to it in a way that isn't overdone or kitschy – perhaps we can call it “casual anime.” We see a dotted engraving of “Moondrop” and “Blessing 3” on the steely CNC machined faceplates of the IEMs, which gives it a fun cyber aesthetic. This is further complimented by the silver-coated cable, and the transparent housing composed of medical resin that leaves the drivers, tubes, and general inner workings of the in-ear monitor easily visible.

When it comes to fit, the Blessing 3 is a chunker. However, I don't mind this quality, and find its fat physical character makes it easy to tell when you have the fit right. It possesses a comfortable rounded shape that's at low risk of poking at a listener's outer ear, and a lightly sculpted chamber that offers universal conformity to the ridges of most listeners' conchae. So far, so good: cool enough look, and a very comfortable, non-fatiguing physical design.

Last thing worth noting here is that the silicone tips that come with the Moondrop Blessing 3 seem a little on the thick side. I don't think this detracts from comfort, but it may lead listeners to go one ear-tip size down from what they're used to.

Technical Design and Specs

What first caught my eye with the Blessing 3 was its inclusion of not one but two dynamic drivers along with its 4 balanced armature drivers. Frequently IEMs with multiple dynamic drivers are found on the higher shelves, so seeing this technical detail in the $319 Blessing 3 is pretty special. These dynamic drivers are configured to what Moondrop calls H.O.D.D.U.S (Horizontally Opposed Dual Dynamic Drivers Unit System). This improves the Moondrop Blessing 3's efficiency and redcues non-linear distortion.

Soundstage

The Moondrop Blessing 2 made its waves for being an exceptionally well rounded IEM, and the Blessing 3 keeps this reputation alive beginning with its soundstage. Frequently I'm willing to forgive IEMs in the price range for have somewhat boring and linear stages, but there's nothing to forgive here for the Moondrop Blessing 3. The Blessing 3 offers top-of-the-line imaging that puts it on par with IEMs several times its price, offering an excellent sense of analytical clarity. Instrument separation is performed with firm articulation, on the backdrop of a fairly wide and surprisingly deep soundstage. I find the Blessing 3's stage to be where it finds its most exciting and compelling character, which dances atop its mostly neutral and somewhat straightforward balance.

Balance

The Moondrop Blessing 3 may have one of the least offensive balances in the IEM market. In the low end, we see a moderate but well-controlled boost that's by-and-large contained to subs and mid-bass. High bass levels are kept at a goldilocks level: tame enough to entirely avoid a muddy signature, loud enough to avoid a cold and clinical sound. This low-end tuning leads to a punchy timbre in its bass response. Rather than persistently adding low-end heft or warmth to everything it touches, it rather springs into action in moments of low-end impact: kick drums, plucks on basses, etc are brought just a bit further forward in the mix, which I found capable of producing slam at moderately loud listening levels.

As high bass cools down into what are seemingly perfectly flat lower and center mids, low end is kept entirely distinct from mid-range, leading to a highly natural presentation of vocals and supporting mid-range parts such as guitars, pianos, and snare drums. These parts find a very subtle lift in the high mid overtones, which is an ever-so-slightly favored area of the Moondrop Blessing 3's midrange balance.

When it comes to high end, the Moondrop Blessing 3 is about as natural and tame as it gets – in a way, it's no-nonsense, and paves the way for universal appeal that provides realistic detail and lift without a trace of unpleasant peakiness. Overall, the high-end is exceedingly neutral and Harman-like and provides life-like levels of harmonic detail. A little extra extension in the high treble provides additional detail in vocal air, cymbals and reverb without imparting an artificiality to the overall balance.

Overall

Long story short, the Blessing 3 kills it for the price bracket in which it finds itself. The only criticism I have to offer is more along the lines of an observation, or rather, a word of advice: those who like vibrant, colorful, artistically balanced IEM sound signatures may not be so enthused about the Moondrop Blessing 3. It instead forges its appeal in a safe and easy-going balance that is unlikely to outright offend anyone who listens with it, and find most of its excitement and personality in its vibrant soundstage and imaging. Though I don't say this for IEMs very often, it seems to have a reference-grade quality going for it that “properly” presents any mix or genre that it's tasked with. Most impressively to me, it carries out this impenetrably solid performance for just $319, offering itself as one of the best performing IEMs in terms of its price-to-value.

Click here to buy or read more about the Moondrop Blessing 3. Those interested in the Blessing 3 might also want to click here to buy or read more about a similar IEM, the Final Audio A5000. The A5000 has a similar balance with a little more of a V-shaped tuning, a similarly expansive soundstage, and great value for its price at $279.