Moondrop, ever known for their stunning IEMs and anime branding, has released a new headphone that I’d like to share my thoughts on. The COSMO Headphone comes in at a starting price of $899.99. We’ll go over all the details of the physical design and sound quality in this review.  

What Comes In The Box

• COSMO Headphones
• 4.4mm Balanced Cable
• 4.4mm to 6.35mm Adapter
• Manual
• Anime Card
• Certificate
• Service Card

Aesthetics and Functionality

The look of the COSMO headphones is pretty stellar. The silver plating with black leather is easy on the eyes and makes for a good accessory with any audio setup. The metallic shine makes it look futuristic and cosmic, living up to its name. The plates are very flat, thanks to the nanoscale ultra-thin diaphragm, and don’t feel outwardly bulky during use. The adjustable suspended headband allows for optimal and personalized comfort during use. The cable attached is quite thick, which is great for durability in different listening environments. 

When it came down to my personal comfort during use, I have to say I was a bit let down. I found that even the smallest setting didn’t fit my head right, and the bottom of the ear cups didn’t fit flush against my head. The ear cups were far too large for my ear, and the pads didn't offer any added space between my ear and the driver. I was getting background noise through the bottom of the ear cups during listening. It wasn’t an ideal situation, and it took a bit of adjusting to get them to sit just right and comfortably. 

Luckily, setup was a breeze. Integrating the COSMO into my audio setup was simple and didn’t require many extra steps. It comes with a 4.4mm balanced cable, and an adapter to 6.35mm. This makes for easy adaptability with a lot of different desktop or portable DACs and amplifiers. For my setup, I used the FiiO KA11 amp hooked up to my laptop. 

Tech Specs

• 100mm Planar Magnetic Driver
• Sensitivity: 100dB/Vrms (@1kHz)
• Impedance: 15Ω ± 1.5% (@1kHz)
• Frequency Range: 13Hz - 58kHz (IEC 61094, Free Field)
• Effective Frequency Range: 20Hz - 20kHz (IEC 60318-4, -3dB)
• Headphone Jack: 3.5mm
• Cable Plug: 4.4mm

Listening Review

Soundstage

The COSMO’s soundstage was fairly wide, but surprisingly narrow for a pair of open-back headphones. I was immersed in my listening and enjoyed hearing the detail in placement for different instruments. The sound was smooth and blended together in a very relaxed wave, and things were kept relatively calmer than I expected. It’s very detailed and gives a lot of space across the frequency ranges, and the headphones themselves get pretty loud. The amp just accentuated what was good about these, though I am sure I wasn't missing anything by not having it. MoonDrop opts for a very toned down headphone, which contrasts its branding to be a powerful, driving piece of tech. 

Low Frequencies

The low end is full of warmth. They give a lot of punchy hits when it comes to drums, and basslines get an extra twang and body. There's a bit of a roll-off that causes them to not hit as hard as they would in other pairs, and the subs don’t get a lot of power as I would have expected. This could be because of the fit being less than optimal, and my ears weren’t completely covered during use. While the low end did sit comfortably in the mixes I listened to, I think they could have been a little more powerful to drive mixes forward. In particular, Kid Cudi’s “Day ‘N’ Nite (nightmare)” sounded much different on the COSMO than it did in my regular earbuds. It leaned towards the brighter side as opposed to low with the punchy kick drum, and it was an interesting balance to hear. 

Mid-Range Frequencies

The mid-range is where the COSMO shines best. Vocals sit pleasantly in the mix, but it's not the first thing you notice. They definitely get a lot of attention, as there’s a lot of color that comes out of the timbre of each person’s voice in a plethora of genres. The other frequencies get their fair share of detail, but they fade in comparison to the vocals. There is a lot of space that you hear in the range, and it allows for easy listening that doesn’t become too strenuous. I noted the vocal clarity in The Beatles’ “Because” off their LOVE album. This version is an acapella mix that cuts out all the instrumentals, and all you hear is slight ambience with layers of harmonies. I really enjoyed how they sounded through the COSMO, bringing out the detail and layers in each voice.

High Frequencies

This is the section I had some trouble with. Treble and other highs have a lot of clarity and piercing qualities; one might even argue too much. The shrill sound of a lot of high strings paired with the already detailed clarity of other high end instruments was too overwhelming for the top end. In some environments, this sound profile could be an asset. Classical ensembles thrived with the strings and room reverberation able to ring out. When blended together with a rolled off low end and very detailed vocals, listening becomes fatiguing and less enjoyable. They are really detailed and have a lot of colorful qualities, but it's a bit overdone. They don’t balance well with the low end and it caused me to have a lopsided listening experience. 

Summary

MoonDrop is a great brand. They are a go-to recommendation for IEMs and other accessories that go along with that. However, I think they (moon)dropped the ball with these headphones in my eyes. The fit just wasn’t comfortable for long listening sessions, and the sound signature didn't impress me like I thought it might. Yes, the detail in the soundstage and sturdy build are some great wins. I can see these being an excellent pair for people who don't like a lot of bass in their mixes. However, a less than balanced low to high end is a bit of a dealbreaker, as it's not something I would find myself listening to daily.

Still, while they weren't quite right for me, they could be a perfect match for another set of ears. I highly recommend listening to them for yourself and giving your opinion. The bright high end and toned-down bass quality is something people often look for. If you are one of those people, this headphone may be right for you!

The MoonDrop COSMO is available for demo and purchase at Audio46.