In-ear monitors are a great way to listen to music. They are naturally noise-canceling, and their audio quality is always something that impresses compared to a lot of other earbuds on the market. 

The one downside that people may find with IEMs is their need for wired connection. Be it a 2-pin 0.78mm connector or a MMCX end, you’ll need a wire to go from monitor to audio source. Most people like to use DACs or amps to enhance the sound, and that adds on more wires that you’ll need to get your sound up and running. Taking all that on the go is cumbersome and frankly, not something I would want to deal with. 

Luckily, a few companies have designed an ergonomic solution to this problem: Bluetooth ear hook DAC/Amps. You can take your favorite IEMs on the go and get that high quality sound you love from a built-in amp. With the number of new IEMs on the market – like the Campfire Astrolith or the Empire Triton – people should look for ways to upgrade their listening experience. Today, I took two of those designs from different companies to see how they compare. We're going to dive into the details of the EVO from MoonDrop and the GO Pods from iFi Audio.

What Comes In The Box

Aesthetics and Comfort

These devices come with starkly different looks. The Go Pods opt for a black, geometric design that starts at the charging case and goes all the way to the device themselves. It's a sleek design that complements a variety of different IEM styles. It’s thin and not too heavy during use, but there’s enough weight to act as a counterbalance to the IEM in your ear. It’s a bit wide and difficult to slip behind your ear; as someone who wears glasses, I found them a bit cumbersome to place correctly so everything laid comfortably during listening. 

The EVO, on the other hand, goes for a more delicate white and grey look. It is a bit bulkier in design; they take the “drop” of “MoonDrop” quite literally when referencing shape. In width, it's quite thin, so hooking it over my ear was easy and fairly lightweight. I liked the counterbalance it had with the IEMs, so it didn't feel like it was too heavy on one side. It was a smoother fit around my ear comparative to the Go Pods, and it wasn't in the way of my glasses either.

For me, the MoonDrops won in the test of comfort. In terms of outward style, I really like the Go Pods more; there are more IEMs that would match and go well with the style of the Go Pods than the EVO. I could definitely see MoonDrop releasing a second version of these, perhaps in a different color or design to appeal to more audiences. 

Functionality

Both ear hook DACs were easy to pair with my devices. There was no need for extended investigation on either end to figure out how to pair it, which is always a bonus when Bluetooth is involved. The Go Pods get an extra point for adaptability, as they had the option to switch between a 2-pin 0.78mm connection or a MMCX connection. The EVO only allows for 2-pin connection, so that limits the number of IEMs you could potentially pair it with. 

Each device had touch controls accessible in the main body of the DAC. The touch sensitivity was not great on either, but it was more noticeable on the EVO than the Go Pods. The Go Pods had a much quicker reaction time and far better accessibility in the controls. The MoonDrop EVO took multiple attempts to get the controls to work, so it was easier just to control from my personal device to change volume/switch songs/etc. 

The Bluetooth range is fairly impressive on both, but battery life is where they differ again. The Go Pods provided a long battery life of 7 hours on a full charge, with an additional 30 hours with the case. The EVO was a disappointing 2 hours on a full charge. I wouldn't be able to use them for long periods of time, which makes them more ideal for short commute listening.

The Go Pods win for functionality for me. They have better adaptability and battery life, as well as longevity for people who listen for long periods of time. The MoonDrop EVO just falls short in this category.

Tech Specs

Listening Review

I used the same IEMs for both products so there are less variables to consider while comparing. I love the sound of the ThieAudio’s Elixir IEMs, and since those have a 2-pin 0.78mm connection, those were ones I decided on for testing. They offer a more bass heavy response on their own, so I wanted to see what kind of response they would get with an additional amplifier attached.

The Go Pods offered great sound quality to a variety of different genres. It was relatively flat, which I didn’t mind as an additional piece of gear on top of the already characteristic Elixirs. The most notable change was the enhancement of the high and mid-range. In rock music, electric guitars have an extra vibrancy and brightness that I really liked. I could hear how some of the low end in drum sets and basslines got pushed to the back while the mids and treble took center stage. The Buzzcocks’ discography was a favorite of mine while listening. The higher register of the singer paired with the fuzz of the electric guitars was accentuated in the soundstage and didn’t sound too compressed. 

In terms of the EVO, I also liked the sound they provided. It was a little more dynamic than the Go Pods, with the bass getting some extra amplification. They gave the tracks I listened to a lot more color and character. I particularly enjoyed listening to pop music with these. Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and Lady Gaga all were top picks while using this DAC. The added flare of the EVO makes synthetic drum hits pop out, and vocals really shine in the finely tuned mid-range. I will say that there was a loss of clarity when transferring from wired listening to the EVO, but it wasn’t enough to make me not want to listen further. The sound was tightened up significantly and a wide soundstage was transformed into a narrower, more precise field. 

Summary

In conclusion, there are some great IEM accessories on the market for you to consider. In terms of price, they’re in very different leagues, so its up to you which direction you want to go in. If you’re an audiophile and you want a trusted brand to give your high-end IEMs an upgrade, the iFi Go Pods might be for you. If $400 is a high price point in your eyes, and you're not sure if you'll like the accessory, try the budget-friendly MoonDrop EVO instead. 

I highly recommend listening to both for yourself with your favorite pair of IEMs to determine which is best for you. Depending on the monitors you have, you may like the sound of one DAC over another. Everyone hears a little differently, and you may have different opinion and preferences compared to the ones I expressed here. Try them and pick a favorite!

You can demo and buy the MoonDrop EVO and the iFi Go Pods at Audio46.