Moondrop Cosmo Headphone Review

Moondrop’s latest flagship planar headphones, the Cosmo, have made a significant splash in the audiophile community. Priced at $899, these headphones offer a compelling mix of robust build quality and excellent audio performance.

Unboxing and Accessories

The Cosmo comes well-equipped with a 4.4mm balanced cable, a 4.4mm to 6.35mm adapter, and the usual documentation. Moondrop adds a touch of personality with an included anime card.

Design and Build

The Cosmo sports a sturdy design with a durable headband adjustment mechanism. Despite their 500+ gram weight, they feel secure and well-built. The dual 3.5mm inputs allow for easy cable upgrades or replacements.When I first put on the Moondrop Cosmo, I noticed the earpads could use a bit more distance and cushioning. They are comfortable enough, but I believe upgrading the earpads would drastically improve the comfort level. The Cosmo features a 100mm FTD diaphragm, N52 magnetic array, and dual high-frequency phase control waveguide. With a 15-ohm impedance and 100dB/Vrms sensitivity, they’re easily driven by portable devices but truly shine when paired with a desktop amp.

Comfort

While comfort is above average, there’s room for improvement. The stock earpads could benefit from more cushioning and distance. Fortunately, upgradable earpads are available, which could significantly enhance the wearing experience.Sound Quality

Soundstage

The Cosmo offers a medium-width soundstage with excellent holographic qualities and accurate spatial representation.

Bass

Clear and punchy, the bass is well-balanced with a fast transient response. While not bass-heavy by default, it responds well to EQ adjustments. Listening to “Moten Swing” by Sonny Stitt and the Oscar Peterson Trio, the bass is both articulate and a little warm.

Mids

The midrange is flat and articulate, particularly excelling in reproducing vocals and acoustic instruments with natural timbre. In Krystian Zimerman’s “Schubert: Piano Sonata D no. 959,” the dynamics in the mids are on great display. The headphones preserve the gorgeous overtones and timbre of the piano, bringing out unique qualities that make the listening experience incredibly exciting. In this specific performance, the piano hammers were calibrated specifically for this piece.

Treble

Bright and detailed, the treble can occasionally be fatiguing on certain tracks. However, it provides excellent articulation for cymbals and high-frequency textures.

Performance Across Genres

The Cosmo’s sound signature is versatile, handling jazz, classical, and digital music with aplomb. It particularly shines with acoustic and well-recorded tracks, revealing subtle nuances in performances.

Areas for Improvement

The brightness in the treble range might be excessive for some listeners, and the stock earpads could be more comfortable. However, these issues can be mitigated with EQ adjustments and aftermarket earpads.

Conclusion

The Moondrop Cosmo represents a strong entry in the mid-fi headphone market. Its combination of solid build quality, detailed sound reproduction, and versatility across musical genres makes it a worthy consideration for discerning audiophiles. While not without minor flaws, the Cosmo’s overall performance justifies its price point and cements Moondrop’s position in the high-end headphone arena.

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Mark

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