Moondrop MoonRiver 2 Review

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Sound Signature

Let me start this paragraph by saying that Moondrop Moonriver 2 is a very competitive product. The portable USB-DAC market is very saturated right now and new products are coming out every day. As the number of products increases, it becomes more difficult to distinguish good products from mediocre ones. Fortunately, the product we are listening to today is very good and it manages to make you notice it from the very first track.

The MoonRiver 2 is a transparent, clean, and resolving DAC. It does a great job of conveying the sound signatures of the in-ear monitors or headphones you pair it with and does not saturate or color them. Which is exactly what you should expect from a good quality DAC/AMP. It offers a neutral signature.

High

The top-end spectrum is quite nice. The MoonRiver 2 has great treble energy. It is not particularly aggressive or bright, Moondrop Lab did a good job of fine-tuning the treble. The quantity feels accurate and the quality is definitely impressive. The definition and extension are great also, highs have good attack/decay and feel dynamic. The unit does not have an impressively wide stage, and the sensation of air is highly dependent on the pairing. For example, pairing it with Moondrop’s KATO yields interesting results. They have an impeccable synergy together. Lots of space, good air, and spacious positioning on the stage. As I said before, the MoonRiver 2 reflects quite accurately. Overall, the treble is impressive and Moondrop did a great job with it.

Mid

The midrange is perhaps my favorite out of the three major regions. The low mids have a good body, are adequate, does not feel too thick or too thin. The MoonRiver 2 is quite balanced in this regard. The timbre feels accurate, the presentation feels neutral and transparent. It does not feel like it’s throwing details in your way, more like it presents them and you are welcome to pick them out. What I mean here is that the presentation does not feel forced or artificial, it is rather detailed, articulate, and transparent in a natural way. The vocals are brilliant with great resolution. The transition between subregions is seamless, the mids feel coherent and they do a great job of carrying the emotion hidden in the tracks. The upper mids have impressive energy and extension and follow the steps of the impressive treble. 

Low

The bass region is fast, agile, and has a good texture. The quantity of the subbass is sufficient, but I can say that I expected a little bit better in terms of impact. Bass feels agile and recovers fast, which contributes to the sense of speed and PRaT, hence, enhancing the technical capability of the MoonRiver 2. The control is very good here also, so there is no section overlap of any kind and the transition between bass and mids feels smooth. 

Technical Capability

MoonRiver 2 is a technically advanced unit and it is obvious that Moondrop has done extensive research and development to bring the device to this point. This includes purchasing the APx555, one of the most expensive and best Audio Analyzers. The MoonRiver 2 offers great detail-retrieval, resolution, and clarity accompanied by a neutral timbre. This combination is impressive because you get a very clean, transparent, and coherent reproduction this way. The unit’s PRaT and dynamism are quite good as well. When paired with an equally capable monitor, the MoonRiver 2 handles congestion quite nicely and has no problem dealing with a crowded stage full of instruments. Apart from that, the unit offers great balance throughout the spectrum and the whole presentation feels coherent and whole. Let’s talk about the perceived stage depth and width. As I wrote above, this matter is actually related to synergy more with MoonRiver 2 than other DACs, but we cannot say that MoonRiver 2 alone offers a big headroom. The width and the depth are good, it definitely doesn’t feel lacking, but it is not as impressive as the rest of the capabilities of the device. Overall, MoonRiver 2 offers the excellent technical capability and we can say that the price tag is reasonable.

vs. Shanling UP5 (179 USD)

I’ll be comparing the MoonRiver 2 with Shanling’s UP5. The UP5 is a Bluetooth-enabled portable DAC & AMP but we are going to be using it wired only for this comparison to be fair. Also, both devices have a dual DAC balanced configuration so the 4.4mm out is our choice of poison. The UP5 uses 2 pieces of ESS Technology’s Sabre ES9219C DAC chip whereas the MoonRiver utilizes 2 pieces of Cirrus Logic’s CS43198. 

Let’s start with the lows. The UP5 has a bigger impact. The kick and the rumble are bigger but the difference is not substantial. The UP5’s presentation feels slightly rounder and warmer while the MoonRiver 2 has a more neutral and transparent approach. The timbre of the MoonRiver 2 feels slightly more accurate as well. The midrange clarity and resolution are superior on the MoonRiver 2 but it also has a brighter upper midrange when compared side by side with the UP5. The stage width, depth, and height are similar and both devices offer a good amount of air. The treble, on the other hand, is somewhat more energetic on the MoonRiver 2. It offers slightly better extension and feels slightly more resolving. Both of the devices offer a good SQ and it all comes down to the nuances.

vs. E1DA 9038D (99 USD)

I guess that there is no one who does not know E1DA’s 9038D. When we reviewed the 9038D, there weren’t as many portable DAC AMPs on the market as there are now. Even after months, it manages to compete against much more expensive DAC AMPs. That’s exactly why I think the 9038D is the MoonRiver 2’s biggest competitor, even though it’s $90 cheaper. Let’s start comparing them. I used 4.4mm on the MoonRiver 2 and 3.5mm (only option) on the 9038D. I used the same cable and IEMs. 

Let’s start by saying that both of the devices sound similar to each other, with great resolution, accurate timbre, and a good amount of power and authority. The 9038D’s have a slightly better bass impact and better texture. Apart from that, the most definite difference my ears could hear was in the stage image. The 9038D has a similar depth compared to MoonRiver 2 but it has a slightly bigger, more spacious stage. It had slightly better imaging as well. Apart from that, I also noticed that the MoonRiver 2 was better at driving my Hifiman HE-R9. It is safe to say that both of the devices are really good and you can’t go wrong with either.

Last Words

The removal of the 3.5mm port from phones has doubled or tripled the interest in USB DAC-AMPs. It’s pointless to question why, consumers always prioritize convenience, and that’s exactly what USB DACs offer these days. I’ve reviewed two of Moondrop’s brilliant earphones in the past, the Kato and the Variations. I was very excited about their new release and seeing that they just released a brand new product in a completely different category made me quite happy. The Moondrop MoonRiver 2 is a very good product and I’m sure it will be appreciated by many audiophiles with its sound quality, low power consumption, and small size. Be sure to give it a chance!

Page 1: Moondrop, MoonRiver 2, Packaging & Accessories, Highlights, Design & Build Quality, User Experience & Controls

Page 2: Sound Signature, High, Mid, Low, Technical Performance, Comparisons, Last Words