There have been a few true wireless Bluetooth adapters for IEMs that have been released from the likes of iFi, Fiio, and iBasso. Now Moondrop is adding their own model to the mix, and it’s the most inexpensive pair you can get. The Evo hopes to turn your audiophile IEMs into true wireless Bluetooth earphones, but does it succeed?
What You Get
- EVO
- Storage Bag
- USB Cable
- Manual
- Service Card
- QC Certificate
Design
The Evo is like a white version of the Fiio UTWS5. The outside is sleek, thin, and lightweight, causing as little distraction as possible when looped over your ears. No matter which pair of IEMs I paired with the Evo, I always felt the main body and hooks of the Evo were comfortable. They sat naturally around my ear, and I never thought about them throughout my listening time
I also particularly like the zipper bag charging case. It’s a bit bulky, but different from what you’re used to getting from true wireless adapters. It makes it feel like more of a specialized accessory than another cheap product. Your IEMs, no matter the size will be able to fit in this case while still attached to the adapters. Everything about the presentation of the Evo outclasses other Bluetooth adapters of its kind.
One aspect of the Evo’s design I’m not so keen on is its touch panel. It’s finicky and not very responsive. The actions only activate after long delays and multiple touches. This might interfere with taking calls over the Evo too, but the actual call clarity is servicable. Disappointingly, there is no companion app for the Evo. I would have liked to see some added features like an EQ or adjustable controls.
Bluetooth & Battery Life
Getting the Evo to pair is very easy. It supports Bluetooth version 5.2, and it has a fast connection with good stability. There’s a big selection of CODECs that the Evo offers, including aptX Adaptive and aptX HD. Of course, using an iPhone with the Evo only gave me access to AAC audio.
By far the most infuriating aspect of the Evo is its battery life. I was shocked when I first heard the “battery low,” and “power off” voice indicators play, as I had only been listening for an hour or two. It would appear that’s all the charge the Evo is capable of giving you.
Sound Impressions
I used a few different IEMs with the Evo, from the Dunu Titan S2 to the Meze Alba. What the Evo did to the sound was most apparent in the overall volume of it. The sound signature as a whole felt elevated in pure gain, acting as a true DAC/Amp component. Listening to music on my phone gave me tons of headroom to play with compared to most Bluetooth headphones and earphones. It kept as much detail as possible while squeezing through common Bluetooth CODECs. For its price, the sound is mostly impressive for its energy alone, making up for the loss of detail with its strong drive. I can’t say there was much else to distinguish in these IEMs, but they rival the Go Pods and UTWS5 in terms of their power, which is quite a feat for its price point.
Summary
The Moondrop Evo has a lot of faults, but for the price, it does what’s expected of a true wireless Bluetooth adapter for your IEMs. If sound quality is all that matters to you, then the Evo is exactly what you need. It has more power than you would assume for the price, and it maintains your IEM sound signature quite well over Bluetooth. Otherwise, it’s hard to look past the finicky touch controls and incredibly disappointing battery life.
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The Moondrop Evo is available at Audio46.
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