Moondrop Moonriver 2 TI Review

Moondrop is mainly known for its large selection of IEMs. Their budget library always impresses, and their higher-tier models like the Variations have always been a favorite. They’ve also made a few peripherals in the past, like DAC dongles and cables. The Moonriver 2 TI looks to be one of their biggest efforts yet to create a portable DAC in the style of the Questyle M15, or the iFi Go Bar. Let’s see if it stands out among those offerings.

What You Get

• MoonRiver2]Micro DAC+AMP * 1
• Type-C to Type-C adapter cable *1
• Type-A to Type-C adapter *1

Build 

While it’s a small device, the Moonriver 2 TI has a high-quality build for the price. Its chassis is made from titanium alloy and combines that with a transparent window that shows off the interior design of the device. The aesthetic of the shell has a cool flow to it too, giving you a more detailed level of craftsmanship. There’s a handy volume level on the side, and the cable is completely detachable with a slot for USB type C inputs. For headphones, the Moonriver 2 TI offers slots for 3.5mm and 4.4mm connections.

Design

Inside the Moonriver 2 TI are dual flagship Cirrus logic decoding chips. These chipsets have their own independent dual channel amps to ensure a hi-fi signal flow. This is also helped by the Moonriver 2 TI supplying crystal oscillators. This design is capable of decoding PCM up to 32Bit/384kHz and DSD 512.

Sound Impressions

When I first hit play on my first track to test the Moonriver 2 TI, I was immediately hit by a wall of sound. For such a small device, the Moonriver 2 TI outputs a ton of power, even when you’re set at a low gain. When you’re almost exclusively using the 4.4mm output, this is even more apparent. With simple IEMs, the Moonriver 2 TI will blast the signal with as much energy as possible for the device. Even with its power, the Moonriver 2 TI doesn’t sacrifice a ton of dynamic range.

It’s a clean drive that can expand the depth of spatial imaging, as well as frequency clarity. Headphones and IEMs that are wide gain a bit of extra space and separation. It conveys more dimensional sound elements that go outside the boundaries of stereo positioning. Bass frequencies feel more below the rest of the sound signature, organizing themselves while still retaining impact. There’s an evenness to the profile of each headphone and IEM I tried with this dongle, opening up more potential for detail throughout the midrange and treble as well.

Summary

This less than $200 dongle is shockingly powerful. Just coming off of the more expensive Woo Audio Tube Mini, I was very surprised by how much the Moonriver 2 TI matched it in terms of power. Everything came together for this dongle quite nicely, and I think it is a worthy competitor to similar models like the Questlye M15.

The Moondrop Moonriver 2 TI is available at Audio46.