Moondrop, a well-known Chinese audio brand, has made a name for itself with high-quality in-ear monitors and earbuds. They also have a headphone line, with signature designs and unique product names. In this review, we take a deep dive into the Moondrop VENUS Planar Magnetic headphones to see if they justify their $599 price tag.
Review
Planar magnetic headphones have traditionally been high-end, luxury products designed for audiophiles, offering a more natural sound reproduction and a wider, more immersive soundstage. However, in recent years, brands like Moondrop have been pushing the boundaries by releasing more affordable models that retain the signature characteristics of planar magnetic technology.
The Moondrop VENUS headphones come in a nice box. On the back, there are some specs and a breakdown of the structure of the drivers. They are wired headphones and come with a 3.5mm headphone jack, which makes it easy to change cables. In the box, you get a 3.5mm single-end plug and a 4.4mm balanced plug. There are no buttons or knobs anywhere on the headphones—it’s just pure audio.
My first impressions were that these headphones are pretty heavy—they weigh 615 grams. Everything is made from metal, and the earcups are huge. The headband is elastic instead of a cushion, which makes it a little tight around your head, and you will feel it after some time. The build quality of the Moondrop VENUS is superb, which is what you would expect from a full-metal frame, but the headphones are very heavy and will strain your neck after a while.
The leather of the earcups and headband is of very bad quality; it could probably be fake. You can replace the headband yourself, as there are no wires connected to it or running alongside it. These headphones are very serviceable, as you can take out the screws and customize them to your liking.
The earcups are removable, and the Moondrop VENUS headphones are open-back, so you won’t be getting any noise isolation. Because these are open-back, everyone in the same room as you will be able to hear what you’re listening to, even at medium volumes. Planar magnetic headphones bleed sound at high frequencies, which is a big con. There is a 100mm driver for each earcup, which is the good thing about planar headphones. The entire driver produces sound, unlike dynamic headphones, where a woofer produces sound from the back.
These headphones are not hard to power. Most amplifiers will drive them with ease, but most of the time you won’t feel the need for an amplifier. If you do use an amplifier, you will get a better HiFi experience.
The Moondrop VENUS headphones deliver a clean, natural sound. When listening to music, instruments sound very detailed and lifelike, and the bass is deep and punchy. Timbre is the quality of a sound or the way a sound is perceived. It’s also known as tone color or tone quality. This is the strongest point of these headphones, and the sound is more natural than other headphones in this price range. The soundstage is good too, but the imaging is lacking, and I wouldn’t use these headphones for gaming.
Verdict
The Moondrop VENUS headphones won’t be liked by everyone, but fans of Planar Magnetic headphones will appreciate these headphones. The best thing about these headphones is the build quality, but they lack comfort with the bad-quality leather and the weight of 615 grams. You can get better Planar Magnetic headphones at this price point, but in the end, it’s all about your preferences. If you don’t know what to buy, check out our other reviews on headphones.