Compared to the Moondrop ILLUMINATION, the sound characteristics of the Moondrop ILLUSTRIOUS show noticeable improvements in density, soundstage, and the atmospheric sense of the low end. To be honest, deciding which sound signature I prefer between the two would require listening to more tracks before making a judgment.
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Appearance Design & Comfort Fit
Apart from a portion of the front cavity structure being gold, the rest of the Moondrop Illustrious is silver. The main material of the earpieces is titanium alloy, which is polished after high-precision CNC machining, giving it a very shiny appearance. The gold front cavity structure is brass-plated gold and also polished.
The design of the faceplate follows the lineage of the Moondrop ILLUMINATION (haven’t reviewed), but the edges are different, transitioning from a single-point radial pattern to a multi-point radial one, making it look more intricate. It’s worth noting that although both have titanium alloy CNC-machined earpieces, the surface of the ILLUSTRIOUS seems to lack the TiN coating, so its scratch resistance isn’t as outstanding.
The passive noise isolation of the Moondrop Illustrious isn’t particularly strong, but it handles pressure balance very well. The nozzle is still on the thicker side, but installing eartips isn’t as difficult as with the Moondrop Kadenz, and it doesn’t significantly affect wearability.
The ILLUSTRIOUS retains the shape and size of the ILLUMINATION’s earpieces. Combined with the new inner structure, the fit isn’t exceptionally snug. The size isn’t too large, so the pressure on the edges of the ear isn’t high, and unless the ears are particularly small, the wearing experience is generally good. However, the comfort level is just average.
Cable & Acoustic Configuration & Power Requirements
The cable is made of 4-stranded oxygen-free silver-plated copper, with a moderate tightness in its braiding. The cable is relatively soft and not too thick, with only slight tangling issues.
The interchangeable cable system is based on a 0.78mm 2PIN structure, but the female socket is recessed by about 1.5mm. The cable has a foolproof groove structure, and the pins have significant damping, so care is needed when plugging and unplugging.
The interchangeable plug system is based on a four-pin structure with a foolproof groove and features a spiral locking mechanism. The pins are thick and have high insertion damping. The packaging includes 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced plugs.
The Moondrop Illustrious is equipped with an 11mm TAC diamond-coated dome composite diaphragm dynamic driver. The rigidity of the TAC diamond coating is higher than ordinary DLC, and the flexible gasket allows for a longer diaphragm excursion.
The ILLUSTRIOUS has an impedance of 25Ω and a sensitivity of 124dB/Vrms, making it relatively easy to drive. In terms of pairing, I would recommend a relatively neutral player (DAC/amp) with some thickness to it.
Sound Description of Moondrop Illustrious
I find its tonality to be neutral, without obvious warm or cool biases, and the sound signature is relatively relaxed. Below are the sound performances when paired with UC Tips, meeting the required driving power.
With the default eartips, the bass quantity might seem moderate, but with foam tips or UC Tips, the bass doesn’t feel lacking. The thickness and fullness are very well controlled. The elasticity is decent, and the extension is excellent. The speed of attack and decay is fast, with very little residual reverberation retained. The transition between the mid and low frequencies is also smooth enough.
The midrange vocals maintain a certain distance, with a standard mouth size, sounding slightly more refined. The texture and line definition of the vocals are balanced, and the vocal thickness isn’t high, with delicate lines. There isn’t a noticeable bias between male and female vocals, and most vocals that don’t emphasize thickness have similar expressiveness. Some graininess is retained, but the smoothness isn’t compromised.
There’s very little tonal coloration; the vocals are relatively neutral and calm, without obvious coloring to influence judgment. Sibilance is polished, only mildly perceptible in tracks with obvious production issues. The transparency of the vocals is sufficiently high.
Most instruments manage to balance texture and line definition, with none being overly thick. The tonal accuracy of violins, violas, and guitars is high, and they sound sufficiently detailed. The overtones of the instruments are ample but not overly thick. Among percussion instruments, the kick drum doesn’t stand out strongly.
The high-frequency brightness is moderate, with very high smoothness and no obvious sense of energy concentration. The extension in the ultra-high frequencies has improved, with no early or fast roll-off.
The spatial presentation is the most surprising aspect of the Moondrop Illustrious. The edges aren’t overly defined, with considerable distance in both width and depth. The separation between vocals and instruments is good, without lacking a sense of cohesion. The resolution meets the standards of a flagship headphone. The dynamics are good, and the transients are excellent.
Conclusion & Specs
The sound of the Moondrop Illustrious is definitely not about high density or impact sensation, but rather a very natural, relaxed, and neutral tuning, without warm or cool tonal biases. It lives up to the standards expected of a flagship dynamic driver headphone.
Moondrop ILLUSTRIOUS specs and features:
- Titanium alloy high-precision CNC housing
- Legendary 11mm patented dynamic driver
- TAC diamond-coated dome composite diaphragm
- 0.78mm universal interchangeable cable design
- Comes with 12 pairs of eartips, cable, adapter, storage bag, manual
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