Firstly I would like to thank HiFiGo for sending me this sample to review.
*disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings
Gear Used:
iBasso DX200 > Starfield
Tech Specs:
Driver: Carbon Nanotube diaphragm-10mm Dual cavity dynamic driver
Detachable cable standard: 24AWG Litz 4N OFC 1.2M
Cable Interface: 0.78 2pin interface
Sensitivity: 122dB/Vrms(@1khz)
Impedance: 32Ω±15% (@1khz)
Frequency response: 10Hz-36000 Hz (free field. 1/4 inch MIC)
Effective frequency response: 20Hz-20000 Hz (IEC60318-4)
Moondrop Starfield Carbon Nanotube Diaphragm Dynamic Earphone
Packaging, Build Quality and Accessories:
The Starfield come in a very nice looking blue box with an outer sleeve that has an exploded diagram of the IEM’s on the back. Slide this off and the blue box underneath slides open to reveal the IEM’s held in an insert with the case below. Simple, well presented and effective packaging here.
Build quality is excellent in my opinion, the housings are metal and feel solid, the cable is a little soft and thin but should hold up fine with some care. There is good strain relief and they use a normal 0.78 2-pin connector so the cable is easy to replace. The paint job is superb and looks incredible in the right lighting, however it may chip in the long run.
Accessory wise you get a semi-hard clamshell case with Moondrop on it, along with a good selection of tips (6 pairs in total). Something that was also included in mine was a pair of tweezers and 3 pairs of mesh wax guards, something that no doubt will be of use in the future.
Comfort and Isolation:
Once the right tips are selected the Starfield are an excellent IEM comfort wise, with a perfect shape for my ears and a soft cable they don’t cause any irritation or hot spots. They are hold pretty well in my ears and don’t stick out much at all.
Isolation is good, not excellent, but more than suitable for daily use and general commuting. They are a vented dynamic driver, so fair about the same as most other similar models.
Sound:
The Starfield match the Harman Curve quite closely in measurements, so that might give you an idea of how they sound.
Lows: The low end is slightly full and warm compared to a more reference tuning, but it is not out of place of overblown. There is a slight sub-bass lift that adds a pleasant warmth, mid-bass doesn’t hit too hard but it is well presented and fairly controlled. There is always a sense of warmth when listening to the Starfield, which adds a little body to the midrange and makes them very enjoyable and fatigue free. The lows don’t throw the overall balance of the Starfield, when called upon they dip deep and can handle most complex mixes without getting in the way.
Midrange: Well the midrange sits perfectly in the middle where it should be, with good layering of different parts of the recording. The lower midrange has a little added warmth, but this doesn’t affect the overall tonality that is quite natural and real. Electric guitars can sometimes sound a little soft, not quite having the bite of more neutral tuned IEM’s. That being said, they are a good all-rounder and work well with most genres. What does stand out is how real everything sounds, there is also plenty of detail to be heard if you listen out for it.
Treble: Slightly relaxed but well defined and smooth is how I would describe the top end of the Starfield. There is enough bite for snares to snap, and good extension without rolling off too early. They are not metallic or sharp, instead they take a slightly reserved but refined approach to presenting the treble. Again this all adds to a completely fatigue free sound, with the transition from midrange to treble being devoid of sibilance.
Soundstaging is not a strong point of the Starfield, they have more height than width, but due to their controlled nature layering is very good. Recordings sound coherent yet it is easy to distinguish each part.
Conclusion:
The Starfield are going to be one of my main recommendations around the $100 mark from now on; they are smooth, natural and just sound right. They don’t try and wow you with a speedy sound, nor do they throw tons of bass at you, they just play what you are listening to in a fairly honest and enjoyable way. They lend their hand to most genres and I cannot fault their sound, they nail it on so many levels that they are honestly hard to criticise. Not to forget they come well built with great ergonomics, what’s not to love.
Sound Perfection Rating: 8.5/10 (nearly perfect for this price, excellent value)
Measurements may not be 100% accurate, psycho-acoustic smoothing applied in REW (IEC 711 coupler from China)
