The Moondrop Blessing 2 was developed a cult following quickly after its release, making it one of the consistently recommended in-ear monitors (IEMs/earphones) of the last several years. The company is finally returning with a sequel with the Moondrop Blessing 3. It brings with it some major advancements, including a second dynamic driver to bring the total to two dynamics and four balanced armatures, as well as a refreshed tuning and improved fit.
At $319.99, it’s the same price as the original but a noticeable upgrade and one of the most exciting releases of the year.
Thank you to Shenzen Audio for providing the sample for this review.
Specifications
- Current Price: $319.99 (Shenzen Audio, Amazon)
- Key Features:
- Six-Driver Advanced Hybrid Design
- Powerful Sound with 2DD+4BA Driver Configuration
- Accurate Three-Frequency Division
- Horizontally-Opposed 2DD Module
- 3D Printed High-Precision Acoustic Structure
- Eye-Catching Stainless Steel Faceplates
- Highly-Consistent Full-Band Response
- Ergonomic & Comfortable Design
- 3D Printed Medical-Grade Resin Ear Shells
- Interchangeable Cable With Universal 0.78mm 2-pin connectors
- Impedance: 14.8Ω±15%
- Frequency Response: 10Hz-30kHz
- Effective Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
- Sensitivity: 120dB/Vrms
- THD: ≤0.5%
- Connectors: 0.78mm 2-pin connectors
- Termination Plug: 3.5mm
Moondrop Blessing 3 - First Impressions and Key Features
The Moondrop Blessing 3 is the successor to the cult-classic Blessing 2. If you’ll grant me a brief aside, when I first joined this hobby, the Blessing 2 was the go-to recommendation. That was quite a while ago now, and the IEM industry moves at the speed of sound, so you would expect it to be a relic of the past. Yet even today, the B2 continues to be one of the most frequent recommendations I see in audiophile communities, even when users are looking for gaming recommendations. It’s the rare IEM that stands the test of time in ChiFi, but that’s exactly the case with the B2.
The Blessing 3 uses the Blessing 2 as its foundation and springboard. Like the B2, the Blessing 3 uses a hybrid design built upon two dynamic drivers and four balanced armatures. For those keeping score, that’s one more dynamic driver than the Blessing 2, and it uses it to good effect. The physical design is also very similar with a silver face plate and translucent 3D printed shells. The faceplate is mirrored while the B2 was matte, which lends the B3 a bit more visual flair at the expense of fingerprints.
Hybrid designs are incredibly popular in IEMs, allowing designers to split the frequency range between multiple drivers that specialize in certain frequency ranges. The Blessing 3’s six drivers split the frequency spectrum into three. The dual dynamic drivers are responsible for bass, while the mids and highs are split between the balanced armatures. The division is handled with both an electronic crossover as well as the physical internal design of each ear piece, where each register has its own tube leading up to the nozzle. There isn’t room for inter-frequency distortion because they are electronically and physically separate.
The dynamic drivers are especially interesting. Moondrop has applied what they call H.O.D.D.D.U.S. (Horizontally Opposed Dual Dynamic Drivers Unit System). The 10mm dynamic drivers are placed back to back with overlapping magnetic fields and creating a focal point at the space between them. According to Moondrop, this utilizes the same magnetic principles inherent in planar magnetic headphones, increasing power, lowering distortion, and improving overall clarity.
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The new set also comes with a revamped cable. This version is thinner, lighter, and more visually in keeping with the Blessing 3. While the original cable was nice too, its copper color didn’t really align with the rest of the earphone’s design. The B3 uses a silver-plated cable that matches perfectly. It connects to each earpiece with a standard 2-pin connection and is easily interchangeable if you desire.
Also included in the box is a hardback, leatherette carrying case and a selection of silicone ear tips. The carrying case is too large to be pocketable but allows you to transport accessories, like a dongle DAC, easily.
Moondrop Blessing 3 - Fit and Comfort
The fit on the Blessing 3 is improved from the original thanks to slightly reduced nozzle size. At times, I struggled to keep a snug fit as the larger bores and bulky shell would slowly work them out of my ears. Here, I was able to fit it comfortable with a small tip on the left earpiece and a medium tip on the right, aka my normal size arrangement. With the correct tips, I’ve been able to wear these for three to four hours comfortably. The shells are on the larger side, however, so they’re not low profile enough to go unnoticed.
Moondrop Blessing 3 - Listening Impressions
Frequency Response Graph Credit: Super* Reviews
The Blessing 3 is generally an improvement over the Blessing 2. Moondrop has shifted the tuning to provide a bit more bass emphasis, as well as detail in the upper-mids and treble. They have a smoothness to the sound that enhances perceived clarity. The Blessing 3 is also slightly more resolving. Taste will certainly come into play, but it’s clear to me that the Blessing 3 is the set to choose, especially if you don’t mind adding some EQ to really tweak it to your taste.
Bass: The Blessing 3 trades mid-bass for sub-bass compared to the Blessing 2. There’s more rumble and punch, but bass lines have slightly less volume. There’s ample kick and impact and a depth to the low end that provides a solid foundation for the listening experience. It’s not a set I would recommend for genres like hip-hop, however, as the mid-bass decline might make it sound a bit bass-light in songs that need that extra “oomph”. The quality of the bass is excellent, providing a quickness and resolution that’s perfect for realistic, textured bass notes.
I prefer the tuning of the B3 here, as the depth of the bass really fills out songs and games with a body you can almost feel. It makes the low end more tangible, which is especially in games that have explosions and gunshots. The tactility of the bass is very enjoyable for gaming and music alike, and the roll-off ahead of the mids enhances the perceived clarity and detail higher in the spectrum.
With that said, the B3 is very resilient to EQ, so if you prefer a bit more mid-bass, it’s easy to add back in.
Mids: The mid-bass roll-off has a tendency to make vocals in particular sound a touch less lush. Going Under by Jonny Craig sounded a mite thin to my ear. While the bass and middle-high instruments had excellent body, Jonny himself was a bit stepped back. The same was true in Adele’s Rolling in the Deep.
Instruments in this range sound great, however. The Blessing 3 is very resolving and I was able to hear a lot of fine details in my music, particularly some atmospheric effects in synths that often get bowled over by the rest of the noise in a track. Guitars have bite and texture. Keyboards have a depth to the sound that can be enrapturing.
This range is perhaps the most important for gamers. The mids store important positional information like gunshot and footstep directionality, as well as dialogue, and immersive atmospheric details. The modest thinness present in music doesn’t have the same apparentness in gaming. Like the bass, however, if you do want to accentuate these frequencies, EQ can be your best friend here.
Treble: The highs are rich in detail but are very smooth. The treble is well-extended, and the balanced armatures driving this register are able to deliver the kind of air and sparkle hybrid fans tend to enjoy. There is a bit of the balanced armature “etchedness” to the sound, though it’s a quality I enjoy — a bit like a sharpening filter for your listening. I didn’t find the treble to be fatiguing in the slightest.
Technical Performance, Soundstage, and Imaging: The Blessing 3 is a technical performer for the price. The soundstage is surprisingly deep and imaging is definitely enhanced from the Blessing 2. Positionality is clearer, including the sense of depth between different instruments and sound sources.
Layering is also exceptional. One of the benefits to a hybrid design such as this, where different drivers are covering different frequency bands and are then split with electronic and physical crossovers, is that you can really hear the different layers as they come together. They are, after all, being generated by six separate speakers! The perceived clarity and detail within is excellent as a result. Less cohesive than a single dynamic driver, ala the HarmonicDyne Athena, perhaps, but the flavor of a great hybrid like this is something that stands apart.
Gaming: The Blessing 3 is a great fit for gaming. The enhanced soundstage and clarity-focused tuning lend it a particular utility for competitive shooters, but I also enjoyed it in single-player games as well. The smoothness of the sound and smaller nozzle make it easy to listen to for extended periods of time. Get used to this earphone and you’ll never want to go back to a muddy gaming headset again.
Overall Impressions and Final Thoughts
The Blessing 3 is as excellent as I hoped it might be. Moondrop has done a great job of improving its design with improved bass performance, comfort, and resolution. The sub-bass for mid-bass trade-off won’t be for everyone, but if you’re willing to EQ, you’ll find it’s very capable or delivering on different tuning tastes. Whether you’re a gamer or audiophile, this set can easily become your “one for everything” and save you having to buy multiple headphones for different situations.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes. Articles may include affiliate links from which we may earn a small commission to help support the site. Authors do not earn affiliate revenue or commissions.
