Clairvoyancevs.Variations
Sound & Specs Comparison
Information
Both IEMs are widely regarded in the audiophile community. See how they differ in terms of sub-bass response, upper mids, clarity, and overall tonality. Spider charts and rating breakdowns included.
Objective Comparison
Facts, details, stuff.
| General Info | Clairvoyance | Variations |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Thieaudio | Moondrop |
| Country | China | China |
| IEM Description | The ThieAudio Clairvoyance is a tribrid IEM. It delivers a masterfully tuned, coherent sound with lush mids, airy treble, and articulate bass. Renowned for its holographic staging and tonal balance, the Clairvoyance offers a refined, engaging, and highly resolving listening experience. It's widely regarded as a benchmark in the sub-$1000 category, blending technical prowess with musicality. | Moondrop Variations is a hybrid in-ear monitor combining electrostatic, balanced armature, and dynamic drivers for a precise and immersive listening experience. Known for its balanced, reference-style tuning with tight bass, clean mids, and extended treble, it’s a favorite among audiophiles who crave clarity and technical performance. Ideal for detail lovers and those seeking a high-fidelity sound signature. |
| Price Level | 500 – 1.000 | 500 – 1.000 |
| Housing & Driver | ||
|---|---|---|
| Driver Config | Tribrid | Tribrid |
| Driver Types | – | Dynamic Driver + Balanced Armature + Electrostatic |
| Shell Material | CNC-machined (unspecified, likely resin/titanium) | Copper |
| Cable | 4-core Litz 5N OCC silver‑plated cable | – |
| Technical | ||
|---|---|---|
| Freq Range | Extended treble up to ~80 kHz | 9-40,000 Hz |
| Impedance (Ω) | 32 | – |
| Sensitivity (dB) | 110 | – |
| Crossover | 4-way passive with 4 acoustic bores | – |
| Platform Info | ||
|---|---|---|
| Comments | 0 | 1 |
| Visit Count | 174 | 69 |
| External Reviews | 1 | 3 |
Meta Ratings
// Nothing to compare yet.
Sound Characteristics
Clairvoyance delivers b deeper and more extended sub-bass, reaching lower frequencies with greater authority than Variations (7 vs 6.5). It enhances basslines with n more energy and grip, giving them a livelier feel compared to Variations (7.5 vs 6.5). In the upper mids, It sounds a clearer and more articulate, highlighting vocals and lead instruments better than Variations (8.5 vs 8). Instruments like violins and brass are portrayed with a more brilliance on It, while Variations sounds slightly dull (8.5 vs 7.5). It captures ambient cues and reverbs a more precisely through its upper treble, enhancing spatial perception over Variations (9 vs 8). Listeners may notice that It presents sounds with a more lateral space, giving recordings more openness than Variations (8 vs 7.5). It separates instruments m more distinctly, helping complex passages remain coherent where Variations blends them (8.5 vs 7). It keeps competing frequencies under control a more effectively, reducing sonic congestion compared to Variations (8 vs 7). Notes on It feel a more grounded and weighty, whereas Variations can sound thin or hollow (8.5 vs 8). Listeners may experience m fewer sharp edges in 'S' and 'T' sounds with Variations, whereas Clairvoyance can get fatiguing (9 vs 7). Timbre on Clairvoyance sounds a more realistic and natural, whereas Variations feels slightly more artificial or colored (8 vs 7.5). It achieves a better tonal neutrality, avoiding colorations present in Variations (8 vs 7). It renders texture n more precisely, making instrument surfaces and vocal grain more palpable than Variations (8.5 vs 7.5).
| Clairvoyance | Variations | |
|---|---|---|
| Sub Bass | 7.0 | 6.5 |
| Bass | 7.5 | 6.5 |
| Bass Feel | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| Lower Mids | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Upper Mids | 8.5 | 8.0 |
| Lower Treble | 8.5 | 7.5 |
| Upper Treble | 9.0 | 8.0 |
| Sound Stage Width | 8.0 | 7.5 |
| Detail | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Layering | 8.5 | 7.0 |
| Masking | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| Note Weight | 8.5 | 8.0 |
| Slam | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| Sibilance | 7.0 | 9.0 |
| Timbre Color | 8.0 | 7.5 |
| Tonality | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| Texture | 8.5 | 7.5 |
Tonal Signature
// Nothing to compare yet.