Valhallavs.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 | Valhalla | Variations |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Thieaudio | Moondrop |
| Country | China | China |
| IEM Description | A flagship 19-driver BA IEM offering subwoofer-level bass, warm midrange, and smooth, extended treble—all housed in lightweight titanium with audio-grade cabling. | 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 | 1.000 – 2.000 | 500 – 1.000 |
| Housing & Driver | ||
|---|---|---|
| Driver Config | Multi-BA | Tribrid |
| Driver Types | Balanced Armature | Dynamic Driver + Balanced Armature + Electrostatic |
| Shell Material | CNC-machined Grade 5 Titanium | Copper |
| Cable | EliteNoir premium silver‑plated LCOFC, 20 AWG, 161‑core, Mundorf-soldered | – |
| Technical | ||
|---|---|---|
| Freq Range | 10 Hz – 44 kHz | 9-40,000 Hz |
| Impedance (Ω) | 9 | – |
| Sensitivity (dB) | 103 | – |
| Crossover | 4‑way passive with 4‑bore acoustic tubing | – |
| Platform Info | ||
|---|---|---|
| Comments | 2 | 1 |
| Visit Count | 479 | 69 |
| External Reviews | 1 | 3 |
Meta Ratings
Valhalla delivers measurably better sound reproduction, offering a more immersive and engaging experience overall. Its tonal balance, clarity, and spatial imaging stand out clearly compared to Variations (8.9 vs 6.5). For comfort fit, It performs evidently better (8.3 vs 7). It shows substantially superior build quality than Variations (9.3 vs 6.5), indicating better materials, construction precision, and overall durability. The stock cable of Variations is markedly higher in quality (5.5 vs 3.1), offering improvements in flexibility, tactile feedback, and resistance to microphonics. Accessory-wise, It includes substantially more practical and high-quality items, enhancing both protection and usability.
| Valhalla | Variations | |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | 9.1 | 6.5 |
| Comfort Fit | 8.3 | 7.0 |
| Build Quality | 9.3 | 6.5 |
| Stock Cable | 2.3 | 5.5 |
| Accessories | 2.1 | 6.0 |
Sound Characteristics
Valhalla delivers a deeper and more extended sub-bass, reaching lower frequencies with greater authority than Variations (9.1 vs 6.5). It enhances basslines with s more energy and grip, giving them a livelier feel compared to Variations (9.2 vs 6.5). Male vocals and lower instruments sound a richer and better defined on It, unlike Variations which can seem hollow (8.8 vs 7.5). It reproduces female vocals and strings with b more air and forwardness, while Variations remains recessed (8.8 vs 8). The treble on It is a more nuanced and refined, especially when it comes to cymbals and ambient elements (9.2 vs 7.5). The highest frequencies on It feel a more natural and less rolled-off compared to Variations (9.5 vs 8). The stereo field on It feels a wider and more holographic, whereas Variations sounds more intimate (9.2 vs 7.5). It extracts low-level details a more effectively, helping subtle nuances emerge clearer than on Variations (9.5 vs 8). Track elements feel d more isolated and clean on It, offering clearer focus than Variations (9.3 vs 7). It avoids frequency masking a more successfully, preserving clarity across the spectrum better than Variations (9.2 vs 7). Notes on It feel a more grounded and weighty, whereas Variations can sound thin or hollow (9 vs 8). It hits with s more authority during transients, creating a more explosive effect than Variations (9 vs 8.5). Timbre on It sounds a more realistic and natural, whereas Variations feels slightly more artificial or colored (9 vs 7.5). It achieves a better tonal neutrality, avoiding colorations present in Variations (9 vs 7). It renders texture a more precisely, making instrument surfaces and vocal grain more palpable than Variations (9 vs 7.5).
| Valhalla | Variations | |
|---|---|---|
| Sub Bass | 9.1 | 6.5 |
| Bass | 9.2 | 6.5 |
| Bass Feel | 8.8 | 8.5 |
| Lower Mids | 8.9 | 7.5 |
| Upper Mids | 8.9 | 8.0 |
| Lower Treble | 9.2 | 7.5 |
| Upper Treble | 9.5 | 8.0 |
| Sound Stage Width | 9.3 | 7.5 |
| Detail | 9.7 | 8.0 |
| Layering | 9.4 | 7.0 |
| Masking | 9.2 | 7.0 |
| Note Weight | 9.2 | 8.0 |
| Slam | 9.0 | 8.5 |
| Sibilance | 8.8 | 9.0 |
| Timbre Color | 9.0 | 7.5 |
| Tonality | 9.0 | 7.0 |
| Texture | 9.0 | 7.5 |
Tonal Signature
// Nothing to compare yet.