A fresh start can be repeated multiple times just like how each school year opens up to a new day. One of the many companies that have been floating around the audiophile scene is taking in the repeated fresh start approach. MoonDrop as an audiophile brand has slowly gained traction with their consecutive IEM hits like the Kanas, Kanas Pro and the KXXS. While I haven’t tested out those mentioned IEMs, my first contact with MoonDrop was with their flagship earbud model, the Liebesleid which showed phenomenal build quality and design. I have since then been intrigued by the brand so when the chance came up to test out one of their products, I immediately said yes.

Shenzhen Audio sent in the MoonDrop Spaceship in exchange for an honest review and no monetary and special request factors are involved. The MoonDrop Spaceship is currently priced at $21.99 with the mic cable and $19.99 for the standard cable and can be purchased directly off the official Shenzhen Audio website.

The MoonDrop Spaceship is spec’d with a single 6mm dynamic driver, a 20 to 40 kHz Frequency Response, 16 Ohm Impedance and 104 dB Sensitivity. MoonDrop clearly made the Spaceship to hit the entry level market and hopes that it takes off. Let’s go for a ride and see where we end up.

Packaging and Build Quality

The MoonDrop Spaceship surprisingly comes in nice packaging that I have been accustomed to seeing on the KZ, TRN, CCA and Tripowin mafia. By nice I mean a clear plastic case with well-written prints and a refreshing ocean blue gradient. The accessory set is minimal but functional which includes a gray velvet carry case and a set of translucent gray eartips (S, M and L).

The shape and finish of the Spaceships’ shell is the foremost indication as to why this IEM is named as such. This is one of my biases, a bullet-type design which personally gives me great comfort and ease of use. The shell itself features a silver mirror finish which doesn’t come when I try to aggressively remove it using my nails and the joined parts shows no evidence of glue or any bonding material. The nozzle has no lip but it surprisingly was able to hold eartips in place unlike others that also lack the nozzle.

The stock cable is not detachable but is made of 4N Litz OFC, the y-split has the same metallic finish as the shell with the “MoonDrop Co.” printed on it and the 3.5mm housing also sports the same metallic finish. There is considerable microphonic noise when moving often and in touch with your shirt/body.

Tonality and Isolation

The Spaceship doesn’t take off with its treble but instead relies on its midrange to create the platform to where it can be distinguished against similarly priced peers. It’s an overall easy sounding IEM. The MoonDrop Spaceship underwent the “recommended” 200-hour burn-in period using the included translucent gray eartips (M size). I used the Zishan DSD Pro for the duration of the realview outputting FLAC files which would be mentioned along the realview.

Lows

Pumping out with DeadMau5’s Cat Thruster in 16/44 FLAC for the low-end performance test immediately reveals the Spaceships’ lack of low-end power and attack. Its sub bass was nimble and thin sounding resulting in a less than thumpy mid bass. The overall bass performance gives the Spaceship a soft and clean low-end. While it doesn’t give the impact and power that bassheads would like, it also doesn’t congest and bleed toward the succeeding frequencies which would have created issues for the Spaceship.

Midrange

The MoonDrop Spaceship relies on its detailed midrange to do the brunt of the work needed to make it sound decent and not spiral downwards out of contention. Lana Del Ray’s Cherry in 16/44 FLAC sounded smooth and clear. The lower midrange is laid-back and doesn’t give out a full bodied sound but still does its work in the midrange just by the fact that it lets the female vocals push through cleanly. The upper midrange is well-controlled and open. This Spaceship will accompany you well on your workplace and the occasional sneaky spare time that you have.

Highs

Just when you think the low-end and the midrange of the Spaceship is relaxed, in comes its high frequencies and it’s like an alarm clock which, instead of ringing furiously, it hums calmly and brings you back to sleepiness. Maroon 5’s Harder to Breathe in 16/44 FLAC was used to test out the highs and while the “bring back to sleepiness” was an exaggeration, the Spaceships’ treble is indeed mellow and borderline soft. Sibilance, sparkle and extension is a no show for the Spaceship. I could easily recommend this as a daily on the go IEM with its non-fatiguing highs, like who needs more stress already?

Soundstage and Imaging

The Spaceships’ soundstage is tilted towards intimacy despite having a small footprint which doesn’t give the best passive noise cancelling effect. It is easy to get lost in the track that you are playing with and imaging also hovers around being soft and lacking pinpoint accuracy. The left to right and right to left panning is observable though.

Conclusion

The MoonDrop Spaceship still showcases the metallic design language signature of the MoonDrop brand and it feels and looks premium overall without trying so hard. Its asking price and build quality is also well-positioned to give the Spaceship a fighting chance in its bracket. The midcentric sound that it gives off coupled with an easy going treble completes the package which results in an easy recommendation for the Spaceship for audiophiles looking to have an entry level IEM to add to their collection.