Short answer: the Moondrop Meteor. It ranks #64 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $549.99; the Moondrop Variations ranks #128, rated 4.4/5, and costs $599, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The case for the Moondrop Meteor: Across 19 hobbyist measurements on squig.link it earns a preference score of 81.3 with a very even 1.37 dB deviation, so nothing in the midrange sticks out. Watch for: The 3 to 6 kHz presence region sits about 3.4 dB under target and a 4.2 dB dip near 7.3 kHz follows, so guitars and cymbals lose some bite and detail can sound polite.
Why pick the Moondrop Variations: In oratory1990’s measurement it scores 79 for preference with a smooth 1.46 dB deviation. The tradeoff: Presence and treble each sit 1.7 dB under target and a 4.4 dB dip near 9.8 kHz takes some bite off cymbals, giving it a dark, warm balance.
Buy the Moondrop Meteor. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Moondrop Variations and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Across 19 hobbyist measurements on squig.link it earns a preference score of 81.3 with a very even 1.37 dB deviation, so nothing in the midrange sticks out.
Amazon $549.99 eBay
In oratory1990’s measurement it scores 79 for preference with a smooth 1.46 dB deviation.
AliExpress $599.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Moondrop Meteor | Moondrop Variations | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.99 | $599.00 |
| Ranked | #64 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #128 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 82 (median of 20 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 79 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.36 dB standard deviation | 1.46 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.09 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.60 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.5 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 2 balanced armature + 4 planar magnetic) | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 2 balanced armature + 2 electrostatic) |
| Drivers | 1 x 13mm dynamic + 2 x balanced armature + 4 x planar magnetic | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 2 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic |
| Impedance | 18.5 ohms | 15.2 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 120 dB/Vrms | 118 dB/Vrms |
| Frequency Response | 9Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 9Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
Frequency Response Compared
Both headphones’ measurements overlaid on the Harman target. Above the target sounds louder in that range, below it quieter. Each curve is the median of several independent measurements, shifted so its 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB, so only the tuning is compared.
Measurement data: the Moondrop Meteor from aden, aftersound, atechreviews, audioamigo, boizoff, csi-zone, dl, flare, gadgetgenerations, gadgetrytech, hu-fi, iemocean, jaytiss, practiphile, scboy, sl0the, soundignity, superreview, theaudiostore and zerostresslevel; the Moondrop Variations from aden, adri-n, aftersound, arc, audioamigo, awsmdanny, bloomaudio, boizoff, bryaudioreviews, bukanaudiophile, cammyfi, dl, fahryst, harpo, harutohiroki, hbb, hobbytalk, ianfann, iemocean, iemworld, jaytiss, koi, listener, lown-fi, musicafe, nymz, practiphile, precog, pw, recode, seanwee, sl0the, smirk, superreview, theaudiostore, therollo9, timmyv, treblewellxtended and zerostresslevel, all via squig.link.
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Moondrop Meteor compares with other leading options: