Wow. This is the first review of the Kato I've seen that makes the Kato feel like an exclusive iem. The photography was simply lush and the presentation/ review was spot on. I'm used to seeing you review products that are 10K+. It's nice to see that you put in the same effort when reviewing budget gear.
I like that the Kato brought quality of life/build quality improvements which Moondrop has historically been weak at. E.g. filters screw on instead of glued on, a ridge on the nozzle to stop eartips from coming off, smaller nozzle compared to the HUGE nozzles on the Blessing2/Variations
as a longtime owner of B2’s, that’s why i’m buying these next. i love the b2’s but for the 300+ bucks their build quality is horrendous. i’ve gone through two pairs mow
White hot take: KATO is the IEM equivalent of the HD6XX. Having owned both my KATOs and my 6XX for a little while now, I realize that both achieve what many would consider a "normal" sound for their respective transducer types. While I wouldn't say they sound exactly the same, they seem to share a similar relationship between mid-bass and lower mids and both have a relatively relaxed treble response (some might find the upper mids to lower treble balance on the KATO a little harsh, but people have made this same complaint about the HD6XX). KATO and the HD6XX arguably share a similar relationship to their respective versions of Harman, that is, the IE and OE versions respectively. Now, I understand that KATO is considered a "Warm Harman" or "Mild V-Shape" IEM, whereas the 6XX is considered DF with a touch of warmth. And the 6XX earns this classification in part because it is a successor to the HD600. It also measures very similarly to an HD600, such that if you EQ an HD6XX to the HD600's FR (as I have), you'll probably find that the result is nearly identical to the stock sound. Yet, if you were so inclined, you could argue that the HD600 and the HD650/6XX are tuned to completely different targets. You could argue that the HD6XX measures like a warm interpretation of the Harman OE target (the one with less bass, I forget what year it is) and that the HD600 measures closely to the DF target. What does this have to do with my claim that the KATO is the in-ear equivalent of an HD650? Well, it's a bold claim that can be defended by analyzing frequency response graphs. Similarly, I could make an opposing argument, say that the KATO has a "Mild V-Shape" signature, and defend that claim by analyzing frequency response. My point is there don't seem to be any guiding principles for classifying how IEMs and headphones are tuned. We might develop a subjective impression of an IEM or headphone and then read that subjective experience into FR. But I worry this subjectivity might threaten the utility of FR. Explaining subjective impressions by analyzing FR is not problematic in itself, but it can be problematic if used as the basis for recommending gear that purportedly delivers a particular sound signature. Some reviewers might (and actually do) recommend something like KATO as a V-Shaped IEM, when many listeners looking for a V-Shaped IEM might be bored with the KATO's signature, thinking it bass-light and overly focused on the midrange (especially the upper midrange). But idk maybe this is an ill-founded concern. Lmk what y'all think.
I have the same gear as you except I have the Tin Hifi T3 plus which I really enjoy. Perhaps I should get the Kato as well. They weren’t easily available when I bought my IEMs
@@babaker48 I would say that the Kato are pretty similar to the Sundaras. Depends what you're looking for. Like I sais. I personally love them. So clear and so fun.
I have been using the katos for about a year now. I use them with a dongle dac (ibasso dc05) and a dac amp (ifi zen dac v2), they sound great on both, with clarity and technical performance way above their price. I also have the letshouer z12, and i find myself switching between the two depending on the genre of music I'm listening to. Although the z12 are planars, I don't finf the kato to be less detailed at all. There hasn't been one micro detail which I heard on the z12, that haven't been heard on the katos.
Hmm, I think the Kato can be a bit muddy in the midbass, especially when there are lots of things going on a t the same time or the music is very energetic e. g. with many metal songs. I also notice a peak in the sibilance region somewhere, however that might just be my ear-canal, but I've heard other people call the treble on them sharp as well. Othe reviewers called them slightly v-shaped, this is the first time I've heard someone calling the Kato a dark IEM.
I definitely wouldn't call these dark, as they have more treble than some other IEM's that I have. I do agree with the rest of the things being said though
I’m glad to see I’m not the only metalhead who doesn’t like the KATO. Have the same problem with the 3k peak, which led to a problematic ear fatigue. Now I need to find a smoother IEM which doesn’t have that kind of peak in the upper mids.
Some issues that I encountered with months of use: - cable will become too stiff (as in stiff af) - imbalance on the silver nozzle(need to replace those filters) - oxidation on the brass nozzle
@@parisgiovanos766 My KATO now for about 2 years and still my daily driver, the cable tho for the time I use it is pretty annoying due to it's stiffness (and once it oxidized from inside which happened to me the cable became brittle). So yea a proper extra cable is recommended, currently using the Moondrop K-line Cable which is also included on my purchase as a bundle on being ordered upon release of the said IEM.
I got my KATOs about a month ago, and I'm loving them for the exact same reasons. Technical enough to appease my audiophile side, but relaxed enough for when I just want to listen casually. I was stuck trying to decide between the KATO and the Letsheour S12 for a while, but I ended up with the KATO and I don't regret it. Honestly, my biggest problem with the KATO are the spring tips. They sound great, but they don't really stick to the insides of my ear at all, so if I move my head too much they work their way out. Xelastec hasn't worked for me in the past either, so I'm going to have to find my own solution. Some smaller nitpicks: I wish the KATOs just had a bit more sub bass, at least for my liking. Also the cable, while well built, is a bit hefty in my opinion. Other than that, I've got no regrets with my purchase. Moondrop really hit it out of the park with this one, and I'd definitely recommend it over the Aria if you're looking for a more long term iem.
It bears pointing out that given the Kato is about twice as expensive as the Aria, it's a rather unfair comparison. I doubt anybody in the market for something in the Kato's price range would even look at the Aria.
@@Pibblepunk I know. I'm just saying that the KATO (imo) is worth the higher asking price if you want to use the iem long term. The Aria is infamous for having paint bubbling and chipping after a couple months depending on the climate. Personally, I bought the Aria but returned them for the KATO after hearing about the paint chipping. Also because I didn't like the lack of detail and imaging that the Arias gave. The extra price was a bit hard to swallow, but I found peace knowing that these iems will last me for years and years without any paint chipping or other defects. Also, like I said, the sound is just fantastic.
Try final audio e eartips, they work great on the Kato for me. They adds bit of low end textures while keeping the mids and highs clear, while keeping it smooth, which I like from the Kato. Also agree with the cables, albeit nicely built they're a bit too heavy. Swapped them out with a lighter cable and it definitely feels more comfortable now.
What a nice review. I got the blue version a year ago. My evaluation sits aside of yours, i have had easy relaxed pleasure listening to my music with these iems. I love bass but these came to enlighten another way of enjoying music. Thank you for review!
This review resonates heavily with me. I'm sold on the KATO's simply by your experience choosing the KATO over most any other headphones for work because they hit a sweet spot that is still fun/pleasing without being distracting. I notice my Blessing 2's are extremely capable and technical, but when I wear them at work they sort of command my attention too much. Definitely going to get the KATO's eventually.
Yes, they are great. As long as they work that is. Mine first developed an issue with the filtering inlays. Condensation leads to channel imbalance. One side becomes considerably quieter than the other. Only to be fixed with new filters. Fixed that. Only to have one earpiece fail on me. Moondrop really, really, really has to up their quality control. I liked them so much. But the owner experience spoils it.
I see a lot of people saying you can get better sound for cheaper, but for my money the build quality of the iem, cable, accessories, and even packaging go a long way. It’s all subjective though. Follow your gut. I’ve heard the Truthear Hexa is making waves in the budget space if all you care about is sound quality to price ratio. The Kato is the coolest looking iem I’ve seen with good reviews imo. Also that was a super concise presentation.
Good morning from Toronto ☕️☕️ I gave the OG KATO as a Christmas gift last year to my wife 😉 Tho a tad large she found them amazing . Here’s the dirty little secret about IEM’s ..for less than the cost of a decent mid tier headphone..you can have a nice stable of IEM’s that all bring something different to the party. Thank you for this review.
My fave IEMs ive used so far. Only used a small pool, but they look nice, the filters are screw on (a must in my opinion). They sound wonderful. And the price isn't ridiculous.
My only issue with Kato after owning the Starfield as my first decent IEM is that now everything from the Aria to the Kato sounds the same to me and is basically coming down to me sitting in a quiet room with four different IEM's set up and hot swapping them to hear a notable difference worth spending any extra money upgrading for. I think if I was going to upgrade it would have to be to the Blessing line or maybe even the S8 for that BA sound compared to a single DD.
Thank you for that review that was really helpful because I've been wondering about what to get in that price range for some time and have had a number of suggestions and this along with your colleagues nova review has helped me enormously so thank you I think I may well punt for these Unless there's something more recently released which is more appropriate. This leads me to ask why you don't do many I am reviews it would seem are you more concerned with higher end kit and not with the multiplicity of releases we found recently. If so who would you recommend in terms of review channels for quality and balanced reviewing thank you for all your hard work.
Finally a review that is on point with these! I see you like Mother Mother too. Which headphone \ iem do you listen to them with the most? I don't have a huge collection but i found that the Crusher wireless works really well with them!
Great review! I would suggest to use the same reference curve for the objective part so we compare different reviews easier or to add some comparison tool in the audio files so we can do this ourselves :-)
Great review but I have to disagree with you saying that technicalities are far above the price range. In fact it is below the price range because the Shuoer S12 exists. Olina SE is better pick than Kato IMO, better stage and imaging than the Kato
I don't agree. Owning both the katos and s12, the only main difference is in tunning, I haven't found differences regarding technical performance, maybe the katos have a wider soundstage by a millimeter, but detail retrieval is exactly the same l, no matter the gear it is being paired to
@@redkh2017 Yes, the technicalities are similar but the S12 is cheaper than Kato. Hence it is not correct to tell that the technicalities are far above the price range when a cheaper option have similar technicalities.
these are by far my FAVORITE iems (probably until i can shill out money for the blessing 3) but i always have to be super careful with them, first 2 weeks condensation screwed one of the nozzles and muffled the sound.
I reckon the sound is great, as long as it lasted. Yes, these handily outperform a lot of the competition at their price point. They also seem well built once you first start to use them. However, I have both condensation and oxidation issues (on the nozzles in particular). The former leads to an imbalance in output between the monitors. It can be resolved to an extend by cleaning and force drying, but it is just a matter of a week or two before the issue is back. Am I really the only one who gets frustrated by this? I get the need to cut or corner here and there to keep prices down, however, even though they are relatively budget IEMs, I would expect them to at least not have any critical faults like this. If anyone has a more permanent solution to the issue, I'm all ears (pun intended). No more Moondrop gear for me until they have sorted this.
It's kinda weird as i have this imbalance issue last year (as I have the KATO for 2 years) and I just clean up the nozzles with alcohol then the imbalance was gone (tho I replaced my left filter after I accidentally rubbed it off completely to remove it's adhesion and as precaution I now securely glued the filters on the nozzle by epoxy tho some people won't recommend this and even I if you do not have extra filters to use if you'll gotta have a mishap of doing so). Another is probably is personal anatomy as my ears do not feel most or accumulate earwax as well do not sweat as much for a long time which from the pals who have moondrop and even other IEMs have the same issue that accumulate more earwax as I do (so they clean up their ears and even done it to a professional) making my buds (not just the KATO) free from earwax as well as channel imabalance. As well as your environment if your IEM's or your room is present to moist, humid or along those lines, I advise to store your IEMs with silica gel packs which I even do on my sets I just keep and collect and one on my IEM case that I bring always on the go. Tho the brass nozzle, as being brass is really present from discoloration but easily be cleaned by wet wipes (tho the shine was gone) tho the sound reproduction of the brass nozzles are still what the brass nozzle sound to be.
I felt it needed a touch more sub bass to match Harman neutral sub 70hz . For example the Aria black felt more fun low end but lacked the clarity of the Kato in mids . So I end up turn them up too much getting a touch more treble than I'd like . I ended up selling them and honestly I prefer the quark dsp and it's only 15 bucks
any tonal differences from the spirng tips and the xelastec? tips arent just about comfort, for me they are mainly to fix frequency responses and potentially improve soundstage and imaging as well
What more are you getting out of your variations, besides tunning differences? Are you really hearing more details? I've tried several iems and find the kato to be on par with iems that cost a lot more
Harman target is not a neutral target, but instead came about by testing what kind of sound people on average liked most. So to compare to "neutral" not really suitable at all
Can you do the Hexas Please? I know they're budget and already been reviewed on the channel but would be interesting to know your opinion. Especially compared to the Kato. Thanks.
The other thing I wonder is why haven't you differentiated in your youtube playlist between IEM reviews and over ear reviews. Many people are coming to your channel to look at either one of these two options and it would really be sensible to spend the time making the effort to split those reviews and have them properly collated you probably find you'd get more traffic if you did so.
Awesome review as always. Please I want your honest opinion which chifi iem has the best macrodynamics or macro detail? I've been spoilt with ESX's macro detail which even my $400 IEM doesn't come close in that area. ESX has made me to dig into my music library again and again. Sadly I don't have my ESX again plus the new batch doesn't have that magic 'macro deatil' not micro detail
A bit surprised as these are now generally considered a bit expensive compared to the Olina or Kima for instance. Arguably well tuned but lacking technicalities. So I read, I don't have one.
bought this at first I was sad almost regret it cause I bought it for 200$ couple of weeks they go on SALE like WTF BRUH but anyways it takes time for me to adjust tho came from super bass headphone the longer I use the more I appreciate this IEM and I paired it with DX3 PRO+.
What would you all suggest for an iem that presents at least similarly to the openness of the Moondrop Kato, but that is a lighter body and cable (still good quality tho), and maybe grey or black (not a dealbreaker), with just as much, if not a touch more bass. Around $100, but willing to go up to $120 or $140. I have the Kato and I love it...for home listening. When I'm singing I need something lighter with a lighter cable, but I need smooth mids and highs, in order to stay as least fatiguing as possible, and like I said, just as much bass, or more. Ideally black for wedding gigs, but that's less crucial cuz I'm currently using the Kato mirror finish and they look slick, it's just the cable is on the heavier side, so that contributes to the iems slipping out little by little when doing even simple dance moves. Any recommendations? Been looking at the Linsoul Tangzu Vudu Verse 1, Truthear x Crinacle Zero Red, Simgot EA500LM, 7hz Sonus, Kefine Delci and Shanling Sono. Are any of those decent options for what I'm looking for? Sorry for the long question. Lots to be explained. Currently using SpinFit W1's. They seem to be a good balance for me.
Yes, the SA1 is excellent for IEMs as it's got one of the lowest noise floors available in a headphone amp. Also subjectively I thought it was a great amp
just curious im intrested in getting them for gaming and ive scene other videos saying they are great for that but was looking for your opinion? thanks
I've had them for a few months, and the standout feature is imaging: you have to have a stiff single point source to get this. My Focal Clear Mgs couldn't match it, nor could my Martin Logan speakers. Audeze LCD-X? Worse. Not a good imaging planar. Few of them are.
Review needs more weeb insight: Judging by the box art, the name is clearly paying homage to Megumi Katou of Saekano fame, and thus the expected sound is going to be "flat", or indeed, "safe". Even the plain grey/silver shell is likely reflecting on the "ordinary/non-attention-grabbing" designation of the titular herione.
Nooo, don't make me choose which I return. I also got the Ikko OH10's, both on black Friday sale. But I really don't need two IEMs that I don't wear often when I'm saving for a J2 DAC.
Despite their qualities, I wasn’t able to like them. I had a quite strong ear fatigue, possibly due to the 3k peak. I had great exceptations for them, sadly I haven’t found a proper upgrade to my KZ ZS10 Pro yet. I’m treble sensitive, so that’s hard to find some gear which suit my problems. I own a LCD2C and a Focal Clear as headphones and I love them. Hope to find an IEM « equivalent » !
Would these go great for long gaming sessions/streaming? I can see them being great for music, but I am wanting to make the switch from headphones because they give me headaches :/
Now I like my music loud. Like... LOUD. I mainly listen to metal. Would you recommend these or are they one of the normalised ones that got nerfed in the loudness department in order to preserve audio quality? I use Helm Audio Bolt DAC.
I already own a pair of Moondrop Arias, so I thought I might give the 7Hz Timeless a try, as I'd like to step up the quality a bit... Now, after viewing this video, I'm not so sure... Looks like I'll have to do some more research before I throw out $180...!!! Nice video - thanks...!!!
FWIW, I have had the Arias for the last year and a half or so and two months ago jumped to the Timeless. I couldn't be more happy the timeless. They were a noticeable jump in quality from the Aria and as someone who uses the Sundara for a daily driver, every time I've wanted to just listen to music thoughtlessly, I grab the Timeless now. They are a lot of fun.
I tried the arias and I have the Starfields, the Kato the S12, the Blessing 2 Dusk, the Truthear Zero and the Hexa, I can just tell you that I sent the arias back, the Katos are way ahead of the arias and the Starfields, much better than the S12 and more coherent than the Dusk (and far more comfortable) they sound pretty much like the AKG K371. The Katos and the Hexa are pretty close but the Hexa has better mids and treble but the Katos have better low end and coherence so I prefer the Kato over the Hexa and the Dusk.
@@MFWolfman Hey Nathan - Thank you for your input... I, too, am leaning towards the Timeless, mostly because I own a pair of Hifiman HE400se and thoroughly enjoy them, so... Owning a pair of magnetic planar IEMs seems like a nice change from dynamics... We'll see.
@@STAYCBias i found Moondrop Quarks DSP lacking a lot in vocals so i sold it to my friend and i still love my 7hz Salnote Zero don't get me wrong DSP is not bad, the separation of lower mids to upper mids (based on graph) is really amazing but im a vocal guy and i found DSP lacks in vocals. Also i love the Quarks DSP for edm
I'm mystified as to how you may have thought these cost $600. You have reviewed the Blessing 2 Dusk from moondrop and that is a $330 IEM. The Kato is nowhere near as good so surely would be cheaper coming from the same company? The Kato is good and in my opinion would be class leading at $150. At its current price of $190, I think it's OK but probably better value out there.
Depends, Kato have a natural sound and almost flat FR. so if you like do EQ, Kato can be a good platform. however Kato lack of technicality compare to Planar iems around it's price.
@@normalhumanbeing6066 depend man the s12 is even more aggressive than the timeless so if you sensitive to treble better get other iem. Imo s12 is for fun fast track(edm,etc) kato is for relax slow pace (jazz, classical, etc)
Spoiler Alert: Moondrop Quarks DSP 15€/$ and it even beats the Kato. I am speechless as I bought the Kato earlier this year for a bit more than 200€/$ and now I get better sound on the Quarks DSP. Try it out. I am sure you will like it. The biggest issue is white noise with it and fading in and out when music is quiet enough and the DSP turns off
I got the KATO for free and sold it roughly 3 months later and was surprised how much money I got for them. I thought they were just cheap Chinese Earphone because, to be, this is exactly how they sounded. For less money I got the Final E4000 which were significantly better.
Don’t always believe reviewers. I bought the arias and were underwhelmed. They sound good for 79 but not 600$ like DMS was spewing. The blessing 2 is truly a great IEM even at its 300 dollar price point. Money doesn’t always mean better or worse for Iems.
I absolutely love your reviews Golden, you are without a doubt the best. But I gotta be that guy here and mention the pronunciation is completely off because it's Ka (audio techni"ca") as opposed to Ka (O"kay") and to ("To"kyo). Maybe the pronunciation is not an important factor to you or many watching, but consider how disrespectful it would be if you for example mispronounced a person's name and never bother to fix it because of whatever reasons you might have.
