If you're interested in sub-$100 IEMs, there are few audio manufacturers that offer as much value as Moondrop. The Chinese audio maker saw a meteoric rise in recent years on the back of its budget IEM portfolio, and the defining trait to all of its products is value. While there have been a few stumbles along the way — the Stellaris was too bright for my liking — the brand generally launches one bestseller after another.
The Venus is Moondrop's first planar headset, and it's safe to call it the brand's most ambitious effort to date. The headset uses custom 100mm drivers, has a gorgeous design that's made entirely out of aluminum, and two high-quality cables in the box. I used the Venus for just over a month, and I'm ready to call these one of the best overall planar options in the $500 category.
