Moondrop Aria 2 VS Fosi Audio IM4

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Build and accessories hit above the price: a metal shell with a golden nozzle, medium-sized fit, solid lip for tips, and a tasteful faceplate flourish. The stock cable feels premium with clear L/R markings, a chin slider, and an easy quick-swap plug system that makes 3.5↔4.4 painless. The case is a standout—leatherette feel, smooth zipper—and the tips selection is practical. Street price hovers around $90, often dipping to the $60–70 range during sales, which makes the overall package compelling for the money.

Sonically, Aria 2 leans on clean upper-mids and a smooth treble with a lighter bass shelf; dynamics are modest, imaging is respectable, and resolution is good for the tier. It tracks very close to the original Aria’s tonality (with slightly less bass) and overlaps with Moondrop’s current lineup enough to reduce the appeal of some pricier siblings, while outclassing bright-tilted alternatives like Dunu’s Titan S2 on ease of listen. Think of it as a vocal-forward, safe single-DD that trades slam for clarity; a solid B/B- performer that’s easy to like, easier to recommend at sale pricing, and worth shortlisting if smooth, airy mids and a tidy, well-built kit are the priority.

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Fosi Audio IM4 brings a beryllium-coated single DD in a compact shell with thoughtful venting that behaves almost open-back for comfort during long sessions. Build is surprisingly premium for ~$100: a small, well-finished nozzle that grips tips, a light but durable cable with color-coded channels and a working chin slider, a tidy case, and tuning nozzles (black/gold) plus multiple tips. It’s the kind of fit and finish usually saved for pricier sets.

Tonally, this is an engaging, warm-rich tuning with elevated sub-bass, good texture, and plenty of detail—not a neutral reference. There’s energy in the 2–4 kHz region and a bit of 5–6 kHz bite that can read as “cat-ear” presence, trading strict smoothness for extra soundstage perception and clarity. Versus the many neutral options at this price, IM4 feels more characterful and fun; think closer to sets that use a staged upper-mid/treble contour than to flat targets. Filters/foams or a touch of EQ can gently tame peaks while keeping the lively character.

On the scoreboard: bass 7/10 (clean shelf and punch), mids a touch recessed versus a neutral target, treble lively with agreeable detail, and stage/detail notably good for the class. Overall, a well-built, fun, and slightly audiophile-tuned single-DD that will appeal to listeners who value texture and excitement over strict neutrality—plus rare build quality and extras at this price make it a solid value.