Moondrop Aria 2 VS Tipsy M1

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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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Tipsy M1 brings a novel bamboo-fiber diaphragm to the ~$99 bracket, wrapped in a tiny, lightweight shell with a metal nozzle, QDC connectors, venting, and a tidy accessory set (puck case, 6.3 mm adapter, labeled cable with a firm chin slider). The petite housing is a double-edged sword: comfort for small-ear fits, but seal and stability can be finicky and demand tip-rolling—sticky tips help. Build and finish are attractive (notably the green and the red/orange colorways), and the cable feels good if not “hyper-premium.”

Sonically, M1 leans into a thick, rich bass with a downward-sloping balance and agreeable mids; it benefits from being cranked and carefully dialed in. The FR shows a small dip around ~500 Hz, a solid bass shelf, and a fair amount of upper mids; while treble extension and micro-detail aren’t the star, the overall tonality is pleasant and cohesive. Versus its stablemates, it’s judged better than Star One, preferred over SPA 260 and Drummer (those trend hotter up top), and competitive against a crowded ~$100 field: sets like the Pula/Pool Unic trade comfort and accessories, Defiant offers a touch more mid-treble air, planars like S08 push detail and sparkle, while something “lean-clean” like Truthear Pure dials back bass/upper-mids.

What emerges is a fun, bass-forward single-DD with good dynamics, surprisingly tidy FR for its price, and a cautious recommendation for listeners who value warmth and musicality over ultimate air and incisive technicalities. It’s described as Tipsy’s strongest recent effort—a set that can occasionally underwhelm in treble finesse but, when the fit and power are right, delivers a sweet, engaging tonality and even a hint of soundstage expansion. Call it a competitive <$100 option that would shine even brighter with a more secure shell and a touch more top-end refinement.