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We've recently released our Test Bench 1.8 update for Headphones! Read the R&D Article to learn more.

MOONDROP Blessing 3 Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.5
Reviewed Jul 06, 2023 at 09:22 am
Latest change: Writing modified Oct 18, 2024 at 08:34 am
MOONDROP Blessing 3 Picture
7.8
Neutral Sound
5.7
Commute/Travel
6.5
Sports/Fitness
5.8
Office
4.3
Wireless Gaming
6.4
Wired Gaming
2.3
Phone Calls

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 are in-ear monitors (IEMs) and are the next generation of the MOONDROP Blessing 2. These premium buds are designed with sound quality in mind and have a hybrid driver design with dual 10mm dynamic drivers to help improve bass quality and overall timbre. They also have four balanced armature drivers—two mid and two treble—to ensure a smooth and detailed mix. You can't engrave their sleek stainless faceplate, unlike their predecessor.

Our Verdict

7.8 Neutral Sound

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 are very good for neutral sound. They have a flat sound profile that follows our Harman-based target curve quite well. They can reproduce bass quite well. That said, a dip in the mid-mid nudges vocals and instruments to the back of the mix, although they still sound natural overall, while a recessed treble dulls sibilants a bit. Since they're in-ear headphones, they also struggle to create a wide and immersive passive soundstage. On the upside, they deliver bass and treble consistently across reseats.

Pros
  • Comfortable, premium design.
  • Outstanding frequency response consistency.
Cons
  • Bad passive soundstage.
5.7 Commute/Travel

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 are sub-par for commute and travel. They're IEMs and lack noise cancelling, so they struggle to reduce bass-range noise like the rumble of bus and plane engines. On the upside, they have a comfortable in-ear fit and a nice carrying case to help protect them when you're on the go.

Pros
  • Comfortable, premium design.
Cons
  • No controls.
  • Struggles to block out bass-range noise.
6.5 Sports/Fitness

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 are okay for sports and fitness, although they're not the best choice for this use. They're IEMs, so they have a wired design that can snag on something and pull them off your head, and they lack an IP rating for water resistance. They don't have any controls, so you'll need to pull out your phone to adjust your settings. On the upside, they otherwise have a stable and comfortable in-ear fit.

Pros
  • Comfortable, premium design.
Cons
  • No controls.
5.8 Office

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 are sub-par for office use. They lack a mic by default, so if you want to take calls, you must purchase a standalone or in-line mic separately. On the upside, they have a comfortable fit suitable for long listening sessions. They can also passively isolate you from background noise like ambient chatter and the hum of AC units. They also come with an airplane adapter, which allows you to connect the buds to your in-flight entertainment.

Pros
  • Comfortable, premium design.
  • Reduces mid to treble range noise very well.
Cons
  • No controls.
  • Bad passive soundstage.
  • No mic.
4.3 Wireless Gaming

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 are wired IEMs; you can't use them wirelessly. That said, you can always purchase an adapter that will allow you to use them wirelessly separately. Remember that they don't have a mic by default, so if you want to game with others, you'll need a standalone mic.

6.4 Wired Gaming

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 are passable for wired gaming, so long as you don't need mic support or already have a standalone mic. They have a well-balanced, neutral sound that ensures that dialogue and instruments sound natural. However, they're in-ears, so their passive soundstage won't feel as immersive as closed-back headphones.

Pros
  • Comfortable, premium design.
Cons
  • No mic.
2.3 Phone Calls

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 are IEMs and, by default, don't come with a mic. If you want to use them for calls, you'll need to use a standalone mic or purchase an audio cable with an in-line mic. They also struggle to passively isolate you from background noise like the low rumble of bus engines. They do a better job of reducing sounds like ambient chatter, though, which is good if you're making calls from a busy office.

  • 7.8 Neutral Sound
  • 5.7 Commute/Travel
  • 6.5 Sports/Fitness
  • 5.8 Office
  • 4.3 Wireless Gaming
  • 6.4 Wired Gaming
  • 2.3 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Oct 18, 2024:

    We referenced the MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK in the App Support box.

  2. Updated Sep 13, 2024: We mentioned the THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII in the Treble Accuracy section of this review.
  3. Updated Jul 29, 2024: The Case section has been updated to mention the TRUTHEAR HEXA.
  4. Updated May 17, 2024: We've added a comparison between these buds and the Sennheiser IE 200 in Stability.
  5. Updated May 09, 2024: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO: RED in Sound Profile.
  6. Updated Oct 31, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO in Bass Accuracy.
  7. Updated Aug 29, 2023: Added a comparison to the Razer Moray in the Comfort box.
  8. Updated Jul 06, 2023: Review published.
  9. Updated Jun 30, 2023: Early access published.
  10. Updated Jun 28, 2023: Our testers have started testing this product.
  11. Updated Jun 08, 2023: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  12. Updated May 12, 2023: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 come in one color variant: 'Silver' and you can see our model's label here. If you encounter another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.

Compared To Other Headphones

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 are the highly anticipated successor of the MOONDROP Blessing 2. While they look similar in shape to their predecessor, they have an angular stainless steel faceplate. They also have an added dynamic driver, bringing their total driver configuration to two dynamic and four balanced armature drivers to help their bass reproduction and ensure smooth and detailed mixes. Compared to more affordable options from this manufacturer, like the MOONDROP Aria and MOONDROP KATO, their sound profile follows our Harman-based target curve quite well. However, a dip in the mid-mid hollows out their sound a bit.

If you want more high-quality sound headphones, check out our recommendations for the best audiophile headphones. Check out the best earbuds and in-ear headphones and the best headphones for music.

MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK

The MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK and the MOONDROP Blessing 3 are premium IEMs. Both pairs have well-balanced bass and mid-ranges. The DUSK have a little extra thump, which fans of hip-hop might enjoy, while the Blessing 3 have a flatter, more controlled bass. Their main sonic differences lie at the other end of the frequency spectrum. The Blessing 3 have more sizzle and detail, while the DUSK can sound a little dull by comparison. But you might prefer that softer sound. The main difference between these IEMs is that the DUSK come with both an analog cable and a USB-C cable with DSP that you can use to apply EQ curves to your audio. 

MOONDROP KATO

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 are better IEMs than the MOONDROP KATO. While both buds are comfortable and well-built, the Blessing 3 have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and they can block out more background noise.

7HZ Timeless

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 are better IEMs than the 7HZ Timeless. The MOONDROP are more comfortable, better built, and their sound profile is more neutral, which some users may prefer, compared to the 7HZ's recessed treble. However, the 7HZ comes with more varieties of ear tips.

MOONDROP Aria

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 have the edge over the MOONDROP Aria. The Blessing 3 are better built, and the tuning of their sound profile is more neutral-sounding, which some users may prefer. They can also block out more background sound, which is nice if you want to listen to audio in noisy environments. That said, the Aria are more comfortable.

TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO: RED

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 are better in-ears for neutral sound than the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO: RED, which is unsurprising given their higher retail price. These premium IEMs feature a hybrid driver design with two 10mm dynamic and four balanced armature drivers. As a result, they have an extremely balanced sound across the board. They also have a sturdier build quality and come with a more secure case for storing them when they're not in use. That said, the TRUTHEAR offer a very good price-to-performance ratio, given they're a fraction of the price of the MOONDROP but feature a comparably balanced sound. They also have a slightly punchier bass, which EDM fans might appreciate.

TRUTHEAR HEXA

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 are better headphones than the TRUTHEAR HEXA, depending on your preferences. The MOONDROP are more refined in build, with a more contoured earbud shape, a handy airplane adapter, and a more protective case. But you pay for this refinement: the MOONDROP are several times more expensive than the TRUTHEAR. The TRUTHEAR come with a couple different ear tip styles, and you may prefer them for the improved passive isolation, and an attractive angular design.

Sennheiser IE 200

If you prefer our Harman-based target, you'll want to check out the MOONDROP Blessing 3 over the Sennheiser IE 200. The MOONDROP deliver more bass and treble while their mids are very flat and neutral. Overall, your mixes have more substantial thump and rumble, while vocals and instruments are bright without teetering on piercing. That said, the Sennheiser are still worth considering if you're monitoring a show since their recessed treble can help take off the edge from your mixes, lessening ear fatigue over long listening sessions.

TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 are better in-ears for neutral listening than the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO. These premium IEMs feature a hybrid driver design with two 10 mm dynamic and four balanced armature drivers. As a result, they have an extremely balanced sound across the board. They also have a better build quality and a high-quality case, so they're more suitable as an on-the-go option. That said, fans of a bass-heavy sound will likely prefer the TRUTHEAR's over-emphasized bass response.

Shure SE215

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 are better IEMs than the Shure SE215. While both buds are equally comfortable and well-built, the MOONDROP are hybrid driver IEMs with a much more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. They also have a more stable in-ear fit. However, the Shure are strictly dynamic driver IEMs and can block out more background noise.

THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 and the THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII are IEMs with slightly different sound profiles. The THIEAUDIO have a slightly elevated bass range that lends a touch of extra thump and punch to kick drums. They also have a slightly recessed treble, which either enhances their smooth sound or makes them feel a little dull, depending on your preferences. The MOONDROP more closely follow our target curve, particularly in the treble region, so they are the better choice if you like to hear all the fine detail on a plucked string. The MOONDROP are also significantly cheaper than the THIEAUDIO.

Razer Moray

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 are better in-ear monitors than the Razer Moray. The MOONDROP are designed for music rather than gaming, so they have a much more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. They can also passively isolate you from more ambient noise and leak virtually no audio. However, the Razer are lighter and more comfortable in-ear than the MOONDROP, making them better suited for long gaming sessions.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless No
Transducer Hybrid

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 have a sleek teardrop design with a multi-faceted stainless steel faceplate. That said, you can't engrave the buds with an image like their predecessor, the MOONDROP Blessing 2, and they only come in silver. The audio cables are detachable; you can swap them out if you prefer a different design.

These buds have hybrid drivers: two 10mm dynamic and four balanced armature. Two balanced armature drivers are designed for the mid range, while the other two are for the treble range, which helps ensure that mixes have high detail and sound natural.

7.5
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.04 lbs
Clamping Force
0 lbs

These buds have a comfortable fit. Although they look a bit bulky, they're lighter than the MOONDROP Aria and don't put much pressure on your inner ear, even though they have a deep fit. They come with six pairs of silicone ear tips to help you get the best fit. Once you connect them to a device, the weight can pull the cable downward since it loops around your ear. This is common for wired in-ears, but it can still be an annoying sensation. If you're looking for IEMs with slightly better comfort and a wider variety of ear tips, consider the Razer Moray. They're lighter than the MOONDROP and come with three foam ear tips, which some users find more comfortable than silicone.

0
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
No Controls
Ease Of Use No Controls
Feedback No Controls
Call/Music Control No
Volume Control No
Microphone Control No
Channel Mixing
No
Noise Cancelling Control No
Talk-Through
No
Additional Controls No
8.9
Design
Portability
L 2.5" (6.4 cm)
W 1.6" (4.1 cm)
H 1.1" (2.8 cm)
Volume 4.49 in³ (73.50 cm³)
Transmitter Required No

Like most in-ears, they're very portable. You can easily put them into most bags or pockets without an issue.

8.0
Design
Case
Type Hard case
L 4.4" (11.1 cm)
W 3.1" (7.8 cm)
H 1.7" (4.2 cm)
Volume 22.57 in³ (369.80 cm³)

The carrying case is great; much better than the pouch you often find accompanying cheaper IEMS like the TRUTHEAR HEXA. It's mostly made from high-quality leather and is bigger than the MOONDROP Aria and MOONDROP KATO. It feels solid and holds its shape, even when you put it into a bag. It doesn't bend when you push on it, either. There's a zipper to keep the case closed. On the inside is a soft material with a small space to store extras like filters and tips.

8.0
Design
Build Quality

The build quality is great. They're made of a combination of stainless steel and plastic, which makes them feel well-built. The audio cable has two pins which have slightly different sizes, so you'll need to be careful to properly insert the pins into the buds.

8.0
Design
Stability

Like the Sennheiser IE 200, these buds have a pretty stable fit, thanks to their audio cable design, which wraps around your ear. Once you find the right size of tips for your needs, they won't move around during moderate movement. However, the buds can start to feel loose over longer periods, especially if you're chewing gum or talking, so you'll need to adjust their fit.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • MOONDROP Blessing 3 headphones
  • Detachable cable
  • 6x sets of foam tips
  • Airplane adapter
  • Hard carrying case
  • Manuals

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
-0.54 dB
Treble Amount
-0.04 dB

The MOONDROP Blessing 3 have a sound profile that follows our Harman-based target curve well, which means they have a well-balanced sound that's versatile enough for various audio content. They deliver solid bass, so mixes have adequate thump, rumble, and boom, while vocals and instruments sound natural and clear. However, a small dip in the mid-mid nudges vocals and instruments to the back of the mix. While sibilants like cymbals are slightly dull due to a dip in the mid-treble, the treble response isn't quite as veiled as the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO: RED, although they have a similarly balanced bass and mid response.

9.1
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.19 dB

These buds have fantastic frequency response consistency. Once you get a good fit, you'll receive consistent bass and treble delivery across reseats.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
9.5
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
0.71 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
10 Hz
Low-Bass
-0.96 dB
Mid-Bass
-0.87 dB
High-Bass
-0.02 dB

These buds have outstanding bass accuracy. The response is very flat and neutral, which results in adequate thump, rumble, and boom. If you're looking for a pair of IEMs with a less balanced, overemphasized bass response, it's worth checking out the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO.

9.2
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
1.1 dB
Low-Mid
0.01 dB
Mid-Mid
-1.21 dB
High-Mid
1.05 dB

These buds have fantastic mid accuracy. The response is also pretty neutral here, although there's a dip in the mid-mid, which nudges vocals and instruments to the back of the mix. In songs like Exit Music (For A Film) by Radiohead, the vocals sound slightly hollow compared to the guitar and bass. All that said, the vocals and instruments still sound clear and natural.

8.7
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
1.99 dB
Low-Treble
0.16 dB
Mid-Treble
-0.75 dB
High-Treble
-1.33 dB

The treble accuracy is excellent. The low treble is flat and accurate, ensuring that vocals and instruments sound clear and detailed. A small dip in the mid-treble slightly dulls sibilants like cymbals, but it's quite minor. In songs like The Girl From Ipanema by Astrud Gilberto, the female voice is well-articulated, but the hi-hat throughout the song feels a bit weak in comparison. If you're interested in premium IEMs with a warmer, smoother top-end, check out the THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII.

8.8
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
0.76 dB
Dips
0.94 dB

The peaks and dips performance is excellent. For the most part, there aren't a lot of peaks and dips, which means that the headphones can control their sound profile well. A small dip nudges vocals and instruments to the back of the mix while an uneven mid-treble makes sibilants like S and T sounds dull and piercing, depending on the frequency.

9.4
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.1
Weighted Phase Mismatch
1.04
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.53
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
0.73

MOONDROP has shown good quality control and ergonomics, which helps ensure well-matched drivers and the accurate placement of objects like voices in the stereo image. That said, imaging varies across units. Our unit's L/R drivers are well-matched in group delay, amplitude, frequency, and phase response. Although there's a small peak in the phase response's mid-mid, it's not audible with real-life content.

0.7
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
N/A
PRTF Size (Avg.)
N/A
PRTF Distance
N/A
Openness
3.5
Acoustic Space Excitation
0

These buds have a bad passive soundstage performance, but that's normal from in-ear headphones. They bypass your outer ear, which you must activate with sound resonances to create an immersive sound. Sound seems to be coming from inside your head rather than from speakers in the room around you.

0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No App
7.5
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.229
WHD @ 100
0.217

The weighted harmonic distortion performance is good. The responses fall within good levels, which results in fairly clean and pure audio reproduction.

Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
No Firmware
Power
Passive
Connection
Wired
Codec
PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz
EQ
No EQ
ANC
No ANC
Tip/Pad
Silicone (small)
Microphone
No Microphone

These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.

Isolation
6.5
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-22.47 dB
Noise Cancelling No
Bass
-1.57 dB
Mid
-25.47 dB
Treble
-42.83 dB

The MOONDROP Blessing 3's noise isolation performance is okay. They're IEMs, so they don't have noise cancelling and rely on their passive capabilities to help cut down background noise. They barely reduce low-frequency noise like the rumbles of bus and plane engines, which can be frustrating if you want to block out noise during your commute. On the upside, the buds can isolate you from ambient sound like voices and the high-pitched hum of AC units very well.

There's a peak in the response above zero in the high-bass range. When isolated, these frequencies sound subjectively louder within our test box than when the headphones are off. We're currently investigating this issue and will update this review when possible.

10
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
18.54 dB

The leakage performance is incredible. While leakage is mostly concentrated in the bass range and sounds full-bodied, the overall amount of escaping audio is low. Even if you're listening to audio at high volumes, others around you won't be bothered by it.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
No
In-Line
No
Boom
No
Detachable Boom
No
Mic No
0
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
N/A
LFE
N/A
FR Std. Dev.
N/A
HFE
N/A
Weighted THD
N/A
Gain
N/A
0
Microphone
Noise Handling
SpNR
N/A
Noise Gate
No
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
N/A
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample N/A
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
N/A
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample N/A
Active Features
0
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
No Battery
Continuous Battery Life
N/A
Additional Charges
N/A
Total Battery Life
N/A
Charge Time
N/A
Power-Saving Feature
No
Audio While Charging
No
Passive Playback
Passive Headphone
Charging Port None
0
Active Features
App Support
App Name No App
iOS No
Android No
macOS No
Windows No
Equalizer
No
ANC Control
No
Mic Control No
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
No
Button Mapping No
Surround Support
No

These IEMs do not come with a companion app. If you'd like to customize the sound of your IEMs, consider the MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK.

Connectivity
0
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version
No Bluetooth
Multi-Device Pairing
No
NFC Pairing
No
Line Of Sight Range
N/A
PC Latency (SBC)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX HD)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
N/A
iOS Latency
N/A
Android Latency
N/A
0
Connectivity
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Non-BT Latency
N/A
9.5
Connectivity
Wired
Analog Audio
Yes
USB Audio
No
Detachable Yes
Length 3.90 ft (1.19 m)
Connection
1/8" TRS
Analog/USB Audio Latency
0 ms

These buds come with a detachable audio cable. While it doesn't come with a mic, you can purchase a cable with a mic separately.

Connectivity
PC Compatibility
Analog
Audio Only
Wired USB
No
Non-BT Wireless
No

These buds don't have a mic by default, so if you connect them to your PC, you'll only receive audio.

Connectivity
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
Audio Only
PS4 Wired USB
No
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
PS5 Analog
Audio Only
PS5 Wired USB
No
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
No

If you use the default audio cable, these buds only support audio when plugged into your PlayStation controller's AUX port.

Connectivity
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
Audio Only
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
Xbox Series X|S Analog
Audio Only
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
No
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
No

You can plug these headphones into your Xbox console's AUX port. However, you can only receive audio. If you want mic support, use a standalone mic or replace the default cable with an in-line mic.

0
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
No Base/Dock
USB Input
No
Line In
No
Line Out
No
Optical Input
No
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
No
Power Supply
No Base/Dock