MOONDROP Aria vs KATO: Which Headphones Are Better? - RTINGS.com

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MOONDROP Aria

MOONDROP KATO

Tested using Methodology v1.5

Updated Jul 18, 2025 04:54 PM

Tested using Methodology v1.5

Updated Mar 06, 2026 07:01 PM

MOONDROP Aria Picture

MOONDROP KATO Picture

TypeIn-ear

EnclosureClosed-Back

WirelessNo

TransducerDynamic

Noise CancellingNo

MicNo

TypeIn-ear

EnclosureClosed-Back

WirelessNo

TransducerDynamic

Noise CancellingNo

MicNo

Our Verdict

MOONDROP Aria

MOONDROP KATO

The MOONDROP Aria are better in-ear monitors than the MOONDROP KATO. The Aria are more comfortable, and they have a slightly more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. The KATO are better built, and you can swap out the nozzles if you want to slightly tweak their sound.

Variants

Aria (Black)
Aria (Elven Maiden Edition)

KATO (Mirror Silver)

Review

See MOONDROP Aria Review

See MOONDROP KATO Review

Check Price

Black

Aria

Mirror Silver

KATO

Elven Maiden Edition

Aria

Mirror Silver

KATO

Snow Edition

Aria

Mirror Silver

KATO

Mirror Silver

KATO

Mirror Silver

KATO

Main Differences for

Neutral Sound

Threshold

0.10

Neutral Sound

0.0

0.0

JOIN NOW to see main differences

Full Comparison

Neutral Sound

0.0

0.0

Commute/Travel

0.0

0.0

Sports/Fitness

0.0

0.0

Office

0.0

0.0

Wireless Gaming

0.0

0.0

Wired Gaming

0.0

0.0

Phone Calls

0.0

0.0

Design

Style

Design Picture 2

MOONDROP Aria Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Type

Locked

Locked

Enclosure

Locked

Locked

Wireless

Locked

Locked

Transducer

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Comfort

N/A

N/A

Comfort Picture

MOONDROP Aria Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Weight

Lock lbs

Lock lbs

Clamping Force

Lock lbs

Lock lbs

Show Text

Controls

N/A

N/A

Controls Picture

MOONDROP Aria Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

OS Compatibility

Locked

Locked

Ease Of Use

Locked

Locked

Feedback

Locked

Locked

Call/Music Control

Locked

Locked

Volume Control

Locked

Locked

Microphone Control

Locked

Locked

Channel Mixing

Locked

Locked

Noise Cancelling Control

Locked

Locked

Talk-Through

Locked

Locked

Additional Controls

Locked

Locked

Breathability

N/A

N/A

Breathability After Picture

MOONDROP Aria Breathability After Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Breathability After Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Avg.Temp.Difference

Portability

N/A

N/A

Portability Picture

MOONDROP Aria Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

L

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

W

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

H

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Volume

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Transmitter Required

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Case

N/A

N/A

Case Picture

MOONDROP Aria Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Type

Locked

Locked

L

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

W

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

H

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Volume

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Show Text

Build Quality

N/A

N/A

Build Quality Picture

MOONDROP Aria Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Stability

N/A

N/A

Stability Picture

MOONDROP Aria Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Headshots 1

Angled Picture

MOONDROP Aria Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Side Picture

MOONDROP Aria Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Headshots 2

Front Picture

MOONDROP Aria Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Rear Picture

MOONDROP Aria Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Top

Top Picture

MOONDROP Aria Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

In The Box

In The Box Picture

MOONDROP Aria In The Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO In The Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Sound

Sound Profile

Frequency Response

MOONDROP Aria Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bass Amount

Lock dB

Lock dB

Treble Amount

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Frequency Response Consistency

N/A

N/A

Consistency L

MOONDROP Aria Consistency L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Consistency L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Consistency R

MOONDROP Aria Consistency R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Consistency R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Avg. Std. Deviation

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Raw Frequency Response

Raw FR L

MOONDROP Aria Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Raw FR R

MOONDROP Aria Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bass Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Bass

MOONDROP Aria Bass Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Bass Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Err.

Lock dB

Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension

Lock Hz

Lock Hz

Low-Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid-Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

High-Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Mid Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Mid

MOONDROP Aria Mid Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Mid Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Err.

Lock dB

Lock dB

Low-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

High-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Treble Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Treble

MOONDROP Aria Treble Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Treble Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Err.

Lock dB

Lock dB

Low-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

High-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Peaks/Dips

N/A

N/A

Peaks/Dips Graph

MOONDROP Aria Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Peaks

Lock dB

Lock dB

Dips

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Imaging

N/A

N/A

Group Delay

MOONDROP Aria Group Delay Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Group Delay Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Phase Response Mismatch

MOONDROP Aria Phase Response Mismatch Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Phase Response Mismatch Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Weighted Group Delay

Lock

Lock

Weighted Phase Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Weighted Amplitude Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Weighted Frequency Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Show Text

Passive Soundstage

N/A

N/A

PRTF

MOONDROP Aria PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)

N/A

N/A

PRTF Size (Avg.)

N/A

N/A

PRTF Distance

N/A

N/A

Openness

0.0

0.0

Acoustic Space Excitation

0.0

0.0

Show Text

Virtual Soundstage

N/A

N/A

Virtual Soundstage

MOONDROP Aria Virtual Soundstage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Virtual Soundstage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Head Modeling

Locked

Locked

Speaker Modeling

Locked

Locked

Room Ambience

Locked

Locked

Head Tracking

Locked

Locked

Virtual Surround

Locked

Locked

Weighted Harmonic Distortion

N/A

N/A

Weighted Harmonic Distortion

MOONDROP Aria Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

WHD @ 90

Lock

Lock

WHD @ 100

Lock

Lock

Show Text

Test Settings

Firmware

Locked

Locked

Power

Locked

Locked

Connection

Locked

Locked

Codec

Locked

Locked

EQ

Locked

Locked

ANC

Locked

Locked

Tip/Pad

Locked

Locked

Microphone

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Isolation

Noise Isolation

N/A

N/A

Noise Isolation

MOONDROP Aria Noise Isolation Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Noise Isolation Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Isolation Audio

Overall Attenuation

Lock dB

Lock dB

Noise Cancelling

Locked

Locked

Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Leakage

N/A

N/A

Leakage

MOONDROP Aria Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Leakage Audio

Overall Leakage @ 1ft

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Microphone

Microphone Style

Integrated

Locked

Locked

In-Line

Locked

Locked

Boom

Locked

Locked

Detachable Boom

Locked

Locked

Mic

Locked

Locked

Recording Quality

N/A

N/A

Microphone Frequency Response

MOONDROP Aria Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Recorded Speech

LFE

N/A

N/A

FR Std. Dev.

N/A

N/A

HFE

N/A

N/A

Weighted THD

N/A

N/A

Gain

N/A

N/A

Noise Handling

N/A

N/A

SpNR

MOONDROP Aria SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SpNR

N/A

N/A

Noise Gate

Locked

Locked

Speech + Pink Noise Handling

N/A

N/A

Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample

Speech + Subway Noise Handling

N/A

N/A

Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

Active Features

Battery

N/A

N/A

Battery Type

Locked

Locked

Continuous Battery Life

N/A

N/A

Additional Charges

N/A

N/A

Total Battery Life

N/A

N/A

Charge Time

N/A

N/A

Power-Saving Feature

Locked

Locked

Audio While Charging

Locked

Locked

Passive Playback

Locked

Locked

Charging Port

Locked

Locked

App Support

N/A

N/A

App Picture

MOONDROP Aria App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

App Name

Locked

Locked

iOS

Locked

Locked

Android

Locked

Locked

macOS

Locked

Locked

Windows

Locked

Locked

Equalizer

Locked

Locked

ANC Control

Locked

Locked

Mic Control

Locked

Locked

Room Effects

Locked

Locked

Playback Control

Locked

Locked

Button Mapping

Locked

Locked

Surround Support

Locked

Locked

Connectivity

Bluetooth

N/A

N/A

Bluetooth Version

Locked

Locked

Multi-Device Pairing

Locked

Locked

NFC Pairing

Locked

Locked

Line Of Sight Range

N/A

N/A

PC Latency (SBC)

N/A

N/A

PC Latency (aptX)

N/A

N/A

PC Latency (aptX HD)

N/A

N/A

PC Latency (aptX-LL)

N/A

N/A

iOS Latency

N/A

N/A

Android Latency

N/A

N/A

Non-Bluetooth Wireless

N/A

N/A

Non-BT Line Of Sight Range

N/A

N/A

Non-BT Latency

N/A

N/A

Wired

N/A

N/A

Cable Picture

MOONDROP Aria Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

MOONDROP KATO Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Analog Audio

Locked

Locked

USB Audio

Locked

Locked

Detachable

Locked

Locked

Length

Lock ft (Lock m)

Lock ft (Lock m)

Connection

Locked

Locked

Analog/USB Audio Latency

Lock ms

Lock ms

Show Text

PC Compatibility

Analog

Locked

Locked

Wired USB

Locked

Locked

Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

Show Text

PlayStation Compatibility

PS4 Analog

Locked

Locked

PS4 Wired USB

Locked

Locked

PS4 Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

PS5 Analog

Locked

Locked

PS5 Wired USB

Locked

Locked

PS5 Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Xbox Compatibility

Xbox One Analog

Locked

Locked

Xbox One Wired USB

Locked

Locked

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Analog

Locked

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Wired USB

Locked

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Base/Dock

N/A

N/A

Type

Locked

Locked

USB Input

Locked

Locked

Line In

Locked

Locked

Line Out

Locked

Locked

Optical Input

Locked

Locked

RCA Input

Locked

Locked

Dock Charging

Locked

Locked

Power Supply

Locked

Locked

Check Price

Black

Aria

Mirror Silver

KATO

Elven Maiden Edition

Aria

Mirror Silver

KATO

Snow Edition

Aria

Mirror Silver

KATO

Mirror Silver

KATO

Mirror Silver

KATO

MOONDROP Aria

MOONDROP KATO

Comments

Comparison

• Posted 2 years ago

MOONDROP Aria vs MOONDROP KATO: Main Discussion

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