The Moondrop Quarks and the TRN M10 both feature a bullet-style design that shies away from the typical shape and form of IEMs.
Some people prefer the simplistic yet effective design of bullet-style IEMs compared to more common IEM shapes.
Bullet-style IEMs have a sleeker look that people gravitate to because it’s more discreet than the usual loud design you’d commonly see in other models.
Although they share a relatively similar design, the Moondrop Quarks and the TRN M10 have many differences that set them apart.
We’ve covered each IEM individually in other posts and in this one, we’ll be comparing them to help you decide which pair suits you best.
Moondrop Quarks vs. TRN M10: Sound Signature
The Moondrop Quarks has a more balanced and neutral sound signature, perfect for listening to more intricate genres of music. Examples include classical and jazz – both of which are heavily driven by various instruments.
The neutral sound signature of the Moondrop Quarks greatly helps in presenting a more accurate and detailed sound, which is essential when listening to older genres of music.
IEMs with a neutral sound signature have a more balanced distribution of frequencies among the mix.
The Moondrop Quarks is for you if:
- You like a more articulate and detailed presentation.
- You like a balanced sound.
- You like a more accurate presentation.
The TRN M10, on the other hand, features a very energetic and punchy W-shaped sound signature, which means that the bass, midrange, and treble are all emphasized.
W-shaped IEMs are commonly confused with having a flat sound signature, as they have a lot of things in common.
In my experience, W-shaped IEMs tend to be more aggressive in presentation than flat-sounding IEMs.
The TRN M10 is for you if:
- You like a more energetic and “in-your-face” presentation.
- You like a more aggressive sound.
- You like a more present bass in a mix.
Moondrop Quarks vs. TRN M10: Sound Quality
The Moondrop Quarks was praised for its price-to-performance ratio.
Its neutral tuning helped produce a lush sound to the vocals, an accurate and natural presentation of the instruments, and a decent amount of bass, enough to complement the other frequencies.
The treble has a substantial airiness and perfectly reveals details around the mix. It also didn’t suffer from treble peaks or harsh frequencies, which is quite surprising for its price but not that surprising since it came from a reputable brand.
The mids have some bite to them and were able to present different instruments, such as guitars and a variety of other things, with great detail and a balanced tonality.
The bass may seem lacking for bass lovers. In terms of how it performed, the bass was pretty lush and had a good body because of how it was tuned. However, it isn’t that present in a mix given its neutral tuning.
The Moondrop Quarks is for you if:
- You like a more balanced sound.
- You like lush vocals and natural instrument presentation.
- You like a laid-back bass
The TRN M10 is very aggressive in presentation and has a punchy and boomy bass. It has all the characteristics fit to be labeled as a bass cannon.
The treble has a good amount of airiness and openness to its sound.
The detail retrieval is decent and sound imaging is phenomenal, considering its price, although it suffered from treble peaks and harsh frequencies when listening to more sibilant prone tracks.
The mids sounded full and detailed, although it sometimes gets muddied up with the bass regions. The instruments sit just right and have a good amount of presence in a mix.
The bass is one of the highlights of the TRN M10. It packs an incredible amount of detail and punches and is very present in a mix, making it enjoyable to listen to.
The TRN M10 is for you if:
- You like a more colored texture to your sound.
- You like a more energetic and aggressive sound.
- You like a detailed and heavy bass profile.
Moondrop Quarks vs. TRN M10: Caveats
A disadvantage of the MoonDdrop Quarks is that it needs to be constantly updated. Although it can still go toe to toe against the latest offerings in the market, its age factors in with its performance.
Its neutral tuning follows the Harman neutral curve, which is flat in terms of presentation. Since it’s not as colored as V-shaped or bass-heavy IEMs, it may not come out as fun-sounding to those who prefer a more energetic sound.
Another thing that bothers me the most is the accessories that came with it. They’re mediocre.
The cable suffers from the stethoscope effect, which amplifies the noise when your cable rubs into something like clothes or different objects.
Although the TRN M10 is much more powerful and energetic in terms of presentation, its fatal flaw is its weird tuning which can be quite fatiguing during extended periods of use.
It has a lot of problems that need refining.
For example, its treble frequencies are prone to treble peaks and its low and mid frequencies were quite boxy in presentation.
Additionally, its bass region, although having a very pleasing sound, can sometimes sound overpowering and this makes me swap them out with another pair as my ears become quite weary from the M10.
Final Thoughts
The Moondrop Quarks and the TRN M10 are very different in terms of sound signature and presentation, and comparing them helped reveal their common grounds and the aspects where they heavily differ.
Since they have a lot of differences, your decision on which one is better will ultimately boil down to your preferences.
If you prefer a much more balanced and laid-back neutral signature, the Moondrop Quarks is a great budget option that you should consider.
If you’re looking for a more aggressive and energetic sound, then the TRN M10 is more suited to your listening needs.
A man of many interests, Querho is passionate about discovering new things that stimulate the mind. When he is not writing about the things he is passionate about, Querho can be found making music at his home studio.
This post was last updated on 2025-02-03 / Some images from Amazon Product API & some links may be affiliate links which may earn us a commission from purchases.