Meldrick reviews the MOONDROP Old Fashioned, an affordable compact set of retro-styled on-ear dynamic driver headphones priced at $27.99.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or status. I thank MOONDROP and HiFiGO for their support.
Click here to read more about the MOONDROP products previously reviewed on Headfonics.
This article follows our current scoring guidelines, which you can read here in more detail.
MOONDROP is best known for their popular IEM releases like the Blessings 3 and KATO. But, they have been known to leap into nostalgia with the DISCDREAM 2 Ultra and, most recently, the affordable Old Fashioned.
The Old Fashioned is an open-back, on-ear headphone that deliberately evokes the portable audio aesthetic of the cassette Walkman era.
Featuring a 40mm three-layer rigid-flex composite dynamic driver, DF-HRTF-aligned tuning, and an IEM-standard 0.78mm 2-pin detachable cable, the $24.99 Old Fashioned positions itself firmly at the bottom end of MOONDROP’s headphone lineup.
To see whether MOONDROP’s foray into retro headphones can compete with established names in the budget on-ear space, such as the Koss KPH30i, SNOWSKY Wind, and FiiO EH11, read my full review below.
Features
At the heart of the MOONDROP Old Fashioned lies a 40mm dynamic driver built around a three-layer rigid-flex composite diaphragm, an unusually large driver for such a compact on-ear form factor.
MOONDROP refers to this as “precise structural stacking”, a method of fitting the oversized driver into the housing without compromising the acoustic volume.
With an impedance of 32Ω and a sensitivity of 109 dB/Vrms, the Old Fashioned is extremely easy to drive and pairs comfortably with anything from a phone’s 3.5mm output to a dedicated dongle DAC, with no need for additional amplification under normal circumstances.
The Old Fashioned uses a 0.78mm 2-pin connector, the IEM cable standard, making it far more cable-friendly than most headphones at this price.
Readily available aftermarket IEM cables work out of the box, and MOONDROP themselves offer dedicated Old Fashioned cables in both 4.4mm balanced and USB-C terminations for a straightforward upgrade path.
Design
The MOONDROP Old Fashioned wears its retro inspiration openly, channeling the aesthetic of the ’80s Walkman accessories with transparent plastic earcups and a bare metal telescopic headband.
Structural components consist primarily of clear ABS plastic earcups mounted on multi-axis swivel hinges.
The earcups are fully detachable from the headband assembly via swivel-ball joints, with MOONDROP suggesting future accessory compatibility with ear hooks and neckbands for alternative wearing styles. This modularity is a genuinely modern touch beneath the vintage exterior.
The telescopic headband is constructed from thin bare metal, providing basic adjustment without any padding of its own. Build quality across the unit is transparently budget, the bare metal headband and clear plastic housings do not attempt to disguise cost-cutting.
Unlike Koss, which achieves a similar price point while maintaining a degree of tactile confidence in its plastics.
The earcups do not fold flat for storage, which is a notable omission at a price point where portability is presumably a priority.
The cable connection is handled via 0.78mm 2-pin connectors, the same standard used in most IEMs, enabling easy aftermarket cable upgrades with existing cable collections.
Comfort
Comfort is one of the Old Fashioned’s genuine standout attributes, particularly given its price tier.
The overall unit is exceptionally lightweight, with featherweight plastic housings and a thin metal headband, resulting in a package that barely registers on the head during extended wear.
Clamping force is almost negligible. The Old Fashioned sits on rather than grips the ear, which translates into exceptionally fatigue-free wear across marathon listening sessions
It also means the headphone shifts easily during any physical movement and feels more comfortable in a stationary listening environment, not active use.
The foam earpads are soft and conform well to most ear shapes without generating heat buildup. They deliver the classic Walkman-era on-ear feel that will resonate immediately with anyone who used portable headphones in the 1980s and 90s.
The bare metal headband, while comfortable enough for most head sizes, offers no padding of its own.
Those with close-cropped hair or sensitivity to direct metal contact may find extended sessions slightly less comfortable. The telescopic adjustment provides an adequate range for most head sizes.
The open-back design ensures minimal heat or pressure buildup, contributing meaningfully to the overall sense of effortless wearability.
I found myself wearing the Old Fashioned for 5-plus hours without any discomfort, though the negligible clamping force meant I kept them to more sedentary environments.
Stock Cable
The Old Fashioned ships with a single stock cable featuring the 0.78mm 2-pin IEM-standard connector at the earcup end, an unusually practical choice at this price that directly enables cable upgrades without any adapter requirements.
The cable itself is a standard round rubber cable terminating in a 3.5mm TRS plug. It is functional rather than premium, with average flexibility and some memory coiling. The stock cable also demonstrated virtually no microphonics during mixed stationary and on-the-go testing.
However, the decision to use a 2-pin connector means that virtually any IEM cable in an audiophile’s existing collection becomes a potential upgrade, which is a thoughtful inclusion at $24.99.
MOONDROP supports the Old Fashioned with a dedicated accessory cable sold separately, available in 3.5mm, 4.4mm balanced, and USB-C variants.
The USB-C version is particularly noteworthy, featuring an integrated DAC chip capable of hardware decoding up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM audio, effectively turning the Old Fashioned into a dongle-free digital audio setup straight from a phone or laptop.
Packaging & Accessories
The Old Fashioned arrives in a compact cardboard box with minimalist presentation. Departing from MOONDROP’s usual anime-artwork packaging style, the box features a clean, product-focused design with technical specifications printed on the rear.
Included accessories are: a detachable stock cable (0.78mm 2-pin to 3.5mm TRS) and related documentation and warranty information
No carrying case, pouch, or spare pads are included. Competitors like the SNOWSKY Wind include a spare set of pads, which makes the Old Fashioned’s accessory package feel particularly spartan.
That said, aftermarket foam pad replacements compatible with the Old Fashioned should be widely available.
Sound Impressions
The following sound impressions were completed using a range of sources, including an M1 MacBook Air with a 3.5mm output, the ddHiFi TC44Pro E3, the iFi audio GO Link Max, the iFi audio ZEN DAC, and the FiiO K13 R2R. The stock cable was used for all listening impressions.
Summary
The MOONDROP Old Fashioned delivers a mid-forward sound signature with a mild DF-HRTF-aligned tonal balance that prioritizes vocal naturalness and long-session listenability over outright technical resolution or low-end authority.
Bass is present but slightly anemic, the midrange is the clear musical centerpiece with natural, organic vocal reproduction, and the treble is smooth and inoffensive but can sometimes exhibit some sparkle or air.
Soundstage presentation is modest but appropriate for an open-back on-ear design, with decent lateral spread and sufficient instrument separation for casual listening.
Bass
The Old Fashioned’s low end is present and pleasant without being a defining characteristic. Sub-bass extension is limited, as expected from an open-back on-ear design at this price.
There is enough foundation for acoustic music and lighter pop, but modern electronic production, hip-hop, and any genre that relies on visceral low-end impact will expose the limitations quickly.
Mid-bass has a mild warmth that gives bass guitars and kick drums a natural, rounded character without any real punch or slam.
The bass is textured and clean rather than bloated, which keeps the overall presentation from ever feeling congested, but fans of weighted low-end will find the Old Fashioned notably polite in this region.
Where the Old Fashioned does better is in the accuracy and natural decay of bass notes.
Upright bass in jazz recordings and lightly produced acoustic guitar music benefit from the clean, unfussy low-end presentation, with notes that decay naturally without hanging or smearing into the midrange.
Mids
The Old Fashioned’s mid-range is noticeably stronger than its bass performance. Vocals, both male and female, are rendered with a natural tonality that makes them consistently pleasurable across extended listening.
The DF-HRTF tuning keeps the upper mids from ever becoming shouty or fatiguing, resulting in a presentation that sits comfortably and invitingly close without any of the edginess that plagues brighter budget headphones.
Male vocals benefit particularly from the mild lower-midrange warmth, coming through with natural presence and body.
Female vocals are clear and well-presented, though they lack the last degree of resolution and air that would allow fine textural detail in the voice to fully emerge. Both sit naturally in the mix without artificial forwardness.
Acoustic instruments, especially guitar, piano, and light strings, have good harmonic character and natural timbre.
The slight warmth may not suit listeners seeking absolute neutrality, but for pop, jazz, and acoustic recordings, the midrange presentation is genuinely musical and easy to love, punching well above what the price implies.
Treble
The Old Fashioned’s treble is smooth, rounded, and deliberately non-fatiguing. Lower treble has gentle energy that provides adequate definition to cymbals and vocal consonants without ever becoming brittle or sharp.
There are no obvious peaks or sibilant tendencies even on recordings known to expose treble harshness.
Upper treble detail is present but restrained. String harmonics, cymbal shimmer, and acoustic overtones are audible without the kind of extension or sparkle that would make them truly stand out.
The treble integrates seamlessly with the midrange, creating a smooth and coherent frequency response, but listeners accustomed to open, airy treble presentations will find the Old Fashioned slightly muted above 8kHz.
Staging & Dynamics
The Old Fashioned delivers a modest but pleasant soundstage appropriate for its open-back on-ear form factor.
Lateral imaging extends adequately beyond the headphone’s physical boundaries, creating a convincing if not expansive left-right presentation. Instrument positioning is coherent, with sufficient separation to track individual voices in moderately complex mixes.
Depth and layering are limited. The presentation leans two-dimensional rather than holographic, placing instruments on a reasonably wide plane without much front-to-back depth.
Live recordings retain a sense of space, but the Old Fashioned will not challenge dedicated audiophile gear in creating a fully three-dimensional image.
Dynamic range is serviceable. Macro- are captured adequately, though without the visceral punch that makes such passages feel dramatic.
Micro-dynamics, the subtle gradations in volume within individual notes, are present but not a strength. The Old Fashioned is a musical rather than technically demanding listen.
Click on page 2 below for my recommended pairings and selected comparisons
