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Sound Signature
The ddHiFi Surface offers a warm-balanced, musically pleasant presentation with a focus on coherence and musicality rather than conveying details.
Its overall tuning leans towards a smooth U-shape, minus the elevated treble. It features a sub-bass-focused low-end, a clean and slightly reserved midrange, and a polite upper region with a solid ear-gain region. It’s not as airy as some of the units from Moondrop, such as the Blessing 3 or the Variations, when it comes to the upper treble region, but it does not feel claustrophobic either.
I found the tuning quite safe and believe it’ll work well for most audiophiles. It doesn’t go out of its way to wow you at first listen, yet it builds appreciation over time thanks to its musicality and coherence.
Bass
The Surface features a mild sub-bass elevation that carries good depth without sounding too warm. There’s a gentle roll-off into the midbass, which helps keep the low-end clean and precise. It avoids bloat, excessive warmth, or excessive rumble.
This isn’t a basshead IEM, nor is it one of those analytical tunings. The bass is nice and tidy, with a smooth decay.
Midbass texture is good, with an articulate attack on percussive hits and no masking of lower midrange fundamentals. Bass notes carry appropriate body/weight and feel pleasantly balanced.
Midrange
The midrange is tastefully subdued with a gentle downward slope that contributes to a laid-back and clean vocal presentation. Male vocals come through with a natural tone, free of muddiness. Female vocals benefit from the well-tuned ear-gain region, giving them a bit more presence without becoming shouty or sibilant.
This is not a forward or aggressive midrange. It remains controlled and just slightly set back, lending the Surface a relaxed but coherent character.
The instruments sound natural with no plasticky BA timbre, and the transition between the dynamic driver and balanced armatures is handled smoothly. Overall, it’s a midrange that prioritizes musicality over sheer resolution.
The timbre of strings and acoustic instruments feels natural. It’s not overly warm, not clinical, just clean and convincing.
Treble
The Surface’s treble follows the same philosophy as the rest of its tuning. It’s polite and relaxed.
It avoids brightness or sharpness and instead leans into a smoother, more forgiving top end. There’s just enough presence to give cymbals and overtones adequate presence, but the presentation never gets as energetic as other Moondrops, such as the Kato.
However, there’s a clear push in the lower treble, which adds a bit of edge and definition to cymbals and upper harmonics. It’s not an excessively airy IEM, and it really doesn’t aim to transparently convey the top octave with utmost resolution. That said, it doesn’t feel dull either. The top end is carefully dosed to maintain coherence across the spectrum, and it plays nicely with the overall tuning.
This kind of treble won’t appeal to treble-heads, but it works well for long listening sessions and helps avoid fatigue, even with badly recorded tracks.
Technical Capability
From a technical standpoint, the Surface performs with a sense of composure. Imaging feels well-defined, with good horizontal separation. The stage width is moderate, neither intimate nor expansive, and it keeps the presentation grounded without sounding crowded.
Detail retrieval is adequate for its price bracket, though the Surface doesn’t emphasize micro-detail. It doesn’t chase an ultra-resolving character, and that’s clearly intentional. Transients feel gently rounded, contributing to the smooth and musical presentation of the IEMs.
As for dynamism, the Surface feels balanced. While it doesn’t try to impress with a massive slam or punch, the signature feels adequately engaging. It trades raw energy for control, and that aligns well with the DDHiFi’s overall tuning goals. The result is a coherent, easygoing technical performance that supports the musicality.
Last Words
The ddHiFi Surface is a pleasantly tuned, well-built IEM that prioritizes coherency and musicality. It’s not trying to compete with the current market’s bass cannons or ultra-revealing monitors.
Instead, it offers an easygoing, adequately resolving sound that can be listened to for long hours without any fatigue. If you’re looking for a daily driver with a polite but engaging presentation, the Surface might be up your alley.
Summary
Pros:
+ Easygoing signature
+ Excellent for long sessions
+ Great build quality
Cons:
– Limited ear tip selection
– No interchangeable termination
– May be too smooth for some
