MoonDrop KATO High-Fidelity In-Ear Monitors (IEMs) - Open Box, Discontinued Model | Premium Audio for Musicians, Audiophiles & Studio Recording

AFTER THREE YEARS OF CONTINUS IMPROMENT
CREATE A NEW GENERATION
FLAGSHIP DYNAMIC BENCHMARK

Our R&D team focused on demonstrating and developing a new generation of 10mm flagship dynamic driver before KXXS, to greatly improve the linear dynamic range and achieve full-frequency nonlinear distortion comparable to that of full-size electrostatic headphones.

KXXS had gained much international complements since released for its accurate timbre, restored sound image, and excellent resolution. It had been in short supply for a long period and climbed the top sales volume in the same price tier for many times. It is a great challenge to upgrade it in all directions.

After repeated design, verification, overthrow and improvement more than 2 years, we have developed a brand-new ULT (Ultra-Linear-Technology) super-linear dynamic driver, which presents more powerful dynamic, lower distortion, more restored timbre, more open listening experience and richer but natural details.

MOONDROP PRESENTS KATO

KATO optimized the structure and volume of ULT dynamic driver and acoustic cavity through FEA finite element simulation combined with repeated experimental verification, so as to achieve unparalleled linear distortion performance. It displays outstanding in both amplitude-frequency response and phase-frequency response, so that timbre and soundstage get better restored. We developed a brand-new Spring Tips silicone ear tips for further optimizing the timbre of KATO, which not only improve the wearing comfort and prevent the sound leakage, but also inhibit the weak resonance of the sound outlet of the ear tips, improving the high-frequency linearity and bringing a more natural timbre.

We strive to make a ideal sound on KATO, to reflect an unparalleled super cost performance whatever in sound quality, hearing experience and design, to simply continue and sublimate the myth of this series.

THE AESTHETICS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW

KATO adopts modernist aesthetic design combining light and shadow, and continues this design elements from Kanas to KXXS. Thanks to the brand-new MIM technology, The almost all sufaces of KATO has been able to inject light and shadow design, showing a three-dimensional and rich layering.

MIM POWDER METALLURGY PROCESS CASTING OF STAINLESS STEEL

HAND GRINDING AND POLISHING

The earphone shell is cast by MIM powder metallurgy process, which can achieve high-intensity and irregular appearance. The inner surface of MIM process is a fine irregular surface, which has a positive effect on the suppression of standing waves. Every section of the surface is smooth as a mirror by the manual repeated grinding.

BRAND-NEW DEVELOPED ULT SUPER-LINEAR DYNAMIC DRIVER

KATO is adopted with a new independently developed 10mm ULT (Ultra-Linear-Technology) super-linear dynamic driver, which has been developed for two years. It includes a more efficient composite magnetic circuit with internal and external magnets and a more linear air circulation structure, as well as a larger brass internal acoustic cavity, a lighter extra-fine imported CCAW sound coil and a high-frequency phase waveguide.

It shows excellent dynamic and abundant details, and has amazing performance in both nonlinear distortion and linear distortion through FEA finite element simulation integrated with repeated experimental verification, combining multiple technologies.

THE 3RD GENERATION DLC (DIAMOND-LIKE CARBON) COMPOSITE DIAPHRAGM

The ULT superlinear unit of KATO is also equipped with a self-designed high-performance DLC composite diaphragm, which utilizes three materials with different characteristics including DLC to form different parts of the diaphragm. DLC features high rigidity, high damping coefficient and light weight, as well as its comprehensive acoustic performance even exceeds that of beryllium.

The brand-new 3rd generation DLC composite diaphragm is designed based on the demonstration combination of acoustic characteristics of materials, and its vibration modality is simulated by FEA finite element and experienced repeated adjustments, its special material application and ratio can enhance the extension details in high-frequency and the dynamic range, build up the system damping and increase the transient details. It can reduce the nonlinear distortion by at least 80% after comparing with the previous generation DLC composite diaphragm.

CREATE THE DELICATE CAVITY STRUCTURE OF BALANCED TUNING

The acoustic front cavity of KATO is demonstrated and calculated based on the characteristics of the driver, with help of the volume and structure simulated by FEA finite element simulation, and the verification and improvement by repeated experimental. Combined with the high-frequency phase waveguide components installed on the driver, the front cavity acoustic performance of KATO is far superior to other so-called special tuning components, presenting an excellent frequency response and high-frequency phase performance, which is the hardware guarantee for natural balanced tuning.

INTERCHANGEABLE NOZZLES DESIGN

KATO adopts a replaceable sound nozzle design, which can be easily replaced by a quick-release structure with screw thread, and comes with sound nozzles made of two different materials (steel and brass). Users can not only experience the sound changes for different materials by replacing the nozzle, but also replace the blocked sound nozzle more conveniently.

THE 3RD GENERATION PATENTED ANTI-BLOCKING ACOUSTIC FILTER

The nozzle of KATO is integrated with a brand-new improved third-generation patented anti-blocking filter, which has better anti-blocking effect, and can prevent oily ear-wax from blocking the filters to a greater extent, and is more conducive to the middle high frequency sound quality than the previous generation.

THE NEWLY SPRING TIPS SILICONE EAR TIPS

KATO is equipped with the newly self-designed and developed Spring Tips, which suppress weak resonance through special diffusion structure, and significantly lower the high-frequency linear distortion caused by nozzel resonance, thus making high-frequency timbre more natural. At the same time, the special material of earplug tips cap can better fit the ear canal without being sticky, and featured with the special reinforcing rib support design to prevent the bass loss caused by sound leakage.

MORE PREEMINENT PERFORMANCE IN VARIOUS ACOUSTIC INDEXES

KATO get greatly improved in various indexes with the integration of several brand-new technologies, which has brought more preeminent performance. It not only has a frequency response curve that is highly consistent with VDSF Target Response[1], and a straight full-frequency phase, but also It has the nonlinear distortion comparable to the full-size electrostatic headset, and the total harmonic distortion in the middle low frequency is even lower than 0.05%.

[1]VDSF Target Response curve is a target frequency response curve based on the HRTF (head-related transfer function) of B&K HATS under diffusion field and the ideal preference curve, the closer the frequency response curve measured by earphone under B&K HATS is to the target frequency response curve, the more the earphone can restore timbre and soundstage images in terms of frequency response.

The excellent frequency response curve enables KATO to have a rare ability to highly restore the sound heard by the master when making recordings. KATO is able to more truly show the original timbre and position of musical instruments and vocals compared with ordinary "HiFi earphones", and bring you a more open and natural listening experience.

The full frequency is lower than 0.15%, and the total harmonic distortion even lower than 0.05% in most frequency, bringing more pure and real timbre, thus eliminating the timbre issues of short-tempered and stiff, especially dynamic driver and hybrid earphones in the market [2]. Even if the distortion is ultra-low, it is almost dominated by even harmonics, which ensures that KATO won’t have any negative listening experience caused by nonlinear distortion, making its sound quality soft and harmonious.

[2] Harmonic distortion of dynamic driver is dominated mainly by odd harmonics, with stiff sound.

UNEXPECTED HIGH QUALITY STANDARD CABLE

​KATO comes standard with a high-purity copper thick silver-plated cable with 4-core star stranded structure, which can effectively reduce the affect of skin effect and proximity effect, and plays an anti-interference role. At the same time, the cable is coated with improved high-permeability mixed materials, which not only has an ultra-low dielectric coefficient, but also has a good looking.

UNIVERSAL 2PIN REPLACEABLE CABLE DESIGN

KATO matches a gold-plated 0.78 2pin connector, and the female socket adopts sunken design, which can prevent the pin damage caused by bending to a great extent, and has excellent compatibility. To expand the usage, users can replace the majority of 0.78 2pin cables in the market or Bluetooth neck-hanging module.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Name: KATO flagship advanced technology dynamic in-ear earplug
• Driver: 10mm-ULT dynamic driver
• Diaphragm: the 3rd generation DLC composite diaphragm
• Socket: 0.78-2Pin sunken design
• Housing: MIM stainless steel
• Nozzle: stainless steel *2, brass *2
• Cable plug: 3.5mm stereo single-ended plug
• Frequency response range: 10Hz-45kHz (IEC61094, Free Field)
• Effective frequency response range: 20Hz-20kHz (IEC60318-4, -3dB)
• Impedance: 32Ω±15% (@1KHz)
• Sensitivity: 123dB/Nrms (@1KHz)
• Distortion: < 0.15% (@1khz, AES17 20khz, A-weight)
• Manufacturer: MOONDROP Technology Co., Ltd.