Between the Aria 2 and AONIC 3, the Aria 2 comes out ahead in sensitivity, while the AONIC 3 wins on impedance. Overall, the Aria 2 scores 65.4 and the AONIC 3 scores 56.6 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Aria 2 is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 8.8 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the Aria 2 if you care most about sensitivity. The biggest gaps in its favor are sensitivity.
Pick the AONIC 3 if you care most about impedance. Its strongest claims are impedance.
Both ship with comparable driver count, detachable cable, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Aria 2 is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Moondrop - Aria 2 wins
- ▲Sensitivity — 7.96% more. 122 dB vs 113 dB.
Why Shure - AONIC 3 wins
- ▲Impedance — 2.00 Ω less. 30 vs 32.
Spec comparison
Drivers
| Spec | Moondrop - Aria 2 | Shure - AONIC 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Driver count | 1 | 1 |
| Driver types | Dynamic | Single Balanced Armature |
| Impedanceⓘ | 32 Ω | 30 Ωlead |
| Sensitivityⓘ | 122 dBlead | 113 dB |
Build
| Spec | Moondrop - Aria 2 | Shure - AONIC 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Detachable cable | true | true |
| Connector | 0.78mm 2-pinlead | MMCX |
Frequently asked
Spec-level deep dives
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