Moondrop Old Fashion vs FiiO EH11 Review
Two budget open-back headphones. Same price. Both gunning for your $24. The Moondrop Old Fashion and FiiO EH11 are direct competitors in one of the most crowded segments of the headphone market — and if you're trying to decide between them, you've come to the right place.
The comparison we're drawing on here comes from a Reddit user in r/headphones who bought both during a late-night purchase spree — the FiiO EH11 one day, and the Moondrop Old Fashion the next. They ran both through an iFi Zen DAC and AMP V3, giving us a real-world side-by-side that's more honest than most sponsored reviews.
Moondrop Old Fashion
What It Does Well
The Old Fashion impressed immediately with cleaner sound and noticeably less muddy lows compared to the EH11. For a $24 headphone, that's a meaningful distinction. Moondrop has built a reputation for tuning earphones and headphones with care, and the Old Fashion continues that trend — it leans toward a cleaner, more articulate presentation rather than pushing bass to impress at first listen.
The vintage aesthetic is genuinely appealing. Moondrop leaned into the "old fashion" name visually, and the design stands out next to generic-looking budget competitors.
Weaknesses
The Reddit source noted that activating different modes or settings on the iFi DAC/AMP didn't produce any significant audible change with these headphones — suggesting they may be relatively insensitive to upstream gear or that their relatively simple driver setup doesn't respond dramatically to amplification. For some buyers that's fine (you don't need extra gear), but for enthusiasts hoping to "scale up," don't expect these to transform with better equipment.
FiiO EH11
What It Does Well
FiiO is no stranger to budget audio, and the EH11 brings brand credibility to the table. Build quality feels competent for the price, and FiiO's design language is clean and modern. If you're buying a gift or want something that looks "legitimate" out of the box, the EH11 has presence.
Weaknesses
The muddy low-end is the EH11's Achilles' heel. Compared directly to the Old Fashion, the bass region comes across as less controlled — a common budget headphone compromise, but still a real one. If you listen to genres where low-frequency clarity matters (jazz, acoustic, classical, even detailed electronic), the EH11's lows can obscure detail that the Old Fashion resolves more cleanly.
At $24, you accept trade-offs — but when a direct competitor at the exact same price sounds cleaner, the EH11's muddy bass stops being an acceptable compromise and starts being a competitive disadvantage.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Moondrop Old Fashion | FiiO EH11 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $24 | $24 |
| Low-End Clarity | Cleaner, less muddy | Muddier bass |
| Overall Sound | Cleaner, more articulate | Warmer, less detailed |
| Design Aesthetic | Vintage / retro | Modern / clean |
| Brand Reputation (headphones) | Strong (tuning-focused) | Strong (audio ecosystem) |
| Scales with Better Gear | Limited | Unknown |
| Our Rating | 4/5 | 3/5 |
Verdict: Who Should Buy Which?
At identical price points, the Moondrop Old Fashion is the clearer recommendation for anyone who prioritizes sound quality. The cleaner low-end and more articulate presentation give it a meaningful edge over the EH11 in direct comparison — and in audio, sound quality is ultimately what matters most.
Buy the Moondrop Old Fashion if you want the best-sounding $24 headphone between these two — especially if you listen to genres where bass muddiness is annoying (acoustic, jazz, indie, classical).
Buy the FiiO EH11 if you're already in the FiiO ecosystem, prefer a modern aesthetic over the Old Fashion's vintage look, or just happen to find it on sale cheaper. It's not a bad headphone — it's just outperformed at the same price.
Neither will replace a $100+ pair. But if $24 is your budget and you can only pick one, the Old Fashion wins this round.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the Moondrop Old Fashion worth it at $24?
A: Yes — compared directly to the FiiO EH11 at the same price, the Old Fashion delivers cleaner, less muddy sound, making it strong value for a budget open-back headphone.
Q: How does the FiiO EH11 compare to the Moondrop Old Fashion?
A: The EH11 has a muddier low-end and less articulate presentation compared to the Old Fashion. In a head-to-head on the same DAC/AMP setup, most listeners are likely to prefer the Old Fashion's cleaner tuning.
Q: Do these headphones benefit from a DAC or amplifier?
A: At least for the Moondrop Old Fashion, one Reddit user found minimal audible change when switching modes on an iFi Zen DAC and AMP V3 — suggesting these don't scale dramatically with better upstream equipment.
Q: Which is better for bass-heavy music, the EH11 or Old Fashion?
A: Neither is a bass-head headphone, but the EH11's warmer tuning may suit some bass-heavy listeners more — though its low-end lacks control. The Old Fashion's cleaner bass is generally preferable for accuracy.
Q: Are there better alternatives at $24?
A: These two are among the most discussed options at this price point in the enthusiast community. If your budget can stretch further, better options exist — but within the $24 bracket, the Moondrop Old Fashion is a strong pick.
— Tech Lead Editor 1, CPrice
Posted on April 17, 2026