Come with me as I take a first look at the long awaited update to one of the sets that lead the budget Chifi boom, the Moondrop Chu 2! Priced at $18 his is a set with a massive reputation to live up to, so let’s not diddle daddle and see whether Chu 2 is the return of the budget king!
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
- Very clean packaging with a tasteful waifu
- Decent inclusions for $20, but omits from Springtips
- Decent detachable cable that omits from the wacky Moondrop y-split
- Solid, full metal build with a very comfortable and snug fit
- Interesting removable nozzle lip design
- Energetic, slightly v-shape sound signature
- Deep-hitting, punchy and nicely textured bass
- Clean but slightly thin midrange
- Forward, well extended but fatigue-free treble with very crisp microdetail retrieval
- Decent technical capabilities
The Moondrop Chu 2 features a 10mm Aluminum-Magnesium diaphragm housed in a Zinc Alloy shell with 0.78mm detachable cable interface and terminated to 3.5mm.
The biggest surprise I had upon putting the Chu 2 in my ears and listening to music is that it is fundamentally different from the original Chu. The bass is considerably boosted with it having such a deep and tactile presentation that is a stark contrast from the original. The treble still retains the signature Chu sparkle with fantastic microdetail and clarity but tamed down just a tad bit to make the Chu 2 a more balanced, more lively and arguably more rounded listening experience. It does all that while still retaining the wonderful shape and finally implementing a detachable cable.
However, having a considerable boost on both ends leaves the midrange sounding a little thin and a little recessed. The bass also isn’t the tightest or most defined sounding. The upper mids are also boosted quite the ways from the original Chu with can potentially introduce shout. The omittance of the Springtips was also quite disappointing as it was one of the hallmarks of why people got the Chu in the first place.
I was so tempted to put everything in this impression as I genuinely think there is a lot to talk about the Chu 2 in terms of the legacy that the OG Chu left and whether the former can live up to the latter. However, these two IEMs are fundamentally different from each other in terms of its tuning philosophy that ends up seeming like a different flavor more than an upgrade. Nonetheless, it’s a good $20 set for those looking for a fun sound!
Stay tuned for the full review!
If you would like to order one, consider using the non-affiliated link below:
https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/moondrop-chu-2-10mm-dynamic-in-ear-headphone
If you have any questions or concerns, contact me on my Facebook page or email me at obodioreviews@gmail.com
