Disclaimer: This review is based on my own purchase of the product.
Personal preferences in audio gear will vary. This review is based on my own subjective experience.
If you prefer to watch a video review you can watch mine here
Pros –
- Decent bass quantity
- Techs are above average at this price
- Female vocals stand out
- Solid dynamics
- Detail punches above the price level
- Fun and engaging sound signature
- Metal shell construction
- A budget most can afford
Cons –
- Bass quality/texture could be better
- Mids can be slightly hollow sounding depending on the mix
- Treble can be spicy and unrefined
- Possibly sibilant/fatiguing for some
- Some instruments are piercing
- Timbre suffers on high notes
- Busy treble can cause blurring
- Lacking accessories, Spring tips or more tip options
- Stock cable has quite a bit of memory and sticks
Gaming:
Pros –
- Strong sub bass makes for a fun experience
- Good detail and dynamics for small and quiet audio cues
- No congestion or bass bleed
Cons –
- Sound depth could be better
- Worlds feel a little closed off
Build, Fit & Accessories:
Moondrops Chu II borrows the shell design from the original but switches up the look with a slightly different aesthetic. I quite like this metal shell especially at this budget price point as it does have a much more premium feel to it compared to most of the other budget sets I have tried. The fit for me is just like the original Chu leaning towards the more comfortable side, I never forget they are in my ears but they are fairly lightweight and comfortable even for longer sessions. Moondrop has also made the Chu II with a detachable cable so you aren’t stuck with the fixed offering like on the original.
Regarding longer sessions I will mention that I have had a few times that I noticed condensation on the nozzle after these longer periods of listening. I have yet to have issues with any imbalance or anything with them but depending on your ears or your climate you could possibly have condensation issues with these.
Regarding accessories Chu II gives you a fairly standard budget accessory selection with minimal offerings. A wearing-card, small medium and large silicone ear tips, a small storage bag and the replaceable cable. The accessories are a little bit of a let down for me, considering the original Chu had their premium spring tips. I would have liked to see either spring tips still being included or a more complete ear tip selection like the Truthear Hola has.
I really dislike the included cable here as well. Personally I think it is even worse than the original Chu cable, every time I put it down or wrap it up nicely to store it, I pick it back up and it’s a tangled mess. Something nicer here would be welcome for me. I would even take a Vido cable over this. Luckily it is interchangeable and if you don’t like it you have the option to swap it for something else.
Equipment Used:
- FiiO Q11 on Windows and Android
- MusicBee on Windows 11 with FiiO ASIO drivers for local FLAC and DSD files
- Amazon Music Streaming
- CX31993 Dongle on Android
Test Tracks used:
Sound Quality:
Moondrops Chu II uses a 10mm Aluminum-magnesium alloy composite diaphragm; this seems to be quite a large upgrade in terms of quality from the titanium coated driver that was in the original.
The tuning here is quite a bit different from the original as well taking more of a V shape with a prominent bass boost instead of the original’s neutral bright that often came off thin and metallic. Chu II sounds much more full bodied with decent note weight and is much more of a quality experience compared to the original for me.
Bass
The sub-bass I found to stand out and be the best sub-bass I have heard from a budget IEM to date. Bass buildups and drops have a very distinct weight and punch to them and are fun.
Mid-Bass has surprisingly defined note weight and although it sounds quite strong it never seems to bleed into the other frequencies at all like some other budget IEMs I have tried. That being said I wish the bass texture here was better at times but being a budget IEM priced at $18.99 it is still more than acceptable.
Midrange
The mids are a little recessed at times for my preferences. With guitars, violins and trumpets most notably being slightly pushed behind other instruments depending on the mix and complexity of the tracks.
That being said the mids are still quite impressive for this price if you are searching for this slight V shape. There is a good amount of detail being represented here but at times the mids just sound a little hollow and not as full as I would like.
Vocals
Female vocals stand out more than male vocals and are borderline shouty but I don’t find it ever going too far. Male vocals are slightly more recessed for the most part with baritone and low male vocals sounding slightly off timbre wise. Overall I think this is still a quite nice vocal experience considering the price range it is in.
Treble
The treble is the main area I would like to see a bit more refinement and I think will be the critical factor of someone enjoying these or not. These have spicy treble and instruments can be piercing at times. Although not an issue for me I can definitely see some people who are more treble sensitive having issues with fatigue here.
There is quite a bit of energy in the treble region with the V shape it is quite engaging to listen to. That being said, I find the treble to cause everything to get blurred every now and again when there is quite a lot happening in the treble region. This isn’t a deal breaker for me on this, I just wish it was slightly better in this area.
Technicalities
The technical aspect of the Chu II kind of surprised me here, this driver is quite good. The low end doesn’t seem to bleed at all and retains its clarity and resolution quite good considering the amount of bass coming out of it. The dynamics are quite good but it does have an issue with the upper end causing sound to get blurred if there is too much going on up there.
Soundstage does feel a little closed in but does have a good sense of depth to it. Imaging is fairly accurate and does a good job at giving you a sense of instrument placements. I find the Chu II to be the best for techs out of the budget gear I have tried, it’s nothing amazing or incredible by any means but it does stand out above the other offerings to me.
Gaming Performance:
Overall the Chu II is quite competent in gaming for both FPS and Immersive games. The sub bass is satisfying and provides quite a bit of intensity but isn’t muddy or congested allowing you to still hear footsteps for audio cues as needed while also giving them strong weight depending on the game.
FPS Gaming:
Escape from Tarkov has a great ambience in it and Chu II allows you to hear the small footsteps and sounds required. Gunfights are very intense and detailed while still dynamic enough to hear other sounds happening around you. At times I felt the depth could be better, at first I attributed that to the Tarkov sound engine but I noticed that pattern follow me on each of the games I tested.
Immersive Gaming
Messing around in BattleBit: Remastered was very intense and did a great job at immersing me into the chaos. Chu II did a great job at keeping up with the chaos as well here with many sounds coming from all directions still managing to remain distinct.
Chu II also does a quite nice job on Elden Ring, the world can seem a little pulled in at times but boss battles have good intensity and energy to them making those moments feel quite immersive. Impacts feel satisfying and seem to have great weight to them from the bass.
Comparisons:
Previous to Chu II my budget pick has been the Tangzu Wan’er for quite some time. I use it as a budget beater and if I do take IEMs out of the house to go for walks that is what I usually would grab. I always found the Wan’er to be detailed and resolving enough to enjoy. I can safely say for me Chu II has replaced the Wan’er for me, being quite a bit more detailed with better techs and just as if not better resolving, while also having a more fun tuning.
The build difference also inspires a bit of confidence, the metal shell feels a lot more durable and premium compared to the Wan’er. I do still find the Wan’er to have more full mids and better male vocals with more forward female vocals so if the build doesn’t matter and that is what you are looking for tonally I would still choose them.
Compared to the Dunu Kima Classic (an IEM almost 6x the cost) Chu II actually holds its ground, and quite well. The Kima Classic is more resolving and brings forth quite a bit more detail and the techs are also a step up, but not by much considering the price gap. Tonally I find they are fairly similar with the Kima Classic being less piercing. Personally I would opt for the Chu II over Kima Classic and treat myself to an acceptable cable and a meal.
Conclusion:
Moondrops Chu II sort of surprised me. Gaming was quite impressive and just like the music experience it punched above its price point for me. It is a solid budget offering with quite good techs and a fun v tuning. For people getting started in their audiophile journey or those looking for a cheap beater to travel with or to toss around I think this is a great choice, but there are a few caveats worth mentioning that might make it not a general recommendation from me.
First, the treble is going to be fatiguing for some people and some might find instruments too piercing, and those who listen to music that is quite busy in the treble may find their music quite often gets blurred.
Second, accessories. For someone starting out on their journey this cable might turn someone off from going further. It is awful. Every time I grab it I have to untangle it, not everyone stepping their first foot into the hobby is going to want to deal with it or be told to spend the price of their first IEM or more on a replacement cable for their product.
Considering the budget price of $18.99 I think this is quite acceptable in terms of the main cons that standout to me and if those two things don’t seem to be an issue with me I will gladly recommend them.
Thanks for reading this review! Feel free to ask any questions if you have any. Also feel free to share your experience if you have been able to try Chu II.
If you are interested in Chu II it can be purchased on Shenzhen Audio or Amazon in most countries.
Cheers!
