Moondrop Chu II IEM Review

[herr.jemine]

Did you try EQ? Assuming you didn't have any other issue with fit or function, might be worth trying at least the manufacturers official profile.

Filter 1: ON PK Fc 25 Hz Gain -4.7 dB Q 0.300
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 200 Hz Gain -5.0 dB Q 0.700
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1400 Hz Gain -2.5 dB Q 1.600
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 3500 Hz Gain -4.8 dB Q 1.000
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 9000 Hz Gain -2.0 dB Q 1.600

I'll give it a try, I don't have much free time at the moment.

 

[Chyżwar]

I have purchased 3 pairs of the original Chu in the past. Each time from the online superstore. Taking anywhere from 1 to 3 months for arrival. As far as sound quality goes I liked them a lot.

None of them lasted very long. The first pair I used them as I would any IEM. I'd walk around with them attached to my phone while I did all types of things around the house. They lasted maybe a month before one side died. I figured maybe it was a bad batch and ordered another. I believe there was a sale going on so even cheaper than the listed $19. That pair lasted 2 months.

Even though I told myself I'm done with this certain model I ended up buying another pair a few months later. I babied this pair. I was very delicate with the wires & only listened to them when I was seated in one spot with the headphone amp. 3 months until the left driver went out & I was barely even using them. It was the left driver each time that went out first.

That is my experience with the original Chu. Pretty good sounding IEM but not even worth $19 in my opinion. Hopefully, for others sake, the Chu II Is of better quality.

99% of the time it's a filter problem. You can easily repair these IEMs yourself.

https://pl.aliexpress.com/item/4000898373412.html?pdp_npi=4%40dis%21PLN%2147%2C25%20z%C5%82%2147%2C25%20z%C5%82%21%21%2111.37%2111.37%21%40211b80d117187376916473903e0d8c%2110000015291992966%21sh%21PL%21917729523%21&spm=a2g0o.store_pc_allItems_or_groupList.new_all_items_2007586097909.4000898373412&gatewayAdapt=glo2pol

 

[somebodyelse]

I have purchased 3 pairs of the original Chu in the past. Each time from the online superstore. Taking anywhere from 1 to 3 months for arrival. As far as sound quality goes I liked them a lot.

None of them lasted very long. The first pair I used them as I would any IEM. I'd walk around with them attached to my phone while I did all types of things around the house. They lasted maybe a month before one side died. I figured maybe it was a bad batch and ordered another. I believe there was a sale going on so even cheaper than the listed $19. That pair lasted 2 months.

Even though I told myself I'm done with this certain model I ended up buying another pair a few months later. I babied this pair. I was very delicate with the wires & only listened to them when I was seated in one spot with the headphone amp. 3 months until the left driver went out & I was barely even using them. It was the left driver each time that went out first.

That is my experience with the original Chu. Pretty good sounding IEM but not even worth $19 in my opinion. Hopefully, for others sake, the Chu II Is of better quality.

Maybe I'm just lucky, but my pair have outlasted your 3 combined, and still have no sign of problems. They even survived an accidental trip through the wash when I left them in a trouser pocket.

 

[dweeeeb2]

I got these yesterday (ordered after seeing this review). Their fit is far superior to Red:zero’s and 7Hz timeless. Its my only complaint of iem’s, hopefully I’ve found a winner.

 

[OldManMatt]

Maybe I'm just lucky, but my pair have outlasted your 3 combined, and still have no sign of problems. They even survived an accidental trip through the wash when I left them in a trouser pocket.

I am jealous. I really did enjoy my short time with them. The sound quality was good regardless of the price. Not overbearing or bright. Natural-ish midrange..without a boomy bottom. Not very often I can use a budget IEM with a phone & not necessarily need any filters or DSP.

 

[OldManMatt]

99% of the time it's a filter problem. You can easily repair these IEMs yourself.

https://pl.aliexpress.com/item/4000898373412.html?pdp_npi=4%40dis%21PLN%2147%2C25%20z%C5%82%2147%2C25%20z%C5%82%21%21%2111.37%2111.37%21%40211b80d117187376916473903e0d8c%2110000015291992966%21sh%21PL%21917729523%21&spm=a2g0o.store_pc_allItems_or_groupList.new_all_items_2007586097909.4000898373412&gatewayAdapt=glo2pol

Thank you for this link.

 

[georgehifi]

without a boomy bottom.

I'd rather "slightly boomy" to "slightly lean" in the bass.
And slightly lean is where these are for me still after about 10hrs of use.

Cheers George

 

[kencreten]

Couldn't help myself. Got some. I have some Truthear Zero's which I love. These were instantly fantastic. For the price? I'm flabbergasted.

 

[markanini]

I'd rather "slightly boomy" to "slightly lean" in the bass.
And slightly lean is where these are for me still after about 10hrs of use.

Cheers George

Assuming you tried more than one size of the included eartips? Small variation in fit can have a big effect on bass response, but you might already know that.

 

[georgehifi]

Assuming you tried more than one size of the included eartips? Small variation in fit can have a big effect on bass response, but you might already know that.

Yes tried them all, bass didn't get bigger or smaller, just the fit was better with the mid size or the large size

Cheers George

 

[b7676]

Yes tried them all, bass didn't get bigger or smaller, just the fit was better with the mid size or the large size

Cheers George

The increase in bass energy with the latex Feaulle H570 tips is huge.
Other sets didn't have this change with these aftermaket tips.

 

[georgehifi]

The increase in bass energy with the latex Feaulle H570 tips is huge.

They are all the same internal size inside and can't change the bass, it's just the outer flap that's different size (attached) if you get a one that's too big for the opening of your ear you can squash it up so much that it may change that internal opening, but it's uncomfortable if it squashes up that much.
Cheers George

 

[DrCWO]

Currently no time to read the whole thread.
Any comments regarding the cables and connectors?

 

[Sangthip]

Just ordered Chu 2 for my girlfriend, she got the Hola but its bit big for her tiny ears. If I understood correct, Chu 2 is smaller than Hola, so hope Chu 2 fits her better. Got them for under 10 usd/ 357 baht with discount etc, so not a big loss...

 

[markanini]

Currently no time to read the whole thread.
Any comments regarding the cables and connectors?

Anything specific you want to know? I've seen a multitude of users in other communities use the Chu 2 cable with pricier sets for color coordination, generally well liked for how it handles. One user in the thread had issue with breakage, otherwise it seems rare.

 

[Blorg]

I'd rather "slightly boomy" to "slightly lean" in the bass.
And slightly lean is where these are for me still after about 10hrs of use.

They're pretty bassy. If the fit isn't off (check with a 50Hz tone) you may be used to something with a warmer bassier profile? What other IEMs have you tried where the bass is right?

It's whether a tip seals or not, and how well it seals, that primarily affects the bass. The size of the opening typically doesn't affect the bass at all, but does affect higher frequencies that can affect perception of the bass. As in, if you measure a wide nozzle and narrow nozzle tip with a perfect seal on a measurement coupler, they will have identical bass levels but will vary in the treble. And treble levels can affect how you perceive the bass.

Even a slight break in seal though can significantly affect bass levels and I think this is where most of the perception of tip differences on bass come from, it is almost always back to a seal issue. Some tips are even designed with a textured surface, intended to slightly break seal, to slightly reduce bass levels. This sort of works but it's a pretty subtle effect, usually with IEMs it's either sealing or it isn't and you go from full bass or very near to no bass.

@b7676 Feaulle H570 and similar tips (Softears UC, Azla Crystal) can boost perceived bass levels because they seal very very well, that's where it's coming from. It can depend on the IEM in that different IEMs fit differently, so on an IEM where you have a good seal already they won't make so much difference. But an IEM you have a marginal seal on they can fix that, and that boosts the bass. I use them (or others of similar construction) mostly on IEMs that are tricky to get a good seal, they will seal well on just about anything.

Same style for sure but the Lan is bigger.

This is a good point, they look very similar but are slightly different. Both are tiny though, and while the Lan is 1.5mm longer the Chu II is about the same thicker. I can lie on my side with both of them without the IEM being pressed in. The largest difference is the tuning, the Chu II has a lot more bass than the Lan.

 

[herr.jemine]

Did you try EQ? Assuming you didn't have any other issue with fit or function, might be worth trying at least the manufacturers official profile.

this EQ works, sounds much better now, I didn't expect it! weird IEMs

 

[markanini]

this EQ works, sounds much better now, I didn't expect it! weird IEMs

Glad to hear that!

 

[Jimbob54]

Did you try EQ? Assuming you didn't have any other issue with fit or function, might be worth trying at least the manufacturers official profile.

Filter 1: ON PK Fc 25 Hz Gain -4.7 dB Q 0.300
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 200 Hz Gain -5.0 dB Q 0.700
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1400 Hz Gain -2.5 dB Q 1.600
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 3500 Hz Gain -4.8 dB Q 1.000
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 9000 Hz Gain -2.0 dB Q 1.600

Where did you get that profile from pls? Moondrop were very cagey about telling me the May DSP settings.

 

[CedarX]

Where did you get that profile from pls? Moondrop were very cagey about telling me the May DSP settings.

With Chu-II, the Link App lets you see the manufacturers profiles (+ visual).

Notice that, for me, Filters 1 & 5 are slightly different from what @markanini got…

Not sure why May was treated different. I just re-download Link to make sure I have the latest version and still the same: you can’t see the default EQs with May… unlike Chu-II.

EDIT: my screenshot does not show the curve for whatever reason. But it does show in Link… sometimes…