Moondrop - Chu 2

The biggest difference between my Shure/Klipsch IEMs and Moondrop/7hz (I own Chu2 and SSR and demoed Aria, Starfield and 7hz Eternal) is how bright the modern ones are. Shure (along with Westone) has a reputation for dark signatures and many people don't like them, however in their defense, the filters can be replaced (Knowles BA filters affect the sound) and they respond to EQ extremely well. Klipsch X7i is like a more "fun" Etymotic ER4 to me, it recesses the treble just about right to make it non-fatiguing while keeping the detail and relative neutrality, and does similarly with bass. Aria and Starfield sounded extremely similar (in being V-leaning) but Aria had a wider soundstage. They're basically all-rounders in my opinion, though Aria's soundstage was really outstanding, out of everything I heard it's only second to XBA-A3/Z5 (but these are hard to beat). Treble makes them sound more lively than old BA sets. 7Hz Eternal actually reminded me of Klipsch because it also seems to try and balance between neutrality and the more popular V-shape. SSR tries to achieve "true" diffuse field signature and can get fatiguing but ends up sounding very detailed, and it's impressively "fast" for a single DD. Overall they have different strengths (Shure has insane isolation and build quality and I love how drums sound on them thank to their "speed" and impact, Klipsch is a great all-rounder and smallest of them all, Moondrop SSR has amazing technicalities for how cheap it is) and I can't pick a favorite, though I mostly use Klipsch right now.

First Chapter: Eyes The Moondrop Chu 2 impresses with its sleek design and sturdy metal housing, exuding a premium feel despite its affordable $20 price point. The minimalist aesthetic with subtle branding appeals to those who appreciate understated elegance. However, the absence of the popular spring tips included with the original Moondrop Chu is a notable downside. These tips were well-regarded for their comfort and secure fit, so users might need to seek aftermarket options. Additionally, the cable feels flimsy and less robust, which detracts from the overall build quality. Despite these setbacks, the Chu 2 maintains a positive visual and tactile experience, balancing form and function effectively. Second Chapter: Ears The true essence of any IEM lies in its audio performance, and the Moondrop Chu 2 performs competently in this regard. Equipped with dynamic drivers, the Chu 2 offers a sound signature that is balanced and enjoyable for a range of musical genres, though it doesn't excel in any particular area. Starting with the lows, the Chu 2 provides a bass response that is tight and present. It handles bass lines adequately, offering enough impact for genres like electronic and hip-hop without overwhelming the mix. While it may not deliver the deepest or most powerful bass, it maintains a controlled and pleasing low-end performance. The mids are clear and detailed, allowing instruments and vocals to come through with good clarity. However, in certain tracks, vocals can feel slightly recessed, causing the vocal presence to be less prominent, especially in busier mixes. Despite this, the mids remain smooth and generally well-balanced, providing a satisfying listening experience. Highs are well-extended and articulate, offering a touch of sparkle without becoming harsh or sibilant. The treble response ensures that details are rendered with precision, enhancing the overall listening experience. While the highs are not exceptionally airy or bright, they complement the rest of the frequency range well. Overall, the Moondrop Chu 2 delivers a balanced and enjoyable sound that is quite impressive for its price point, making it a strong contender in its category. Third Chapter: Brain In conclusion, the Moondrop Chu 2 stands out as a well-balanced IEM within its price range. It offers a compelling combination of build quality, aesthetics, and audio performance that is hard to match in this segment. The versatility of the Chu 2 is particularly notable; it handles a wide range of genres with ease, providing a balanced and enjoyable sound signature that appeals to both casual listeners and audiophiles. Its balanced sound profile also makes it a versatile option for gaming, where accurate audio representation can enhance the gaming experience. However, the absence of the popular spring tips from the original Chu is a significant downside, potentially affecting comfort and fit for some users. Additionally, the cable's quality does not match the rest of the build, feeling thin and potentially prone to wear and tear. In some tracks, vocals may seem less present, which can be a drawback for those who prioritize vocal clarity. Despite these cons, the Moondrop Chu 2 remains an excellent choice for those seeking a high-quality, balanced IEM at an affordable price. Its ability to perform well across different use cases, including music and gaming, makes it a versatile and valuable addition to any audio enthusiast's collection. While it may not excel in every aspect, it certainly holds its own and offers great value within its price range.

Well i think it's quite a big upgrade. They also come with a detachable cable which the gen 1s don't have. For 20 bucks you can't really go wrong

Moondrop has cables with mic

Moondrop Chu 2, small metal sturdy shell, good sound, get the 3.5 version not the dsp one since the dsp cable sucks, and a JCALLY dongle if you don't have a 3.5 jack

Truthear Gate & Moondrop Chu 2 seem to be decent options below 2k. Both are comfortable, sound good & have mics. Go for Gate imo.

I WHOLE HEARTEDLY AGREE WITH YOUR POINTS: https://preview.redd.it/vwxf7i53neye1.jpeg?width=2377&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9aafdf70e38f01e9e6e88692e4c7f79caca103d8 This is MY collection...and I'm very early in the journey. I don't have the budget, knowledge or experience to blind buy a 500USD+ set of in ears that may or may not fit my ears or my preferences. While my journey doesn't completely fit OP's blueprint...I have/had the same thought process regarding purchasing IEMs. Not pictured are the Moondrop Chu 2 and 7Hz Sonus. I started with the Chu 2, 7Hz Zero 2 and Kiwi Ears Cadenza. From listening, watching and reading reviews...I was able to learn about all the terms, labels, and vocabulary to describe what I like or don't like. I threw money at the Wyvern Abyss...I mean...LOOK AT THEM😂. The Kz Castor Bass was a curiosity buy...want to hear if a set touting bass response was really that bassy. My next steps were the NiceHCK F1 Pros, Kiwi Ears Canta and the 7Hz Sonus. The F1 Pros and the Sonu were on sale at the time of purchase...good value and able to narrow things down more for myself. I knew I liked the planar sound...I have a set of open ear planar cans. The F1s felt disappointing (until I tip rolled) The Sonus was about much for my taste (in the mids) The Cantas were quite nice for me. By this point...I had a good grasp of what I was looking for and the direction (s) I want to go in. AFUL Performer 5+2 is currently my go-to...for all around listening. Sourced from R2R DAC lined out into a desktop tube amp. It's like a warm blanket on crisp bright and snowy winter day. I picked up the Hexa because I wanted to hear the hype...and yes...they definitely fulfill the hype and then some. I've EQed my IEMs... especially the planar. They can mimic the sound...but it's only a part of the equation. I now rotate through 3-4 sets at my desktop listening station. The cheapo ones all have 3.5mm out for around the house or for bed. If they break...ill decide if I want to replace. Tip rolling is a journey of itself. Some tips can dramatically change an IEM and rescue it from the bottom of the pile. My Planars now sport foam tips...easing off the treble was huge. Anyway...long post...if you got this far thanks for sticking with my diarrhea of words. TLDR: I agree with the OP

Try the moon drop chu2’s theyre under $25 on amazon!

I didn't like the Chu 2 in comparison to my Chu 1, BL03, and Aria 1s which I also own. I think my main problem is the included eartips were a poor fit for my ears, maybe foamies or springtips would have been better. I went ahead and ordered the Zero:2 and along with a multipack of the same foamies I use with my BL03s. I will report back how they sound stock, and compare both with better fitting ear tips (if the Zero:2s need em).

Here's my journey in short: Brought the chu 2, impressed me a lot, got greedy, returned it and brought the ew300, extremely disappointed. My preferences (not in order): 1. Enough punchy bass without bleeding (this was what impressed me in the chu2) 2. Non muddied good mids (one of the two things that I hated about the ew300 was that it gets muddled in busy tracks and also seemed a bit recessed) 3. Lower treble (second thing I hate about ew300 being the weird piezoelectric metallic timbre and peaky treble) Current choices (kinda in order): 1. Aful explorer (doubtful about the bass bleeding and muddied mids) 2. Truthear hexa (I can live with lower bass and slightly brighter treble if it means I am getting cleaner mids) 3. Kefine delci 4. letshouer s08 (heard it has high planar treble) 5. Truthear nova 6. Tangzu fudu (free eartips) Feel free to recommend anything else.

Here's my audiophile journey so far from the chu 2 to the ew300 to the hexa. **Moondrop chu 2 :** Bought the moondrop chu 2 about 2 months ago. Impressed me a lot coming from oppo enco buds 2. The bass was punchy. Everything was more clear. More details in song. I did found it to be a bit sibilant and fatiguing. This must mean my preference is the V shape signature but with a little lower treble than the chu 2. So I got greedy, decided to upgrade and returned the chu 2. Also, the chu 2 were pretty mediocre for gaming. Too much bass made hearing footsteps hard. I play CODM a lot (one of those ranked sweats), although gaming is not my priority here. **Simgot EW300 :** I was first looking for something with lower treble. Found the tangzu waner to fit my needs. Waner 2 was releasing at that time. Decided to wait for it and did a lot a research at that time while also saving money. Choice then became truthear zero red and later decided to go for the ew300 or the hexa after various reviews. The hexa had supposedly lower bass as per everyone in this subreddit and the bass in the chu 2 was one thing that impressed me a lot. So EW300 was the way. And after a month of returning the chu 2, I finally bought the EW300 HBB edition. Had a lot of hopes. and..................... It was a **TOTAL DISAPPOINTMENT**. The bass was not punchy and was too fast, the mids were recessed and muddled in busy tracks (most indian songs are pretty busy imo). The piezoelectric timbre and peaky treble gave it a somewhat unnatural sound, lacking coherency, especially noticeable at higher volume. At first I gave it sometime to adapt. After 3 days, brought audiocular d07 dac (CX30993 MAX97220) fearing that the iem maybe underpowered since it has a micro planar. Nothing changed, other than the fact that now I max out at 30% volume instead of the 80% without the dac. EW300 has its positives. The build, cable and looks felt very premium. It was very good for gaming also. Locating footsteps was very easy. It did suffer a bit when a lot was going on and the bass was still on the higher side for competitive gaming imo. Now I was confused about what sound signature I actually liked lol. As a last resort, tried to exchange the ew300 for the hexa. The thought was 'I can live with boring neutral sound with no bass but can't bear this muddled, recessed mids and metallic treble timbre'. Here's the thing. I bought these iems from headphonezone which is the best store for iems in India. They have this policy of one time exchange only and I had used it with the chu 2. As a student, 7400 inr (85 usd) was a lot and I can't save it one more time. So I emailed them if they could give me one more exchange chance and they agreed. If u are from india, just buy from them. Conceptkart and audiostore have bad customer care apparently. Else buy from linsoul and pray for no customs. So, I returned the ew300 and bought the hexa. **Truthear hexa :** Didn't expect the hexa to impress me as it doesn't have good bass and V-shape signature. and.................... it freaking impressed me, **A LOT.** Everything was way cleaner and sounded right. Holy details in every song I hear. Handled busy tracks like a champ. Bass was just enough, it did lack that exciting punch a bit (maybe I am not much of a bass head after all). Treble didn't felt peaky at all, maybe at high volumes (still way better than the chu 2). All this after hearing it for like, an hour. Will be using these for a long time to come. Extremely happy that I exchanged the ew300 for these gem of an iem. Coming to gaming, again it performed very well in busy gunfights. U can easily separate the footsteps, gunfights etc. The only downside I felt was the soundstage. Its not bad but ew300 performs little better in that regard. With the hexa, I can hear the footsteps and gunfights but can't locate it easily. The ew300 does this effortlessly. If u are looking for a gaming only iem, buy the ew300 and eq down the bass (for competitive only). **TL;DR : There's a reason the hexa is still the number one in this subreddits ranking under 100 usd. Don't underestimate the so called 'boring' neutral sound of the hexa. At least give it a try if u are new to this.** Thanks for all the help I received from this subreddit. Special thanks to dr\_wtf guy. U helped me a lot brother, keep up the good work.

Brought the chu 2 a month ago and it impressed me a lot, coming from oppo enco buds 2. So I returned it, saved more money, did my research and ended up with two choices - hexa or ew300. The first thing that impressed me with the chu 2 was the bass. The hexa had lower bass according to everyone. So I brought the ew300 hbb edition. Now here's the problem. It sounds bad. It is definitely better than my enco buds but the price increase from chu 2 is not justified. I cant compare the chu 2 and the ew300 as its been a month since I returned the chu 2. The bass is bloated. Mid bass punch is average. Overall presentation is not coherent. The recessed mids and piezoelectric treble timbre is very much audible. So I brought a dac - Audiocular d07 (cx31993) and still the sound seems same. Only this time, I max out at 30 volume instead of usual 80 without the dac. Can I do anything to improve this like buying a better dac or waiting to get adapted to it. Or should I just return this and get the hexa. I can live with lower bass but can't bear any bloated bass.

Hi! Great post. I have a question I hope you can guide me. Currently using Chu2 and I love it but looking for an upgrade which has better separation and probably better low-mids. How will be meze alba or ea500 lm? Although not a fan of harsh treble so ew300? Or anything else you suggest. I loved my old samsung buds pro in terms of sound but, hated the fit. I hope you got my point. And thanks a lot

A 20$ iem won't be as good as a 500$ headphone but for the value each of them offer for their price, iems usually have more to give. My moondrop chu 2 is almost at par when it comes to gaming with my jbl 700bt and costs 3 times less. I'd suggest those or salnotes zero. If you have more cash to spare go for the Truthhear x Crinacle Zero BLUE ($50) to get the most bang for you buck.

Im new to iems and i bought my first ever pair of moondrop chu 2. I love them and im looking forward to my next pair. Which of these is best for apex, best for warzone, and best for overall gaming and music? Or do you have any other recommendations under $100

Moondrop Chu 2. I have em and they're easily a recommendation for balanced iems.

I'd Shure get something else, Moondrop Chu 2 are great natural leaning iems for $19.

is Chu2 worth $20? yes duh is it $20 better than what you have? up to you. adding more $20 iems to your collection is just that, an addition. upgrade would be moving up to the $50-80 tier imo

what's affordable to you IEMs have cheap low-cost options for decent sound quality. moondrop chu 2s off the top of my head but theres so many recs in that $20-50 price range

I’ve CHU 2, and while being more detailed they have always bothered me about how harsh it can sound sometimes at treble extension.

I'm using Moondrop Chu 2.

Just handle them with care, I only use them at my desktop PC so nothing can hurt the cable, but they're awesome and for just 20 bucks I've never had such a good sound. They even beat higher class IEMs that are way more expensive. Awesome for a really good price for sure.

[https://www.amazon.com/-/de/dp/B0CB8HHS8V?ie=UTF8](https://www.amazon.com/-/de/dp/B0CB8HHS8V?ie=UTF8) Those are the ones I'm using currently. The ones with the interchangeable cable.

There are two tunings of the Castor, Neutral, and Bass Focused. The Bass Focused IEM is kinda slow and lethargic on the bottom end. But its a $20 IEM, and if its your first, you will be happy. The Harmon Neutral tuned version can come off as a little thin until you give it at least one switch up on the bass side. Upper mids its decent with tuning as well. But the sound stage they have is quite impressive for what they are, and the price they are sold at. If i had to choose from something like the Castor Neutral, or the ChuII, i would pick the ChuII, or the original 7hz Zero, or spend another $3 on the Ziigaat Nuo. If its the Castor Bass, i would go with the Zero2, or ChuII again. Just because it graphs more bass, doesnt mean its better bass.

All the three IEMs are somewhat specialized or niche in my opinion. None of these does something exceptionally well in everything. But, if you are talking about versatile IEMs then the list goes like this: Moondrop Chu 2> Castor Pro > Wan'er If your priority is Bass and fun sounding IEM that is good for gaming and music: Castor Pro> Chu 2 > Wan'er Castor Pro is good if you want a fun V-shaped sound. Why you don't get many reviews of it mostly because reviewers do not like KZ or the sound signature it offers. So, if you want insight of Castor Pro, you have to look for user reviews. Or check the review of ToneDeafMonk's Castor Bass. Castor Pro is an upgrade and fixes the things that Castor Bass had. If your priority is vocals and smooth treble: Wan'er outshines everything in this price range. Additionally, there's Tripowin Vivace if you want something that is versatile and good for gaming in that price range.

Chu 2 no contest

Some people dislike that the nozzles on the chu 2 are unlacquered brass and if they get wet will start to get some green oxides. That's literally it. You can wipe the nozzles off every now and then with a paper towel. Also the chu 2 has replaceable filters, unlike anything else. Chu 2 is by far the best all rounder. Wan'er are a total tier down and kz is a shady company not worth supporting (the castor is only okay too) The only $20 options in the same tier as the chu 2 are the kinera wyvern and the tanchjim bunny

I don't have the beast, but I would say the wyvern is as good. Bear in mind that cost isn't always a mark of higher quality. Chu 2, wyvern or tanchjim bunny are my votes

No it is not. Not at all. It is okay at best. The chu 2 is the best. Or the zero 1 for gaming.

I haaaaaated the original chu. The chu 2 is wildly different. The gate is jusr mediocre compared to the old hola.

Chu 2 for "do it all". Zero 1 for explicitly gaming.

I think the tiers that really went "oh that was a definite bump in quality" is listening to the moondrop chu 2, then something like the simgot em6l, and the the apevoix Grit. Each one was just a clear improvement in better detail, more resolving, better dynamics and soundstage, etc. But honestly I have multi thousand dollar over ear headphones and after I got the Grit.... I don't know if there's really a better sounding iem under like 7 or 800 bucks. It definitely pegged the price to performance as far as it goes.

Moondrop chu 2 or Tripowin vivace + some cheap dongle is my rec , something like truthear zero is a little bit better

Moondrop chu 2 or Moondrop lan

Take something comfortable like Moondrop chu 2 or Lan, if you go up a little take Sennheiser ie 200 or Kadenz , also stock up on eartips or alcohol wipes. If you connect directly to the microphone there may be interference and background noise

Gate, if you ever buy the Moondrop Chu series, get replacement filters as well as you might have to replace the embedded filters (I had to replace my Chu 2's filters after a week of usage)

had the worst experience with moondrop chu 2. Mic didn't last 1 month and they don't provide warranty on mic.

So my second pair of Steelseries Arctis Pro Wireless bit the dust and while they were in the warranty process I used a pair of Moondrop Chu 2s with Springtips. To me these budget IEMs sound just as good if not better than the Arctis Pros. Now that the warranty process is over I have a $330 gift card to Amazon and I want to dive into some better IEMs and I'm having a hard time choosing between 2 options. To give some more information these will mostly be used for gaming. I play games like War Thunder, Hunt Showdown, and CoD but I also play a wide variety of other games. I've seen that Fresh Reviews gives high ratings to both of these, which is expected since he collabed on the Aretes. I'm leaning towards the Aretes because I kind of don't want to spend the extra money but at the same time I can't shake the "what if" feeling that I'm getting since I plan on using whichever one I get for a long time. I'm not really looking to pick up multiple IEMs just for the hobby of it. Option 1 is to get the ZiiGaat Aretes + Tripowin Zonie cable + Dunu S&S eartips. I've heard great things about the Aretes but several people mentioned upgrading the cable and eartips. I could just use the Springtips that I already have but I also want to try a different style of eartip to see if I like those better. Option 2 is to spend $100 over the gift card and get the Mangird Tea Pros. As somebody that's already happy using IEMs that are as cheap as the Chu IIs is it really that much of an upgrade to spend an extra 25% on the Tea Pros vs the Aretes? TLDR: Are the Mangird Tea Pro worth the $100 extra over the Ziigaat Arete?

If you're looking to find your sound signature then just get two or three of the budgets. Truthear Gate, Moondrop Chu2, and Tangzu Wa'ner. 3 different sounding budget iem's.

OMG ! this comment reallly made me think . like the target curve itself is v shaped. thanks a lot will go with moondrop chu 2. but by clear and detail i meant, if you pull a cheap earphone the audio resolution and clarity takes a drastic hit. ig thats more on how good the drivers are

I see, personally, Moondrop Chu 2 gets channel imbalance in moist places, so I'm avoiding them, I would get the Zero, but the problem is I've heard that they have a problematic fit, I figure it would be a gamble to just buy them, as I can't really demo them in person, so I suppose I'm going with the Gate, did you face any problems with the Zero's fit?

Well, I'd appreciate if you could help me a little.I actually got the Chu 2, unfortunately, due to moisture problems it developed a lot of channel imbalance, I now want a second iem, around the same budget, About my experience with the sound of the Chu 2, It had a nice amount of bass, maybe slightly too much, but it was okay, was happy with the treble too, but the mids just seemed too pulled back, I felt it was a bit too on the warm side, electric guitars felt a little warm and dull and didn't have that bite, I felt it could do with a little more emphasis on the vocals. Now, I wanted to try out the og Zero, but I've heard a lot of bad things about the fit, I had to use the smallest size tips with the Chu 2, so I'm unsure if the Zero would fit in my ears or not, and heck, even then my right ear could've used a slightly smaller tip size. I've decided on between the Gate, Wan'er or the Zero if it fits. Could you advise me on what I should buy? Any other suggestions except the iems I just listed? Thanks for any help, I would greatly appreciate it

How big are the nozzles? I had to return the red zero as they were too big for my ears. Currently using chu ii with w3 ii and very impressed still!

Got it. How "large" are they in reality? I could not get my motorbike helmet on with the zero red. Can get helmet on with chu ii with balaclava. Taking off needs practice ha.

i have both and currently enjoy the zero 2 slightly more

Moondrop chu 2, tangzu wan'er, 7hz x crinacle zero:2

I tried the Chu IIs, sounded fine, very good for the price, with good subbass extension, maybe a bit muddy bass, lacking clarity in comparison to my more expensive over ears (obviously, I didn't expect them to compete with $200 cans but they did a surprisingly good job anyway). The right ear failed completely after a couple of months. Picked up these to try because I wasn't perfectly happy with the Chus; they aren't quite as good in the subbass region, bass overall is less muddy (but slightly less impact as well), clarity in the mids and highs is a *little* better. Again, impressive for the price but I'm itching to upgrade if I'm going to keep using in-ears. I'd say the Chus were a slightly better fit for my ears, more comfortable and smaller, and I liked the stock cable on the Chus a bit more. Overall minute differences, as you'd expect for products competing in the same ultra-budget audiophile space. Haven't owned them Zero:2s long enough to say whether they are more durable or not.

Definitely yes. Chu 1 has a horrible cable with a really stupid earhook design which proved to be unusable for me. I used them for a few weeks, put them in a drawer and never touched them again. The sound was fine, but it was simply not worth it for me for how terrible the cable is. Seriously, who came up with that thing? And it's non-detachable too. Chu 2? Genuinely nice, detachable cable and a refined sound. I would describe the Chu 1 sound as "boring" compared to Chu 2. The difference is not huge, but it's there. These days Chu 2 are my main outside headphones along with Porta Pro.

Ok so this if from my personal experience.... I have several iem range from sub 100 until 500 some I lent to my friends or I just keep on my house...I have several friends which audio hobbyist they have audio store so I have opportunity to try before I buy one..so someday I want buy 1000usd iem, read reddit and head-fi forum then go to my friend store...so I tried moondrop chu2 compare to my kadenz yes the quality is very different, compare again with letshuoer s15 the s15 better than my kadenz for my taste...so when I put monarch mk3 it's blow my ear, damn this iem so amazong and I decide to bought it....then several weeks later my friend call me then say I have 64audio tia demo and annihilator just come....with fully excited I'm going there when I tried both of them, I dont feel WOW like I tried monarch mk3 the first time then at that time I realize, mk3 is my peak and I cant tell the significant difference between mk3 - annihilator and tia So thats why I like to try and buy several 100-500usd iem and sometimes sub100 too because I can tell the difference and I can choose whats signature I want..like a week ago I choose simgot ea500lm rather than ew300 because I found the sound more aggresive because mostly my iem is warm and neutral.... So from my story, I have limitation and taste for me, spent 1000 iem in monarch mk3 is one of the best choise I ever made and beyond that price point my ears cant tell fhe difference so..but back again thats my experience and opinion....

Top 10, didn't bother to list more 1. HD6XX: After getting my hands on the HD6XX years ago, I don't get that "wow" feeling again no matter what I try. "Thanks to" the HD6XX whenever I try every HiFiMan, Meze, AKG, etc, I was like, 'That's it?'. HD6XX had ruined my headphones upgrade journey. 2. FiiO FT1: About a few months ago, I went to a Headphone Expo in Guangzhou, China. There I tested the FT1, it has that "oh this is nice" vibe to it which I haven't had since the Moondrop Cosmo. They offered a discounted price that I simply couldn't refuse so here I am. 3. Sennheiser Momentum 3: My travel/outdoor companion. Still one of the best built and sounds wireless over ear, no argument allowed. 4. Moondrop Kadenz: I got it at a decent price in China when released because of my membership of '客亭', a Chinese HiFi retailer.(Cheaper than KATO MSRP). My daily IEM whenever I don't feel like using my Anker A40. Sounds good, came with a nice dongle (ECHO-B), comfortable to me. 5. Sony MDR CD900ST: I bought second hand in Japan. Mainly for it's heritage and look. I use it for my studio as a secondary monitor at times. Sounds good, meh comfort and the The First Take scandal. 6. Sony MH750: My first ever "monitor", always got a soft spot for this IEM and goes back to listen to music with it. Sounds great, good comfort, compact. A bit bassy but overall sounds correct. Used it for mixing and composing in the past. Maybe it's nostalgia for it to be in the top 10. 7. Moondrop Chu 2: An IEM for testing equipment and arcade gaming. 8. 7Hz Salnotes Zero: A backup IEM for testing equipment 9. Nicehck DB2: I always use this to show people the disadvantage of BA driver. Sound good in the mid and bass because of the decent DD, missed the mark because of the BA driver handling the treble. 10. Soundcore Anker A40: A TWS for me to trash around. Sounds ok after EQ. Tbh, who needs HiFi audio quality when you're on the street or watching normal YouTube videos.

Yeah, I agree the Kato cable is pretty nice. Very well behaved while being very lightweight. The only reason I don't use mine is the fixed 3.5mm plug. I mostly use 4.4mm. The cable on the Chu 2 is also surprisingly nice (for a 3.5mm-only cable), considering it comes with such a cheap IEM. It definitely looks and feels a bit cheap next to the Kato one, but the way it fits and behaves is very similar.

Mark from Super Review tends to put the Chu 2 cable on some really expensive IEMs because he likes it as well. Out of the ultra-budget IEMs, the ones with good cables are the Chu 2 and Truthear Gate. The latter has the same cable that used to come with the Hola, but now also available in white as well as black. Both very good, but also quite different cables. The Chu 2 is softer; the Hola/Gate cable has a higher quality feel to it. The Wan'er cable is crap.

Personally I think the Chu 2 sounds far better than the Wan'er. The Wan'er has great mids, but not so much outside of that. The Chu 2 does the whole frequency range well. It's mildly v-shaped, but not so v-shaped that it sounds recessed in the mids or overdone. It's not super bassy either. I can't check them side-by-side right now but from memory they aren't noticeably bassier than the Wan'er. Build quality is indeed very good and they are quite handy because they are so small & pocketable. Also good for people with small ears. The only complaints that seem to come up fairly often is that all-metal IEMs like these can be prone to condensation, so you need to be careful about that. Also eventually the paint will flake off, but how well they are looked after will be a factor in that one.

I think the Chu 2 is a bit cheaper than the LAN. I actually prefer the Chu 2 personally, but it's got more of a mild-v tuning with more bass, whereas the LAN is more neutral, and more midrange-focused.

Not really in order, as different tunings: * Moondrop Chu 2 - mild v-shape, great IEM * QKZ HBB - warm/bassy, great IEM * Blon BL03 - fun v-shape (but the fit is terrible) Bright neutral has a few options - I prefer the original Chu but the crappy fixed cable lets it down. The 7Hz Zero is a bit better in that regard, but I don't think it sounds quite as good. Arguably it's better to pay the extra for the Moondrop LAN for this signature because it's the best one until you go up significantly, but OTOH it's also kind of overpriced for what it is (I think it's around $40 normally, but it's basically just a Chu 2 with less bass). The 7Hz Zero 2 is OK as well but I personally find it a bit of an overly safe middle ground between other, better IEMs. Like the QKZ HBB, if you want warm but don't want to go quite that warm. It's probably the one that's the closest competitor to the Wan'er, as a better all-rounder. Although I find the Wan'er has a stand-out feature in its vocals while being weaker elsewhere, but the Zero 2 doesn't have a single stand-out thing it does better than anything else. It could maybe get the award for the okayest $20 IEM, as it doesn't do anything bad, but nothing stands out as particularly good either. You also have things like the KZ EDC Pro as probably the best beginner IEM, for around $5. It's very close to the Chu 2 but a bit bassier and slightly less refined in the treble. Probably more comfortable than the Chu 2 and less prone to condensation issues. The KZ Castor Bass, around $15, is good for a really hard-hitting bass tuning, although it's not an all-rounder and the tuning is a bit grainy.

Wan'er is very midrange-focused and does vocals very well, but isn't as good outside of that. The Chu 2 is a better all-rounder, but maybe isn't as good if you mainly care about vocals.

I would say Chu 2 for mostly instrumental classical. Much better highs and lows than the Wan'er. It's got a bass boost but it's not super bassy, Wan'er has pretty similar bass levels but it's not as well controlled as the Chu 2.

I mean, if you really don't like the Chu 2 then it might just be a bad match for your HRTF in which case you could try the Wan'er. But if it's the bass that bothers you, it'll probably be worse not better. I'd look at something like the Moondrop SSR instead, which is bright-neutral with a huge roll-off in the sub-bass so you won't hear/feel as much of the low-end "rumble", but it still has some bass in the main area where most instruments are.

It's a different sound. More bass, slightly more v-shaped in general, but the treble is also more refined with less of the graininess that the Chu has in places. The removable cable is actually quite nice, so that's a huge upgrade in itself. I also quite like the little pleather pouch it comes with, it's a bit more compact and feels nicer than the felt one (although the felt one will probably last longer). It's definitely an upgrade in just about every way, but if you specifically like the low-bass, bright-neutral tuning of the original Chu then you should perhaps consider the LAN instead, although I don't think it's worth the price unless you really want that tuning - I prefer the Chu 2 out of the 3.

I haven't heard the Gate yet, but from what I know about it, the tuning is going to be too similar to the Chu 2 for that to be a useful distinction. The Chu 2 is all you need as an all-rounder. I'd go for the QKZ HBB as your bassy set because it's stupidly good value. Then get the Chu 2, the Gate, or perhaps something a bit more bright-neutral like the Moondrop LAN if you want an even more contrasting, neutral tuning (with flat or "reduced" bass). FYI, the Chu 2 isn't really basshead levels of bass, but it does have a slight bass boost that gives it plenty of bass presence when the music calls for it. The HBB on the other hand is bassy, warm and laid back but it has a very constant bass presence (which is part of what makes it a relaxing sort of sound). If you want a more energetic bassy set then you can look at the KZ Castor Bass instead of the HBB. It has a very hard-hitting sort of bass combined with a clean midrange. The treble is slightly peaky though and I'd say the HBB is better tuned overall, as it sounds more natural, even though both of them have noticeably unnatural bass levels.

Personally I'd go for the Chu 2 over the Gate because the treble on the Gate is a bit grainy, though you do need to be a bit more careful about humidity because of the metal shells. They're both a similar Harman-inspired, mild v-shape.

Neutral and flat are the same thing, although neutral is often used more loosely to describe a range of things that are neutral-ish, but not necessarily dead-on flat neutral (although nothing is truly flat neutral anyway). Balanced means not tilted towards lots of bass or lots of treble, but *can* describe a v-shape (more bass & treble but reduced mids). Truthear Hexa, but be aware that the nozzles are a bit bigger than average, so avoid if you have small ear canals. It's quite flat neutral with a fairly warm midrange i.e., doesn't sound thin, even though it doesn't have a lot of bass. If not that then the Moondrop LAN which is more of a bright-neutral so noticeably reduced bass but still pretty neutral overall, just more vocal-centric. A bit cheaper than the Hexa and much better if you have small ears. If you want a balanced, mild v-shape (a bit of extra bass & treble but not enough to lose midrange clarity) then consider the Moondrop Chu 2 as well.

They all perform pretty similarly. I'd have to A/B to remind myself but I *think* the Chu 2 is slightly ahead of the rest. The Gate might be a bit wider sounding actually because it's a bit brighter than the Chu 2, but IMO it's not as well tuned as the others and can sound a bit "scratchy" at times. If you want to avoid too much bass, you will probably prefer the 7Hz Zero as it's a bright-neutral tuning (Chu 2 & Gate are both mild v-shape, Wan'er & Zero 2 are warm-neutral). With that said, none of these are basshead. Bear in mind that soundstage is a psychoacoustic effect anyway, so what sounds wider to one person might not sound like that to someone else. Very broadly, a slight v-shape with a lean towards more treble and less mid-bass will sound wider, but there's no guarantee everyone will hear it that way.

Truthear Zero Red, I gave them to my little sister since I bought the Moondrop Chu 2 for myself and that started our whole IEM collecting hobby

what about IEM + BT adapter ? like KZ AZ09 Pro ( SBC AAC APTX ). you can pair it with Moondrop Aria. I use it with Moondrop Chu2, works great with small mod.

I've experimented with IEMs and came to an conclusion that no IEM will ever beat the soundstage of an open-back planar pair of cans. But to be honest I had a lot of fun with budget earphone options like HEXA/Chu2/Aria SE etc and think that if the budget is limited (up to 100$), IEM is the only way to go. Most budget sub-100$ caans are just meh from both technical and tuning perspective.

1. Edition XS - when I want to enjoy music I always pick them 2. HD599se - when I work in front of my pc for many hours a day and require maximum comfort I use them. The comfiest cans in existence. Period. Plus, the warm signature is a great escape from the XS 3. HD6xx - exclusively use them for vocal-heavy songs. For critical listening the XS is much better and the 599 is just way more comfortable to be an all-rounder. 4. KSC75 - use them for my bike commute to work/daily walks. Comfortable, sounds good and can be put in a small T-shirt pocket without an issue. 5. DT770pro - I still own them and ONLY use them twice a week when I’m watching a movie/yt very late and my wife is asleep and can be waken up by the soundleak from the XS/599. IEMS - 1. Aria SE - only use in public transport. Neutrally tuned which I like. 2. Space Travel - was my commute daily driver until recently when my wife lost her APP so I had to give it to her. 3. Chu2 - meh, too much bloated low end for my liking. 4. CCA Cra - like chu2 but worse.

Maybe the Moondrop Chu 2. Reasonably small, very inexpensive, ~$20 USD, and a pretty balanced, inoffensive sound. It is wired like the IE200 you show, unlike the 2 other BT wireless buds you have photos of. And depending on your situation, if she hates it you’re only out $20 (if you find it on Amazon, in the US you have easy return policies if it’s listed as “shipped by Amazon”, so you’re not even out the $20). Something more upscale and very small would be an Etymotics ER2XR. If she’s super afraid of the triple flange tip (which really won’t puncture her brain) or can’t get used to it, there are other tips included such as foam tips that can be more comfortable. Its small bullet shape is about as good as you can find. There are other bullet ageless IEMs out there, but honestly I don’t remember all of them.

What tws are you using? Generally, an IEM can sound superior at a lower price point than a tws. There’s no need for a Bluetooth modem, ANC, transparency and all those bells and whistles that come with tws, including a battery. So it’s all about the audio, and only the audio. An IEM considerably cheaper can potentially sound better, if it meets your preferences for music, warm bassy, or bright high treble type of sound signature. Compared to a tws around the price range of $100 will be outperformed by an IEM of $50 or less. But remember you now have a wire tethered to your phone, or whatever you use. It does suppress external noise, but not as well as high quality ANC. If you want to talk to someone, you have to take an IEM out of your ear. It’s stuff like that you have to weigh against the benefit, better audio at sn affordable price point. I would start with a budget IEM and see how you like them. Something like the popular Moondrop Chu 2, or the new Tangzu Wan’er 2 for $20 are worth trying. If you like the principle of an IEM, you’re comfortable at how it integrates into your day, then you can buy a more expensive IEM of maybe $75-100 that will totally blow you away in music quality. Or you can decide “hey, this $20 set sounds great, why should I spend any more money”. Give a cheap IEM a chance. If it works out then see if you want a high quality set. If it doesn’t and you miss all the conveniences of a tws, you didn’t waste much money and know what your best step should be.

of course, i tried the moondrop ch 2 and are amaizing for only 16 bucks

I know I’m 3 months late, but the Chu 2 has better treble extension and more bass slam since it’s more V-shaped sounding compared to the Gate. However the Chu 2 can sound a bit metallic at times but it kinda depends on the songs or playlists. But If you're looking for cleaner or more natural mids, the Gate is just a better choice IMO.

I recommend starting with Chu Moondrop 2, they only cost around 30$ paired with an apple dongle and if you like it you can upgrade to more premium IEMs in the future.

I’d recommend trying a Moondrop Chu 2 for a couple reasons. I have very small ear canals and I’ve found the Chu 2 to be very comfortable with the smallest tips they provide. Second, they’re quite cheap, so if you aren’t in love with the sound profile you can spend time EQ’ing them to really research more what may meet your sound and size requirements. 

Between the two options you provided the chu2 has tiny tad bit more bass. They're both comfy but chu2 is smaller so more likely to fit smaller ears and be ever so slightly more comfy

honestly, unless she's already a big hifi-person i will 100% say the moondrop chu 2 are more than good enough. I was hesitant to buy them in case the sound was disappointing, but it's good enough that I've used them instead of my Hifiman Sundara headphones for a week straight now. there is some weakness in some frequencies compared to the Sundaras that I heard, mainly the bass (it's in no way a shrill trebly sound signature). based purely on audio quality and what I'm used to i would've easily accepted the chu 2 as a $100 set personally, to put their price to performance in perspective. and i can confirm that the fit is definitely comfortable, even if you have small ear canals, and they're tiny enough that I'm assuming if the outer ears are small they'd also fit well with a tiny bit of getting used to the feeling of them.

Better imo, while Chu 2 has a better cable and more premium metal design, the Zero 2 has a better shape for the ear and the lighter plastic is more comfy over time. As for sound signature, they are extremely similar but the Zero 2 reduces the harsh (to some) treble of the Chu 2

I’m using budget iem Moondrop Chu 2 and its great for me.

I happen to be listening to the right now, and i am listening to The Boys by Nicki and Cassie(i am nostalgically on my original iPod lol leave me alone). I think the bass is punchy when the song wants it to be. It is NOT a bassy iem at all, there are plenty with heavier bass, but i don’t feel as if I’m missing any with them like i sometimes did with the first chus, or other treblier ones

bro neither 💀 get the truthear gate from headphone zone. its on sale right now as well. available only for 1700. much better than both these iems. also better than wan'er & chu 2. or wait for the wan'er 2 (coming out in early march). also use headphone zone for buying iems. they have fantastic customer service & u also get points for buying stuff (which u can later use to get discounts on other products). i can tell u more about this stuff if u want 🙌🏻

Chu2 and wan'er sg are pretty great

kz iems are worse than chu2 in terms of build quality, agreed with the guy who suggested either cadenza or ew200

I’ve got a fair share of entry level iems (7hz zero2, wa’ner sg, chu2, TE zero red) but I use the castors (harmen improved bass) daily as a beater set in the gym. You can’t really beat them for the price. They do well with EQ and a really nice set of tips for solid seal (spinfit w1/dunu s&s/tri clarion)

go with Tangzu waner 2 or moondrop chu 2

I've owned a total of $$$$ in headphones and amps over the years, and the \~$20-tier chinese IEMs are some of the most fun I've had recently. My current favorites are the Tangzu Wan'er (warm and smooth) and Moondrop Chu 2 (clean and thumpy).

I got chu2 totally disappointed becouse of annoying vocals and high bass.. I like more instrumental music so what about waner or any other option for me

Chu 2 is for bass lovers.. What about waner for classical music i love instrumental music. Waner suits to me??

Chu2 is annoying in my ears. Lows are too bad.. When the instrumental songs came you have to boost your volume but they sucks and tickling in my ears.. One thing is sure. Chu2 is too good for bigginners. Becouse clarity is good bass is too good mm

That was a surprise. Moondrop chu 2 and buds 2 almost same bass and vocals on audioculer dac. Even i cant belive that 🙄moondrop sounds good clarity. Thats ok but almost same

Chu 2 DSP > Chu 2. Zero2 imo is not competitive anymore. Hola 2 comings soon and likely will be great.

At least those. Depends also on you favoured amount of bass, but Chu 2 (analog), several KZ, TRN etc cheap stuff like Castor. I'd need to remind me self of a bunch by listening again since it's been a while, but Gate just isn't good in today's market. Hola would be.

Gate imo is very mid. Shouty, poor bass quality. Zero 2 is a bit meh in todays market. Chu 2 is okay, but not fun or exciting. Chu 2 DSP is much better. Cadenza is very nicely tuned, but bass lacks dynamics. Wan'er sounds a bit messy. None of these have nice bass really. QKZ x HBB has really nice bass, but are pretty dark so would EQ a bit. Should try Nuo again since maybe they had good punchy bass.

You mean Chu 2 DSP? Those are really nice. Cadenza is better than Chu 2 analog, but DSP is at least better value.

Moondrop chu is very bassy comparable to ie200 while ie200 can get really loud, chu doesnt. I’ve broke one pair of chu 2 during our bands practice. They cannot tolerate loudness.

Chu 2 cannot be loud and are a bit muddy…

I had these, they are broken within 4 months of use 💀 but the good side is it's comfortable and sounds 7/10

Got it from Red Ape. Did not hear a sound from them since.

Unluckers I guess

I bought it on release and have never stopped recommending it to anyone who asked me for a $100-200 budget.

IEMs are for audiophiles and audio books and Headphones for gaming. If you will ever play games then go for headphones. Best IEMs i am aware of is Moondrop chu 2 that has both with mic and without mic option.(This post is NOT sponsored, it is a personal opinion) https://preview.redd.it/2t646nthrc8e1.png?width=1524&format=png&auto=webp&s=139722d40218dcf05d112dc2c396ea8c7b98842d

If you want something which is nuetral and clear with good bass get the CHU 2(3.5mm) If you only care about BASS then get the castor pro. The have really prominent bass but lack clarity in highs. Tangzu Wan'er have a shitty build quality, since you come from the samsung AKGs, tangzu will feel really cheap, and they have okayish sound quality with nice bass. overall i would suggest moondrop chu 2, really great build(metallic/aluminium alloy) built, and have a good balanced sound with a nice bass that doesnt get into your brain, KZ castors are purely bass prominent!

Moondrop Chu 2 is good. Though, the default wires it comes with does not have a mic built in. A replacement wire with mic will be +800 Rs. Or try KZ models, they should be available under 2K.

For gaming you need to check imaging/soundstage of an iem. The better it is, the better you will know where the enemy is coming from. To find out go read reviews. https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/kz-zsn-pro-2.26992/reviews Plus less bass is better for competitive or multiplayer gaming so that the sound effects do not mask more important sounds but if you play single player then you will need that bass. **Remember boat bass is considered bassy or bass head in iem world. Here if they say it has good bass or balanced then compared to boat earphone it means it has ok bass and if someone says neutral then it has very less bass.** if you want bass, qkz x hbb or kz castor bass. If you want mainly for gaming then 7hz salnote zero and Simgot ew100p (have very less bass) For in between kz zsn pro 2, 7hz salnote zero 2 and moondrop chu 2 (kz n chu2 similar in sound for most part except treble, zsn can sound harsh for some songs) Tangzu waner are ok for gaming but great for music especially if you like vocal forward and prefer a decent amount of bass. How do you pick, compare reviews and also go to youtube type iem name and add this line, sound demo or sound test.

I just got simgot ew300s and the bass is definitely solid. I like the bass on these much better than the castor bass. they’re about $60 usd. I use the gold nozzle that comes with the pink rubber ring so it lowers treble slightly and gives a bit of a warmer sound. the silver one is nice too but a bit too spicy for me, highs could be a bit much with the silver nozzles. I def recommend them tho cuz they impressed me. my iems before that were moondrop chu 2 and castor bass and they were both solid but the ew300s definitely outperform those two. edit: the ew300s are very similar with iems like the kefine delci and aful explorer. I personally prefer these because of how they look but they all sound very similar. even s12 sounds very similar to these, but those are around $110 and planar. the ew300 has a hybrid three driver setup. it’s up to u to try them and find what you enjoy

chu 2 has good bass and especially good sub bass

I use my moon drops chu2 for casual gaming for my switch. I alternate between supermix 4 and tea pros for pc.

All of them have own advantages. All good just consider better deal and your preference of sound. Waner 2 is a good package for its content otherwise its on par with others. Wyvern is good looker, though fit can be issue as it quite large, I returned them due to this but I'd say best sounding in the 4. Cadenza is all rounder OK. CHU2 is good due to DSP.

Tangzu Wan’er - Overall balanced sound signature with slightly forward vocals. Good for any type music plus vocals heavy songs sound rich and natural. 7hz Zero 2- Overall balanced sound signatures with better bass than Tangzu Wan’er. Good for any type of music and gaming as well. You can also try: Moondroo Chu 2- These are More balanced than other two with good bass balanced vocals and treble.Good for any type of music. If this is you first IEM i would suggest you to go with Chu 2 or Zero 2. I have Wan’er and l love them but forward vocals not for everyone.

Yeah if it’s just for podcasts get a $20 pair and you’ll be just fine. You won’t hear more sounds with more expensive pairs if that’s what you’re thinking. I’d suggest Moondrop Chu 2 or Wan’er SG as they’re both neutral and decently comfortable.

Not entirely sure at lower price points. The original Chu is pretty close to flat, with a bit of treble bit though.  But as I said if you’re just looking for a great all rounder, you might want to avoid a “flat” IEM. Anything that requires any bass will IMO not be satisfying enough. Hexa although not flat is pretty good for an allrounder.  You might want tri try a cheap IEM first and keep that for a few weeks or months to see what it is you want. Chu or Chu II (more bass) might be a good fit

Might wanna look at something like the zero:red or moondrop may. If you’d rather stay lower in price the moondrop chu 2 has been a favorite of mine. Also what groups are you into?

EW200 iirc doesn't have that problem, as for Chu 2 it's really just the nozzle while the shell itself is fine, plenty of IEMs have metal shell.

I have them as well and came to a similar conclusion... I actually prefer using me cheap moondrop chu 2s for their more laid back sound (that has bass)

Moondrop Chu2, Truthear Hola, 7hz Zero:2, Tangzu Waner …are all fantastic IEMs in a cheap price bracket (20-30€/$). Choose randomly and you won’t be disappointed. There’s slight differences, but they won’t matter that much if your learning aversion is too strong ;)

Of those, I have the Zero:2 and Chu 2. Curious to hear your thoughts on those in comparison. For me, the fit on the Chu 2 is incredible. Sound wise compared to the Z2 it’s a little less sub bass-ey (but not a ton — it still hits with good intensity) with just a bit more treble that can bug me on certain songs (“Dumb” by Nirvana comes to mind).

I’m new too, so I’ll lay out what I’ve learned in the early stages of my journey so far. Hopefully it helps a little. Part of the problem of reading reviews is that what one person calls “good bass” for one IEM, another person might call “bad bass” for the same IEM because it depends entirely on the reviewer’s personal tastes. This is where the frequency charts become useful (even though I’m not so good at reading them). If you load two at the same time (check out squig.link) you can look at the lines and see where they differ. Which one has more bass, for example. There’s more to it than just quantity of bass, but I don’t want to write a whole essay on it because I’m not really qualified to. I’ll leave that to others :) My approach is to just buy some cheap sets and figure out what tuning I like before going up to even the $50 (usd) range. So far I have KZ Castor (regular version), Truthear Hola, 7hz Zero:2, and Moondrop Chu 2. All under $30. I listen to indie rock/pop/folk, rock/metal, and hip hop primarily. I’ve determined that I like at least a little thump in my bass. Obviously it’s good for hip hop, but it’s also nice in songs where the kick drum has a hand in adding intensity. Truthfully I like all of the IEMs I’ve gotten so far, but I’m still working through comparing them. One thing that I think is incredibly important but often overlooked is the fit. If your IEM doesn’t fit properly, you won’t get a good seal, or the tips will move around, or they’ll get uncomfortable after a while, or they just won’t sound right. My KZ Castors are easily the largest of my IEMs and it can be a hassle to get a good fit and seal with them, so I tend to use them the least.

Between the Chu 2 and Zero2, they’re pretty similar to my untrained ears. Zero2 has a little more sub bass than the Chu 2; the Chu 2 has a little more treble than the Zero2. Charts indicate the Chu 2 has more recessed mids, but really I don’t know how to tell that. Nothing seems amiss to me. Vocals sound good for both. If any IEM detracted from the husky, golden glow of Cat Power’s voice I’d throw it in the garbage immediately. Between the two I’d say the Zero:2 is the more relaxed, but it’s still fun. At one point when I was comparing, the word “smooth” came to mind for the Zero2. I never got into R&B but I fired up “Life’s a Bitch”, because it’s pretty calm by hip hop standards, on my Chu 2s just now and it sounded as chill as ever. I don’t really use IEMs for gaming because I don’t have a mic cable yet, but I did experiment a little and the Zero2 was easier for pinpointing directional sounds — to what extent this quality is reflected in listening to music, I’m not yet sure, but I thought it was interesting to note. Fit is massively important for me because I listen to music pretty much all day as I have a standard office job. Working from home I’ll use whatever catches my eye. Today in the office I brought the Chu 2s with me for the day. The Chu 2s are tiny and fit like a dream. Zero2s are comfy too, but the Chu 2 is exemplary in this respect. No audio fatigue from either of them that I’ve experienced so far.

Chu 2 and Zero 2 sound kind of similar, but Zero 2 is better for gaming in my experience. I tried both and had a much easier time locating things with audio with the Zero 2 than I did with the Chu 2. Wan’er is loved by many, but I don’t have it to compare, I’m afraid.

Zero:2 and Chu 2 are both good starter sets. They sound sort of similar (imo) and both have a good, comfortable fit. I find myself using the Zero:2 most often, but would be happy with the Chu 2 if that’s all I had.

Of those you listed, I have the Holas, Zero 2s, and Chu 2s. I like them all, but if you want some extra bass for rock and hip hop (mostly what I listen to also), IMO go with the Zero 2 or Chu 2. They’re not identical, but they’re not vastly different in sound either imo. Get yourself an Apple dongle instead of the DSP version. If you end up getting more IEMs, it’ll make your life easier as most have a 3.5mm plug. Holas are discontinued, but you can still find them around once in a while. I got mine when someone pointed out a batch available on AliExpress. They’re good too, but less bassy than the other two I’ve mentioned.

Moondrop Chu 2s are popular and almost every reviewer rates it well, I have them myself, great for both music and gaming

Not really. Just leave them in your case (with silica gel) after every use and they will be fine. I live in Hanoi and it gets humid all the damn time here but none of my IEMs get any issue (including the Moondrop Chu 2 with its famous clogged filter issue)

Home use: I mainly use my yincrow x6, but I also have a Hifiman Edition XS for when I really want to be immersed. Gym: Shokz Openswim Pro On the go: Moondrop Chu 2 After having cycled through one airpods, airpods pro, and powerbeats pro in 3 years, while my Ikko OH1 lasted me 6 years. I decided to stick mainly to the wired and cheaper ones for my main drivers.

Wan'er Studio Edition doesn't have a lot of bass, not even compared to Chu 2. At least that's my impression when I tried both of them.

Can't say about the OG Wan'er but my Wan'er SE is definitely far from being punchy bass. Vocals sounds fantastic though. The Chu2 bass is also isn't punchy atleast not Basshead punchy but better than my Wan'er SE, a lot more balanced overall. And Immersion is at the Ears of the Beholder if that's how the saying goes lol. I'm assuming you're talking about soundstage, but person to person you'll hear different comments about soundstage when it comes to IEMs.

No idea, the shape is kinda weird and generally my ear shape is very forgiving stuff like thieaudio, Moondrops all comfy af

Alright, I got out of bed to answer this one because I'm new as well and it sounds like you want to avoid what I did LOL. I'm trying to chase that same dream, and I've come to realize that you need to know what you like. I currently own four IEMs, Moondrop Chu 2 ($20), Kiwi Cadenzas ($35), 7HZ Sonus ($60), and Moondrop Blessing 3 ($320). They all have a different feeling to them, and I like all of them. But to be honest, I'm underwhelmed by how much $320 gets you in comparison to $20. They are better, but just as someone said below, it's fractional unless you can tell the difference. Unless you discover your perfect sound profile, like brightness, dark, warm, etc. or even have the ability to, it's like tasting alcohol. I've had a bottle of Glenlivet 18 ($80), and also a bottle of MacAllen 21 (when it was \~$400), and MacAllen was a little smoother, maybe a bit more oaky, but not quite what you'd expect for $320 more dollars. EQ is a variable, getting a perfect seal in the ear is another or the bass drops off, are you plugged into the back of your PC or are you using a digital analog converter, and I've noticed that my tripowin cable sounds better than the one my chu 2's came with. This hobby gets really addicting. I have four digital audio players. Shanling M1s, Surfans F20, Sony A306/7 (JPN), and a Hiby R4 and I'll be going to a shop soon that carries Astell & Kern. Might be getting a 5th DAP. At this point, I just alternate the IEMs for fun. I use the IEMs mainly at home while I'm journaling. I take the Sivga M200's flatheads out of the house as a daily driver because I need to hear my surroundings.

(amongst the iems have I owned) s tier: kiwi ears ke 4 and truthear hexa a+ tier: Ikko OH10, Pula PA02, Shuoer s12 pro, Sennheiser ie200, Kefine Delci, Dunu Titan S OG a tier: Dunu Titan s2, Tanchjim One, pre revision CCA CRA+ A- tier: Binary Chopin, Tangzu Waner Studio, KZ PR2 pre revision, Tripowin Olina SE B+ tier: Kiwi Ears Quintet, Tangzu Xuan Ji, Simgot EW 200, Truthear Gate and Hola, Tangzu Wan'er SG B tier: Moondrop Chu 2 and OG, KZ EDA Balanced, Kiwi Ears Quartet, Moondrop Aria Snow, FiiO Jade Audio JH3, Tripowin Lea B- tier: 7hz zero OG, Truthear Zero Blue, Whizzer BS1 C tier: KZ CRN D tier: Moondrop Quarks honorable mentions: Koss KSC75 in A minus, Porta Pro in B, Moondrop Space Travel in B-, Galaxy Buds Plus and 2 in A minus along with Airpods Pro Gen 1, and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in A plus.

I'm back in gaming, and to find out, once and for all, I bought all these devices at the same time to test, this is what I found. The graph above is related ONLY to the around 360º imaging accuracy, the vertical and depth you can see it below. The HD58X and Truthear Zero are the pinnacle of the around imaging accuracy, between the two, the Truthear Zero is a hair above, because the sound is more forward, more about this later. The 7Hz Salnotes Zero comes close in second, but the more broad precision makes so when turn 180º to shoot most of the time you miss the spot to slight right or left, so you have to spend a few microseconds to fix your aim, resulting in a significant higher response time compare to the other two. All the others I don't think are suitable for competitive shooting games, but some are suitable for casual and adventure games. INDIVIDUAL Reviews (Remember that my DAC has more bass and less treble as sound signature, if you're going to copy my EQ keep that in mind and make the necessary adjustments) ## Truthear x Crinacle Zero (Blue) ## This is my favorite and the only one I use for gaming*. It has all I ever wish. It's the only IEM that the sound doesn't feel inside your head, on a blind test I would think this is a Closed Back Headset. The only aspect the HD58X does better is depth imaging, but I prefer the forwardness of the sound of the Zero Blue over the HD58X, more about this on the HD58X review below. Out of the box the default EQ has a claustrophobic sense of space, it's very narrow, yet you still receive audio cues from outside your sense of space, making the depth imaging very strange, confusing, and breaking your immersion. That's what people usually refers as "unnatural sound stage" when talking about this IEM for games. After a few days, I realized the sense of space it's nothing more than constant feedback of sounds around you, for example, with very minuscule sound close to you, when you hear enemy you unconsciously compare the sound of the enemy with this sound, and gets the feeling of his distance based on the distance of this small sound close to you. By boosting the frequencies, I have all the small sounds of the environment, to unconsciously build a sense of space, by doing this IEM jumped from B grade to S grade, it amplified the sense of space, and now matches and improves the depth imaging. But EQ this guy was not easy, this IEM has 2 drives, one exclusive to bass, and you feel it, no matter what is happening the bass is strong and steady, to the point it was eating all the other frequencies. As always, I tried every single ParemetricEQ Profile available on AutoEQ, but I think they just destroyed the quality of the sound it has originally. So, as suggested by Crinacle, I created a ParemetricEQ to turn the Blue version in the Red Version, and it worked, it sounds much better, then I just had to boost individual frequencies to get ideal for gaming. For music, I disable this boost. The only precaution you need to have with IEM is related to its huge nozzle, with other all IEMs I use the large tip, but with this I had to back down to the medium, I also have to make sure I'm using it straight and parallel, or the nozzle will hurt. *(it has only one scenario that would make choose HD58X over this, you can see it on the review below) ## Sennheiser HD 58X ## Another very good for gaming, and the most comfortable headset I ever used, but I still prefer the freshness of the IEMs. I don't know if it is because it's an open back headset, but I feel the sound it's not forward enough, initially even appeared muffled, but after boosting all frequencies as much as could, without interfering with the pristine sound quality it has, it got better, but it's still not in a level I would like. Those are the two reasons why I replaced it with the Zero for gaming when I'm playing single player games. The only reason I would choose this over the Zero is because it is the only device that doesn't interfere how you listen to your own voice, when you talk is like you are wearing nothing, it's useful for multiplayer, recording and streaming. ## 7Hz Salnotes Zero ## A very good all around IEM, its only flaw is its poor depth imaging, there is just close or far, nothing in between, surprising it's still able to give you an illusion of space around you. The around and vertical imaging it's not pinpoint, but it's good enough for casual play. It's my favorite for watching anime and movies, to this kind of media I prefer the closer / inside your head type of sound, so I can hear all details equally. It also has the best noise isolation by far, I can't barely hear stuff even with no sound playing. For being versatile, cheap and for having an excellent noise isolation, it would be one I would choose for commute and travel. ## TANGZU Wan'er S.G ## The brightest of all devices, it reproduces details on treble that no other does. But the downside is that get you tired really fast. On music, it has this huge sound stage (it feels a little artificial, like an echo effect), way bigger than the HD58X that is an Open Back Headset. In games, this translates to a huge sense of space. Unfortunately, the poor imaging makes it unsuitable for games. ## HyperX Cloud Alpha ## An $80 disappointment, it sounds good enough, but it has a poor imaging, making it unsuitable for gaming. Yes, a gaming headset that is not suitable for gaming. Because of the shape of my head, I can use for 1 hour max, before the pain on the top of my head becomes unbearable. The only positive side it that the sound is not inside your head (like HD58X and Truthear Zero). ## Moondrop Chu 2 ## It's with pain in my heart I have to give it an C. It has the best sound, especially bass, for gaming of the $20 IEMs (it sacrifices treble, but it is not noticeable in games just in music), but it's poor in imaging. The imaging is so poor that you can only know the side (like north, south) but there is none in precision, to the point I had to look if I connected the cable right. OUTRO And that is it. I bought all devices with my own money. I wish to test the SIMGOT EM6L, because if two drivers can do this, imagine 5. But being fully satisfied with the Truthear Zero, I see no reason to buy one. Specially by the fact that is a stupid rule of 92% tax on products over US$ 50 in my country. But if Linsoul send me one, I would pay the tax and gladly review it. So if you like this post, sent it to them and asks if they can send me one. If you have other IEMs worth up to US$50 you would like me to take a look at, let me know below. The Blue to Red ParametricEQ: Preamp: -3.1 dB Filter 1: ON PK Fc 20 Hz Gain 3.2 dB Q 1.100 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 100 Hz Gain -1.3 dB Q 0.700 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 160 Hz Gain 1.9 dB Q 1.800 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 510 Hz Gain 2.2 dB Q 0.500 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 2600 Hz Gain -2.4 dB Q 2.000 Filter 6: ON PK Fc 3900 Hz Gain 0.7 dB Q 2.000 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 5600 Hz Gain -3.8 dB Q 2.000 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 8800 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 2.000 Filter 9: OFF PK Fc 0 Hz Gain 0.0 dB Q 0.000 Filter 10: OFF PK Fc 0 Hz Gain 0.0 dB Q 0.000

Nice. I got Moondrop Chu 2s for my mm+ as my first ever IEMs and I really enjoy using them. Great sound.

I only have the Tangzu and the Chu2 and in my opinion, they are absolutelly the same. It's crazy how much they sound the same.

And for your question, IEMs for gaming maybe at or under $20 or less. Tangzu Wan'er 2 * New and will improve the original Wan'er SG, 2-pin 0.78mm (better than QDC) * Pre-order and no reviews yet so far. Tangzu Wan'er SG * Mellow and easy to daily drive both physically and sound comfort wise, one of the best stock eartips I experienced. Best low sub-bass I experienced. * Might sound a tad muddy footsteps especially Valorant, uses QDC connector. Moondrop Chu 2 * Great all rounder for competitive gaming, light and small, metal case and 2-pin 0.78mm. * Bass might be lacking for some, and especially single-player games, might be abit treble harsh sounding for some. KZ EDC Pro * General all rounder, punchy bass with good clarity and highs. Great for general single-player games and maybe some online games as well. 2-pin 0.78mm and light to wear. Mellow and not treble harsh sounding. * Might muddies out footsteps especially Valorant KZ Castor * Silver version - A more versatile version of the EDC Pro, has the better soundstage a bit, can change sound feel from a neutral bright, neutral, and abit bassy. uses QDC and might be a tad heavier in the ears, treble harsh especially at its treble and mid focused tunings. * Bass version - Best avoid with competitive games, especially Valorant. But great with single-player games that are cinematic and has alot of cutscenes and environmental stuffs. QDC and heavy as well. KZ Castor Pro * Silver and Bass versions - same with the OG Castor, but a tad bit physically heavier. There are definitely better IEMs on slightly higher price range of $50-80, but they might be expensive for you. You can wait and save some more money for a more pricey set.

1500 INR? * KZ Castor/Castor Pro Silver * KZ EDC Pro If you can at least push it at 2k INR, I would suggest * Tangzu Wan'er SG 2 * Tangzu Wan'er SG * Truthear Gate * 7Hz x Crinacle Zero 2 * Kiwi Ears Dolce * Moondrop Chu 2 Prices are HeadphoneZone, Audio Store, and Concept Cart If Amazon * KZ EDC Pro above 1.5k INR * Tangzu Wan'er SG 2 * Tangzu Wan'er SG * Truthear Gate * 7Hz x Crinacle Zero 2 * Kiwi Ears Dolce * Moondrop Chu 2 * KZ Castor/Castor Pro Silver

All under 3k INR (based on ConceptKart website) Neutral (including warm and bright) * Tangzu Wan'er SG (neutral warm) \*\* * Tangzu Wan'er 2 (neutral warm) \* * Tanchjim Bunny DSP (neutral bright) \* * Tanchjim One DSP (neutral warm) * Moondrop Chu 2 DSP (neutral bright) * 7Hz Salnotes Zero (neutral bright) * Truthear Gate (neutral balanced) \* * Kinera Celest Wyvern Qing (neutral balanced) \* * KZ Castor/Castor Pro Silver (v-warm-ish to neutral bright) \*\* V/U-shaped (including warm and bright) * Tanchjim Bunny 3.5mm * Tanchjim One 3.5mm * 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 (mild v-balanced) \* * ND Planet (v-warm) * Rose Technics (Roseselsa) Aurora Ultra (v-warm-ish) \* * Moondrop Chu 2 3.5mm (mild v) * DUNU Titan S2 (v-balanced) \* * BLON BL-03 (v-warm) * BLON BL-03 II (v-warm) * Kiwi Ears Dolce (u-bright) * TRN Conch (mild v-bright) * Moondrop Chu 2 3.5mm (mild v-balanced) \* * Kinera Celest Wyvern Abyss (mild v-warm) * Tangzu Shimin Li (mild-v bright) * KZ Castor/Castor Pro Silver (mild v-warm-ish to neutral bright) \*\* * KZ Castor/Castor Pro Black Improved Bass (v-bass to v-bright-ish) \*\* * KZ EDC Pro (u-warm) \*\* * KZ EDX Pro (v-bright) (\* recommend | \*\* personally I own)

Chu 2 is ok, just that it might sound abit less fun with single-player games because of lack of enough bass. As well as recent issues with broken 2-pins and them getting stuck within the IEM. (very fixable and cable replacement) Tangzu Wan'er SG is a safer for the ears set, less treble crazy, but personally it sounded abit low mid muddy (but generally its all fine) KZ Castor, I am still waiting for my Silver version (but I liked the EDC Pro, similar-ish to the Silver Castor). I have the Bass, which is better for me vs the Wan'er SG, better sparkle and technicalities.

Bassy IEMs: Under $5 * QKZ AK6 Pro $25 and lower (bass-focused) * KBEar Rosefinch \* * QKZ x HBB (OG version) \* * BLON BL-01 * KZ Castor Bass \* $25 and lower (neutral warm) * Tangzu Wan'er SG/Wan'er 2 \* * 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 \* * Moondrop Chu 2 * KZ Castor Silver (UUDD switches) $25-60 (bass-focused) * BLON BL-03/BL-03 II \* * BLON x HBB Z300 * TinHiFi C3 Mk2 \* * 7Hz x HBB Elua * Kinera Celest Gumiho * KZ Castor Pro Bass \* * CCA Rhapsody \* * CCA Trio \* $25-60 (neutral warm) * Kefine Klean \* * Inawaken Dawn Ms \* * Kiwi Ears Cadenza \* * Tripowin x 0DiBi Vivace \* * Kinera Celest Wyvern Abyss \* * Tangzu YuXuanJi * KBear KB02 * KZ Zenith (UUDD switches) \* * KZ Castor Pro Silver (UUDD switches) Special mentioned * Truthear x Crinacle Zero Blue 2 \* * QKZ x HBB Khan (\* recommend)

$25 and lower * Tangzu Wan'er SG/Wan'er 2 * 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 \* * Moondrop Chu 2 * KZ Castor Silver (UDDD switches) \* $25-60  * Kefine Klean \* * Inawaken Dawn Ms \* * Truthear x Crinacle Zero Red \* * Truthear x Crinacle Zero Blue 2 \* * Kiwi Ears Cadenza * Tripowin x 0DiBi Vivace * Kinera Celest Wyvern Abyss * Kinera Celest IgniteX Beast \* * Tangzu YuXuanJi * KBear KB02 \* * KZ Zenith (UUDD switches) \* * KZ Castor Pro Silver (UDDD switches) \* Or any other neutral warm IEMs, but the two Truthear Crinacle are the closest one with minimal mid-bass. Or go for planar IEMs, which their bass is speedy decay enough to be not too much mid bass: * SGOR Luna * Artti T10/T10 Pro * NiceHCK F1 Pro * Shozy P10/P20 * Letshuoer S08

Go for zero 2 or moondrop chu 2.. and if ur into smooth sound like relaxed then go for tangzu waner S.G

The Kinera Celest Wyvern Abyss have a balanced Harman 2019 tuning with a bit of extra bass. They're on sale right now for 18$ [https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807001927637.html?spm=a2g0o.order\_detail.order\_detail\_item.4.5421f19cKxvwtk&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807001927637.html?spm=a2g0o.order_detail.order_detail_item.4.5421f19cKxvwtk&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt) They are a much better iem than the Gate. I personally dislike the looks of the Zero 2. The Chu 2 i have and they sound decent, good looks, good cable. Someone told me on Reddit that the Wyvern Abyss sound like the Cadenza, maybe the Cadenza is slightly netter, but that he hadn't listened to them enough to form a good opinion. Here's a review: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGIcgAUMCsU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGIcgAUMCsU) The reviewer, Akros, mentions when comparing to the Artti R3 that the beryllium coated driver (the Cadenza has that type of driver), make the upper mids and trebble sound a bit less polished than on the Abyss.

Didn't buy either myself but by all accounts they should sound really good for the price. I got bored of my KZ Castors (and their shitty cable) and Chu 2 and ordered the Wyvern Abyss (not received yet) cause of that shell and that cable. The Celest Tiger Soul cable is 15$ sold separately. The reviewer i linked in my original comment swears by them and their predecessor, the Wyvern. So fingers crossed they sound good, but from the reviews i've seen they should be solid.

Overear style at around RM100: Koss KSC75 It is a clip on over ear style wear, but you can mod it adding the headband with mods join r/kossmods if you want to see how they do it DIY, very active subreddit Koss Porta Pro It has a headband by default if you don't want to mod KSC75, this headphone sounds bass-ier then KSC75 AKG K52 (K72 & K92 is more expensive) Sony brand entry level priced options is bassy muddy no clarity, not good Senheiser brand you need to spend alot more to have comparable level of quality Audio technica, Focal, Audeze, Hifiman Abyss, Grado all way overprice In Ear Monitor style headphones at around RM100: Moondrop Chu 2 (if you can spend more, get Moondrop Lan) Tangzu Wan Er SG (vocal/singer forward tuning) Blon BL03 (if enjoyment is what you want) Simgot EW200 (good "clarity" but very sibilant sound) I bet many people here will recommend KZ, QKZ, or CCA, i see too many reports of QC issue and DOA case to suggest avoid at all cost, very shady handling of stock All of the above are wired headphones, you want real good quality headphones, get wired, wireless cannot compare, because bluetooth cannot do lossless audio playback, even with Qualcomm Aptx HD or Sony LDAC Source: i can qualify as an audiophile, tried many headphones

[these](http://Moondrop CHU II High Performance Dynamic Driver IEMs Interchangeable Cable in-Ear Headphone https://a.co/d/9BibJsF) Has to be the best IEM i owned for the price

bhai idk it kinda does even i have moondroap chu 2 and there huge difference in sounds with and without DAC

On a extreme budget i will recommend you buying IEMs like tangzu waner s.g or moondrop chu 2. Using them with apple's usb-c to 3.5mm DAC will make you smell the enemies in their base from your ears. Since you said you play shooters the IEMs are a very good choice and the decent ones for gaming are actually very cheap. Not sure that you will like the idea of using earbuds instead of headset but they actually are made for long sessions and will not hurt your ears using them for several hours.

iems do help with that, but for that to happend you need a good fit and thats a very specific thing to find with iems since each person has a different ear, you might wanna check TWS (True Wireless earphones) better. And so, just to clarify this out before recomending anything, being recomended based on "noise reduction" in iems is the equivalent of walking into a shoe store and ask for shoes your size without trying them on, nor saying what size you are. Now, you either can go the safe-ish route or the VERY safe route. the just safe route is getting a small nozzle size iem (the nozzle is the part of the iems that directly into your ears) and try them to see if the fit well enought with stock eartips, and then decide if you need tips (for example: Moondrop Chu2 for cheap and TRN Orca for super cheap. Now, this should work for most people, but there are a few that have an ear canal big enought to not be able to fit small nozzles properly (the fit is too loose), so, if you fear that... The next best is to pick a very cheap iem with a decent size nozzle (like the Tangzu Waner - Not too big, not too small) and pick some generally good fitting tips like spinfit W1, Dunu S&S and maybe moondrop Spring tips (or just search/ask here for some examples) to pair With your iems to see what fits better. its your call, but i personally would recomend to just pick a pair of Space Travel ($25 TWS) and use the ANC (Active Noise Cancelation) functionality and be done with it.

For video editing you need mostly detail and clariry so i guess moondrop chu2 should be great for that. if you cant get them, tell me so i tell you more options.

Not waner Man, the sound direction Is pretty basic, It might work for some games with audio help (i believe games like valorant have that) but anything else just wouldn't work that great. Your Best option if you dont care about bass Is the Salnotes Zero 1/OG, if you want some bass you will have to go up to the Zero 2, or either settle with something a bit less accurate like Chu2. I also believe that cheap IEMs like KZ Castor (i guess the gray/Harman version should work better for gaming, but Black/Bass version might also do the trick if you use the switches to boost the treble a bit) are fine-ish, but not not sure if they that well compares to Zero OG.

For what you are looking for, not really, you could get Chu2, for example, for a more clean-ish and even a bit more comfortable Fit for editing and castor Bass just for vibing with tons of bass.

Might be a better counter part than the Zero2, but thats just my point of View, if you happend to find the castor Bass too much, you could also find Chu2 lacking a bit of bass, so yeah, Zero2 Its a bit safer if Castor doesnt work as expected, but Chu2 might be a better combo for alternative use

Every single of your selections Is good on their own way, if you want a bassy leaning, Zero2 would be the option, for still bass presence but a more balanced sound, then Waner, and if you want a clean but still noticeable bass, either Chu2 and Wyvern should work just fine, Chu 2 Is a metal Shell while wyvern Is a resin Shell, so if you have humidity problems in your city, Its a valid reason not to get metal shells over resin shells, althought chu2 small metal Shell Is know for Its usually confortable Fit, the only thing i wouldnt recomend one of the IEMs in here for Is if you plan on gaming with them, since thats the wakest part of the Waner, the sound direction on those Isnt that great, vocal performance Is great tho. Now if you want More insight on how these sound and how they might compare, i invite you to check my post: https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/RboevPbnrw Its a very extensive list of good cheap IEMs with an explanation on how they More or less should sound and compare, if interested, in part 2 i also cover most common questions that people starting the hobby might had.

Chu 2 and Wan'er 2 are a good start, but I'll go with Wan'er because of its more mature tuning and Moondrop build quality will really disappoint you in the long run Cadenza used to be my go to pick, but with Wan'er 2 existing, I dont see the point anymore Wyvern abyss is...a massive turn off tuning wise, the upper mids is too much for my ears, doesnt sound right

KZ Castor or Moondrop Chu 2, stay away from the rest (Especially Salzero 2, too muddy)

I have the HyperX Cloud MIX Buds 2, and it comes with it's own dongle. I use them on my laptop and latency is next to nothing. They sound good, too. And they can be found relatively cheap because people had issues with initial build quality. I've taken care of mine and they are running like a champ. But using the USB C port on the LeGo is probably not a good idea. Find a good IEM (in ear monitor) that has detachable cables, and buy a long cable. The headphone jack is there, may as well use it. My choice for IEM? Moondrop Chu 2. Still less than $20 on Amazon, metal build, great quality, great sound, too.

Sulit ang Chu2. I knew it was good, but it still sounded better than I expected.    Also have the Blue variant of the zero , because harman target provides enough bass for my ears already As for DAC, I use a soundblaster G6, mainly because it has input for audio and mic, and its compact (have limited table space)

What’s your price range? IEMs, in general, are good for gaming if you’re fine with their soundstage. I’ve used mine with my ROG Ally and desktop all the time. It started with a cheap pair of KZ’s, then the Moondrop Chu 2, Truthear x Crinacle Zero:Red, and now I have the Moondrop x Crinacle: Dusk. I don’t use my cheap KZ’s anymore except with my Sony camera so I can hear audio my wireless microphones are recording. My Chu 2 and Zero:Red cycle their way through my home office (where I game) and actual office with my Dusk being my primary pair. I had a pair of Blessing 3, but was within Amazon’s return window and decided to get the Dusk instead.

Got those exact Moondrop Chu 2 maybe a week and a half ago. I threw my Airpods in a drawer and haven't touched them since. The sound is incredible for the price. It did take about a week and a half for them to ship overseas, but for the $18 I spent I am very, very happy.

Chu 2 are small, light and good construction but a very boring and average sound IMO. I've got Chu 2 and the Tangzu Wan'er, Wan'er are slightly bigger but a better sound. Wan'er have a wider sound, Chu 2 sound a bit narrow and muffled. I listen to metal, electronic and a few other genres and the Wan'er win for me. The Chu 2 seem to get recommended because they're cheap, they won't blow you away

Agreed. I also suggest you stay away from the Chu 2 because most IEM manufacturers have surpassed Moondrop in the sub-$100 category. The industry has sort of passed by Moondrop except for the Blessing 3, Kato and Variations. There are better IEMs than those models at the same price point, but at least those three are somewhat competitive. The Aria and Starfield used to be default recommendations for under $110. The Aria 2 is nothing special, and the Starfield 2 is trash. I've heard the May is pretty good if you're interested in DSP. But I would still buy the new Simgot EW300 DSP over the May if I wanted DSP. You can do a hell of a lot better than Moondrop in August 2024.

They don't need any justification. They're just some iems for people to try out maybe as their 1st, on a budget or those of us who despite seeing all the "KZ is bad" posts can decide to try things for themselves without being dissuaded by bias. Also there are people like me who think the Chu2 and some of the usual boring recommendations are meh or overrated.

Because they are better. The chu2 is just fine/boring.

First i want to start off with saying thank you for this post. Now, the only IEMs I've used are the Chu 2s (not the USB-C ones), and I was blown away by the sound and everything, but from what I've observed, this is due to the switch to IEMs rather than the Chu 2. At this point, I'd like to allow you complete freedom to make a recommendation based on your experience; anything works. Don't overthink it; simply suggest what comes to mind. The only thing I'd like you to consider is the fit; the Chu 2s fit me perfectly; I'm not sure if they're considered big or small, but I've always assumed I had massive canals. Thanks again for your amazing work, you are awesome!

Tangzu wan er or moondrop chu 2

You can't go wrong with either. Problems between the two are that chu 2 seems to have clogging at the filters if you stay at a very humid area or have wet ear wax. Where as the wan er shell build is not the best making it feel cheaper. Sounds quality both are the same, neutral and warm. If you want something with more bass then go for cca cra or the 7hz zero 2. If you like higher treble then original 7hz zero. All great options but depends on what sounds signature you want. If you don't know then get chu 2 or wan er and just eq them.

Meze Alba, Sennheiser IEX00, Moondrop Chu/Chu2, etc. There are also plenty of hybrid/tribrid IEMs that are not tiny, but still very appropriately sized. I find DUSK to be pretty comfortable despite being a 6-driver tribrid.

Yeah, zvx pro is miles better in sound build quality than ccz. Or just get chu 2 or waner 2

Not quite better, but as options There is Moondrop Chu 2, recent 7hz Aero, Simgot EW200 or TruthEar Gate. Mind you each of them are differently tuned, so you need to read or watch review or try it out in the store to know which one you like. i've try out chu 2 and gate with few songs, Gate is too anemic for my library and Chu 2 have better synergy as its more energetic and more fun for my rock library. or if you can access and have experience with buying from AliExpress, you could get KZ ZS12 for thirty something dollar, which apparently the current best for sub $40. moving up ranks at $50\~60-ish you get Kefine Delci.

I would recommend CCA Trio / KZ Vader over those. Or get moondrop chu 2

Chu 2 have fun bass. the vocal might be a bit thinner but its still a fun iem for rock music,

Go with iems. Moondrop Chu 2 is a good entry level one. It's not exactly Harman tuned but the sound is pretty balanced. If you want to tweak it, check wavelet out on play store ( I don't know if it's available for apple store ). It got all the eq options you ever want. Now that doesn't mean that there's no good headphones at that price range, it all depends on what you're using it for. For indoor usage, you could probably get a Samson sr850 for under 100 if you're lucky, but it bleeds a lot ( it's open back so I'm not even sure "bleed" is the right terminology here), so it really depends. My advice is to check out YouTube videos or other subreddits like r/iems or r/headphones

Your experince has some similarities with mine. I also started with the Zero (1) but it broke, so I got the Chu 2. Found the Chu 2 too V-shaped for me. Next, I got the SGOR Luna, which is like you getting the EW300. Both clearly V-shaped tuned IEM's with similar flaws. I love the Luna but it was just too V-shaped and I felt like I was missing out on the mids and vocals were distant (they never go too busy though since they're plannars). Then I got the 7hz Sonus in an attempt to save from spending for the Hexa. This was 90% there for me but it got really fatiguing ang unnatural after a month. Too "in-your-face" sound. I finally got the Hexa's and have been using them for over 2 months now. The way you describe them is almost exactly how I would too. Cheers.

If you are really keen on being scrutinous in determining the sound you like most, I highly suggest getting something in the $20 range and go up from there. Getting something neutral like the Tanchjim Bunny, Tangzu Waner (any edition), Salnotes Zero (1) or MoonDrop Chu II would be a great start. BUT just get one pair. So for example, you get the Tanchjim Bunny first. Listen to it for at least a month, then if you find anything in the frequency lacking or copious, then find your upgrade from your findings. I hope this makes sense. My biased answer is for you to get the Hexa or 7hz Zero as these are 2 of my favorite IEMs right now. Cheers.

Moondrop Chu 2 Tangzu Wan er SG/Studio edition(to be released late june) Truthear Gate Truthear Zero red Simgot EW200 Simgot EA500(LM) 7Hz Zero 2 All of these sets are well known and beloved by many in the audio community. Easily replacable too given their cheap price.

Simgot ew100p ftw or the 200 series if you can increase your budget. Don't buy kz if you're treble sensitive yet the kz zs 10 pro 2 should be the best in kz ones Moondrop chu 2 is also great 7hz zero 2 is better than moondrop chu 2 ig but zero 2 doesn't have a mic so boo Never heard of the kinera so no comments on that

Moon Drop Chu and Chu II work well for me,

The Chu 2 and Zero 2 aren’t bad for first time IEMs. They both have decent bass and a bit of treble sparkle. To me, the Chu 2 sounds a tad more neutral, while the Zero 2 is a bit more v-shaped. The Chu 2 is metal so it feels more durable. But if you live in a humid climate, you need to take extra care of them (store them with silica gel packs). The Zero 2 doesn’t have replaceable filters, while the Chu 2’s filters can be easily swapped out or cleaned. The Chu 2 is smaller and less prone to fit issues, but the Zero 2 is lighter. Some users have complained about the corners of the Zero 2 pressing against their outer ear due to the odd shape. Both have pros and cons. Ultimately it could come down to your tuning preference.

It depends on your tuning preference. I’m not a fan of the tuning of the APP, so I even most of my budget IEMs (Zero 2, Chu 2, Wan’er, etc.).

Don’t buy KZ. They have a bad reputation. If you want at least some bass, get the 7hz Zero 2. The original Zero has very little bass and is quite bright. The Moondrop Chu 2 is an alternative. The Wan’er is a great choice if you want more prominent vocals.

The zero 2 is not nearly as harsh as the OG Zero. But if you’re wary, go with something more balanced like the Chu 2. Looks like you may be “treble sensitive” watch out for “bright” IEMs like some planers.

Before buying your first set, think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection… Bassy - QKZ HBB v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for small ear canals) Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er Bright - 7hz Zero (original) Unless you can sample multiple sets before you buy, try not to blind buy one set using most or all of your budget. You’ll end up wasting money in the long run buying sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. (If you can’t sample, most newbies favor V-shaped IEMs.)

Best is subjective. The IEM world has so much variety and your enjoyment would depend greatly on personal preference. What’s great for one person could be trash for someone else. In my opinion, the best way to approach this hobby is to sample numerous sets of various tunings. Try not to blind buy one set, using most or all of your budget, based only on recommendations. You may end up wasting money in the long run buying expensive sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. Think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? If you really can’t sample first, and can only buy, I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection (take note, I’m treble senstive, so some of my classifacations may be a bit skewed)… * Bassy - Tanchjim Tanya DSP * Slight v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 * Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for smaller ear canals) * Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er * Treble leaning - 7hz Zero (original) If you can’t sample, most newbies favor V-shaped or balanced IEMs. If you have a little more money to experiment with... * Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 * Warm - Kiwi Ears Cadenza * Warm leaning - Truthear Zero Blue* * v-shape - Truthear Nova * Neutral - Truthear Zero Red* * Slight treble focus - Truthear Hexa * Treble leaning - Simgot EW200 and Simgot EA500LM *thick nozzles, not recommended for narrow ear canals. I’m not a gamer, but I’ve noticed that gamers here often recommend v-shaped IEMs like the Zero Blue, the Truthear Nova and Simgot EM6L. Borrow or buy-try-return. After sampling various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like. (Whatever you do, stay away from KZ or CCA - same company. They’re a terrible company with shady practices.)

Best is subjective. The IEM world has so much variety and your enjoyment would depend greatly on personal preference. What’s great for one person could be trash for someone else. In my opinion, the best way to approach this hobby is to sample numerous sets of various tunings. Try not to blind buy one set, using most or all of your budget, based only on recommendations. You may end up wasting money in the long run buying expensive sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. Think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? If you really can’t sample first, and can only buy, I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection (take note, I'm treble senstive, so some of my classifacations may be a bit skewed)… * Bassy - Tanchjim Tanya DSP * Slight v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 * Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for smaller ear canals) * Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er * Treble leaning - 7hz Zero (original) If you can’t sample, most newbies favor V-shaped or balanced IEMs. If you have a little more money to experiment with... * Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 * Warm - Kiwi Ears Cadenza * Warm leaning - Truthear Zero Blue\* * v-shape - Truthear Nova * Neutral - Truthear Zero Red\* * Slight treble focus - Truthear Hexa * Treble leaning - Simgot EW200 and Simgot EA500LM \*thick nozzles, not recommended for narrow ear canals. Borrow or buy-try-return. After sampling various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like. (Whatever you do, stay away from KZ or CCA - same company. They’re a terrible company with shady practices.)

That’s KZ for you. Before buying your next set, think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection… Bassy - Tanchjim Tanya DSP v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for small ear canals) Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er Bright - 7hz Zero (original) Unless you can sample multiple sets before you buy, try not to blind buy one set using most or all of your budget. You’ll end up wasting money in the long run buying sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. (If you can’t sample, most newbies favor V-shaped IEMs.) If you have a little more money to experiment with... Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 Warm - Kiwi Ears Cadenza Warm leaning - Truthear Zero Blue* Slight v-shape - Truthear Nova Neutral - Truthear Zero Red* Vocal forward - Simgot EA500LM Bright leaning - Simgot EW200 or Truthear Hexa *large nozzles, not recommended for small ear canals. After trying various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like. (I bash KZ a lot here. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get to you before your experience with them. If it’s any consolation, it happens to a lot of us.)

“Best” is subjective. The IEM world has so much variety and your enjoyment would depend greatly on personal preference. What’s great for one person could be trash for someone else. In my opinion, the best way to approach this hobby is to sample numerous sets of various tunings. Try not to blind buy one set, using most or all of your budget, based only on recommendations. You may end up wasting money in the long run buying expensive sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. Think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? If you really can’t sample first, and can only buy, I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection… * Bassy - Tanchjim Tanya DSP * Slight v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 * Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for smaller ear canals) * Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er * bright-ish - 7hz Zero (original) (If you can’t sample, most newbies favor V-shaped or balanced IEMs.) If you have a little more money to experiment with... * Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 * Warm - Kiwi Ears Cadenza * Warm leaning - Truthear Zero Blue* * v-shape - Truthear Nova * Neutral - Truthear Zero Red* * Bright-ish - Truthear Hexa, Simgot EW200 or Simgot EA500LM *thick nozzles, not recommended for narrow ear canals. Borrow or buy-try-return. After sampling various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like. (Whatever you do, stay away from KZ. They’re a terrible company with shady practices.)

Unfortunately, the build quality of the cheaper group of IEMs isn’t great. The Chu 2 feels the most sturdy, but I’ve heard that people still break them. One really has to be careful with IEMs. They’re delicate.

Short answer: That’s up to you and your ears. Long answer: The IEM world has so much variety and your enjoyment would depend greatly on personal preference. What’s great for one person could be trash for someone else. In my opinion, the best way to approach this hobby is to sample numerous sets of various tunings. Try not to blind buy one set, using most or all of your budget, based only on recommendations. You may end up wasting money in the long run buying expensive sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. Think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? If you really can’t sample first, and can only buy, I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection… * Bassy - Tanchjim Tanya DSP * Slight v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 * Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for smaller ear canals) * Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er * Bright - 7hz Zero (original) (If you can’t sample, most newbies favor V-shaped or balanced IEMs.) If you have a little more money to experiment with... * Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 * Warm - Kiwi Ears Cadenza * Warm leaning - Truthear Zero Blue\* * v-shape - Truthear Nova * Neutral - Truthear Zero Red\* * Vocal forward - Simgot EA500LM * Bright leaning - Truthear Hexa * Bright - Simgot EW200 \*thick nozzles, not recommended for narrow ear canals. Borrow or buy-try-return. After sampling various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like. You may want to take a look at the v-shaped Sennheiser IE 200, since they're a manufacturer that's crossing over from the music world to the audiophile space. (Whatever you do, stay away from KZ. They’re a terrible company with shady practices.)

Before buying your first set, think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection… Bassy - QKZ HBB v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er Bright - 7hz Zero (original) Unless you can sample multiple sets before you buy, try not to blind buy one set using most or all of your budget. You’ll end up wasting money in the long run buying sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. If you have a little more money to experiment with... Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 Warm - Truthear Zero Blue or Kiwi Ears Cadenza Slight v-shape - Truthear Nova Neutral - Truthear Zero Red Vocal forward - Simgot EA500LM Bright leaning - Simgot EW200 or Truthear Hexa After trying various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like.

Sounds like you’re new to this space. The IEM world has so much variety and your enjoyment would depend greatly on personal preference. What’s great for one person could be trash for someone else. Think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? This is my cheap starter collection… Bassy - Tanchjim Tanya DSP Slight v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for smaller ear canals) Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er Bright - 7hz Zero (original) (If you can’t sample these before buying, most newbies favor V-shaped or balanced IEMs.) If you’re willing to spend a bit more… Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 Warm - Kiwi Ears Cadenza Warm leaning - Truthear Zero Blue* v-shape - Truthear Nova Neutral - Truthear Zero Red* Vocal forward - Simgot EA500LM Bright leaning - Simgot EW200 or Truthear Hexa *thick nozzles, not recommended for narrow ear canals.

Before buying your first set, think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection… Bassy - QKZ HBB v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er Bright - 7hz Zero (original) Unless you can sample multiple sets before you buy, try not to blind buy one set using most or all of your budget. You’ll end up wasting money in the long run buying sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. If you don’t mind spending a bit more on experimenting, then you can try the following (one might even end up your “endgame”)… Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 Warm - Truthear Zero Blue or Kiwi Ears Cadenza Slight v-shape - Truthear Nova Neutral - Truthear Zero Red Vocal forward - Simgot EA500LM Bright leaning - Simgot EW200 or Truthear Hexa After trying various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like.

“Best” is subjective. The IEM world has so much variety and your enjoyment would depend greatly on personal preference. In my opinion, the best way to approach this hobby is to sample numerous sets of various tunings. Try not to blind buy one set using most or all of your budget based only on recommendations. You may end up wasting money in the long run, by buying expensive sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. Think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? If you really can’t sample first, and can only buy, I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection… Bassy - Tanchjim Tanya DSP Slight v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for smaller ear canals) Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er Bright - 7hz Zero (original) (If you can’t sample, most newbies favor V-shaped or balanced IEMs.) If you have a little more money to experiment with... Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 Warm - Kiwi Ears Cadenza Warm leaning - Truthear Zero Blue* v-shape - Truthear Nova Neutral - Truthear Zero Red* Vocal forward - Simgot EA500LM Bright leaning - Simgot EW200 or Truthear Hexa *thick nozzles, not recommended for narrow ear canals. After trying various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like. (Whatever you do, stay away from KZ. They’re a terrible company with shady practices.)

The IEM world is quite different from the headphone world that you probably know as a musician. There’s a lot more variety (in terms of tuning) and personal preference is much more important (due to differences in things like ear canal dimensions). In my opinion, the best way to approach this hobby is to sample numerous sets of various tunings. Try not to blind buy one set, using most or all of your budget, based only on recommendations. You may end up wasting money in the long run buying expensive sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. Think about your tuning preference. What particular frequencies do you want to hear more? What do you want to hear less? If you really can’t sample IEMs first, and can only buy, I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection… Bassy - Tanchjim Tanya DSP Slight v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for smaller ear canals) Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er Bright - 7hz Zero (original) (If you can’t sample, most newbies favor V-shaped or balanced IEMs.) If you have a little more money to experiment with... Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 Warm - Kiwi Ears Cadenza Warm leaning - Truthear Zero Blue\* v-shape - Truthear Nova Neutral - Truthear Zero Red\* Vocal forward - Simgot EA500LM Bright leaning - Simgot EW200 or Truthear Hexa \*thick nozzles, not recommended for narrow ear canals. Borrow or buy-try-return. After sampling various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like. If you’re looking to spend even more you might want to look into these… Bassy - iKKO OH10 V-Shape - Sennheiser IE 200 Vocal forward - Tanchjim Origin Treble forward - Letshuoer S12

The IEM world has so much variety and your enjoyment would depend greatly on personal preference. What’s great for one person could be trash for someone else. In my opinion, the best way to approach this hobby is to sample numerous sets of various tunings. Try not to blind buy one set, using most or all of your budget, based only on recommendations. You may end up wasting money in the long run buying expensive sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. Think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? If you really can’t sample first, and can only buy, I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection (take note, I’m treble senstive, so some of my classifacations may be a bit skewed)… * Bassy - Tanchjim Tanya DSP * Slight v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 * Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for smaller ear canals) * Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er * Treble leaning - 7hz Zero (original) If you can’t sample, most newbies favor V-shaped or balanced IEMs. If you have a little more money to experiment with... * Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 * Warm - Kiwi Ears Cadenza * Warm leaning - Truthear Zero Blue* * v-shape - Truthear Nova * Neutral - Truthear Zero Red* * Slight treble focus - Truthear Hexa * Treble leaning - Simgot EW200 and Simgot EA500LM *thick nozzles, not recommended for narrow ear canals. Borrow or buy-try-return. After sampling various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like. (Whatever you do, stay away from KZ, QKZ or CCA - same company. They’re a terrible company with shady practices.)

For audio production, I personally wouldn’t use anything less than the Zero Red. The closest to me at the price point would probably be either the Chu 2. Then slightly more expensive might be the Kiwi Ears Cadenza. If you haven’t chanced upon it yet, [here’s ](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1ei7lp2/newbie_advice_for_what_is_the_best/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) my standard advice that may help you find the answer you need.

The IEM world has so much variety and your enjoyment would depend greatly on personal preference. What’s great for one person could be trash for someone else. In my opinion, the best way to approach this hobby is to sample numerous sets of various tunings. Try not to blind buy one set, using most or all of your budget, based only on recommendations. You may end up wasting money in the long run buying expensive sets with tuning you later realize you don’t prefer. Think about your tuning preference. Do you want a lot of bass (warm sound)? Or do you want more treble (crisp/bright sound)? Do you want something balanced (middle ground)? Or do want something with a bass boost with a treble boost (V shape)? If you want a boost in upper mids (vocal forward)? If you really can’t sample first, and can only buy, I recommend starting at the low end, then upgrading from there. This is my cheap starter collection… * Bassy - Tanchjim Tanya DSP * Slight v-shape - 7hz Zero 2 * Balanced - Moondrop Chu 2 (good for smaller ear canals) * Vocal forward - Tangzu Wan’er * Bright - 7hz Zero (original) (If you can’t sample, most newbies favor V-shaped or balanced IEMs.) If you have a little more money to experiment with... * Bassy - Blon x HBB z300 * Warm - Kiwi Ears Cadenza * Warm leaning - Truthear Zero Blue\* * v-shape - Truthear Nova * Neutral - Truthear Zero Red\* * Vocal forward - Simgot EA500LM * Bright leaning - Simgot EW200 or Truthear Hexa \*thick nozzles, not recommended for narrow ear canals. Borrow or buy-try-return. After sampling various tunings, you might be surprised by what you like and don’t like. (Whatever you do, stay away from KZ. They’re a terrible company with shady practices.)

Maybe the Zero 2 or the Chu 2. There’s a chance you’ll hate them both. Sampling different sets until you find your tuning preference is a reality of the hobby that people don’t normally tell newbies. You could get lucky and like your first set, but there’s a chance you won’t. There’s really a lot of trial and error until you find what’s best for you.

7hz Salnotes Zero or Tangzu Wan'er is good based on your preferrence. Wan'er does have a mic included in their cable. Or you could get the Tangzu Wan'er Studio Edition, it has less bass than the original Wan'er making it leaning to more neautral sound. I would like to also add the KZ-D-Fi, this is not a safe buy not for its tuning but due to its brand. Chu 2 is is more like a V-shape sound. Better get the Chu 2 DSP for a cleaner sound. Truthear Zero Red is trully great but be aware of its nozzle size as some have fit issues of them.

Buy the moondrop chu 2 as I'm a student I went the cheaper way.. It stops music changes modes raises volume even changes music on its own. I want to exchange it soon.

You could try the simgot ew100p, it's got good smooth treble that's not shouty in any way, compared to my chu2 they have much lower bass, more airy and are much more relaxed

IMO the Chu 2 is better in every way, including the included eartips. Also, if you need earbuds to sleep in - the Chu 2 are amazing for that. They're so small. Edit: they don't come with spring tips, the tips are just normal.

Moondrop Chu 2 like the other commenter said is probably miles better than any "name brand" headphones you currently have and is only $20. After that you can go upwards in the IEM market, or get some nice headphones ($300 or less for Hifiman Sundara or Sennheiser HD6XX)

I honestly wouldn't recommend this particular IEM for only gaming as it doesn't offer bright-neutral sound signature. You'd have to manually set its EQ for it to be at least decent enough for gaming. And we know typical people wouldn't even bother how EQ works or even set it up. It would also be such a waste if you don't use it for music for majority of its use. But hey, OP, you do you! Man, I wish I could borrow for both my ears to experience what heaven could sound like. For people out there wanting a more budget friendly IEM that is also decent for gaming, I recommend [Truthear × Crinacle Zero: RED](https://shopee.ph/Truthear-X-Crinacle-Zero-RED-Dual-Dynamic-Driver-IEM-Detachable-Cable-Earphones-In-Ear-Monitors-i.182669784.22275441537). It's really great for single-player games and decent enough for any competitive titles for way cheap. I still prefer an open-back headphones such as the [AKG K612 PRO](https://www.akg.com/headphones/professional-headphones/K612PRO.html) (if you could find one for around ₱10K) or [Audio Technica ATH-R70x Pro](https://shopee.ph/Audio-Technica-ATH-R70x-Pro-Reference-Headphones-i.15328948.2497363776) as they offer great soundstage and imaging than most IEMs which is what you really want especially if you are a competitive FPS gamer. However, it's great to see Filipinos owning IEMs these days. It's really comfortable and seems to be better than any Apple's offerings in terms of price to performance ratio. Both my [Moondrop Chu 2](https://shopee.ph/Moondrop-CHU-II-2-Dynamic-Driver-Aluminum-Alloy-Shell-Detachable-Cable-Earphones-In-Ear-Monitors-i.182669784.23874972612) and Truthear × Crinacle Zero: RED paired with my [Qudelix 5K](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088F7C976) are a beast in terms of listening music. I'm currently eyeing the [SIMGOT SuperMix 4](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D4KV87ZC) for my next purchase!

Okay I gotchu. I'd suggest something like: Treble: Simgot EW200 Vocals: Tangzu Wan'er Balanced: Truthear x Crinacle Zero: Red, Moondrop Chu 2 (DSP ver is just slightly better than analog that it's a bit clean? Idk. Gizaudio said that). Idk category: Artti T10 and Artri R2 (idk which type they are as I didn't check on them but it's good according to Jaysaudio). You can check them and dive deeper if you'd like to. For me, I'd prefer EW200 over the Tangzu Wan'er as it's better as it should be considering Tangzu is just $29 and EW200 is $50; Truthear x Crinacle Zero: Red over the Moondrop Chu 2 (Chu 2 in fact is similar to Zero 2 but maybe a few subtle differences and again the Chu 2 is $20-25 and Zero:Red is $55). I can't prefer only one between the Zero:Red and the EW200 because they have different plus points and compliments each other. Zero:Red is balanced and EW200 has better bass texture and treble foward. You can always do your research and ask others which are the best between the ones I've listed and they'll give you better sense of what the tuning is like and how they compare in terms of tecnicak performances.

I use IEM’s all the time while riding. Full helmets. Bullet style is honestly the best. I’ll use KBear Little Q, MoonDrop Quarks, Hiby Lokis’, KZ LingLong is “ok” but they allow more ambient noise in than others. MoonDrop CHU2 fit good under my helmets. While I have used my Artti T10, Kefine Klanar(same size as Delci) and other “normal size” IEM’s, they are not the best for any long period of time. It’s not that they don’t fit, it’s that they can easily shift just enough to break the seal and now you have music AND road noise coming in and buddy, that’s fucking annoying as hell! It doesn’t matter if the IEM “sits flush” like some have said, there is just too much shell/body of the IEM to get moved around by the padding inside the helmet when you simply turn your head to look around. If your using a half helmet, normal shaped IEM’s will actually amplify wind noise around your ears. If you’re also wearing glasses then bullet style will be more comfortable since the cable is drop down and not hang around the ears. Of course sound quality is gonna take a bit a little with the engine/road/wind noise but I gotta say that most bullet style IEM’s seal well enough to still give me good sound quality. Foam eartips will seal fantastic and eliminate a LOT of excess noise. Azla Xelastic 2 tips will seal even better.

CHU 2 has plenty of bass and thump when the music calls for it. It is not a bass tuned IEM where it’s always there, stepping on everything. It’s got some thump and bump to satisfy the “fun” tuning. Gate is more “analytical” compared to the CHU 2. They are NOT however a night and day difference. If you got both of course you can tell the difference doing a side by side comparison. Just don’t expect two VERY different tunings. Gate can thump some quality bass when the music calls for it. It’s not rumbley bass but it’s got some solid quality bass. I’d say an more “analytical” set would be the ew200 over the Gate.

The chu 2 are worth it yes. They will outperform basically any gaming headphone (hyperx, razer, corsair etc) in basically every aspect. They are also 20 dollars, they and their competition (truthear hola/gate, 7hz salnotes zero 2, wan er) are all extremely good for the price, and you likely wont be finding headphones that outperform them under 100 dollars let alone gaming headsets (ive heard ok things about the astro line, and the sennheiser one with a mic) might not even outperform them period. Also they wont affect your performance in games. I play to the same level weather i'm using a pair of apple earbuds, or my hifiman susvaras, and so do many many others. Buy Iems for how good you think they will sound for your music and the rest will come with it. As a gamer the only thing that might help is soundstage but even then, not enough to make you play any better than you already do. You can utilize sound information with literally any pair of headphones/iems to basically the same degree). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOYRu6q8qJ4&t=112s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOYRu6q8qJ4&t=112s)

you can very easily get good. (with a period) for 20 dollars nowadays, I would say something like the moondrop chu2 is easily 60% or so the performance of something like a monarch mk2/3, elysian annihilator, subtonic storm etc. It all depends on what budget you wanna set and how much you care about diminishing returns.

Waners, Castors, Abyss, Cadenza, Moondrop Chu 2, Blon bl3 2 are some iems you can consider. Most iems these days are good enough for flac music in this price range, only the tuning differs. As they're wired, they dont have a battery to degrade so they can ladt you forever. Just keep them away from sweat and moisture of any kind since that damages them. Considering most iems are 3.5mm, you will need a dac which converts type c to 3.5mm (digital to analog) and lets you take full advantage of your iems as it improves the sound and volumes as well. Even if you have a 3.5 on your phone or laptop, a dac will make the iems sound better.

I know there's a quite a few people who have been waiting for me to finally make this post. I apologize for the delay, I was still waiting for an iem to be delivered. A little background: I've been an fps gamer all my life. I used to play cod semi-profressionally and participated in both online and LAN tournaments for money. The main fps games I play today are apex, cod and siege. Ever since I discovered the audiophile world with studio headphones I was amazed how much better headphones sounded compared to gaming headsets. Fast forward to present day and I am now into IEMs and discovering which ones are the best for gaming. As a disclaimer my thoughts and opinions are my own. I understand there are YouTubers such as Fresh Reviews, Ryan Ho, and Gadgetry Tech that may or may not agree with my takes. So please take my thoughts and opinions with a grain of salt as I am just a chill guy who likes to game competitively. The way I determine if an iem (or headphone) is good for gaming is by 3 main categories: soundstage, imaging, and sound separation. A good and accurate soundstage has good width (x), height (y), and depth (z). Imaging, or stereo imaging, is the spacial perception and ability to perceive the precise placement of sounds. Essentially directional audio. I.e left, right, center, back, top left, etc. Sound separation in a iem or headphone is the ability to pick up different sounds at once without it overlapping each other. So the ability to hear explosions go off, gun shots, gadgets, footsteps, etc without distorting the other sounds. With that being said here's the list of iems that I've tried each with a short review and a rating out of 5 for gaming (3 is usable, anything less is not): CCZ BC01 Pro (1) - way too bassy, bad vertical directional audio. Better options CCZ BC04 Pro (2) - same issue as the BC01 but a much more tolerable bass. Better options Moondrop Chu 2 (1.5) - sound is okay, soundstage felt narrow to me. Imaging was okay. Sound separation was below average. Premium feel and build but I didn't like how heavy they were on my ears. Better options Truthear Gate (2) - sound great but not good for gaming. Narrow soundstage, imaging is okay, below average sound separation. Better options Truthear Zero Red (?) - literally couldn't fit in my ears properly without severe pain. So I couldn't test the IEM and returned it. Will be testing the zero 2 tho Truthear Hexa (4) - comfort is not that good, better than the zero reds tho, soundstage and imaging is okay, sound separation is decent. Also not a fan of how they sound tbh. Too neutral for me Tripowin Vivaci (3) - nearly identical to the zeros 2 in technical performance but I like the zero 2 more in terms of overall sound. And for $5 more you can get the 7Hz G1 which is better than both 7Hz Zero (2.5) - a bit too bright, zero 2 is better 7Hz Zero 2 (3) - average soundstage, decent imaging, below average sound separation. Best $20 iem imo, better options as you continue to go up in price 7Hz G1 (4.5) - a Klean but cheaper with a more fun v-shaped sound signature, get this if you're on a budget 7Hz Sonus (4.5) - the most underrated iem for gaming, great imaging and great soundstage but average sound separation. EW300 is a bit better cuz it has better sound separation Kiwi Ears Canta (3.5) - a bit too bright for most people, good imaging, okay soundstage, below average sound separation Kiwi Ears Quartet (4) - best soundstage imo, super comfy fit, imaging is okay and sound separation is average Kefine Klean (4.5) - a better Delci, better sound separation and arguably better sound signature imo Kefine Delci (4) - good soundstage and imaging, slightly above average sound separation Simgot EW300 (4.5) - nearly endgame but still needs better sound separation. Simgot EM6L (5) - endgame, great soundstage, great imaging, great sound separation. Can't recommend it due to it's nozzle QC issues. Otherwise I probably wouldn't use any other IEM for gaming but this Simgot Supermix 4 (3.5) - not endgame. Might get some hate for this but I was really not impressed by this iem for gaming. It had a narrow soundstage and okay imaging, good sound separation tho. EM6L is way better Other IEMs I am planning to review: ND Planet, Tangzu Waner 2, KZ EDC Pro, Truthear Zero 2 Blue, and Kiwi Ears Airoso Note - in the end I recommend the 7Hz G1, 7Hz Sonus and EW300. The DT 900 Pro X and 770 Pro X are my reference headphones for directional audio for competitive fps games. Those headphones essentially make me feel like I have wall hacks and the iems perform 85-90% as good. The best was definitely the EM6L where I felt nearly no difference in performance with my headphones but I can't recommend it because of the nozzle QC issue. It is an easy fix by super gluing it back on but that shouldn't even happen for an iem worth $110 in the first place. With that being said I will still review iems (and headphones) above and below the respective prices but I feel that you will be perfectly happy with the performance of the iems I recommended. Side Note: I'm currently in the process of building a website with the best gaming peripheral recommendations which includes not only iems but headphones, keyboards, mice, monitors, even pro controllers and more. Hope you all have a blessed day and find this helpful in your purchasing decision!

I’ve never owned the Moondrop Blessing 3, but I have owned the Variations, original Arias, Kato, Chu, Chu 2, Moca, Sparks, and Dawn Pro. While I liked all of these products at the time, I realized I was just buying them for the box art and not considering that I could have purchased “better” alternatives. In other words, I could have chosen an IEM from a company with better quality control compared to Moondrop or better price to performance. I think it's good to experiment with other brands and not stick to one, like I did. I hope all this makes sense, lol

Chu 2 has relatively forward vocals and a sub-bass focused bass boost. The tonality should be pretty close to what you're describing, though the chu 2 lacks in technical performance, as in sounds don't sound very separated one from another and the sound is relatively "in your head". Tonality wise, the ew200 is like a more aggressive version of the chu 2, but with slightly less sub-bass (but still present), and noticeably more detailed and technical, while the delci is like a different approach and sounds smoother. If you want to get the best bang for buck and most "exciting" performance, the ew200 might be a good choice, unless you want to spend more and go for something even more well rounded

Chu 2 has relatively forward vocals and a sub-bass focused bass boost. The tonality should be pretty close to what you're describing, though the chu 2 lacks in technical performance, as in sounds don't sound very separated one from another and the sound is relatively "in your head". Tonality wise, the ew200 is like a more aggressive version of the chu 2, but with slightly less sub-bass (but still present), and noticeably more detailed and technical, while the delci is like a different approach and sounds smoother. If you want to get the best bang for buck and most "exciting" performance, the ew200 might be a good choice, unless you want to spend more and go for something even more well rounded

Chu 2 has relatively forward vocals and a sub-bass focused bass boost. The tonality should be pretty close to what you're describing, though the chu 2 lacks in technical performance, as in sounds don't sound very separated one from another and the sound is relatively "in your head". Tonality wise, the ew200 is like a more aggressive version of the chu 2, but with slightly less sub-bass (but still present), and noticeably more detailed and technical, while the delci is like a different approach and sounds smoother. If you want to get the best bang for buck and most "exciting" performance, the ew200 might be a good choice, unless you want to spend more and go for something even more well rounded

I have Chu 2 and are ok but maybe you can order a few and try them and choose

It's a good dap but still has some issues n need more updates. Playback error 13 still happening a little The ones that come in the value pack are not that good imo moondrop chu 2 or other budget ones will be better.

There’s a brief rundown in the auto mod post to have a look through, really helps with the basics. You can then check out reviews here/online/YT, that’ll give you an objective idea on what may work best for you. For a balanced tuning and small size shell/nozzle, recommend looking at the Moondrop Chu 2. I own these and they’re a great fit, quality metal shell;/bass is punchy but not bloated or distorted, instruments/male & female vocals are clean and not thin, & treble isn’t too bright or sharp (for myself). Your own ears will be the best test for anything audio related :) 7hz Zero 2 is also very popular (balanced/V tuning) as is the Tangzu Wan’er 1/2 (vocal focused, warm V). I also own the Wan’er 2’s but didn’t get on with them (shell is quite chunky & vocals were too forward, instruments felt recessed); but many really like their tuning. All 3 offer a solid entry to iems with proven reliability. Castor Pro is another good option, haven’t tried them though.

Moondrop chu 2. Slightly v shaped and good bass imo.

for me, the moondrop chu 2’s were pretty good, but I switched to the normal apple earpods that came with your phone when they still had the headphone jack. Really benefits me when playing SDVX since I can hear the sounds of the buttons

Moondrop chu 1, 2, LAN, Truthear gate, hola, zero blue, zero red, 7hz zero 1, 2, kiwi ears cadenza, tinhifi t2, dlc, … and the list goes on

I haven't branched out too much into IEM's but I've had a few of MoonDrops's and I absolutely LOVE how good the quality is.

Moondrop Chu 2. I Love the output but they feel a little tacky. Still in use btw.

EPZ Q1 pro is the best iem for indie rock and instrumental in its price range. Wide soundstage, amazing clarity and instrument separation. Definitely worth the few extra dollars over the ones you mentioned. Out of the ones you mentioned, the Chu 2 has the best details and treble extension for the genres you listen to. It's just that the Q1 pro is in a class of its own. I know my Chu 2 is great but it never gets used anymore because of the Q1 pro.

Zero 2 but that comes with a flimsy cable Or Moondrop chu 2 but that has build issues Idk abt the others tho

Probably wait and see if the new truthear gate is worth it It does come with the same cable as the truthear zero and hexa Eartips look similar to the ones on the moondrop chu 2

> The only IEM in this range with replaceable filter is Moondrop Chu 2 right? I think so > By Build issues, how do they compare with other IEMs OP mentioned? The chu 2 shell is pretty durable (some people who had the OG chu had them last for about 2 years before failing) but it does suffer from its filter getting clogged quickly(in my case around 2 weeks) and nozzles get tarnished within a month The zero 2 has no build problems but the cable is flimsy (OG zero had a better cable) The truthear hola was the best around the $20 price but unfortunately it has been discontinued (my guess is that it got expensive to produce)

Chu 2 should be fine if you keep it in a zipped case with a silica gel packet after use

kz castor ni herw, ND Venus ko build quality xaina. budget extend gareu vani 1k jati you can get salnote zero or moondrop chu2. Top budget IEMs chai salnote zero, tangzu waner ani moondrop chu2. maile 1 year Tangzu wan'er chalaye 3.5k ma kine ko maja le chalo tei filters ma problem auxa paxi gayerw. ani aile 6 month jati moondrop chu 2 dsp wala chala xu around 3.7k paro kinnda. malai chai moondrop chu 2 ko sound quality mann paro tangzu vanda.

For post rock chu2, but for your description kz castor. I wouldnt say the bass is very present, but its tight and defined. If you crank the volume medium/highish then go chu2. You can get cca trio right now on ali for $20 which to me is a very suitable iem for that genre. Engaging bass with clear transparent mids, well rounded soundstage, good seperation.

Only my nozzle became slightly rusted, the shell was fine. I would get trio or just go with original 7hz salnotes zero. Zero 2 is more bassier and has better dynamics while the original was more cleaner and crisp.

I got my moondrop chu 2s about 2 weeks ago, these sound much better than my friend's oneplus nord buds. heres the link: [https://www.headphonezone.in/products/moondrop-chu-ii?\_pos=4&\_sid=8ab797ad7&\_ss=r](https://www.headphonezone.in/products/moondrop-chu-ii?_pos=4&_sid=8ab797ad7&_ss=r)

I had the ZSN Pro X, it was my first introduction to the Chi-Fi scene. You're right, it's quite the bang for the buck. It has a noticeable mid-scoop + bass-boost sound signature (which summarizes everything KZ does), but it is a good pair. I gave mine away to my bro, since while I don't like its boominess, it's still a good pair of IEMs. I switched to Moondrop Chu II, it's much flatter and has a bit more detail, while still in that 20 bucks range.

honestly, I didn't find them anything special. I'm not really a bass head so clarity and detail are meh. The soundstage is pretty good but I found moondrop chu 2's better and more pleasing for my ears. The closet iem i heard that sounds kinda like it is blon bl03 and its waay better according to me (shorter nozzle, more comfortable)

That’s exactly how I feel about those 2. Much prefer the Wan’er

If you're low on budget, try moondrop chu 2. If u could go much higher, moondrop may or simgot EL500 or truthear hexa.

Just to let you know. What you were calling buds are in fact IEM's. All that means is in ear monitor. Or in ear headphones. Chu two is the best thing I can recommend to get you started.

Just got the castor pros this morning, and goddamn are they incredible. The last pair I used was the moon drop chu II. And they are miles ahead.

Please don't buy the KZ Zs Pro. As much as the KZ sounds better than the Shures, tons of other IEMs sound that much better than the KZ at the same price. Get the Salnotes Zero 2 or the Moondrop Chu 2.

I am by NO means an audiophile. I don't know how to read graphs. This review is mainly for people like me who are new and don't know all the fancy terms and just want to know how they sound and how they feel without graphs and words like "V-Shaped" and "Bright" or "Warm". I just want to give my impressions of my first IEMs. These were sent out to me by Linsoul.... after I paid 18.99. Price: 18.99 USD for 3.5mm 23.99for DSP version (USB-C) What comes in the box: 3 pairs of eartips S/M/L, A 0.78mm 2 pin cable, the IEMs, a simple pouch, and pictures of anime girls, because you obviously need those. Impressions of the contents: The stock eartips are fine. They come in small, medium and large, measuring 11mm, 12mm, and 13mm respectively. I use the medium ones and they feel fine. I didn't notice anything special or unique, just simple looking stock eartips. The cable is okay, looks good in my opinion, tangles a lot in my experience so I would recommend another cable. It's long enough for a beginner like me and I think for most people aswell. It's an okay cable, nothing much at 18 dollars. The pouch is fine, never used it because of the tangling issues. It's really only big enough for the IEMs and cable, I wouldn't put in an extra IEMs and/or eartips. Pictures of anime girls stayed in the box. Durability: These things are VERY durable in my experience. I've accidentally sat on them, banged them against the wall and table, slept on them, my cat even grabbed them and ran away dragging the IEMs on the floor, and yet they still feel and function the same as DAY 1. Comfort: These things are MAD comfortable. They go in, they disappear. I've used these for 8 hours a day, sometimes more, and I cannot tell you of a single day or moment in the time span of 3 months where I've felt discomfort in my ears because of them. These things are incredibly comfortable. Build quality: Metal shell, I like the little bit of weight it has, makes it feels a lot more expensive than it is. It's small, this thing would probably fit in a baby's ear. I don't think anybody will have an issue with the size of the shell or nozzle. The nozzle is 6mm at its widest point. Sound: This is where these things really shine. They sound amazing. For somebody who's best sound experience was the Airpods Pro 2 and cheap 5 dollar earbuds, these things are astronomical in sound. I felt like my 3rd eye was opening. I felt like a kid in 13th century England being shown an iPhone 16. The bass hits hard, the vocals are clear, every instrument and every whisper is audible, this thing is crispy. I did notice that it is probably a bit more bass-heavy, sometimes the vocals felt a bit harsh, but not all the time. I wouldnt get these IEMs if you're less of a bass person and more vocals focused. I listened to some EDM, hip hop, rap indie, rock, metal, pop, kpop. Everything was great. My best experiences were on hip hop, rap, EDM, rock and metal, but that may just be my personal music taste, these were great on basically every genre I listened to. Gaming: They're good. I played some roblox FPS games, fortnite, XDefiant, and they were fine. I could hear the direction of footsteps very clearly, little sound cues like doors opening, I could feel the rumble of explosions and grenades, very immersive. I don't think these are the best for gaming, there are definitely better ones, but if you're fine with GOOD instead of BEST for gaming, then these are more than enough. Conclusion: These are crazy. They are so good that I believe that most people who have never experienced GOOD sound quality from IEMs, could use these forever and never feel the need to upgrade. Fortunately (unfortunately for my wallet), these have sparked a need to upgrade, not because they're bad but because of the hobby, so they might do the same for you and send you down the rabbit hole of IEMs. For less than 20, these are some of the best value. I would pay 50 dollars for these and not even question it. 4.5/5 Pros: Amazing sound, Insane comfort, Very good durability, Extremely good price for budget, beginner audiophiles. This thing could easily be priced twice as much and nobody would care. Cons: When the cable tangles, it's infuriating, There are better options for gaming, Not the best for people who like vocals more than bass. Your family, friends, and partner might think you're a weirdo with the anime girls on the box and inside the box. Thank you for reading my review. I hope it was at least somewhat helpful. This is my opinion so some things might not align with you and I am not an expert in audio, so consider my review as coming from a regular consumer who likes audio, and not an expert with years of experience and a collection of 80 IEMs and 20 DACs.

I have had 0 issues with the Chu 2 in terms of comfort. I don't have small ears but I also don't have large ears and I can tell you that the Chu 2 is very comfortable. When I first got the Chu 2, the first thing I noticed was how it stays in perfectly and how it feels like it just disappears in your ear, so yeah the fit is good, I used the Chu 2 daily for 3 months with over 4 hours of listening time a day and I had no issues with fit and comfort. My sister and my mom also tried the Chu 2 and they have small ears, but also found no issues with comfort or fit. So, even though no ear is the same, I'm pretty sure the Chu 2 works well for small ears. The nozzle size is about 5.7mm-6mm so pretty standard and shouldn't cause any real issues. I think if you're going for something comfortable with a good fit, the Chu 2 would definitely be my top choice for a first IEM.

Bought chu 2 a week ago and I enjoyed listening to it. But some say one of the monitors stops working after a few months. Wonder if there is a way to prevent it. Could you suggest something for this?

I also received mine as my first IEM! Using them with a Qudelix-5k. I've changed the cable to a Linsoul Tripowin Zonie and some SpinFit CP100 ear tips and indeed ... They're awesome and a steal at that price!

I also have the Chu2 and then got the HEXA , and I agree with you. Feels like hearing songs for the first time. Not punchy low ends but very clear sounding IEMs. Recently got the Ziigat Doscinco and now I am in the endgame. Hexa for movies and gaming for that extreme clarity and the doscincos for music. You can use KZ Starline eartips on the HEXA for the best sound and slightly higher bass.

The usual recommendation of entry point IEM are all good. Of course I don't have all but I do have some and in case you're new and don't know, I'll name a few so you can start looking into them to see which fits your tastes better: * Mooondrop Chu 2 - metal body and small, very nice pick * Truthear Gate * Tangzu Wan'er (normal, 2 and studio edition) * Salnotes Zero (both 1 and 2) * Kiwiears Cadenza * Simgot EW100 or 200 * Tripowin Vivace - I just ordered this to try it as it has been getting a lot of praise and is supposed to perform way above its price range * Moondrop Lan - this is about 40 dollars, above of what you mentioned but I love it. Super comfortable, very neutral and pleasing sound signature. Full metal body, which is always a plus for durability. On the current sale I think it may be on your budget. If you have any more question just send them.

I kinda got fed up with any type of blue headphones and earphones and I switched to iem earphones. I got some basic ones to check it out. I got the moondrop chu 2. I bought the usb cables for the earphones so I had the option to listen to lossless audio on my phone and the usb audio and the 3.5mm jack are just great. I even use the usb c plug for gaming and the mic is great quality I payed $27 for them. Beat the beats, sony, and jbl earphones i have.

I have the Wan'ers, had the Chu 2 and own and regularly use Kiwi Ears Cadenza (wich at points are around 29€ in Amazon Spain, like right now) so this is gonna be long. I wanna say beforehand that I'm not an audiophile and I use my gear mainly for music, youtube (doctumentary and podcast) and gaming (mostly single player, not competitive FPS) on a daily basis. I had the Philips Fidelio X2HR, I know these are not the best cans but are amazing (tho pretty unconfortable). So, I have some experience on what good audio gear is even if I'm not an expert. Chu 2: gentle V shaped, I liked em for music but made me a bit tired after half an hour cause of the highs being a bit piercing. I think these are great for the price but if you are picky with the highs like me you might get tired of them. I hated them for gaming because the soundstage is wild: I was able to pinpoint every sound on the x axis but it wasn't that easy on the y, and I think imaging was good but since soundstage was very narrow it confused me a bit with above and below sounds. Besides the moistoure problem some people keep bringing. Cable is cheap but looks fine to me, and come with nice tips. Wan'er: More neutral sound, not sure how much, cause again, I'm not an audiophile to tell. Tome, they sound not too fun. They sound really good, not a problem to hear music, but to me a big pass on games, where I think you want some fun with at least some bass and highs. Cable is dirt cheap, at least the green version, and materials itself for the IEM is cheap plastic, not the best feeling on the ear, but ok, tips are also quite shite: they don't hold well and at the same time put a lot of pressure on my ear channel (mines are a bit delicate tbh, but Chu's are tight and press a bit, hold pretty well and do not fatigue my ear channels). Overall I think they are great for around 20-22€ but not a blind buy at all, specially not a the 27-30 price point you see them at times. Zero: Can't say much other that I've read that could be considered a funnier Wan'ers with better cable and tips. Cadenza: I absolutely love these. Their signature is warm, which I think it's to put some lows and mid-lows a bit up and keep the rest fairly neutral. Tbh the sound is not a lot of "fun", but they are very relaxed and I can use them for hours. Their quality is amazing, I love every single genre of music I listen on these, from metal to classical, weird traditional things like Wardruna or Laboratorium Piesni and even flamenco and jpop. I can get all details in music, same as with the Chus or the Fidelios, but without getting tired of anything. For games I think they are a mixbag, they sound amazing but the soundstage isn't wide as headphones, which give a very nice feel of space between sounds (even my loved and hated Razer Blackshark V2, God I hate thes cans, but hey are my go to for open world games usually) I do think the Cadenzas do a really good job on Baldur's Gate 3, Chivalry 2 and, to my surprise, on RDR 2, and they hold decently enough at Ghost of Tsushima and Cyberpunk 77, to give some examples). Cable is quite decent, looks like it will hold heavy use and tips ain't the best, but they hold very well in my ear and don't pressure too much. I hope this helps you because I was exactly in the same spot as you a few months ago. On a final note, I think a lot of people on YT have hyped IEMs like all rounders that destroy your -100€ headphones and, thus being true, they are very different listening experiences. IEMs are more intimate and I love that on music, also watching some youtube videos before bed is amazing on these, don't even want to know anything about headphones if I can avoid the now, except for gaming, tho it depends on the game. I know some people like IEMs better for any gaming genre, but trust your ears, buy on Amazon or other platform that let you return the product. Since you come from cheap earbuds you might think any IEM is heaven, but I would consider a decent 40-80€ headphone for gaming if you are into other things than competitive. \*\*Another note on replacing the cables: some IEM's are so cheap that if the cable break, a new one might cost almost the same as a new pair. So, unless you have cables to spare, like many collectors, the Chus and others in that range might not be worth it considering in many stores these are from 10 to 15 the cheapest ones. In my book is not that worth it looking it that way. So look for cables and maybe tips in your reference stores before buying, to know what you are dealing with.

I also have them and highly recommend them. My only issue is that when I bought them, I got the version with the most basic cable. Now I think that with a cable that includes a microphone, they would be much more versatile for everything.

Tangzu Waner is better choice than CHU 2 in that regard. Waner is bit more clear, sharper sound that CHU 2. For my taste CHU 2 was bit warmer with less detailed treble. Other options to consider: - KZ D-Fi - with tuning pins, you can tune the sound signature a bit. (7-15 $) - KZ ZVX (5-7 $) Very good detail retrieval and resolution for the price.

Which would be best for music like the weekend , ed shreen and rammstin? Also I would use it for calls as well so what would you recommend? I had chu 2 it broke like in 2 years i am looking for something in that range or better but with clarity leaning to better base.

Try the Chu 2 or Tanchjim Bunny

Iem user for over 10 years now. Never had any issues with iems. Wanted to tey hps anf got Lcd2c. Sold it off and went back to my iems. Speakers are still king followed by iems to me. Budget ones that you can look into are: Waner Zero/Zero 2 Chu ii Gate Blon 03 i/ii

Which would you recommend, Cca lyra - polaris - (10$) Kz zsn (12$) 7hz zero ( 15$) Chu 2 (15$) First time buyer will listen to bollywood and some hip hop.

Thankns gonna buy chu 2

Just a note that while the chu 2 does have bass, it's not super thumpy or rumbling, as in that its not the main focus of the iem.

https://preview.redd.it/f2s7rppy9goe1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cd3bdc5932eff081f7dc601ebdfe609504dc18b6 I am using the moondrop chu 2 dsp since last month (my first iem). The reason behind choosing this is to listen to good quality audio and be able to take calls in between. Though the stock cables are kind of nice, I went ahead and replaced the stock cables, because on my macbook, it was only outputting 96 khz/24 bit max. Hence, I got the cheapest available audiocular cable at around $ 10-12, with mic and 3.5mm jack, along with the abigail pro dac. Now I am able to listen to 192 khz/24 bit (as supported by Apple Music). The sound now is better enough for me (not an audiophile btw). Regarding eartips, I have just ordered the moondrop silicon spring one's, even though the stock ones are not bad at all. Should be able to comment on it once it arrives. Hope this helps.

Small list of the ones I recommend for beginners with budget 1. Moondrop chu ii 2. Kz castor (original or pro) if you like bass, pick the black one 3. 7hz Zero Red 4.sgor adonis

Chu 2. Not much else to say, there's not a lot of IEMs at that price range that can beat if in the tuning you're looking for.

I'm not really fond of the prices on Shopee but I'd say go for options coming from Feigu Audio. It's actually cheaper buying from Feigu on Shopee than Lazada (my go-to platform). I'd say go for Chu 2 for a safer pick. Wan'er if you want something a bit more detailed but you lose bass rumbles/presence, assuming you don't mind. Anyways, here are my 2 other suggestions outside your options: KZ EDC Pro - very nice, balanced sounding for cheaper than what you're looking at right now. Get them now while it's not tampered with yet. QKZ x HBB - something for more bass, very warm/bassy/ambient set. KBear Rosefinch - less rumbles than the QKZ x HBB but more detailed Truthear Gate - the cable (best of what you're looking at and what I'm offering right now) is very nice for this and the sound is quite balanced.

I use primarily budget IEMs. My on-the-go pair is usually my Chu 2s or Nuos. I do also occasionally use the LANs. At home I use the Kefine Kleans. The other sets I have include the Hexa, Delci, and EW200, and the THifi C2s. The Kleans provide me with clean and accurate male vocals while still sounding natural which is really what I'm looking for in an IEM.

Chu 2 is the better of the two iems

Better? For certain situations. They really can't be beat for bang-for-the-buck performance. You can get VERY good sounding iems for as low as $25 (Moondrop Chu II, for example). They also just sound different from other setups. Open back headphones will have WAY more space and soundstage in almost every case. But a great amp and speaker setup will do even more for a sense of envelopment and tactility. The one, almost undeniable, advantage of iems is the lower price of entry into very good sound. The law of diminishing returns hits iems, headphones, and speakers just the same...iems just have a generally lower point of entry to very good sound. They also are , generally easier to power so they work well with cheap DAC/amps like the Apple dongle.

I’m surprised to see the Original 7 Hz Salnotes Zero on the list but not the Zero 2. The Zero 2 is the one I see recommended most on here, with TANGZU Wan’er and Moondrop Chu II very close seconds.

I using moondrop chu IIs on series x and ps5 for warzone and they are a ton better for hearing steps and such than my headsets, albeit warzone's soundmix is shit to begin with, lol

I guess for music it depends on your taste Wan er have vocal focus Chu 2 is more fun well balanced and analytical Kz castor pro bass edition is for those who like a lot of bass For gaming I recommend you get the chu 2, it has better sound stage and imaging (I have all those iem btw) it’s my favorite music wise gaming wise and comfort wise (wan er is too big and kz castor doesn’t fit right on me) BUT you should see reviews for all of them and decide based on your taste I don’t recommend the wan er if you think about gaming with it, it’s uncomfortable and fatiguing after some time If you think about gaming over music pick the chu 2 If you like a lot of bass pick the castor If you think about music pick the chu 2 If you think about music but like vocal forward with a little bit extra bass, pick the wan er

I like the Chu2 better in that price range and for it would be a better choice. But it does have know issue with humidity and recently I have seen some complains that the volume on one side of their Chu2 becomes lower after some months. Do you have any other recommendations? There is 7hz Zero and Zero 2.. Would have gone for Zero 2 but its more on V shape

Yea these were decent IEM's 10+ years ago. But Chu II's are much better at a 1/4 the price.

I can vouch for Moondrop Chu II. They're very good in terms of sound quality for the price they offer but it's not water resistant, so don't bring them to somewhere with high humidity or near water. Also if the cable breaks, you can replace them as long as the IEM itself is not damaged

i personally won't bother with it . you have a kz anyway , just get another cheap-fi . chu 2 is pretty good for the price

Chu II is one of my absolute favourites, I have 250£ IEMs and still prefer the Chu II. Also CCA CKX. These are my all time favourites, fit is great and their sound is the best in my honest opinion

I have SE215's and Chu II's. The Chu's are significantly better and much much cheaper.

My Shure SE215's don't sound as good as my Chu 2's. My recommendation would be to buy a pair of Chu 2's first and see if they tickle your pickle before getting any other IEM's.

$20. Seriously, the chifi IEM market is crazy and there are a bunch in the $20-30 range that are really, really impressive. Based on your preferred tune, I'd suggest the Tangzu Wan'er SG or Wan'er II. I prefer the sound of the II, but the SG cost me only $11 a few weeks ago. The base cables are ... meh, but pretty easy to swap out. If you want a more v-shaped tune, the Chu II are also pretty great.

Any $10 USB-C dongle, and a pair of Tangzu Wan'er 2 (neutral), Moondrop Chu II (v-shape), or 7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 (bumped bass) will beat the earpods.

Whenever someone pops up here asking which $100 IEM they should buy, my standard response is to spend $60 on a Wan'er 2, Zero:2, and Chu II, $10 on a dongle DAC, and spend the other $30 on something else (or save for upgrade). EQ is cool, but it's not magic. And finding something close to your preference and starting there goes a long way. Also, not for nothing, but I used a different tunes of IEMs at my desk (Wan'er) vs. working in a loud office (Chu II) vs. walking my dog (Zero:2), and playing with multiple tunings helps you figure that out.

If you go for a budget one (and many people might hang me for saying this), you can equalize a bit more bass for them. Wan'er 1 are warm and pretty solid, Chu II are more shouty but have good performance and Salnotes have a nice sound stage.

I like whatever the crankle ones were the other week and Chu 2. Much more entertaining

Agreed, though less harsh than the "vaunted" Chu II. People glazed that IEM and to this day I still don't know why. Was the one time my feelings on an IEM were completely different from Crin.

Don't buy chu 2 their filters get clogged due to moisture and require regular cleaning also the connector pins are not that strong. Mine broke within 11 months and also the bass is pretty bad.

Unpopular opinion… Moondrop Chu II AND KZ Dawn. They’re ~$25 USD combined, and the Chu II are pretty … tame and the KZ are more “fun”. For less than the cost of a USB-C cable from Apple you’ll get a nice little intro into the IEM world. (Also fwiw I’m an avid IEM user with too many high, middle and low end sets… lol)

Add the delci, T10, zero 2, zero red, S08, chu 2, gate. I haven't heard it but the hexa is "light on bass," but I heard they're excellent otherwise. Personally I would get the T10 or S08 because they're planars. I have a zero red, gate, chu 2, zero 2. In terms of out of the box sound I find the Chu 2 to be the most exciting and lush and the most comfortable (it's absolutely TINY). I found gate too bright and the zero 2 kinda weak in note-weight but all of these things are "well tuned". If bass is your thing the zero red with some mucking around with PeaceAPO on PC (like matched to a singularity) absolutely *delivers.*

I have the space travel and just got another space travel for my gf and a chu 2 despite people saying it's bright, because it squigs nearly the same as the zero red just with more bass everywhere. I think the metal shell is a nice touch.  At first i didnt like the space travels sound. It has a Bluetoothy poor resolution. After grocery shopping with it for 2 hours i was left impressed. It is tuned very well and I dont get a harsh or metallic sound, theyre smooth everywhere and have good bass. The only down side for the price is my dunu tips dont fit in the charging case and the OEM tips suck. ANC and transparent modes work well enough but the voiced translation between them is off with "hmm", "hey", and "sleep". Highly worth the price. 

Try checking out the Moondrop Chu II, 7Hz Zero, or Truthear Gate. The Wan’er is great for music, but I wouldn’t recommend it for gaming.

If you want to stay on a budget, Moondrop Chu II are going to change your life coming from these. With some EQ they can deliver some serious punch.

I have used Sennheiser IE 300, Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk, Phoenix Call, Chu 2, Tanchjim Origin, Tanchjim kara, Dunu Da Vinci, Mega5est, Simgot EA500, Kinera Skuld, Tin T2, Tanchjim One.and softears volume s on the way soon.

Any example of something that gives much better value for your money than my Chu 2s? I like them but they did develop a channel imbalance that I kinda fixed by cleaning the filter. Maybe more expensive options have a smaller chance to develop problems Like this?

Aku tak tau Umur ko,sebab telinga kita ni ada certain frequency yang lebih kita sharp,ada yang kurang,Dan semestinya lagi tua Umur,lagi kurang benda tu jadi tak sama dengan zaman kita remaja,kalau antara 50-100,hmm aku lebih cadangkan empunya badan cari IEM,bergantung jenis music apa ko nak dengar jugak,rock,classic,rnb/hip-hop,irama traditional ke?ataupun secara general best bang for bucks gitu?ada dalam range harga tu yang aku kaut kat shopee moondrop chu II jenis lama belum ada type C sumbat(sebab aku lebih nak guna dengan phone je) dengan fiio JD 3,aku sumbat sekali dengan jcally jm 06 pro portable dac to type c,overall untuk belanja 2-2 iem sekali portable dac tak sampai 200,puas hati?syukur,puas hati untuk semua jenis lagu,tak kisah lah slipknot ke,guns n roses ke Busta rhymes ke,Js Bach ke,telinga aku puas hati,dengar detail

Entry level ? Very entry level : Chu 2 / Entry level : Kiwi Ears Candeza / Quite entry level : Artti T10 / Less entry level but still: Simgot EA500LM Voilà 😄

No one mentioning the EDC Pro or newer Saga? I have all three you have listed. Of the three, I like the Wan'er the best, but only if you cover the front vent to give it a bass boost. Stock, it's great for movies and K/J-pop. Cover the front vent, it's now good for EDM (think PulsRadio Dance's poppish EDM) The Castor Pro Bass is a bit too V shaped for me. The bass and trebles are the best of the three. And has the most technical build {2 DDs) and requires more power, so buy a good DAC with 30mW per channel. And you can EQ the mids to give you an even better sound. The Chu 2 is decent Just... decent. Nothing special. I'll get hate for it, but to me, the sound boring. So I'd rank them in this order 1 Wan'er (with front vent covered. If not covered, then go with Castor Pro Bass) 2 Castor Pro Bass (probably best of three for gaming) 3 Chu 2 ...or buy the new KZ Saga and be done with it.

100% this. The ChU II is very boring. Not much bass, recessed mids, squishy trebles. And they fall out of my right ear, which requires larger tips for a sealed fit, Audio Amigo gives them a "brilliant" rating, and I cannot understand why. Even my KZ EDC Pro sounds far better for half the price. The only good thing about the Chu II is the metal build quality (unless you live in humid areas, then you're screwed)

Your post is awesome. Revisiting it a lot! Started the hobby about a month ago and got the Wan'er then the Chu II. I believe I like the Wan'er warmth better and it feels comfier on my ears (still tip rolling on the Chu II). I'm looking for a brighter IEM and a bassier one too just to know which tuning I prefer. Which one would you recommend?

Tangzu Waner studio edition sounds better than chu II. But chuII has better build quality.

me using Moondrop Chu II for wired.

I've had both, Chu 2 is better but se215 does sound more natural, I remember first Chi-FI IEM I tried from the friend Trn V30, it was all around better than se215 only upper bass sounded kinda harsh on it, on se215 it was more polished, that was one thing it was better than $30 IEM from 5 years and a half years ago, new stuff has gotten even better, I'd take GATe over it any day even if same price

most of these $20-ish IEMs are pretty much all same sound quality, detail level, QKZ Odin, Moondrop CHU II, Truthear GATe, 7Hz Zero, 7Hz x Crinacle Zero: 2, Wan'er SG, Wan'er SE but for what you are looking for QKZ Odin will imo be the best choise, Wan'er SG is also good but their build quality is step or two below everything else on the list

cadenza is better, gate is comparable but different to chu II, not rly worse or better, maybe also look into $35 tripowin piccolo, it's on sale for $10 right now, absolute best buy, step up from all those $20 IEMs(except Tanchjim Zero DSP but that has a non-detachable cable)

Beautiful setup you got there, congrats! I’m a bit further down the rabbit hole as I started with entry level ones (Chu 2, Zero 2, GATe) but upgraded recently to the RED. Waiting for the upgraded cable to arrive, in the meantime the GATe’s cable is just fine https://preview.redd.it/ndz2f2sys35e1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9067996897e9b48c51f8bc034f4516e9dc4b017c

none of them are any extra airy, i have all of them and i would pick zero:2 for hiphop stuff

In that case you're pretty much limited to KZ, or just "ok" sounding 1DDs like the Chu 2 or Zero 2. Castor is $12 and ZSN Pro 2 is $14, those both hit well above their price. You can get D-fi for that much but it's not really any better than a Chu or Zero. If you want a very cheap 1DD I would still get the Tanya or ipviq q-100 which is basically a Cadenza in a nicer shell, you can find that for <$20 on sale. You could probably find a CCA Trio or ZS10 Pro 2 on sale for <$30 too, or get a cheap PR2 and try to EQ it.

I use either AirPod pros or moondrop chu II which give me more than enough sound quality to enjoy all classical music. You typically want something neutral and a lot of headphones are tuned to emphasize bass, which isn’t great for classical. Check out /headphones for extensive discussions around this. But, just remember it is personal preference that matters

$20 Chu II. I've reviewed over 50 iem and blind tested them on many musicians and chu II is the absolute most liked sub $40 iem. Only close second was the Kiwi Cadenza at $35

I always come back to the chu 2. They're crazy comfortable and sound great.

KZ is trash, buy Moondrop Chu II or Truthear gate instead 👍

Chu II or Truthear gate is better

Better sound, better build quality and accessories

I got the chu ii because of the hype a year ago and people said it was good then eventually months later the cable broke☠️

If you’re going super budget then moondrop chu II can’t be beat for the money. I personally use kinera norm but they’re honestly overkill. If you’re lucky and have an audiophile store near you then just go try on iems till one fits you well

The moisture thing can be sold with one of those water absorbent packets, a lot of people have them laying around, and if they need a bunch a bag of 100 is like 10 bucks, helps take care of IEMs in general, channel imbalance out of box is a moondrop thing sadly

I have the Chu 2 and Castor Pro Bass version. The Chu 2s are way better all around than the Castor Pro Bass - way clearer detail, midrange, treble, more ergonomic for small ears, build quality, etc. I did notice the Chu 2 sounding a bit dark and metallic & sibilant in songs with a lot of cymbals, but it's still way better than Castor Pro Bass for everything but mid bass quantity.

Still looking but so far it's the Salnotes Zero (out of the it and the Chu II, QKZxHBB, and Xuan Nv)

Heard a lot of positive reviews ng 7hz zero for FPS. Had chu 2, it's good :))

As a broke person (sim racing / audiophile / keebs / vr) there is something up with the dap side of the vr headset. So if you’re using a quest 3, stick with cheaper options that don’t require amplification or a resolving dac. Yes, I am saying to avoid getting the best iem and focus on getting an iem that can be sufficiently driven by the quest 3. The high end of this for me would be the ie200. Generally speaking, this is my favorite iem because of how small it is and the sound it puts out is tremendous. This is slightly out of your budget. It is however in my mind the nicest option. Moondrop chu ii is a very good starter iem. Salnotes zero (the og) also is a good option here especially if you don’t like the metal housing of the chu. Both of them come with an inline mic if you fancy that. I would avoid any bass monsters unless you’ve got a dac solution in place. Hbb hades comes to mind here. Going further down, tin c2 have some new releases coming out. Finally, I’m gonna rec the koss ksc75 and portapros- the 75s are perfect for the quest and the porta pros were on the cv1. Although not iems, these are great sound solutions. Finally, and only if you’re willing to stay on headphones for vr, I recommend the Sony mdr-mv1. Super comfortable and light weight. Punches way above its cost as far as sound quality goes. Edit: if you’re not using the 3.5 mm on the quest, ignore most of this as my perspective is that of a user who is using the sound solution built into the q3.

I am using Chu 2 with FLAC files from listening to hard rock and heavy metal music.

Oh yeah, hard to beat IE200 or final E4000 for comfort. Meze Albas is another one known for comfort. Apart from that look single driver iems like S08. For cheaper ones Chu II's are fantastic. P.S - most iems you find will already be smaller than mp145, I find them too big (helps the Soundstage though), for ex: Nicehck f1 pro has the same driver in a much smaller shell.

Go with Tangzu Wan'er SG or Tangzu wan'er SG Studio edition, use the EQ by Timmy (from Gizaudio & now Hangouts.audio), or just use ur own EQ (which is best). They r so good. I EQ'd my wan'er studio on the Hola signature, and it is so good. Alternatively, Zero and Zero 2 are pretty great. I personally prefer zero 2 over zero but some prefer the opposite. Chu ii is a very safe bait too. Lastly I'd say take a look at Truthear Gate, tho I'm personally not the biggest fan. I heard KZs here and there from others , not a big fan of the signature. Haven't experienced any of simgot IEMs, tho heard a lot of good things about them. If u end up going with the simgot one, pls do tell your experience with it, I'm interested on them.

Oh great choice, Chu ii build quality is also great. Enjoy 💜💜

Thoughts on Clavelon Delta? Im looking something similar to it (eyeing Dunu Kima 2 atm) and coming from Chu 2, it sounded "too fun", I'm looking for a balanced, but more details etc that isn't too treble-y. TIA!

chu II has a balanced pre set and also has the DSP functionality if you are buying that one and also is a well respect pair so personally you should go with them.

or the chu II love them both

X2 on the conclusion, i've got a pair of Chu 2 and the G1, i like em both, i read about the cadenzas everywhere so i would like to know too.

Chu II with Spinfits CP100+ are a match made in heaven.

Chu 2. Yep, I use them. It's the most comfortable pair for me. I still use them for sleeping because they are really comfy. https://preview.redd.it/l9ajv7ge6wre1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fd4965213e69492f936a7417d63b57f463cc4601

I came here to ask the same question, Ping me if someone answers I'm driving daily a pair of Moondrop Chu ii with 3rd party OCC

Best for the price, period

the chu 2’s are actually worth

Hello! First of all, i have smallish ears too, while artti t10 are very nice overall, they are not THAT small, sound is great though :) I have ie200 and they get a solid recommendation, also look at meze alba, from moondrop you should look at chu2 (dsp is better soundwise, i have both), LAN, SSR which are very small but the tuning is kinda weird (see a graph to get an ideea), Letshuoer d13 are kinda the same shape as artti t10 but considerable smaller (40 ish $ on ali and boy they worth it at this price), tanchjim tanya dsp if you like your bass. From this list the only set i don't own is the meze alba. (ps: i can sleep with every iem you see mentioned above). Best of luck and happy listening mate!

I recently bought chu 2 a week before everything feels good fitting, vocals and all. But it doesn't have much bass. If you want want bass I would say go for castor. Also purchase from headphonezone, they are legit also the price difference. I got the chu 2 for around 1740.

Chu 2 are a little bit female vocal forward , lower bass than the CASTOR, not meant for gaming, it's usually for 24hr music listener, (good choice for those who want c type with dsp) (But serious problem with humidity/filters) Good for small ears .and cute too Now about the castors , good for gaming and music, u can always have the advantage to tune the eq switches to reach a similar output like chu2 ,the whole reason 80% in r/iem like the castor is due to its soundstage and the ability to physically tune the switch.. https://preview.redd.it/rnebek0tpfhe1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=135bc045d85a20e4afaeb8fdac2a3bb48c9fd296 THATS WHY THE DEAL BREAKER IS THE castor FOR ME , ESPECIALLY AT THAT PRICE 🔂💯

I prefer open back headphones when gaming so I can hear the tactile feedback of my keys. I mainly use my sennheiser 560s but also a pair of KOSSs work really good for gaming too. Where I think IEMs excel at gaming are for gaming on the go. I use a pair of Moondrop CHU IIs with my steam deck and they work pretty good

Chu 2 and wan'er are my two first iems. I can't really say one is better than other, they are just a bit different. I choose either of them depending on music I want to listen to. Waner is better for vocals and light instrumental music, chu 2 is better for electronic music, rock and etc. If you have to choose one, get the chu2.

Definitely Chu II

Moondrop Chu Ii

For me although it has a good v shape, the bass lacks a little. It sounds muffled on some heavy bass songs. The midrange is limited as well on some instrumental jazz tracks when the treble is present, for an example Pharoah Sanders, You got to have freedom track. I use this track mostly when testing IEMs. The moondrop was one of my first IEM along with KZzs 12 Pro X tuning model and Simgot EW300 HBB. The Letshuoer Cadenza4 is my daily driver for now. It has the best sound signature for what I listen to.

For neutral I’d recommend chu 2 or tangzu wan’er (new one releasing soon btw) a bit more exciting would be 7hz zero 2 and even more (ideal for hip hop) would be Blon x HBB Z300

I just bought my first IEM (Chu 2) last week and was really impressed by how clear it sounded, yet still longing for bass. Here I am, looking for an extra pair to rock out whenever I feel the need to get that BASS rumble. I'm really not sure how different TFZ connector is to what my Chu 2 has. Any clue here?

Agreed, the cheapest "good sound quality" headphones I can think of are some Koss stuff and even those are around RM140-200. (If OP's priority is sound quality anyways) Some recommendations for OP if he doesn't mind IEMs: KZ Castor Bass edition, KZ EDC Pro, Moondrop Chu II, Tangzu Wan'Er original and SE versions, 7Hz Zero 2 and original versions, and the Truthear Gate. Note that I only specifically recommend those 2 KZ models since the rest of their lineup don't sound as good unless you move up the price bracket. KZ also has issues with deceptive marketing as well with certain models where they switch out the drivers randomly in the middle of the production run. The Chu II can occasionally be found for around RM40-50 in carousell, and if you live in the Klang Valley, starspicker's store sometimes have open box Chu IIs for sale.

The Chu 2 and Zero 2's at \~25USD are pretty good entry level ones but if you can afford better ones, HEXA seems to be the common favorite although are $80.

Wan’er for sound, Chu II for build. Good luck!

I'm a beginner in IEMs, just got a Chu 2 and it's awesome and I'm loving it

I'd recommend **Vic Firth's Headphones**. These are pretty good, they sound pretty good and isolate really well, while still able to make surroundings clear, so you hear others around you easily. These are great and quite affordable. These cost about 35-50€. The other option is IEMs, such as **Moondrop Chu II**. I really recommend these IEMs, since they sound really good and remain a good balanced sound, unlike many KZ's IEMs I've gone through and suffered with. Chu II offer a good ability to hear outside, while still dampening at least 10db. These IEMs are *in my opinion* best of audio equipment you can get just for **20€**. If you're willing to spend more in IEM market, maybe consider **"Truthear Hexa** or **Moondrop Kato** :)

No headphone or IEM will match the sound you hear. I have tried Truthear Hexa and Moondrop Kato, but I don't own them, so I can't say how do these work with drums. I own Moondrop Chu II and Vic Firth SIH2 and speaking of isolation I have to say, that in my experience Moondrop Chu II sound clearer, while not protecting your ears as much, but Vic Firh SIH2 is slightly duller, but protects your ears way better. If you play heavyer genres, I'd recommend getting Vic Firth SIH2's for protecting your ears, since you only have them once.

Hey, I've owned the chu 2, zero:2 and truthear gate. I'd say gate sounds the best and has the best accessories. Chu 2 and zero:2 are quite similar but chu 2 wind out slightly depending on your tuning preference. Zero:2 sounds quite congested compared to the gate, and the included cable and tips are quite bad. My own chu 2 has unfortunately got channel imbalance issues after about 2-3 weeks of use so they've just been sitting in a box 🥲

I just bought the chu 2, ill try these super low budget out for a month and then ill get back here to invest more!

I'd suggest you stay away from Chu 2. Simply because of the two main reasons. Moisture accumulation which can cause rusting of nozzles as well as channel imbalance. And finally the paint chipping away from the shells is another issue with these.

I'm going to be honest about my experience & conclusion. Silica gel packets might work to solve the moisture accumulation problem when it's not being used. But it doesn't solve it entirely. Since most of the time, the moisture accumulation occurs when actively using it (when it is shoved inside my ear canals). That's when it happens which I'm pretty sure can't be solved by silica gel alone.

If you're in doubt, chu 2 has a balanced sound signature, and IMO, the best build quality, with the only con is that the paint chips over time.

Bro, I have one but in my opinion, treble and clarity in Chu II are not as good as Tanchjim Zero. 😭

Get the Chu II, they're bloody amazing. (Be advised the default tips are atrocious to the point of being unusable if you have small/medium ear canals or if you're easily irritated by low quality ear tips)

chu 2 is all time legend, for 18 usd it is unparalleled)

My experience: I've used CCA CRA, CHU 2 kinda Iems, and I even liked the u shaped CRA, it's treble is emphasized & energetic it's not screechy or shrill, it's well rounded and clear. The sub bass is rumblier and had good mid bass punch. The Sound won't seem as hollow or blurred in presentation, it's just clean & clear for it's implementation. So I need this kind of IEM and I came across these: EA500LM, Arti T10, Kefine Delci Note: (( I heard that "EA500LM" sibilant but had very Sharp & sparkly treble, but that excess shrill & sparkle only heard the most and it's felt wrong as its the clarity, detail & note definition. )) Is this correct about the EA500LM true note detail and clarity and even with all the given nozzels of it? So in the above listed IEMs which had no sibilance & even though they had elevated sparkle in sound which one had more detail & definition in notes with precise layered sound along with the strong impactful mid bass and enough sub bass rumble but textured & clean.

Technically they're very good for $35 IEMs. I like them more than Chu 2s. I think they're my new daily drivers. Wan'ers feel like they're on the same page as Chu 2 but it's been a while since I listened to them side by side. You could the Vader was a step above in not sounding like everything was muddied together with good seperation across instruments. Graphs make them look bright on treble, but I didn't notice. Could use more bass if you like that, but it's got enough to be passable. Really happy with female vocal performance since that is my music preference.

Depend on your music taste, tangzu waner is for vocal, but its uppermid is not good, very flat( also burned in). Zero 2 and Wyvern is for bass: wyvern have better cable and accessories, zero 2 if you choose the taste of Crinacle, which helps you identify your taste. Chu 2 is for build quality, metal shell. If you want to choose the other, trn conch and castor bass, in my country conch just have 22$ but the best accessories in my view, cable, box, nozzle, ear tips,... Castor bass have many tunes, so you can identify your taste easily.

Hear me out. I have the 64a A6t customs. From Crinacle’s recommendation (IEM reviewer) I bought the Moondrop Chu II for $20 from Amazon. Believe me when I tell you these IEMs are amazing! The clarity in them is insane and the main difference with my other pair is that the the A6ts are a bit warmer overall. I was SUPER doubtful of another cheaper IEM pair but the Moondrop is truly the exception (the contruction is not even plastic). Just make sure with all IEMs you clean them every so often to avoid blockages.

The $20 Moondrop Chu II IEMs are the best bang for buck out right now. So much clarity

Can’t go wrong with 64 Audio even the lower tier model. I would try the universal fit equivalents before buying them though. For cheap IEMs the Moondrop Chu II are always my modern day go to

can't comment on all models here, but i've got the Chu 2 and they are great. i'm also purchasing the Salnotes zero 2 which i hear is great at a similar price point, might be worth checking out.

I haven’t tried other IEMs but I use the chu 2 and I don’t have any problems in any game with audio. Though I haven’t tried anything with great surround sound. They are also extremely comfortable

My chu 2 has been great

First was zero red 2s but I ended up returning them bc they didn’t fit in my ears well, now I got the chu 2s

I'm really torn between the standard version and the dsp/hbb. I really like how the dsp/hbb version looks but scared of paint chipping in the future. My current iem is CHU 2(got it on august last year) and moondrop is known for QC issues, not sure about Simgot.

I just bought KZ Castor bass improved edition and loving it for both music and gaming. I played CS2, Valorant and Once Human and it perform well sound and sound stage wise. I mainly use hyperx cloud alpha for gaming and music and bought Chu 2 several weeks ago as alternative . Sadly Chu 2 is terrible for FPS gaming. The footstep clarity whether it's coming from in front or behind/ up or down is very bad which KZ Castor doesn't have that problem. I'm not sure about other KZ lineups though as they're notorious for qc problems.