Moondrop - Chu II DSP

sub bass and punchy...out of those 3. Perhaps go with the x Crin Zero 2s. I have them and I EQ to get my desired sound There's enough rumble way down there as well as good clean hits. Chu2 is slightly V shaped...has bass, not dull or flat. But it doesn't have the rumble when I want that (EQ couldn't get it there😅) No opinions on the Wan'ers because I don't own those

Chu 2 dsp is solid if u have small ears, I didn't like the fit so I went with the Tangzu SG 2. Been liking them a lot so far. Will prolly be upgrading to kefine delci ae next.

Already ordered mine Those and the 7hz zero 2 I have the chu 2 They’re amazing The wan er too And the 7hz zero (original)

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

Get chu 2 type c or truthear gate

Bunny DSP or Chu 2 DSP. Bunny has built in EQ, but Chu is better to begin with.

Chu 2 DSP (or just 2 with EQ) is a great place to start. Good generalist tuning, fit small ears etc. There are about thirty other good options depending on your preferences as well.

They're kinda mid. FT1 is fantastic. For something comprable Chu 2 DSP or KZ Libra (balanced). Better stuff you might find around $100 depending on preference.

I have very little issues with comfort in general so not the best person to ask, but my general recommendation for a first one is Chu 2 DSP which is small and comfortable. Some can be a bit big or strangelt shaped like a popular option 7Hz Zero 2 which has a sharpish angle that feels bad even on my outer concha. Some have large nozzles which can start hurting the ear canal like the otherwise great TruthEar Zero Red.

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☠️

Too bad I got the dsp ones and the cable broke on me

Ok so if I am looking for a bass one these are the best choice or there are new bass iems in the market , kinda new to the scene , i have moo drop chu2 DSP for balanced sound and Wagner 2 and Now i want one in bass one

You should also add TRN Conch and the Chu 2 DSP to the list, the DSP version lets you change the sound way you like it to get better value fot games. But if your budget permits, my endgame suggestion of a gaming IEM would be the Moondrop RAYS, since they are basically a Moondrop May with specific config for gaming (check if the USB-C port of the controller works for sound)

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)

This is my First formal IEM Pick Mega Guide – "Revamped" (Last Updated: January 2025) PART 1 Oh well… here we go again. And this is going to be LARGE, so buckle up, this is a part 1 because turns out reddit wont let me publish this much text in one single post, so yeah, ill link the Part 2 right here: * [For part 2 Click - HERE -](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1f332k3/the_iem_pick_megaguide_part2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) # UPDATE: Now i also have a Sub $100-ish list if you want to check it: [https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/OXgg8IsbYi](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/OXgg8IsbYi) /---------------- # Gaming Update: As quite a lot of people asks for gaming options, I’ll make this update marking iems with performance rakings from the "WALLHACK TIER LIST" of Reviewer Fresh Reviews, who is known for recommending iems for gaming use, just be aware that this does not reflect my opinion about each IEM nor does it ensure that you will have an excellent video game experience just because the iem is listed. The Fresh Reviews system gives letter grades where “S” is the best grade, going down from S-A to C+, where C+ means that they are the minimum for video games. I will mark the IEMs by putting the score besides the name: "( FRS: “Mark obtained”)" (FRS = Fresh Reviews Score), example: Zero Red (FRS: C+), if you don't see this mark, it means that Fresh Reviews did not consider it for gaming, or didnt review the product. /---------------- **So, lets continue with part 1:** Some people might identify me already, I’m one of the redditors in this sub that’s usually giving recs and trying to help people left and right, things doesn’t always work, but I hope that I’m being of some help. So yeah, I finally gathered the will to do a proper post about this, I’ll try to pour everything I know after around 4 years of checking reviews and trying around more than 27 different iems (mostly under $100).   ***BTW, IF YOU SEE SOME GLARING ERROR, ANYTHING THAT JUST DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT, PLEASE LET MY KNOW, IM DISLEXIC TOO, SO YEAH XD, THANKS FOR THE FUTURE HELP.*** \----- # CONTENTS: Part 1: * Where to buy? * List of mostly recommended iems under $50. * Reviewers List. Part 2: * FACs (Frequently Asked Concerns lol – I recommend you to read this one first if you are a newbie). * Final extra details. Now, remember that I’m just another person, I have preferences and some degree of bias towards some sets, especially ones that I own, my intention is not to tell you “You should pick this”, but rather to point you out to a clearer direction as to what you might like or need. This info is not “absolute” as preferences and music library plays a huge role on the experience, but at least I hope I can make this decision less complicated for you. \----- # Where to buy? So, first, I don’t know what store you are planning to use but most common recs for buying are: * Mostly free shipping Stores: Shenzhen Audio, Amazon, and alsoAliExpress, but with ali, you need to pick the seller carefully, I have got 3 iems and some cables from there without any problems, but it isn’t as safe as Amazon and Shenzhen could be. * \- * They usually charge shipping Stores: Hifigo, Linsoul. I would recommend the free shipping Stores better since, besides free shipping, I have had less problems with them (in my very personal experience) and they usually do as much as possible to help their clients, however, this doesn’t mean that you can’t have problems with each store, sometimes life sucks and online stores do too, so always be careful when ordering online, specially check sellers on AliExpress Also, when buying, remember that if you wish to have a cable that comes with a mic, since IEMs don’t always come with one, especially around $50 and above, you need to specially pick the option of having a cable with mic when selecting the IEM for purchase if the options is given. \----- # Usually recommended IEMs under $50 If you don’t feel like reading or you have some IEM experience, skip or ignore the “FACs” part, HOWEVER, if you are new to this hobby, I recommend you to check that first, it could help clear your mind about a lot of questions you might have. ***The price in brackets is the original base price of the IEMs.*** ***Purchase links disclaimer:*** The links included are affiliate links, but make sure to check vendor reviews when you make any AliExpress purchases. The links have no influence on which IEMs are recommended or picked for the list.   # ----- # BASSY IEMS IEMs that their key point Is the lower end of sound, more Rumble and/or bass punch/kick, if you want some good bass, check this one, there will be iems from bass heavy to balanced, but overall, picks that have an elevated bass area, even if that also comes with some extra treble. * **($16) KZ Castor Bass enhanced edition (Black colored):** An IEM with a heavy, but still somewhat clean, punchy and rumbly bass, that can have the amount of bass and treble adjusted with switches, can have some more treble energy than QKZxHBB, but bass is very prominent, so vocals do get a bit overshadowed and might feel lacking intensity, recommended mostly for electronic music or bass heavy genres like hip-hop or R&B, not really recommended for vocal centric music genres like rock or ballads, Works for gaming, but bass might be too distracting. Nozzle is on the larger side. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mt6hFPl) * \- * **($17) KZ Castor Pro:** A small upgrade to the Castor bass OG, a bit more Rumble, a bit less punch, it is overall better than the OG Castor, but also comes with a larger nozzle. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKmDf4B) * \- * **($20) QKZxHBB (FRS: B-):** A lot of rumbly bass with decent vocals, altough it can sound muddy for some at fist, is mostly for those who really like a lot of inmersive bass but also still want enough vocal and treble detail. Works for gaming. Nozzle slightly on the larger side. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_msetV8R) * \- * **($50) Truthear Zero (blue) (FRS: B-):** They are actually balanced sounding, bass, vocals and treble all are very energetic, but this IEM was made to have very clean bass, like a mini “subwoofer” effect, and that’s the main focus of It, although their nozzles (the part of the iem that goes into your ear canal) are some of the biggest on the market, if you happen to have small ear canals, or you are looking for comfort, they could hurt or not fit well when using them (the biggest nozzle from this list). Usually recommended over the Zero Red for gaming, from the less bassy picks in the bassy section. You should consider using a dongle DAC if the sound is too quiet with them. If you happend to have fitting problems, check the Spinfit CP155 eartips, could help a lot, but those tips get streched kinda easy and can fall out of the nozzle, so do take in mind. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mOGUNun) * \- * **($24-34) BLON BL03:** Great hard hitting bassy IEM, a lot of Energy and intensity with enough intense treble, biggest downside Is that Fit might not be great thanks to their particular shape and short reaching nozzle (the nozzle might not be large enough to enter properly into your ear canal), the nozzle itself is on the smaller side. Not a bad pick, works for gaming, but a bit outdated. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqDowxp) * \- * **($50) CCA Rhapsody:** THE Castor bass upgrade, better techs, some more clarity, all in all, a great bassy package for the price, but shell is VERY large and nozzle not so smaller, so, if you have small ears, then maybe this is not the best pick, nozzle size is in a middle ground. Works for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mMQ1ytz) * \- * **($35) BLON Z300:** A very specific pick since they are just somewhat bassy, they could sound balanced for bassheads, and muddy for non-bassheads, the bass works better with well produced/mixed files, for poor quality tracks they might lack punch, they are decent for vocals, but might feel a bit on the background. They are decent for an inmerssive bassy sound, and have pretty good resolution and detail, also, sound direction is good, if you like ASMR, those are good bot a bassy relaxed replay on a budget. Should work for gaming, nozzle is pretty small, should have a comfy fit. If you want clarity and cleaness is not the best option. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mrDU1eF) * \- * **($50) Blon JOJO:** this one is like a more bassy, aggressive QKZxHBB, techs are just decent for $50, but because of its quantity of bass, aren’t the best for clarity or detail. Might work for gaming, not really recommended, best for bassy music genres. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mOT3o83) * \- * **($37) CCA Trio:** This ones comes like a small upgrade from the Castor Bass, if you feel that Castor bass would be too intense, might as well go for this one, this is more of a bassy V-shaped or balanced set, but with the ability to increase the bass or treble just like the castor. should work for gaming. Vader Balanced is a good alternative if you find it cheaper. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mPAIXdp) * \- * **($31) KZ Vader Balanced:** Energetic bassy V-shape-ish sound with a less "Harman-style" approach (less obvious clean-cut bass, some warmness on vocals), so it has a bit more body, but not that much, mostly a bit less V-shaped CCA trio, a good alternative to it. Decent techs for the price, get whichever is cheaper. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m05R5aF) * \- * **($50) INAWAKEN Dawn Ms:** Warm, rumbly, a bit thick, bassy V-shaped iem, could feel slightly less technical than other iems, but clean-ish sound still, relaxed upper treble but a bit foward lower treble (shoutiness warning), warm-ish vocals, pretty good bass performance. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKp2ac3) * \- * **($25) Tachjim One (has DSP/Type-C option too):** A bullet style earphone that has a focus on Mid bass over sub bass, it’s somewhat V-shaped and energetic, a bit foward on the lower treble, and it has a bass that should work better for rock genres since it gives energy to drums without making the sound way too bassy. Could work for gaming, but being this mid-bass centric, wouldn’t recommend It. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mPULWWP) * \- * **($22) Tanchjim Tanya (DSP):** Another bullet style, the only reason I’m mentioning only the DSP version (Type-C cable connection) is because this one would pack a very good amount of bass, while keeping it reasonably clean, slightly better than Castor bass in that specific regard, but keeping an affordable price over other picks like Trio or Zero Blue. Could work for gaming, still similar problem to Castor. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKWofm3) # -- # BALANCED IEMS Section for more balanced and somewhat neutral IEMs: (For clarification on what’s “neutral” and what’s “balanced” please check the FACs) * **($19) Tangzu Waner:** a slightly rumbly IEM that has a lot of vocal qualities, with a close-to-neutral and pretty balanced sound, great for long listening sessions, not great for directional sound/gaming in my personal experience. A very versatile starter pick, but bass area can come as a slightly muddy at first, so, better for people that like some bass presence and nice body on male vocals. Nozzle size is in between, not too big, not too small. As a side note, some people say they work for gaming, i dont find them particularly good for that versus other options, your call. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m0Z0EQr) * \- * **($30) Tripowin Vivace (FRS: B-):** A nice slighlty bass leaning iem that has good technicalities for the price, almost performing above its price range, a very safe sound overall, on of the safest sounds on to pick from the list. The best cheaper allrounder starting point under $30 and arguably the best gaming pick under $50. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKx3o0L) * \- * **($38-44) Sgor Luna:** While it’s a planar, it doesn’t exactly compete with other planars around this price, however, it’s a very cheap good option to try a planar driver, plus you can pick them bundled with a dongle dac which should take care of your amplification needs. As far as technical performance goes it is decent for its price range (which is around $40) but the best part is that it is like a less intense Simgot ew200, it might have an edge over them technically speaking, but the tuning of the luna doesn’t make it too obvious. It has a better bass quality and presence, making it a pretty decent and very safe pick for the price, as long as you use a dongle with them OR a DAP with decent amplfication on the 3.5mm conection. *PROBABLY THE SAFEST PICK AROUND $50.* Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKynQSJ) * \- * **($19) Truthear Gate:** A correct and pretty balanced iem, similar to waner but with a tilt to female vocals and treble, also, bass might sound slightly cleaner than waner, but just a bit. Should for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m0ebw6r) * \- * **($25-30) Kinera Celest Wyvern (Abyss/black, Quing, Pro) (should had a Type-C option):** the 3 verions are around the same, pick the most appealing to you. Tuning is similar to waner with a bit of more overall energy on vocals and presence on the bass, maybe a tilt to female vocals too, and slightly cleaner in the bass. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mrlZ1Ij) * \- * **($20) Simgot ew100p (There is a DSP/Type-C variant):** Another similar one to Gate and Waner, maybe an inbetween from gate and waner, but all in all, a very decent, balanced set, slightly more treble energy than other models, nothing too much. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqIAQHH) * \- * **($19) Moondrop Chu II (There is a DSP/Type-C variant):** A pretty balanced and clean IEM, detail is nice, and they are a bit more forward on the female vocals and treble than Waner, still not too intense, another great starting pick, especially for people that do want to hear some bass, but don’t want it to affect the rest of the sound much. As a heads up tho, these are especially known for having problems with humidity and moisture because of its metal shell. Works for gaming, nozzle on the smaller side, should have a comfy fit. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mK6uRmj) * \- * **($25) 7hz Salnotes Zero 2:** A more bassy leaning version of the Chu II, the second safest allrounder performer after Vivace for any kind of music genres under $30, a good gaming replacement for the Vivace too, nozzle is slightly on the larger side. This one is not on the bassy side since it has less bass than most of the other Bassy picks, around the same as the Zero Blue, but without any fancy “subwoofer” approach. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mqKyRcR) * \- * **($35) Kiwiears Cadenza:** A more energetic version of the Tangzu Waner, with a more v-shaped approeach with extra sub-bass and female vocals, overall good performance if you like that energy in your music, however, bass isn’t like super strong or super punchy, is there, is nice and has some presence, but it isn’t the focus of its sound, works well for ballads or rock style music, with some extra versatility for some electronic music, not recommended for bassy music genres like hip.hop or R&B tho. Watch out for sensitivity to 4Khz peaks, vocals in general might come as shouty for some people, I wouldn’t recommend it for people looking for bass quality, as the vocal energy can get in the way for enjoying them,. Works for gaming, nozzle leans to the larger side. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m0ZUrDt) * \- * **($40) Simgot EW200 (FRS: C+):** a somewhat neutral IEM that intends to be balanced but actually has a lean on the vocal an treble side of sound, so there Is more clarity and you will perceive more detail on the sound, but some people might feel that the treble can be a bit too intense, bass is there and has presence, but Is not the main focus. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m0hfYft) * \- * **($55) Truthear Zero (red) (FRS: C+):** this is a bit more expensive version of the Truthear Zero blue, It has the same build quality but the sound Is a bit more balanced and less overly energetic, it works well with more music genres. The IEM comes with an adapter to increase the bass quantity to Zero Blue Levels (in stock it has less amount of bass), but It also shares the big nozzle of the blue version. Usually less recommended for gaming over the Zero Blue. Recomended to use a dongle DAC for amplification, to get te Best performance out of them. If you happend to have fitting problems, check the Spinfit CP155 eartips, could help a lot, but those tips get streched kinda easy, so do take in mind. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mMrjPcX) * \- * **($50)** [Kefine Klean](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/7PVWrvBEU2)**:** A good balanced sounding set with a small bass lean, great techs for the price and a decent fit with an average size nozzle, all in all, probably on of the best picks on the list if you have $50, want the best performance and don’t know what to pick. ***I must mention that some people have encounter situations of channel imbalance with their sets, it could be the filters unscrewing or just not being properly put on on the first place, check that if you have any problems, also, be careful with humidity since its a metal shell, and if you have any actual problem, please do contact the store where you get them from for help with the issue, or the people at Kefine for direct Help*** Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_msWNk9V) * \- * **($15) Tangzu Princess ChangLe:** A mild V-shaped bullet style iem that would be pretty versatile for most music genres but technicalities like resolution, soundstage and instrument separation (check FACs if you don’t know what these means) are slightly worse than most other sub $20 options. Its price and comfort is pretty good still, a good gift option, wouldn’t recommend it for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mNZJZK7) * \- * **($10) KZ EDC Pro:** Very cheap yet good sounding iem, some less technical than its $20 peers but costing significantly less, the cheapest yet best starting point to test what iems have to offer, however don’t expect the best build quality, also, some people find the treble a bit too intense. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mrXq3FN) * \- * **($16)** [TRN Orca](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1cbec6e/trn_orca_consumer_pov_review/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) **(should had a Type-C option):** This is another pretty nice, inexpensive pick for people on a budget that doesn’t know what they like and cant spend too much money, Orca is a metal shell iem that has a kinda V-shaped tuning but with a lean on the bass, however, thanks to its 3 tuning switches, you can adjust the sound to either something kinda bassy clean like the Chu2 (switches Down Down Up – DDU), to a very V-shaped bassy tuning similar to Zero 2 (UDU) to a very bass heavy sound somewhat similar to QKZxHBB or Castor Bass (DUD - works particuarly well when amplified with a dongle dac for a somewhat "subwoofer" feel). They also gain some extra resolution when amplified with a dongle dac. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_msqEjYX) * \- * **($55) TKZK Ouranos (FRS: C+):** This one might show the similar shouty vocals than the Cadenza could have, but it is kinda the direct upgrade from them. It has a noticeable more punchy bass, but it’s very balanced with the rest of the sound, very prominent upper mids, intense in the note weight -the weight the sound hits with- and has very good techs for its price, slightly better than Truthear Blue and Red, but would recommend to get it discounted below its $55 price. Overall great if you like vocal forward leaning sound, specially female vocals, it has a bit less aggressive treble that EW200 might had. Not recommended for bassheads at all, as bass quantity will let you wanting more. Should work for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mMsadP9) * \- * **($50) Tangzu YuXuanJi:** Decent techs for the price, bright leaning sound, focus on vocals and treble over bass. Around in brightness to the ew200, open back design doesn’t do much for the sound, controlled amount of decent quality bass, and fairly good technical performance. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mPz7wQn) * \- * **($30-40) TinHifi C2 OG/2025:** Very balanced sounding, enough of everything from bass to treble, good alternative to the Vivace, with a vocal focus + slightly less boosted bass. Good technicalities for the price. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKfH9Jd) * \- * **($30) Twistura D-Minor:** Somewhat V-shaped energetic set with average technicalities for the price, nice accessories that comes with a dongle dac, if you feel that it lacks bass or needs more bass try the different tuning nozzles. Basic but complete starting point pick. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mtr7wKB) * \- * **($50) Celest IgniteX Beast:** Balanced but slightly bright leaning (focus on vocal and treble) set that performs as its price point, semi-custom shell that can fit either really good or not so good depending on your ear. Decent techs for the price. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_m0Luh8J) * \- * **($30) TRN Conch:** This is a risky pick for the price, is better to get it on sale. The biggest upside are the accessories it comes with, is like an upgrade combo of a nice interchangeable connections cable, some decent eartips and a metal box, that comes with some extra iems included. The thing with the Conch is that it comes with interchangable nozzles, but just 1 of the 3 is useable for most people, the red nozzle, as the other 2 have a pretty forward and intense treble. The Conch has a V-shaped kind of sound, its somewhat similar to the ew200 but with more presence on the bass, which packs good punch, rumble and texture, and its also pretty clean; vocals are just fine, not that natural sounding iem, but also not bad; the treble Is energetic with some peaks of intensity, not the most refined but not super harsh, so your mileage may vary, just dont pick them if you are sensitive to treble. It works fairly well for rock genres. The nozzle is on the smaller size, however, because of the weird shape of the shell of the iem, its possible that the fit wont be the best for you, since its like a bullet style earphone, with just a cylindrical weight at the end that has very little support in the ear, so, keeping them in while moving too much could be a problem. Again, its not too bad, but it has a few “buts” to consider before buying it. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mK0gJK7) * \- * **($70) Artti T10 (and other planars):** I know the T10 stock price is around $70 bucks, but in some sales in AliExpress, and with new customer discounts, you could find it closer to $50 or even less. The main reason why I mention this one is mostly to talk about Planar iems, those are know for having good overall performance in sound and techs, but that also comes with a not so cheap price, and the need for some extra anergy from a dongle DAC to work the best. The T10 has a somewhat balanced, slightly V-shaped sound, that has just enught bass, but some people could use a bit more, overall excelent quality of sound when properly amplyfied. Build quality is also fairly good. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKBFQ47) * \- * **($50) KZ PRX:** Mild V-shaped energetic planar, technically-wise competes with its planar peers but for a reduced price, however, it needs some good amplification, you should also get a better cable, 4.4mm cable with a dongle that has the connection, if possible, would be great. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_ms7AueR) # -- # BRIGHT IEMS Now for more "bright" IEMs: Bright IEMs are more focused on vocal clarity, and especially treble intensity and details of the sound, they are not for everyone since most of the time the bass Is quite controlled and don’t really have much presence. * **($23) 7hz Salnotes Zero (Originals)(There is a DSP/Type-C variant):** Pretty detailed, vocals do take the main stage while bass it’s pretty tamed, still being plenty enough for it to be musical. The most sub $20 IEM recommended pick for gaming thanks to its price, performance and clarity. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mK0Lu71) * \- * **($39) TKZK Wave:** A very technically competent pick, borderline neutral sound, with a clear yet small emphasis on treble, boosted enough for a detailed replay, the bass is clearly very reduced, but you can still hear some of it, dont expect much bass rumble. The bass might be too little for gaming. Check it out here: [Linsoul.](https://www.linsoul.com/products/tkzk-wave?srsltid=AfmBOopjxSmV08WMQvk-Rl0f6qiqRi0A-7hiIFV35tn3Q_6sqzbao6Ht) * \- * **($16) Tachjim Zero:** slightly more mid bass than the TKZK wave, slightly less overall technicalities, but in accordance with its lower price, similar focus on vocals with less treble. And, as it’s a bullet style it should be a comfy fit in your ear. Bass might be too little for gaming. Check it out here: [Linsoul.](https://www.linsoul.com/products/tanchjim-zero?srsltid=AfmBOooqEkFsn3ddSoCxeNxxA9ZhUqALVc7TAQVwn-j-wvSlP4B-8t5f) * \- * **($21) Tangzu Waner SE (Studio Edition):** A slightly brighter, but also cleaner Waner, with some more energy on vocals and treble, nothing else special other than the memory foam ear hooks in the cable that might or might not help with comfort. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mMI8dSb) * \- * **($30) Ziigaat Nuo (FRS: C+):** A more bass energetic Salnotes Zero OG, the focus is on vocals and especially treble, but it doesn’t overlook the bass, has good performance for the price, but not a safe pick for people with treble sensitivity. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mKr0NOF) * \- * **($40) Moondrop Lan (FRS: C+):** This could be a small upgrade from the Salnotes Zero original. A very decent build quality and technically competitive for the price, it has a nozzle on the small side just like chu 2, so should be very comfortable. The sound might have around the same to slightly less bass than the Zero OG, but, it will also have slightly better vocals than it, besides that, they are pretty similar, good if you don’t like much bass and you just enjoy a treble focused sound, but not with an overly intense replay. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mO5eyD5) * \- * **($60) 7hz Sonus (FRS: B-):** This one might be a bit out of budget but you can find it for less than $50 on a sale. Sonus Is said to have pretty good technical performance that is above its price range, however, the biggest downside it might had is that the sound could not be as "cohesive" as it should because of the dual driver implementation, that means that some parts of the sound around upper mids and treble might sound somewhat slightly separated from the lower mids and bass, most people don’t find this as a glaring problemm but you are warned. Of course, bass is reduced, but around the same as the Zero Original, this would be more like a direct upgrade, and should work well for gaming. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mrnxgiR) * \- * **($40) Tanchjim OLA:** A bit outdated for the price, but still the special pick if you want to know what “neutral” is actually supposed to sound like, pretty similar to the Wave but it has almost no noticeable Sub-bass, in favor of a very clean sound reproduction, it has some mid-bass to it but mostly for getting that specifically neutral sound, and has just enough vocals and treble intensity for the sound to be correct and very natural. This is not a pick that is recommended for daily use, but if you love vocals and clean instruments, this one is still a great choice, although technicalities might be slightly below average at this point. Check it out here: [AliExpress.](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_msI48If) * \- So that’s It, those are some of the best IEMs to pick for under $50, there are more that I didn’t mention and it doesn’t mean they are bad, is just that these are the most commonly known to be good and considered that most people would probably enjoy. Also, there aren’t many KZ or CCA options here because there are already some better options for similar tunings. Besides, KZ and CCA accesories and quality control is not from the best, and they have had other problems in the past like possible silent revisions of iems (changing drivers or tunings without prior notice) so they dont give me enough trust to recommend them so easily. Any question just Let me know. Notice that I do own or have owned some of the IEMs mentioned, but most of these recs are made by checking and comparing various Reviews from different sources. # -- # Reviewers List The purpose of this is so you can check the opinion of various people that had already checked a good bunch of other iems so you can have a wider perspective of what you might deal with, don’t take the word of just 1 or 2 unless you are sure they share your exact taste in audio, ideally use them just as a reference, compare any already owned iems with their opinions to see where their preferences stand in relation to yours, DO NOT trust only one opinion just because you like it better or the reviewer just sounds more knowledgeable. * HBB (YT Is called: bad guy good audio Reviews).\* * Paul Wasabi.\* * Super Reviews.\* * Jays audio. * Audio-in Reviews.\* * Gizaudio (Channel now run by ATechReviews - New Channel TimTuned). * WhatsNew. * SuperChonk.\* * Audio Amigo.\* * AndyAudioVault. * Acho Reviews. * Tone Deaf Monk. * Prime Audio Reviews. * Akros. * Ian Fann. * Hobby Talk. * Vortex Reviews. * AV Atmos. * Joyces Reviews. * Lumerion. * Honest Audiophile (I find him to be very biased by his own taste in sound, but it’s good to have every single second opinion in this case). * Joshua Valour (More headphones but still) * Kenneth Tanaka (this Is More for TWS/Blueetooth earphones) * Dan's audio Review (mostly for IEM sound comparation).\* \--- * *And please, do not take Sharur seriously, he Is trolling most of the time.* The names marked with a “ \* “ are the ones that are mostly well known and somewhat generally respected by the community and I. There is also the Legend "Crinacle" but he stopped doing "serious" reviews, i wont explain his lore, but if you find a review of an iem from him, especially in his "Crinacle" channel, he is also very respected, but he also sells iems now, so he has a lot to gain from you buying some sets. Now timmy, original host of Gizaudio has joined Crin into his Store Channel.

As there arent many options, maybe, if you can find It on stock that Its, something like the Moondrop Droplet could work for you for gaming, It seems to have decent enought performance for around $50 bucks, should be somewhat better than most $30 Bullet style IEMs. That said, if you are not sure to spend $50 for an IEM that might perform just decent for an in-ear kind of Fit. Ill say either better check some headphones options, or just go for something cheaper like tanchjim One for and overall decent gaming performance, or Tanya if you do want to hear a more intense presence of bass. Sadly there arent many Bullet style IEMs with that much good of a performance for more than $30.

Well, my first recomendation would be QKZxHBB, now, it works for most of what you want, however, the biggest downside it can have is that is not a "clean" sounding iem, that means bass could likely feel bloaty at first, it does work for gaming and all that, and the cable, even if quite basic, should come with a mic option, and the bass is elevated but not too aggressive so is quite relaxed for chilling listenings, but again, mid range might feel "muddy" to some degree, specially if the eartips doesnt fit you well, but is quite cheap to get tho. Your second option could be to see if you can find for your whole budget an iem like the Salnotes Zero 2, and get an aftermarket cable for it, a cheap one with mic, brands like kinera, moondrop, TRN, Tripowin and even QKZ themselves should have easy to find and cheap options with included mic. And now, if you really need just a one time purcharse with Mic included, i guess one grea option could be the Kinera Celest Wyvern, specially the black ones, that should come with a Mic option, and should more or less work for what you want, but it wont be as bassy leaning as the other 2. An alternative worth metioning is the 7hz G1 which seems to work quite well for gaming, comes with a mic, and overall decent accesories, the biggest "but" is that is a V-shape iem, which comes with quite the extra bass but also quite the extra vocals and treble, and it leans a bit more into vocals and treble than bass, so, other than tuning itself, it could work for you quite well otherwise. as for links, you could click on the Aliexpress hyperlinks after the "Check it out here:" below each iem that is listed if you wish to use that option, do remember to always check the seller´s reputation, and your order (i mean, that you are picking the correct option - like iem plus mic) before purchase. Not all iems mentioned are posted because i am still working on updating it but i been busy personally so it might take a while and the new additions might not have a link so, you can always use your store/seller of preference, if you wish to ask anything else, here or on DMS, always go ahead and ill see if i can help :D PS: i know it was fast but is not always like that XD, i just recently got some free time, thats why i answered fast lol, i am pretty much around here even if not so active tho.

So far, afaik, bone conductors, at least on cheap sets, arent that impressive, if useful at all, and even if the bass is good quality, it doesnt mean the treble or the rest of the sound cant overshadow it, tuning matterst too, which is the main reason i havent touched that one, because is a more balanced set, similar to the Klean, but i cant really vote for its quality as i can for Klean (i have a review published on Klean too). As for the tiger, i been testing it recently and i need to add a few nuances to the listings (i am painfully slowly working on updates because life sucks right now but anyway), but a few things to mention is that it needs the help of a dongle dac to reslly shine, and is a similar bassy V-shape as the Delci, but is the kind of V-shape that focus a bit more like on punch of the bass than rumble, so for this specific Situation, delci already is the better of both alternatives, and in terms of price, Klean has a bit less thin mid range too, so price-wise is also not the best alternative here.

probably the Simgot EW300 is a way better pick at thah point, only problem is that i believe the normal version (which is the cheapest of the 3, and sound doesnt really change much across them) doesnt come with an in-line mic if you need one, if you need one, you could check the EW300 DSP* version to see if that one comes with a mic, as long as you dont care About the type-c conection tho, if you need an in-line mic + 3.5mm Jack conection, just get the cheaper version you find (being either normal EW300, HBB version or DSP version), and swich the cable with an aftermarket one with mic with the rest of the Budget. Tripowin, Moondrop, TRN are some decent cable brands that you could check. if you want a cheaper alternative let me know, but if you need a mic, most iems over $35 doesnt really come with one. PS: you can check my sub $100 list at the start of the post if you wish to see more options for yourself too.

Very true.. My chu 2 dsp's are very comfortable, especially with the smallest eartips and the build quality is absolutely stellar. As you said, sound is very balanced and I wanted a bit more of bass so I just downloaded poweramp app and selected "bass and treble" option and now it works great

It is type c with dac in built..this is what I ordered.. https://www.headphonezone.in/products/moondrop-chu-ii-dsp?variant=43244677497020&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&stkn=2c72c52efd1c&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21898038186&gbraid=0AAAAADoxq7QX73Z-TeWyrR7X935qkoTKj&gclid=CjwKCAjwmNLHBhA4EiwA3ts3mUH0Yv8J5tOHN4CGYuN4yu_q-L6XwGFGJr6FVPbbtqdoufk85VOlZBoC3akQAvD_BwE

Chu DSP costs about as little as you can spend on anything that's still going to sound good. Wouldn't go below that but the DSP is about the same price as the regular one at \~$20 or whatever that would be to you.

Mic is also there,, a very good quality one,, it even gives u a dsp,, if u get that version,, also, it is c type

I got moondrop chu 2 dsp from headphonezone, for 2.3k,, best decision ever

I've ordered chu 2 yesterday and it's yet to come, I've did a month of research and chose this so I'm recommending you that.

Yeah the c-type with dsp one

I got Moondrop Chu 2 DSP last month for 2300. Before that I had KZ Castor working perfectly fine but had to change as my new phone only has Type C . The iems smaller so it doesn't hurt the ear much. And the sound is no doubt the best one in this budget. The treble to me seems a bit spicy and that's the only con for me till now. Will update if i find any other issues.

Keep in mind the tuning of the airpods will vary, but under that price range, you can go for the chu 2 dsp, no need of dac.

They’re neutral-ish, only problem I had with them is that the treble can get a little tiring, and the build quality isn’t great, sold them and got the chu 2 instead and Im happier with them, pretty decent cable too

The chu 2 is pretty generic in terms of sound but they’re super safe in that regard

I’ve had mine since January and I absolutely love them. They are great for every day use however they do lack some bass. Other than that, they are great.

Not sure what do you mean by punchy feeling but the lack of bass isnt a deal breaker to be fair. They sound is very clear and far superior than all the other over the ear headphones that i've used. Music sounds clear and for gaming they are a very good option as well. I play mostly FPS and hearing enemy footsteps have never been easier with these.

I dont want to force your buying decision : Though I had wanger S.G , kefine klean , chu 2 and kiwi ears cadenza …. Chu 2 and kiwi ear cadenza are great … why you ask that metallic shell iems are not placed at the top … because they absorb moushire and can maybe end of clogging one of the sides in long run ( if you dont of take a good care of iem ) but kiwi ears cadenza are absolutely steal at 35 bucks

Get IEMS. Wired beats wireless for gaming. Pure sound, 0 latency and vastly cheaper. Moondrop Chu II is like 20 dollars and will probably beat legit any earbuds being sold for 20 dollars new. Or do what u/P_Devil said and get a 2.4GHz adapter. But I would DEFINITELY recommend IEMS or anything wired.

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.

Chu 2 should be fine, they are reasonably neutral. You might want to consider Shure SE215 (outside of your budget but still) for practice since they are quite comfortable and provide very good passive sound isolation. Alternatively, a proper set of cans can also be nice, something like Sony MDR-7506. I should stress that the last two options I mainly suggest for practicing/tracking and not necessarily for general listening.

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

I ended up buying both. They're just so damn affordable. The Wan'er has great mids and highs, but very little low-end. But you can hear so much detail with these. Very balanced, with extremely clear vocals. Good for mixing, given you keep the lacking low-end in mind, great for listening to pop and EDM. Keywords: crystal clear, sparkly, refreshing. The Chu II is more energetic, with a more pronounced low-end presentation. Not as balanced, but more fun. The mids and highs are nothing to scoff at, just not quite as detailed and balanced as the Wan'er. Great for anything from hip hop and rap, to rock, metal and pop. Keywords: warm, deep, punchy. Both are easy to drive. Both sound great with classical music, for different reasons.

I would love to try/have the Luna and the Horizon, the treble extension looks interesting. I come from AE headsets and just recently acquired the Chu II to have a try to IEMs and i am impressed and in love.

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.

I still have the Moondrop Chu II. It works well for me in Valorant.

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.

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.

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

Hello good day, I recently started getting into the hobby The moondrop chu II and cvj Vivian are great imo, although they're kind optimized for gaming ig? Correct me if I'm wrong. But I would like to have recommendations for video editing since I tend to like monitor audio a lot and think that the ones I have are just more for gaming ig? Appreciate the time and thank you!

I really like mine (Chu II) for gaming; I was recommended by a friend (they use the MoonDrop Aria Snow Edition) and decided to try the "entry-level" type and they work really good for me. (Coming from Corsair HS60 Pro headphones).

It'll just happen with use. I have no idea why they thought using brass was a good idea. You can clean it off most of the time. Filters can be removed and cleaned without too much issue

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.

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

İIonly have an chu 2 s where would they fit in the tierlist d I presume?

My personal journey to find the perfect audio setup that works for me was long and expensive. Put simply, I tried a ton of the gamer-focused headsets first. Went through a lot, and some of them were actually decent, but in the end, I realized the truth: gamer headphones are not a good value. They put more resources into the branding and aesthetics than they do for actual audio quality. The one exception to this was the Sennheiser/Drop PC38x. These are wired open back headphones with a built-in mic. For me, these were far and away the best sounding "gamer" headphones I ever tried, and it wasn't even close. The open back really opens up the soundstage, which, at least for me, really helped with directional audio. The convenience of the built-in mic was definitely a bonus too. Sadly, it looks like they are no longer making these... maybe Drop or Sennheiser still makes something similar but I haven't looked. I ran the Astro a40's for a long time too. These also have an open back design, but I always found them to be a bit too harsh, and I spent WAY too much time trying to tweak the EQ to get them to sound good. The terrible software didn't help matters either. IEM's are all the rage now. I was skeptical at first, but have found this to be the best way to go. IEM's were always kind of a niche item that was historically expensive for a decent set, but over the last few years, a TON of really good IEM's have hit the market for super cheap. My current favorite set are the Truthear Crinacle Zero Reds. You can find them on sale pretty often for around $50. If that's too much, there are a lot of great options in the $15 - $50 range too. The KZ Castors come to mind: I think I got mine for like $25 and I like these almost as much as the Zero Reds. The Audiovance Vibes 202's are good as well and can be had for around $30. I like them because they sound really great, and I like the cables they come with. And of course, everyone loves the Moondrop Chu II. I have those as well and they are indeed quite good, especially for the price (around $20). The amazing thing is that all of the IEM's I mentioned above sound way better than the in ear monitors I used to use back in my days of playing live music... and they literally cost hundreds of dollars less. It blows my mind. The one downside to IEM's is the lack of a built-in mic. This is easy to get around if you are playing on PC, but a little less convenient if you play on console. I have a dedicated mic for my setup since I do a lot of music recording so it isn't a problem, but if you need a built-in mic, there are cables for IEM's that you can buy that have a little mic built in. I can't really speak to how good they are, but I would think that would work ok plugged directly into your Xbox or PS controller. Anyway, I didn't set out to write a book here when I started this post, but there it is... TLDR; iems are the way to go. Even the Moondrop Chu II's sound significantly better than even the most expensive gamer-focused headsets. And that's before you even consider cost. If you are like me, and your earholes don't generally like earbuds, you may need to experiment with different tips to find something that is comfortable enough to wear for long periods, but once you do it is awesome, and definitely worth the trouble.

At their price point, they are almost impossible to beat to me. Comfort is good, and I would recommend seeing which tips work best over the course of a couple of days. Cabling is actually something I prefer on the Moondrops than my Truthear Hexas, at moderate levels, there is no fatigue. Also, if you can EQ, I think they are perfectly capable of delivering any reasonable bass profile you can come up with. I remember the first time I heard them, and I was like, all this for $20?! Good luck

They offer balanced safe tonality. For me, they are not offensive, something I can listen to, but may not have as much fun as I had with Castor Pro. Imo, Castor Pro is something you would consider as a niche. They might not be as mainstream and crowd pleasing as Chu 2 and Bunny. They sound almost identical for the most part.

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

Ah, fellow Nasi Lemak gang. Stay with Chu II.

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

I am using the moondrop chu ll for like 2 weeks and It's a solid option and the sound quality is awesome I will recommend you a dac with the chu 2 without the dac it will sound a little flat but not noticeable difference

I just got myself the Chu II and I have to say I'm blown away, it feels like I'm being teased with how affordable they are

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

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

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.

Dang, I had no idea they're discontinued now. Makes me glad that I have 3 pairs of them lmao. For context I bought a pair to replace my Moondrop Chus bc the cable kept breaking and I kept having to solder them. After a plane trip, I came back and noticed one of the earbuds was missing from the cable, and I thought I had lost it on the plane, so I ordered another pair. Turns out the missing earbuds was somehow under the microwave so I had an extra pair. I also got a pair for my dad at some point, but he didn't really end up using them so they're just sitting around as well. I honestly kinda regretted not buying another earbud to try out, but now that the Holas are discontinued I'm kinda glad I have a few. They're basically flawless. Compared to the Chus, the cable is a lot better and also they don't fall out my ears when I move. The Chu IIs have a detachable cable now but they still seem very heavy.

I've been using Chu II for more than 8 months. They are very comfortable, for music, watching videos, playing games, multiplayer too. However one issue you might consider is the problem with humidity and filter clogging. The humidity makes the nozzles oxidate which leads to corrosion of the brass. They are still functional but are worn off. The filters are also clogging pretty easily, so more ear hygiene is required, and sometimes you'll need to clean them by either sucking the nozzles, or by scrubbing them with a brush.

The oxidation issue is just for cosmetics. The nozzle part instead of looking golden looks silver. There is also a little bit of green grease when that happens, but can be easily wiped off and there are no technical drawbacks because of it

$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.

The Wan'er 2, hands down. Definitely skip the Cadenza; at least to me they're super tinny and sibilant, with hollow and unsatisfying bass. Chu II are also great, but I think the Wan'er are a more resolving headphone.

Wan’er is vocal focused neutral and my favorite of those three. Chu is v-shaped ands zero:2 bass boosted, though also good IEMs.

What sounds "good" to you might well be very different than "good" to me, which is the reason for my comment. If you blind buy, you might pick something bassy that turns out to give you a headache after fifteen minutes, or a v-shape that is so bright as to set your teeth on edge, or a neutral pair that sounds boring to you. People here recommend some real weird shit! Seriously, $20 each: Tangzu Wan'er 2, Moondrop Chu II, and 7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2. Each is a good headphone that might end up meeting your long-term needs, but they each also have a clear upgrade path once you know that you like/can tolerate a sound signature. \[or if you're determined to just buy once, get the Moondrop Aria 2 for $99. A nice headphone with a very inoffensive but fun tuning, well-built, nice accessories and cable, etc.\]

Wan’er 2 for a neutral tune, 7Hz Zero:2 for a bassy boi, Chu II for a v-shape (elevated base and treble). All around $20, all incredible values. (My personal fave is the Wan’er and it’s not particularly close.)

$20 each: Tangzu Wan'er 2 (neutral), 7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 (bassy), Moondrop Chu II (mildly v-shaped) $35 (on sale; original MSRP $80): Kiwi Ears x Crinacle Singolo (v-shaped). Personally I really, really like the Singolo, but the $20 ones are all great IEMs.

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.

Sa price point na yan ung contenders ay ung: Salnote 7hz Zero 2 Moondrop Chu II Tanchjim Bunny Tangzu Wan Er 2 All of them are good pero iba iba sila ng sound profile so depende sa trip mo. As a treble head, mas gusto ko ung Tanchjim Bunny sa lahat since mas treble ang focus nya.

Moondrop Chu 2 siguro. Wide soundstage, not too bright trebles, tapos warm ung bass nya without mid bass bleed. Generally, you want V shape pag alt rock eh. Imo, pinaka ideal ang TRN Conch tho di ko alam if meron sa shopee.

Chu II or Wan'er for me

UPDATE: The final verdict is Moon drop Chu II! Thank you for everyone's suggestion. I was contemplating the Linsoul Bl03 for the design but apparently the sound quality is hit or miss. Thank you I really appreciate it!

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.

The build quality is shit in 1 months the paint is gone and after 3 months the 2 pin female connector on my left iem broke. As it broke physically the warranty does not claim. And for long listening sessions my ears hurt. Now I got the moondrop chu II i am in love with the build quality and sound is nice too only con is no mic.

I've had my Chu II for about a month and it's been great. Not a lot of bass and just enough treble for me personally. I do EQ a bit but without it sounds just fine too. Everything sounds clear. Can't comment on the other ones cause I've never had those.

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)

First of all: I am not an expert in hi-fi. I'm just a simple man who was looking for good IEMs, and this is only my subjective opinion. The IEMs I was looking for should cost between $50 and $150 and should have balanced, lively bass with pleasant treble that does not tire the ears. So far, I have tried many IEMs and tested them on my PC and smartphone without any additional devices. No DAC, no amp. It was important to me that they were ready to use right out of the box. For me, good sound is when it is carried by lively bass and deep frequencies that guide you through the music, especially for drum and bass and metal. Low frequencies, and especially bass, form the basis of a good listening experience; that's the primary purpose of why I prefer hi-fi headphones, to get into it. My rotation: **≈ 50$ IEMs which I tested:** LINSOUL TANGZU Wan'er LINSOUL SIMGOT EW200 MOONDROP CHU II LINSOUL 7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 KZ Castor LINSOUL KZ ZS10 PRO 2 LINSOUL KZ ZS10 PRO X **≈ 100$ IEMs which I tested:** LINSOUL SIMGOT EW300 ARTTI T10 Pro TRUTHEAR Hexa Surprisingly, only two of the IEMs I tested impressed me with their overall bass reproduction. I couldn't decide between the KZ PRO 2 and the ZERO BLUE 2, but in the end I chose the BLUE 2 because it offers the best overall package. For me, the ZERO BLUE 2 is simply badass right out of the box. These were the only IMEs that had this deep sounding I was looking for. https://preview.redd.it/fm66t5fl5uef1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=87099e1c617e96b62bb51f28fe01520ebe96a0c6 https://preview.redd.it/pyn3x43m5uef1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=721c67332e8f8dd3db7ed8ac6e948c098e174871

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. 

Chu 2 competes with my mp145 if youre not paying attention to the lushness. The T10 is probably better but for the $20 bracket the chu 2 is an easy win because its so tiny itll fit in anybodies ears. 

Get the chu 2. 

The fit. In order of brightness on the highs: zero 2 - chu 2 - gate. Chu 2 is sparkly where the zero 2 is darker and i found the gate overly bright. Chu 2 seems to have more bass impact. I have all of these. Zero 2 for gaming, chu 2 for music. 

I stopped looking at iems after my chu 2 blew me away. I have a $260 set i never use even tho it sounds better. I just never use them analytically. 

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.

Long story short, I always have been a music fan and have owned multiple headphones and earbuds (Mostly sony), however this year the audiophile itch started and I bought my first IEM (CHU II) and a DAP (Fiio JM21), together no more than 200 dollars investment and they put my 450 dollar Bose QC ultra to shame in terms of detail and quality… its like hearing my old music again for the first time… What’s next? Any recommendations for my next IEM? I am taking it slow with the spending, (Waiting for Tangzu Waner SG 2)

LOL I now know :/. the order was, first the CHU 2 expecting to use it with my phone and thats why I choose DSP, and after that I bought the DAP that’s why I am asking for advice :)

Thanks, I now know that, I bought first the Chu expecting to use them with my phone (That’s why I choose the DSP version) and then the DAP, that’s why I am asking for advice for my next buy :)

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.

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.

For the ones that get recommended there's a noticeable difference. Usually good $20 IEMs will have some limitation, like good tuning but lack extension, or vice-versa. The good $80-ish ones will have both. Around $200 you typically get a bit more refinement, but diminishing returns are definitely a thing. For a first IEM, the good ones in the $20 range are excellent and nobody will notice a difference compared to starting at $80 without having the chance to compare them directly. And even then, it might take a while before they have the listening ability to tell the difference in a comparison. The main thing about the $20 IEMs is that the good ones have a very specific signature and do one thing well, but maybe not everything. For example the QKZ HBB does warm and bassy better than anything I know of under $200, but it lacks treble extension. The 7Hz Zero is the exact opposite of that. The Chu 2 is probably the most balanced option and has the most premium look & feel overall because it's metal & comes with a decent cable & a nice carry pouch. It can have some issues with condensation because of the metal shells, so it needs a bit of looking after, especially in humid environments.

Kefine Klean if it's in budget. Otherwise the Truthear Gate. The Artti T10 has an even better cable (going up in price a bit). The T10 and the Klean are both excellent IEMs that punch well above their price point, in addition to coming with a decent cable. The Gate has one of the best lightweight cables around, but it's not a particularly good IEM IMO. It's OK, but it's not one I find myself wanting to pick up and listen to (I mainly bought it for the white cable). Also the Chu 2 cable is pretty good (just behind the Gate one) and IMO it's a much better IEM than the Gate. Although some people do run into issues with clogged filters (although lots of people don't have any issues so I wouldn't get over-concerned about that). If all you need is a cable, have a look on Aliexpress to see what KBear cables are on sale. The 8-core, 16-core and ST12 are all excellent cables. They rotate what's on sale, but there's usually at least one under $7. Only thing to watch about the KBear cables is they mostly use semi-flush connectors. That's better for most IEMs because they'll fit in a shallow recess and they won't stick out awkwardly on a flush IEM, but they don't do a version that will fit in a deep-recessed socket. They don't fit the Chu 2 properly, for example. The Kefine Klean and T10 cables are both fully flush, so they won't fit an IEM with any sort of recess. The Gate and Chu 2 cables both use micro connectors that will fit anything.

Linsoul like to do that with all their product descriptions to confuse people into thinking they're the brand, or to get people to go to their website instead of other sellers if they see the name on Amazon. They do it for any listing they control. I prefer the Chu 2 overall. They maybe aren't quite as bassy but a bit better balanced. TBH I haven't listened to my G1s enough to give them a really fair comparison - I listened to them for a bit and nothing especially stood out as being particularly great about them, other than the size. They're maybe a touch more comfortable than the Chu 2 and about the same size (the Chu 2 is known for being very small).

I would recommend the Chu 2 over the Gate. The treble on the Gate is a bit peaky and sounds unnatural at times. The 7Hz Zero (the original one not the Zero 2) is also closer to flat neutral if that's something you're looking for. I prefer the Chu 2 as it's a bit smoother and more engaging with a bit more bass. The Chu 2 is a mild v-shape, but not so v-shaped that anything is "missing". If you want neutrality though, the Zero is closer to that. Either one will give you good clarity, details etc. The Chu 2 feels a bit higher quality and the accessories package is a lot nicer, especially the cable. Because it's metal, it does require a bit more careful looking after than the Zero, which is plastic, because metal shelled IEMs are a bit more prone to moisture-related issues. The main thing is it's important to give the IEM time to rest and dry out between uses. If you live somewhere humid, it's best to invest in some silica gel to help with that. Otherwise just leave them out of the case somewhere warm and dry for a couple of hours to dry out before putting them away.

Got into IEMs this year after a few wireless sets died on me..... Started with budget ones and now have a small collection - Castor Pro tuned for bass, TW SG2 for daily use, and Chu 2 for vocals/classical. Would love to try something higher tier like the Horizon (or the Odyssey 2) to see what multi-driver magic sounds like!

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.

In that price range it is very good but there are the more accessible chu 2 although I recommend saving a little more for the kiwi cadenza that have beryllium to improve the sound quality for about 35 dollars more or less on amazon and 20 on aliexprees

Using Moondrop Chu II for Valorant and it works fine. Also using it for music and I love it. I'm into the pop rock genre. Although it's my first and only IEMs now so I can't really compare. All I can say is it's good for games and music.

Apple EarPods are flat pods, not in ear. They sound quite good for what they are (surprisingly so) but offer none off the passive noise isolation or bass response of an IEM. If you look at the very top of this sub, you’ll see a nicely crafted list of recommended IEMs grouped by price. You might want yo read it, the mods did a nice job gathering and presenting all that information. That said, I round think the Zero 2 (there’s a 3 already?) or that Chu 2 would meet your needs and be within your budget.

Estou com um TRN Conch agora, eu particularmente preferi o Chu 2 para Metal, o TRN embola fácil demais em músicas mais rápidas, um Black Metal podrão por exemplo, mas tem graves mais presentes e melhores que o do Chu 2, no resto creio que o Chu ganhe. Lembrando que não leve minha opinião como regra, você pode se decepcionar, apesar da minha opinião é um fato que o TRN é mais fácil de se gostar.

I got my chu II like 6 days ago, the right one got clogged up in like 3 lol, they're really good for the price otherwise

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?

I tried chu 2 and tangzu waner sg2. Chu 2 has more bass, tangzu more treble. If you use a bad source like a windows laptop, Nintendo Switch or something like that there will probably be white noise with the tangzu waner sg. No noise on the chu 2

Honestly if it's a windows laptop even if it's good you might hear noise. I have a windows laptop that was $1000 like 3 years ago. With the tangzu I can hear some white noise. if I use my MacBook there is no noise because it has a good dac/amp. If you don't think that is a problem then the chu 2 has more bass and the tangzu are more focused on treble

I was using chus for while with arc raiders on ps5

Yes, loved them only reason I switch is I got nicer pair as a gift from a friend

I also have a pair of S12 (non pro) If you're wanting to pay a bit more and try out a planar, I'd say they're a good pickup if you really wanting something different and they'd be a great "one and done" purchase for a budget but very high quality planar. AFAIK there really isn't a better planar IEM ***for the price*** I have no plans to buy anything fancier than these S12. You can throw all kind of EQ at planars and make it sound exactly how you prefer. It's interesting to see/hear the ranges that these iem's can reproduce. I've ordered a pair of Chu 2's for a more on-the-go set (grabbed a 2m cable for my S12 for PC use), and I don't see myself buying anything similar for a while. It's quite unnecessary to buy multiple IEM's within the same categories/price tier 

You’d be partially incorrect on your guess that they’re gaming oriented, they are good for gaming as they have boosted bass and treble (consider why the Chu II’s are called V-shaped) but they’re not bad for video editing. You’d want a more neutral IEM, but that’s really nitpicking imo.

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

qkz has great soundstage for the price, waners are mid when it comes to soundstage, chu II above average, gate above average, tripowin vivace is best for soundstage under $30 but for a bit more you can get Klean which is all around a lot better, only under $30 I can recommend are Bunny(just not for gaming obviously) and Zero Ultima, same like Bunny just bullet style with 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

Ever since I tried the 19$ Chu 2 and found it equal or a little better than my 199$ AirPods Pro 2 I had this awakening as well. The brand name and convenience/features is what you pay for. Sound quality, it’s always chifi iems. Saved me so much money from buying the 299$ momentum 4, 249 Bose QC ultra earbuds, etc looking for best sound when I found them right here in my sub 20$ sets. Plus the wire means they’ll never die like wireless headphones.

Seriously, I had a pair of Bose iem that I used for a decade. When it was time to replace them I went with the Chu 2 and was completely blown away at the similar quality for a fraction of the price.

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

Chu 2 cannot be loud and are a bit muddy…

My chu 2 dsp has a mic

Absolutely the best thing to do is try some out for yourself. The recommended list from this sub is here: [Top 5 IEMs in every price range chosen by you! : r/iems](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1hd2hd1/top_5_iems_in_every_price_range_chosen_by_you/) But would it be a step up \*for you\* ? Well, that depends... Longer answer below: My IEM journey has been a short one. I bought one recommended from the sub-$50 range (the Chu 2) and one from the $50-$100 range (the Simgot EW300). Both sound good when used with equalization, although I do prefer the Simgots. However, I do not use IEMs for my office work. My workdays are much shorter (8-9 hours) and I work both from home and in an office. 1. I have nothing negative to say about the sound quality of IEMs. It is very good (and I listen to a lot of music) But I find both open-backed and closed-backed headphones to be more "spacious" sounding than IEMs which somehow sound "narrower". In your case you're not listening to much music and for calls you don't really need superb audio quality. So while for me, I find the sound quality of my headphones better than my IEMs, you may find for your use case either that you don't notice any loss (certainly if used mainly for calls) or that you simply don't care about the extra "space" of headphones. 2. Feel. This is the main reason I don't use IEMs. They block the ear (like your TWS) and I don't like that for extended periods. I've tried a lot of different tips but personally still feel a bit uncomfortable with them. Please note that many many others do not have my problem and you may well be one of these. That's why I recommend springing $20 (or maybe even $80) to try a pair for yourself. 3. One side-comment: I spent quite a lot of time on this sub before taking the plunge with IEMs and I still come back here often. Like any sub there are a wide range of contributors, from zealots to meh. I think a lot of people are on the IEM bandwagon right now because: i. it's the hottest new thing, with developments happening much more rapidly, and at more affordable price points, than with speakers and headphones. ii. the price/performance is superior. My (possibly unpopular) POV for sound quality remains: speakers > headphones > IEMs But that is very much my POV. Your ears are your own! There's no better way to find out than by taking the plunge.

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

I highly recommend iems, the audio quality you get is elite, they’re low profile so they’re easy to pack, and a well fitting pair isolates noise well. Check out the iems subreddit for suggestions, you’re looking for something with a balanced sound profile so you don’t boost any eq artificially. If you’re in nyc I suggest audio46 to try on iems. If you want a cheap and dirty pair then you can’t go wrong with the moondrop chu II, they’re about 20$ and will give you a good impression on whether or not you like the ear feel of iems. Also be very picky with tips for your iems, trying tips till you find something that really fits your ear and you enjoy. Good luck with your journey and if you become an audiophile I’m sorry for your wallet

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.

best for quality would be anything in the 20 dollar range like the Chu 2, 7hz Zero 2 or some Tin Hifi/CRN stuff, they're all close and only differ in tuning and build quality mostly. Depends on what you want. If you want exciting sound dont go for the chu or zero, people find them to be "disgustingly boring"

Put it this way, because of them i have sold Castor Pro, Zero 2 and Chu 2. Tells you all you need to know!

Tangzu Wan'er S.G I wouldn't choose,they are nice sounding IEM just can be tiring. I would give a try Moondrop Chu II or Kbear KB01

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

I’m following the trend of IEMs as a gamer of Black ops 6. I started low budgets : KZ 10 pro, Chu 2 and QKZ x HBB. Then I decided to try the famous Truthear Zero OG. The reasons: 1. I don’t like headsets on my head and hair. 2. The trend hype Compared to a gaming headset I have less boom subwoofer immersion effect. But I have a more clear sound for sure. Regarding footstep and space visualization, I’m not sure is really better. To be honest I’m starting to thing that my Koss KPH40 is not the best compris. Is there something I’m missing here or you are gonna say that I need to access the next level of IEMs to understand. Are the Moondrops Dusk to next level and I would feel it? Am I going to get long and beautiful bass immersion ? Or should I actually just go back to gaming headset like Ace zone ?

Chu2 only pros is clean sound nothing else just average.

Chu2 is only pros is clean sound for music and nothing else. Single player games doesn’t feel much exciting . In FPS games there is no soundstage. :::::Kefine klean.

The Chu II is pretty good for beginners, it's also smaller than usual so it will fit you better, especially if you have small ears like me. The sound signature is pretty balanced. But it does have a major issue that almost everyone that has owned it has faced, the filter gets clogged up because of moisture, so you have to clean it very often or else you'll see that green stuff in there. So be careful about that. Performance wise, it's great. Make sure you use the correct eartips though because that can either make or break your IEM experience. I'd also suggest getting an additional cable.

Over the Buds or Chu 2? Yes. Over the XS? Not even close, XS smashes in enjoyment imo.

I've been using it for almost a year after they broke due to my carelessness. They are my favorite among my collection—very light and comfortable because of how tiny they are. They don’t even cause fatigue or tiredness when listening for a long time. For isolation, not so much. They offer some isolation, but because of the shape, they don’t fully cover the ear canal, so some noise can still slip through. The cable is mediocre; over time, it will turn yellow due to oxidation, but if you store them properly, they will last a long time. The microphone is okay—not great, but fine for casual use. For music, they are great, especially classical. They are one of the best IEMs for music, though not very immersive. They are more neutral, and you can technically hear everything, but it’s a bit flat. After trying many IEMs, Chu 2 feels okay but not exciting. If you like bass, it’s not punchy, and the volume is among the lowest I have, so I usually use a DAC. For budget DACs, I suggest JCally JM6 Pro rather than Fiio JA11; Crinacle explains why Fiio isn’t suitable, especially the dongle version. For budget IEMs, they are one of the best I’ve used, but preferences matter. For example, my friend with sensitive ears doesn’t like Chu 2 and prefers Tangzu Wan’er. They’re good for starting IEMs, though the quality doesn’t last long unless well cared for. As others have said, the filter will get clogged, but thankfully it is replaceable.

Not even $100. I bought the $20 Moondrop Chu II just to see if I would like an IEM and I've been happily using them for well over a year. Crazy value.

Its unavoidable, they will patina over time thats just how Brass works. Unless you give them some sort of coating, but it has no effect on the sound purely cosmetics. That said the nozzle on the Chu 2 is threaded so you can screw it on and off unlike most Nozzle which are just glued on and permanently stuck.

i only have experience with CHU II, Wan'er SG, crin's Zero 2, idk bout the others, but chu II is prolly the most comfy, its light and sturdy, u should go for chu II, crin's zero2 is just good, nothing else, good is just the perfect word to discribe zero 2, wan'er sg early batch that i got (black&white) build quality isnt so great, the green one is the newer one, u can also go for the studio version, its better

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

I suggest waiting for 11.11 sale para sa cadenza or kefine klean kasi they're unbeatable under 2k. For Chu 2, if you dont mind shouty vocals and peaky trebles then it's fine, maybe?? It's not for me. Also, you dont need a DAC unless you're not satisfied with the max volume level of your iem or if the hisses are audible for you which can get annoying. Otherwise, you can get a cheap CX31993-MAX97220 dac dongle for ~300 pesos. Dont buy their DSP version(type-c).

I started with CHU 2 a while ago and it still is one of the best

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.

I have the gate. Vocals (male) dont sound natural at all. Wouldnt recommend this iem. The Chu 2 is good for that purpose. Kind of flat sound. Just take care of it. As with all metal iems, they are prone to humidity.

Sennheiser ie200 and chu 2

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!

Same here, my chu 2 stay in their case.

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.

Why Chu 2 when you can get the Kefine Klean which is way better

I don't know man. I had the Chu II and found them a little too ringy and tiring. Got the the Aful explorers and haven't bought anything else at all ever since. It's a matter of restraint, I think

Chu II. Just good, not that impressive

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

I have the chuII and the waner. I think the chu II is better for gaming, I hear footsteps better with it than the waner. Do not buy a KZ if you don't want to swap the crappy cable they come with.

Also the chu 2 is metal and the paint will chip after lots of use if that would bother you.

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

For me both Sgor Venus/adonis and chu ii has really good quality cables. If you want 4.4mm balanced, wan’er 2 also ships with a great one

I have the Moondrop Chu II with a USB C cable and they have a nice microphone. Anything with a USB C cable (DSP) should be fine.

Comfort is very individual. There's even very expensive custom fits. I find IEMs with earhooks and silicone tips to be the most comfortable. In terms of sound leakage, you should avoid IEMs that have visible vents/holes on the outside. You can also experiment with foam rather than silicone tips. And don't turn them up too loud. I'd suggest trying some cheap ones to see which you like best, rather than researching the best $1500 pair. There are sites out there with extensive reviews and measurements, but you're monitoring to spot heavy breathing, a weird background noise, etc. - any decent pair will let you hear that. Apparently Moondrop Chu II is the current hotness and will set you back around 22 bucks.

Yeah this. I have the Linsoul zs10 pro. Around 50.00 1 DD 4 BA iems and they sound amazing in my opinion. I've also bought the moondrop chu II and they sound really good too for like around 20 bucks.

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

I don't know anything about the Tanchjim but the Chu 2 is nothing out of the ordinary in the segment it's solid and has good bass but it's nothing that the Castor doesn't offer you beforehand so I wouldn't buy it, the same will happen with all the single DD's in this segment from the cheapest kz to the 35 dollar kiwi ears cadenza all will have a similar sound being the biggest difference technicalities (where the multidrivers are better) and the body build where the resin ones are better like kbear kb01 kinera wyvern and the same kiwi ears

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.

I picked up the moondrop chu 2's and they've been a delight. I'm only a casual gamer and listen to some music through them but they are gorgeous to listen through. Very comfortable too although getting the buds on was a bit of a pain

Definitely Chu II

Second all this. Had mine for a week. Music and some gaming on Steam Deck. For the price, I couldn't be happier with them. May get some better eartips so they sit better, but no complaints so far on their performance.

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?

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.).

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.

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.

Welcome to the hobby! Make sure you don’t judge all IEMs based on just one. There are lots of different tunings of IEMs. The Rosefinch is a bassy one. If you want something a little less v-shaped (sub bass and upper treble not quite as boosted) you may want to try something like the 7hz Zero 2. Also, here’s my standard advice to those new to the hobby… The ear tips can make or break your experience with IEMs. If you don't get a good seal, you won't hear the intended sound (particularly bass). Stock tips aren't for everyone, so you may have to try out different tips ("tip rolling"). Also, if you don't like the IEM's sound, the tuning just might not be right for you. There's a lot of experimentation in this hobby. Take note of what you don't like when getting your next set. Remember to keep your ears very clean. Lots of people don't realize how much wax ears produce and they end up clogging the IEM filters. IEMs like the Chu 2 are particularly prone to clogging as the mesh filter is very fine. If/when they do get clogged, the some filters can be easily swapped out or cleaned (by unscrewing the nozzle tips). Store your IEMs in an airtight case with silica gel packs. Avoid wearing them in the rain. Try not to wear them when you're sweating profusely. Moisture causes corrosion of internal components/electronics. It also causes copper parts to turn green. (Once all of that happens, it can’t be reversed.) Enjoy your IEM journey!

Isolation and leakage all depends on your ears and the tips you get. It should generally be the same if you get a good seal. Wear and tear varies per user. The Chu 2 is a great starter set but is prone to ear wax clogging the filter. It’s also all metal so some people in very humid climates have seen corrosion. These both can be avoided with proper care.

Welcome to the hobby! Just a bit of friendly advice… The ear tips can make or break your experience with IEMs. If you don't get a good airtight seal, you won't hear the intended sound (particularly bass). Stock tips aren't for everyone, so you may have to try out different tips ("tip rolling"). Also, if you don't like the IEM's sound, the tuning just might not be right for you. There's a lot of experimentation in this hobby. Take note of what you don't like when getting your next set. Remember to keep your ears very clean. Lots of people don't realize how much wax ears produce and they end up clogging the IEM filters. IEMs like the Chu 2 are particularly prone to clogging as the mesh filter is very fine. If/when they do get clogged, the some filters can be easily swapped out or cleaned (by unscrewing the nozzle tips). Don’t swap cables often. This will loosen the connection of your IEM and your cables will eventually fall off the cable and/or not have sound. Take extra care of your IEMs. You cannot treat them like regular cheap earbuds. They are much more delicate and will break much easier. Store your IEMs in an airtight case with silica gel packs. Avoid wearing them in the rain. Try not to wear them when you're sweating profusely. Moisture causes corrosion of internal components/electronics. It also causes copper parts to turn green. (Once all of that happens, it can’t be reversed.) Enjoy your IEM journey!

Welcome to the hobby! Just a bit of friendly advice… The ear tips can make or break your experience with IEMs. If you don't get a good airtight seal, you won't hear the intended sound (particularly bass). Stock tips aren't for everyone, so you may have to try out different tips ("tip rolling"). Also, if you don't like the IEM's sound, the tuning just might not be right for you. There's a lot of experimentation in this hobby. Take note of what you don't like when getting your next set. Remember to keep your ears very clean. Lots of people don't realize how much wax ears produce and they end up clogging the IEM filters. IEMs like the Chu 2 are particularly prone to clogging as the mesh filter is very fine. If/when they do get clogged, the some filters can be easily swapped out or cleaned (by unscrewing the nozzle tips). Don’t swap cables often. This will loosen the connection of your IEM and your cables will eventually fall off the cable and/or not have sound. Take extra care of your IEMs. You cannot treat them like regular cheap earbuds. They are much more delicate and will break much easier. Store your IEMs in an airtight case with silica gel packs. Avoid wearing them in the rain. Try not to wear them when you're sweating profusely. Moisture causes corrosion of internal components/electronics. It also causes copper parts to turn green. (Once all of that happens, it can’t be reversed.) Enjoy your IEM journey!

Welcome to the hobby! Just a bit of friendly advice… The ear tips can make or break your experience with IEMs. If you don't get a good airtight seal, you won't hear the intended sound (particularly bass). Stock tips aren't for everyone, so you may have to try out different tips ("tip rolling"). Also, if you don't like the IEM's sound, the tuning just might not be right for you. There's a lot of experimentation in this hobby. Take note of what you don't like when getting your next set. Remember to keep your ears very clean. Lots of people don't realize how much wax ears produce and they end up clogging the IEM filters. IEMs like the Chu 2 are particularly prone to clogging as the mesh filter is very fine. If/when they do get clogged, the some filters can be easily swapped out or cleaned (by unscrewing the nozzle tips). Don’t swap cables often. This will loosen the connection of your IEM and your cables will eventually fall off the cable and/or not have sound. Take extra care of your IEMs. You cannot treat them like regular cheap earbuds. They are much more delicate and will break much easier. Store your IEMs with silica gel packs. Avoid wearing them in the rain. Try not to wear them when you're sweating profusely. Moisture causes corrosion of internal components/electronics. (Once that happens, it can’t be reversed.) Enjoy your IEM journey!

Using dsp with a dap makes using the dap pointless since your not using its internal dac and amp with an analog connection (3.5, 4.4). Just get analog for your next pair and your good. The chu 2 (20 usd) is a good start for iems, though if you get a set double or more the price, your going to be even more blown away. While there is a gradual increase in diminishing returns even from the beginning, it stsrts to get pretty aggressive around the 400-500 usd range. To save money in the pit that Is audio, I would figure out what kind of tuning you like and go straight to an endgame pair (the price range of that pair depends on what you want out of an "endgame" set. Endgame for some can be a 200 dollar set and for others it could be a 3k usd set; it varies wildly); you already have a nice dap so driving any iem you get in the future wont be a problem.

Yeah maybe they are saying that salnotes zero 2 and tanchijm bunny and chu 2 are better , but those are balanced and more expensive ones, and also you will need a dac with them if they don't have a built in one. As you asked for the bassy sound, fiio will serve you better because salnotes and chu 2 are not the bassiest and bunny is really good if you are ready to pay more price but it will be better with a dac at that price, since you are on a budget, fiio with built-in dac is better for you

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.

It's good even with a cellphone or PC. It's a nice iem.

I'd say save the money and go for 1500-2000 budget when you can. The performance difference is noticeably good on IEMs like truthear gate, salnotes zero, chu 2 etc.

KZ Castor, Moondrop Chu II, Tangzu Wan’Er SG II are all great and less than $40

Frequency response graphs are not the ultimate truth but do they give some context about differences in sound signature. Here is a comparison of the the Hexa and the Chu 2. https://graph.hangout.audio/iem/5128/?share=JM-1_Target%2CChu_2%2CHexa&bass=0&tilt=0&treble=0&ear=0

Moondrop Chu IIs, KZ ZS10s and Apple earpods..

Moondrop Chu II. About £20. Solid metal build, replaceable cable and of course they sound really good!

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

Generic pop is usually mastered very well lol, it's just not aiming to sound the most interesting or complex. Good headphones can make generic pop sound better than generic earbuds BTW my recommendation would be 7hz zero 2, it's my favourite of the budget iems. I prefer it to the chu 2, tangzu wan'er and kiwi ears cadenza, but of course everyone's ears are different.

Chu 2 is good but also have filter problems. Using it for too long can cause unbalanced audio bc of the filter's glue.

Man, I entered the world of IEMs (in-ear monitors) six months ago and I already have 14 earphones hahaha, ranging from 20 to 200 dollars. I have all those on your list and I can tell you, if I were to recommend which ones to start with, my three favorites in terms of cost-benefit are the Chu 2, the 7Hz Crinacle Zero 2, and the Kinera Celest Wyvern Black. Now, if you have a higher budget, I’ll tell you about others from 50 to 200 bucks that I like. But, honestly, except for maybe two, those three I mentioned for cost-benefit aren’t at all behind the more expensive ones not even a little. As for DACs, I only have three: the Moondrop Dawn Pro 2 and the Fiio KA15, plus the NICEHCK NK1 MAX. If I were you, I would get either the NICEHCK NK1 or the Moondrop to start with.

I really like chu II

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.

To be honest depends on what sound you like and how much you're willing to spend. Commercial IEMs are mostly scam. Shures suck. Shure was good back then, but today you can get IEM of the same quality as Shure for about 20-50€ in the chi-fi world. Chi-Fi are chinese high fidelity produced IEMs, which sounds sketchy, but it's really just amazing. For example KZ is a decent recommendation for 10-20€ range of budget. They're decent IEMs, block fair amount of noise and have good conventional sound. It's not the best, but totally fine for professional use. If you're willing to pay more, there's Moondrop as one of millions of examples. Moondrop offers better QC, better build quality and better soundstage and more polished sound overall. For example, I use Moondrop Chu II as my main IEM. It works great, sounds way more spacious and wide, fits my ears better and has amazing build quality. Cost me 25€ However, I'd advise to learn what sound curve you prefer. I use Sennheiser HD560S as my main headphones, therefore I prefer flat neutral sound, so I went for Moondrop Chu II, that matches the sound I wanted. However, watch reviews and learn what you like. I watched Crinacle on YT to sort out my decision. However if you want molded IEMs, that's fine, but it's better to stick to commercial IEMs then. Keep in mind though, that you're paying much much more for the same sound. The sound you will get for 200-300€ would be available in Chi-Fi world for a fraction of the price.

I use wired because wireless always introduce delay and the best ones like ROG Cetra cost a fortune(I have those). The chinese brand Moondrop makes some pretty solid TWS and IEM earbuds at affordable prices. For TWS I have Space Travel 1 & 2. Highly recommend Space Travel 2. It has gaming mode that reduce delay. Cetra has better sound and less latency in gaming mode though. As for IEM, the Chu II is the best money for your buck by far and is often listed as the best IEM at that low cost. I own ARIA SE, and Aria 2 came out last year at the same price range and is an upgrade. Though at that price range also consider Truthear Zero Red, Trurthear Hexa or Moondrop May depending on the type of music you listen to.

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!

The Chu’s lasted me 6 months before they broke, common issue. I’d avoid them!

Mine got quiet in one ear that I couldn’t clean and fix away after 6 months. Was good while it lasted but I don’t recommend.

A lot of years ago I was recommended the Moondrop Aria and stuck with them. My son asked me for an iPod and I got him the chu II, those are a great option too. I've also tried others but I'm happy to recommend these as I didn't really notice any difference with more expensive IEMs and I moved from FLAC to MP3 320 after some blind tests and realized I couldn't hear a difference between them, even with much more expensive IEMs.

Look at top 5. Chu 2 is great, Zero 2 great but odd shape. Maybe Cadenza. Not Gate or Wan'er. You won't know if it fits unless you try. All are V to a degree, at this point don't stress about it too much.

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)

listening to music on mine right now. comfort is great because of the small shell sound isolation not great, this will depend upon the eartips you select, but the small shell doesn't occlude much cable microphonics are not an issue. The cable is actually quite nice in this regard. can't comment much on story game imaging I'd add my voice to the chorus of recommendations on this unit.

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

The Moondrop Chu II is great value. I wasn’t expecting bass at that price. A great all rounder.

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

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.

other good option could be moondrop chu II but these were the best for my music preferences